1 . Fibromyalgia (纤维肌痛症) is a long-lasting health problem, which makes people feel of pain and have trouble sleeping. It can make them feel bad both in their bodies and minds. Some researchers wanted to see if Tai Chi, a special kind of exercise that uses slow movements to help both body and mind, could help people with fibromyalgia feel better. They studied 226 people with fibromyalgia for a year. Some did regular (常规) exercises, and others did Tai Chi, which can be done by anyone, no matter their physical limits.
Before starting, the researchers checked how much pain and stress each person had. They chose patients who had a lot of pain and had been dealing with fibromyalgia for about nine years. They divided them into two groups: one did regular exercises, and the other did Tai Chi. Both groups exercised twice a week for an hour. After either 12 or 24 weeks of classes, they were told to practice at home for at least 30 minutes every day. The researchers checked on them every month. They also asked how much pain and other problems the patients had in the beginning, after 12 and 24 weeks, and after the whole year.
The results showed that the Tai Chi groups, especially those who practiced for 24 weeks, had less pain than the regular exercise groups. The Tai Chi groups also felt less stressed and were better at dealing with their problems. They attended their Tai Chi classes more often.
Tai Chi is about moving slowly to exercise all parts of the body. It helps with balance and controlling movements. It also helps with feelings and behavior. The researchers said, “Tai Chi helped patients with fibromyalgia feel better in their minds and bodies, which might be better for them in the long run.”
Many patients have also said that Tai Chi helps them feel better. The researchers’ study adds something more to that. They said, “Tai Chi could help patients feel more confident to manage their condition better. Tai Chi may be especially well suited to the treatment of fibromyalgia.”
1. Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting health problem, which makes people ______.| A．feel of little pain | B．get sleeping problem | C．feel bad only in bodies | D．move slowly |
| A．By recording patients’ everyday life. |
| B．By phoning patients from time to time. |
| C．By mentioning the studies in the past. |
| D．By following patients’ health conditions. |
| A．people playing Tai Chi had more pain. |
| B．Tai Chi can exercise only some parts of our body. |
| C．Tai Chi costs a lot to exercise. |
| D．Tai Chi can help patients feel more confident. |
| A．Practical. | B．Challenging. | C．Traditional. | D．Interesting. |
| A．The Power of Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia. |
| B．Exploring the Ancient Culture of Tai Chi. |
| C．The Science Behind Mind and Body Practices. |
| D．Advantages of Tai Chi Over Medical Treatment. |
2 . When you open a map on your phone, you might think it is guided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) without thinking twice. However, nowadays, most of this service in China uses the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS，北斗卫星导航系统).
China started to build the BDS 30 years ago. Back in 1978, the US already started providing navigation services with its GPS. However, relying on a navigation system from another country is unsafe.
In 1994, China started to create its own navigation system, Beidou. Named after the Big Dipper constellation (北斗七星), which has guided people for centuries, the mission of the BDS was to make sure China could navigate the future on its own terms.
In 2020, after over 20 years of hard work, Beidou completed its global network. The BDS became the fourth global navigation system after the GPS of the United States, Galileo of the European Union and GLONASS of Russia.
The BDS is the first navigation satellite system to provide a global short message communication service. It means you can text others in places without phone signal (信号) or internet . For example, in February 2023,a hiker got lost in heavy snow in Inner Mongolia. He sent a text message using the BDS-powered chip in his phone and got rescued in time.
Moreover, the Beidou system plays an important role in disaster prevention and response (响应). Rescuers (救援人员) can communicate through the BDS quickly and clearly. It can also helpfarmers plant their crops better.
Wherever you are in the world, the BDS can help guide your way. As of 2023, it had provided service for over 120 countries and regions. “By 2035, China will build a positioning, navigation and timing system with the BDS at its core to provide more smart services,” Ran Chengqi, director general of the China Satellite Navigation Office, said at a news meeting in 2018．
1. When did the BDS become the fourth global navigation system?| A．1978. | B．1994. | C．2020. | D．2023. |
| A．The BDS. | B．GLONASS. |
| C．Galileo. | D．Global Positioning System. |
| A．text | B．task | C．tool | D．tour |
| A．Does the writer tell us the disadvantages of the BDS? |
| B．Does the writer introduce the BDS to us? |
| C．Does the writer provide us how to use the BDS? |
| D．Does the writer tell us the further development of the BDS? |
3 .
