1 . Labor is important and necessary for everyone. I am glad that I learned the
I grew up on a farm. We had to care for such
I also learned the satisfaction of work well done. The young animals were my responsibility. Most
A.value | B.difference | C.amount |
A.shops | B.animals | C.plants |
A.Seldom | B.Never | C.Even |
A.farm | B.office | C.research |
A.left | B.paid | C.lent |
A.give | B.return | C.save |
A.got | B.lost | C.refused |
A.of | B.in | C.for |
A.old | B.early | C.average |
A.teachers | B.farmers | C.engineers |
A.healthy | B.nervous | C.weak |
A.ate | B.studied | C.worked |
A.bring up | B.put away | C.look for |
A.provided | B.taught | C.introduced |
A.experiences | B.discussions | C.directions |
2 . Harvest Celebrations
People around the world pick, or harvest food that grows. Then they have a holiday. Let's read about some harvest celebrations!
![]() Every February, the people of Mendoza, Argentina, harvest their grapes. Then they celebrate for a month! There are parades (游行), shows, and fireworks. They always choose a Harvest Queen, too. | ![]() Chanthaburi, a town in Thailand, is famous for its tasty fruit. People celebrate the fruit at harvest time in May. The Fruit Fair begins with a parade of floats (游行彩车) made from thousands of fruits and vegetables. |
![]() The Argungu Fishing Festival began in 1934 in Nigeria, a country in Africa. It's a four-day festival held at the end of February to celebrate the end of all farming activities. On the last day there's a fishing contest. People have one hour to catch the largest fish. But it's not that easy. They can only use traditional fishing tools. But many use only their hands to catch the fish. | ![]() France's famous Menton Lemon Festival starts in February. There are big parades with floats decorated with lemons and oranges. More than 200, 000 people from around the world come to Menton for this festival. |
A.The Harvest Festival in Mendoza. | B.The Harvest Festival in Chanthaburi. |
C.The Argungu Fishing Festival. | D.The Menton Lemon Festival. |
A.Argentina | B.Thailand | C.Nigeria | D.France |
A.The big parades. | B.The Fruit Fair. |
C.A fishing contest. | D.A Harvest Queen. |
A.Sport. | B.Business. | C.Science. | D.Culture. |
3 . The body gives off many gases. Although some smells may signal a need to bathe or that you ate a certain meal, other gases might point to serious disease. Now, researchers have come up with a system that uses earmuffs to catch the disease-signaling gases. Doctors could get the information as patients wear a set of earmuffs. Results could be ready within minutes.
“The ear is a good place to monitor,” explains Johnson, a biomedical engineer. The ear’s skin is fairly thin, he notes. So gases don’t have to travel far to get out of the blood and escape through skin pores.
To collect the gases, Johnson and his team selected earmuffs that make a tight seal with the head. These are the type people often wear to protect the ears from loud noise. His team made two holes in the muff covering one ear. A tube slowly pumped air in one hole. Another tube pulled air out of the second hole and sent it to a sensor.
In their tests, the team found that they could measure changes in the amount of alcohol coming from the skin of the ear. It could work much like a Breathalyzer that police use to test people for driving drunk. The team invited three men. Each had to avoid drinking alcohol for at least three days before taking part. Once in the lab, these men wore the earmuffs and sat for 10 minutes as the system recorded normal gas levels leaving their ears. Afterward, the men drank a big amount of alcohol. About 7 minutes later, the earmuff system tested out a rise in alcohol leaving the skin. After 50 minutes, alcohol levels reached the peak and continued falling until the test was over.
The team then measured other gases by changing out the sensor. With the right sensor, their earmuff system could test out disease. Later, they replaced the earmuffs with a one-eared version to make it a bit more comfortable.
Johnson imagines another possible benefit. The earmuff system could help doctors tell whether a child’s ear infections have been caused by bacteria or a virus. How? Each type of infection exudes different gases. That, in turn, could guide how doctors cure the disease.
