What do Tom Sawyer and Jumping Frogs have in common? Stories about both of them were created by one man: Mark Twain. When Twain was 4, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, lying on the west bank of the Mississippi. Twain grew up there and was attracted greatly with life along the river — the steamboats, the big wooden boats, and the people who worked on them.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is one of Twain’s best-loved short stories, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of his most famous novels. Both these works are celebrated by events held during National Tom Sawyer Days. There’s also a fence-painting competition to see who can paint the fastest. The idea for this competition comes from a scene in Tom Sawyer, in which Tom has been told to paint the fence in front of the house he lives in. It’s a beautiful day, and he would rather be doing anything else. As his friends walk by, he persuades them to paint with him for fun, and they all join in the “fun”. By the end of the day, the fence has three coats of paint!
Although the story of Tom Sawyer is not true, it’s based on fact. If you go to Hannibal, you’ll see the white fence, which still stands at Twain’s boyhood home.
1. National Tom Sawyer Days is ______.| A．a short story | B．a great novel | C．a celebration | D．a competition |
| A．Mark Twain's suggestion | B．a story in Jumping Frog |
| C．the life of people in boats | D．a scene in Tom Sawyer |
| A．the story of Tom Sawyer is based partly on Twain’s experiences. |
| B．the story of Tom Sawyer is based totally on Twain’s imagination |
| C．Twain’s old house is painted by the fence painting competitors |
| D．Twain’s old house is visited by people from all over the country |
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【推荐1】Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October as a day to make someone happy. It is an occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, the aged, and children who have lost their parents, but also friends, workmates, relatives and neighbours whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed.
Over 60 years ago, when a Cleveland man noticed that some people, such as children who lost their parents and patients who lay in bed, too often felt forgotten and neglected, he developed in his mind the idea of showing them that they were remembered. He did this by giving them small gifts. With the help of his friends and neighbours, he gave those people small gifts on a Saturday in October. During the years that followed, other Clevelanders began to take part in the celebration, which came to be called “Sweetest Day”. Over time, the Sweetest Day idea of spreading cheer to the poor, the sick and children who had lost their parents was broadened to include everyone, and became an occasion for remembering others with a kind act or a small gift. Soon the idea spread to other cities all over the USA.
Sweetest Day is not based on any single group’s religious beliefs or on a family relationship. It is a reminder that a thoughtful word or deed enriches life and gives it meaning. Because for many people remembering takes the form of gift giving, Sweetest Day offers us the opportunity to show others that we care, in a positive way.
1. Which of the following has little relationship to Sweetest Day?| A．Visiting sick people in the hospital. |
| B．Visiting children who have lost their parents. |
| C．Giving friends small gifts. |
| D．Giving flowers to sweethearts. |
| A．They give money. | B．They give gifts. |
| C．They send regards. | D．They offer help. |
| A．remembered | B．hated |
| C．paid little or no attention to | D．disappointed |
【推荐2】Mardi Gras 2021 was a very quiet, socially distanced event. And festivities were still a bits ubdued in 2022, at least by pre-pandemic standards. City officials and experienced tourists have some Mardi Gras guidance:
*Don’t ignore parking rules during Mardi Gras weekend. Click here to find out some transportation options. Follow the parking rules or risked being towed and paying fines of “Biblical proportions, ” according to MardiGras New Orleans. com.
*Don’t move other people’s stuff on the parade route. It’s bad form to move unoccupied chairs. Just scout around for an empty spot.
*Don’t reach down to pick up beads and other throws. In the excitement, you could end up with your hand stamped or worse. Instead, put your foot on the item and hold it there until it’s safe to bend over and get it.
*Don’t relieve yourself on the street. The good folks of New Orleans even have this handy bathroom guide. Make it your “Number I” priority.
If you’re thinking about planning a future trip around the festivities, get an early start. Don’t wait until January to plan your visit. Things book up fast, starting as early as August: you’re leaving it more to luck the longer you wait. So if you’ve missed the boat for this year, remember that for 2024, when Mardi Gras falls on February 13.
1. According to the guidance, what should people do during Mardi Gras?| A．Move unoccupied chairs freely. |
| B．Pay little attention to transportation options. |
| C．Put the handy bathroom guide in the first place. |
| D．Pick up the item from the road as soon as possible. |
| A．In January. | B．In February. |
| C．In August. | D．In December. |
| A．A website. | B．A textbook. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A newspaper. |
【推荐3】Mrs. Obama spoke to the graduates of Martin Luther King Jr. High School on Saturday in her only high school commencement (毕业典礼) speech this year. The ceremony took place in the gymnasium of Tennessee State University.
The first lady told the 170 graduates that she spent too much of her time in college focusing on academic achievements. While her success in college and law school led to a highprofile job, she said, she ended up leaving to focus on public service. “My message to you today is that don't waste a minute living someone else's dream,” she said. “It takes lots of real work to discover what brings you joy and you won't find what you love simply by checking mailboxes or surfing the Internet.”
