1 . When reading, my mother likes to slice a paragraph or a sentence out and attach it to the wall of her kitchen. She picks boring sentences that puzzle me. But I prefer copying favorite bright lines into a journal in soft, gray No. 2 pencil, word by word.
She doesn’t know any of this. There's nothing shocking: for our chatting. we seldom begin certain conversations though we talk on the phone weekly, sometimes making each other laugh so hard that I choke and she cries. But what we don't say could fill up rooms. Fights with my father. Small failures in school. Anything that really upsets us.
My mother has never told me “I love you, Lisa.”—as if the four-word absence explains who I am—so I carry it with me, like a label on me. The last time she almost spoke the words was two years ago, when she called to tell me a friend had been in hospital. I said, “I love you, Mom.” She stopped for a while and then said, “Thank you.” I haven't said it since, but I've wondered why my mother doesn't until I've found a poem that supplies words for the blank spaces I try to understand in our conversations:
Don’t fill up on bread. I say absent-mindedly. The servings here are huge.
My son, middle-aged, says: Did you really just say that to me?
What he doesn’t know is that when we’re walking together, I desire to reach for his hand.
It's humble, yet heartbreaking. After copying it down in my journal, I emailed it to mom, adding “This poem makes me think of you.” My mother doesn’t read poetry—or at least, she doesn’t tell me, and I felt nervous clicking “Send”.
She never mentioned the poem. But the next time I went home for vacation, I noticed something new in the kitchen fixed to an antique board: the poem. The board hung above the heater, the warmest spot in the kitchen. The poem still hangs there. Neither my mother nor I have ever spoken about it.
1. What's the function of paragraph 1?| A．To stress the theme. | B．To establish the setting. |
| C．To represent the characters. | D．To create the atmosphere. |
| A．Shaky. | B．Distant. | C．Reserved. | D．Intense. |
| A．It reminded her of mom's love. |
| B．She wanted to apologize to mom. |
| C．It suited mom's taste of literature. |
| D．She needed an interpretation from mom. |
| A．A memory of golden days. |
| B．Daughter’s gratefulness to her. |
| C．A decoration in the plain kitchen. |
| D．Daughter's understanding of her. |
2 . If you have no difficulty in understanding what native English speakers say in daily life, there is a whole new world of brilliant podcast (播客) series to explore. If you aren’t sure where to start, have a look at these:
| The Joc Rogan Experience ★★★★★ The Joc Rogan Experience is a great learning device because of its interesting English conversations between Rogan and his guests. At the time of writing there have been over 1,660 episodes with subjects ranging from comedy and science to politics and sports. Rogan is also a famous stand-up comedian, so the show is full of cultural references and idioms. |
| This American Life ★★★★★ This American Life is a great choice for English learners who want an insight into the culture of the USA. It is a mixture of journalism and storytelling, focusing on real-life tales from citizens of all regions of the country. The stories are new and varied. One episode was taped for 24 hours in an all-night restaurant; another interviewed workers on strike. |
| The Writer's Voice ★★★★☆ The New Yorker is a famous American magazine, and every week it prints a new short story. In this podcast, the week's story is read aloud by its writer. The published work covers a wide range of life experiences across the United States and beyond. It's a great way to enjoy some of the best new fiction in the country. |
| Overheard at National Geographic ★★★★★ National Geographic is a much-loved American magazine (and TV channel) famous for incredible stories and photography related to science and the environment. Overheard is about the discussions Nat Geo employees have had while taking breaks. Expect crazy stories from explorers, photographers, and scientists from around the world. |
| A．have interaction with hosts |
| B．have good English competence |
| C．be interested in being a podcaster |
| D．be familiar with American social life |
| A．The Writer's Voice. |
| B．This American Life. |
| C．The Joe Rogan Experience. |
| D．Overheard at National Geographic. |
| A．They enjoy great popularity. |
| B．Their stories are set in America. |
| C．They are attached to magazines. |
| D．Their works are updated weekly. |
3 . It was just a typical morning of an ordinary workday. I was at the
Over the years, I had grown more
Shortly after I got back home, I started to receive some emails from my workmates—I guessed they expected me to join them again soon. After a few
| A．cafe shop | B．bookstore | C．supermarket | D．bus stop |
| A．awaken | B．tackle | C．settle | D．disappear |
| A．nose | B．eyes | C．neck | D．arms |
| A．go | B．continue | C．combine | D．exchange |
| A．mature | B．academic | C．competitive | D．positive |
| A．output | B．alternative | C．case | D．opposite |
