1 . Our English teacher Mrs. Wang let us do an English project—researching the Chinese traditional festivals. Here are two groups’ reports about it.
The subject we’ve chosen is Lantern Festival. We’ve collected much information about the festival by doing some reading in the library. Lantern Festival has a history of about 2, 000 years. It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar (阴历) month. People get together to enjoy colorful lanterns and play riddle (谜语) games. Small gifts are usually offered when they get right answers. It’s a tradition to eat tangyuan on this special day. As for the next step, we will make our own lanterns and make some English riddles. This will help us understand the meaning of the festival better. | Linda:
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We learned about Dragon Boat Festival. To do the research, we searched for information online and visited a local museum about culture and customs. We’ve learned a lot about the festival. With a history of about 2, 000 years, Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 5th day of the fifth lunar month. People usually celebrate it by watching boat races. Zongzi is the most traditional food that is eaten to honour the great poet Qu Yuan. Next, we plan to learn how to make zongzi, and produce an English video to make the festival known by more people around the world. | John:
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1. What is the project about?
| A．Reports. | B．Foods. | C．Festivals. | D．Games. |
| A．By watching races. | B．By reading books. |
| C．By visiting a museum. | D．By searching the Internet. |
| A．Buy some zongzi. | B．Make English riddles. |
| C．Plan some activities. | D．Make an English video. |
2 . OpenAI has once again shocked the world with its latest creation, Sora. The AI tool can produce videos up to one minute long. Just give it some text instructions, like “a Chinese New Year celebration” and you’ll get a video that matches the description. Many commentaries (评论文章) on Sora express the worry that the tool will put many filmmakers out of business.
Similar worries have been voiced since AI chatbot ChatGPT appeared. Text-to-image programs like Dall-E and Midjoumey have made headlines as well for the same reasons. Many are afraid that industries such as programming, translation, teaching and design will all disappear. It seems we can turn to AI for just about anything we want to know or do.
Does that mean we no longer need to roll up our sleeves and gain knowledge and skills ourselves? Well, the short answer is “No”. Even in the age of AI, knowledge is still power. In fact, the rise of AI may only require you to use your brain more. AI is knowledgeable, but for now at least, it needs instructions. In other words, you must communicate with it. Let’s say you want advice on how to get a better return on your savings. If you don’t know anything about finances (财务) (if you don’t even know what a“return”is), you’ll have trouble asking the right questions.
You also need to exercise your imagination more actively. Take the Chinese New Year celebration video in Paragraph 1 for example. You can’t depend on Sora for everything. You need to be clear about your expectations and use your language skills to describe them in as much detail as possible. Where is the celebration taking place? What performances are going on? What are the performers wearing? You may also need to be a bit professional. For example, “Throw in a close-up (特写镜头) of a dragon dancer, eyes locked on the ‘Pearl’.”
And keep in mind that AI can make mistakes. After an AI tool gives you an answer, you need to judge whether all the information is correct and up to date. To do this, you need at least some basic knowledge about the subjects involved (涉及).
If you think the development of AI has given you the right to be lazy, it’s time to stop daydreaming. Double down on your studies so that you’ll be better equipped to work alongside AI.
1. Why do AI tools cause people’s worry according to the passage?| A．Because AI tools might make serious mistakes. |
| B．Because AI tools can do anything you want to do. |
| C．Because AI tools can only produce short videos. |
| D．Because AI tools may make people lose jobs. |
| A．You don’t have to do anything when you use AI tools. |
| B．You may have difficulty answering Sora’s questions. |
| C．You need to give more details to make Sora work better. |
| D．You need special knowledge to communicate with AI tools. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．AI tools really make our life more comfortable. |
| B．Knowledge remains important in the age of AI. |
| C．AI tools will take the place of humans in future. |
| D．With the AI tools, you can wonderful nice videos. |
3 . If you find yourself often feeling like there’s not enough time, you’re not alone—I sometimes have that feeling, too. The key is getting good at managing time. When you get the skill, you can finish your studies on time and still have space for fun activities. Here are some suggestions to help you find that balance (平衡).
Plan study time properly
Work out how much time you need for each subject. Plan your study time according to the difficulty level of each subject. For example, spend about one hour on the easy subjects, 1-2 hours on the ones in the middle, and 2-3 hours on the more difficult ones.
Use time wisely
If you don’t have enough time for studying, think about spending less time on things like playing or watching TV. Don’t stop these activities completely, and just do them a bit less. That way, you can make sure you have time for both studying and having fun.
