Christina Horsten and Felix Zeltner tried not to panic when they were hit with a $400 rent increase on their Park Slope apartment in 2016, and realized they would have to move for the second time in two years. Instead of feeling intimidated by the unexpected event, they hit upon an unconventional idea: Why not move to a new neighborhood every month for a year?
At first, things went remarkably well. They found their next apartment, a beautiful apartment in Chinatown. The next months brought stops in Staten Island and Harlem. As September approached, their next place to live proved difficult to find. When their Harlem lease (租约) ended, they took a road trip, then fell for a false advertisement in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, when an apartment they found advertised online wasn't actually available to rent. And eventually they got their money back through Paypal. “That was rock bottom,” Ms. Horsten said.
Over the rest of the year, they spent time in a townhouse in Mott Haven, as well as apartments in Chelsea, the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen, and Williamsburg. “In the end, we were like, ‘Why should we even stop doing this?’ ”Ms. Horsten said. But then a lease takeover on Listings Project caught their attention: a two-bedroom apartment atop an Upper West Side townhouse.
A second daughter, Lily, was born in January. And with a newborn, they have no intention of moving again anytime soon. Still, many aspects of their adventure have remained with them. “In the same way that we’ve tried to keep minimalism (极简主义) in our life, we try to stay in touch with all the people we’ve met,” Ms. Horsten said.“We realized it was a lifelong project to try to get to know NewYork City,” she added. But there is one member of the household eagerly waiting for a repeat: their 4-year-old daughter Emma.“ I think she loved it the most,” Ms. Horsten said.“At all the places we stayed, she found things I never noticed: children’s books, a dollhouse, a drum set. Even now, she’s like,‘When are we moving to a new home?’ And we’re like,‘We kind of like it here.’ ”
1. What does the underlined word “intimidated” in Paragraph1 mean?| A．Frightened. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Embarrassed. | D．Confused. |
| A．In Chinatown. | B．In Sunset Park. |
| C．In Staten Island. | D．In Harlem. |
| A．Buying a townhouse in Brooklyn. |
| B．Staying in the apartment in the Upper West Side. |
| C．Donating their daughter’s toys to those living nearby. |
| D．Looking for a two-bedroom apartment for their newborn. |
| A．East or west, home is best. | B．Where to start, where to end. |
| C．Wherever you are, there is home. | D．Another month, another neighborhood. |
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【推荐1】One day, the sewer line（污水管道）under my house burst. My first response was to call the plumber, but when he heard what had happened, he said he couldn’t help. “We don’t do that,” he said, as if to suggest that even plumbers have their dignity. He did, however, recommend someone. I made the call, expecting the man to complain at such a miserable job. Instead, he simply asked, “The address?”
2And that was it. An hour later, Steve arrived in his truck. I watched as he walked down into the damp depths. A few moments later he appeared, saying, “Yes. It’s broken.”
“Can you fix it?” I asked with a strange mixture of doubt and hope.
3Steve looked at me strangely as if rebuking my lack of faith, and then said, “Sure.” Then he told me that he had to get a backhoe（反铲挖土机）and dig up the street to the main sewer line.
I showed appropriate panic. “How long will all this take?”
“I should have it done by evening.”
4I didn’t want to watch the excavation（挖掘） of my property unfold. All I wanted was to leave, go somewhere, and, upon my return, have everything the way it was before the damage.
5I felt somewhat guilty upon driving off in my clean car, leaving Steve to such a disagreeable task. I went into town and visited a few friends. Eventually, around 6 p.m., my curiosity got the better of me. I went home, and a sweeter sight I never saw: a patch of newly-paved street and a covered-up excavation across my front garden. I opened the basement door and—all was tidy and relatively dry.
6I sat down on the back garden, lost in thought. I was taken by the very idea that, whatever crisis might happen to an unlucky homeowner, there is somebody, somewhere, who is practiced in its resolution. If that’s not reason for thankfulness, I’m not sure what is.