| Canva Got to make a poster for a school event or some cute invitations for your birthday party? This graphic design (平面设计) app has 250,000 templates (模板) and 1 million photos and graphics for you to create great posters, invitations, and more. Its latest feature is “Magic Studio”, which uses AI to help make your design work easier. All you need to give it is a written instruction, and a design is created for you in seconds. |
| Wysa We all feel down sometimes. And some of us can suffer from serious anxiety (焦虑) . When this happens, Wysa might help. Wysa uses AI to react to your emotions. The app also helps you solve your problems. You can get support from a mental health expert. The app can also help with loss and worries and has tools to train the way you talk and exercises to help you deal with anger. |
| Emoji Me Sticker Maker Emojis (表情符号) let us express ourselves in fun ways without words. Now, with the Emoji Me Sticker Maker, you can express yourself with emojis based on your image. You can make emoji that look like a cartoon character or your favorite people. |
| Sworkit Do you want to keep healthy? Choose Sworkit. It’s good for people new to fitness, and those who don’t have enough time to do other exercises. There are many different exercises —from strength to yoga. Once you download (下载) it, you’ll be asked to do a test, so Sworkit can make the best fitness plan for you. |
1. If you are interested on graphic design, which of the following apps will you choose?
| A．Canva. | B．Wysa. | C．Sworkit. | D．Emoji Me Sticker Maker. |
| A．Wysa uses AI to react to your feelings. |
| B．People can share their emotions with an AI listener. |
| C．People can get support from mental health expert. |
| D．Wysa has no tools to train the way you talk. |
| A．A diary. | B．A magazine. | C．A novel. | D．A notice. |
4 . Nature’s Warnings
When the sky suddenly turns dark and the wind is strong, watch out! A dangerous storm might be coming. Storms are scary, watch for flashes of lightning. Listen for thunder. If nature sends these warnings, don’t wait for rain. Act right away to keep safe.Safety Steps
At the first flash of lightning, quickly get inside a building or a car. Do not go into a shed (棚) for protection. It is not closed like a building, so it is not safe.
Even after you are indoors, be careful. It is not smart to go near doors and windows. They can blow in or break. A room with no windows is the safest place to be.
Do not wash your hands during a storm. Do not use anything that runs on electricity either. Water and electrical lines are like roads for lightning. Even if you really want to play computer games, don’t! It is better to be bored than to risk getting hurt. Try reading a book instead. Reading is more fun than playing computer games.
If you can’t get to somewhere safe, stay out in the open. You may feel safe under a tree, but that is not a good place to be. Lightning is pulling to ward tall poles and trees. Stay down in an open space and cover your ears to protect them. Loud thunder can damage our hearing.
Lightning Strikes
Lightning does not strike people very often. It is not likely that you will ever see that happen. If you do, call 120．Only trained emergency workers should care for a person who has been hit by lightning.
If you follow these rules, you should stay safe during a storm.
1. From Paragraph 1, we learn that ______.| A．storms are frightening and harmful |
| B．storms often come without warnings |
| C．people should wait and watch lightning |
| D．people should take action after the storm |
| A．A building | B．A car |
| C．A room | D．A shed |
| A．use a computer for a while |
| B．listen for thunder by a window |
| C．go into a shed for protection |
| D．find a closed or an open place |
5 . A good conversation happens when people are asking each other the right kinds of questions and then giving the right answers. Let’s take a look at four different types (类型) of questions you can use in a conversation.
| A．Add our own ideas. | B．Listen to the speaker carefully. |
| C．Answer an open-ended question. | D．Keep the conversation moving. |
| A．When the information is very clear. |
| B．When we are trying to start a communication. |
| C．When we want to reply to a closeended question. |
| D．When we have trouble understanding the speaker. |
| A．To find an answer. | B．To give an example. |
| C．To lead an interest. | D．To start a conversation. |
| A．Teach us some useful sentences. | B．Introduce some school rules. |
| C．Guide us how to ask questions. | D．Explain how to make friends. |
6 . Paper cutting is a cultural tradition in China. For centuries, it has been passed down from one generation (一代人) to the next, especially from mothers to daughters.
This beautiful art created by skillful artists is used to decorate doors, windows, and beds in people’s homes, or at celebrations such as birthdays and weddings. At Chinese New Year, window flowers are glued to windows, creating beautiful patterns.
