Njobati, a young woman from Cameroon, faced a challenging journey when she moved from her English-speaking area to a French-speaking area of the country to attend university. The sharp differences between these areas, once part of the British and French empires, made it difficult for her to fit in, which led her to examine her own identity—who she truly was.
Seeking guidance, she turned to her grandfather who also felt disconnected from his own culture. He expressed sadness about what the Nso had lost both culturally and materially, including Ngonnso statue. Ngonnso was the founder of Nso dating back to the 14th Century, whose statue was an important cultural symbol for the Nso. However, it was taken by the Germans in 1902 and has been housed in Berlin’s Ethnological Museum ever since.
Inspired by her grandfather’s desire and saddened by the loss of culture, Njobati made a promise to bring back the statue. She believed it would not only achieve her grandfather’s wish but connect her with her Nso heritage again.
Njobati did many researches about the statue and former unsuccessful attempts. She realized that restitution (归还) was actually about facing the colonial ( 殖民主义的) past. Njobati decided to try differently. To gather support online and offline, Njobati began a grassroots campaign. She organized meetings in community halls and churches, met people one-on-one, and used the power of social media.Through Twitter, she established contact with the Ethnological Museum.
Njobati’s tireless efforts paid off. She was told that a decision about Ngonnso statue was coming, which was an important moment for her.
“Finally, this is happening. Not just for me, but for the Nso people, and for Cameroon,” She cried. “This also lends a hand to other communities that are seeking justice for stolen culture relics.”
1. What made Njobati decide to bring back the Ngonnso statue?| A．Her interest in colonial history. |
| B．Her grandfather’s identity problem. |
| C．Her desire to reconnect with Nso culture. |
| D．Her experience in attending university. |
| A．She did wide and complete researches. |
| B．She turned to her grandfather for guidance. |
| C．She contacted the Ethnological Museum directly. |
| D．She organized meetings and using social media. |
| A．The fight for the statue. | B．The promise she made. |
| C．The grassroots campaign. | D．The return of the statue. |
| A．A fight against colonialism. | B．A cultural fighter. |
| C．A promise for grandpa. | D．A stolen cultural symbol. |
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【推荐1】Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves, south-east of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu province, contain the largest, richest, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. It was first constructed in 366 AD and represents the great achievement of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th century. Four hundred and ninety-two caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals (壁画) and more than 2,000 painted sculptures. Cave 302 of the Sui Dynasty contains one of the oldest and most vivid scenes of cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, showing a camel pulling a cart typical of trade missions of that period.
As evidence of the evolution of Buddhist art in the northwest region of China, the Mogao Caves are of unmatched historical value. These works provide an abundance of vivid materials depicting various aspects of medieval (中世纪的) politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China. Many of these masterpieces are creations of an unparalleled aesthetic (美学的) talent.
The discovery of the Library Cave at the Mogao Caves in 1990, together with the tens of thousands of manuscripts and relics it contained, has been acclaimed as the world’s greatest discovery of ancient Oriental (东方的) culture. This significant heritage provides invaluable reference for studying the complex history of ancient China and Central Asia.
The Mogao Caves were included on the World Heritage List in 1987. At the state level, China has put all World Heritage Sites under top-level protection. In 1961, the Mogao Caves were listed as one of the State Priority Protected Sites by the State Council and were put under the protection of national laws, including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics. The Administrative Institution of the Mogao Caves has been cooperating with international counterparts (同行) to study conservation and site management and looks forward to continuing its work in preserving the heritage of the site.
1. What can we infer from Cave 302 of the Sui Dynasty?| A．It is important for the study of ancient craftsmanship. |
| B．It’s important for the research of the history of Central Asia. |
| C．It shows the evolution of Buddhist art in ancient China. |
| D．It has great value for the study of the history of the Silk Road. |
| A．Portray. | B．Observe. | C．Intend. | D．Process. |
| A．Proud. | B．Amazed. | C．Doubtful. | D．Bored. |
| A．To introduce the laws that protect the Mogao Caves. |
| B．To give advice on how to protect the Mogao Caves. |
| C．To tell us that the Mogao Caves are well protected. |
| D．To explain the measures taken to protect the Mogao Caves. |
【推荐2】Wherever we go, we are surrounded by history. Across the globe, cultural heritage is passed down through the generations. It is in the buildings and structures around us. It is in the arts and artifacts (手工艺品) we treasure. It lives in the languages we speak and the stories we tell. But today, it is under attack as never before. Not only are the damages of time threatening our cultural heritage, but conflicts, climate change, globalization and tourism are all exacting a heavy price. Technology is now the most essential weapon in the battle. Here’s how technology is preserving our cultural heritage.
As you can imagine, creating the replicas (复制品) via crowd sourced 2D images is extremely time-consuming. Increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms (算法) are being used to do all the required sourcing, allowing millions of images to be stored in a matter of hours. AI will also make restoration and preservation of existing cultural heritage far easier and vastly superior to previous methods.