She said MLK reminded her of her own high school experience in Chicago.“My No.1 goal was to go to a high school that would push me and challenge me,” she said. “I wanted to go somewhere that would celebrate achievements.” “Unfortunately, schools like this don't exist for every kid,” she said. “You are blessed.”
The first lady told the graduates that failure may be a part of their college careers, and that how they respond to difficulties determines what they will become. “That's when you find out what you're really made of in those hard times,” she said. “But you can only do that if you're willing to put yourself in a position where you might fail. Overcoming difficulties has been a mark of many great people,” she said. “Oprah Winfrey was demoted(降职) from her first job as a news reporter, and now she doesn't even need a last name,” she said of media giant Oprah Winfrey. “And then there's this guy Barack Obama. I could take up a whole afternoon talking about his failures. He lost his first race for Congress,” the first lady joked, “and now he gets to call himself my husband.”
1. When choosing her high school, Mrs Obama .| A．wanted to study law |
| B．was pushed to make a choice |
| C．failed to find an ideal school |
| D．was willing to meet challenges |
| A．to be brave enough to risk failing |
| B．to work hard to get promoted |
| C．to start as a news reporter |
| D．not to waste time doing what they dislike |
| A．In a news report. |
| B．In a politics book. |
| C．In a graduation paper. |
| D．On Mrs Obama's blog. |
| A．She is a graduate of Tennessee State University. |
| B．This is the first time she has given a speech to graduates. |
| C．She complained about her school life in her speech. |
| D．She is enthusiastic about public service. |
【推荐1】Fascinating Venice
Located in the northeast of Italy, Venice is well-known for its cultural treasures, romantic atmosphere and unusual living-on-water experience. The city spreads out over 118 islands, which are linked by more than 400 bridges, in the Venetian Lagoon.
Venice’s historical center consists of six regions. Italy in the south, the busiest main regions, are linked by the Rialto Bridge. The famous stone arch bridge (拱桥) crosses Venice’s main waterway — the Grand Canal. When night falls, many tourists enjoy dinner at the outside tables by the Grand Canal while watching colorfully lit boats going by.
Near the end of the S-shaped Grand Canal lies St. Mark’s Basilica, a must-see. Inside, beautiful mosaics (镶嵌图案) tell stories of Bible figures. Nearby are the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. These were made famous by Lord Byron, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand.” The story has it that if a couple passes under the bridge, their love will last forever.
In the square outside the Basilica, lovers of literature can sit at Caffe Florian, regarded as the oldest coffee house in Europe. Charles Dickens, Henry James as well as Lord Byron enjoyed the aromatic (芳香的) drink here.
Art lovers should buy a museum pass and visit some of the city’s museums. They can view works by Venetian masters like Giovanni, Titian and Tintoretto.
On five small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, Murano has been home to glass-makers since 1291. Tourists can visit factories, studios and the Glass Museum. Glass artists produce everything from simple souvenir pieces to beautiful works of contemporary art. Only glassworks made using traditional methods on Murano can be called Murano Glass. The nearby island of Burano is famous for lace (蕾丝 )making and colorful houses. Looking at the colorful houses and kaleidoscopic (万花筒似的) streets makes people feel as if they were walking in the fairy tale.
The City of Water promises beauty of all kinds, and it definitely lives up to its promise.
1. Why does the author mention Lord Byron’s words?| A．To introduce the famous British poet. |
| B．To explain why the two places are famous. |
| C．To show why St. Mark’s Basilica is a must-see. |
| D．To compare the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Caffe Florian. | B．The city’s museums. |
| C．St. Mark’s Basilica. | D．The Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Bridges. | B．Lace making. |
| C．Glassworks. | D．Colorful houses. |
| A．It’s simple. | B．It’s too traditional. |
| C．It’s colorful. | D．It’s very special. |
【推荐2】Flights are getting bumpier (更颠簸的) as the climate changes, scientists have revealed. And it is only set to continue or worsen in the coming years.
The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Reading in the U. K., shows an increase in clear-air turbulence unexpected air currents in cloudless air. These invisible currents are potentially dangerous to aircraft. The researchers said the increases are in line with the effects of climate change.
Research in the past decade has shown that climate change will increase clear-air turbulence in the future. “We now have evidence suggesting that the increase has already begun,” said professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading. “We should be investing in improved turbulence forecasting and detection systems, to prevent the rougher air from translating into bumpier flights in the coming decades,” he added.
The study focused on one of the world’s busiest flight routes over the North Atlantic Ocean. The results show that it has seen a 55% increase in annual duration of severe turbulence. In1979, the duration recorded was 17.7 hours. In 2020, it was 27.4 hours. Turbulence increased by 37%, from 70 hours to 96.1 hours. The increase is due to warmer air from CO₂ emissions. This increases a sudden change in wind speed or direction in jet streams.
