| it, up, also, ruler, well, visit, large, high, across, though, connect, language |
Egypt (埃及), an ancient African country with a 5000-year history, is between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The Suez Canal (苏伊士运河)
The Red Sea is famous for
You’d better
If there is one special thing you should do in Egypt, it is to visit the desert. 90% of Egypt is made
The Nile River, the longest river in the world, runs
The official
In a word, Egypt is worth exploring and admiring.
2 . On November 7th, 2023, ESA’s Euclid space telescope (望远镜) sent back its first full-colour pictures of the universe.
Last July, people sent Euclid into space. Its job is to find out how dark matter and dark energy (能量) have made our universe look the way it does today. 95% of our universe appears to be made of these “dark” things. But we still don’t understand what they are. However, Euclid is able to take a clear picture across a huge part of the sky.
This time, Euclid sent back 5 pictures. One of them shows us the spiral galaxy IC 342. It is a look-alike of our Milky Way. Thanks to its infrared view (红外线视图), Euclid has already uncovered very important information about the stars in this galaxy. Euclid’s first full-colour pictures of the universe are not only beautiful, but also very helpful for scientists. They show that Euclid is working quite well and that scientists can use it to study the matters in the universe. In the coming months, scientists will study the pictures taken by Euclid, extract (提取) information from them and write many scientific papers.
What’s more, over the next six years, Euclid will take a close look at billions of galaxies 10 billion light years from us. By doing this, it will create the largest 3D map ever made. And the pictures by it will take us common people to a much farther universe.
1. Why did people send Euclid into space?| A．To make a 3D map of the universe. |
| B．To study dark matter and dark energy. |
| C．To take full-colour pictures of astronauts. |
| D．To find more galaxies like our Milky Way. |
| A．People know them very well. | B．They are useless for us humans. |
| C．They are unusual in the universe. | D．Scientists are still studying them. |
| A．changed | B．discovered | C．missed | D．used |
| A．How people created it. | B．What it will do in space. |
| C．When people sent it into space. | D．What its first full-colour pictures. |
| A．Euclid and its first full-colour pictures | B．The largest 3D map by Euclid |
| C．Dark things in the universe | D．Scientific papers on Euclid |
3 . Many people take running as a way to keep fit. They like to run in hot weather and enjoy the feeling of being wet through with sweat (汗) while running. Cold weather during winter months, with low temperatures and freezing cold winds, may keep people from running in the open air.
However, a new study shows that the drop in temperature is a good reason to run. In fact, running in cold weather helps improve one’s performance. Many runners might find it easier to run in winter than in hot weather. The body needs less water on a cold day than in warm weather. In addition, lower temperatures reduce stress on the body. When you run in cold weather, your heart rate is lower.
John Brewer is a professor of applied sports science at St. Mary’s University in London. For this study, he and other researchers put a group of people into a room where summer and winter weather conditions are recreated. The test subjects were asked to run 10,000 meters under both conditions and their biological measurements were recorded and studied.
From the study, every movement runners make produces heat. The heat can be really damaging unless the body can lose it. One way in which people lose heat is by sweating. The body loses heat through sweat. The body also loses it by transporting the blood to the surface of the skin and it puts more stress on the heart, especially in hot conditions because it’s much harder to lose heat when the outside environment is warm. As the result shows, running in hot temperatures results in 6 percent higher heat rates.
When running in cold conditions, the body does not have to work hard to move blood to the skin surface. Therefore, it requires less energy. The most important thing for people who run in cold conditions is to wear the right clothing. Keep as dry as possible when exercising in low temperatures. Wear warm and light clothing to keep sweat away from your skin. So don’t let winter weather keep you indoors. Simply get ready for the low temperatures and start running.
1. Why did John Brewer make a group of people run in a room?| A．Because the weather conditions could be recreated for four seasons. |
| B．Because the researchers could teach the people there to study science. |
| C．Because the professor could study science with the group of people. |
| D．Because the test subjects’ biological measurements could be recorded. |
| A．heat | B．sweat | C．movement | D．rate |
| A．Running in cold weather doesn’t need a lot of energy. |
| B．Running in cold weather needs heavy clothing to keep warm. |
| C．Running in hot weather causes hearts beat slower than in cold. |
| D．Running in hot weather produces more heat than other movements. |
| A．To study why the drop in temperature is good to run. |
| B．To compare benefits of running in winter and summer. |
| C．To encourage people to keep running outdoors in winter. |
| D．To show us how to keep healthy while running in winter. |
4 . Known as “soft gold”, Gambiered Canton gauze (香云纱) is the only silk fabric (织物) that’s still hand-dyed (手染的) using natural plants in the world today.