| A．inspired | B．lost | C．pure | D．guilty |
| A．spotted | B．marked | C．hit | D．set |
| A．evaluation | B．adaptation | C．comprehension | D．occupation |
| A．jokes | B．lines | C．calls | D．accounts |
| A．sticking | B．standing | C．bringing | D．figuring |
| A．choke | B．urge | C．suffer | D．hesitate |
| A．discouraged | B．banned | C．freed | D．prevented |
| A．brand-new | B．non-controversial | C．so-called | D．win-win |
| A．unimportant | B．improper | C．irregular | D．illogical |
4 . Those in the food industry understand the difficulty that comes from working with people. No matter how much you try, some customers are never
A customer approached the drive-through window
Bryanna was the
The customer next in line who witnessed what happened was Feroza Eyed. She
When Feroza approached the drive-through, she
Through this, Feroza and Bryanna have become friends. It’s just
| A．confused | B．frightened | C．troubled | D．satisfied |
| A．temper | B．passion | C．sight | D．temperature |
| A．sadly | B．angrily | C．happily | D．patiently |
| A．convinced | B．embarrassed | C．justified | D．misunderstood |
| A．interviewer | B．victim | C．looker-on | D．witness |
| A．unpleasant | B．reliable | C．responsible | D．avoidable |
| A．warning | B．weeping | C．begging | D．checking |
| A．heard of | B．thought of | C．spoke of | D．dreamed of |
| A．admit | B．behave | C．follow | D．approve |
| A．wonderful | B．funny | C．necessary | D．awful |
| A．paid | B．charged | C．offered | D．afforded |
| A．principle | B．program | C．destination | D．idea |
| A．assumed | B．realized | C．recognized | D．recalled |
| A．regret | B．relief | C．reward | D．joy |
| A．inspiring | B．demanding | C．amusing | D．puzzling |
5 . When it comes to lowering blood pressure, studies have typically shown that aerobic (有氧的) exercises are best. Recent research suggests another type of physical activity is worth including as an effective tool to prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Exercises that engage muscles without movement, such as wall squats and planks, may be best for lowering blood pressure, according to a large study published in July, 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
This type of training is known as isometric exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Isometric muscle action happens when muscles contract but do not visibly change length, and the joints involved don’t move, facilitating stability of the body. Isometric exercises can be done with weights or without, just relying on the body’s own weight.
“These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure,” said study coauthor Dr. Jamie O’Driscoll in a news release.
The researchers looked into randomized controlled trials that had reported the effects of exercise interventions, lasting two or more weeks, on blood pressure between 1990 and February 2023. From a review of 270 trials with 15,827 participants, the researchers found that among HIIT (high intensity interval training), isometric exercise, aerobic exercise, dynamic resistance training and a combination of the latter two, isometric exercise led to the greatest reductions in blood pressure.
It’s also important to note that there are other lifestyle changes as well as exercise that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and ensuring that you continue to take any prescribed medication.
More research is needed to determine exactly why isometric exercises might be better for lowering blood pressure than other types of training, the authors said.
1. What does the underlined part “isometric exercise” in paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Exercise that is done with extra weights. |
| B．Exercise that involves visible muscle contraction. |
| C．Exercise that focuses on stability of the body. |
| D．Exercise that engages muscles without movement. |
| A．By providing statistics. | B．By interviewing experts. |
| C．By doing experiments. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Exploring the reasons for its effectiveness. |
| B．Demonstrating its influences on mental health. |
| C．Assessing its suitability for different populations. |
| D．Determining its long-term impacts on blood pressure. |
| A．The benefits of aerobic exercises. | B．The best exercise for blood pressure. |
| C．The effects of various types of exercises. | D．The importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle. |
6 . At my first lesson in Chinese calligraphy, my teacher told me plainly: “Now I will teach you how to write your name. And to make it beautiful.” I felt my breath catch. I was curious.
Growing up in Singapore, I had an unusual relationship with my Chinese name. My parents are ethnically Chinese, so they asked fortune tellers to decide my name, aiming for maximum luck. As a result, I ended up with a nonsense and embarrassing name: Chen Yiwen, meaning, roughly, “old”, “barley (薏米)” and “warm”.
When I arrived in America for college at 18, I put on an American accent and abandoned my Chinese name. When I moved to Hong Kong in 2021, after 14 years in the States, I decided to learn calligraphy. Why not get back in touch with my heritage? I thought.
