James Joyce called Dublin the “center of paralysis (瘫痪),” and complained in a letter: “How sick I am of Dublin! It is the city of failure and unhappiness. I long to be out of it.” He spent the last 30 years of his life settling for periods in Trieste, Rome, Zurich, Paris-anywhere but Dublin.
It is a noticeable irony that his masterpiece Ulysses is not only set in Dublin, but never allows us to forget it. The novel tells the story of the hour-by-hour events of one day in Dublin—June 16, 1904, as an ordinary Dubliner, Leopold Bloom, makes his way through the urban landscape, the journey of a modern-day Ulysses, Streets, shops, pubs, churches, bridges—something of Dublin pops up on nearly every page. The city is always there no matter how difficult to understand Joyce’s prose (散文) becomes.
Bloomsday—June 16—is an annual celebration among Joyce fans throughout the world, from Fort Lauderdale to Melbourne. It is celebrated in at least 60 countries worldwide, but nowhere so imaginatively, of course, as in Dublin. There the events of Leopold Bloom’s day are acted out all across Dublin by anyone who cares to participate.
At lunchtime, it’s traditional to stop off for a glass of wine and a Gorgonzola sandwich at Davy Byme’s Pub on Duke Street, just as Bloom did. In the afternoon, the Ormond Hotel, where Bloom had feelings for the barmaids in the Sirens chapter, is the spot for an afternoon drink.
The years since 1904 have made following Bloom’s exact route impossible—Bloom’s home at 7 Eccles Street no longer exists and the red-light district, in which the unreal Circe chapter takes place, has been leveled; only the street pattern remains.
Bloomsday celebrations also feature readings of Ulysses, James Joyce lookalike contests, various other semi-literary activities, and a good excuse for drinking a few Guinnesses. In the eyes of many, it’s easier and a lot more fun than trying to work your way through the novel.
1. What does the underlined word “irony” in Paragraph 2 refer to?A.Joyce hated Dublin but showed his love for it in Ulysses. |
B.Joyce complained about Dublin but still spent time there. |
C.Joyce disliked Dublin but his novel set in it was impressive. |
D.Joyce’s prose was hard to understand despite being successful. |
A.prove the greatness of Joyce’s literary works. |
B.clarify the misunderstanding about Joyce. |
C.show Joyce’s hidden love for Dublin. |
D.introduce the origin of Bloomsday. |
A.started on June 16, 1904 in Dublin. |
B.is a day to celebrate James Joyce and Ulysses. |
C.is celebrated worldwide every other year. |
D.is a holiday for people to fully explore Dublin. |
A.Taking part in Ulysses reading contests. |
B.Trying to set a Guinness record in drinking. |
C.Following Blooms’s route to visit the red-light district. |
D.Experiencing certain scenes described in Ulysses |
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【推荐1】The meticulousness (一丝不苟) that drives the craftsman’s spirit, has made the arts of Japan famous worldwide. But how may this traditional spirit of perfectionism, or kodawari, have wide-ranging influences on everyday life in modern Japan?
Nagasawa Rosetsu was an ancient artist who produced Five Hundred Arhats. He drew the 500 chief followers of the Buddha in a work that measures just 3cm square, roughly the size of a postage stamp. You’ll need to take out the magnifying glass (放大镜) for this one!
Back to modern-day Japan, the most well-known modern Japanese artist is Yayoi Kusama. One of her most representative works is her large-scale spotted pumpkin sculptures. Kusama has also produced many hand-painted works with a level of detail that must have taken weeks, if not months, to complete. Having suffered from a disorder for many decades, Kusama applies herself to painting detailed patterns as a kind of treatment; the repetition involved in creating the work allows her to keep control of her mind.
When did kodawari, this Japanese’s seeking of perfection and devotion to detail begin? I suppose it was even as far back as the Heian period, which began over one thousand years ago. In her The Pillow Book, the court lady Sei Shönagon took it upon herself to write lists of objects and situations that she found to be beautiful due to their perfection.
Today there are still many examples of this single-minded devotion to one’s work in Japan. You can find shops that only produce a single product, whether it be pickled vegetables, tofu, or Mochi sweets. It’s often said that at the best sushi restaurants, apprentice (学徒) chefs will often be tasked for many years with washing and cooking the rice and perfecting this skill before they are even allowed to pick up a knife to begin slicing fish.
This single-minded devotion to one’s craft, whether it be in the field of fine art and handicrafts, or at a local sushi restaurant, is surely one of the defining characteristics of Japanese culture today.
