When visiting Yunnan, you’ll find the 18 oddities in Yunnan (云南十八怪). For example, “girls wear flowers in all seasons” and “three mosquitoes (蚊子) make up a dish”. Maybe you’ve never heard of these expressions (表达) before. Now more and more people fall in love with the delicious flower dishes in Yunnan.
The people in Yunnan have been eating flowers for a long time. After the Spring Festival, March is always the best time to eat the flowers. One popular kind of flower is Tangli Flowers (棠梨花), which can be picked in the mountains. The flower sellers say it is very hard to pick two kilos of these flowers each time. They have to climb up to the tall trees and pick up the flowers carefully. Have you ever tried Tangli Flowers? They taste a little sweet!
The other kind is Jinque Flowers (金雀花). This kind of flower is also used as helpful medicine when people don’t want to eat anything! My grandma can cook Jinque Flowers very well. She says it’s a traditional way to cook Jinque Flowers with eggs. How delicious and healthy!
1. Two kinds of popular flowers are mentioned in this passage.2. In Yunnan, it is the best time to eat the flowers during the Spring Festival.
3. It’s not easy to pick Tangli Flowers because they are in the mountains.
4. If you don’t feel like eating any food, Jinque Flowers can help you.
5. The passage is mainly about the delicious flower dishes in Yunnan.
Many scientists find that colors can change people’s feelings. It’s very interesting. Some colors can make people feel relaxed, and some colors can make people feel nervous.
Now, this kind of knowledge (知识) is being used in many places. For example, school walls are always painted green because green makes students feel relaxed. It is also good for the students’ eyes. Some books are also green or light blue for the same reason. Restaurant owners not only have to know how to make food, but also have to know how to make money. Here are some things they’ve learned from scientific (科学的) studies. The colour red makes people hungry. Many fast food restaurants have red furniture or walls. Soft colors like pink and light blue make people feel relaxed, so they spend more time eating. Loud music may be nice at first, but it soon makes people want to leave. Hard seats also make customers want to eat quickly and leave. Many restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, use this knowledge to make customers eat faster.
1. Few scientist find that colors can change people’s feelings.2. The colour green is good for the students’ eyes.
3. The colour red makes most people feel worried.
4. Loud music is nice because it always makes people want to stay.
5. The passage is mainly about using colors to change feelings.
3 . National Smile Month is the largest and longest-running oral (口腔的) health campaign (运动) in the UK. National Smile Month will be sharing positive messages and encouraging others to develop and have a healthy mouth between May 13 and June 13, 2024.
The British are known for their bad teeth because they have too many sweet foods and drinks. It seems that most of them don’t often show their feelings. They neither smile nor cry. But this is not true. The British like to smile as much as anyone else. They just don’t want to show their bad teeth.
There are three key messages in helping people develop and have a healthy mouth. They are:
■ Brush your teeth at night and at least once a day.
■ Cut down on how much sweet food and drink you have, and how often you have them.
■ Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they ask you to do.
With the help of these three messages, people can realize the importance of good teeth and be confident enough to open their mouths to smile. National Smile Month isn’t just about education and stressing the importance of a healthy mouth. The key to the success of the campaign is that we have lots of fun doing it!
A smile might be a small body language, yet it can make a great difference to our state of mind. You can support National Smile Month in so many ways. Hold events to raise awareness (意识) of oral health, or simply post something on social media. By taking part in National Smile Month, you can help to create a healthier and happier world.
1. When is National Smile Month in the UK in 2024?| A．Between March 13 and June 13. | B．Between May 13 and July 13. |
| C．From May 13 to June 13. | D．From March 13 to July 13. |
| A．Because they never go to the dentist. |
| B．Because they don’t like to brush their teeth. |
| C．Because they have too many sweet foods and drinks. |
| D．Because they think there is no need to show their feelings. |
| A．By raising more money. | B．By posting something online. |
| C．By holding sports events. | D．By having classes at school. |
| A．The British like neither smiling nor crying. | B．You must brush teeth at least 3 times a day. |
| C．Only smile can make you more confident. | D．National Smile Month is meaningful and fun. |
| A．Health. | B．Nature. | C．Business. | D．Sports. |
4 . What do we look forward to in winter? Snow and ice festivals! Many of them hold fun ice sculpture contests (冰雕比赛). Check out these four famous winter sculpture contests!
