1 . What if you could explore a world created by your favorite artist? What if you could walk through a city street painted by Van Gogh, a landscape by Leonardo da Vinci, or the fantastical vision of Salvador Dalf? Soon, you will be able to do these.
Glen Keane was a Disney animator (动画师). He drew some of the world’s most beloved characters. As he drew, his characters became more and more real to him, and yet, they were still confined to a 2D world. Right now, working with some of the latest technology, he is able to move his art into the magical world of virtual reality (VR).
As the artist behind some of Disney’s most beloved characters, he has works that are familiar to us. For him, animation is more than just drawing. It is a process of bringing characters to life in a 2D world. This has always disappointed Glen. How can a flat page truly express a character? “Well, what if I could draw them with the freedom of a sculptor?” he thought. He wants to explore his artistic limits and create new worlds.
Here is where he finds his way to the magic of VR. Using a tool called Tilt Brush, now Glen can draw beloved life-size characters and open up an entirely new world for his art. Think about what’s possible with this new world of art in VR. What an amazing experience it would be to see beloved life-size characters for yourself! Better yet, people all over the world can enjoy this kind of art, no matter their age or background. People who might not otherwise be able to go to the world’s big art museums can experience famous works as well.
We are only at the beginning of developing art in the digital era. So how will VR and our digital capabilities change in the coming years? More and more, it seems that we are moving away from art and technology being put in opposing camps. And as they find ways to connect, we are starting to experience boundary-pushing horizons.
1. Why does the author ask two questions in the first paragraph?| A．To express his doubts about VR. |
| B．To discuss imagination with readers. |
| C．To draw readers’ attention to the topic. |
| D．To introduce works created by famous artists. |
| A．Limited. | B．Simple. | C．Foreign. | D．Challenging. |
| A．He wanted to make his works more popular. |
| B．He was tired of creating hand-drawn works. |
| C．He hoped to experience the latest technology. |
| D．He desired to add life to his works creatively. |
| A．Advanced but costly. |
| B．Accessible and eye-opening. |
| C．Educational but unwelcome. |
| D．Romantic and environment-friendly. |
| A．Virtual reality is closely related to art. |
| B．An animator contributes much to VR technology. |
| C．An artist brings characters to life in virtual reality. |
| D．VR technology creates challenges for modern artists. |
2 . Most people suffer from what is known as “Just-me-ism”. What is that? Well, say you leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, leave a light on when you go out or you drop a piece of litter (垃圾) and can’t be bothered to pick it up. You know that all those things are wrong. But so what? “What difference can it possibly make?” you say to yourself. There are millions of people in the world and I’m just me. How can it matter if I leave one little tap running, one little light on or leave a little piece of litter on the road? “And anyway, no one will know,” Of course, it wouldn’t matter if there were just a few people in the world. But just think of all the millions of people saying to themselves: “It doesn’t matter. It’s just me. And, anyway, no one knows.” Millions of gallons of water would be wasted; millions of lights would be left on; millions of pieces of litter would be dropped. And all of this would be very harmful.
To inspire young people to take action for the environment, animals and their community, Roots & Shoots was established. This institute was set up in the early 1990s by Dr. Jane Goodall, a scientist who’s the world’s best-known expert on wild chimpanzees (黑猩猩). In addition to her research, she has been whole-heartedly committed to environmental protection, the whole purpose of Roots & Shoots is to educate young people, from preschoolers to university students, so they can help to build a future that is secure and live together in peace with nature. The organization is called Roots & Shoots because roots (根) move slowly under the ground to make a firm (坚实的) foundation, and shoots seem small and weak, but they can break open brick walls to reach the light. The roots and shoots are you, your friends and young people all around the world. Hundreds and thousands of roots and shoots can solve the problems, change the world and make it a better place to live in.
Do you think you help to make the world a better place when you make a sad person smile, when you make a dog wag (摇摆) its tail, and when you water a thirsty plant? One cheered-up person, one happy dog, one flowering plant, and you. That’s what Roots & Shoots is all about: the value and importance of each individual — human, animal or plant. Dr. Jane Goodall believes that the most important thing is that: “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference. You get to choose: Do you want to use your life to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment? Do you want to make Roots & Shoots rooted in everyone’s heart? Do you want to be a part of a community for a shared future? You cannot be absent.”
