1 . 2 Days Xi’an-Luoyang Tour by Bullet Train
Tour Overview
Xi’an and Luoyang are two of the four most famous ancient capital cities in China. Taking a bullet train from Xi’an, one will arrive in Luoyang in about 2.5 hours.
Day 1: Xi’an-Luoyang by Bullet Train
AM: At around 7:00, a local driver will pick you up from the hotel. Then you’ll transfer to North Xi’an Railway Station for the bullet train to Luoyang. Upon your arrival in Luoyang, you’ll meet a local guide holding a name board.
The guide will lead you to visit the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving artworks. There are over 100 thousand stone statues along the two banks of the Yi River.
PM: After lunch. you will pay a visit to the Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits. The Eastern Zhou Dynasty is the last slavery dynasty in Chinese history. The last stop is Luoyang Museum which is a historical museum of China and houses over 1,700 cultural and historical relics in 5 showrooms.
Accommodation: Hotel booked by your own
Day 2: Luoyang-Xi’an by Bullet Train
AM: After breakfast on your own, please meet your driver and guide in the hotel at 9:00 and then drive for about 1 hour 20 minutes to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts. Here you will see the Kungfu show performed by Shaolin monks.
PM: Finish the sightseeing, you will take the bullet train back to Xi’ an. Your 2 days Xi’ an-Luoyang tour ends here.
Tour Price Per Person
Travelers | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person |
Tour Price | $512 | $317 | $255 | $223 | $220 |
Travelers | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | 9 Person | 10+ Person |
Tour Price | $205 | $192 | $185 | $178 | Contact us |
| A．Xi’an. | B．Luoyang. | C．Beijing. | D．Shanghai. |
| A．Shaolin Temple. | B．Luoyang Museum. | C．Longmen Grottoes. | D．Yi River. |
| A．$317. | B．$510. | C．$512. | D．$634. |
2 . Art and science may seem like opposite things. One means the creative flow of ideas, and the other means cold, hard data-some people believe. In fact, the two have much in common. Now, a study finds art can help students remember better what they have learned in the science class.
Mariale Hardiman, an education specialist at Johns Hopkins University, noticed that students who used art in the classroom listened more carefully. They might ask more questions. They might volunteer more ideas. What’s more, students seemed to remember more of what they had been taught when their science lessons had involved(涉及) art. To prove that, Hardiman teamed up with some researchers and six local schools.
In the experiment, the researchers worked with teachers in 16 fifth-grade classrooms. They provided traditional science lessons and art-focused ones. In a traditional science class, for example, students might read aloud from a book. In the art-focused one, they might sing the information instead.
The team randomly assigned(随机分配) each of the 350 students to either a traditional science classroom or an art-focused one. Students then learned science using that way for the whole unit-about three weeks. When they changed to a new topic, they also changed to the other type of class. This way, each student had both an art-focused class and a traditional one. Every unit was taught in both ways, to different groups of students. This enabled the researchers to see how students did in both types of classes.
The team found that students who started off in a traditional class performed better after they moved into an art-focused class. But those who started off in an art-focused class did well even when they went back to a traditional science class. These students appeared to use some of the art techniques(技巧) after going back to a traditional class. Classroom teachers reported that many students continued to sing the songs that they learned after finishing the unit. “The more we hear something, the more we retain it,” Hardiman says. “It suggests that the arts may help students apply creative ways of learning on their own.”
1. Why did Mariale Hardiman do the study?| A．To prove the importance of art at school. |
| B．To see if art might improve science learning |
| C．To find a way to help her students learn better. |
| D．To know how to encourage students to ask questions. |
| A．Take two types of classes. | B．Learn three units in total. |
| C．Learn two topics for three weeks. | D．Choose what they’d like to learn. |
| A．Finish. | B．Express. | C．Improve. | D．Memorize. |
| A．Art helps students develop creativity. |
| B．Art-focused classes interest students a lot. |
| C．Art can make science easier to remember. |
| D．Art has something in common with science. |
3 . A 70-year-old Chinese woman has been called “Super Grannie” after it was reported that she is
Most people
“This lady is as old as my grandmother, how can she run so fast? That’s
So
Wang Guilan
| A．crazy | B．angry | C．nervous | D．sorry |
| A．refuse | B．promise | C．choose | D．remember |
| A．normally | B．certainly | C．especially | D．partly |
| A．task | B．rule | C．lesson | D．way |
| A．progressed | B．stopped | C．succeeded | D．cheered |
| A．prettiest | B．healthiest | C．oldest | D．cleverest |
| A．lucky | B．surprising | C．important | D．funny |
| A．in | B．for | C．with | D．against |
| A．husband | B．neighbor | C．teacher | D．friend |
| A．even if | B．because | C．so that | D．unless |
| A．herself | B．itself | C．myself | D．yourself |
| A．how | B．when | C．why | D．where |
| A．height | B．age | C．weight | D．size |
| A．loves | B．imagines | C．suggests | D．avoids |
| A．hardly | B．easily | C．seriously | D．strongly |
4 . Do Yao Ming, Liu Xiang or Guo Jingjing have anything in common with people like us? You will probably answer “NO!” It seems that top athletes live in a world that is totally different from ours. They don’t have to worry about homework or exams. There are fans everywhere they go, constantly cheering them on. However, if we could see into their minds, it would be clear that they are actually just like us.