| Kiruna Snow Festival, Sweden This festival started in 1986. A snow sculpture contest is held during the festival every year. Artists from all over the world show their skills in the contest. Tourists can also have a lot of fun there. They can skate and take part in snow blowing games. This year’s festival was held from January 24 to 28. |
| Geilo Ice Music Festival, Norway This festival began ninetheen years ago. Artists come to Geilo to make working musical instruments out of ice. People can enjoy musical shows in an igloo (冰屋). The 2024 festival took place from February 19 to 24. |
| International Snow Sculpture Championships, U. S. A. This contest has been held for more than thirty years. Teams of artists compete to turn ice into art works by hand. No power tools are allowed! Their works will be displayed in an outdoor art gallery in Colorado. This year, the contest was held from January 22 to 26. And the art gallery was open from January 26 to 31. |
| Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, China It started on January 5th, 1985, and has become the world’s biggest winter festival. As China’s economy (经济) grows, the size of the snow and ice sculpture shows keeps growing. Besides that, the beautiful lighting also make the festival stand out. The festival is officially held from the end of December through February. Opening dates keep changing, and ending dates partly depends on the weather. |
1. Which is the youngest of the four winter sculpture contests?
| A．Kiruna Snow Festival. |
| B．Geilo Ice Music Festival. |
| C．International Snow Sculpture Championships. |
| D．Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. |
| A．watch musical shows | B．experience skating | C．show their skills | D．play interesting games |
| A．Swden. | B．Norway. | C．America. | D．China. |
① Its longest history. ②The size of the snow and ice sculpture shows.
③ The beautiful lighting. ④ The changeable opening time.
| A．①② | B．②③ | C．③④ | D．①③ |
| A．Poem. | B．Story. | C．Letter. | D．Introduction. |
The British Museum is the biggest one in the world. It was built nearly 300 years ago by a doctor, Sir Hans Sloane. The man liked to collect things such as books, drawings, clothes and so on. He also hoped that his children and grandchildren kept his things well and so people would visit them after his death. His wish came true, and the museum opened in 1759, six years after Sir Hans Sloane died. Later, more antiques (古董) arrived at the museum and more people wanted to visit it.
The museum had a famous round Reading Room. There was something unusual in the room. Cool air came up through small holes in the tables. Hot air flowing under the floor kept readers’ feet warm. Since its opening, many famous people wrote and studied there.
It is open every day of the year, except two holidays (New Year’s Day and Christmas). Entrance (入场) is free. There are lots of special exhibitions and every day there are different films and talks, some of them for children. Small machines tell you about the museum as you walk around it.
So if you are one of the British Museum’s two million tourists this year, don’t try to see it all too quickly. There is a lifetime of looking in the British Museum.
1. People built the British Museum to remember Sir Hans Sloane.2. The doctor Sir Hans Sloane died in the year of 1753.
3. Tourists can visit the museum on New Year’s Day and Christmas Day.
4. The British Museum is worth spending much time visiting.
5. The text mainly talks about the Reading Room in the British Museum.
6 . What color of wearing do you like? Do you know “dopamine dressing (多巴胺穿搭)”? It’s one of the most talked about fashion trends (趋势) for 2023. However, is there any science behind this?
“Dopamine dressing” came out from the book Dress Your Best Life. American fashion psychologist (心理学家), Dawnn Karen wrote this book in 2020. In the book, dopamine dressing is about wearing colorful clothing to get more dopamine.
Dopamine is a chemical in our brain. This kind of chemical makes people feel good. Our brain gives it out when we eat delicious food, play with our pets, listen to our favorite songs, after we exercise or when we win a game.
According to Science Focus Magazine, there are studies that show a relationship between the colors of the clothes we wear and how we act and feel. One study found that wearing red can bring better physical performance. It also showed bright colors can make people feel active. One more study showed that wearing green can help people relax because it is the color of nature. Yellow, the color of summer and warmth, can bring people happiness. But there are some problems with these studies, as people from different cultures have different ideas about dressing and colors.
In a word, “dopamine dressing” shows that we can wear colorful clothes to get more dopamine and feel good. Dressing is more than just a trend. It’s also a way of showing ourselves. So, next time you’re getting dressed, think about which colors will bring out yourself best.
1. What is dopamine dressing according to the text?| A．A way of dressing. | B．A kind of chemical. |
| C．A book about dressing, | D．A fashion trend for 2020. |
| A．eat terrible food | B．hear the bad news |
| C．lose a football game | D．read our favorite books |
| A．Dressing is just a trend. | B．Dopamine can’t make people feel good. |
| C．Wearing green can help people relax. | D．Bright colors can make people feel upset. |
| A．In a storybook. | B．In a newspaper. |
| C．In a guidebook. | D．In an advisement. |
| A．Delicious food and feelings. | B．The importance of dopamine. |
| C．Dopamine dressing and feelings. | D．The way of choosing colourful clothes. |
7 . There are 56 ethnic (民族的) groups in China. Different ethnic groups have their own special cultures. Let’s enjoy some of them.
The Bai people use a very old way, tie-dye (扎染), to dye clothes. Tie-dye has a history of nearly 1,500 years. During the Tang and Song dynasties, people chose tie-dyed clothes as gifts.
The Mongolian people live in the Mongolian yurts (蒙古包). These yurts are large round tents and their tops look like umbrellas. They are the traditional homes of the Mongolian people. The yurts are usually white because they’re made of sheep’s wool. And white is a symbol of happiness.
The Zhuang people like singing even more than talking. On the third day of the third Chinese lunar month, they hold a big singing festival. It is exciting and wonderful. All the people can’t help singing happily. Men and women singers sing in pairs. The winners are the “king”, and “queen” of singing.
