【推荐1】The discovery of Liangzhu Culture

From December 1936 to March 1937, three archaeological diggings were carried out in the suburbs of Hangzhou,where loads of black ceramics and stoneware were brought to light.

Inspired by these relics, an archaeology lover named Shí Xingeng, who came from West Lake Museum in Hangzhou, wrote several detailed reports on the digging. However, he had to put his work aside when China started to fall into Japan's military aggression. Shi joined the resistance movement against Japanese invasion and died of disease in 1939. What passed away along with him during the war were many of Liangzhu's precious relics.

Fortunately, Shi's reports were finally published in Shanghai in 1938, which caught considerable attention of archaeological circles, In 1959,the name Liangzhu Culture was given to the independent regional culture by archaeologist Xia Nai. It represented an earlier civilization that had remained unknown to historians. The culture, as the radiocarbon dating applied to the relics proved, existed between 3,300 and 2,200 B.C.

It is commonly believed that the earliest known Chinese written language dates back to more than 3,000 year ago; when oracle bone script appeared in Shang Dynasty. But Liangzhu Culture might provide evidence of a written language that appeared in China at least 1,000 years ealiler.

In 2007, Liangzhu Ancient City was reported to be discovered in Hangzhou, where archaeological diggings revealed a large and early walled city in Chinese history. There were man-made hills and streams in the city area, which were very likely part of the early designed urban landscape. To protect the urban space which was formed by waterways and entrances both Inside and outside the city, a flood control system was connected to the river networks and 11 dams. In the fields outside the wall, archaeologists discovered rains of the residences, tombs, workshops, and docks with wooden boats.

1. What can we learn about Liangzhu Culture?

A．It was well preserved.	B．It was named by Shi Xingeng.
C．Many of its relics were lost during the war.	D．It was discovered In 1959.

2. Which of the following is the significance of Liangzhu Culture's discovery?

A．It proved that Chins has a long history.

B．It unearthed a great number of relics.

C．It showed the professionalism of Chinese archaeology.

D．It might prove the existence of an earlier Chinese written language

3. What can we learn about Liangzhu Ancient City from the last paragraph?

A．It was e well-designed city.	B．It showed the rules left by flood.
C．There were no hills or streams in the city.	D．It was the largest city in Chinese history.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel brochure.	B．A history lecture.
C．A cultural website.	D．An archaeological report.

【推荐2】Almost all calligraphy(书法) lovers agree that writing characters with a brush and ink on straw paper offers a way to communicate with not only history and culture, but also oneself. But now Chinese character handwriting is under threat from computers and mobile phones.

A college graduate looking for a job was reportedly turned down by a company because he wrote 24 characters incorrectly in a 400­character handwritten resume. A survey by HorizonKey, covering people from 12 major cities in China, found that nearly one third of those interviewed often experience “character amnesia(遗忘)”， with 94 percent saying this is a problem for them.

The main reason is that most Chinese rely too much on the pinyin­based Chinese language input method, which is replacing the tradition of writing characters stroke(笔画) by stroke. The software will conveniently choose the right characters according to the context or word frequency, as there are dozens of characters with the same pronunciation in Chinese.

Education is another problem. In college, most homework and papers are printed out, instead of handwritten. And few teachers use chalk and blackboards, with Microsoft's PowerPoint the most­often used software to teach knowledge to students.

The number of electronic devices in the classroom is thought to be another reason why students are easily satisfied with just a poor knowledge of the Chinese language and characters. It is quicker to look up a character in an electronic dictionary, but traditional printed dictionaries offer more detailed information on the usage and meaning of the characters. Students pay more attention to remembering a character's pronunciation, but not the other knowledge related to it, which e­dictionaries rarely provide.

Another worry is the “pollution” of Chinese characters by Internet language. Young people regard using Internet language as cool and fashionable. After they learn to use these expressions, they automatically include them in their writing.

1. With the example of a college graduate, the author shows ________.

A．that practicing can improve writing

B．why certain people are poor writers

C．that there are differences in students' writing

D．why Chinese character handwriting is in great danger

2. By saying “...those interviewed often experience ‘character amnesia(遗忘)’”， the writer means those interviewed ________.

A．are not good at handwriting

B．can't write characters accurately

C．show no interest in handwriting

D．find jobs much more difficultly

3. What phenomenon is described in Paragraph 5?

A．Dependence on electronic devices.

B．Advantages of electronic dictionaries.

