1 . Statistics from the China Film Administration, China’s box office revenue during the Spring Festival holiday hit a record high of 8 billion yuan, or more than 1.1 billion U. S. dollars, the milestone being achieved in the shortest time span in the history of the Chinese film industry.
Seizing a lot of attention due to actress-director Jia Ling’s weight loss of up to 50 kilograms in one year, YOLO—a comedy recounting Jia’s portrayal of an oversized woman striving to become her better self —earned 2.72 billion yuan, topping the festival box-office charts. Many people wanted to watch the comedy film with their families during this ‘festival of reunions’, because the film went far beyond expectation whose story in Yolo was so inspiring. So, it was a good thing to watch it with children.
Pegasus 2, the sequel to a 2019 blockbuster racing film by writer-director Han Han, ranked second at the box office with 2.4 billion yuan. Boonie Bears: Time Twist, the latest installment in the Boonie Bears animated film series, took the third spot with 1.39 billion yuan, and Zhang Yimou’s Article 20 ranked fourth with 1.33 billion yuan.
A report from Maoyan, one of the country’s largest ticketing services, revealed that 39.2 percent of the audiences purchased movie tickets while returning to their hometowns or traveling, which was the highest in the past four years. Industry analysts say family-friendly comedies align perfectly with the cultural atmosphere surrounding New Year celebrations. The films of this festive season focus on diverse and relevant topics that resonate with the viewers — such as family values and inspirational stories.
So, they attract people from all walks of life.
1. What milestone has the Chinese film industry achieved during the Spring Festival holiday?| A．Earning 2.72 billion yuan. |
| B．Setting a record of 8 billion yuan. |
| C．Making 50 million U. S. dollars. |
| D．Breaking the record of 2.2 billion U. S. dollars. |
| A．Comedy. | B．Action. | C．Crime thriller. | D．Romance. |
| A．YOLO. | B．Pegasus 2. |
| C．Boonie Bears: Time Twist. | D．Article 20. |
2 . At The Rachael Ray FoundationTM (RRF), we’re pretty big animal lovers. As a part of our work, we support a wide variety of organizations that do good for animals, from rescue to care and more. Get to know a few of them and the work we do together.
Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue TeamRRF helped enable Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART) to purchase a new and bigger plane for its rescue missions which bring animals from danger to safety. Whether it be flying dogs in overcrowded shelters to new homes, saving animals caught in the path of natural disasters, or bringing supplies to shelters in need, the brave PAART pilots are always ready to help.
National Disaster Search Dog FoundationNational Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works to find and train shelter dogs who have the talent and drive to become search and rescue animals. RRF supports SDF’s efforts to identify and transform rescued dogs into rescuers, to provide lifetime care for these dogs and to find homes for all dogs who enter the SDF training program.
Rachael Ray Save Them All GrantsThis is a program administered by Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) to support Best Friends’ network partners in their lifesaving efforts. The money has been awarded to organizations across the country to fund initiatives such as adoption drives and shelter intake prevention efforts.
North Shore Animal League America Disaster Relief GrantsThis program, administered by North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), provides money for animal welfare organizations impacted by disasters. RRF is proud to help NSALA in its efforts to identify needs in disaster situations and provide targeted, effective relief.
1. What is special about PAART?| A．It provides necessities for-animals in need. | B．It conducts animal rescue missions by plane. |
| C．It is supported by the Rachael Ray Foundation. | D．It assists in finding adopters for rescued animals. |
| A．SDF. | B．BFAS. | C．PAART. | D．NSALA. |
| A．They both strongly promote animal adoption. |
| B．They are both in charge of Best Friends Animal Society. |
| C．They both provide financial assistance to animal welfare initiatives. |
| D．They are both administered by welfare organizations impacted by disasters. |
3 . Dorothea Dix was born in 1802 in Massachusetts. When she was 12 years old, she left her unhappy home to live with her grandmother in Boston. There Dorothea went to school and was so quick at her lessons that two years later she went back to Worcester, Massachusetts and taught in a school for little children. She was only fourteen and rather small for her age. Anyway, she proved herself a good teacher, and the children loved her and respected her. In 1821, she opened a school for girls in Boston.
