From the early days of science fiction, movies have given us a picture of the future. When we see a movie, we understand it from different points of view. “Can it be true? How’s that possible?” People often talk to themselves when watching science fiction movies. If you are a doctor, you may think: “That man would die that fall.” If you are a physical scientist: “That’s not how black holes work.” And if you’re me, it’s more like: “What a silly idea of future personal technology (科技)!”
Sometimes, it makes me crazy when sci-fi movie makers dream up things. On the other hand, some movies show technologies that are so practical. People make them in the real world. Star Trek’s self-opening doors are now commonly seen at store and hotel, and the driverless cars from Total Recall (and many other movies) are already on roads.
It’s clear that Hollywood’s film makers have put serious thoughts into the things we’ll someday carry. For example, there’s a Siri-like voice assistant (助手) in a movie named Her. Her boss talks to her through an earbud (耳机), through which he gets a surprising number of things done such as looking through e-mails and news stories, sending messages and so on. When he needs a picture for the communication, the picture will show up after opening his phone.
My only question with Her is that nobody ever gives an order by saying something like “Hey, Siri.” How do the movie’s computers know when you’re speaking to them? Otherwise, it would make a great movie.
People go crazy over the idea: having all the power (功能) of a smartphone without really needing a smartphone. We won’t see this happen in the real world, though.
Most of these movies, however, still get one thing wrong: Computers make strange sounds like birds singing as their words and pictures appear. Why do movie makers think adding silly sounds make their machines cooler? We’re never going to like that.
1. Which way of writing is used in Paragraph 1?| A．Giving examples. | B．Listing numbers. | C．Beginning with a joke. | D．Showing pictures. |
| A．have no future in science | B．are everywhere on roads |
| C．help you enter a hotel | D．are dreams came true |
| A．is in the shape of an earbud | B．sees her boss as a human servant |
| C．talks like a human | D．can draw beautiful pictures by hand |
| A．We don’t need smartphones anymore. | B．We don’t add cooler sounds to our phones. |
| C．People like their computers make louder sounds. | D．People enjoy a room full of noisy computers. |
| A．How Well do Movies Predict Our Tech Future? | B．What Can We Believe in Movies? |
| C．Predictions in Movies are Future Life | D．Sci-fi Movies Get Everything Wrong |
Young Artists Bridge Cultural Divide Through Their Works The 2023 “Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition-Calligraphy (书法) and Painting Challenge” received many entries from Chinese language lovers worldwide. The challenge offers a chance for Chinese language lovers around the world to meet new friends, show their artistic skills and have deeper understanding of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, organizers said. |
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Eight years of studying paper quilling (卷纬工艺) has given Yue Shun the ability to turn scraps (屑) of paper into artworks. Yue added local parts in Heze, Shangdong province to his works and uses special skills to fill them with a 3D quality. Recently he worked on a project—a large flower basket. To achieve the expected effect, layers of paper rolls were glued together. |
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| A Wound Inspires Artisan to Be a Cut above the Rest Yang Li, from the Miao ethnic (民族的) group, created leaf-vein embroidery (叶脉刺绣) three months after a leaf cut her hand. She took in traditional different kinds of embroidery, creating unique art. The veins are processed with over 30 steps, and then embroidered by skilled artisans. A single piece sells for from 1,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. |
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| A．LIFESTYLE. | B．CULTURE. | C．SPORTS. | D．BUSINESS. |
| A．Meet new friends. | B．Learn more about Chinese culture. |
| C．Challenge calligraphy masters. | D．Show their artistic skills. |
| A．An Artisan Turns Paper into Artworks | B．An Artisan Makes Full Use of Paper |
| C．You Can Come to Paper Quilling | D．Let’s Glue Paper Rolls Together |
| A．a leaf cut her hand | B．a cut gave her an idea |
| C．she was a skilled artisan | D．she wanted to make money |
| A．reports cultural competitions | B．describes creative process |
| C．introduces some young artists | D．tells Chinese stories |
Born in a poor family in Ningxia, Gao went to Beijing to get a job at the age of 19. He tried different jobs to make a living. He worked as a shopping worker before he finally became a delivery driver.
After the outbreak of the COVID-19, Gao and his wife decided to stay in Beijing rather than (而不是) come back to Ningxia.
Gao once got an order that asked him to buy medicine for an old woman from a hospital far away.