The two main techniques (技艺) used are cutting the paper using a knife or scissors, or tearing (撕) it by hand. If the paper is cut, the edges (边，边缘) are very smooth. Paper cutting can produce very fine work. This type of work is typical of southern China. If the paper is torn by hand, the edges are more simple and natural. Tearing is used more in northeast China. Different parts of China have their own motifs or pictures. These motifs can express many stories and ideas.
It can be hard to hold on to traditions like these because young people don’t know much about traditional art. Often they prefer spending their time on newer pastimes. The experts are getting older. If young people don’t learn the traditions, they won’t be able to pass them down to their own children. But recently there is a change. There are more exhibitions of traditional art. Artists are going into schools to teach children how to do paper cutting. Children enjoy working together with artists and talking to them about the meaning of their art. In this way, they are becoming proud of their culture and traditions.
1. Who created paper cutting?| A．Popular stars. | B．Skillful artists. | C．Excellent teachers. | D．Famous scientists. |
| A．In Northeast China. | B．In Southern China. | C．In Southwest China. | D．In Northern China. |
| A．It is easy to hold on to this form of art. | B．Only the rich can afford to learn it. |
| C．Teenagers should give up this old tradition. | D．It will continue in China for future generations. |
| A．Habits. | B．Reasons. | C．Subjects. | D．Hobbies. |
| A．Chinese Paper Art | B．Great Changes in China |
| C．Famous Chinese Artists | D．Two Main Techniques |
7 . Studying is usually not a happy task, especially when there are so many things you can do for fun. The balance (平衡) between study and play is a lifelong matter. What should you do if you’re not interested in study? Here are some ways you can do to deal with the problem.
Change your thoughts. If you’re lack of passion (缺乏热情) for study, just think about your future. Only good grades can give you a chance to achieve your dreams. Good grades will help you get into your dream high school. No matter how old you are, you’re always growing and learning. | Work hard to achieve your dreams. You must work for what you want to achieve. Winning a game, passing a test, doing something difficult and so on. These are all valuable experiences because of the time you spent and the effort you made. The harder you work, the happier you’ll be. |
Relax yourself at times. You don’t need to study as often as you think you should do. I am not telling you not to study. You still should, but you can try studying less if it doesn’t influence your grades. | Find your favorite subjects. Discover your interests and develop them carefully. Keep studying and stay healthy. |
1. In which section of a magazine can you probably read the passage?
| A．History. | B．Culture. | C．Education. | D．Technology. |
| A．Doing things for fun. | B．Doing something difficult. |
| C．Dealing with problems. | D．Balancing study and play. |
| A．Relaxing myself. | B．Discovering my interests. |
| C．Winning a game. | D．Getting good grades. |
| A．You can win a game by relaxing yourself. |
| B．You can achieve your dream by working hard. |
| C．You should work for what you can’t achieve. |
| D．You should study as often as you think you should do. |
8 . Step out of your door and what do you see? Ever since humans walked here and there on the Earth, we have been crazy about nature. And this gave birth to the subject called “natural history”.
It began with ancient scientists who looked at the diversity (多样性) of the natural world. Soon, more and more “naturalists”—those who study and practice natural history-were busy studying, collecting and naming the world’s animals, plants and so on. Observing (观察) skills are the key tools of a naturalist. They helped naturalists find out the secret of life on the Earth.
Today, natural history museums around the world offer people a place to think about natural history. But it has a long way to go.
In China, natural history as a field is developing quickly. Books and apps (应用程序) on plants and animals are very popular. Environmental protection groups and activities have all seen great growth during the past years. And behind it is China’s push to build an ecological civilization (生态文明).
Natural history is now seen as a kind of lifestyle. When you visit a natural history museum or just step out in the nature, you can enjoy the nature and learn about the secret of life at the same time. “Naturalist lifestyle” is good for the mind and the body.
We need naturalists now more than ever. The secret of life on the Earth is still incomplete, and the pieces are changing rapidly. So come on and discover your part!
