1 . On October 18, 2021, people lighted the flame (圣火) of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Olympic, Greece. Later, a few people took turns (轮流) to carry the torch (火炬), first to Athens, and then to Beijing by plane. Here are some interesting facts about the Olympic flame.
Where does the Olympic flame come from?
The idea for the Olympic flame comes from a Greek story. To save humans from anger and cold, Prometheus stole a fire from the god Zeus and gave it to humans. After that, humans saw fires as a symbol of light and freedom. To thank the god, the Olympic flame appeared in ancient Olympic Games.
How do people light the flame?
People don’t use a match to light the torch. They use a special mirror and the sunlight. What if it is a cloudy or rainy day? People usually collected a fire a few days before the ceremony and keep it in a special container (容器). It is for the poor weather.
Can the fame go underwater?
In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the flame went underwater in the Great Barrier Reef. The torch burnt at 2,000℃. And the high temperature stopped water from putting out the flame.
What if the Olympic flame goes out (熄灭)?
A car follows the torch relay (传递) at all times. Inside is a lantern with a backup (备份) flame. If the torch goes out, runners will use the backup flame to light the torch again.
1. When was the flame of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games lighted?2. What did humans regard fires as?
3. How do people light the flame?
4. Can the flame go underwater?
5. What’s the passage mainly about?
To help protect people against the novel coronavirus (新冠病毒), scientists have created vaccines (疫苗). These days, people who are between 3 and 59 can get vaccinated (接种疫苗). Here is something about vaccines.
There are many different ways to make vaccines. At least 115 different vaccines for the novel coronavirus are being developed around the world right now. Many of them may not work or may have influences that can be dangerous. That is why testing is very important.
Before a vaccine is ever tested on humans, it’s first tested on animals to make sure it seems safe. Testing the vaccine on humans is done in several different periods. In Period (阶段) 1, a small group of people are given small amounts (数量) of the vaccine to see if it has any bad influences. Period 2 still tests the vaccines safety, but it’s mainly a test to see if the vaccine seems to work. If Period 2 goes well, the vaccine can begin Period 3. During Period 3, the vaccine is tried on a much larger group of people to see how well it works.
The novel coronavirus is very serious and it influences the whole world. There is huge pressure to develop a working vaccine quickly. It normally takes seven or more years to develop a safe vaccine that works well. Luckily, this time, developing the vaccine against the novel coronavirus doesn’t need so long, scientists have created it.
Thanks to the scientists, we can get vaccinated so soon. All of us believe that we can overcome the novel coronavirus completely.
1. Who has created vaccines to help protect people against the novel coronavirus?2. Is testing important before using the vaccines?
3. How many periods must be done to test the vaccine on humans according to the passage?
4. How long does it normally take to develop a safe vaccine that works well?
5. What is the passage mainly about?
3 . It is said that the eyes are the windows to our soul (灵魂). However, to have healthy eyes, you have to look after them properly. Your eyes need attention every day.
First, you have to pay more attention to your diet (饮食). Eat more fruits, vegetables, fish and eggs. It’s good for your eyes. Also, a regular amount of vitamins A and B2 should also be taken.
Second, you must have regular and enough sleep. This relaxes the eye muscles and gives them the rest they need. Enough sleep can help the body repair its tired tissue (组织). You should sleep for at least seven to eight hours every day. Not enough sleep can give you dark circles under your eyes.
Next, it’s necessary for you to exercise your eyes every day. Blink (眨眼) your eyes at regular periods to keep your eyes moist (湿润的).
Last, you should treat your eyes correctly. For example, if you get something in your eyes, don’t rubbing (揉) it. Rubbing is harmful to your eyes. Don’t read or write in poor or bright sunlight because sunlight can cause eye tiredness. Remember to use sunglasses to stop the sun from shining directly in your eyes. Too much reading, writing, watching television or working on a computer can also cause eye tiredness, so rest is required.
1. How many pieces of advice does the writer give?2. What kind of food is good for our eyes?
3. What can help the body fix its tired tissue?
4. Do you need to exercise your eyes according to the passage?
5. What does the passage mainly talk about?
Every time you cat seafood, you get red spots（红点）on your body. And every spring and fall, your friend gets a runny nose when you play in the garden. What’s going on? Well, you and your friend may have allergies（过敏）.