1. What makes the ear a good place to monitor?A.Its small size. | B.Its thin skin. |
C.Its clean surface. | D.Its blood flow. |
A.Sensors should be examined in time. | B.Drunk-driving tests were ineffective. |
C.Serious diseases were difficult to identify. | D.Their system could be used to tell diseases. |
A.Collects. | B.Gives off. | C.Cuts off. | D.Uses. |
A.Politics. | B.Business. | C.Science. | D.Entertainment. |
4 . So this is it—senior high school at last! I’m not outgoing so I’m a little
I just had my first maths class at senior high school! The class was difficult,
This afternoon,we had our chemistry class in the science lab. The lab is new and the lesson was great, but the
What a day! This morning, I was
A.annoyed | B.anxious | C.amazed | D.awful |
A.friend | B.schedule | C.vacation | D.impression |
A.talks | B.smiles | C.plays | D.comes |
A.or | B.so | C.but | D.then |
A.never | B.even | C.seldom | D.also |
A.polite | B.outgoing | C.helpful | D.rude |
A.man | B.male | C.guy | D.female |
A.test | B.experiment | C.check | D.job |
A.quiet | B.loud | C.calm | D.peaceful |
A.sorry | B.worried | C.frightened | D.convinced |
A.sad | B.confused | C.satisfied | D.awkward |
A.senior | B.college | C.junior | D.primary |
A.explain | B.explode | C.explore | D.exchange |
A.certain | B.confident | C.difficult | D.surprised |
A.nervous | B.common | C.special | D.great |
5 . What if someone told you about a kind of grass as tall as the tallest trees? A grass as strong as steel? Would you believe that person? You should, for that grass is bamboo (竹子), which has more than 1,000 uses. It is not just a material for making useful products. Young bamboo is eaten, often mixed with other vegetables.
Bamboo grows in many parts of the world. In the USA it grows in many states like Virginia and Florida. Most bamboo, however, is found in wet and warm climates, especially in Asia and on the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.
In most Asian countries, bamboo is nearly as important as rice. This unusual material is used to not only build large buildings but also make water pipes, musical instruments and paper. There are over 1,000 kinds of bamboo. No wonder the lives of nearly half the people on earth would change greatly if there were no longer any bamboo.
1. According to the text, bamboo is actually a kind of .A.grass | B.steel | C.tree | D.vegetable |
A.Only in Asia. | B.Only in the USA. |
C.In wet and warm climates. | D.All over the world. |
A.Build large buildings. | B.Make water pipes. |
C.Make musical instruments and paper. | D.All of the above. |
A.Over 1,000. | B.Over 800. | C.Over 600. | D.Over 400. |
6 . Once there was a small boy called Shankar who belonged to a poor family.
One day, he was walking through the forest, carrying some wood. He saw an old man who was very hungry. Shankar wanted to give him some food, but he did not have any food with him. So he continued on his way. On the way, he saw a fox who was very thirsty. He wanted to give him some water, but he did not have any water for himself. So he went on his way ahead.
Then he saw a young man with a dog who wanted to make a fire but did not have wood. Shankar learned about his problem and gave some wood to him. In return, the man gave him some food and water. Now he went back to the old man and gave him some food. Then he found the fox and gave some water to him. The old man and the fox were very thankful for Shankar’s help. Then Shankar went on his way happily.
Unluckily, one day Shankar fell down the hill. He was in pain but he couldn’t move and no one was there to help him. But the old man who he had helped before saw him, and quickly came and pulled him up the hill. Shankar had many wounds on his legs. The fox whom Shankar had given water to saw his wounds and quickly went to the forest and brought some herbs. The old man helped to put the herbs on Shankar’s wounds. After some time, Shankar got well. All were very happy that they were able to help each other. If you help others, then they will also help you.
1. What did Shankar carry when he walked through the forest?A.Wood. | B.Food. |
C.Water. | D.Herbs. |
A.The old man | B.The young man. |
C.The fox. | D.The dog. |
A.鲜花 | B.野果 |
C.药草 | D.毒虫 |
A.Help each other | B.A fox may help you |
C.Don’t believe the stranger | D.Food and water are important |
7 . Here is a brief guide to every sport at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Alpine skiing, 11 gold medals awarded
The disciplines include downhill, the fastest event; super-G, with more turns added; giant slalom (回转), still more turns; and slalom, the slowest and most technical event.
Biathlon (冬季两项), 11 golds
Take the endurance test of cross-country skiing and shake it up very few kilometers by having athletes stop to shoot at targets. Too many misses, and skiers must take a penalty lap. Germany, France, Sweden and Norway should dominate the medals.
Figure skating, 5 golds
The strong Russian team swept the top three spots in the women’s competition at the last world tournament, with now 17-year-old Anna Shcherbakova on top. American Nathan Chen’s potential duel (对决) with Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic champion, could be a highlight of the Games.
In the pairs event, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong could bring the gold to the host nation.
Freestyle sking, 13 golds
There are six disciplines. In the aerials and the new big air event, skiers launch themselves of a ramp and perform flips (空翻) and spins. In half pipe, they perform in a U-shaped bowl, and in slope style, they ski down a course with rails and jumps. In moguls (雪上技巧赛), they ski over a bumpy course and are judged on turns, jumps and speed. The only event that is timed instead of judged is ski cross (障碍追逐赛), in which skiers race against one another in groups of four.