Learn to Prioritize (优先处理)
Working out what to do and when to do is a key part of managing your time. When you have lots of things to do, you need to find out which tasks are really important and do them first. For example, if there’s a science test coming up, you should spend more time on science instead of other subjects.
Learn to say NO
Having fun is great, but it’s important to know when to say no to fun things. For example, if someone invites you to play but your homework isn’t done, it’s okay to say no. Saying no is like an art. It helps you avoid going out with friends for no good reason or watching TV too much.
In a word, being good at managing time isn’t just helpful for school; it’s a key to success in life.
1. What can we do to plan study time properly?| A．Spend the same time on each subject. |
| B．Spend less time on the difficult subjects. |
| C．Spend all our time on the difficult subjects. |
| D．Spend time according to the difficulty level. |
| A．To work out the time of the science test. |
| B．To avoid playing when homework isn’t done. |
| C．To have time for both studying and having fun. |
| D．To find out really important tasks and do them first. |
| A．Stopping playing completely. | B．Watching TV too much. |
| C．Saying no to fun things if necessary. | D．Going out with friends anytime. |
| A．To discuss ways to plan study time. | B．To introduce methods of managing time. |
| C．To give suggestions on being successful. | D．To provide information about having fun. |
4 . Life sometimes can be so difficult for us. You may feel the whole world is against you. However, a good change in mind or actions may turn your life around.
Many times, when you are feeling down, thoughts can be running around your head. You may miss out on some of your brighter ideas. To stop this, you should write down your goals. This will make them clearer in your mind and give you something to stick to. Writing it down will help you think about how you can achieve it. It will make you feel much better after you mark it in your list.
Short-term pleasure such as junk food (垃圾食品) or computer games is not true happiness. You’d better cut out a lot of the negative things in your life. You can start a new hobby like exercising. It can improve your body as well as feelings. Doing things like that will help you get into a better man. You can even see your progress in the mirror.
If you still can’t change by yourself, there is no shame in finding help from someone. By reaching out, you are already making a great step. It doesn’t even have to be a professional (专业人士). Sometimes just go to your friends and family and tell them what your trouble is. It helps a lot.
It is not easy to make a change and maybe not everyone needs to do it. What works for one person may not work for somebody else. You need to find what helps you out and then stick to it. If you can find out the goals and develop some good habits, your life will slowly but surely turn around.
1. How can you stop thoughts running around the head?| A．By doing exercises. | B．By starting a new hobby. |
| C．By writing down the goals. | D．By finding some bright ideas. |
| A．Give it up. | B．Try to change others. |
| C．Accept the trouble. | D．Find help from someone. |
| A．It’s easy to find out a way to change your life. |
| B．Everyone needs to make a change and stick to it. |
| C．Exercising can improve people’s bodies and feelings. |
| D．We must find a professional to help us to make a change. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Wonderful. | C．Helpful. | D．Painful. |
| A．How to Turn Your Life Around | B．How to Set a Clear Goal |
| C．How to Find Help When in Trouble | D．How to Exercise to Change Your Life |
5 . Many people have lost touch with others in their lives, whether they’re friends from high school or college they used to see. If they’re thinking about whether they should get back in contact with a friend, a new study suggests that the answer is; yes, they should.
Our friends appreciate an unexpected phone call, or a message more than we think, even if we are just saying a quick hello. In fact, they are very excited and enjoy it very much.
That’s according to researchers from the US, who also said that the more surprising the contact, the more it is appreciated.
They did a number of similar experiments with almost 6, 000 people. In one of them, half of the participants (参与者) were asked to think of a time when they had contacted a friend they hadn’t spoken to for some time. The other half had to think of a time when someone had gotten back in contact with them.
People in the first group were then asked to tell how much they thought the friend appreciated their messages—by text, phone or email. And the other group told how much they appreciated receiving the messages. The results showed that the people sending the messages underestimated (低估) how happy people were to receive them.
They found similar results in other experiments, such as when they asked participants to send notes or gifts to friends. And if the contact was surprising, it was even more welcome.
People are social beings and enjoy ________. So, our friends really would like to hear from us, the researchers said—more than we might think.
1. According to the study, if you lost touch with an old friend, you should ________.| A．go to visit him or her in no time | B．be out of touch with him or her |
| C．give him or her a surprising phone call | D．write a letter without telling who you are |
| A．bore | B．welcome | C．fear | D．search |
| A．Our friends hate to send messages very much. |
| B．Our friends usually refuse to get back in touch with us. |
| C．Our friends love the phone or the email more than we think. |
| D．Our friends think friendship is less important than it really is. |
| A．connecting with others | B．making a telephone call |
| C．living in a place together | D．having a quiet environment |
| A．They did only one experiment. |
| B．People should surprise their friends once in a while. |
| C．People are always happy with the touch with a friend. |
| D．People enjoy receiving messages rather than sending messages. |
6 . How long has it been since you had the feeling of being moved? Do you feel thankful when you taste the delicious dinner your mother prepares for you? On Teachers’ Day, do you say “Thank you, teachers” from the bottom of your heart, or just do it as others do?
