1 . ①How would you feel if someone decided to take away your park? Well, that’s what’s happening in my community. There’s a park that some people want to turn into a golf course (高尔夫球场). Let me tell you why I think it’s a bad idea.
②First, a community park should open for everyone. But not everyone likes golf, so not every-one will get to use it.
③Second, to build the golf course, lots of playground equipment (设备) will have to be moved away. It is a waste (浪费) of time and money. It’s also a waste of good equipment.
④Third, what about giving young people something to do? Not all kids are interested in golf. Now, there are a skating place and a playground in the park. Children like doing so a lot. If you turn the park into a golf course, these kids won’t have anywhere to go and anything to do. This means that they will stay at home and turn on a video game. It also means that they might be out on the street to play. Wouldn’t it be better to give them something to do at the park?
⑤Finally, golf is expensive. Building and maintaining (维护) a golf course cost a lot of money. Who is going to pay to maintain the golf course?
⑥Turning our park into a golf course is a bad idea. I suggest we should have a community meeting before plans go any further.
1. Some people want to turn the park into ________.| A．a golf club | B．a golf course | C．a park | D．a skating place |
| A．go to get some exercise | B．go to the school and make friends |
| C．play video games at home | D．play golf with their friends |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．to stop building the golf course | B．to make the park more beautiful |
| C．to ask children to go skating | D．to make plan for building the golf course |
| When the first chatting robot (chatbot) started in 2022, it became so popular that it had over 1,000,000 users within a week. But schools across the US soon banned (禁止) it. Students could use it to do so many things. Parents and teachers were very worried that students might not do their homework themselves but ask the chatbot for help. What do you think? Do you think schools should ban it? | What you need to know: * A chatbot is a computer program that you can “talk” to. It replies like a person. * When people ask the chatbot a question, it looks for information and gives an answer. * Chatbots can talk about anything. They can write articles about history, write lyrics (歌词) in the style of rock stars, or explain how to solve math problems... |
| Yes! Getting help with schoolwork is great, but chatbots don’t always use the most reliable (可信的) sources. Students might hand in homework with wrong information. Besides, they wouldn’t really use their critical thinking (批判性思维) skills to do their work. What’s worse, if students use the chatbot too much for the school project, it could be seen as cheating (作弊). Also, teachers may find it difficult to decide if the students have used the chatbot or not for their schoolwork. Although chatbots can help teachers grade tests quickly, they may make mistakes, too. | No! Chatbots are here to stay. Technology is changing education, and banning it won’t stop that at all. Why not teach kids to use chatbots in the right way, like they use calculators (计算器) or online dictionaries? Chatbots could get students to start learning by doing research, teaching words and expressions, and helping students find out the next step of a math problem. ▲ As for the teachers, chatbots can give them a hand in different ways, like creating tests, designing homework, making lesson plans or writing personal tasks for students at different levels. Everybody wins. |
| A．By asking questions. | B．By telling a story. | C．By giving numbers. | D．By sharing ideas. |
| A．And they will never be able to think like teachers. |
| B．And they could also help improve students’ speaking skills. |
| C．However, they could not help teachers at all. |
| D．However, they may bring students more fun. |
| A．Chatbots think and feel like humans. |
| B．Chatbots offer the most reliable sources to students. |
| C．Chatbots can help teachers create tests. |
| D．Chatbots make teachers grade the students’ tests slowly. |
| A．Should schools ban chatbots or not? | B．Will chatbots become popular in the future? |
| C．What do we need to know about chatbots? | D．How do chatbots help kids learn at school? |
3 . Everyone knows that China is changing and developing very quickly now. Many young people from home and abroad thought about the changes. The following are some comments (评论) from young people made on a website message board.