Clear-air turbulence is most severe over mountainous areas and also close to thunderstorms. While it hasn’t been known to cause aircraft crashes, it has caused damage to aircraft and injuries to passengers. “Airlines will need to start thinking about how they will manage the increased turbulence. It costs the industry $150 to $500 million annually in the United States alone,” Ph. Dresearcher Mark Prosser said.
“Every additional minute spent travelling through turbulence increases wear-and-tear (磨损) on the aircraft, and the risk of injuries to passengers and flight attendants,” he added.
1. What does the text mainly talk about?| A．The increase in turbulence damages aircraft. |
| B．The turbulence duration has increased greatly. |
| C．Climate change contributes to bumpier flights. |
| D．Flights routes are in line with the climate change. |
| A．He was relieved that turbulence was not dangerous. |
| B．He was confident of the future of the prevention systems. |
| C．He was aware of what to do to reduce bumpier flights. |
| D．He was worried flights would become bumpier and bumpier. |
| A．To reveal the great change in turbulence duration over time. |
| B．To introduce how terrible the flights were in turbulence duration. |
| C．To tell readers about the effect of turbulence on the flight route. |
| D．To stress the relationship between increased turbulence and flights. |
| A．It is the most powerful to aircraft around the world. | B．It leads to aircraft crashes and climate change. |
| C．It can both damage airlines and kill passengers. | D．It puts the airlines under huge financial pressure. |
【推荐3】A group of researchers in South West England suspected that young teens who were remote schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic might be feeling more anxious. When they conducted a survey, however, what they found was surprising to them: the students were actually experiencing less anxiety.
The study, which was carried out by researchers at the university of Bristol, made use of an already ongoing study dealing with social media use and teen mental health. The participants had already done a baseline survey before the pandemic in October 2019. To assess the impact of the pandemic, another survey was done during the April/May time frame. Over 1000 year-nine students from 17 secondary schools in South West England were involved in the study.
The team found that 54 percent of 13-to14-year-old girls were at risk of anxiety prior to the pandemic, with that figure dropping by 10 percent during lockdown. Twenty-six percent of boys in the same age group were at risk during the initial survey, compared to 18 percent during lockdown.
Many of the teens also reported an increased sense of well-being while they were in lockdown.Boys reported a bigger improvement than girls.Also, those who reported the lowest sense of well-being prior to the pandemic experienced the greatest improvement. Emily widnall MSc, who was the lead of author of the study, said that she and her team were surprised when they said the results of the survey. “However when taking a step back,” she said, “we know that school for many young people can be quiet anxiety-provoking in terms of exam pressure and challenging peer relationships including bullying. This has been a really rare opportunity to understand how younger teenagers feel without the day-to-day pressures of school life. ”
Many students also reported feeling a greater connection to their schools with increased opportunities to talk with their teachers despite not physically being at school. “It may be because digital platforms could play a bigger role as a learning tool.”
1. Why did Emily carry out the research?| A．To figure out why the teens were anxious during lockdown. |
| B．To evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on teen mental health. |
| C．To find out to fight with the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| D．To know how social media use affect teens. |
| A．Junior to. | B．Precious to. | C．Equal to. | D．Familiar to. |
| A．Boys suffered from high level of anxiety than girls. |
| B．Girls reported a bigger improvement in the sense of well-being than boys. |
| C．The study was made up of data collected on two different occasions. |
| D．Remote schooling can help teens get rid of pressures. |
| A．Teens felt greater connections to schools. |
| B．The pandemic had influence on teens. |
| C．Teens reported mental improvements in lockdown. |
| D．Social media helped the teens relieve stress. |
【推荐1】“Friends have your back,” said Christina Li about the bond between two seventh-graders in her first novel, “Clues to the Universe.”
Li felt the same way about her best friend, Katia, whom she met in the fifth grade. Her characters Ro and Benji are fictional, but Li drew on her feelings about her friendship with Katia to develop the close friendship in her novel. Like friends everywhere, Li and Katia enjoyed just spending time together. They talked a lot. Li even dedicated (把...献给) this novel to Katia, because “she and her family have supported my career so much,” Li said.
Li also mined her memories about another middle school experience: the science fair. “I was not a science kid,” Li said with a laugh. She signed up for the fair on a whim (一时兴起) but ended up loving the chance to study science. “It turned out to be a defining experience and helped me become more confident,” she said.
That’s true, too, for Ro and Benji as they work on a rocket for their project. Rockets are Ro’ s passions. Benji prefers drawing, but he needs the credit to improve his science grade. Soon, though, Ro’s excitement kick-starts Benji ‘s curiosity. Then Ro decides to help Benji with his secret search: to find his long-absent father — who may be the creator of a popular comic called “Spacebound.” Actually, science and their search bring unexpected conflict in the story.