An allergy is a reaction from your immune system（免疫系统）. The immune system keeps you away from diseases by fighting germs（细菌）. But when you have allergies, it overreacts（过度反应）and tries to fight against things like grass, pollen or some foods. This makes your body feel uncomfortable.
Allergies are common around the world. According to the WHO, about 20 percent of the world’s population suffers from allergies.
Food allergies are one of the most common types. Many children can be allergic to food like milk, eggs and peanuts. If you are allergic to certain foods, you may get red spots, an upset stomach or even have difficulty breathing. So far, people haven’t found any good ways to stop food allergies. Just do not eat those foods as much as possible.
Seasonal allergies happen in most parts of the world. So how do you know if you are allergic to something? Skin（皮肤）tests are the most widely used way.
1. What is an allergy?2. What may happen when you have allergics?
3. What food can make many children be allergic to?
4. Have people found any good ways to stop food allergies?
5. How do we know if we are allergic to something?
The year of 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. Do you like tigers? Are you ready for the Year of the Tiger?
Tigers are strong and dangerous animals. They are the kings of all the animals. For Chinese people, tigers are brave（勇敢的）, strong and powerful（有力量的）. That’s why you can see pictures of tigers on the walls of the houses in China. People think they can protect（保护） these places away from danger. In the western countries, there are many cartoon（卡通）tigers. Please have a look.
In South Korea, many people like tigers. They use Hodori, a cartoon tiger to be a popular mascot （吉祥物）in Olympic Games. Lots of people like to buy it for their friends because they think it is a symbol of being friendly.
Tigers are Americans’ fun friends. There is a cartoon named “Tony”. He is very funny and does many interesting things. Children like him very much because he looks so cute and friendly.
There are many idioms（习语）about tiger in English. For example, Mary says, “Oh, I am afraid I can’t pass（通过）the exam.” If（如果）you want her to be relaxed. you can say “Easy tiger!” to her.
1. What do Chinese people think of tigers?2. Where do people put the pictures of tigers?
3. Is Tony a real tiger in America?
4. Why do lots of people like to buy a cartoon tiger Hodori for their friends?
5. If you want your friend to be relaxed in the exam, what can you say?
When two people meet, there are a lot of ways of greeting. But the ways of greeting are not always the same in different countries.
Two people usually greet each other with a handshake in America. It is a way to show respect (尊敬) to the other person. Players from opposite teams shake hands before a game for the same reason. However, most Americans don’t shake hands when they meet people they have already known well. When American friends meet each other, they might only wave (挥手), or maybe just nod their heads.
There is a special way of greeting called “Hongi” (触鼻礼) in New Zealand. In the greeting, two people press their noses and foreheads (前额) together and close their eyes. This is an old tradition that comes from the Maori (毛利人), who were the first people to live in New Zealand. Even today, many New Zealanders still press their foreheads when they meet.
People bow to each other every time when they meet in Japan. Even family members bow to each other. People decide how low to bow depending on how respected the other person is.
Today, new ways of greeting are created all the time. People can do this with a quick “hi”, a handshake, or even a simple smile. The important thing is that the people they are greeting understand them.
1. Why do players from opposite teams shake hands before a game?2. How many countries are mentioned in this passage?
3. Do New Zealanders press their ears when they meet?
4. What do people do when they meet every time in Japan?
5. What is the passage mainly about?
People in Western countries are eating less meat these days, whether for their health or because they want to protect animals. But now they have another reason that eating less meat can help to prevent climate (气候) change to make a better environment.
Raising livestock (家畜) is bad for the environment. When animals like cows digest (消化) food, their stomachs make greenhouse gases(气体), which is a major cause of global (全球) warming. 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (排放) come from livestock farming. The New York Times reported. To raise these livestock, people have to cut down forests and turn them into farms. Forests play a key role in fighting global warming because they take in greenhouse gas.
The study found eating less meat could cut global food-related (与食物相关的) emissions by nearly 35 percent by 2050. Eating more vegetables in the long term could cut down emissions by 63 percent.
But eating less meat won’t be easy. People in Western countries will need to eat 90 percent less meat than they do now, or it will have no influence on our climate.
