Wouldn’t it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the headache of communicating in a different language?
In a recent Wall Street journal article, technology policy expert A lec Ross argued that, within a decade or so. We’ll be able to communicate with one another via small earpieces with built-in microphones. That’s because technological progress is extremely rapid. It’s only a matter of time. Indeed, some parents are so convinced that this technology is imminent that they’re wondering if their kids should even learn a second language.
It’s true that an increase in the quantity and accuracy (准确) of the data loaded into computers make them cleverer at translating “No es bueno dormir mucho” as “It’s not good to sleep too much.” Replacing a word with its equivalent (同义词) in the target language is actually the “easy part of a translator’s job”. But even this seems to be a discouraging task for computers.
It’s so difficult for computers because translation doesn’t—or shouldn’t—involve simply translating words, sentences or paragraphs. Rather, it’s about translating meaning. And in order to infer meaning from a specific expression, humans have to interpret a mass of information at the same time. Think about all the related clues that go into understanding an expression: volume, gesture, situation, and even your culture. All are likely to convey as much meaning as the words you use.
Therefore, we should doubt whether a machine is able to translate the world around us. If people from different cultures can offend each other without realizing it, how can we expect a machine to do better? Unless engineers actually find a way to breathe a soul into a computer, undoubtedly when it comes to conveying and translation meaning using a natural language, a machine will never fully take our place.
1. What does the underlined word “imminent” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Ready. | B．Coming. | C．Helpful. | D．Advanced. |
| A．Their data is not adequate (充足的) enough. |
| B．The real meaning of words can change. |
| C．Their accuracy needs big improvement. |
| D．A soul hasn’t been breathed into them. |
| A．Proper translation can be difficult for humans. |
| B．Slight difference mean little in translation. |
| C．Some machines will translate our world properly. |
| D．Cultures deserve more attention than words used. |
| A．A new language translating machine |
| B．Translation will become easier |
| C．Who Will Be a Better Translator |
| D．Will Language Barrier (障碍) Actually Fall |
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【推荐1】Do you enjoy eating a nice piece of a cow? Or pig back meat? Chances are that you do, though you’re more likely to call these dishes beef and bacon. But why do the words for these animals change after they’re killed and served? And why does this change only happen with certain meats?
To answer these questions, we have to step back almost 1,000 years into the past, as the current saying is that this linguistic phenomenon (语言现象) results from the Norman invasion (侵略) of England.
In 1066, the Old French-speaking Normans took control of the Anglo-Saxons, who spoke Old English. The Norman rulers used different measures of oppression (压迫的措施), but they also introduced their language. They used French words for the meat that appeared on their tables. Meanwhile, the Old English words were still used by the Anglo-Saxons who farmed and raised the animals. Such was the Norman influence on England that their terms for meat have always been there as part of the modern English language for cuisine (烹饪).
It’s not just adult cows that got a new name after they were killed and prepared for Norman dinners. A young cow is called a “calf”, and this word comes from Old English. However, the animal is changed into “veal” after it is cooked.
Besides the word pig, which, like cow, has Old English origins (来源), the Anglo-Saxons used to use the word “swine” for these animals. Both became pork when the Normans ate their meat, though.
Chicken is one of several exceptions. While the Normans used the French word poulet for chicken meat, this became “pullet” in English. This word is only really used by chicken farmers. No one is quite sure why this happened! Here’s another exception, as fish is fish regardless of whether it’s swimming in a river or appearing on a dinner table. One possibility for why the French word poisson has never entered the English language is that it’s too close to “poison” — something no one wants to eat!
1. What purpose do questions in the first paragraph serve?| A．To attract readers’ attention. | B．To encourage studies on food. |
| C．To offer some background information. | D．To provide some advice for readers. |
| A．The English who worked in farming came from France. |
| B．French words for meat were much easier to remember. |
| C．Normans brought their French language to England. |
| D．French terms became popular among cooks worldwide. |
| A．Beef. | B．Veal. | C．Swine. | D．Calf. |
| A．There were already Old English words for fish in common use. |
| B．English speakers found the word too similar to the word “poison”. |
| C．The Normans did not eat fish as often as other meats. |
| D．The French word was not introduced during the Norman invasion. |
【推荐2】The hit movie Notting Hill begins with a famous scene. Hugh Grant bumps into Julia Roberts and spills orange juice all over her. After the collision, Grant repeatedly says, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
His actions in this scene are very British. If Roberts’ character were from the Britain, then she would probably apologize repeatedly as well—even if the crash were not her fault. But this doesn’t happen in the movie, as Roberts is from the US.
