【推荐1】Marcelo Toledo usually creates sculptures and jewelry out of metal. Now the Argentine artist is working with a new material: waste from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as masks, to create an exhibition exploring the painful impact of the virus.

Toledo, who has made jewelry for the musical “Evita” on Broadway and unique pieces for many famous people, was among the first in Argentina to be infected with COVID-19, which left him hospitalized for eight days. The experience had a great effect on his life and led to a series of artworks, including a 14-meter mask with the Argentine flag that he placed on the famous obelisk (方尖纪念碑) in Buenos Aires to raise awareness about organ donation during the pandemic.

For his new exhibition, the “Museum of the After”, Toledo is collecting recycled waste from the COVID-19 sent by hospitals, laboratories and strangers, including old medical parts and newspapers about the pandemic.

“I am excited to be able to turn pain into beauty and this exhibition is just recording everything that is happening to us as a society,” Toledo said. The artworks, which will go on show from September in a public space in downtown Buenos Aires, will all be made from waste materials or garbage that people send him. “It is the first time that I have done an exhibition in which I do not have to buy any of the elements,” he said.

In the exhibition, there will be a real ship that will symbolically cross a “storm” and recycling islands to raise awareness about the importance of caring for the environment. “The exhibition will tell the story of this ship that went sailing and was stranded (搁浅) by a storm, which is a great metaphor for what is happening to us. This pandemic is a great global storm,” Toledo said.

As with the huge mask, which was in countries such as the United States and Japan, the artist dreams of replicating (复制) the new exhibition in other cities around the world.

1. What inspired Toledo to make the 14-meter mask?

A．Organ donation.	B．His hospital stay.
C．The encouragement from his friends.	D．His Broadway experiences.

2. What can we learn about Toledo’s new exhibition the “Museum of the After”?

A．It was first exhibited in hospitals.

B．Toledo had to buy elements to make the artworks.

C．It was replicated in other countries around the world.

D．The artworks were made from rubbish about the pandemic.

3. What is Toledo trying to express with the story of the ship?

A．People’s irresponsible behaviour leads to natural disasters.

B．People’s awareness of environmental protection is improving.

C．The COVID-19 pandemic is a big challenge for our human beings now.

D．People from all over the world should work together to defeat the pandemic.

4. Where can you probably find this article?

A．A newspaper.	B．A history book.
C．A travel magazine.	D．A science magazine.

【推荐3】A 63-year-old Chinese grandpa's traditional carpentry (木工) skills are delighting tens of millions of viewers online as he creates woodwork without glue, screws or nails.

The Chinese master carpenter, Wang Dewen, known as “Grandpa Amu” on YouTube, has been regarded as a modern Lu Ban, a famous Chinese structural engineer during the Zhou Dynasty, thanks to his vast carpentry knowledge. His most popular video, which shows he made a fantastic wooden arch bridge, went viral on the platform, gaining more than 42 million views.

Grandpa Amu follows an ancient Chinese mortise and tenon technique (榫卯技术), which means no nails or glue are involved in the entire process of building the arch bridge. Grandpa Amu has also made several wooden toys for his grandson using the same technique. Among all the items, a walking Peppa Pig and a bubble blowing toy are his grandson's favorites.

It was not long before his son and daughter-in-law decided to video Wang's efforts. The master carpenter has so far attracted over 1. 18 million subscribers on YouTube, but Grandpt Amu insists that he is just an ordinary farmer. Just like LiZiqi, who lives in a village of southwest China's Sichuan Province, has made a name for herself by making various Chinese dishes on YouTube since 2016. Grandpa Amu now in fact is also trying to spread unique Chinese techniques and Chinese culture to the world.

Grandpa Amu's son and daughter-in-law now work full time on his videos, hoping that the channel's popularity would help local villagers better sell their farm produce. “We came up with the idea of making the videos because we wanted to bring our rural culture to others and let people learn about these ancient Chinese techniques,” said Huang Chunmei, Grandpa Amu's daughter-in-law, in an interview with South China Morning Post.

1. What is Granda Amu famous for?

A．A fantastic toy.	B．A pig.
C．His carpentry skills.	D．The toys for his grandson.

2. How did Grandpa Amu make toys for his grandson?

A．By using an ancient Chinese technique.	B．By applying modern skills.
C．By following the videos.	D．By studying carpentry knowledge.

3. What can we know about Grandpa Amu's videos?

A．They are good for selling toys.	B．They make Grandpa Amu busier.
C．They contribute to introducing China.	D．They help Grandpa Amu earn much money.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Best Popular Video On YouTube

B．Granda Amu: A Chinese Master Carpenter

C．Unbelievable Traditional Carpentry Skills

D．China: A Nation Full Of Amazing Technology

【推荐1】When I met him, I had a lot of anger inside of me. I’ve lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem, but in my neighborhood, there are shoot-ups all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up. I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way, too, but Mr. Clark wouldn’t let that happen.

       Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact, the scores of our whole class rose. One day, he took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera, and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show, he treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let him down.
       Mr. Clark was selected as Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year. He said he would draw three names out of a hat; those students would go with him to Los Angeles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names, Mr. Clark said, “You’re all going.”
       On graduation day, there were a lot of tears. We didn’t want his class to end. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta, but he always kept in touch. He started giving lectures about education, and wrote a bestselling book based on his classroom rules, The Essential 55. In 2003, Mr. Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit the orphanages. It was the most amazing experience of my life. It’s now my dream to one day start a group of women’s clubs, helping people from all backgrounds.
1. Without Mr. Clark, the writer           .

A．might have been put into prison	B．might not have won the prize
C．might have joined a women’s club	D．might not have moved to Atlanta

2. The Essential 55 is           .

A．a show

B．a speech

C．a classroom rule

D．a book

3. How many students’ names were finally drawn out of a hat by Mr. Clark?

A．None

B．Three

C．Fifty-five.

D．All.

4. What can we learn in the short reading?

A．It was in Harlem that we saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time.

B．Mr. Clark taught us not to talk with our mouths full, and we did.

C．Mr. Clark was selected as Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year in Los Angeles.

D．In 2003, Mr. Clark moved to Atlanta, and he always kept in touch with us.

5. In the passage, the writer intends to tell us that           .

A．Mr. Clark went to South Africa because he liked traveling

B．Mr. Clark helped to set up a group of women’s clubs

C．a good teacher can help raise his or her students’ scores

D．a good teacher has a good influence on his or her students

【推荐2】Today I still remember my first marathon (马拉松). Just one month before it, one of my ankles (脚踝) was injured, which meant I can not run in the following two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.

I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P. E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do very well. He later told me that I was “not athletic”.

The idea that I was “not athletic” stuck in my mind for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized that running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of my wills!

The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but determined to prove something to myself.

Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces (鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!

At mile 3, I passed a sign: “GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!”

By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.

By mile 21, I was starving!

As I approached mile 23, I could see my husband waving a sign. He is my biggest fan. He never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a. m. or questioned my expenses on running.

I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal.

Determined to be myself and move forward, free of shame and (世俗标签), I can now call myself a “marathon winner”.

1. What happened to the author a month before the marathon?

A．Her ankle got injured.	B．She still ran every day.
C．She missed her first marathon.	D．Her training was cancelled completely.

2. What’s the purpose of mentioning her P.E. class in her 7th year?

A．To bring back her memory.	B．To thank her teacher.
C．To show she was not good at athletics.	D．To introduce her class.

3. What is the husband’s attitude toward the author’s running?

A．Supportive.

B．Indifferent.

C．Opposing.

D．Sympathetic.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Every coin has two sides.	B．A winner is one with strong wills.
C．Life is a journey, not the destination.	D．Family members play an important role.

【推荐1】Vincent Van Gogh

Born in the Netherlands in 1853, van Gogh led a simple life in a small town until the age of 16. He then left school and joined a company of art business in the larger city. During the next seven years, van Gogh bought and sold paintings in the Netherlands, London, and Paris. He eventually realized that dealing with others’ artwork was not his dream. He soon discovered that his dream was to become an artist himself.

He spent much of his time in learning the basic skills of drawing. He believed that to become a great painter, one must first master the ability to draw. It was only after he was comfortable in this area that he began to use oil paints. That is when van Gogh developed a style for color that made him one of the most respected artists of all time.

Van Gogh’s paintings are amazing representations (代表) of his view of the world. He used his brush and oils to make layers that built the painting until it was almost three-dimensional (三维). This quality makes people want to reach out and touch the painting.

Perhaps one of the most memorable examples of van Gogh’s use of color and brush style is his painting The Starry Night. The sky swirls across the canvas (画布), while the stars glow with unearthly brightness. Each brushstroke (笔画) creates the movement and lights. Under the sky rests a village painted with smaller strokes and finer detail, giving the impression of peace. A large tree in the foreground suggests that the view is enjoyed from the top of a hill, which offers a glimpse of the majesty (庄严) of the night sky. The Starry Night displays the gift of van Gogh’s ability to create a powerful image with simple brush and oils.

Van Gogh spent only the last ten years of his life painting. Yet van Gogh today is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. His influence is strong; many painters mimic his style and use of color. His artwork can be found in museums all over the world.