C．Mastery of knowledge of the characters.

D．Disadvantages of published dictionaries.

4. What's the writer's attitude towards the Internet language?

A．Favorable.	B．Uncaring.
C．Disapproving.	D．Friendly.

【推荐1】A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds (葵花子) as a snack so much. “I've met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth; I believe that's from cracking the seeds,” he said.

I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I'm watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so hard just to get one small seed.

When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go door - to - door on Chinese New Year's Eve to check out what every household was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. In the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with a fancy tablecloth, ready - made dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds.

Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.

I don't think it's right to criticize one's choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.

It's not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins their breath. They think it's a delicacy, and ifs connected with their culture. I think it's a wonderful tradition.

1. When did the writer become aware of her habit of cracking sunflower seeds?

A．She had a crack in her front teeth.	B．Her British friend reminded her.
C．She realized when she was watching TV	D．She typed a report about seeds.

2. What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?

A．The traditions of celebrating it disappear.

B．Children can eat delicious food on that day.

C．The families would get together for it.

D．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．One kind of food doesn't necessarily suit everyone.

B．It is good to form healthy eating habits.

C．Eating habits come from a certain culture.

D．Changing your eating habits will change your life.

【推荐3】If Confucius (孔子）were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He’d need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.

While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It’s nothing personal. Most Americans don’t even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.

But this doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.

In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries.  These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually included Chinese art, history and philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantages of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.

So the old thinker’s ideas are still alive and well.

Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.

As for the old thinker, he won’t soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly intended to do?

A．To provide some key facts about Confucius.

B．To attract the readers’ interest in the subject.

C．To show great respect for the ancient thinker.

D．To prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations.

2. What can we learn about the American students in Paragraph 4?

A．They have a great interest in studying Chinese.

B．They try to get high scores in their Chinese exams.

C．They take an active part in fierce Chinese competitions.

D．They fight for a chance to understand Chinese customers.

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America	B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language
C．Chinese Culture for Westerners	D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. Where is the passage most likely to appear?

A．In a biography.	B．In a history paper.
C．In a newspaper.	D．In a philosophy textbook.

【推荐1】阅读理解
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。

Does handwriting matter? Not very much, according to many educators. However, scientists say it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important. New evidence suggests that the link between handwriting and educational development is deep.

Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they are also better able to create ideas and remember information. In other words, it’s not only what we write that matters — but how.

A study led by Karin James, a psychologist at Indiana University, gave support to that view. A group of children, who had not learned to read and write, were offered a letter or a shape on a card and asked to copy it in one of three ways: draw the image on a page but with a dotted outline (虚线), draw it on a piece of blank white paper, or type it on a computer. Then the researchers put the children in a brain scanner and showed them the image again.

It was found that when children had drawn a letter freehand without a dotted outline or a computer, the activity in three areas of the brain were increased. These three areas work actively in adults when they read and write. By contrast, children who chose the other two ways showed no such effect. Dr. James attributes the differences to the process of free handwriting: Not only must we first plan and take action in a way but we are also likely to produce a result that is variable. Those are not necessary when we have an outline.

It’s time for educators to change their mind and pay more attention to children’s handwriting.

1. What do scientists mean by saying “it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important”?

A．Handwriting is not very important to children.

B．Handwriting should not be ignored at present.

C．Handwriting has nothing to do with education.

D．Handwriting can not be learned in a short time.

2. What does “that view” in Para. 3 refer to?

A．How we write is as important as what we write.

B．Children read quickly when they write by hand.

C．Children create ideas and remember information.

D．A group of students should know what to write.

3. Which is NOT the children’s task in the experiment?

A．Copy the image on a page but with a dotted outline.

B．Draw the image on a piece of blank white paper.

C．Put a brain scanner and show the image again.

D．Type the image directly on a computer.

4. According to the passage, the author obviously _______ giving up handwriting.

A．is for	B．doesn’t care about
C．is responsible for	D．is against

【推荐2】Many Chinese people used to greet each other with “Have you had your meal?” to show their friendliness. Recently, a new greeting has appeared in many Chinese cities, namely “Have you lost weight?”

In recent years, food-delivery services have been growing and Chinese people can easily get access to foods from all over the world. But people are paying more and more attention to their health. On food-delivery platforms, meal replacement and food labeled with “low calories” and “light food” are becoming popular. More people are becoming familiar with various terms, such as “zero sugar” and “low-calorie Fast Diet plan.”