My English name is Carmon. I’m a Chinese student. I’m very proud of China and I’d love to do something to the development of my country. Now, I’m in Canada. When I finish my study, I will go back to China and start a business, so I can give something back to the country. —Carmon, Toronto |
I’m a Chinese student. My hometown used to be poor. But it has changed now. Most people in my hometown have a better life and some can now afford (买得起) cars. I’m very happy with these changes and very proud of them. —Zhou Li, Guangxi |
I spent two years in Beijing as a student in the late 1990s and I recently went back there on holiday. I couldn’t believe the great changes of China in such a short time. And I admire Chinese people for their wish to succeed, and their family values. I think these qualities (品质) will be very important if China is to continue developing. —Jackson, London |
I hope that China will become a successful and prosperous (繁荣的) country. There is still a long way to go. There are many challenges and difficulties ahead, but I am sure we can get them over if we work together. —Susan, Hong Kong |
1. Who is not Chinese?
| A．Jackson. | B．Susan. | C．Zhou Li. | D．Carmon. |
| A．In Guangxi. | B．In London. | C．In Canada. | D．In Hong Kong. |
| A．In 1909. | B．In the late 1990s. | C．50 years ago. | D．In the early 1990s. |
| A．Carmon doesn’t want to start a business in China. |
| B．China is changing and developing very fast now. |
| C．Jackson dislikes Chinese family values. |
| D．Susan studied in Beijing for two years. |
4 . Youngsters should always be passionate (热情的). We still remember that about 100 years ago, millions of brave people together founded the Communist Party of China. They devoted (献身) themselves into the development of our country. It’s they who brought us today’s peaceful life.
As modern young people, we all have our own dreams. And it’s our passion that drives us forward. I have a friend who loves music and often posts his own works on the Internet. He receives lots of followers and praises. He can not only develop his interest, but also have an influence on others. And I realized that millions of young people like him are now bravely chasing (追逐) their dreams.
At the same time, we have to take up our social responsibility. No matter when a big accident happens, there are always armed police officers around the country fighting there. Among them, some are even 00s. In addition, it’s touching to see many people offer help online by donating money and clothes. Young people have a sense of responsibility to stand up in the face of difficulties at any time.
By being passionate and responsible, we should show the world that under the leadership of the CPC. Chinese youth will certainly shoulder the heavy task of national development.
1. Did millions of brave people bring us today’s peaceful life about 100 years ago?2. What does the writer believe youngsters should do according to Paragraph 2?
3. How does the writer feel about people donating money and clothes?
4. What spirit do you think Chinese youth should have, and why?
5 . David is a middle school student. He loses his bike. He needs to buy a new one. He needs 100 yuan. One day, he’s in a book store and he sees 100 yuan on a chair. No one is there. Does David need to give it back (归还) to its owner (主人)? If (如果) you are David, what will (将会) you do?
| Yes. I must give it back. Everyone needs money. If I need money, I can ask my parents for it. The money isn’t mine, so I can’t have it. How can I let that happen (发生)? If I don’t give it back, my friends see the 100 yuan and ask me where it comes from. What do I say? At the same time, I don’t want to be a dishonest (不诚实的) person. ——Alan | No. I’m sure the owner isn’t happy. But that’s his or her problem (问题), not mine. I will wait (将会等) there for an hour. If no one comes back for it, it’s mine. He or she may have much money and doesn’t need it at all. If I give the money to the police (警察) and the police don’t find its owner, where does money go? I will give the money to the police when I have spare money (余钱). ——Amy |
2. What does David lose?
3. Why must Alan give the money back?
4. If you are David, do you want to give the money back? Why or why not?
6 . For many kids, a snow day is the reason for celebration. Instead of going to class, kids can have snowball fights and enjoy the snow. But snow days are now a thing of the past in one South Carolina school district (区). The district asks students to have online classes on snow days. Students use a computer to do schoolwork at home.
E-learning is used so that there is less need for makeup days in summer. But not everyone thinks this is sensible. Here, two students share their ideas.
YES! by Tom Johnson, 10
I think kids should go to school online on a snow day. When there is a heavy snow, school is closed and kids have nothing to do but watch television and play computer games. How boring! If students could go to school online on snow days, they would have something useful to do. With e-learning, kids would still get time to play in the snow, but they would also have something to do when they couldn’t get out of the house. E-learning on snow days would be a welcome change!