Gradually, her health broke down, and she began to think that she could never work any more, but after a long rest in England, she came back to America and did something far greater than teaching. She went through the whole country where she first observed the inhumane treatment of the mentally ill. During Dorothea’s traveling for nearly two years throughout the state, and meeting similar conditions, she always spoke kindly to the ill-treated, but she spoke wrathfully to the men who ill-treated them. In January 1843, she submitted to the Massachusetts legislature (立法机关) a detailed report of her fully documented findings.
In the next 40 years Dorothea inspired legislators in 15 US states and in Canada to establish state hospitals for the mentally ill. Her continuous efforts directly affected the building of 32 institutions in the United States. When the Civil War broke out, she went straight to Washington and offered to nurse the soldiers without pay. She hired houses to keep supplies in and bought an ambulance. She gave her time, strength and money to her country.
Dorothea Dix has been called the most useful woman of America. She is an, American educator, social reformer and humanitarian whose devotion to the welfare of the mentally ill led to widespread reforms in the United States and abroad.
1. What do we know about Dorothea Dix when she was 19?| A．She set up a school. | B．She lived with her parents. |
| C．She went to school in Massachusetts. | D．She failed to become a good teacher. |
| A．Patiently. | B．Fluently. | C．Angrily. | D．Quickly. |
| A．The awards Dorothea Dix received in her life. |
| B．The contributions Dorothea Dix made to her country. |
| C．The support Dorothea Dix got from her family. |
| D．The difficulties Dorothea Dix met during the Civil War. |
| A．Humorous and well-educated. | B．Generous and warm-hearted. |
| C．Proud and hard-working. | D．Romantic and open-minded. |
4 . Explore the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, which offers a relaxing setting for you to enjoy works of modern sculpture.
Chair Transformation Number 20B, made in 1996 — by Lucas Samaras
Here, Samaras explores the double meaning of “flight”, referring to both the starlike form created by the stacked chairs, and the movement of a single chair moving through space. From different viewpoints, the sculpture appears to be upright, leaning back, or springing forward. From the side, it even appears like a zigzagging (之字形的) line.
Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, made in 1998 — by Coosje van Bruggen
The artist chose the typewriter eraser as his model for this work based upon childhood memories of playing with the object in his father’s office. Here the brush arcs (作弧形运动) back, conveying a sense of motion, as if the wheellike eraser were rolling down the hill and making its way towards the gate of the garden.
Moondog, model 1974, made in 1998
1999 — by Tony Smith
The title itself comes from two sources: Moondog was the name of a blind poet and folk musician who lived in New York City, and Smith has also compared this sculpture to Dog Barking at the Moon, a painting by Joan Miro. He first created Moondog in 1974 as a 33inch cardboard model and cast it in bronze as a garden sculpture in 1980. This version was designed by Smith, but it was not completed until after his death.
Cheval Rouge (Red Horse), made in 1964 — by Alexander Calder
During the last two decades of his life, Alexander Calder devoted his greatest efforts to largescale mobiles and stabiles (立式抽象派雕塑), many of which have become popular public landmarks in cities around the world. Here the silky legs and tensile (张力的) upthrust “neck” recall the power of a horse. This stabile reflects Calder's statement: “I want to make things that are fun to look at.”
1. Which was based on its creator’s early life?| A．Moondog. | B．Cheval Rouge (Red Horse). |
| C．Typewriter Eraser, Scale X. | D．Chair Transformation Number 20B. |
| A．It was originally intended for a garden. |
| B．It was the only work of its creator. |
| C．It was inspired by a modern painter. |
| D．It wasn’t completed by its designer. |
| A．Tony Smith’s. | B．Lucas Samaras’. |
| C．Alexander Calder’s. | D．Coosje van Bruggen’s. |
5 . A few years ago my sister moved from her home in Alabama to Buffalo, New York. Since moving to Buffalo she’s become a big hockey (曲棍球) fan and has encouraged me to start watching it. Unfortunately it’s very difficult to find hockey on television here in Alabama. Since hockey games don’t air very much on television, I’ve had to look for different ways to watch hockey games.