We may not all be sports stars, but we have to face similar problems. We set goals and seek self- development. We have to manage our fears before important exams. We worry about our relationships with classmates... Like sportspeople, we try to be mentally strong and do our best on a daily basis.
However, how an athlete becomes a success teaches all of us a lesson. To achieve their goals, sportspeople not only have to prepare physically, but also mentally. They have to get to know themselves, highlight their strong points, manage stresses and develop their powers of concentration. Here is some advice on how to achieve success from China’s top athletes.
China’s top woman badminton player Zhang Ning shows us the importance of motivation. It’s the first step to success. It is her love of badminton and sense of responsibility that contribute to her success.
Teng Haibin’s experience shows that “planning” exactly what should be done in your mind is as important as physical preparation. Give yourself a few minutes before a speech contest, for example. Close your eyes and picture things like your posture. It helps a lot!
How important is concentration? Hurdling star Liu Xiang knows. Focus is not only important for Liu Xiang, but for you too. If you can’t focus in class, you won’t get good grades.
A clear objective encourages a person to pursue their dream. Diving star Xiong Ni won a silver and a bronze in two Olympics. But his goal of winning an Olympic gold medal drove him on.
Top athletes show us that success isn’t simply down to chance and that all people can steer their life’s journey.
1. According to the passage, to achieve their goals, sportspeople should do the following EXCEPT________.| A．get to know themselves well | B．manage stresses |
| C．develop powers of concentration | D．stop being tough with themselves |
| A．success of top athletes largely depends on chance |
| B．ordinary people don’t need to become strong-minded |
| C．one needs to be physically and mentally prepared to achieve success |
| D．sportspeople have similar fears before important exams |
| A．medal | B．goal | C．dream | D．decision |
| A．Top athletes’ stories of success. |
| B．Problems that ordinary people have in common with top athletes. |
| C．The importance of physical and mental health. |
| D．Lessons drawn from top athletes’ success. |
5 . We all know that some animals adapt to living in very cold environment, like polar bears in the frozen Arctic. But what about the opposite situation? How do animals become adapted to the life in very hot places? A great example of animals beating heat is the camel living in deserts.
A major problem for camels in deserts is the temperature. It’s hot and dry during the day and can be very cold at night. So their fur can not only protect them from the burning sun at daytime, but also help keep warm at night. Another thing is that camels have long necks and legs, so they have large surface area to lose heat easily. They can stand body temperature above41℃, which would be really damaging to living creatures like us humans. And how can they manage to travel a long distance without water at all in deserts? They have large flat feet to spread their weight on the shifting sand. They store fat in their humps to keep them from getting hungry or dehydrated. This helps when they’re not able to find food or water for long periods of time.
In addition to these, camels have other ways to adapt to their environment. In a desert, it can sometimes get very dusty. However, camels don’t mind since they have extremely thick and long eyelashes which protect their eyes from blowing sand. Sand up the nose can be a problem, but not for camels. They can shut their nostrils during sandstorms.
1. What do we know about camels living in deserts?| A．Their fur can help keep cool at night. |
| B．They have long necks to protect them from blowing sand. |
| C．They have large flat feet to walk on the sand. |
| D．They can stand body temperature up to 41℃. |
| A．Being lack of water. | B．Being lack of food. |
| C．Being lack of fat. | D．Being lack of direction. |
| A．The Camel —the Best Traveller in Deserts | B．The Camel Needs More Water |
| C．The Harder, the Better | D．Be the Best in Deserts |
6 . While the cool weather and bright clear sky may make us want to go outside, the world’s major museums are offering amazing exhibitions to draw us inside. We have selected two must-see museum exhibitions in the city this autumn. Take a look.