1. Why did the first plumber reject the author’s request?| A．He wanted to protect his dignity. | B．He was inexperienced in the job. |
| C．He had another urgent task to do. | D．He thought the job was unpleasant. |
| A．Admiring. | B．Blaming. |
| C．Accepting. | D．Neglecting. |
| A．The fear of Stevens refusal. | B．The pressure of having to go out. |
| C．The difficulty of the repair work. | D．The effects of the broken sewer line. |
| A．To remove his negative emotions. | B．To avoid doing the excavation work. |
| C．To visit a couple of friends. | D．To satisfy his own curiosity. |
【推荐2】A kind man, Keith Walker, who was 53 years old, kept his own pitbull called Bravo at the W-Underdogs center (an animal shelter) overnight and was on his way to pick him up when he saw the flames on December 18.
He didn't just rescue his own pet, but he made sure that all the animals were safe. He said, “I was nervous at first and really scared to go in there with all that smoke. I am not going to lie.” However, Keith suddenly remembered that his father once said humans had a duty to protect animals. So he said, " My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn't be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs."
Shelter founder Gracie Hamlin said that the shelter was left uninhabitable by the fire, which was electrical. But luckily, they were about to move into a new place, so there was still somewhere for the animals to live.
She said, "Keith is my guardian angel. Even the firefighters didn't know how to handle the animals. They called Animal Control, but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe."
Keith, who has been homeless since he was 13, has now been regarded as a hero after saving the six dogs and ten cats. Well-wishers have raised almost $40,000 for him on GoFundMe, a fundraising platform.
In a separate fundraiser for the shelter itself to rebuild after the fire, Gracie said, “Keith worked tirelessly to bring our animals to safety. Although he refused all offers of help, we are determined to contact him again. He is a vital part of our community and he should be appropriately rewarded for his selfless efforts.”
1. What did Keith do at the first sight of the fire?| A．He waited for help. | B．He turned to his father. |
| C．He protected his own pets. | D．He hesitated for a moment. |
| A．Some firefighters were badly injured. | B．The animals lost their shelter. |
| C．Some cats disappeared. | D．Keith lost his pitbull. |
| A．To reward him for what he did. | B．To raise money for him. |
| C．offer him a good job. | D．To rebuild a home for him. |
| A．Ambitious and helpful. | B．Determined and modest. |
| C．Honest and brave. | D．Generous and calm. |
【推荐3】A winter storm hit overnight. I opened my back door only to find six inches of wet, heavy snow piled up against it. I knew I had quite a job of shoveling out ahead of me, so I grabbed my snow shovel. It looked a lot more ready to work than I did. I sighed and pulled on my boots, gloves and heavy coat.
The cold wind was below zero and cut into my face as I slowly shoveled off my car roof. After that, I started my way to my daughter's house, shoveling the path as I walked. It took a while to get her driveway clear and I knew I still had a lot to do. Next came the paths down the hill to my own car covered in snow. I grabbed the broom to sweep them off as well. I felt uncomfortable when the wind blew the swept snow back. Then I started to shovel out my driveways. My back was aching as I worked. I wished I could be building a snowman instead of shoveling. Winter sure had seemed a lot more fun when I was a boy.
When I finished, I examined my work. It didn't look half bad. I smiled and looked at the woods covered in white. They were such a special sight. I leaned on my shovel and took it all in. Then I thanked God for the beauty of the day and started up the hill with the snow shovel in one hand and the broom in the other. Suddenly, an urge came over me and I dropped them both. I spread my arms, fell back into the blanket of white and happily moved my arms and legs to make an angel in the snow.
As you go through the seasons of this life, take joy in your work, take joy in your play, take joy in your life. Remember that the course of your days rests in your own hands. And always know in your heart that God loves you through the snowstorms as well as in the sunshine.
1. According to the first paragraph, why did the author sigh?| A．He would have large amounts of work to do. |
| B．The wind blew the swept snow back time and again. |
| C．No one could help him to sweep the snow on the way. |
| D．He couldn't go to his daughter's house on such weather. |
| A．The wind hurt the author's face. |
| B．The author found it little fun to make a snowman. |
| C．The author had wanted to go to his daughter's house. |
| D．The author made great efforts to sweep the snow on his driveways. |
| A．he was too tired. | B．he slipped over in the snow. |
| C．he hoped to build a snowman. | D．he wanted to regain the fun in the snow. |
| A．Seek Pleasure Whenever Possible | B．Caution! Snowy Days! |
| C．A Fascinating Shoveling Experience | D．God Loves Everyone |
【推荐1】A retired United States soldier named Terry McGlade, who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, says his dog Major is a hero. He is specially trained to sense when McGlade is about to have a seizure (突然发作), get his phone and dial 911 for help.