The skill has a history of more than 500 years. In 2008, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage (国家非物质文化遗产). Ouyang Yongze is an inheritor of the dyeing skills from Guangdong. The man started learning the skills in 2017.
The dyeing process includes 30 steps. It can take up to six months and is done by hand with materials from nature. “The plant shuliang (薯莨), river mud, sunshine, and grass are all important in dyeing,” Ouyang told China Daily.
To dye the fabric, workers put it in shuliang juice and let it dry on the grass. They repeat this many times until it turns brownish yellow. Then, they put river mud on it to help shuliang react fully. After washing and drying it again, the fabric turns black!
Mastering the skills is difficult, according to Ouyang, who put full effort into controlling the density (浓度) of shuliang juice. “Too much may cause color loss, and too little may nor lead to a dark enough fabric,” he said. “Better control of the density comes after many failures.”
Also, the job can be really tiring as workers have to be at work in the sun for 8 hours each day. Only a few people work in the industry, and skilled masters are getting older as fewer young people take part.
Considering this, Ouyang works harder to develop the traditional craft. He has got together other dyeing skills such as tie-dyeing (扎染法) and batik (蜡染) and has worked with famous fashion designers. They turn the silk into both traditional and fashionable clothes that are popular worldwide. He thinks this can help make the craft stay alive and drew people to the industry.
1. Which of the following is the right order of dyeing Gambiered Canton gauze?① Repeat many times until the fabric turns brownish-yellow.
② Dry the fabric on the grass.
③ Put the fabric in Shuliang juice.
④ Put river mud on the fabric to help shuliang react fully.
| A．④②①③ | B．①④③② | C．②④③① | D．③②①④ |
| A．That company offers good value and service to every ________. |
| B．Every teenager should be a(n) ________ of our Chinese culture to pass it down. |
| C．Finally, Maria became the ________ of the singing competition. |
| D．Bell, the ________ of the telephone, made the first call. |
| A．The job is difficult but popular. | B．Some artists are coming to help the workers. |
| C．Passing down the skills is challenging. | D．The job seems to become easier than before. |
| A．Water is important in the color during dyeing. |
| B．Ouyang only fails a few times before he controls the density better. |
| C．There are no people taking part in this industry. |
| D．The dyeing process needs great patience, excellent skills and hard work. |
5 . When people want to know about the weather, they usually go to their smartphones, TVs, newspapers, or the Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses.
Drops in air pressure make an effect on small animals in many ways. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have found that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around. Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds also have a good sense of weather. For example, some birds will chirp (叽叽喳喳), sing and even fight over a piece of bread before a storm. In addition, they might search for safe places. You will sometimes see birds standing in trees or staying together on a wire close to a building. Before the storm, low pressure makes the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in summer, rather than during the periods in spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see that. If they fly in the wrong direction, they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.
1. When people want to know the weather, they usually do the following EXCEPT?| A．Asking e-friends. | B．Watching TV. | C．Reading newspapers. | D．Surfing the Internet. |
| A．People spend a lot of time outdoors. | B．Mice and deer can sense weather changes. |
| C．Deer leave high ground after a storm. | D．Mice come into their holes before a storm. |
| A．Stand in tall trees. | B．Share a piece of bread. |
| C．Stand on a wire alone. | D．Make more noise than usual. |
| A．By feeling a drop in air pressure. | B．By feeling a drop in air temperature. |
| C．By noticing the change of wind directions. | D．By noticing the movements of other animals. |
| A．In a storybook. | B．In a newspaper. | C．In a science report. | D．In a travel guide. |
| call, impossible, send, reach, different, get, close, might, although, large, about, must |
Lots of scientists believe there’s life on other planets. Because of this, they keep doing research
7 . It is recommended that people get 150 minutes of exercise a week. That means that a person should exercise for about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. A half hour of brisk (轻快的) walking can easily help someone meet that goal. You don’t need to walk 30 minutes all at one time to start. An expert recommends that beginners start with three short 10-minute walks. Finally, longer walks will become easier.
One great benefit of walking is that you do not need special equipment (装备). You do not even need to go to a special area to walk. Don’t have workout clothes to wear? You are lucky because what you are wearing right now is probably perfect for walking. Besides, you can walk anywhere at a quick speed.
Many studies show the value of walking and its benefits for your body.
According to a study carried out by Harvard Medical School, brisk walking for 30 minutes can burn over 100 calories (卡路里). Walking also makes your legs strong. Although it may not seem like it, walking is weight training because your legs carry the weight of your upper body whenever you walk. The study also shows that those who walk at least 20 minutes a day, at least five days a week, have 43% fewer sick days than those who exercise once a week or less. And if they do get sick, they become well sooner.