Virtual reality (VR) technology will play a leading role in preserving our cultural heritage in the coming years. Many of the most important sites and architecture are extremely fragile. Human interaction with these locations is doing a great deal of harm. Wastes accumulate everywhere, causing enormous problems. As more cultural heritage sites and objects are digitally mapped and recorded, VR technology will increasingly become the way that people experience them. We’ll all eventually be able to walk through places, look at (and touch!) artifacts and works of art without ever seeing them with our own eyes.
Finally, our cultural heritage will be preserved via technology. Efforts in research, innovation, data sharing and project work will help promote and preserve the cultural heritage of countries all across the world.
1. What does the underlined word “exacting” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Paying. | B．Cutting. | C．Receiving. | D．Demanding. |
| A．It generates 2D images. | B．It makes restoration easier. |
| C．It makes preservation safer. | D．It creates replicas in seconds. |
| A．By recycling huge amounts of waste. | B．By reducing human impact on the site. |
| C．By forbidding visitors from touching artifacts. | D．By educating people about the sites’ importance. |
| A．Ignoring. | B．Compromising. | C．Approving. | D．Disagreeing. |
The Liangzhu ruins in Hangzhou, pointing to an established Chinese civilization 5, 000 years ago, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Every Chinese child is taught at school that the country’s civilization is 5, 000 years old, but proving this beyond doubt has been a problem.
Now, a jade artifact named “King of Cong”, found in the Liangzhu city ruins near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, has provided an answer. According to radiocarbon dating (放射性碳定年法), the 6.5 kg object is 5,300 years old. It is one of the largest objects among all Cong from Liangzhu. The piece has now won greater global recognition.
However, the site has far more than just things made of jade. The main area, spread over 14.3 square kilometers in the Yuhang area of Hangzhou, includes not only a city’s ruins but 11 dams and several cemeteries, all about 5,000 years old. Archaeological facts show that people lived in Liangzhu for about a thousand years.
“The archaeological ruins of Liangzhu (3300-2300 BCE) show an early state with a unified belief system based on growing rice in Late Neolithic China,” the UNESCO World Heritage Committee said. “These ruins are an extremely good example of early city civilization expressed in town planning, a water conservation system and a social order which can be seen in where and how people were buried in cemeteries within the ruins.”
According to studies led by Liu Bin, director of the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the inner part of the ancient city ruins covers 2.8 square kilometers, about five times the area of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the outer city spreads across 6.3 square kilometers. Liu said it was the biggest city ruins site of its time to be found in China, and was also one of the largest cities of its day in the world.
1. What can prove that China has a civilization of 5,000 years old?2. How many years did people live in Liangzhu?
3. What is the whole area of this ancient city?
【推荐1】In dreaming up the programme Tennis and Literacy for Youth, as a mother, I had hoped to share two of my passions, tennis and reading, with children. Throughout the year, I had advertised for participants at local elementary schools and recruited (招收) volunteers at local high schools. With the help of kind people, I applied for money. I was even able to secure a site for the program.
But on the first day of camp, despite my careful planning, things did not go the way I had hoped. Hector and Adrian exchanged blows with their racquets (球拍). Hector struggled to his feet moments later, covering a bloody nose with one hand. Georgie and Eduardo threw balls at each other. Then during reading time, I raced from joyless child to demanding child, unable to convince even one to open a book. They would rather be watching Nickelodeon at home, Eli told me, than “learning stupid tennis and reading boring books”.
I dragged myself home that afternoon. That evening, I called my volunteers together for a meeting, and redesigned the entire curriculum. We created a good-fellow system, where each volunteer paired with a camper to help him or her during reading time. To emphasize praise and progress, we established weekly prize ceremonies, presenting awards for most improved reading, tennis and behavior.
Then one day, Eli shut the book and asked me, “Can I take this to read it to my mom tonight?” Peering up at her eager face, I couldn’t help myself. I jumped to my feet and wrapped her in a hug, lifting her right off the ground. “It’s all yours!” I said.
Somehow, in the midst of the chaos and the schedule changes and the meetings, these children, in bad mood during reading time, untouched books in their laps, began to find joy in reading a story.
1. What happened the first day of the programme?| A．Participants watched TV at home. | B．The programme worked out badly. |
| C．Volunteers failed to do their duties. | D．The plan lived up to the expectations. |
| A．She recruited new volunteers. | B．She replaced the books used. |
| C．She adjusted the plan. | D．She criticized the children. |
| A．She sensed something was wrong. |
| B．She thought Eli needed comfort. |
| C．Eli’s boredom in reading upset her. |
| D．Eli’s passion for reading amazed her. |
| A．An achievement of being volunteers. |
| B．An innovation to the teaching method. |
| C．An insight into helping kids overcome difficulties. |
| D．An experience of introducing reading and tennis to kids. |
【推荐2】At the beginning of my senior year in high school, I began applying to the University of Connecticut. But what I didn’t realize was how expensive my dream was. I came from a middle-class family, and it seemed as though we’d always struggled to make ends meet.