In calligraphy, the idea is to copy the old masters’ techniques, thereby refining your own. Every week, though, my teacher would give uncomfortably on-the-nose assessments of my person. “You need to be braver,” he once observed. “Have confidence. Try to produce a bold stroke(笔画).” For years, I had prided myself on presenting an image of confidence, but my writing betrayed me.
I was trying to make sense of this practice. You must visualize the word as it is to be written and leave a trace of yourself in it. As a bodily practice, calligraphy could go beyond its own cultural restrictions. Could it help me go beyond mine? My teacher once said to me, “When you look at the word, you see the body. Though a word on the page is two-dimensional, it contains multitudes, conveying the force you’ve applied, the energy of your grip, the arch of your spine.” I had been learning calligraphy to get in touch with my cultural roots, but what I was really seeking was a return to myself. Now I have sensed that the pleasure out of calligraphy allows me to know myself more fully.
During a recent lesson, my teacher pointed at the word I had just finished, telling me: “This word is much better. I can see the choices you made, your calculations, your flow. Trust yourself. This word is yours.” He might as well have said, “This word is you.”
1. What did the author initially think of her name “Chen Yiwen”?| A．It was lucky so she gladly accepted it. | B．She felt proud of its symbolic meaning. |
| C．She understood the intention but still disliked it. | D．Its strange pronunciation made her embarrassed. |
| A．pick up a new hobby | B．reconnect with her origin |
| C．gain insights into a new culture | D．fit in with local community |
| A．reflects the creator’s spirits | B．comes from creative energy |
| C．highlights the design of strokes | D．depends on continuous practice |
| A．Appreciate what our culture offers. | B．Find beauty from your inner self. |
| C．A great teacher leads you to truth. | D．We are the sum of what we create. |
7 . 
16th iPhone Photography AWARDS Call for Entries
●Categories
Abstract, Animals, Architecture, Children, City life/Cityscape, Landscape, Lifestyle, Nature, People, Portrait, Series (3 images), Still Life, Travel, Other.
●Requirements
Entries are open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are suitable. The photos should not be changed in any desktop image processing program such as Photoshop. It is OK to use any IOS apps.
The submissions must be in the original size or not smaller than 1000 pixels in either height or width.
●Prizes
All photographers compete for the 4 IPPAWARDS Photographers of the Year. Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
Grand Prizes: All entries compete for the famous IPPA Photographer of the Year Award title.
14 Gold Bars: The 1st place winner of the 14 categories will win a Gold Bar from the most recognizable private gold mint in the world.
14 Platinum Bars: The 2nd and 3rd place winners of the 14 categories will win a Platinum Bar from the most recognizable private gold mint in the world.
Certificates in all Categories: All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from each categories will receive a IPPAWARDS certificate.
Honorable Mentions: IPPAWARDS judges will award several Honorable Mention to entries to acknowledge talent as they consider fit.
●How to Enter:
1. Select how many images you want to enter.
2. Follow the check-out process to pay the entry fee.
3. Select your images and upload; click here to start.
If possible, please name each image with your name and the category you are submitting like this:
“FirstName-LastName-Category. jpg”
●Deadline: March 31, 2023
1. What makes a qualified entry for the competition as an iPhone user?| A．An unused original photo. | B．An 800-pixel photo. |
| C．A two-image Series. | D．A published photo. |
| A．Gold Bar. | B．Platinum Bar. | C．Honorable Mention. | D．Grand prize. |
| A．In a photography magazine. | B．In a photography guidebook |
| C．On a website. | D．In an iPhone manual book. |
8 . When I was a little girl, every time when my dad was repairing something, he would ask me to hold the hammer. Then we could have a time for a
I grew up and left home for the college, and since then, he had been
Several years ago, he was
One Sunday morning, we had a telephone talk
After his
| A．change | B．cooperation | C．conversation | D．debate |
| A．contacting | B．calling | C．educating | D．meeting |
| A．decorating | B．clearing | C．repairing | D．painting |
| A．labor | B．rest | C．heat | D．misery |
| A．talk | B．tend | C．hand | D．keep |
| A．joining | B．visiting | C．following | D．leaving |
| A．putting together | B．giving away | C．tearing apart | D．making up |
| A．prepare | B．apologize | C．apply | D．delay |
| A．on time | B．at first | C．in return | D．as usual |
| A．exactly | B．freely | C．lately | D．personally |
| A．hospital | B．flight | C．journey | D．treatment |
| A．pleasure | B．interest | C．choice | D．time |
| A．death | B．illness | C．recovery | D．suffering |
| A．efforts | B．demands | C．thoughts | D．struggles |
| A．relief | B．attention | C．comfort | D．courage |
9 . This fall, students at the University of Massachusetts found a new menu at their dining commons: the “diet for a cooler planet” menu. This meant herb-roasted lamb, raised with a carbon-friendly approach. It included sweet potatoes that had been picked from a local farm’s field post-harvest. The options were plant-heavy, locally grown, and involved little to no packaging.