I often see websites that claim if you go to their website you can watch television on your computer. I try out many of these websites, hoping that one of the television stations is a northern station that airs hockey games. Unfortunately, most of them don’t work. Either the site doesn’t really give you what they advertise or their video player doesn’t work properly. But finally I’ve found one websites that actually works.
Free Tube is a site that you can go to and watch Television online for free. You don’t have to download any kind of special software or pay money or even sign up for anything. All you have to do is go to Free Tube, choose your channel and start watching.
The different channels to choose from are separated into different categories like news, business, entertainment, music and sports. You’re not going to find channels like NBC or ABC, so you can watch the latest episode of Heroes or Grey’s Anatomy but it does include some popular channels like Cartoon Network and ESPN.
There is also a movie section. Each movie channel airs different sorts of films like adventure, classics, comedy or horror and that channel will always air that kind of movies. The movie section also includes my favorite station called Max Trailers (预告片). Max Trailers airs nothing but movies trailers 24 hours a day. Some of the trailers are for movies coming out and some are for movies that have already been released but already released movies don’t go back farther than a couple of months.
So far I haven’t had any problems with Free Tube’s video player either. Whenever I choose a channel the video almost always works and usually loads every quickly. The only problem I have with Free Tube is that there is currently a fault if you’re using Firefox. Once you choose a channel you can’t select another channel to change to, your web browser will freeze up. So if you’re using Firefox, the only way to switch channels is to leave the site and re-enter the site, when choosing what channel you want to go to. However, Free Tube is aware of this fault and is working with Mozilla to get it fixed right away.
If you’re missing some show everyone is talking about like Grey’s Anatomy or Heroes, this isn’t really a solution for that. But Free Tube is a good way to find channels that you weren’t aware of; there are several good stations to be found.
1. The author mainly ________ in this passage.| A．tells us his experience in using the Web. | B．shows us the disadvantages of Free Tube |
| C．introduces Free Tube to the readers | D．shows us how to enjoy films online |
| A．because he is a sports fan | B．because he has nothing to do all day long |
| C．since everyone enjoys the games | D．due to his sister’s influence |
| A．the author is also very fond of movies |
| B．Max Trailers airs to-be-released movies |
| C．ABC is a very famous TV station in America |
| D．Firefox is the only software used to watch films online |
6 . An American company has developed a new technique (技术) to make bread stay fresh for 60 days.
Scientists found that a kind of mould (霉菌) caused bread to go bad. The new technique kills the mould and keeps the food for longer time. This means there will be less waste of food in the world in future.
Food waste is a big problem in most developed countries. In the US, an average (普通的) family throws away 40% of the food they buy, which adds up to $165bn every year, about 330 million tons in weight. Bread takes a larger part. In the UK, 32% of the bread they buy is thrown away as waste when they can still be eaten.
The bread usually goes mouldy (发的) in around 10 days, but the American company says the new technique will keep the bread free from mould for two months.
”We treated a piece of bread in a special machine. At 60 days it had the same amount of mould as it was first made,“ says Mr. Stull, the leader of the company.
Although there are a lot of bread makers interested in the new technique, few customers like the idea. They say they don’t think a piece of bread which lasts for 60 days tastes good.
”We’ll have to make our customers accept the idea. But it will take some time,“ says Mr. Stull.
1. What is the key point of the new technique?| A．It can prevent the world from wasting food. |
| B．It kills the mould and keeps bread fresh for longer time. |
| C．It keeps the same amount of mould. |
| D．It makes bread taste good. |
| A．Nearly half. | B．A quarter. | C．More than half. | D．About one-third. |
| A．Food waste can be reduced immediately (立刻) with the new technique. |
| B．We will buy bread that can last longer. |
| C．Few customers are sure about the technique. |
| D．Poor countries are in great need of food. |
| A．A new technique has been invented to keep bread fresh longer. |
| B．There is great waste of food in developed countries. |
| C．There is a kind of mould that causes food to go bad. |
| D．Customers don’t like food that lasts for two months. |
7 . The goal of the “clean ＆ Green” home recycling initiative (倡议) is to assist households in reducing their environmental footprint by providing step-by-step instructions on effective recycling practices.