I wasn’t the smartest person in my class, not even close; but my heart was in the right place, and I was determined. I applied for every scholarship I could. And then my guidance counselor told me about the financial aid system. I applied, but I didn’t think I would qualify for that either.
After the holidays, my friends started receiving their acceptance letters from colleges, and I eagerly expected mine. Finally, a letter arrived from the University of Connecticut. Feelings of fear and joy overwhelmed me when I opened the envelope with trembling hands. I had done it! I cried for a while, feeling both extremely excited and afraid. I had been working a full-time job, but that wasn’t enough to pay for tuition, and it was impossible for my parents to pay for my education.
Months went by before a letter from the financial aid office arrived. I opened it eagerly, but it was only a letter requesting more information to process my application. This happened over and over, and my hopes kept getting shot down. Finally, an envelope arrived, the one that would determine whether I could attend college. Not only was financial aid (助学金) going to help me out with my expenses, but also I won two of the scholarships I had applied for! I had actually made my dream come true.
I am now a junior at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a degree in English.
1. What was the author’s main trouble in realizing her dream?| A．She lacked determination. |
| B．Her family was short of money. |
| C．She didn’t know which university to apply to. |
| D．Her parents disapproved of her attending university. |
| A．By taking up part-time jobs. |
| B．By receiving her parents’ support. |
| C．By turning to her guidance counselor for help. |
| D．By applying for scholarships and financial aid. |
| A．To test her determination. |
| B．To inform her of their refusal. |
| C．To ask for supplemental information. |
| D．To check the process of her application. |
| A．Affected strongly. |
| B．Defeated completely. |
| C．Covered completely. |
| D．Overcame easily. |
| A．Never say never. |
| B．More haste, less speed. |
| C．Aiming higher, achieving more. |
| D．Pride hurts, modesty benefits. |
【推荐3】From the moment someone is born, they are influenced by their surroundings. Perhaps the most substantial of these influences are the people they come into contact with:teachers, friends, co-workers and most importantly, family. My mother drew me to the medical field and my love and fascination of childbirth has led me to focus on becoming a labor and delivery nurse.
When I was four, my mom became a licensed practical nurse. I remember attending her graduation and knew that she gave people medicine and helped them. My mom inspired my father to also become a nurse, and shortly after her graduation he started his studies. I could never imagine at that age that I would follow in their footsteps in my adult years.
After my dad graduated, both of my parents worked in a children’s nursing home in Wabash. They worked doubles every weekend so my brother and I would usually stay with our grandparents. Sometimes my mom would let me stay home and ride to work with her. I would go in for shift change and ride back home with my dad. It was during this time that I met and helped many of the patients. My parents taught me what the different machines and devices were used for.
After several years, both of my parents switched from working in a facility to home health care. This meant they would go to a client’s house to care for them. Often times the kids would come to our house and stay for the weekend. This allowed me to observe and sometimes help with the everyday medical needs of the kids. In doing this, I learned a lot about life and the struggles these families faced in caring for a special needs child. Being enveloped in the treatment and care of the patients gave me the knowledge needed in the care of my own children when they became born.
1. Who does the author think have the greatest effect on one person?| A．His teachers. | B．His friends. |
| C．His family. | D．His co-workers. |
| A．Mother’s encouragement. | B．Good salary. |
| C．Stable occupation. | D．Father’s hobby. |
| A．She could look after them. | B．Her parents were too busy. |
| C．She wanted to learn more from them. | D．Her brother used to quarrel with her. |
| A．Brave. | B．Self-centered. |
| C．Ambitious. | D．Kind-hearted. |
【推荐1】Many people cannot forget the beautiful thousand hand dance performed by disabled people during the 2005 CCTV Spring Gala.(晚会) Many of these dancers cannot hear or speak, but their performances are wonderful.
The leading dancer is a beautiful young woman, Tai Lihua, who was born healthy but lose her hearing when she was two years old because of a fever.Not long after that, she also became mute and , from then on, her world was silent.She did not realize this at first, but when she was five, she played a game about sounds with her school friends and discovered she was different.She felt very sad.Her father went to many places looking for treatments for her disabilities, but nothing worked.
When she was seven years old, Tai Lihua went to a school for deaf and mute children, where she did very well in her studies.Her teacher said she used her brain more than other children and was very good at expressing her feelings through movements.
Then when she was fifteen, she started leaning to dance.At first, she found it difficult but she didn't give up.She spent a lot of time practicing and became a brilliant dancer.In the last few years, she has performed in many countries and is much admired by foreign audience.Dancing has changed her life and brought her world wide success and fame.
