1 . Growing up, I was often the first Jewish person my classmates had ever met. I lived in Mississauga, Ontario, and was the only Jewish student in my grade—sometimes the only one in the whole school. This difference set me apart.
Every September, I hated presenting the note my parents had expertly made to a teacher I was just getting to know. The note explained that I would be absent during the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I fretted that my teachers would label me the “Jewish kid”.
The real trouble always came as the local new year’s festival approached. I was Jewish and celebrated Hanukkah, not this festival. At school, on one day before the winter break, every class would sit in neat rows in the gym and sing songs from the festival. However, the music teacher sometimes played Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, a Jewish festival song, and I would feel hundreds of eyes staring at my red cheeks. As my friends counted down the days until the festival, I counted the days until it was over and I could go back to feeling normal.
Each year during primary school, my mother would coordinate (协调) with my teacher to come to my class and tell the story of Hanukkah. She would prepare treats and materials depending on my age. Every time I would proudly stand beside her as she told the story of Hanukkah and explained the symbols. The children who had attended the presentation previously competed to answer questions. After my mom left, I would overhear them showing off their fried treats to kids in other classes.
My mom’s annual visits to my school sparked (激发) interest from other parents as well. Over the years, we had visits from parents who shared how festivals were celebrated in Germany and Italy.
My mom showed me, my classmates and their families that what sets us apart should be celebrated and shared, an intention which I continue to set for myself as I cycle through another holiday season.
1. What does the underlined word “fretted” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Noticed. | B．Disagreed. | C．Worried. | D．Expected. |
| A．Being a trick target. | B．Singing holiday songs. |
| C．Being culturally different. | D．Celebrating others’ festival. |
| A．They welcomed it warmly. | B．They gave away her treats. |
| C．They showed off themselves. | D．They expressed sympathy for her. |
| A．She protected her child from being hurt. |
| B．She encouraged cross-cultural understanding. |
| C．She made Hanukkah a school-celebrated festival. |
| D．She saved the Jewish tradition from being changed. |
2 . Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to explore the bookshelves and settle down with a new book, or use roving libraries to bring books to hard-to-reach populations. No matter how they achieve it, these novel libraries are keeping the magic of reading alive.
Bishan Library (Singapore)
Built in 2006, this library with skylights and trellises, is meant to invoke a modern glass treehouse. Glass pods of varying colors stick out of the building randomly to create cozy yet airy corners for reading throughout the building. At the same time, a more open-plan children’s room on the basement level invites interaction while preventing noise from filtering upward and disturbing those concentrating in the lofty perches above.
Stuttgart City Library (Stuttgart, Germany)
Opened in 2011, this nine-story public library is characterized by its attractive white color scheme (lit by blue light at night), its bold cubic shape. This cultural center for the city, designed to feel open and full of light, can be entered from any of its four sides, and people can borrow artwork as well as books.
The Camel Library Service (North Eastern Province, Kenya)
To combat low literacy rates in the desert of Kenya, the government created a roaming library composed of nine camels bringing books to villages. The library travels four days a week serving the region’s nomadic people. With more funding, they plan to increase their reach both in distance and the books they carry.
Macquarie University Library (Sydney, Australia)
A wonderful combination of cutting-edge and sustainable ideas, this building was made from recycled materials, features a green roof, and was designed to look like the shape of a eucalyptus tree. It is also state of the art, using robot cranes to bring requested books to the front desk.
1. Which of the following can offer the service of lending artwork?| A．Bishan Library. | B．Stuttgart City Library. |
| C．The Camel Library Service. | D．Macquarie University Library. |
| A．It is intelligent and environmentally-friendly. |
| B．It has a green roof and a eucalyptus tree outside. |
| C．It is like a modern glass treehouse with skylights. |
| D．It opens four days a week serving the local people. |
| A．prevent noise |
| B．recycle old books |
| C．encourage reading |
| D．present beautiful appearances |
3 . 4 Best Places to Travel in 2023
2023 is the year when travel returns in a big way. To get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to travel in 2023. All you need to do is pick the place that appeals to you.