When Major had recently sensed an incident about to happen, and McGlade collapsed and hit the floor, Major was able to get to McGlade’s phone, and more or less bite on the phone which is specially set up so that when multiple buttons are pressed and held in, it goes into emergency call mode (模式), and dials 911.
“He was actually able to get my phone out of my pocket,” McGlade said.
The 911 operators who got the call from Major said they never heard him bark or anything. However, they could hear what sounded like a confused man in the background, and did get quite doubtful after quite a few calls from McGlade’s cell phone kept coming in. Quite clearly, Major was using his leg and also stepping on the screen to get the phone to dial for help.
After Major was sure someone would be on their way to help, he then made his way out to the front of the house to wait. When the police and ambulance arrived, he led them into the house and right to McGlade, still in danger.
“I probably would have been in severe trouble if he hadn’t called,” McGlade said.
McGlade was taken to the hospital, where he was kept overnight for observation, but thanks to his best friend, and now hero of the day, Major. He is feeling much better, and will make a full recovery with little risk of lasting damage from this particular incident.
1. What does the underlined word “collapsed” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Slept. | B．Fell. | C．Cried. | D．Ran. |
| A．By seeking somebody else nearby for help. | B．By sending a text message to the 911 operator. |
| C．By keeping barking at the other side of the phone. | D．By biting and stepping on the buttons of the phone. |
| A．Major had made one call to the 911 center before the ambulance came. |
| B．Operators in the 911 center were confused by Major’s calls. |
| C．Major guided the doctor directly to where McGlade lay. |
| D．McGlade has completely recovered. |
| A．Brave and naughty. | B．Serious and clever. |
| C．Calm and lovely. | D．Intelligent and devoted. |
【推荐2】For the longest time,Amber Austwick was unable to speak.In fact,it took a donkey to inspire her first words. Amber,a 6-year-old girl in Birmingham,England,was born prematurely,along with her twin sister,Hope,in June 2010.
Both babies suffered severe bleeding in their lungs,but Hope got stronger while Amber needed a life-saving tracheotomy(气管切开术)that restricted air to vocal cords(声带).As a result,she was able to breathe,but unable to speak.But that changed three years ago,when Amber's mom,Tracy Austwick,took her to an animal shelter.It was there that Amber met Shocks,a donkey that had been rescued from abuse.
“It was quite scary really,”Tracy Austwick said.“Shocks was in the stadium and the riding instructor took little Amber to him and I found it scary for me because Shocks was so much bigger than her.”“But Amber wasn't scared and Shocks was really excited to meet her and they've kept that bond ever since.”The bond is so strong that when Amber was ready to say her first words,she said them to Shocks:“I love you.”
Amber's mother was shocked that her daughter spoke to Shocks.“It was such an emotional moment.I couldn't believe my daughter had finally found her voice,”she said.“Once she met Shocks he brought her out of her shell, she's a lot more confident with him and with friends at school who she loves to talk to about him and the donkey shelter.”
Although Shocks still lives at the shelter,he's part of the Austwick family.“Amber will always visit Shocks and she still sees him whenever she can,”Tracy said.
1. What do the twin sisters have in common?| A．They were born deaf and dumb. |
| B．They had vocal cord injured. |
| C．They suffered physical abuse. |
| D．They had severe lung problems. |
| A．like going to the donkey shelter with her good friends |
| B．fear animals no longer and dare to get close to them |
| C．become more confident and willing to talk to people |
| D．fight against her lung disease bravely |
| A．Shocks Helps Amber to Recover from Her Lung Bleeding |
| B．A New Medical Cure Is Applied to Rescue the Patients |
| C．Amber Has Developed a Strong Bond with Her Friends |
| D．Girl Who Couldn't Speak Tells A Donkey “I Love You” |
【推荐3】When I was sixteen years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn’t the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children I learned French at school. And I had often been to France, so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn’t understand English. But when I went to America, I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language barriers.