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．I can do whatever I like and nobody knows. |
| B．I’m unique and no one realizes it. |
| C．I’m lonely. And, no one in the world knows me. |
| D．This is who I am. And, I don’t want people to know me. |
| A．establish Roots & Shoots |
| B．educate people to build a safer future |
| C．commit to environmental protection |
| D．guide young people to create a future in harmony with nature |
| A．All the people. | B．The youth. | C．Adults. | D．Our friends. |
| A．Wait-and-see. | B．Skeptical. | C．Admiring. | D．Encouraging. |
| A．To introduce Roots & Shoots. |
| B．To point out the disadvantages of “Just-me-ism”. |
| C．To call on young people to join Roots & Shoots. |
| D．To call people to pay more attention to animals and plants. |
3 . Great European Cities
PARISParis is the capital and largest city of France, situated on River Seine. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is visited by more than eight million tourists every year. The most popular place for tourists is the Eiffel Tower, the famous symbol of Paris. One of the world’s largest art galleries, the Louvre, is also located in Paris. The city is also famous for its restaurants, cafes and theatres. About two-thirds of France’s artists and writers live in Paris.
BARCELONABarcelona is the second largest city of Spain and is situated on the northeast coast, about five hundred kilometres east of the Spanish capital, Madrid. One of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks is the Church of Sagrada Familia (圣家族大教堂), which was designed by an architect called Antonio Gaudi. Gaudi worked on the project from 1882 until his death in 1926. The church hasn’t been finished yet!
FLORENCEFlorence is an Italian city which won its fame because of the Renaissance (文艺复兴), a great artistic movement which began in the 1300s and lasted for three hundred years. During the Renaissance, some of the greatest painters of all time lived and worked in Florence. Many of Florence’s most beautiful paintings and sculptures were produced by great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Florence is visited each year by about a million tourists who come to see the art galleries, churches and museums. The Uffizi Palace (乌菲兹美术馆) is the most famous art gallery in the city.
ATHENSAthens, the capital of Greece, is known as the birthplace of western civilization. Two thousand four hundred years ago, it was the world’s most powerful city. Buildings such as the Parthenon (帕特农神庙) on the Acropolis (雅典卫城) Hill were built during this period. Greece’s best writers lived in ancient Athens. Their work has influenced other writers ever since.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Paris?| A．Paris is the biggest city of Europe. |
| B．Louvre is the famous symbol of Paris. |
| C． The Eiffel Tower stands in the centre of Paris. |
| D．Paris is famous for its art galleries, restaurants, cafes and theatres. |
| A．It’s the capital of Spain. |
| B．It’s to the east of Madrid. |
| C．It’s the Largest city of Spain |
| D．The Church of Sagrada Familia was completed after Gaudi’s death. |
| A．Florence is known for the Renaissance. |
| B．Florence is a city with a history of three hundred years. |
| C．The Uffizi Palace is the most popular art gallery in Italy. |
| D．Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo produced most of Florence’s paintings and sculptures. |
| A．used to be the capital of Greece | B．used to be the centre of power |
| C．was a birthplace of great buildings | D．was home to most Greek writers |
| A．A course guide. | B．A summer camp notice. |
| C．A tourist brochure. | D．A business magazine. |
4 . It was Christmas morning. The ground was white with
Bessie looked out of the window and saw them
Being
| A．rain | B．water | C．snow | D．ash |
| A．drink | B．eat | C．wear | D．make |
| A．jumps | B．to jump | C．jumping | D．jumped |
| A．begging for | B．living on | C．cutting up | D．looking for |
| A．sorry | B．weak | C．empty | D．cold |
| A．Otherwise | B．Or | C．For | D．But |
| A．cake | B．box | C．tree | D．card |
| A．seeds | B．flowers | C．eggs | D．sandwiches |
| A．At last | B．At first | C．After all | D．Before long |
| A．in | B．out | C．away | D．past |
| A．noodles | B．presents | C．medals | D．coats |
| A．thanks | B．calls | C．congratulations | D．hopes |
| A．nervous | B．honest | C．thankful | D．glad |
| A．little | B．either | C．both | D．all |
| A．if | B．before | C．unless | D．though |
5 . The New Year was heartbreaking for Melanie Lee. A few weeks earlier, her 33-year-old son had
“When it
Eliot Middleton, 38, the owner of a barbecue restaurant and a former auto mechanic who, in his free time,
“I had no idea what was going on,” said Lee. “He
The
It’s a list of names that grow daily.