Picasso Sculpture, Modern Art Centre
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is one of the most famous painters the world has ever known. But right now, at the Modern Art Centre, it’s his sculptures that are taking centre stage.
Running from 14 February to 7 September, the exhibition shows around 140 pieces created from 1902 to 1964. Large or small, the sculptures made from every kind of material can be found — bronze, steel, wood, and even cardboard.
For those who have never seen Picasso’s art before, this is the place to go, claims the centre’s curator (博物馆馆长). According to him, through this exhibition, people can clearly feel the way Picasso wanted to try new things and how he did it.
The World Goes Pop, Williamson Gallery
You may think of pop art as a way to show US materialism — advertising, television, cola bottles, and soup cans. But Williamson Gallery’s autumn exhibition, held from17 September to 24 January, shows what pop art looks like in different countries. “I’m surprised to find that many of pop art’s famous qualities — flat, bright colours, graphic design, and a playful way of showing stars — went right round the world,” said one visitor after seeing the exhibition.
And the exhibition doesn’t just offer an international view of pop art’s style. It also corrects the idea that pop art is just for men by including 25 female artists, many of whom have never had their work shown in a gallery before.
1. Which place will you choose if you want to see bronze statues created by Picasso?| A．Modern Art Centre. | B．Williamson Gallery. |
| C．Both A and B. | D．Neither A nor B. |
| A．Modern Art Centre. | B．Williamson Gallery. |
| C．Picasso Sculpture. | D．The World Goes Pop. |
| A．There are only two exhibitions in the city this autumn. |
| B．Picasso Sculpture might be too complicated for visitors who have never seen Picasso’s art before. |
| C．Visitors can see artworks of some female artists shown for the first time. |
| D．The exhibition at Williamson Gallery this autumn shows US materialism. |
| A．In a comment on artworks. |
| B．In a brochure for tourists. |
| C．In a collection of short stories. |
| D．On a popular science website. |
7 . A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves — the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too ashamed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”
Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably answer in a similar manner. Or harsh(刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.
Words have power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.
Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem(自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ________.| A．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us |
| B．encouraging words give us confidence |
| C．words have a great effect on us |
| D．negative words may let us down |
| A．almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves |
| B．it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone |
| C．talking to ourselves always gives us courage |
| D．talking to ourselves can have a positive effect on us |
| A．remind ourselves | B．praise ourselves |
| C．make ourselves relaxed | D．give ourselves happiness |
| A．it is better to think twice before talking to others |
| B．negative words may stimulate us to make more progress |
| C．people tend to remember friendly words |
| D．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers |
8 . The sky began to show red in the early morning as we drove across the Minnesota state line to New York for my new PhD program. The move was good for me professionally, but I worried about my husband and daughters. I also feared that I wouldn’t be able to give my kids the childhood they deserved.
Anne, our first daughter, came into the world when I was a junior majoring in biology in college. It was challenging to balance classes, work schedules, and being a mom. But I got through it, finding moments of joy along the way. On the nights when I was home, I’d read my class notes out loud with my daughter. She’d respond by asking questions, such as “Mom, what are bacteria (细菌)?” It helped us both learn.
After I graduated, I knew that I would need a PhD to land the kind of job I wanted. I arrived in New York feeling more than the usual new-graduate-student anxiety. I also suffered from a more personal fear that I was being selfish—that my decision to invigorate my career was going to have long- term bad impacts on my kids. So, I made a rule to never be visibly upset about my work in front of my children.
Over the past year, though, I’ve started to let go of some of this worry. I’ve realized that we have not only adapted to our new situation, but things are getting better. My husband landed a job that he is happy with. Anne dreams of becoming a biologist. Recently, while driving past the cancer institute I work at, Anne said, “Thinking about people having cancer is so sad, but I feel better knowing that you are researching it to help.”
Pursuing academic career as a young mother is hard, but it’s also rewarding. My kids are learning to look at the world through science, and watching their mom succeed inspires them. I look forward to seeing them follow my footsteps, whatever path they choose.