Copenhagen
With its fantastic houses, clean streets and colorful architecture, Copenhagen is regarded as the most livable city on the earth. Named the World Capital of Architecture for 2023, Copenhagen will offer a series of major artistic events and programs sure to delight architects and design lovers.
Bhutan
For travelers with a sense of adventure and a love of discovery, Bhutan has always been a must-go destination. In 2023, travelers can once again explore the Trans Bhutan Trail, which runs 250 miles from east to west, offering visits to the century-old communities along the journey. The trail spans (横跨)18 major bridges and national parks and connects more than 400 historic and cultural sites.
Bordeaux
The coming years will be sporty in the historical wine region of Bordeaux in France. In 2023, the city will host the Rugby World Cup, an intense and stressful game. Beyond sports, Bordeaux is one of the favorite historical cities, with more than 350 structures that are either nationally or regionally listed as historical monuments.
Namibia
Wildlife and adventure lovers looking for a unique path in African Safari trips should head straight to Namibia in 2023 — this country in southern Africa is the perfect place to travel to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. On the wildlife front, you may see lions along with giraffes and elephants.
1. What is Copenhagen well-known for?| A．The natural landscape. | B．The adventure travel. |
| C．Eye-catching architecture. | D．Famous art designers. |
| A．Modern communities. | B．Cultural relics. |
| C．Historical wine regions. | D．National monuments. |
| A．Copenhagen. | B．Bhutan. | C．Bordeaux. | D．Namibia. |
4 . Amazing and perfectly beautiful, The Midnight Library is everything you’d expect from the genius storyteller, Matt Haig. I picked it up from our readers’ recommendations (we asked our readers to send in some of their favorite recent books) and I can see why it won Best Fiction of 2020 in the Good Reads Choice Awards.
The story follows Nora Seed, a woman who is struggling and feels like nothing in her life has gone according to plan. While the initial chapters of the book are quite sad, Nora finds herself given a chance to start over in the Midnight Library, a magical place full of books of all the different paths her life could have taken. Nora is forced to stay in the library and try out different versions of her life until she finds the life she most wants to live.
I loved the idea that no dream or fork in your road is insignificant, and that they all lead us to become different versions of ourselves. In one life, Nora is an Olympic swimmer. In another, she is a glaciologist living on a boat off the coast of Antarctica. The novel reveals in a beautiful way that the potential we all have within us is impossible to measure, and that we have the possibility to be happy in many different versions of life.
It also discusses how dangerous it can be to live your life with regrets. The Midnight Library revealed to Nora that even if you make very different choices, you may uncover a deeper appreciation for your current home and the people in your life. It is your perspective that matters.
I really loved the fantasy and magical realism in this novel, and I would love for this to be turned into a series where we get to explore The Midnight Library of other characters’ lives as well.
1. What can we know about the author of the text?| A．He should be an editor. | B．He is the friend of Matt Haig. |
| C．Magical realism books are his favorite. | D．He shares a similar experience with Nora. |
| A．A magic library. | B．The harm of regret. |
| C．The exploration of life. | D．Ways to make correct choices. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a magazine. | C．In a history book. | D．In a biography. |
| A．To thank readers who introduced the book. | B．To honour Matt Haig, the author of the book. |
| C．To share the author’s opinions on the book. | D．To publicize the book to people who are struggling. |
5 . Some high school students think it useless to receive higher education. Therefore, they choose not to go to college. If you're one of them, think again. Here are some reasons why you should go to college and receive a good education there.
Schools and universities are the first places to get knowledge. We take that knowledge later on to build our careers after graduation. More knowledge will be gained after you start working, but without education, that job will not be within easy reach. Knowledge leads to knowledge.
While limited within the walls of the educational places, we openly explore other cultures of the world! We come to know that ours is not the only culture. Other cultures have valuable things to share, enriching our own. Education also makes us want to travel and exchange with various cultures, getting more experience.
When there's a recession in the economy（经济）, those who attended college will be more likely to find a new job than those who only finished high school and have a limited skills set. The more education you have, the more chances you will get to improve the quality of your life as you have a better job and earn a higher salary.
When you're skillful and knowledgeable, you gain access to people of similar backgrounds and tastes. It means a good education leads to excellent networking. Good networking can benefit you a lot in your later life.