“I think the reason why Time picked me is that I helped an old person in need. Although it is a warm story, I’m not different when helping anyone else,” he says.
| A．There’s lots of work for him to do during quarantine (隔离期). |
| B．Gao just hopes his small action can show the western world the strong cohesion (凝聚力) of China! |
| C．When he found that the woman hadn’t eaten, he quickly helped cook a bowl of noodles with two boiled eggs, and took out the rubbish when he left. |
| D．When the world stops, a Chinese delivery driver has kept working while the COVID-19 spreads across China. |
| E．He thought about it for a second, but then picked up the order. |
4 . Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with Chinese kung fu and Peking Opera, is one of China’s cultural symbols recognized worldwide. It is a priceless treasure of Chinese civilization (文明), and it has also made great contributions to world civilization by improving people’s health and promoting social progress.
There used to be a debate in China about whether TCM or Western medicine was better, and arguments can still be heard today. But actually, TCM and Western medicine are two different medical theoretical systems that cannot replace each other. In some aspects, such as surgery, Western medicine is better than TCM, but in other areas, such as recovery after surgery and treatment of chronic (慢性的) diseases, TCM is more effective. This is why some Chinese hospitals provide both TCM and Western medicine treatments. A combination of both has been accepted by many Chinese people as the most effective treatment.
Today, promoting and innovating (创新) TCM has become a consensus (共识) in Chinese society. The Chinese government has formulated policies (政策) to support the development and innovation of TCM, with the purpose of establishing a Chinese healthcare development model which pays equal attention to both.
The supportive policies of the Chinese Government will focus on three aspects. The first is the strengthening of TCM services in medical institutions. The second is to apply Internet technology to ICM management, including setting up a database (数据库) containing TCM electronic medical records and prescriptions (处方). The third is to give better play to the advantages of TCM, especially acupuncture (针灸) and naprapathy (推拿). The function of TCM in disease prevention and recovery will also be enhanced.
As long as TCM keeps its core strengths and respects the rules of development and innovation, it will surely be able to maintain its vitality (活力) and bring more benefits (优点) to people in China and the world.
1. What advantage does Western medicine have over TCM?| A．It is a symbol of national civilization. |
| B．It is more effective in surgery. |
| C．It is more successful in recovery after surgery. |
| D．It is more effective in treating chronic diseases. |
| A．It stresses the importance of Western medicine. |
| B．It pays equal attention to TCM and Western medicine. |
| C．It has been established by the Chinese government. |
| D．It pays equal attention to developing and innovating TCM. |
| A．important | B．useful | C．special | D．intelligent |
| A．It makes better use of the advantages of TCM. |
| B．It combines Internet Technology with TCM. |
| C．It calls on the public to support TCM. |
| D．It improves TCM services in hospitals and medical centers. |
| A．TCM Breaks New Ground |
| B．Chinese Government Promotes TCM |
| C．TCM is one of China’s Cultural Symbols |
| D．TCM Beats Western Medicine |
5 . Dad recently read me a speech, hoping to satisfy my endless search for answers-answers to everything. Ever since I was very young, I’ve asked countless times “What should I do?”, trying to avoid making mistakes. Maybe I feared to take my first baby step on my own I think.
During my middle school years, I changed. It was when I decided to try for the lead in Beauty and the Beast (野兽) without asking Dad for advice. Never mind that I would have to memorize lines and movements, and I would take the chance that I might fail.
On the day of audition (试镜), I kept telling myself, “If you don’t think you can do it the right way, just don’t go.” My heart was pounding; my hands were shaking so badly that I wasn’t certain whether people would hear me.
But something happened. When I opened my mouth, I found the sound was loud, powerful and sweet! And I even reached the high notes that I’d never reached! It was fantastic! I was trying bravely even though I might fail. But I didn’t. That audition wasn’t the end of the trap that kept me from trying, but it was definitely an important part of the process of growing.
That day, I realized that if I want to live my life to the fullest, I have to push myself. Because my parents, friends and teachers don’t always have the answer to “What should I do?”.
Now, I do take these chances, with baby steps, every day, like voicing my opinions in class discussions, riding my horse over a three-foot jump...
“Life is learning to deal with Plan B.” Dad stated in his speech. But I now know the Plan As I make for my life will become easier and easier with every chance I take.
1. When the author was young, she ________.| A．always liked to ask her father some strange questions |
| B．was afraid to fail and just wanted to do things the right way |
| C．often listened to Dad’s speeches at school |
| D．always compared Plan A to Plan B before acting |
| A．She found it hard to remember all the lines and movements. |
| B．No one could hear her clearly since her voice was shaking. |
| C．She successfully beat herself and performed much better than she’d expected. |
| D．She regretted not accepting Dad’s advice. |
| A．wished the author could keep searching for answers |
| B．expected the author to avoid mistakes in life |
| C．believed Plan B was always much easier than Plan A |
| D．hoped the author could try things bravely and never fear to make mistakes |
| A．The author was scared of taking her first step when she was just a baby. |
| B．It was never hard for the author to reach high notes while she was singing. |
| C．The audition made the author more confident in life. |
| D．People around the author always warned her against making mistakes. |
| A．Taking Chances | B．The Process of Growing |
| C．Answers in Life | D．An Unexpected Audition |
6 . Do dragons exist today? Although often mistaken for a mythical（神话的）creature, we actually live among several different types of “dragons.” For example, you may have seen dragonfly flying over a summer garden or read about a Komodo dragon lizard. The ocean has its share of dragons, too.