How wrong I was! The misunderstandings (误解) began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my American friend Penny a call and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking lost and asked if he could help me.
“Yes,” I said, “I want to give my friend a ring.”
“Well, that’s nice,” he said. “Are you getting married? But aren’t you a bit young?”
“Who is talking about marriage?” I replied. “I only want to give my friend a ring to tell her I’ve arrived. Can you tell me where there’s a phone box?”
“Oh!” he said, “There’s a phone downstairs.”
When at last we met, Penny explained the misunderstandings to me.
“Don’t worry,” she said to me. “I had so many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from British. You’ll soon get used to all the funny things they say. Most of the time British and American people understand each other!”
1. At first the writer thought________in America.| A．he wouldn’t have any language difficulties | B．he would not understand the Americans |
| C．the Americans might not understand him | D．it wouldn’t be an easy and relaxing holiday |
| A．buy a ring for his friend | B．make a call to his friend |
| C．go to the telephone company | D．see his friend off |
| A．means the same in America as in England | B．means “call somebody” to the old man |
| C．has two different meanings | D．means “be going to get married” in England |
| A．the old man and the boy | B．the Americans | C．the British | D．the French |
【推荐1】We didn’t expect to see her again so soon: After a tearless farewell with my daughter, we left her new dorm room but then in the campus we saw her jogging against the August heat. I quickly rolled down the car window and Sarina didn’t miss a step as she turned, nodded at us and waved goodbye. I was in disbelief why the tears hadn’t come when we parted on her first day in university.
Our first separation, the day she left my body, was a nightmare of pain and suffering. While all births are amazing, not all women feel amazed about the births. However, our togetherness in the days and months that followed was so sweet that I felt her small body still seemed to be attached to mine. In the years to come, the sound of her feet running across the wooden floors of our house was like the gentle pounding that reminded me my little girl was here and that someday she would run to the paths I couldn’t follow.
Last year Sarina turned 16 and decided to pursue art in college. She was in excitement about college life with so much to expect but I was uneasy because it would be a long plane ride away from home. I tried to imagine what separation would be like, but I couldn’t. Separation, although on the horizon, still felt distant.
That’s why it wasn’t until the next morning when I awoke in a house absent of her footsteps that the tears finally came—and wouldn’t stop. I understood that Sarina had left the house, and I held onto the memory of her running. When the tears stopped, I was relieved that her body knew what it needed on separation day, and that with our love and support, she had the courage to run into an unfamiliar distance, to glance back, yet to keep moving forward.
1. What happened to the author on her daughter’s first day in college?| A．She burst into tears and had a painful farewell. |
| B．She appeared calm and didn't cry at their departure. |
| C．She asked her daughter to show them around the campus. |
| D．She was cross that her daughter went jogging when they departed. |
| A．To expect her daughter’s bright future. |
| B．To remind herself other daughter's pounding steps. |
| C．To recall the suffering during her daughter’s growth. |
| D．To show the strong attachment between mother and daughter. |
| A．Excited. | B．Worried. |
| C．Relieved. | D．Frustrated. |
| A．A heartbroken separation | B．The story of a successful mom |
| C．How to deal with homesickness | D．Moving forward with love and support |
【推荐2】In many-even most-space-themed films, whenever Earth faces a disaster, the solution is always leaving the planet in spaceships. But the latest Chinese sci-fi movie,“The Wandering Earth”，offers a different idea.
In the film, which is adapted from a short story by Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin, Earth is in danger of being destroyed by the dying Sun. Humans around the world work together to build a huge engine system that will push Earth away from the Sun. Instead of leaving Earth-again-this time we’re taking it with us.
This idea didn't come from nowhere. For thousands of years, Chinese people have had a special emotion at their “homeland” in their hearts and minds. One old saying is “luo ye gui gen", which means returning to one’s homeland in old age, like fallen leaves returning to the roots of their tree. Or look to an ancient poem: “The season called the White Dew ( 白露) begins tonight/Nowhere as in our native place is the moon so bright.” These both show the strong relationship that Chinese people have had with their homeland.