1. Van Gogh learned how to paint by ________.

A．reading books about art

B．observing the world around him

C．studying the works of great artists

D．equipping himself with basic skills

2. The author includes a photo of The Starry Night to ________.

A．praise van Gogh’s ability

B．present van Gogh’s respect for nature

C．show van Gogh’s style of painting

D．express van Gogh’s feelings about his art

3. The author seems to admire the ________ most about van Gogh’s paintings.

A．image	B．light
C．theme	D．brushwork

4. The underlined word “mimic” in the last paragraph means ________.

A．copy	B．teach
C．change	D．create

【推荐2】Jim Denevan is an amazing artist whose work is admired by all, but owned by none — that’s because all of Jim’s art is created on an unusual canvas(画布)— the soft sand. He sometimes spends days working on a piece, only to see it washed away by the sea or a storm and that is just the way he likes it.

Denevan discovered his artistic talents about ten years ago, when he was wandering aimlessly on the beach with a stick. He ended up drawing a 12-foot-long fish. Since then, Jim has traveled over 1,800 miles while creating over 600 pieces of sand art.

Over the years, his drawings have become bigger, but the tools he uses haven’t changed — All he needs is a stick, a garden rake (耙子)and most importantly, his lively imagination!

Just like any good artist, Jim is quite particular about the “quality” of his canvas, sometimes walking for miles, looking for perfect sand. His latest piece of work, which is also the world’s largest freelance (自由职业的)drawing, was created in the desert sand of Nevada. It took Jim three trips, eight days and over 100 miles of walking to create this 3-mile work of art. It took the storm just one night to destroy it! However, Jim says he actually enjoys watching the waves or rain, wash his paintings away.

Jim’s art has become very popular over the years and was even the topic of a documentary named “Sandman” in 2015. Jim Denevan is not just about art in the sand — he is also an excellent chef and founder of an organization called “Outstanding in the Field”, whose mottois to celebrate food at its source. Accordingly, group dining events are held outdoors on farms, with the diners being treated to a delicious meal. The events, which are held in different farms throughout America, are always sold out the minute the schedule is announced.

1. What do we know about Denevan?

A．He used to be a chef.

B．He has a talent for creating sand art.

C．He puts his work on show regularly.

D．He showed artistic talents at a very young age.

2. It can be learnt from the passage that ___________.

A．Denevan walks a lot to complete his work

B．it is not hard for Denevan to find suitable sand to draw on

C．it usually takes long for the storm to destroy Denevan’s work

D．Denevan is very particular about his drawing tools.

3. Which of the following can best describe Denevan?

A．Generous.

B．Kind-hearted.

C．Imaginative.

D．Traditional.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Denevan loses his interest in art soon.

B．Denevan is also popular as a chef.

C．Being a happy chef is Denevan’s final goal in life.

D．Denevan’s fame helps him with his chef job.

【推荐3】One of the most popular American singers of the twentieth century was Elvis Presley. He made the rock ”n” roll music popular all over the world, He sold millions of records and made many successful films, and he helped change the direction of popular music in the 1960s.

Elvis Presley was born in a poor family in 1935, His parents were simple country people who often took him to church, where he learned to sing, and he never forgot the kind of songs that he used to sing in church as a child.

When he was young, Elvis moved from Toledo to Memphis in Tennessee, where he attended high school, but he was not a good student, His only real interest was singing. He began to sing in the style that is called “country and western”.

In 1955 he recorded some songs for his mother’s birthday. The people at the recording studio liked his singing and his music. It was country and western music, but it also sounded a little like the music which black people used to sing in the American South. It was called “blues”.

Shortly after that, Elvis met Tom Parker, who became his manager and arranged (安排) concerts for him across the United States and new recordings as well. Soon Elvis became famous around the country. Later Elvis went to Hollywood and began to appear in films such as Love Me Tender and King Creole.

But Elvis found it difficult to live with success. Like many other famous people, He began to take drugs and his health started to suffer. When he died at an early age of 42 in 1977,his many millions of fans were shocked, “The King Is Dead!” the newspaper said, But today his memory and his music live on and will always be remembered as the King of Rock “n” roll.

1. From the passage, we can see________________.

A．the church songs didn’t help Elvis develop his own style

B．Elvis forgot his church music at a later age

C．Elvis didn’t get any help from his parents

D．the church songs helped Elvis’ development in his singing

2. Who was Tom Parker?

A．A manager of a bank	B．A famous singer
C．Elvis’ manager	D．Elvis’ best friend since childhood

3. What caused Elvis’ death?

A．His singing too much	B．His taking the drugs
C．His parent’s death	D．Tom Parker’s help

4. What was Elvis’ music style like most?

A．Only country and western

B．Only country and blues

C．Both western and church music

D．Not only country and western but also a bit “blues”