“People think Middleton is a good man,” Lee’s nephew said. “And I do too.”
1.| A．survived | B．lost | C．won | D．faced |
| A．kept | B．finished | C．began | D．stopped |
| A．broke down | B．broke away | C．broke up | D．broke off |
| A．daughter | B．nephew | C．son | D．grandchild |
| A．calm | B．generous | C．brilliant | D．active |
| A．repairs | B．rents | C．paints | D．decorates |
| A．surroundings | B．position | C．situation | D．factors |
| A．prize | B．gift | C．honor | D．souvenir |
| A．bought | B．showed | C．fetched | D．handed |
| A．pick up | B．pick out | C．take up | D．take out |
| A．belief | B．property | C．investment | D．freedom |
| A．rule | B．suggestion | C．idea | D．theory |
| A．food | B．clothing | C．medicine | D．music |
| A．drove | B．walked | C．climbed | D．orbited |
| A．Appointments | B．Cars | C．Jobs | D．Supplies |
| A．restaurant | B．hospital | C．transportation | D．security |
| A．posted | B．received | C．withdrew | D．refused |
| A．tools | B．devices | C．machines | D．vehicles |
| A．various | B．excellent | C．changeable | D．steady |
| A．lent | B．donated | C．sold | D．returned |
6 . Have you ever heard of “children of the stars”? It might sound mysterious, but the expression refers to children with autism (自闭症). World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2. It was initiated by the United Nations to raise awareness and promote acceptance of people with autism.
According to the US-based Autism Research Institute, autism is a disorder with symptoms (症状) that appear within the first three years of life. The condition is believed to involve deficits (缺陷) in social communication and interaction as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities.
Meng Lingdi, whose daughter was diagnosed (诊断) with autism at 2 years old, shared that her daughter wouldn’t pay attention to her when Meng asked her to do something. “She made less eye contact with people compared to other kids,” Meng added.
Children with autism also suffer from physical pain. “Many children with autism experience epilepsy (癫痫) due to differences in brain activity,” said Sun Zhongkai at Beijing Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism. Epilepsy among people with autism becomes even more prevalent (普遍的) starting from adolescence (青春期), he added.
At present, the precise cause of autism remains unknown, but research indicates that it is likely a result of a mix of developmental, genetic (遗传的), and environmental factors.
“According to our statistics, older parents are more likely to have autistic children than younger parents,” said Sun. “If the first child in a family has autism, the chances of subsequent children also having autism are about 10 times higher than in families where the first child is not autistic. The likelihood of identical twins both having autism is also significant.”
Although autism is a lifelong condition, there are various treatments available. According to Liu Wei, a teacher at the institute with 20 years of experience in teaching people with autism, it is crucial not to view people with autism with a sense of strangeness. Affirmations (肯定) from others will make them feel proud, enabling them to interact with others more effectively. For those close to autism sufferers, such as friends or family, it’s useful to establish certain principles for the individual, such as what is permissible and what is not. They should also have a deep understanding of autism and how to deal with it, which, for children with autism, may “benefit them for a lifetime,” said Sun.