The blue dragon is a marine（海洋的）snail without a shell. It is commonly known as a blue sea slug（海参）. This particular species of marine snail can swallow a bubble of air（which it holds in its stomach）that enables it to float upside down on the surface of the ocean. The underside of the slug is blue, and it back is a gray color. This helps to conceal it from birds flying overhead and from fish swimming below.
Blue dragons feed on poisonous jellyfish and other similar species. When food is in short supply, they will eat each other. They collect toxins（毒素）from the jellyfish and store it in many finger-like structures. This ability to store poison gives them a much stronger sting（刺）than the jellyfish itself. They use this poison as a defense against enemies. The sting can also be felt by people.
These creatures are rarely visible for study and observation except for when they come close to land during times of onshore winds. They have been seen in Hawaii and in tropical（热带）waters around the world. Beware（当心）of the blue dragon’s sting!
1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．It gives details about the topic. |
| B．It introduces the subject. |
| C．It introduces the author. |
| D．It gives examples of mythical monsters. |
| A．Discover. | B．Notice. | C．Protect. | D．Hide. |
| A．It floats right side up so the blue faces down in the water. |
| B．Its gray coloring makes it look the same as ocean waves. |
| C．Its blue underside and its gray back help it not be seen from above and below. |
| D．It gives off blue poison into the water to protect it from enemies. |
| A．It floats upside down in the water. |
| B．It stores poison and stings enemies. |
| C．It feeds on poisonous jellyfish. |
| D．It moves to coastal waters during times of onshore winds. |
| A．The animal has the word “dragon” as part of its name because it is a mythical creature. |
| B．We can only see types of “dragons” in oceans. |
| C．A bubble of water in its stomach enables it to float upside down. |
| D．The creature are not commonly seen by people for study and observation. |
7 . Growing up, Deka Ismail says she let labels (标签) define what she could be. “I was a black girl from a refugee (难民) family.” Deka said. “It was as if I was only allowed to explore in this predetermined box.”
After a high school chemistry class inspired her to think about a career in science and gave her confidence in the field. Deka learned to live outside labels and began making big plans for her future. Now she is about to begin her freshman year at the University of California, planning to become a professor.
Born and raised in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood, Deka is the daughter of a Somali refugee couple. While some might say Deka’s success happened in spite of her background, she would say differently, that her experiences shaped her and inspired her to be the driven, young scientist that she is today.
When Deka was eight years old, her mother got a job by studying hard back in school in order to support the whole family. That made Deka realize that education could make a difference to one’s life. She spent a lot of time in the library reading books, and didn’t do many of the things her peers did, like partying or having romantic relationships.
“I always felt like I had to be the perfect girl for my family.” Deka said. “You have to not even do your best but two times better than everyone else. I felt like the whole world was waiting for me to mess up. ”
Deka’s efforts paid off. The summer before her senior year of high school, she was accepted to the American Chemical Society Project SEED Programme. “She brought both enthusiasm and focus.” Botham, a researcher at this research institute, recalled. “She arrived every day ready to work, ready to learn and ready to tackle new challenges regardless of whether or not she had done anything similar.” When asked what advice she would give to others like her, Deka warned them not to look down upon themselves. “Don’t tell yourself that the scholarship is too big or this programme is too competitive or I’ll never get into this school,” she said. “I was not sure whether I could make it until I started seeing the acceptance letters rolling in.”
1. From the passage, we can learn that ________.
| A．Deka was adopted by a refugee family |
| B．Deka spent a lot of time going to parties |
| C．Deka became a professor after graduation |
| D．Deka’s experiences drove her to work hard |
| A．from her mother’s experience |
| B．after her chemistry class |
| C．by reading book in the library |
| D．through working at the institute |
| A．patient | B．confident | C．ambitious | D．generous |
| A．One should set a goal to achieve something big. |
| B．If you want to succeed, you have to be perfect. |
| C．One should look up to others. |
| D．One should always make every effort to achieve his dreams. |
| A．Life is not all roses. |
| B．Practice makes perfect. |
| C．Well begun is half done. |
| D．Hard work leads to success. |
Race to find a vaccine
The whole world is waiting for a vaccine (疫苗) to prevent COVID-19. In light of this, scientists from 172 countries and regions, including Canada, Japan and the UK, are working together through the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility (新冠疫苗全球获得机制).