A report in The Telegraph once said that three quarters of British people apologize when they bump into someone in the street—regardless of whether they are responsible or not. In fact, Britons use “sorry” in many situations. For example, if they mishear someone, they say “Sorry?” The person they are talking to will also apologize by replying, “No, I am sorry!” This can go on for up to five minutes as they compete over who is the most sorry.
Why are Britons so sorry? Mark Tyrell, a psychology writer in the UK, thinks that their apologetic tendencies are rooted in British class system. “We say sorry because historically the new middle class in Britain had to apologize for not being the working class, but also for really being the upper class.” Another theory is that they apologize to avoid conflicts. For example, if they bump into someone, he might get angry. To avoid this, they instantly say “Sorry!”
True manners are about being considerate, and today’s constant use of apologizing shows that we are perhaps not as thoughtful as we once were. The word “sorry” has lost some of its meaning.
Do you see my point? Sorry, it might just be a British thing.
1. Why does the author mention a scene in the movie Notting Hill at the beginning?| A．To give an example of British modesty. |
| B．To introduce different ways of saying sorry. |
| C．To show what kind of men are considered gentlemen in the UK. |
| D．To draw our attention to when and how British people say sorry. |
| A．People should not apologize if they are not responsible. |
| B．Americans care less about manners than British people do. |
| C．That British people apologize so much is linked to the class system. |
| D．British people care too much about which social class they are from. |
| A．It’s unnecessary for British people to be so polite. |
| B．The overuse of apologizing shows Britons are truly sincere. |
| C．People should not stick to the traditional use of the word “sorry”. |
| D．Using “sorry” more doesn’t necessarily mean people are more polite. |
| A．To show the best way of saying sorry. |
| B．To explain why Britons overuse the word “sorry”. |
| C．To show how saying sorry has changed over time. |
| D．To suggest many British people lack traditional manners. |
【推荐3】Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let's have a look.
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are nervous have ants in their pants. Sometimes, people may get caught with their pants down. They are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say she wears the pants in the family.
Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can burn a hole in your pocket. Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to tighten your belt.
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat, which means I instantly spend it.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people.
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too serious and never shows his feelings openly. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve.
1. Which of the following expressions can show someone is nervous?| A．Get caught with one's pants down. | B．Have ants in one's pants. |
| C．Wear the pants in the family. | D．Burn a hole in one's pocket. |
| A．has done something wrong | B．used to live a rich life |
| C．has put on the wrong pants | D．is short of money |
| A．doesn't save money | B．earns much money |
| C．never wastes his money | D．spends more than he earns |
| A．gets angry easily | B．looks very serious |
| C．shows his feelings openly | D．often wears a suit and tie |
【推荐1】Few people knew about online food delivery apps ten years ago, but today, many would find it hard to live without them. In China alone, over 400 million people use such apps. For better or for worse, online food delivery services have changed the way we eat, and they are also having a huge impact on our society.
These services have no doubt brought us many benefits. They provide jobs for millions of people and help restaurants find more customers. Since the apps are very convenient, they also benefit consumers: we can now have meals delivered at any time of day, despite bad weather or busy schedules. This is especially important for people who work long hours, since they might not have time to cook. Not only do these apps save time, they also provide us with a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. They have proved to be useful for retired people as well: seniors who live far away from restaurants and supermarkets can now get hold of meals and groceries more easily.
However, we must not forget the drawbacks of online food delivery services. For one thing, they make it even easier to order unhealthy food, high in sugar, fat and salt. Food safety is another problem: it can be hard to establish where the food actually comes from, and whether the owner is legally permitted to run a restaurant. As couriers need to deliver the orders as quickly as possible, some pay little regard to traffic rules. In recent years, there have been a number of terrible traffic accidents because of this. Moreover, the industry is creating unbelievable amounts of packaging waste: over a million tons of online food delivery boxes are thrown away every year. Experts assume that this number will continue to grow in the future, and this will have a negative impact on the environment.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．Many people knew about online food delivery apps ten years ago. |
| B．The online food delivery apps are wildly welcomed now. |
| C．Chinese people don't speak highly of the online food delivery apps. |
| D．The online food delivery apps are having a positive impact on us. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．Bosses. | B．Consumers. | C．Policemen. | D．Deliverymen. |
| A．Objective. | B．Opposed. | C．Supportive. | D．Indifferent. |
【推荐2】Some people ran into me in the dining hall today — they were on their phone and didn’t see me. The dining hall was packed, as usual, so I couldn’t move out of the way in time. They ran into me, but I said sorry. They said nothing and kept walking.
