1 . Different countries have different ideas about how to be polite. In Britain, table manners are important. Good table manners in England are as follows:
★How to sit
You should sit up straight in your chair. When you eat, don’t pick up the bowl and bring it to you. This is called very bad manners.
★Noises at the table
It is never a good idea to make a noise at the table.
★Using your fingers
Usually we don’t pick food up with our fingers when we are eating main dishes, but there are some foods such as pizza, sandwiches, chips (or fries) and fruit, we can eat them with fingers.
★Your mouth
It is not polite to talk with your mouth full of food, or to eat with your mouth open. And if possible, do not make any noises.
★How much to eat
It is polite to eat the food clearly that you have been offered, so a clear plate is a good plate. It shows that you enjoy the food. If you can’t finish everything and need to leave a little, that’s OK. You could saysomething like “That was very nice. ..Thank you.”
1. It is ________ to make a noise when you are eating.| A．polite | B．rude | C．funny | D．relaxing |
| A．Leaving much food | B．Asking for more food |
| C．Bringing the bowl to you | D．Eating up everything on the plate |
| A．eat chips with your fingers | B．sit up straight on the table |
| C．talk with your mouth full of food | D．eat with your mouth open |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
2 . ①Have you ever thought about what’s more important, looking fashionable or feeling comfortable? You might have noticed many people choosing style over comfort and some even go to extremes (极端) to follow fashion. But we should remember: being fashionable isn’t everything. It’s more important to be healthy.
②Some people believe that they need to be a certain size to look beautiful. So, they start extreme diets (日常饮食) that are not good for their health. They might not eat meals or eat too little, which can make them feel sick. Is it a healthy way to live?
③Also, many girls wear shoes with very high heels. They might think high heels make them look taller. But these shoes can actually hurt their feet and make it hard to walk comfortably, and it can increase risks of falls. Some even wear tight (紧的) clothes that influence blood circulation (循环) making it hard to breathe. Should we put fashion over comfort and physical health?
④Besides, some boys and girls spend a lot of time and money changing their hair color. The material they use is usually harmful to their health. To make their hair straight or curly, they also use tools that are hot enough to burn their hair. But using these tools too often or at very high temperatures can make the hair dry or even burnt. Is it really worth it to risk our health, spending so much time and money?
⑤So, let’s rethink what’s really important. Is it fashion or is it our well-being? Clothes or hairstyles don’t tell us anything about a person’s character. Instead of spending a lot of time choosing clothes, we could use that time to do fun things with friends. And instead of following extreme diets, let’s eat properly and exercise regularly. Remember, your worth is not decided by your appearance, but by who you are as a person.
1. Some people go on extreme diets to ________.| A．save money | B．save time | C．look beautiful | D．look different from others |
| A．To ask for help from readers. | B．To tell how to spend time and money. |
| C．To lead readers to think about the topic. | D．To describe the latest fashion. |
| A．Health. | B．Growth. | C．Warmth. | D．Wealth. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
3 . A new video series (系列) called Escape from the British Museum came out on August 30th, 2023. It has caused heated discussions in China’s social media recently.
The three-part series was created by two Chinese video vloggers. It features a woman who plays the role of an ancient jade teapot, a beautiful piece of China’s history. Her partner is a reporter who helps the jade teapot return to China. Together, they tell a tale of how the teapot, a symbol of Chinese artistry, escapes from the British Museum and finds its way back to China.
The videos were inspired (赋予灵感) by an Internet friend. He suggested making a video to record the hard way of Chinese cultural relics (文物) returning home from the UK to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage (遗产).
To bring this story to life, the two loggers travelled all the way to the UK and spent three whole months shooting the videos. The story they created is based on real events and facts, and aims to draw attention to the Chinese relics that are kept in museums far away from their home country.
The British Museum is known to have a total of 23,000 Chinese relics, while about 2,000 Chinese relics are on long-term display. The Chinese objects, from the New Stone Age to the present, include paintings, prints, jades and so on.
For long, the British has said that the cultural relics are safer and better protected at the British Museum, to refuse their return. But the British Museum was reported to have lost some cultural relics, which has caused a lot of concern around the world.
The videos are not only fun to watch but also serve as a reminder of the rich history and culture of China. The creators of the series hope that their work will inspire a love for Chinese heritage.
Though there is still a long way to go to return the cultural relics, China’s search for the lost cultural relics abroad will not stop.