1. What are the key skills of a naturalist?| A．Reading skills. | B．Listening skills. | C．Observing skills. | D．Studying skills. |
| A．It is growing rapidly. |
| B．It has become an online culture. |
| C．It builds the ecological civilization. |
| D．It records environmental protecting activities. |
| A．Natural history is a popular subject. |
| B．Naturalist lifestyle is good for people. |
| C．People like travelling more than before. |
| D．People love to visit natural history museums. |
| A．Not correct. | B．Not simple. | C．Not known. | D．Not whole. |
| A．To Be Good Readers | B．To Live as Naturalists |
| C．To Be Crazy about Nature | D．To Discover the Secret of History |
9 . Everything is made of something. Take away cloth, plastic, glass and the other materials (材料) from our lives and we are left nothing on our body. There are 5 basic materials: metal, glass, wood, cloth, plastic. Most things are made with these materials.
Let’s talk about metal first. Metal is very heavy. And it is very hard and strong. It usually feels cool if you touch it. We use it for knives. We use it for keys. We use it for cars. We use it for these things because it is very strong.
Next, let’s talk about glass. Glass is very smooth. It feels cool to touch. It is not as heavy as metal. It is hard, but it is not strong. It breaks very easily! Then why do we use it? We use it because it is transparent! You can see through glass! That’s why we use it for windows.
Now, let’s talk about wood. Wood is lighter than metal and glass. It is not as strong as metal. But it is much stronger than glass. Things made of wood are usually light, hard and strong. Chairs and tables are made of wood.
Now let’s talk about cloth. Cloth is very light. It is much lighter than wood. And it is very soft. We use cloth to make lots of things. For example, it is used to make clothing.
Last, let’s talk about plastic. Plastic is also very light. But it is different from cloth. Sometimes it is soft, and sometimes it is hard. Plastic can be used to make thin plastic bags. These are light, soft, and strong.
There are some other materials. But they are not used as much as these 5 materials.
1. Which of these things is a material according to the passage?| A．Chairs. | B．Wood. | C．Windows. | D．Clothing. |
| A．Light and hard. | B．Warm and soft. |
| C．Smooth and cool. | D．Hard and heavy. |
| A．Soft things first, then hard things. | B．Warm things first, then cool things. |
| C．Weak things first, then strong things. | D．Heavy things first, then light things. |
| A．Clear. | B．Strong. | C．Cheap. | D．Secret. |
| A．Thin Plastic Bags | B．Cloth and Clothing |
| C．Five Basic Materials | D．Useful Metal Things |
10 . Do you often say “sorry” to others? Elton John once sang, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.” But in Canada, there aren’t many words that are easier to say or more commonly used.
Or, that’s the way it seems, say visitors to the country. And it’s something that Canadians admit (承认) themselves. So why do they apologize so much, even when they don’t need to?
It’s part of Canadian culture, say some people. That doesn’t mean other cultures are less polite. But saying “sorry” does at least show you’re trying to be nice—and many people think Canada is a polite country, so its citizens maybe trying to protect that idea.
For many Canadians, apologizing has become something they do without thinking. Even if someone has walked into you in the street and you weren’t at fault, you’re likely to say “sorry”. It could be a way to avoid conflict—even if you’re really angry, it’s often easier to say “sorry” than to shout at someone and have a fight.
And according to some people, when Canadians say “sorry”, that doesn’t always mean they’re really sorry. Sometimes it means they know that something bad happened, but not saying they think it’s their fault, said one user.
That idea is even in Canadian law which says that making an apology does not mean you’re admitting you’re at fault.
So how do you apologize and mean it? A survey from 2020 found that only 62% of Canadians actually think “I am sorry” is a good apology. Instead, 80% think “I sincerely apologize” is the best thing to say.
1. What Elton once sang in the passage means ________.| A．we don’t want to hurt others |
| B．most of us hate the word of ‘sorry’ |
| C．it’s not easy for us to say “sorry” to others |
| D．it’s hard to pronounce the word of ‘sorry’ |
| A．Other cultures are less polite than Canadian culture. |
| B．The word “sorry” is often spoken in Canada. |
| C．Visitors to Canada never hear the word “sorry”. |
| D．Many words are more easily spoken than the word “sorry”. |
| A．argument | B．discussion | C．touch | D．greeting |
| A．He is telling that it’s his fault. |
| B．He is admitting you are at fault. |
| C．He is sincerely apologizing to you. |
| D．He is polite when something bad happens. |
| A．“Sorry” is used less than “thanks” in Canada. |
| B．You shouldn’t say sorry to the man who walks into you in Canada. |
| C．People think it’s their fault while saying “sorry”. |
| D．“I sincerely apologize.” is the best thing to really say “sorry” for most Canadians. |