1. What can we learn about Five Hundred Arhats?A.It could reflect the artist’s artistic habits. | B.It may need great craft skills to finish it. |
C.It was drawn on a small stamp. | D.It was made with fine details. |
A.To treat her illness in a peaceful way. | B.To make full use of her talent for art. |
C.To live a full life in her spare time. | D.To get instant fame as an artist. |
A.The uniqueness of Japanese food. | B.The most successful industry in Japan. |
C.The exact demands for apprentice chefs. | D.The popularity of craftsman spirit in Japan. |
A.Who are Japan’s famous artists with craftsman spirit? |
B.Craftsman spirit: a key part of Japanese culture |
C.Japan’s food industry: the past and the present |
D.How are Japan’s art works produced? |
【推荐2】Navarathri, which is celebrated throughout India, falls in September or October. On the first three days, people pray (祈祷) to the goddess Durga, the protector who destroys all evil. The next three days they pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Then, also for three days, they look to Saraswathi, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. The tenth and final day of the festival is for the goddess Durga. On this day many years ago, Durga killed the evil buffalo-headed monster, Mahishasura.
My daughter and I took out the models of the gods and goddesses that we had stored away last year. Soon the room was littered with all kinds of dolls. We usually buy at least one new doll every year. On the tenth day, the dolls are carefully put away. If a doll is too damaged to be shown, it is never thrown away. Instead, it is put deep into the seas.
In our hallway six long wooden steps are set up. First, we spread a thick white cloth over the steps. Now it’s time to put the dolls on the steps carefully. Every year, the gollu is different. Sometimes — as the collection grows — there is no space to fit all of the dolls on the steps. Smaller dolls can also be placed on the floor.
Every night there are prayers, music, dancing, and a large meal for many people. In northern India, the children sing songs while doing the dandiya raas, a traditional dance. Every dancer also has two wooden sticks — called dandiya — that he or she uses to make a sound in time to the lovely music. Dancing the dandiya raas helps people think of the true meaning of Navarathri — togetherness, laughter, and fun!
1. According to Paragraph 1, Navarathri _____.A.is just celebrated in Northern India | B.usually takes place in the winter |
C.is in memory of Durga | D.lasts for about ten days |
A.They always take good care of the dolls. |
B.They usually throw away the broken dolls. |
C.They have to buy many new dolls every year. |
D.They keep the dolls in the hallway for a month. |
A.the collection of Indian songs | B.the number of wooden steps |
C.the showing of the dolls | D.the color of the cloth |
A.Some traditional dances | B.Three goddesses in India |
C.The history of Navarathri | D.A popular festival in India |
【推荐3】World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th and was created to inspire people around the globe to take an active part in environmental protection and learn more about ways we can help to guarantee the future of our planet is safe.
The very first World Environment Day took place in 1974, established by the United Nations General Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment that took place in 1972. Each year the United Nations picks a theme and a host city where anyone who is concerned about the environment can talk about environmental topics with others, followed by different kinds of exhibits to promote environmental awareness. Environmentalists, academics and scientists come together to bring new ideas on the table concerning the environment.
The 2018 World Environment Day was hosted by India, and the theme was Beat Plastic Pollution. It urged people to explore and choose supportable alternatives like paper or cloth bags to reduce the production and use of disposable plastic, which made up 10% of all of the waste. Even though the United Nations picks a specific host city every year, people around the world still celebrate World Environment Day in their hometowns with parades (游行), concerts, cleaning up, tree planting and all kinds of green actions to work towards having a beautiful planet and battling pollution.
World Environment Day is not a public holiday, so you won’t be getting the day off work or school, but if you want to celebrate, why not bring it to the attention of your parents, friends, colleagues or classmates? World Environment Day is all about working together to take action for the planet, so try to get everyone you know interested in helping do something. Things as small as making sure people have a way to recycle can make a difference. You could also try beautifying your neighborhood by planting gardens, learn about green foods, raise money for a local wildlife conservation group or simply learn about the effects of different products on the earth.
1. What do people do on World Environment Day?A.Decide a host city. |
B.Hold a theme party. |
C.Discuss environmental ideas. |
D.Show some plastic products. |
A.High-cost. |
B.Poor-quality. |
C.Second-hand. |
D.Single-use. |
A.Every bit of effort counts. |
B.Doing is better than saying. |
C.Many hands make light work. |
D.Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
【推荐1】4 Best Basketball Camps in the USA
PGC Basketball Camps
For the last few decades, PGC (point guard college) basketball camps have helped thousands of players improve a variety of skills. While the name may have you believe it's for point guards only, that's not the case.PGC basketball camps operate in a number of different states and they have over 100 camps all over the country.While many of the PGC basketball camps are aimed at youth in high school and college athletes,there are also the Skills Academy camps for those as young as the 4th grade.
Nike Basketball Camps
Nike offers introductory camps, shooting camps, overnight camps, day camps and many more. There are even camps that let you work with former or current NBA and WNBA players. One of the best things about Nike camps are the quality of coaching and instruction you will get. They also operate in nearly every state,so no matter where you are, there is likely a Nike basketball camp close. These Nike camps are also great for all ages.
NBC Basketball Camps
Since the early 1970s, NBC(Northwest Basketball Camp) has been among the world leaders in the space.Whether you are in elementary school, junior high or high school, there is an NBC basketball camp for you. These camps are offered across the USA,as well as in Canada and even the UK. The camps they offer include clinics.team camps, overnight camps, and college prep camps, just to name a few. They aim to provide you all of the tools you need to succeed in basketball and in life.