1. How does the series bring the jade teapot to life?| A．By having an actress play the role of the teapot. |
| B．By showing it as a character in a historical drama. |
| C．By telling its story from the first-person point of view. |
| D．By using computer cartoons to express the deep meaning. |
| A．An exhibition at a museum in China. | B．A suggestion from an online friend. |
| C．An official program on cultural heritage. | D．A contest by a well-known Chinese artist. |
| A．To interest people with a made-up story. |
| B．To show the history of the British Museum. |
| C．To encourage Chinese people to travel to the UK. |
| D．To make people care about Chinese relics abroad. |
| A．He is not interested in the events shown in the video series. |
| B．He is worried and hopes they can be returned to China soon. |
| C．He is proud that Chinese relics are shared with other countries. |
| D．He is sure that the museum does a good job of protecting the relics. |
4 . 
In an unusual move, the wildlife workers in Florida, the US, are feeding manatees (海牛) to keep them from hunger. So far, they have already given out 25 tons of lettuce (生菜). Manatees can be as long as 13 feet when they grow up. They can weigh up to 590 kilos. Although they look big, manatees only eat sea grass and other sea plants. That’s one reason why they’re sometimes called “sea cows”. They spend most of their time in warm water which is not deep looking for food.
But Florida’s manatees have been on the US government’s list of endangered animals since 1967. One of the biggest problems for manatees is boats. Manatees are curious, and quite slow. That has led to thousands of manatees being hurt or killed by boats!
With protection, manatees managed to pick themselves up. At one point, there were only about 2,000 manatees left in Florida. But in 2016, there were about 8,800 manatees.
But now manatees are facing a new problem. Many of the beds of sea grass that manatees depend on have been killed by pollution. Polluted warm sea water and fertilizers (化肥) from farmlands have created huge growths of algae (海藻) on the ocean’s surface. It prevents the sunlight that allows the sea grass to grow. The problem is especially serious in Indian River Lagoon. About 90% of the sea grass beds in the area have died off.
So last December, the wildlife experts came up with a plan to get emergency food for the manatees. They decided to feed them green vegetables like lettuce. It has been very successful. They’re working hard to make a difference.
1. The writer describes manatees by ________.| A．telling stories | B．raising questions |
| C．listing numbers | D．giving examples |
| A．To tell us what can cause manatees’ illness. |
| B．To explain why manatees are in great danger. |
| C．To introduce several ways of protecting manatees. |
| D．To offer some information about the US government. |
| A．Because lettuce is easy to grow in the United States. |
| B．Because sea grass nearly dies off because of pollution. |
| C．Because manatees eat nothing but vegetables like lettuce. |
| D．Because wildlife experts create a new way to feed manatees. |
| A．Let’s save endangered manatees. | B．Manatees face serious problems. |
| C．What manatees’ living habits are. | D．What we should feed manatees on. |
5 . 
As a Brazilian, I think the Brazil Carnival (巴西狂欢节) is more than just a festival—it’s a big party that shows how lively our country is. This year, Rio de Janeiro Carnival took place from Feb. 9 to 17.
Carnival holds different meanings for different people. When I was a little boy, it was a national holiday—a time to get off the school uniforms and enjoy ourselves in a world of unusual costumes (服饰). My mom made smart costumes for me, from Wonder Woman to Cinderella.
But as we grow older, carnival takes on new meanings, like a samba (桑巴) dancer learning difficult steps. In my hometown, samba groups from all over the city have exciting parades (游行) in the streets. It’s a time when everyone forgets their worries and enjoys themselves together. People who don’t know each other become friends, and laughter fills the air.
And then there’s Rio de Janeiro’s famous Carnival—it makes all other parties seem like warm-ups. I once had the chance to see it firsthand. I saw the lively streets and people from all walks of life hug each other. The whole city danced into the night until the morning. But more than just the excitement, carnival shows how strong and united (团结的) Brazilians are. It’s a time when people forget their differences and come together in a celebration of happiness.