It reminded me of the theory that women are more likely to step out of the way if the sidewalk is too narrow. My friend likes to test this theory out for herself — she walks straight on her path and sees if men will move out of her way. Many of them have run into her unless she moves at the last second. She realizes that she is always the one who apologizes when that happens. I say sorry for things like that all the time. It made me think: why am I apologizing for something that isn’t my fault?
From a young age, I was taught to apologize when I did something wrong. Over the years, there have been more and more sorrys in my life. I started apologizing even when I was in the right. I apologize to escape conflict. This pattern is especially prevalent in women. Women are socialized to be more passive. We aren’t expected to stand up for ourselves; we’re expected to keep our heads down and apologize.
Of course, I value a good apology. A genuine apology helps, but I think it’s only the first step in actually making amends. People can say sorry and not mean it. Or, some people give a sincere apology but never change their behavior. What’s the point of apologizing if you’re going to do the same thing again? Sorry is just a word — actions are what matter.
Apologizing can be tiring. Once you say sorry, you’re accepting responsibility. There’s no need to blame yourself for something that isn’t your fault. Conversely, it’s tiring to hear “sorry” and have that person do the same thing again. Deeds speak louder than words. So start making changes instead of saying unnecessary sorry.
1. What happened to the author in the dining hall?| A．She was knocked down by the huge crowd. |
| B．She apologized to those who crashed into her. |
| C．She couldn’t find her way in the crowded place. |
| D．She was busy on her phone and didn’t notice others. |
| A．She is always taught to behave herself in the public area. |
| B．She feels guilty for the trouble caused by her carelessness. |
| C．She believes that women should apologize to show politeness. |
| D．She apologizes just to avoid unnecessary argument with others. |
| A．Widespread. | B．Uncommon. | C．Significant. | D．Unnoticeable. |
| A．Avoid saying sorry. | B．Deny taking responsibility. |
| C．Keep on blaming others. | D．Set about making changes. |
【推荐3】My friend Fowkes, tells a story of a class he took. On the first day the professor marched up to the blackboard, looked through his notes, cleared his throat, and began. Fowkes was the only student in the course. Once Fowkes fell ill and missed a class. When he returned, to Fowkes’s astonishment, the professor began to deliver not the next lecture in the sequence but the one after. Had he lectured to an empty hall in the absence of his only student? It was perfectly possible. This story happened in 1930s, when books were short and expensive.
Today, professors continue to lecture and students to listen much as they did. It’s time for us to abandon the lecture system and turn to methods that really work.
Attending lectures is passive learning, at least for inexperienced listeners. Active learning, in which students write essays or perform experiments and then have their work evaluated by an instructor, is far more beneficial for those who have not yet fully learned how to learn. Most students learn best by engaging in debate. They need small discussion classes that demand a joint effort of teacher and students rather than classes in which one person, however learned, expresses his or her own ideas.
The lecture system harms professors as well. It reduces feedback to a minimum, so that the lecturer can neither judge how well students understand the material nor benefit from their questions or comments. Questions that require the speaker to clarify unclear points and comments that challenge inadequately constructed arguments are indispensable to scholarship. Without them, the liveliest mind becomes dull.
If lectures make so little sense, why have they been allowed to continue? The truth is that lectures are easier on everyone than debates. Lectures give some students an opportunity to sit back and let the professor run the show. In a classroom where everyone contributes, students are less able to hide and professors have less room to show off how smart they are.
Worse still, the lectures too frequently come at the wrong end of the students’ educational careers - during the first two years, when they most need close, even individual, instruction. If lecture classes were restricted to junior and senior undergraduates and to graduate students, who are more academically independent and more capable of working on their own, they would be far less destructive of students’ interests and enthusiasms. After all, students must learn to listen before they can listen to learn.
1. The author tells a story in Paragraph 1 to _________.| A．lead into the main argumentation |
| B．provide the historical background |
| C．show reasons of lecture absences |
| D．compare two different kinds of classes |
| A．Students take passive part in small discussion classes. |
| B．The professors need more room to present their talents. |
| C．Lectures are mainly intended for junior and senior students. |
| D．It is far from beneficial for those academically inexperienced students. |
| A．common | B．necessary |
| C．available | D．abundant |
| A．College Lectures: Graduates or Undergraduates? |
| B．College Lectures: Advantages and Disadvantages |
| C．College Lectures: Continue or Not? |
| D．College Lectures: Today and Past |
【推荐1】Most of the wind available on land is too gentle to push commercial wind turbine（涡轮机），but now researchers in China have designed a kind of "tiny wind turbine,, that can use wind energy from breezes as little as those created by a quick walk. The new device is not technically a turbine. It is a nanogenerator made of two plastic strips in a tube that clap together when there is airflow. Like rubbing a balloon to your hair, the two plastics become electrically charged after being separated from contact, a phenomenon called the triboelectric effect. But instead of making your hair stand up like Einstein's, the electricity generated by the two plastic strips is captured and stored.