You must know that in the West, there is Thanksgiving Day. People invented this holiday to be thankful for what they got, because no one could be happy or successful without the help of others.
As the only child in the family, it is natural for us to grow up feeling self-centered and take others’ kindness for granted (理所当然). “They are my parents. I am the apple in their eyes (心肝宝贝), so of course they should take good care of me.” a student said.
That’s why Shanghai Education Committee (委员会) added “learn to be thankful” to the new Regulations (规范) for Middle School Students. “Only when students learn to be thankful for others’ kindness can they show love to others and contribute (做贡献) to society,” said a person from Shanghai Education Committee.
Better late than never. Here are a few suggestions for you to learn to be thankful and express your thankfulness to others.
*Don’t contradict (顶嘴) your parents. Remember that they do everything for your good. Try to talk with them patiently and allow them to know what you are thinking about. Help your parents with housework. It shows your love and care.
*When you have questions with your subjects, feel free to ask teachers for help. Responsible teachers will find out what you don’t understand and come to you finally, so why not ask them first?
*Don’t be too competitive with your classmates and feel mad at someone when he/she steals the No.1 place from you. Be open-minded and help each other. Isn’t it better to be No.1 together?
*When someone gives you a hand, say “thank you”. Next time when he/she needs help, make sure you are the first one on his/her side.
1. In the west, people invented Thanksgiving Day to ________.| A．be thankful | B．have a big dinner |
| C．get together | D．help others |
| A．Talk with your parents patiently. | B．Help your parents with housework. |
| C．Often contradict your parents. | D．Care about your parents. |
| A．参与性强的 | B．竞争性强的 |
| C．活动性强的 | D．挑战性强的 |
| A．become a No. 1 student | B．show love to others |
| C．contribute to society | D．take others’ kindness for granted |
| A．Listen to Your Parents | B．Learn to Be Thankful |
| C．How to Be a Good Child | D．Take Good Care of Yourself |
7 . Many of us spend time going around areas of water, like going for walks by rivers and lakes—or swimming in a pool, but if you see someone in trouble in the water, do you know how to help him or her?
A life-saving course can teach you how to help a person who has trouble in the water. What tools and methods should you use to save them and how to control your feelings when you’re around the water? These skills are usually taught in a swimming pool.
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) provides courses in the UK. It has a program about water-safety for children aged between 8 and 12. It teaches things such as how to swim safely.
The RLSS wants everyone to know the water safety rules. These are to “stop and think” if the area has any danger. Always “stay together” with friends and family, and swim at a safe place.
In an emergency (紧急情况), call 119 and throw something that floats (漂浮) to the person in trouble．If you are the person in trouble, stay calm (冷静), float on your back and call for help.
1. How does the writer start the passage?| A．By asking a question. | B．By giving an example. | C．By asking for advice. | D．By telling a story. |
| A．Only in a swimming pool can we learn the life saving skills. |
| B．You can throw something that floats if you swim in a swimming pool. |
| C．In a swimming pool, there is always someone who teaches life saving skills. |
| D．You can take life-saving courses and learn the skills in a swimming pool. |
| A．5 years old. | B．9 years old. | C．13 years old. | D．17 years old. |
| A．Swim at o safe place. | B．Stay with teachers. | C．Swim at n low place. | D．Swim after learning it. |
| A．The reasons for calling 119. | B．The ways of saving yourself. |
| C．The ways of learning to swim. | D．The reasons for saving others. |
8 . 
Welcome to Classic Reading. I’m your host, Jordon. While living in China for the past seven years, I’ve become interested in Chinese culture, especially classical Chinese poetry. I have also known some Chinese poets, such as Li Bai, Du Fu and so on. Today, I will talk about a poem from the Tang Dynasty by the poet He Zhizhang. Here is an English version of the poem by Xu Yuanchong, a world-famous translator of ancient Chinese poems in both English and French. Let’s take a look at his translation.
Oh, I return to the homeland I left while young,
Thinner has grown my hair, though I speak the same tongue.
My children, whom I meet, do not know who am I.
“Where are you from, dear sir?” they ask with beaming eyes.