1. Which of the following is expressed in the passage?| A．Where there is life, there is hope. |
| B．No one is too old to learn. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| D．The early bird catches the worm. |
| A．two | B．five | C．seven | D．fifteen |
| A．Tai Lihua was born healthy. |
| B．Tai Lihua isn't successful now. |
| C．Tai Lihua's parents didn't take good care of her. |
| D．Tai Lihua had a natural ability to dance very well. |
| A．Dance performance in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. |
| B．disabled girl. |
| C．A beautiful dancer. |
| D．A dancer in a silent world. |
【推荐2】While five-time USA Memory champion and University of Miami (UM) lecturer Nelson Dellis says his superhuman memory can be built by anyone with practice, he’s spending this year’s National Alzheimer’s Disease (阿尔茨海默病) Awareness Month preparing to set two Guinness World Records in honor of those that have lost their own.
“When my grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, I worried myself about losing memory, and if that would happen to me when I get older,” Dellis said. “For me to show what’s possible with your memory and raise awareness of the disease is a surprising honor.”
Professor Geoff Sutcliffe has been one of Dellis’ biggest supporters. Sutcliffe met Dellis while working as a department head during Dellis’ time as a UM undergraduate. “After seeing his work morality and ability, I decided to help him secure a lecturer position he’s highly qualified for. He’s now a valuable lecturer,” Sutcliffe said. One area Sutcliffe says his memory has improved greatly from working with and learning from Dellis is in name recognition. “I had thought the memory was impossible to improve for people at my age, but Dellis inspired me to break through the limit.”
Dellis found out about the championship when doing research on brain health, improvement and techniques with Sutcliffe. “I was shocked to discover people that competed had trained their memory using practical techniques, for I’d thought memory was kind of like what you had from birth, like a terrible one or an extremely good one,” Dellis said.
First learning memorization techniques, Dellis said memorizing a set of cards was out of the question. “I did it in like 20 minutes at the time and thought, ‘Wow, I just kept them all in my mind in that time,’” Dellis said. “That seems pokey at present. In the perfect setting, I can do it in 30 seconds, just because of practice.” While his success in improving his own memory was rooted in self-interest, Dellis now emphasizes the potential benefits of memory training and says his mission is to help people improve their skills in memorization.
1. Why did Dellis start training his memory?| A．To prevent loss of memory. | B．To remember his grandmother. |
| C．To do research on brain health. | D．To raise awareness of Alzheimer’s. |
| A．Thoughtful and ambitious. | B．Generous and intelligent. |
| C．Determined and influential. | D．Motivational and capable. |
| A．It’s hard to improve memory. | B．The superhuman memory is inborn. |
| C．Practising memory is important. | D．There’s a big contrast in people’s memory. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Impressive. | C．Slow. | D．Memorable. |
【推荐3】Elizabeth fry was the daughter of an English banker. When she was a young bride and mother, she gave medicine and clothes to the homeless and helped establish the sisters of Devonshire square, a nursing school. In 1813, at age 33, her attention turned to the female prisoners in London’s Newgate prison. She began to visit the prison almost daily, and what she found there horrified her.
In the early 1800s, English prisons were pits of cruelty and violence. At Newgate, women awaiting trial for stealing apples were put into the same prison as women who had been convicted (宣判) of murder. Women ate, defecated, and slept in the same cell. If a prisoner had children, they accompanied her to prison and lived in the same inhumane conditions. For those without help from family, friends, or charities, the options were to beg and to steal food, or to starve to death.
Prison officials warned fry of the risks she was taking in visiting prisons (exposure to violence and disease), but she waved the warnings aside. Besides comforting women, she taught them basic hygiene and to sew and quilt so they might earn a living when they were released. She intervened (介入) for women on death row, and if her pleas were unsuccessful, she comforted them in their last moments. To expand her efforts, in 1816 she founded the association for the improvement of the female prisoners of Newgate “to provide for the clothing, instruction, and employment of the women, and to form in them, as much as possible, those habits of order and industry, which may make them peaceable while in prison, and respectable when they leave it.” Specific reforms she campaigned for included: separation of men and women prisoners, paid work for prisoners, women guards for women prisoners, and the housing of criminals based on their crimes.
1. English prisons in the early 1800s could be described as __________.| A．inhumane and horrifying | B．cruel and orderly |
| C．violent and just | D．efficient and peaceable |
| A．to win their respect |
| B．to help them kill time in prison |
| C．to help them make a living in prison |
| D．to live a respectable life when they were released |
| A．Women prisoners would get a pay rise. |
| B．Women prisoners would be well attended by women guards. |
| C．The human rights of women prisoners would be better respected. |
| D．The housing of the thieves would be much better than the murders’. |