"Our intention isn't to replace existing wind power generation technology. "Our goal is to solve the issues that the traditional wind turbines can't solve?" says Ya Yang, a researcher from Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems. "Unlike wind turbines that use coils and magnets （磁石） where the costs are fixed, we can pick and choose low-cost materials for our device. Our device can also be safely applied to nature reserves or cities because it doesn't have the rotating （旋转）structures.
Yang says he has a small vision and a big vision for the project's next steps. In the past, Yang and his colleagues have designed a nanogenerator as small as a coin, but he wants to make it even tinier and more compact with higher efficiency. Yang is also looking to make the device bigger and more powerful. "I'm hoping to scale up the device to produce 1,000 watts. We can place these devices where traditional wind turbines can't reach. We can put it in the mountains or on the top of buildings for sustainable energy.
1. What do we know about the new device in paragraph 1?| A．It is called tiny wind turbine. |
| B．It can help you walk quickly. |
| C．It consists of a tube and two plastic strips. |
| D．It is a turbine used to store the electricity. |
| A．Its cost is fixed because of materials used in it; |
| B．It has solved the problems the old device can't. |
| C．It creates a cheap and secure way of making electricity. |
| D．It can take the place of the present wind generators. |
| A．He intends to make the device much smaller. |
| B．He plans to apply the device to nature reserves and cities. |
| C．He means to make the device more powerful and widely used. |
| D．He wants to make the device the biggest one in the country. |
| A．Science. | B．Culture. | C．Fashion. | D．Business. |
【推荐2】There are over 400 units in the National Park System of the United States, which include National Parks, National Monuments, National Historic Site and much more. Each of these protects a site of importance, whether it is historic or natural.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake is one of the most unique areas in Oregon. Most of the year the park is covered with snow. During the short summer lasting from July to October, visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, swimming in the lake and even take a boat tour of the lake. During the long winter, which lasts from October to July, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing.
Great Sand Dunes(沙丘)National Park and Preserve, Colorado
This destination preserves the tallest sand dunes in North America. It includes grasslands, wetlands, forests and more. Visitors can enjoy learning about the diversity of the land while enjoying the beauty of the region. Medano Creek is a great destination in the National Monument and Preserve. Great Sand Dunes is also a fantastic destination for building sand castles and even enjoying some sandboarding.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
On the opposite side of New Mexico from Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park is another great spot to experience New Mexico. Chaco Culture provides access to a wide variety of Chacoan sites. In fact, Chaco Culture National Historical Park has the largest concentration of Chaco ruins outside of Mexico. The park also has a great night sky program.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana
This amazing park has six sites, which feature a different aspect of Louisiana's rich culture and history. The Barataria Preserve in Marrero is a great destination to have outdoor adventures in the amazing wetland. The Chalmette Battlefield is an interesting spot where visitors can learn about the 1812 Battle of New Orleans. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve also has four visitor centers in different locations. Each visitor center highlights a different cultural and historical aspect of Louisiana.
1. What can visitors do while visiting Crater Lake National Park in June?| A．Go skiing. | B．Build sand castles. |
| C．Swim in the lake. | D．Go for a ride. |
| A．It is a great destination for camping. | B．It has amazingly different ecosystems. |
| C．It is home to the most complex caves. | D．It has the world's tallest sand dunes. |
| A．The Chalmette Battlefield. | B．Chaco Culture National Historical Park. |
| C．The Barataria Preserve. | D．Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. |
【推荐3】Language learning apps are very popular now and offer opportunities to learn vocabulary and practice grammar. But there has been a discussion about just how effective such apps can be.
Among the most popular apps are Duolingo and Busuu. A former research found positive results on the use of them. But it mainly concentrated on studies with learners who had signed up for language courses and these apps worked as an after-class support, so the results were not always reliable. A recent study of 4,095 Busuu users has been carried out to find out if users can actually learn a language with an app.