The National Basketball Academy
The National Basketball Academy (also known as TNBA) partners with NBA teams like the Bucks and Pacers to provide camps, clinics, and training for basketball players of all ages. TNBA operates in Milwaukee,Orlando. Houston. Indiana, and Cleveland. It also operates in many other nations around the world such as Brazil, France, Argentina, and Spain. These camps and clinics range from a single day to multiple weeks. They also host various tournaments(锦标赛) so you can show off the skills you have learned.
1. What do we know about PGC basketball camps?A.They have the most camps | B.They are mainly aimed at little kids. |
C.They hire some former NBA coaches. | D.Not only students of PGC can join them. |
A.They focus on teamwork. | B.They hold various tournaments. |
C.They only offer long-term camps. | D.They operate both at home and abroad. |
A.A PGC basketball camp. | B.A Nike basketball camp. |
C.A NBC basketball camp. | D.A TNBA basketball camp. |
【推荐2】Businesses are finding more uses for Virtual Reality(VR) as the technology develops.
VR is no longer only for gaming or enjoyment. An American company called Blue Goji is using VR to improve one’s health by making exercise more fun.
Blue Goji has offices in Austin, the capital of Texas. The company showed its workout machine, called the Infinity treadmill (跑步机) at the recent South by Southwest festival. A person using the treadmill wears a virtual reality headset when exercising. Before starting, the user is connected to a belt to prevent falls. Then, the user plays a VR game while running on the machine. The game can transport the user into the virtual world, where he or she can be racing against virtual people.
The cost of the hardware and computer software program is $ 12,000.That is a lot of money for most people. But Kyra Constam of Blue Goji says the virtual reality treadmill is ideal for places where people go to exercise, like high-end gyms or recreation centers.
Recently, Leonardo Mattiazzi tested the Infinity treadmill. He thought the experience was surprisingly realistic. Mattiazzi said he had a strong feeling to actually get running and do something that pushed his limits. He said the experience was more interesting than running inside the gym without actually going anywhere.
Lots of VR experiences cause motion sickness because people are in motion during the game, but not moving in real life. But when the user is moving on the treadmill and in the game, the chances of motion sickness are reduced, Constam said.
After carefully studying the users’ experiences, Blue Goji plans to begin selling the Infinity treadmill to the public in 2019.
1. After running on the Infinity treadmill, what are users most likely to do?A.Make more new friends. |
B.Gain more useful skills. |
C.Be more fond of exercising. |
D.Find the games more enjoyable. |
A.Users can not run on it. |
B.It is too expensive for most people. |
C.Users can race against their friends. |
D.It can be bought in high-end gyms. |
A.He. was content with it. |
B.He was a bit disappointed with it. |
C.He fell in love with it almost at once. |
D.He thought it realistic to sell it to the public. |
A.To promote a new product. |
B.To call on people to take more exercise. |
C.To introduce a new application of virtual reality. |
D.To discuss the relationship between life and modern technology. |
【推荐3】Virginia Guarddon can’t remember her life without some sort of art. She stared playing the piano when she was 6. At 10, she came across works by the Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, and she was hooked. She started writing poems that would be featured in a couple of books.
There’s something else that’s always been in her life: a type of skin lupus (狼疮) . “All of my life, I tried to find ways to make it better,” Guarddon said. “And that led to my trying to help others feel better about their skin.” The attempt took her to the U.S. in 1994, where she studied science and piano. And then she began a career in skin care. “ To me, skin is a form of art,” she said. “ I love making women feel beautiful.”
“ I wanted to create something of my own,” Guarddon said. “ I wanted to realize my dream.” Her dream? Combining all of her passions into one.
The result is Poet’s Garden Apothecary, Guarddon’s own skin care line and the online business: Poet’s Garden Alchemist. Guarddon teamed up with a laboratory to create her line of products, which she called “skin poetry”. The products, made for every skin type, include an oil face cleanser, day cream and night cream. With each purchase, customers receive a custom poem from one of the company’s contributors. And some earnings from the business go to the Poetry Foundation.
In the first few months of running business, Guarddon said, Poet’s Garden Alchemist is turning into an online poet’s movement. She often hosts live poetry readings on Instagram. “ To me, skin care and poetry go together,” she says. “ I’m trying to show that beauty is not just skin deep. It’s about our voice and how we express it.”
1. What inspired Guarddon to start her skin care art?A.Gustavo’s works. | B.Her passion for music. |
C.Her early experience. | D.The dream of being a poet. |
A.They are made in a laboratory. |
B.They are created to cure skin lupus. |
C.They win high praise from customers. |
D.They get financial support from the Poetry Foundation. |
A.Reliable and modest. | B.Smart and hard-working. |
C.Creative and caring. | D.Determined and ambitious. |
A.How to Cure Skin Lupus | B.A Special Skin Product |
C.The Secret to Running Business | D.Putting Passions into Business |