The Miao people have a special festival, Manghao Festival. It’s in the first Chinese lunar month every year. The Miao people consider Manghao as a hero who helped to protect their homes. At the festival, young men dress up like Manghao and touch others to express good wishes.
1. When did people choose tie-dyed clothes as gifts?| A．During the Yuan and Song dynasties. | B．During the Tang and Ming dynasties. |
| C．During the Tang and Song dynasties. | D．During the Ming and Qing dynasties. |
| A．A big umbrella. | B．A traditional building. |
| C．A sheep’s home. | D．A symbol of happiness. |
| A．The Bai people. | B．The Miao people. |
| C．The Zhuang people. | D．The Mongolian people. |
| A．By choosing tie-dyed clothes as gifts. | B．By protecting their homes like a hero. |
| C．By sending some good wishes to others. | D．By dressing up and touching other people. |
| A．Special Cultures of Some Ethnic Groups. | B．Special Food of Some Ethnic Groups. |
| C．Special Festivals of Some Ethnic Groups. | D．Special Clothes of Some Ethnic Groups. |
Every spring, there are sports meetings at many middle schools. When students on the playground crowd into a circle and shout loudly, “One, two, one, two.” Do you know what game it is? It is tug of war (拔河).
Tug of war is a team sport between two teams at each end of a rope. It first came into being in China 2, 400 years ago. It is very popular in China and many other countries. But in other countries, their tug-of-war match is not the same as ours. They have eight men for each team, while we may have the match between two sides with equal number of men or women players. Of course, they are usually tall, strong and heavy.
For a tug-of-war match, we need a long thick rope. Each team stands at one end of the rope, holding it. There is a white line in the middle of the field. Then they try to pull the center of the rope to each of their own sides. The winning team is the one that pulls the other over the line.
Tug of war was once an Olympic sporting event. It lasted until 1920. Though it isn’t an Olympic sport now, people in many countries like playing it very much.
1. Tug of war first came into being in China 2, 500 years ago.2. In other countries, a tug-of-war team has eight men players.
3. The team that pulls the other over the line is the losing team.
4. Now tug of war is still an Olympic sport and many people like playing it.
5. The passage mainly talks about a popular team sport—tug of war.
9 . We usually think fish can’t talk. But there are a lot of sounds under the ocean. In fact, scientists believe that all sea animals—at least 250,000 kinds—can “speak”! “If we stay focused when diving (潜水), we can hear animals all around us,” a UK scientist Steve Simpson said.
In the past years, scientists used sound recorders to hear fish’s “voices”. There are now thousands of recorders in the ocean. They help scientists match sounds with sea life.
A healthy coral reef (珊瑚礁) is one of the noisiest places in the ocean. Scientists can tell if it’s healthy by listening to it. A healthy coral reef should be full of clicks (咔嚓声) made by shrimps (小虾). When some coral reefs dicd in 2015 and 2016, they became quiet. After people set up the protected areas, scientists heard the animals come back.
With the help of listening to the ocean, scientists start to understand sea animals’ languages.
Strong clown fish make short “chirp (啁啾声)” sounds when going after small clown fish. They do this to show they are more powerful. A damsel fish can create a pop sound to scare other fish by quickly opening and closing its mouth. Mother dolphins can use a special voice to talk to their babies. They are saying “I’m here” to comfort the baby dolphins.
1. What is probably Steve Simpson’s attitude towards sea animals’ languages?| A．Positive. | B．Worried. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．To protect the coral reefs. | B．To communicate with fish. |
| C．To look for new kinds of sea life. | D．To collect sounds from sea life. |
| A．Because people feed animals there. |
| B．Because many shrimps live there. |
| C．Because the coral reef can give out sounds. |
| D．Because many fishes speak in dead coral reefs. |
| A．Telling a story. | B．Using a saying. |
| C．Asking questions. | D．Giving some examples. |
| A．Sea animals can talk except fish. | B．Many recorders are in the sea. |
| C．Animals are very good at learning. | D．Dolphins can talk to the zookeeper. |
Do you know why different animals or insects have their own special colors? Colors in them seem to be used mainly to protect themselves.
Some birds like eating locusts (蝗虫), but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colors together with the change of the colors of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change to the same brown color as crops have. Some other insects with different colors from plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves during the day and appear only at night.
If you study the animal life, you’ll find the main use of color is to protect themselves. Bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be easily seen by hunters. This is because they have the colors much like the trees.
Have you ever found an even more strange act? A kind of fish in the sea can release a kind of black liquid (液体) when it faces danger. While the liquid spreads over, its enemies can’t find it. And it immediately swims away. So it has lived up to now though it is not strong at all.
1. Locusts change their color to match the color of crops to avoid being eaten by birds.2. Insects that look different from plants are active both during the day and at night.
3. Animals that have colors different from trees would be more easily noticed by hunters.
4. Some fish release a black liquid to kill their enemies when they are in danger.
5. The text mainly discusses how animals and insects use colors to protect themselves.