1. How did the author feel about the move for her PhD program at first?| A．It was fruitful but boring. | B．It was hopeful but challenging. |
| C．It was the last thing she would do. | D．It was promising for the whole family. |
| A．Advocate. | B．Escape. | C．Evaluate. | D．Prioritize. |
| A．She is proud of her mother. | B．She is interested in biology. |
| C．Her mother takes her job seriously. | D．She is ready to help patients with cancer. |
| A．Ups and Downs in Life | B．Like Mother Like Daughter |
| C．Double Gains of Mom’s Pursuit | D．Generation Gap Narrowed by Love |
9 . College. It means that you are finally going to leave your parents’ nest and experience a lot of personal freedom and independence. You’ll wear whatever you want. You’ll make new friends. And you are definitely ready to enjoy your time in “paradise”.
However, college might be different than you have considered. When an English speaking contest was held in Beijing, about two-thirds of the 62 college students recalled their frustrations about their life in college.
Many of them said they didn’t know what they were supposed to do in college. “Most of the time, I lingered around in my dorm, idling hours and hours away, watching entertainment shows or soap operas on the Internet, or chatting with roommates, ”Huang Xuan, 23, from Guangxi University, said of his first two years of college life.
However, one day his mum asked him about his future plans after college. It was then that he realised his future would be ruined if he kept up such self-indulgence.
Li Yan, 20, from Shenzhen University, suffered a loss of not being one of the “marked” students. She was neither the chairman of the Student Union nor the one with the highest scholarship. Sun Tingting, 21, from Suzhou University of Science and Technology, dominated all the exams with the highest scores, but she felt confused because when she was free, she could think of nothing else to do and no one else to talk to. Zhang Xin, 19, from Beijing Foreign Studies University, began to re- examine what “college” means after she noticed many graduates from elite schools ending up in a job that does not pay well. “Our future is not guaranteed by our college, but rather by how we reshape ourselves in college.”
“Young people are experiencing ‘growing pains’,” said Li Fang, a mental health consultant. In the process of self-discovery, she thinks many Chinese young people suffer more than their peers in the West. Their independence comes much later. They are so used to relying on their parents that when independence suddenly comes in college, it can be difficult.
“Relax,“ Li advised. “This is part of growing up.”
1. The underlined expression “idling hours and hours away” in paragraph 3 can be replaced by “________”.| A．killing time | B．making use of time |
| C．saving time | D．valuing time |
| A．They are no longer the “best” students. |
| B．They have no friends to talk to in their spare time. |
| C．They have trouble communicating with their parents. |
| D．They realise that good college doesn’t guarantee a good job. |
| A．They often abandon themselves to watching TV or shows on the Internet. |
| B．They are accustomed to counting on their parents before coming to college. |
| C．They have never left their parents’ nests. |
| D．They are definitely ready to enjoy their time in college. |
| A．Learn from their peers in the West. |
| B．Consult a psychologist. |
| C．Relax and consider this as part of growing up. |
| D．Stop relying on their parents and learn to take responsibility. |
10 . It was nearly dark; the sun was dropping down the mountains far away. Little Tom came back home, with tears in his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Tom? How’s your trip?” His mother asked with a big smile. “I failed. The mountain is so high and full of big or small stones on the way, I still go ahead. But I was tired and it was so late that I had to come back.” Tom cried. “It doesn’t matter, you are only 14 years old after all. You will have another chance.” His mother said. “But, standing at the top of the mountain is my dream!” Tom said. His father came over and asked, “Did you see the green trees on your way to the mountain?” “Sure, and there were a lot of beautiful flowers by the side of the road.” Tom replied. “Did you hear the birds singing?” His father asked. “There were many kinds of birds singing in the trees, and the sound was very sweet.” Tom said. “Did you feel the beauty of nature?” His father asked. “Yes, the blue sky, the white clouds, the green trees and the colorful flowers made a nice picture.” Tom answered. “That’s enough!” His father smiles and said, “Please remember, my son. For often, achieving what you expect is not the most important thing. Although you didn’t reach the top of the mountain, you got a lot on the way.”
It is true that not every goal will be achieved, not every job will end up with a success, and not every dream will come true. The most beautiful scenery is on the way.
1. Tom got back home ________ when the sun was dropping.| A．slowly | B．sadly | C．quickly | D．early |
| A．The mountain was so high. | B．The way was full of big or small stones. |
| C．He was tired and it was so late. | D．He was only 14 years old. |
| A．clear water | B．blue sky |
| C．colorful flowers | D．green trees |
| A．the goal is not important | B．everyone should climb the mountain |
| C．the mountain is very beautiful | D．the process is more important than the result |