Some say that eating insects could help. A UN report says that eating insects is healthier and better for the environment. They produce 75 percent less greenhouse gas than livestock. Some experts are creating man-made meat. People in the US might be able to buy this kind of meat in the future.
1. How many reasons do Western people eat less meat?2. Where does greenhouse gas emissions come from?
3. Why do the forests play a key role in fighting global warming?
4. Will Western people need to eat less meat than they do now?
5. What does the passage mainly talk about?
Do you know the self-driving bullet (子弹) train just for the Beijing Winter Olympics? Is there anything new on the train? Let’s have a look!
The train links (连接) Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host cities of the Games. With a top speed of 350 kilometers an hour, the train can run the 174-kilometer journey between the two cities in around 50 minutes, while a regular express (特快的) train takes three hours.
It is said to be the world’s first high-speed train with a 5G live broadcast studio (现场直播演播室). It can carry 564 passengers each trip in its eight cars (车厢). It has business, first-class and second-class cars. Besides, for the needs of media (媒体), it also has special working cars with 12 tables and international electric sockets (电源插座).
The train is painted in white and blue colors and there are 24 snowflakes (雪花) on the outside of the train, showing this is the 24th Winter Olympic Games. Inside the train, there are winter sports photos on the walls and paper snowflakes on top.
The Beijing Winter Olympic Games opened in February, 2022. The high-speed train provided transportation services for the 2022 Winter Olympics and the Paralympics (残奥会) from January 21 to March 16. Up to 40 pairs of trains traveled between the two cities every day.
1. Which two cities does the train link?2. Can the train run faster than a regular express train?
3. How many kinds of cars does the train have according to the passage?
4. What do the 24 snowflakes stand for (代表)?
5. What does the passage mainly talk about?
9 . It’s sad to learn that a whale has died in the ocean. However, that is not the end for the whale. It gives a lot to other sea animals after death.
When a whale dies, it quickly drops to the bottom of the ocean floor. There the whale’s dead body provides food and nutrients(营养) for deep-sea animals. The remains(残骸) can last(持续) for ten years and build an ecosystem called a whale fall — an “oasis(绿洲)” of life in the deep sea.
Chinese scientists found a whale fall for the first time in the South China Sea this year. The whale fall ecosystem can stay in the deep ocean because of great pressure and cold temperature there. They can stop the body from decomposing(分解) too quickly. The depth(深度) makes it hard for scientists to find the whale fall. There are less than 50 known whale falls in the world.
The whale fall in the South China Sea is about three meters long. Scientists have found several species(物种) near the whale fall. Some fish have started to eat the whale’s tail. A scientist named Xie Wei says the whale fall might be quite recent and needs long-term observation(观察). By studying the whale fall, scientists can better understand how sea ecosystems support life.
1. What does the whale’s dead body provide for deep-sea animals?2. Where did Chinese scientists find a whale fall for the first time?
3. Why can the whale fall ecosystem stay in the deep ocean?
4. Are there any species near the whale fall in the South China Sea?
5. What does the passage mainly talk about?
10 . Some people believe that intelligence (智力) decides a student’s success. But there is no research to support this opinion, and in fact, it is wrong. Students’ success or failure is finally decided by one simple thing: the ways of they’re learning. Some students are lucky when they find ways that are helpful for them to study. But not all students are so lucky. Some students still learn in ways that are not scientific.
Dr. James J. Asher showed a method called “Total Physical Response (反应)” as a way to teach languages. Studies at San Jose State University showed that students who moved their bodies while learning English learned more words and grammar in a short time. Those who sat still and didn’t move learned less. After a year, the students who learned by moving their bodies still remembered 80% or more of what they had learned, while the others forgot over 80%.
So you should make sure that you keep moving when you learn English. As you listen to a story or an article, do the action. For example, if you hear the word “go”, move your feet. Imagine you are acting out the story or article that you are listening to. By doing this, you will be able to learn more English, remember it for longer and use it more easily.
1. Does intelligence decide a student’s success?2. In the writer’s opinion, what decides students’ success or failure?
3. What did Dr. James J. Asher develop “Total Physical Response” for?
4. Who studied English better according to the studies?
5. What’s the writer’s advice on the way of learning?