As a kid, Li loved reading. She started writing fantasy when she was in middle school. She’ s also enjoying the connection with her young readers. Recently, Li heard from a girl who was excited to read about the main character, Ro, who is Chinese American, like her. “Representation (再现) is so important, ” she said.
“And now it’s wonderful to be able to share that in my book.”
1. What do we know about “Clues to the Universe”?| A．It is a work of nonfiction. |
| B．It records the stories of Li and Katia. |
| C．It reveals the secrets of the universe. |
| D．It is based on Li’ s personal experiences. |
| A．It satisfied her every whim. |
| B．It built up her confidence. |
| C．It helped her make friends with Katia. |
| D．It allowed her to earn credits in science. |
| A．Its storyline. | B．Its style. |
| C．Its significance. | D．Its background. |
| A．Astonished. | B．Confused. | C．Worried. | D．Pleased. |
【推荐2】You may be familiar with the following famous people, but have you heard of their graduation speeches, in which they either share their unforgettable experiences or give you some great inspiration.
● Michael Dell, University of Texas at Austin
And now you’ve accomplished something great and important here, and it’s time for you to move on to what’s next. And you must not let anything prevent you from taking those first steps. You must also commit to the adventure. Just have faith in the skills and the knowledge you’ve been blessed with and go.
● J.K. Rowling, Harvard University
Half my lifetime ago, I was striking an uneasy balance between my ambition and the expectation from my parents who were not rich. But what I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure. The fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you know little about failure. You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success.
● Steve Jobs, Stanford University
Sometimes life’s going to hit you on the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle.
● Bill Gates, Harvard University
We need as many people as possible to have access to the advanced technology to lead to a revolution (革命) in what human beings can do for one another. They are making it possible not just for national governments, but for universities, smaller organizations, and even individuals to see problems, see approaches and deal with the world’s inequities (不公平) like hunger, poverty, and so on.
1. What Michael Dell said is to urge us to _________.| A．listen to others’ advice |
| B．follow our dreams |
| C．follow others’ examples |
| D．learn from our mistakes |
| A．Poverty. | B．Hunger. |
| C．Failure. | D．Appearance. |
| A．Michael Dell. | B．J. K. Rowling. |
| C．Bill Gates. | D．Steve Jobs. |
| A．Make contributions to the environment. |
| B．Take responsibility for their own behavior. |
| C．Make joint efforts to solve some global problems. |
| D．Master as much advanced technology as possible. |
【推荐3】J.K.Rowling is a British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. She completed much of her first work, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in a poor situation, often planning out her chapters in cafes near her small apartment in Edinburgh.
Before penning the Harry Potter books, Rowling’s life was one of struggle and loss. Her mother died in 1990 because of the multiple sclerosis(多发性硬化症). Her first marriage ended just three years later. Unable to find work, Rowling struggled to support herself and her daughter on State Aid. Her financial conditions would not change until the late 1990s, when the Harry Potter series became a success beyond all expectations. Aided by the Scottish Arts Council, Rowling was able to complete her first novel, but primary encouragement from publishers was actually non-existent. She was told to find a day job, and the UK publisher, Bloomsbury, firstly published only 1,000 copies of the novel, titled in the UK as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Within a half year of its publication in 1997, the novel achieved its first award, the Nestle Smarties Book Prize. A few months later, it received the British Book Award for Best Children’s book of the year. In 1998, Scholastic purchased(购买)publication rights, and Rowling, now on her third payment of the series, was enjoying great success.
The popularity of the series has made Rowling the most popular children’s author ever. Both adults and children who show great interest in the books are eager for the publisher’s next payment for Harry’s adventures.
Queen Elizabeth II honored Rowling in 2000, titling her as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. She remarried in 2001, to Dr.Neil Murray, with whom she has two children. In her public life, she devotes time to causes dear to her, including supporting Amnesty International and funding research on a medical treatment for multiple sclerosis.
1. How did Rowling make a living before the late 1990s?| A．By receiving government support. |
| B．By depending on her husband. |
| C．By working in a cafe near her home. |
| D．By writing articles for local publishers. |
| A．Encourage sb. by saying or showing you agree . |
| B．Provide everything necessary so that sb. can live or exist. |
| C．Be ready to give help. |
| D．Hold sb. in place. |
| A．Rowling works for the British royal family. |
| B．Rowling suffers from multiple sclerosis. |
| C．Rowling has done much for public charity. |
| D．Rowling stays single till now. |
| A．J. K. Rowling’s major works . |
| B．J. K. Rowling’s inspiration for Harry Potter series . |
| C．J. K. Rowling’s success as an author. |
| D．J. K. Rowling’s extraordinary life. |