NO! by Gabriela Quesada, 10
Kids need to go to school, but they should not have to go to school online on a snow day. During snowstorms, many people lose power (电). Sometimes, you can’t use the internet. If kids don’t have power, how are they going to use the computer? When I was small and lived in Spain, I experienced something similar. My dad wanted me to do online schoolwork on a snow day. But the power was out and there was no internet, so I couldn’t. Even if there is internet, the online schoolwork might be difficult for students. They might need help from teachers. On a snow day, kids and teachers should use the time to rest and enjoy the snow.
1. What is Tom against (反对) doing on snow days?| A．Going to school. | B．Playing in the snow. | C．Watching TV in the house. | D．Having online classes. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Difficult. | C．Helpful. | D．Boring. |
| A．Her homework was too difficult. | B．There was no power at school. |
| C．She had to go to school even on snow days. | D．She couldn’t study online. |
| A．Students cannot get help | B．Teachers cannot test students |
| C．Parents pay too much money | D．There is too much homework |
7 . “Lying down” (also known as tang ping), has become a hot word among young Chinese people these days. The idea of low material needs and being willing to accept whatever life gives them is described as a “lying down” lifestyle.
Some young people complain that to raise a child needs too much money and they often get into a fight with their family. At the same time, the rising living costs including food and housing have pushed them so hard that they could hardly breathe. Some want to lie down because their tiring jobs, competition with peers, as well as personal relationships force them to run away.
On the other hand, with the great improvement of living conditions, it is true that some Chinese youth today have lost the spirit of fighting hard for a better life. “I stay at home, sleep and watch TV series, and I’m pleased with what I have now. Actually, there are many people around me who value happiness and freedom most,” said Daisy, who left her job two weeks ago. No wonder that some young people would choose to live a simple way instead of always following the good quality of fighting hard.
Interestingly, most young people, who are “big fans” of the “lying down” lifestyle, point out that they only accept a temporary (暂时的) lying down as a short rest. In fact, lying down is not totally comfortable for them. Most young people who lie down always regard it as a lack of ambition (雄心壮志) and feel ashamed (感到羞耻的) about it.
“Young people have both ambition and confusion (困惑) about their future, but most of us have refused to waste chances and challenges,” a college student said.
1. Do most young people really enjoy the “lying down” lifestyle according to the passage?2. What is a “lying-down” lifestyle?
3. Why do some young Chinese choose to “lie down” according to the passage?
4. Do you think the “lying down” lifestyle is the best way to deal with difficulties in your life? Why or why not?
8 . Every artist knows in his heart that he is saying something to the public. Not only does he want to say it well, but he wants it to be something that has not been said before. He hopes the public will listen and understand what he wants to teach them, and what he wants them to learn from him.
What visual (视觉的) artists like painters want to teach is easy to make out but difficult to explain, because painters translate their experience into shapes and colours, not words. They seem to feel that a certain selection of shapes and colours, out of countless billions of, is exceptionally interesting for them and worth showing to us. Without their work we should never have noticed these particular shapes and colours, or have felt the delight which they brought to the artist.
Most artists take their shapes and colours from the world of nature and from human bodies in motion and at rest; their choices indicate (指示) that these aspects of the world are worth looking at, that they contain beautiful sights. Contemporary (当代的) artists might say that they merely choose subjects that provide an interesting pattern, that there is nothing more in it. Yet even they do not choose entirely without reference to the character of their subjects.
If one painter chooses to paint a decaying (腐烂) leg and another a lake in moonlight, each of them is directing our attention to a certain aspect of the world. Each painter is telling us something, showing us something, emphasizing something-all of which means that, consciously (有意识地) or unconsciously, he is trying to teach us.
1. An artist hopes that the public will ________.| A．understand him and learn from him | B．notice only shapes and colours in his work |
| C．teach him something | D．believe what he says in his work |
| A．does not express himself/herself well | B．uses unusual words and phrases |
| C．uses shapes and colours instead of words | D．does not say anything clearly |
| A．carry a message to the public | B．only provide interesting pattern |
| C．have no pattern or form | D．teach the public important truths |
| A．A painting is more easily understood than music. |
| B．Art is merely the arranging of shape and colours. |
| C．Every artist tries to say something consciously to the public. |
| D．One must look beyond shape and colour to find what the artist is saying. |