This is probably what sets “The Wandering Earth" apart from Hollywood-style space films. “What is Chinese sci-fi?”Guo Fan. the film’s director, said in an interview. “Films that can really express Our cultural and spiritual core ( 精神核心) can be called Chinese sci-fi. Otherwise, we' re just copying others and telling the same American stories.
And the makers of “The Wandering Earth” may have chosen the best time to tell the Chinese sci-fi story. The film was screened on Feb 5, the first day of Chinese New Year. It was a time when many people had just made the hard journey back to their hometowns. So to them, there is only one possible way to tell the story: Earth goes wherever humans go, because it's our home.
1. What can we know about “The Wandering Earth” from the passage?| A．It follows the latest film fashion. |
| B．It is based on Liu Cixin' s book. |
| C．It is a film copying foreign movies. |
| D．It offers us a new experience of watching films. |
| A．The suitable season when the film was screened. |
| B．The famous poems mentioned in the film. |
| C．The common points between Chinese films and foreign films. |
| D．The cultural background of the film. |
| A．it was the Spring Festival and many people have time to see it. |
| B．many old people want to return to their hometown. |
| C．it can cause many people’s common feelings at this time. |
| D．Chinese people usually celebrate together on that day. |
| A．American sci-fi fails to express its culture. |
| B．“The Wandering Earth" tells a foreign story. |
| C．Chinese sci-fi should have its own features. |
| D．Science fiction films should express certain spiritual cores. |
【推荐3】Good health care depends on access to good information, which our digital devices easily provide. Digital health could be the next big development in how we approach health care.
Digital health might sound like it’s intended to keep your digital devices healthy. Instead, it is a term that describes the system of connected devices that can monitor and report important health information.
To really appreciate digital health’s potential, you need only look at how digital devices have already changed your lives. Take travelling as an example. Before smartphones, online translators, GPS and the internet, travel in unfamiliar areas was difficult. You either had to use a map, find a guide, or constantly asked people to help you get from one place to another. Now, all the information you need can be carried with you in your pocket.
The most useful aspect of digital health is the ability to constantly and accurately monitor vital information. The information is then accessible through the internet, so your doctor has a wealth of data about your daily health. Your doctor can then use that information to make changes to your treatment at any time!
No one would suggest that you should stop seeing your doctor altogether. However, the ability for you and your doctor to constantly monitor your health is a big benefit, it makes it possible to have useful consultations with your doctor online. And reducing the number of office visits could make the entire process more efficient.
Advances in digital health, however, also bring some significant privacy concerns, information regarding your health is particularly sensitive. Patient data could be used for advertising or marketing, for example. If health records are accessible online, safeguarding your information from unauthorized(未经授权的)access might be difficult. But if managed properly, the benefits of digital health could certainly outweigh the risks.
1. Why is travelling mentioned in the third paragraph?| A．To show us the importance of digital health. |
| B．To persuade us of the prospects of digital health. |
| C．To help us understand the term digital health better. |
| D．To explain to us the development of digital devices. |
| A．The meaning of digital health. |
| B．The advantages and disadvantages of digital health. |
| C．The reason why you shouldn’t stop seeing your doctor. |
| D．Improved efficiency of consultations with your doctor online. |
| A．The danger that personal health data could be stolen. |
| B．Rising manufacturing costs in the health care industry. |
| C．Worries about the side effect caused by digital devices. |
| D．Government regulations limiting sensitive information online. |
| A．Health conditions that need urgent attention. | B．I he current state of health care training. |
| C．A technological trend in health care. | D．Rising pressure on health care. |
【推荐1】Founder Lia Grimanis herself experienced homelessness as a teen growing up in Toronto. She got the idea for Up With Women when she received career coaching while working for a teel company. Unlike consultation, where clients work through issues from their pasts, coaching is about the future.
She realized that women who really needed professional development help from a coach could never actually afford it. “All of our clients are living below the poverty line, but some coaches are charging $350 to $600 an hour.” she says.
Up With Women matches participants with certificated career coaches who provide one-on-one sessions twice a month for one year. The strategy is working. So far, the organization has helped more than 400 women. In the 2016-2017 group, roughly 70 percent of them saw an increase in their income, On average, they were making S 12, 383 more per year than women still on the organization’s waiting list. While it’s harder to measure confidence levels. Grimanis sees an increase there, too. And those difficult to quantify results can be the most powerful.