1. What is the purpose of the World Autism Awareness Day’s foundation?| A．To make people with autism easier to get various treatments. |
| B．To arouse people’s attention to autism and make people with autism easier to be accepted. |
| C．To make people with autism have a deep understanding of autism. |
| D．To enable people with autism to interact with others more effectively. |
| A．High anxiety. | B．Sleeping disorders. |
| C．Communication difficulties. | D．Exceptional athletic skills. |
| A．They are more active physically. | B．They exhibit heightened sensitivity. |
| C．Their condition worsens with age. | D．Their brain functions unusually. |
| A．Gender of the child. | B．Age of the parents. |
| C．Education of the parents. | D．Environmental pollution. |
| A．Offer encouragement and support. | B．Communicate our ideas clearly to them. |
| C．Be as generous as possible. | D．Allow freedom in their choices. |
7 . Once, I was invited to see a performance by my friends. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.
After they introduced the young musician, Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes, he was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. About ten minutes into Patrick’s performance, someone came on the stage and said, “I’d like to share a seven-minute video.” Then the lights went dim.
Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes and a tightening of the joints, which left him disabled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, “I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he’d get it.” By his second birthday, he could play simple songs as requested. His father was excited. “We might not play baseball, but we can play music together.”
Today, Patrick is a junior. His father attends classes with him and he’s made nearly all A’s. He’s also a part of the marching band. He and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and performances. His father rolls his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick’s fans.
But it was Patrick’s “attitude of gratitude” that touched my soul deeper. On stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, “God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability, the musical gifts I have… the great opportunity to meet new people.”
When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes.
1. What can we know from the text?| A．Patrick is now in charge of a marching band. |
| B．My friends told me the performance would be very special. |
| C．Patrick showed a gift of music at an early age. |
| D．Patrick played the piano much better than he sang. |
| A．taught Patrick to sing and play the piano |
| B．accompanied him to attend classes and practices |
| C．expected his son to be a great musician and singer |
| D．has become the leader of the marching band |
| A．His attitude of gratitude. | B．His working hard. |
| C．His wonderful performance. | D．His unlucky fate. |
| A．unfortunate | B．hopeful | C．talkative | D．lucky |
| A．share our kindness with others | B．develop an interest in music |
| C．study hard and realize our dream | D．value what we have had |
8 . Eating out is such a pleasure-the food, the wine, the joy of having it all brought to you by someone else — that it’s a pity to ruin the experience by sharing it with other people.
Well, I do like visiting restaurants with friends. But dining out alone has its own very special attractions. For a start you can give all your attention to the food. There’s nothing worse than having to invent and deliver an opinion on school league tables or Sanchez’s move to Manchester United, plus listen to everyone else’s opinions, when all you really want to do is enjoy each mouthful along the way.
A second great thing about eating out alone is the chance to combine food with one of life’s other true pleasures: reading. You have to plan this carefully: Indian or Chinese restaurants are best—you need food you can eat with just one hand, leaving the other free to hold your reading material.
But perhaps the biggest attraction of a table for one is the chance it gives to people- watching. Restaurants and the different reasons for visiting them-first date, business meeting, night out with friends-produce human behaviour of surprising richness and variety. Will the man selling his business idea get any joy out of his possible investor (投资者)? Will the married couple think of anything to say to each other before their main courses arrive?
This “human zoo” part of eating out alone is one of the reasons I’d hate to be famous: everyone would be watching you, so you wouldn’t be able to watch them. The snooker player Steve Davis says this was one of the strangest consequences of becoming well-known: he got very worried about his eating in public, almost to the level of doubting whether he was “doing it right.”
So next time you’re considering your eating out choices, remember the advice of the businessman Nubar Gulbenkian: “The best number for a dinner party is two — myself and a super head waiter.”
1. What does the text mainly talk about?| A．The reasons for eating out alone. | B．The trouble with eating in public. |
| C．The suggestions about dining out. | D．The fear of making dining choices. |
| A．One can fix one’s eyes on the food. |
| B．One can enjoy reading while eating. |
| C．One is likely to come across famous people. |
| D．One is given the chance to watch other diners. |
| A．Steve Davis cared too much about table manners. |
| B．Famous people are always the center of attention. |
| C．Being famous may ruin the joy of eating out alone. |
| D．Being watched seems far better than watching others. |
| A．reasons | B．results | C．causes | D．advantages |
| A．Dining with friends. | B．Chatting over dinner. |
| C．Having a table for one. | D．Sharing a table with a waiter. |
9 . The Future Stars
General IntroductionThe Future Stars was set up in 1988 as a non-profit service center for child development devoted to providing quality child care in a loving and educational environment for children 6 weeks to 6 years of age. Our funds mainly come from public donations.