COVAX is a mechanism (机制) organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). It will make sure that all members get the vaccine in the future. When a vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, all countries within COVAX will be able to get it in time, according to Xinhua. This will also make sure that the vaccine will be fairly priced.
“A number of vaccines are now in the final stage of clinical trials (临床试验),” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He added that the goal (目标) of COVAX is to make at least 2 billion doss (药剂) of the vaccine by the end of 2021.
The WHO has said that the world needs to prevent vaccine nationalism (民族主义). All the countries must work together for the global common good when it comes to securing (获得) vaccines, China Daily noted. “Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus,” Tedros said. He warned that if only a small number of countries get most of the supply (供应), the pandemic will last longer. “Like an orchestra (管弦乐队), we need all instruments to be played in harmony to create music that everyone enjoys,” he said.
China Daily
1. In which section of the newspaper can we probably read the news?| A．BUSINESS. | B．LIFESTYLE. | C．EDUCATION. | D．HEALTH. |
| A．To develop COVID-19 vaccines. |
| B．To provide its members with medical advice. |
| C．To encourage competition among its members. |
| D．To share experience on how to prevent COVID-19. |
| A．What countries need to do to join COVAX. |
| B．How scientists worldwide will work together. |
| C．What advantages COVAX members can enjoy. |
| D．How vaccines will be priced among COVAX members. |
| A．By speeding up research on COVID-19. | B．By stopping COVID-19 from spreading. |
| C．By working together with other countries. | D．By making as many vaccine doses as possible. |
| A．are in the same band | B．live together peacefully |
| C．often argue with each other | D．live in the same community |
Nearly 150 world leaders were meeting in Paris, France, at the United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (COP). They were working hard to help solve climate (气候) change. That was an important meeting since so many countries were trying to solve the problem.
And it has added up. So the leaders knew they needed to act fast. And since climate change doesn’t stay inside a country, it connects us all. We need to agree on what changes should be made and then keep to the plan.
*Remember to turn the lights off at home when you’re not in that room.
*Recycle as much as you can.
*Ride your bike or walk when you can instead of using the car.
| A．What can we do as everyday people? |
| B．The earth’s temperature has been rising over time. |
| C．So, what was the plan agreed on at the meeting? |
| D．Unluckily, humans are causing this problem because of some choices we make and actions we take. |
| E．Often the little decisions can make a difference. |
10 . A four-year-old girl is lying in the arms of a doctor. She has just lost her mother. Her pink clothes are full of blood and her eyes look at something only she can see.
Every day we see pictures like this on our televisions. We see Iraqi (伊拉克的) children begging for food and water from American and British soldiers as they move through towns and cities towards the capital, Baghdad (巴格达). We see these children following parents, carrying bags of almost the same size as their small bodies as they escape from their homes in Baghdad.
They show just some of the young lives that have been turned upside down by ongoing war and the terrible price paid by Iraqi children.
“Dad, why are the Americans fighting against us? Are we going to be killed?” asks the son of Abu Singar, an Iraqi engineer. Abu finds it hard to explain this war to his eight-year-old son.
He tries to make him feel safe by saying, “The bombs (炸弹) are far away from us. The Americans are fighting the soldiers. We’re going to be all right.” Even though Abu knows it isn’t always true, little else can be done. In Baghdad, parents give their children sleeping pills to try and let them escape from the sound of bombs. And all the schools are closed.
Not things are worse, and the ongoing war makes it impossible to count the number who are hungry, sick, hurt or even dead.
1. What happens to the children in Iraq because of the war?| A．The children will get better than before. |
| B．The children beg for food and water from American and British soldiers. |
| C．The children in Iraq go away from their homes in Baghdad. |
| D．The children live a most terrible life. |
| A．正在进行的 | B．非正义的 | C．未授权的 | D．影响恶劣的 |
| A．he wants to make his child not feel dangerous |
| B．he and his child are afraid to lose each other in the war |
| C．he doesn’t want his child to believe American soldiers |
| D．he will lose his country and his home |
| A．the Iraqi people in the war are much hungrier and worse |
| B．we should help the Iraqi people build their country again |
| C．nothing can be done except fighting |
| D．both A and B |
| A．Iraqi Children during the War | B．Sickness, Death in Iraqi |
| C．America and England Fight against Iraq | D．A Girl in the War in Iraq |