Harmeet Toor, Up With Women’s director of operations and programs, was once a client herself. For Toor, one of the most powerful parts of her coaching experience was learning to shed the idea that she should limit her goals.
Five months into Toor’s coaching sessions. she 'd found a place to live. By the eight-month mark, she 'd landed a job at a doctor’s office. And now she’s figuring out how to help others like Smith, who was finally able to start a law school in 2018.
“I owe it to Up With Women for helping me get here,” Smith says. “Of course, I have the drive and the determination, but I wouldn’t be in the law school if I didn’t have that coaching.”
1. What do we know about Lia Grimanis?| A．She is a caring woman. | B．She has a sense of humor. |
| C．She makes lots of money. | D．She is born in a rich family. |
| A．Get used to. | B．Make sense. |
| C．Get rid of. | D．Hold on to. |
| A．A tech company. | B．Up With Women. |
| C．Her determination. | D．Her family’s support. |
| A．How winery should develop their own career. |
| B．How-women should balance their family and career. |
| C．How Up With Women is set up with the help of Harmeet Toor. |
| D．How a Toronto woman helps other women pull themselves out of poverty. |
【推荐2】Most Helpful Apps for Students
There's almost an app for everything nowadays, and this can make student life easier, cheaper, safer and more fun. Whether you want help with taking notes, revising, waking up on time or keeping fit， read on for our student app picks．
Lecture recording apps
Just a few years ago, students attending lectures would have to spend the entire time writing wildly on notepads, in order not to miss any vital bit of information. Then along came technology, and now， lecture recording apps are a reality.
Sound Note is a popular lecture recording app for iPad users. You can store an entire lecture in both visual and audio form. Other good quality lecture recording apps include Notes Plus and Audio Memos Free—The Voice Recorder.
Student planner apps
Organization is key for success and well-being at university, and student planner apps are becoming increasingly popular. As well as saving on paper, many student planner apps also send reminders and warnings straight to your phone or device. Popular student planner apps include Timetable, My Class Schedule and Class Timetable.
Student safety apps
A number of apps for students have been developed promoting personal safety if out alone at night. The Circle of Six app is particularly useful for locating lost friends on nights out and also allows users to send their circle of six friends an instant call for help at the touch of a button. The GPS tracker will mark your location on your friends" devices, ensuring you'll always be able to find one another if necessary. Other student apps that promote safety include bSafe and React Mobile.
Healthy eating apps
If you're interested in eating healthily while keeping to a student budget, consider downloading a few healthy eating apps. Examples I've come across which are perfect apps for students include Rockin Ramen， a student app featuring a number of nutritious recipes with Ramen as a main ingredient, and MealBoard, an app which plans healthy meals, grocery shops and recipes based on what you've got in the fridge.
1. Which apps send reminders to users?| A．Student planner apps. | B．Lecture recording apps. |
| C．Student safety apps. | D．Healthy eating apps. |
| A．It allows users to seek help during an emergency. |
| B．It encourages users to communicate with friends. |
| C．It enables users to store an entire lecture. |
| D．It helps users to lead a healthy life. |
| A．categorize apps | B．introduce apps |
| C．evaluate apps | D．compare apps |
【推荐3】Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee(拼写大赛). In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.
Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法)to be one of their primary contributions to civilization. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet. The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.
But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.
In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six-year-olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully attempting to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now? ” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture, ” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up. ” says the teacher.
1. What can we learn about the Character Hero?| A．It’s open to people of all ages and all walks. |
| B．It’s the most-viewed TV programs in China. |
| C．It aims to spread Chinese culture to the world. |
| D．It draws great public attention across the country. |
| A．Every Chinese can write Chinese characters easily, especially with computers. |
| B．Only with the help of computers can some Chinese people write Chinese characters. |
| C．Despite the help of computers, Chinese people have forgotten how to write. |
| D．Computers are the only means to rely on to write Chinese characters for many people. |
| A．Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often. |
| B．Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy. |
| C．Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters. |
| D．Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology. |
| A．necessary for adults to survive in China |
| B．a requirement made by the Education Ministry |
| C．helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive |
| D．an ability to be developed only when you are students |