A healthy curiosity for learning is the most important quality for early childhood development. We aim at offering high quality developmentally age-appropriate activities for early childhood, the most critical time of child development, so that they can do better after they start formal schooling.
Hours of OperationChild care will be provided for the child from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday (except for holidays). Children may not arrive before 7:00 am or remain after 6:00 pm. Should an emergency arises, the parent should immediately make us know in consideration of our work arrangements. A late charge of $1.00 per minute will be assessed if the child is not picked up by 6:05 pm. Charges for these services are to be paid directly to the staff person that has been looking after your child until your arrival; not to the center. Failure to pay late charges may affect continued services with the center.
ParkingDropping off and picking up your child can be made from the two main areas, Spring Street and Seventh Street. Parking is free for parents coming to visit their children in our center. Please do not leave your purse or valuables in your car and be sure to lock your vehicle.
Tuition (学费)When it has been confirmed that a position is available for your child, you must pay a registration (注册) fee of $200 per child.
The weekly tuition fee is $98.00. You can make payments either by credit card or in cash on Monday every week. If your payment is not made by Tuesday at 9:00 am, you will be charged a $25.00 late fee.
For more information, please call 434-293-6110 or visit at www.childdevelopmentcenter.com.
1. The Future Stars is intended for ________.| A．would-be parents | B．pre-school children | C．child experts | D．teenagers |
| A．It has a history of more than three decades. |
| B．It has shorter hours of operation on holidays. |
| C．It offers free parking service for visiting parents. |
| D．It aims to improve children’s development through activities. |
| A．They may affect continued services with the center. |
| B．Parents needn’t pay late charges for them. |
| C．Parents have to inform the center of them right away. |
| D．They may greatly disturb the work arrangements of the center. |
| A．pay every Monday | B．be charged a $25.00 late fee |
| C．pay $98.00 for registration | D．pay in cash |
| A．To attract public donations. | B．To promote early education. |
| C．To tell the benefits of child care. | D．To introduce a child development center. |
10 . We offer five kinds of courses. Each course has been designed to help students according to their needs.
Course 1: General EnglishGeneral English is designed to develop students’ basic communication skills in speaking and pronunciation, reading, listening, writing, grammar and vocabulary. Tuesday to Friday: 9: 00 am to 11: 00 am, $ 288 per week.
Course 2: Academic EnglishAcademic English is for students who want to take IELTS exam or for those who need to use English in professional area. Monday and Sunday, same content, 4: 00 pm to 5: 00 pm, $ 20 per hour.
Course 3: High School ESLWhy not make the most of your time studying in Australia with the help from TIES? We have High School ESL classes each week specifically designed for international students. Tuesday to Friday: 8: 00 to 11: 00 am, $ 25 per hour.
Course 4: Night ClassesDo you want to improve your English and get the best possible results in your ERE test? We have two night classes each week designed to meet your needs. Tuesday and Thursday evenings: 8: 30 pm to 10: 30 pm, $ 60 per day.
Course 5:One on OneIf you are interested in some One on One lessons with TIES teachers, we can design a course to meet your needs. One on One lessons can improve your English language skills more quickly and help students who want to take EOEFL. Tuesday and Friday: 2: 00 pm to 5: 00 pm, $ 80 per hours.
Please click here to learn more about the courses!
1. Which course would be helpful to an English beginner?| A．High School ESL. | B．General English. |
| C．Night Classes. | D．Academic English. |
| A．University students. | B．Office workers. |
| C．International students | D．Native English speakers. |
| A．$ 240. | B．$ 300. | C．$ 360. | D．$ 600. |
| A．Course 1. | B．Course 2. | C．Course 3. | D．Course 4. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Opinion. | C．Health. | D．Study. |