Busuu provides learning materials for 12 different languages. It offers special models where some contents are ready for use for free while some contents are not. We find that its users are an even mix of men and women. More than half consider themselves to be at the beginner level because there is a reduction in users as their language levels go up. Most people use the app because of personal interest, or because they want to study or live abroad. Female users are likely to use it less often but for longer periods of time than male users.
Feedback in the app is highly thought of. More than 92% of the users say that the app has met their expectations and 86% consider the app as very good or good. In fact, more than 80% of the users surveyed strongly agree that using the app has helped them improve their knowledge of the language they are learning.
Besides, language learning apps also create an environment where mistakes are only known to the users, and this can address the performance nervousness that many learners suffer from when asked to speak a foreign language. So language teachers should encourage their students to use them to do the grammar work, leaving precious class time for more language communication.
1. What's the reason why the results of the former research weren't always reliable?| A．It only considered users of a limited kind. |
| B．It just focused on positive results. |
| C．It was only carried out before class. |
| D．It used out-of-date methods. |
| A．It's used by more advanced learners. |
| B．. All the contents are free to use. |
| C．Most users consider it satisfying. |
| D．It's more popular with female learners. |
| A．cause | B．solve |
| C．increase | D．practice |
| A．Language learning apps are very popular with most language teachers. |
| B．Students won't suffer nervousness in learning languages by using Busuu. |
| C．Language learning apps are effective and satisfactory to language learners. |
| D．Students should be required to use apps for homework after class. |
【推荐1】Top trends in IT for 2021
The year of 2020 was almost entirely dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, and its effects have not only changed life on Earth but our digital lives as well. What are the technological trends that will continue into and through 2021? Let’s take a look.
Quantum computing
Like its name suggests, quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels.
Different from classical computers, which store and process data as either ones or zeros, quantum computers use something called quantum bits-or qubits. Qubits allow information to be stored in more than one state, so it can be both one and zero at the same time.
Therefore, quantum computers can handle complex operations at speeds much faster than traditional computers without needing as much energy. Quantum computers have proven to be especially helpful during the pandemic For instance, they were used to search for potential vaccines and find other therapies to help affected people. Its potential will be explored more in 2021.
Working from home
There’s no real going back to normal “Gerard Grech, CEO of networking company Tech Nation, told Wired magazine. The pandemic has given us an opportunity to rethink how we work and why.
After working from home for much of 2020, some companies noticed an increase in productivity when their employees worked remotely. Not only that, but providing this option canal so help cut down operating costs for companies.
This is great news for workers, too, as many people have wanted more flexibility with their work arrangements for quite sometime. More hybrid workspaces with work from home options will thrive this year.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has recently become more important because people are more dependent on working online- to name one of the main reasons.
In fact, according to Forbes, hackers took advantage of the pandemic and ramped up cyber attacks worldwide. In just the first four months of 2020. alone, attacks on banks increased 238 percent and cloud servers by 600 percent.
One solution is the cybersecurity mesh. This method puts a security barrier around each individual instead of around the company or organization. You can think of the cybersecurity mesh as each person being in their cybersecurity bubble instead of everyone staying in a walled city.
Going into 2021 and beyond, cybersecurity will become crucial a sour world becomes even more digitalized and interconnected.
1. What makes quantum computers faster than traditional ones?| A．The way they store data. | B．The number of bits they use. |
| C．The common materials they use. | D．The diversity of data they can store. |
| A．Remote working should be reconsidered. |
| B．The pandemic has given new insight into our routines. |
| C．We must adapt to new situations more quickly. |
| D．The damage caused by the pandemic can not be undone. |
| A．It was developed by hackers during the pandemic. | B．It ensures cybersecurity like a walled city. |
| C．It can defend individuals against cyber attacks. | D．It provides a secure online trading platform. |
【推荐2】At the World Economic Forum last month， President Trump drew claps when he announced the United States would respond to the forum's proposal to plant one trillion（万亿）trees jo fight climate change. The trillion tree idea won wide attention last summer after a study published in the journal Science concluded that planting so many trees was "the most effective climate change solution to date".
If only it were true. But it isn't. Planting trees would slow down the planet's warming,but the only thing that will save us and future generations from paying a huge price in dollars，lives and damage to nature is rapid and considerable reductions in carbon release from fossil fuels，to net zero by 2050.