1. How long did Rio de Janeiro Carnival last this year?| A．7 | B．8 | C．9 | D．10 |
| A．People become friends in the exciting carnival parades. |
| B．His family dress up in unusual costumes during carnival. |
| C．Samba dancers learn difficult steps in the streets for carnival. |
| D．Carnival holds different meanings for him at different ages. |
| A．In person. | B．In general. | C．In public. | D．In surprise. |
| A．Exciting Parties in Brazil | B．A Lively City—Rio de Janeiro |
| C．Strong and United Brazilians | D．A Big Festival—Brazil Carnival |
Wang Qian was a lovely girl, who never argued with her parents before 15. But when she became a ninth-grader, things started to change. “We often argue, sometimes because of unimportant things,” she said.
Maybe Wang has got the “ninth-grade syndrome (综合症)”. Some experts (专家) think ninth-graders usually suffer a lot because of the changes in their body and mind. A survey shows that the lack (缺乏) of support from parents makes the thing even worse. Wang’s classmate Liu Shijia is an example. “The exams in Grade 9 are more difficult, but my parents still don’t support me,” she said sadly.
As ninth-graders enter the rebellious phase (叛逆期), they want to be free and have their own ideas. The survey shows that about 47 percent of ninth-graders try to persuade (说服) their parents when they have different ideas. Wang feels this deeply. “I think I have been an adult already. I can make decisions by myself,” she said. For example, she thinks there is nothing wrong with playing with boys, but her parents don’t agree with her. They often argue about this.
To deal with these problems, an expert from Nantong gives useful advice to ninth-graders. “First, calm down and pay more attention to your studies. Second, develop some interests and share them with your parents. Finally, learn about your changes and know yourself well. Then try to accept them,” she said.
1. What are the reasons for the “ninth-grade syndrome”?2. What does Liu Shijia think of the exams in Grade 9?
3. Why do about half of ninth-graders try to persuade their parents instead of accepting their ideas?
4. What can you do if you argue with your parents except the advice given by the expert from Nantong?(At least 30 words)
7 . ①Think of these scenes. A girl is walking alone in the street and watching a short video on her mobile phone without noticing a car just stop beside her. Or she is walking in an empty street in the dark night without any adults with her. What if something unsafe happens? Being street smart is an important skill to have and a good way to take care of yourself if something unsafe happens.
②Always carry your cell phone with you, but do not look at it while you are walking. Being able to communicate or call for help is important, so keep a list of useful numbers. But put your cell phone away while you are walking so that you can keep your head up and see what’s going on around. If you do need to check your cell phone, stop and look at it quickly.
③Don’t wear earphones (耳机) while you are out. If you have to listen to something when you’re out, use only one earphone or play it at a very low volume.
④Travel with friends or family members when possible and never go anywhere with a stranger. It’s important to be careful with strangers. Remember not to get into a stranger’s car if they call you over.
⑤ Avoid dark and out-of-the-way places. Do not take short cuts through dark areas, even if it will make your trip much faster. If you have to go to unsafe places, go with someone you know or speak to someone over the cell phone while you are there.
⑥Run and shout if you feel unsafe. Run away as fast as you can towards a police station, hospital, on nearby business for help. Shout as loudly as you can to get the attention of people nearby.
⑦As you see, being street smart can help us avoid some possible problems. The smarter we are in the street, the safer we will be. So watch out!
1. The writer begins the passage by ________.| A．listing numbers | B．telling a story |
| C．giving an example | D．describing different situations |
| A．水平 | B．质量 | C．音量 | D．节奏 |
| A．It’s sometimes dangerous to travel alone without parents around. |
| B．If you need to check your cell phone in the street, look at it quickly. |
| C．We mustn’t listen to music with earphones in the street. |
| D．It we meet something dangerous in the street, stay calm and run home fast. |
| A．①/②③④/⑤⑥⑦ | B．①②/③④⑤⑥/⑦ |
| C．①/②③④⑤⑥/⑦ | D．①②③④/⑤⑥/⑦ |
8 . 
We can see more and more driver-less cars in the streets and our homes can be controlled by voice. AI (人工智能) has developed so fast recently. “AI is going to change the world more than anything in the history of mankind (人类), more than electricity.” said AI expert Dr. Kai Fu Lee. That’s true. According to a research by scientists at the University of Oxford, AI will be better than humans at translating languages by 2024, writing school essays by 2026, selling things by 2031, writing a bestselling book by 2049, and treating diseases by 2053. In the next few years, AI will become an important part in our lives.
These are just a few examples of how AI will change the future. What about jobs? Will they take our jobs in the future?