Walking is good for your mind. Walks can be taken in quiet places like parks and forests. Walking in these areas can help a person feel calm. Going on a daily walk gives your mind a break from the busy time of each day as well. A good walk lets you clear your mind and makes you feel better.
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?| A．People have trouble finding time to walk. | B．Longer walks may be hard for beginners. |
| C．Half an hour’s walk every week is enough. | D．Walking fast makes the activity enjoyable. |
| A．Walking is better than medicine. | B．Walking has wonderful results. |
| C．The distance people usually walk. | D．The right time for people to walk. |
| A．It is helpful to one’s mind. | B．It helps discover new places. |
| C．It makes one’s body busy. | D．It helps save one much money. |
| A．People who like playing games outside. | B．People who have prepared for competitions. |
| C．People who know the best ways to exercise. | D．People who are interested in starting exercise. |
| A．To show how often we can walk. | B．To show why walking is great exercise. |
| C．To show us the findings of a famous study. | D．To show us what to prepare before walking. |
8 . The University of Oxford is famous as a teaching and research center. It’s believed that teaching existed in Oxford as early as 1096, and it has been regarded as the top university in the UK by The Times for many times.
The Tutorial (导师的) System
In the University of Oxford, teaching is mainly through the tutorial system. Tutorials can help improve students’ skills of critical thinking, but the greatest advantage of the tutorial system is the individual guidance that students receive. There is clear difference between tutorials and large lectures common in the American universities. In the traditional American university, students are taught by the same teacher, in the same way, and expected to achieve the same learning goals.
Societies and Clubs
There are rich after-school activities at Oxford. Students may join different clubs and societies according to their own interests. The Oxford University Scientific Society aims to bring together undergraduates to discuss scientific matters. The Oxford Union Society is famous for its debate. The Newman Society has been as a model for religious society throughout the English-speaking world. In addition, there are a great many clubs, including Oxford University Cricket Club, Oxford University Chess Club, and so on.
Dates of Term
Oxford’s year is divided into three terms and three vacations. The dates for Full Term 2023-24 are set out below:
| Year | Term | From | To |
| 2023-24 | Michaelmas 2023 | Sunday 8 October | Saturday 2 December |
| Hilary 2024 | Sunday 14 January | Saturday 9 March | |
| Trinity 2024 | Sunday 21 April | Saturday 15 June |
1. What is the biggest advantage of the tutorial system?
| A．It provides personalized teaching. |
| B．It offers large lectures to students. |
| C．It improves students’ critical analysis. |
| D．It helps students achieve the same learning aims. |
| A．The Newman Society. |
| B．The Oxford Union Society. |
| C．Oxford University Cricket Club. |
| D．The Oxford University Scientific Society. |
| A．About 8 weeks. | B．About 16 weeks. | C．About 24 weeks. | D．About 32 weeks. |
9 . In the modern age, human society runs on energy. Most machines need electricity to operate. Humans cannot live without electricity even a single day in their daily life and work. They have many different ways to create electricity. But some ways are harmful to the environment.
For example, fossil fuels (化石燃料) are the most common kind of energy. They include coal, oil, and natural gas. First, people have to dig them from the ground. This can sometimes harm the environment. However, scientists are creating cleaner and better ways to do that these days. So the environment is not harmed as much as before. But when people burn these fossil fuels, they can give off a lot of harmful gases, which is considered to be one of the greatest causes of global warming. This might harm the environment.
Tidal (潮汐) energy is another way to make electricity. This uses the ocean tides to make electricity. But some kinds of tidal energy can kill many fish and other sea animals. Also dams (大坝) can create lots of clean energy. But dams create lakes and change the way that rivers run. So they can do great harm to the balance of nature around the lakes and along the rivers.
Nuclear (核) energy is a very powerful form of energy. It is cheap. It is also very clean. But many people are afraid of it because it uses radioactive materials. Also, there have been some very serious accidents in the past which caused great harm to human and nature. But the technology is much better these days. So many countries are starting to use nuclear energy more.
1. In Paragraph 1 the underlined part “human society runs on energy” means “______”.| A．humans in the society waste much energy |
| B．people use energy to make the world work |
| C．our society is full of different kinds of energy |
| D．humans cannot run fast without energy |
| A．They are dug from the ground. |
| B．They are considered expensive. |
| C．They hardly harm the environment. |
| D．They are not widely used in the world |
| A．cause serious accidents | B．change the way that rivers run |
| C．give off a lot of harmful gases | D．kill many living things in the ocean |
| A．it’s a common kind of energy | B．people are not afraid of it now |
| C．it’s cheap, clean and safer than before | D．people can’t live without it |
| A．health | B．science | C．culture | D．sports |
Maybe many people know the universe is very big. If you stand in space, you will see many beautiful stars, like the sun and
We’re