Focusing on trees as the big solution to climate change is a dangerous diversion（偏离）.Worse still，it takes attention away from those responsible for the carbon release that are pushing us toward disaster. For example， in the Netherlands， you can pay Shell Group of Companies an additional 1 euro cent for each liter of regular gasoline you put in your tank to plant trees to balance the carbon release from your driving. That's clearly no more than disaster slightly delayed. The only way to stop this planet from overheating is through political， economic， technological and social solutions that end the use of fossil fuels.
There is no way that planting trees， even across the size of the United States， can absorb the huge amounts of fossil carbon released from industrial societies. Trees do take up carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. But this uptake merely replaces carbon lost when forests were cleared in the first place， usually long ago. Regrowing forests where they once grew can undo some damage done in the past， but even a trillion trees can't store enough carbon to head off dramatic climate changes this century.
In a sharp counter argument to last summer's Paper in Science, Justin Gillis wrote in the same journal in October that the study's findings were inconsistent with the dynamics of the global carbon cycle. He warned that "the claim that global tree restoration is our most effective climate solution is simply scientifically incorrect and dangerously misleading".
1. What do we know about the trillion-tree idea?| A．It was published in a journal. |
| B．It was proposed last summer. |
| C．It was put forward by Trump. |
| D．It drew lots of public attention. |
| A．A drawback of the tree planting strategy. |
| B．An example of balancing carbon release. |
| C．An anecdote of making a purchase at Shell |
| D．A responsibility for politicians and economists. |
| A．Reserved | B．Opposed | C．Hesitant | D．Supportive |
| A．Contradictory Ideas on Tree Planting |
| B．A Trillion Trees Come to the Rescue |
| C．Planting Trees Won't Save the World |
| D．The Best Solution to Climate Change |
【推荐3】Pandas are not only a national treasure, but are loved around the world.
Recently, a giant panda cub born in August at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, US, was given the name Xiao Qi Ji, which is translated into English as “little miracle”. The choice was the result of a five-day online vote that drew nearly 135,000 voters in the US. Interestingly, National Public Radio said that in a nod to Chinese tradition, the name was not chosen until 100 days after the birth.
This cub's birth proved to be quite inspiring - and at a time when inspiration was truly needed.
“Xiao Qi Ji's birth is a true miracle that has been so uplifting to all of us during the pandemic(疫情), ”Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said in a video congratulatory message. “We are connected again in the growth of our little ambassador, and in our shared joy and friendship.”
The furry black-and-white animals have played an important role in the country's diplomacy, known as “panda diplomacy (外交)”.
According to the Japanese Royal Annual, the practice dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian sent a pair of pandas to the Japanese emperor.
China revived panda diplomacy in the 1950s when China sent two pandas to the Moscow Zoo. By 1982, China had given 23 pandas to nine different countries. However, most of them have died. China stopped giving away pandas in the early 1980s. Instead, the animals are loaned to other countries. In general, they are to be returned to China after 10 years.
But why do these cute “diplomats” find it hard to survive in other countries? According to Xinhua, their dietary habit is one significant reason. Their nutrition mostly comes from bamboo shoots. Adult giant pandas consume about 40 kilograms of bamboo daily. Pandas can also be quite picky. They refuse to eat bamboo shoots after they have blossomed.
It takes 10 years for a new crop of bamboo to mature, and many countries do not have an environment suitable for bamboo growth. This means that food has to be imported. In August, Calgary Zoo in Canada announced that due to pandemic-related changes in its import laws and quarantine methods, they couldn't provide enough fresh bamboo for pandas. This meant that they had to send two giant pandas back to China.
But countries are still trying their best to facilitate this special type of diplomacy. “We don't own the pandas, but the whole world wants to help save the panda, and we do that through our knowledge exchange,” Steven Monfort, director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, told China Daily.
1. The expression “in a nod to” in Para. 2 is closest in meaning to ______.| A．in praise for | B．in response to | C．in favor of | D．in order to observe |
| A．Because the pandas' dietary habit was significantly changed abroad. |
| B．Because the pandas couldn't have bamboo to eat in other countries. |
| C．Because most of pandas could not be adapted to the climate abroad. |
| D．Because most of the pandas sent to other countries couldn't survive. |
| A．It was the first time that China had sent a panda to Japan. |
| B．The practice “panda diplomacy” dates from the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．China began panda diplomacy, sending two pandas to Moscow Zoo. |
| D．Two giant pandas had to be returned because they were sick in Canada. |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Uncaring. | C．Disapproving. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．To tell us how to feed pandas properly. | B．To call on people to love pandas in the world. |
| C．To introduce the furry black and white ambassador. | D．To explain why “panda diplomacy” is stopped. |