Speedskating, 23 golds
Long-track speed skating is dominated by the Dutch. They won seven of 14 gold medals in 2018 and eight of 12 in 2014. Short-track provided China with its gold of the 2018 Games. South Korea will also be a major contender.
1. How many disciplines does Alpine skiing include?A.3. | B.4. | C.5. | D.6. |
A.Russia. | B.Sweden. | C.Norway. | D.Germany. |
A.Anna Shcherbakova won the first place at the last world toumament. |
B.Nathan Chen’s potential duel with Yuzuru Hanyu could be a highlight. |
C.Sui Wenjing and Han Cong could bring a gold to China. |
D.The Dutch won 14 gold medals in long-track speedskating in 2018. |
8 . There was a park near my home. But I didn’t go there very often, many people said there was nothing
The left one was wide and clean. There were lots of
Grass grew
After a while a strange feeling made me follow the
Many people told me that there was nothing much to see in the park. Now I’d like to tell them that if they had
My trip to the park that day made me understand something about
A.special | B.common | C.difficult |
A.house | B.park | C.mountain |
A.quickly | B.slowly | C.lazily |
A.sitting | B.lying | C.standing |
A.another | B.other | C.others |
A.grasses | B.trees | C.flowers |
A.decided | B.destroyed | C.demanded |
A.anywhere | B.everywhere | C.nowhere |
A.clean | B.clear | C.dirty |
A.give up | B.give in | C.give out |
A.worst | B.nicest | C.softest |
A.discussed | B.played | C.followed |
A.so | B.because | C.but |
A.life | B.path | C.book |
A.similar | B.small | C.different |
9 . This free night of music is a must-attend for jazz fans and music lovers alike! It is presented in association with the American Jazz Museum.
For the first time on stage in an ongoing cooperation, theoretical physicist Stephen Alexander and NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, a New Orleans-based saxophonist, explore their theory of quantum improvisation (量子即兴创作). They will also be joined by composer and bassist Santi Debriano along with other famous musicians for a night of jazz and its poetic link to the universe.
Time
7:00 pm—8:30 pm, December 22,2023
Event
6:00 p. m.—Doors open
7:00 p. m.—Lively conversation on jazz and quantum improvisation with Library President Lisa Browar, Stephen Alexander, and Donald Harrison
7:30 p. m.—Jazz concert—seven to eight songs, including two original pieces—starts!
8:30 p. m.—Jazz concert concludes
Venue
Please note that this event will be held at the Folly Theater, 300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105. The program will be free and open to the public, but advanced registration will be required. Attendees can also purchase the souvenirs such as T-shirts and caps linked to the event as well as the magazine signed by these famous musicians.
Parking
Parking is available in the garage next to the Folly Theater for $10-$15. The garage only accepts credit cards.
1. What does the concert mainly focus on?A.The modern science. | B.The popular music. |
C.The musical instruments. | D.The jazz of physics. |
A.Half an hour. | B.An hour. | C.One and half an hour. | D.Two hours. |
A.Parking in the garage. | B.A T-shirt worn by a musician. |
C.Admission to the event. | D.The magazine signed by musicians. |
10 . Many families take their children on vacation. They will usually travel for a few days or weeks during school breaks. But Mr and Mrs Smith have planned a longer vacation with their two children. The Smith family is on a one-year trip around the world, and they planned to visit 30 countries in all. Right now, the four travelers are about halfway through their trip.
Mrs Smith says they are trying to see as much of the world as they can. Mr Smith says one of the most interesting experiences of the trip has been meeting new people. He says people have been extremely friendly, very welcoming and love their kids. Eleven-year-old Tyler says he has enjoyed learning about the people they have met. He says, “I learned in Africa that people have very different lifestyles.” His sister, Kara discovers that she likes Thai food. Mrs Smith says that the trip teaches the children a lot.
The Smiths made good preparations for the trip. They did a lot of research, choosing destinations and arranging accommodations. Mr Smith uses unpaid leave. They carry small bags filled with lightweight clothing and whatever else they need. Mrs Smith says she enjoys being able to carry everything she needs on her back. “What has become important is making unforgettable memories as a family and taking ‘those’ with us instead.” The Smiths will continue to head east for the next six months.
1. The Smith family’s trip is different from many others’ because they travel ______.A.with their children on vacation |
B.for a few weeks without children |
C.during school breaks with children |
D.around the world for a year with children |
A.living in Africa | B.having Thai food |
C.meeting new people | D.teaching their children |
A.They planned to visit 11 countries. |
B.The children learn a lot during the trip. |
C.They enjoy different kinds of food in Africa. |
D.They continue to head west for the next six months. |
A.accepted new jobs | B.did much research |
C.picked up everything | D.bought thick clothing |
A.the breaks they take | B.the small bags they carry |
C.the destinations they choose | D.the memories of the family |