“I used to eat a lot of unhealthy food, which brought me much trouble,” Chen Xin, a programmer in Hangzhou said. “Following instructions from my nutritionist, I can feel that my body is in good condition again.”

As the quality of life for most has greatly improved over the past decades, most people no longer need to worry about whether they have enough food, but rather whether they have a healthy diet. According to statistics from global market research firm Euromonitor International, the global meal replacement market reached $66.16 billion in 2017, of which the Chinese market contributed about $8.45 billion. The number is expected to double in 2022.

Despite healthier diets, many people believe, to lose weight, exercise is also of vital importance. Besides training in the gym, many people choose to take fitness equipment home. Over the past two years, the online consumption of fitness equipment has increased greatly, particularly among women who attach great importance to body management. Many people even like to run marathons. In China’s major cities, holding marathons has become a fashion. 1,828 marathons were held nationwide in 2019, with 7.12 million participants.

According to Wang Hufeng, a professor at the Renmin University of China, health is a major issue of concern for the Chinese people and health is becoming a huge industry. “Health is an important indicator of a state’s soft power, and the improvement of overall health conditions can have a positive impact on economic development,” Wang said.

1. What can we know about the change of people’s greeting?

A．People become friendlier to others.	B．People care less about their meals.
C．People show greater concern on health.	D．People prefer a more direct manner.

2. The statistics in paragraph 4 indicate that .

A．China has greater buying power in food

B．food trading in China is expected to grow in 2022

C．Chinese people are more willing to spend on food

D．Chinese people are changing their food choice greatly

3. What can we infer from Professor Wang?

A．Health plays an important role in society.

B．Food safety should be stressed in the future.

C．China’s economy depends on health industry.

D．Government should develop health care industry.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A food market study.	B．A trend in lifestyle.
C．Enthusiasm about exercise.	D．Benefits of healthy diet.

【推荐3】The ancient tale of the Country Mouse and the Town Mouse was only the first to emphasize rural folk's supposed simplicity when compared with more sophisticated urbanites. However, neuro-scientists　announce that, in fact, it is city living that can dull the wits.

The new study led by Dr. Spiers at Nantes University describes how they used a dataset from 4 million people of a computer game, which tests navigating skills by asking players to memorise a map showing the location of checkpoints and then measuring how well players can find them, guided only by their mental map. Dr. Spiers and his colleagues examined the 4 million people from 38 countries, and found that the strongest indicator of a high score was a player's age—older people performed relatively poorly, which agrees with what researchers know about age-related cognitive decline. But the benefit of rural living was strong enough to offset some of that. Data showed that a 70-year-old who grew up in the countryside had the navigational abilities of an average 60-year-old across the dataset.

There is a huge gap between the navigation skills of rural and city people, and the researchers think they know why. Dr. Spiers says that the brain's navigational abilities probably weaken in the less challenging city environment because they are not being used as much. Although cities may appear more elaborate, they also feature more clues to help residents find their way, such as numbered streets. In the countryside, however, one field tends to look much the same as another, so there are fewer external landmarks to help guide the way.

Neuroscientists already know that living and working in more complex environments can influence the function and structure of the brain. Brain scans of London taxi drivers, who have gained an encyclopedic memory of the city5 s streets, show that they tend to have an enlarged hippocampus—a region of the brain acting as a neural GPS, sensing position and path on an internal map of the environment.

The harmful effect of city living on navigation is probably most serious in people under 16—18, Dr. Spiers says, because their still-developing brains respond and change the most according to external stimuli. And while people who live in cities with young children should not be alarmed, the study does raise some interesting ideas for urban planners: keep their city designs not so simple perhaps. And for everyone else, it might be an idea to turn off maps on the phone.

1. The study led by Dr. Spiers shows that _______.

A．the seniors score higher at computer games

B．rural life benefits people's sense of direction

C．participants are better at finding ways in cities

D．the young remember checkpoints better in maps

2. The underlined word "offset", in Para. 2 most probably means _______.

A．achieve	B．confirm
C．reduce	D．replace

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce a new way of driver training.

B．To expose the drawbacks of living in the urban area.

C．To show the contrast between lives in the country and city.

D．To present environments' impact on one's ability to locate places.

4. What is the best tide for the passage?

A．Lost in the City

B．Brain Weakened in Cities

C．Navigating to the Countryside

D．The Negative Effects of City Living