A good education makes you a more interesting person. You can talk about ideas and events instead of just other people and what's on sale in stores. An educated person doesn't gossip（说闲话）, having a preference to discuss ideas and listen to what other people have to say.
1. What can we learn about college education from Paragraph 2?| A．It offers you a chance to study abroad. | B．It can allow you to gain more knowledge. |
| C．It can improve the quality of your daily life. | D．It encourages you to travel around the world. |
| A．change. | B．drop. | C．growth. | D．support. |
| A．You can gossip about others’ affairs. | B．You are likely to study well at school. |
| C．You can work well with your coworkers. | D．You get to know excellent people with similar interests. |
| A．The benefits of attending college. | B．The exchange with other cultures. |
| C．The access to good networking. | D．The ways of college education. |
6 . At 28 years old, I lost my job as a full-time magazine editor. I’d always dreamed of becoming a self-employed writer, but I
Despite the fear I felt at
I’ve been working for myself full-time for two years. Not only am I happier thanks to a(n)
When it comes to big dreams, many of us plan out every last detail so that we feel
When Jennifer Qiao got
Never let over-planning get in the
| A．enjoyed | B．imagined | C．started | D．suggested |
| A．so | B．but | C．once | D．although |
| A．diving into | B．carrying on | C．breaking up | D．letting out |
| A．offer | B．option | C．application | D．judgement |
| A．shared | B．treated | C．understood | D．faced |
| A．strict | B．tight | C．flexible | D．ambitious |
| A．chief | B．part-time | C．retired | D．salaried |
| A．eager | B．grateful | C．prepared | D．regretful |
| A．fired | B．employed | C．dressed | D．married |
| A．born | B．forgotten | C．stolen | D．rejected |
| A．plan | B．charge | C．market | D．deadline |
| A．widely | B．quickly | C．secretly | D．officially |
| A．business | B．challenge | C．organization | D．game |
| A．adjusted | B．referred | C．contributed | D．grown |
| A．form | B．way | C．beginning | D．middle |
7 . Elmer Whitaker sighed as he looked over his muddy crops. A terrible
"What a disaster, “Whitaker said.” My whole family has always survived on the harvests of this field. I feel
Thomas calmed him down and thought for a moment. “I see this not as a disaster but as an
Elmer Whitaker considered this. Thomas was right-he had become set in his ways. This disaster could push him to make his farm
And so Whitaker
| A．force | B．smoke | C．war | D．storm |
| A．mud | B．grass | C．mist | D．dust |
| A．went on | B．set off | C．came by | D．burst in |
| A．special | B．desperate | C．sensitive | D．tireless |
| A．opportunity | B．agreement | C．intention | D．element |
| A．as usual | B．in disbelief | C．on purpose | D．with pride |
| A．innocently | B．gratefully | C．politely | D．cheerfully |
| A．major | B．traditional | C．different | D．natural |
| A．restore | B．exchange | C．donate | D．abandon |
| A．formal | B．diverse | C．realistic | D．obvious |
| A．informed | B．demanded | C．enlightened | D．promised |
| A．tasted | B．planted | C．shared | D．received |
| A．careful | B．troubled | C．familiar | D．impressed |
| A．diversify | B．remove | C．deliver | D．observe |
| A．manner | B．dream | C．symbol | D．cause |
8 . Four years ago, Rome Leykin was on his way to work when he accidentally fell onto the tracks of Brooklyn's train as a subway was approaching. The incident resulted in the loss of both of his legs.
But surprisingly, with the loss of his legs, Leykin gained a new passion for racing. Before his accident, he wasn't really that athletic. He would just occasionally play basketball. But that all changed after he was introduced to hand cycling. “When I saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. You don't even need legs to use it. This is perfect.’” he said. “So, I got on it, I rode and fell in love with it right away.”
Within a few months, he completed the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a 40-mile ride through New York City. After that, he did his first marathon in 2021. He fished that race in 2 hours and 11 minutes, placing 12th out of 38.
“I'm going to attend this year's marathon and take on challenges. My hands are on the wheel, my eyes are focused, and I think my time is going to speak for itself.” he said. He's made a significant commitment to training. He hand cycles at least 13.1 miles a couple times a week and spends a lot of time in the gym.