In this short poem, He Zhizhang tells a story about a visit to his birthplace. It’s been decades since the last time he was home, but he could still pick up his local accent. Things did not change much, but the people did. The poet had mixed feelings about it, so he wrote this poem.
Personally, I like this poem because it reminds me of my own hometown. No matter where I live or for how long I’ve left, my hometown and family will always have a special place in my heart. I hope you can enjoy this poem as much as I do. See you next time!
1. What may be the name of the poem mentioned in the passage?| A．Spring Morning. | B．Return to Nature. |
| C．Home-coming. | D．Autumn Thoughts. |
| A．an ancient Chinese poem | B．a world-famous translator |
| C．the host’s homesickness | D．an English poem and a Chinese poet |
| A．Jordon lives in his hometown now. |
| B．He Zhizhang returned home to pick up his local accent. |
| C．He Zhizhang wrote the poem in a happy mood. |
| D．Jordon likes classical Chinese poetry very much. |
9 . For the first time in its history, the 18th Asian Games, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018, had e-sports as an event.
Players from 27 countries and regions, including China and Japan, competed in six different video games, such as Hearthstone (《炉石传说》)and League of Legends (《英雄联盟》). E-sports events have appeared in the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023) as an official competitive program.
So does this mean that kids now have a new excuse to play video games?
Not exactly. For one thing, not everyone agrees that e-sports qualify as actual competitive sports. Some people believe sports should be more physical to count as “real” sports, the BBC reported. Second, not everyone who plays video games can become a professional (职业的) e-sports athlete.
Just like any other sports competitor, you need to have exceptional (特别突出的) skills, such as being able to quickly analyze a situation and think on your feet (反应迅速). “Only those who are top players in their games can become professional athletes,” said Wu Meng, 26, champion of the 2014 NetEase E-sports League.
And just like any other athlete, one has to put in a lot of hard work and training to compete in e-sports.
“Every day, I train for up to 15 hours, from 9 am to 12 am,” said Zhang Chi, 20, a player in China’s King Pro League. “It can be very tiring. Some players even seriously injure their back and shoulders,” Zhang added.
1. When did E-sports become an event at Asian Games?| A．In 2014. | B．In 2018. | C．In 2022. | D．In 2023. |
| A．China didn’t take part in the 18th Asian Games. |
| B．E-sports provide kids a new excuse to play video games. |
| C．It’s not easy to become a professional E-sports player. |
| D．E-sports players needn’t work as hard as sports players. |
| A．If you like playing video games, you can be an E-sports player. |
| B．If you are talented in e-sports, you will be a top player. |
| C．You have to be prepared for hard training if you want to become an E-sports player. |
| D．You have to injure your back and shoulders when you train to be an E-sports player. |
10 . You see advertisements (ads) every day. Ads try to persuade (说服) you to buy things or tell people about coming events for you to take part in.
How to write an ad? Before you write an ad von need to know your readers. What group people are you trying to reach?
Writing an outline (提纲) can make sure you include all the important information. Imagine your school is having a fair to raise money for a new playground. You want as many students as possible to come. Use words that will draw people’s attention. Keeping your sentences short will help your readers read your ad more quickly. You can make an outline like this:
| Sample Ad Outline Purpose of your ad: To persuade students to come to the fair Your readers: Students in our school Questions your ad will answer: What is the event? The Hillsdale School Fair. Why should they go to the event? To help raise more money for a new school playground. Where’s the event? The Hillsdale School Gym. When is the event? Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Words and phrases that are persuasive and get attention: “Share in the excitement!” “Don’t miss out on fun!” “Raise money for our school!” |
Now you have decided which words to use in your ad, you also need to choose a design (设 计) that will make your ad persuasive. Bold (加粗) letters and bright colors get people’s attention. Picking the right picture to appear on the ad is an important step. Don’t try to fit too many words and pictures into your ad. Try different styles until you work out which one is the best. Then do the final draft of your ad and bring the words and the design together! Look! What a good example it is!
Keep reading ads and practicing writing your own ads until you can be a good writer of ads!
1. What should you know before you write an ad?| A．The readers. | B．The words. | C．The pictures. | D．The design. |
| A．Because the sentences are long. |
| B．Because it doesn’t use bold letters. |
| C．Because it has as many pictures as possible. |
| D．Because it includes all the important information. |
| A．By telling a story. | B．By showing a saying. |
| C．By giving a suggestion. | D．By showing facts with numbers. |
| A．Introduce the ways to raise money. | B．Explain how to write ads. |
| C．Give information about a school fair. | D．Describe the importance of writing ads. |