“AI will take our jobs!” is the most common fear. In fact with AI automating (自动操作) all kinds of work, we can think of a more comfortable future for ourselves with millions of new job chances. According to a report on the Future of Jobs by World Economic Forum (世界经济论坛), AI will create 58 million new AI jobs by 2022. There is an excellent chance that AI will replace humans in most of the mental (脑力) tasks by 2030. However, that does not mean it will take away jobs. Taking India as an example, the Indian AI industry doubled in size in 2019 compared to the year before. In just one year, three times more companies are working on AI-based projects and this may continue. India almost doubled its AI engineers in 2019 (from 40. 000 in 2018 to 72. 000 in 2019), but still faces a talent shortage (人才短缺). Top technology companies are racing to implement (实施) AI in our daily lives, which will lead us to a really exciting AI future.
AI Future is coming soon! And there will be more new jobs in the AI industry. Do you want to be a part of this fourth industrial revolution (革命)? Will you upgrade (升级) your skills to stay ahead or will you remain still and slow in the industry? The choice remains with you. With the progress of education and training, now is the time to prepare for the age of AI.
1. From the first paragraph, we can know that AI will ________.| A．replace humans in many ways | B．be more powerful than electricity |
| C．change the long history of electricity | D．change the world greatly |
| A．writing books | B．translating languages |
| C．inventing new robots | D．treating patients |
| A．job shortage | B．job chances | C．losing jobs | D．taking away jobs |
| A．We should improve our skills for AI future. |
| B．AI gets more jobs than people do in India. |
| C．The fourth industrial revolution is a part of AI Future. |
| D．AI will take all our jobs away in the future. |
Weeks before Tomb-Sweeping Day on April 4 this year, hundreds of qingtuan were sold each day. The snack was still a must-have for many people. In the southern part of China, eating qingtuan at the beginning of spring is a kind of tradition. Chinese people started to eat it more than 2,000 years ago. It is made of sticky rice (糯米) and red bean paste (红豆沙), and is famous for its softness, freshness and sweetness. The secret behind its mouth-watering taste is one of its materials—mugwort leaves (艾蒿叶). The plant is mainly found in the Yangtze River Delta (长江三角洲) where it has perfect conditions to grow.
People in this area usually put qingtuan on the tombs (墓) of their dead family members to cherish (怀念) the past memory. Making qingtuan is also a chance for family members to get together at home. It really takes time and effort to make the snack.
Now, qingtuan has already spread its special taste to the northern part of China. Li Yuan, a 30-year-old engineer who grew up in Zhejiang Province, brought qingtuan back to Beijing where he works. “It tastes different in and out of my hometown,” he said. “There’s no place like home.”
Qingtuan has many different tastes inside it, such as apples and bean milk, to meet customers’ tastes. The difference of the taste shows that it’s getting more and more popular across the whole country.
Even though there is warm weather and green leaves in spring, the season wouldn’t be complete without a taste of qingtuan.
1. Tomb-Sweeping Day is in ________.| A．spring | B．summer | C．autumn | D．winter |
| A．sticky rice | B．green color | C．red bean paste | D．mugwort leaves |
| A．loves no place | B．sells qingtuan | C．works in Beijing | D．works as a cook |
| A．How to grow up in Beijing. | B．What to mark the start of spring. |
| C．When to plant rice in Zhejiang. | D．Why to meet customers’ tastes. |
Have you ever imagined how people eat in space? It’s not easy. In a word, it is different from that on Earth. The food that astronauts carry with them doesn’t look like the food you eat.
Some food is carried in closed bags. It is cooked and frozen before the astronauts get it. All the water is removed (去掉) from the food. In the space capsule (太空舱), the astronaut puts the water back. He “shoots” hot or cold water into the food bag with a special gun (枪). He eats the food through a small hole in the bag.
Other foods come in bite-size (一口大小的). The astronaut puts a whole piece in his mouth each time. There can’t be crumbs (食物碎屑). Crumbs would float around the capsule and get in the way. Meat, cakes and cereal (麦片) often come in bite-size pieces.
Astronauts can’t drink water from open cups. The water would float in drops in the air. The water is put in the special gun. The astronaut shoots the water into his month.
Do you think it difficult to eat in space? Astronauts must learn to eat this way.
1. What is the food the astronauts get like?2. Why do some foods come in bite-size?
3. What will happen if crumbs float around the capsule?
4. If you are in space, how will you eat or drink? (Write 30 words or more)