“We wanted to let students participate in climate action by making choices about their food,” says Kathy Wicks, sustainability director for UMass Dining. The university is not alone in this effort. Increasingly, American consumers and institutions are thinking about how their food choices factor into climate change. For many, small choices at the grocery store, dining hall, and restaurant can feel more accessible than big-ticket options like buying a fuel-efficient car or installing home solar panels.
Small changes in dietary habits may make a big difference. Climate activists often target fossil fuels and transportation systems, but studies point to the food system as a significant contributor to global warming. According to Project Drawdown, a research organization that evaluates climate solutions, the way food is grown, transported, and consumed accounts for about a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Beef is a regular target. “If, on average, Americans cut a quarter pound of beef per week from their diet, it’s like taking 10 million cars off the road a year,” says Sujatha Bergen, director of health campaigns for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Food waste ranks third among climate solutions. While much waste occurs before consumers are involved — food left on the field or “chucked” because it does not fit appearance standards, Americans also throw out a lot of food they have purchased: about $ 1,600 worth a year per family of four.
“People are beginning to understand that their food choices make a big impact on climate,” says Megan Larmer, director of regional food at the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in New York. But, she cautions substantial change will need to come from the whole food system.
1. What is the purpose of the new menu at the University of Massachusetts?| A．To market the cold dishes. | B．To reduce the cost of packaging. |
| C．To popularize the plant-heavy diet. | D．To promote low carbon awareness. |
| A．Food is a decisive factor for climate change. |
| B．Food choices matter much to global warming. |
| C．Universities are working together in climate action. |
| D．Fuel-efficient cars are not affordable for consumers. |
| A．It has great influence on carbon reduction. | B．It is popular among millions of car drivers. |
| C．It has a close relationship with gas emission. | D．It plays a significant role in American’s diet. |
| A．Food System Reform: A Successful Trial | B．Global Warming: An Approaching Danger |
| C．Carbon Emission: A Killer, or Healer? | D．Low Carbon Diet: A Craze, or More? |
10 . Swot satellite is scheduled to be launched Thursday morning to conduct a comprehensive survey of Earth’s vital resource. By using advanced microwave radar technology, it will collect height-surface measurements of oceans, lakes and rivers in high-definition detail over 90% of the globe. It’s really the first time to observe nearly all water on the planet’s surface.
The major mission is to explore how oceans absorb atmospheric heal and CO2 in a natural process that adjusts climate change. Oceans are estimated to have absorbed more than 90% of the extra heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere by human-caused greenhouse gases. Swot will scan (查看) the seas and precisely measure fine differences in surface elevations (高度) around smaller currents and eddies (漩涡), where much of the oceans’ decrease of heat and carbon is believed to occur. “Studying the mechanism will help climate scientists answer a key question: What is the turning point at which oceans start releasing, rather than absorbing, huge amounts of heat back into the atmosphere and speed up global warming, rather than limiting it,” said Nadya Shiffer, Swot’s program scientist.
By comparison, earlier studies of water bodies relied on data of rivers or oceans taken at specific points, or from satellites that can only track measurements along a one-dimensional line, requiring scientists to fill in data gaps through extrapolation (外推法). Thanks to the radar instrument, Swot can scan through cloud cover and darkness over wide ranges of the Earth. This enables scientists to accurately map their observations in two dimensions regardless of weather or time of day and to cover large geographic areas far more quickly than was previously possible.
“Rather than giving us a line of elevations, it’s giving us a map of elevations, and that’s just a total game changer,” said Tamlin Pavelsky, Swot freshwater science leader.
1. What do the underlined words “vital resource” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Technology. | B．Climate. | C．Oceans. | D．Water. |
| A．To explore where oceans absorb heat and CO2. |
| B．To explain why greenhouse gas comes into being. |
| C．To identify when global warming is worsened. |
| D．To study how oceans influence climate change. |
| A．The high-definition computer. |
| B．Advanced radar technology. |
| C．The three-dimensional image. |
| D．An accurate map of elevations. |
| A．First Global Water Survey from Space |
| B．Successful Launch of Swot Satellite |
| C．A Breakthrough in Space Travel |
| D．A Solution to Climate Change |