And he plans to keep pursuing his athlete goals. He wants to complete the Abbott Six-the world's six largest marathons. One day, he said, he'll maybe even make the Paralympics.
For those who might be following his journey, he hopes they will take some lessons from his story. “There will be ups and downs but the trend is what's important. Focus on the good,” he said. “And also, take your big problems and split them into small solutions. And then all of a sudden, your big problems turn into many small wins.”
1. What can we learn about Rome Leykin from paragraph 2?| A．He once was an excellent basketball player. |
| B．He considered hand cycling difficult in the beginning. |
| C．He made hand cycling more popular among the disabled. |
| D．He showed an interest in hand cycling the moment he saw it. |
| A．Worried. | B．Curious. | C．Confident. | D．Nervous. |
| A．Easy-going and reliable. | B．Kind-hearted and helpful. |
| C．Open-minded and creative. | D．Strong-willed and ambitious. |
| A．Stick to your dreams. | B．Break down your goals. |
| C．Focus on your strengths. | D．Achieve success at all costs. |
9 . A huge number of exchange programs and summer school programs are offered to international students around foreign universities worldwide. Today we explain the top student exchange programs -and -summer programs offered to foreign students.
Vienna Summer SchoolVienna Summer School provides an incredible opportunity for 30 bachelor-level students to research side by side with world top researchers in the field of bioengineering. This paid summer program aims to attract international students and create an excellent research environment. This is a perfect opportunity for those students who are interested in the field of life science. The duration of Vienna Summer School is from Saturday, July 1 to August 28,2023.
SUSI Student Leaders ProgramBachelor-level students in Pakistan who are interested in the topic of public, local, state and federal policy making are invited to study in the USA through the short-tern SUSI student program 2023 held at the University of Massachusetts. This is an exchange program for Pakistani students. All expenses and accommodation costs will be covered by SUSI, so the application period is very short.
Hansen Leadership Exchange ProgramThe Hansen Summer Institute for Leadership is now open for the summer exchange program 2023. The Hansen summer program offers the opportunity to the USA and international students to build better leadership skills and a cultural understanding environment for the future. This 3-week summer exchange program is open for undergraduate, graduate,and doctoral students with any academic background.
IWP Summer Exchange ProgramIWP Summer Exchange Program 2023 is a two-week writing and culture exchange program for Pakistani and Indian students in Iowa City, USA. The applicant from 18 to 22 from these countries with a background in art humanities is welcome to apply. This program will focus on creativity and is free for the selected applicants. The selected candidates will work together on the creation of paintings and sculptures.
1. Which program suits students who like biology?| A．Vienna Summer School. |
| B．SUSI Student Leaders Program. |
| C．IWP Summer Exchange Program. |
| D．Hansen Leadership Exchange Program. |
| A．It is fully funded. |
| B．It is a short-term program. |
| C．It is limited to postgraduates. |
| D．It is supported by the government. |
| A．Offer policy advice. | B．Conduct research. |
| C．Write academic papers. | D．Create artworks. |
10 . Four Tips to Discover Your True Passion
True passion is the emotion, feeling, and desire that arises out of love for something. It’s the force that magnifies (放大) your capabilities for the benefit of excellent performance. This is because it’s a powerful motivation for best performance and everyone wants to get there.
Search your childhood.
The purity and truth of your being are in the early stages of life. To that end, going back to the things you loved back then is always an excellent indication of marked preferences. Did you want to be a doctor?
Experiment and discover.
Doing the same activities day after day closes any probabilities to succeed in finding your true passion.
Focus to find your true passion.
You must forget about the myth that doing what you’re passionate about will be easy and pleasant. This is because there’ll always be inconveniences in any activity you undertake. Beyond that, don’t lose focus on the fact that these are temporary moments.
Remember that your age doesn’t matter.
| A．Were you interested in insects? |
| B．Take a variety of courses each month. |
| C．Do you know the meaning of passion? |
| D．Age isn’t necessary to find out your true passion. |
| E．Be calm while finding out your motivation. |
| F．It’s vital to figure out what you’re passionate about. |
| G．Understanding this will make it easier to keep motivated. |