Understanding Recycling Types
Plastics: These include bottles, containers and other packaging materials. Always clean plastics before recycling to avoid pollution.
paper: Newspapers, magazines, and cardboard are recyclable. However, soiled or wet paper should be discarded as regular waste.
Glass: Bottles and jars of all colors can be recycled. Ensure they are free of food waste.
Metals: Common recyclables are aluminum cans and tin foil (锡纸). Remove any food waste before disposal.
Steps for Effective Home Recycling
Collection: Use separate bins for each type. Mark containers to avoid confusion.
Preparation: As mentioned above, clean the items. This prevents waste and increases the recyclability of the materials.
Storage: Avoid overfilling recycling bins. Overpacked bins might lead to improper sorting at recycling facilities.
Drop-off: If your city doesn’t offer roadside pickup locate your nearest recycling drop-off point.
Stay Informed: Recycling guidelines can change. Regularly check city websites for “clean ＆ Green” updates.
Recycling DOs and DON’Ts
DO: encourage neighbors and friends to adopt recycling habits;
invest in composting (堆肥) if possible; it’s another great way to reduce waste;
DON’T: mix different types in one bin;
recycle dangerous or electronic waste with regular recyclables;
Benefits of Recycling:
Reduces landfill (垃圾填埋) waste.
Conserves natural resources and energy.
Prevents pollution by reducing the need for raw materials.
Supports public health by minimizing exposure to harmful things.
Join the “clean ＆ Green” initiative today and play your part in creating a bright future for the next generations!
1. The primary goal of the “clean ＆ Green” initiative is to ______.| A．sell recycling bins | B．encourage composting |
| C．update recycling guidelines frequently | D．reduce households’ environmental footprints |
| A．Paper. | B．Metals. | C．Plastics. | D．Glass. |
| A．It’s important to stay updated on recycling guidelines. |
| B．Electronic waste can be recycled with regular recyclables. |
| C．You should mix different types in one bin to save space. |
| D．Wet paper is preferred for recycling as it’s easier to process. |
8 . I used to be bad at playing basketball. Gym class in middle school was the worst. I was always the last kid to be picked. The only reason why I was even picked at all was that I was good friends with the best player in the class.
In the eighth grade, I finally decided I was sick and tired of being a nonentity. I dedicated (奉献) that entire summer to getting better. I spent every day playing basketball, practising for hours in the gym. I remember playing pick-up games with one group of kids until they all eventually got tired and left. Then a whole different group of kids would come in and I’d play with them too.
After months of this devoted routine, something amazing started to happen. People began passing me the ball. They trusted me to take the shot. They even started picking me first to be on their team! The last game of organized basketball I ever played was the culmination (高潮) of all my hard work. Against a team far more talented than mine. I scored 27 points. We still lost, but I walked away from that game feeling like a total champion.
What I learned from those years of rejection and waiting to be picked was that life really isn’t any different. Most of us spend our lives waiting for opportunities to land in our laps. What’s worse, sometimes we feel entitled (使有权) to them. And when things don’t go our way — when no one picks us — we find something or someone to blame.
I could have complained when no one wanted me on their team. I could have convinced myself that I deserved to be picked. But I didn’t. Instead I took matters into my own hands and put in the work to become better.
Should we have our fate controlled by a few people who in most cases don’t even know us? I certainly don’t think so. We have a choice. We can choose to create something meaningful, and so move forward with our ideas.
1. What can we know about the author in the first paragraph?| A．He was always to be picked. |
| B．He was picked because of his good friend. |
| C．He was once crazy about playing basketball. |
| D．He used to be really good at playing basketball. |
| A．short person. | B．A superior player. |
| C．An important player. | D．An insignificant person. |
| A．People still refused to play with him. |
| B．Now he is good at playing basketball. |
| C．He gained people’s trust through his effort. |
| D．His team was defeated by a more talented one. |
9 . People duck responsibility for reasons ranging from simple laziness or a fear of failure, through to a sense of feeling frightened by the scale of a problem or a situation. Whatever the reason, if people fail to take responsibility, they’ll fail in their jobs, they’ll fail their teams, and they’ll fail to grow as individuals. All of this makes it important to address the issue.
Signs of not being responsible
There are several signs to watch out for. These include:
Lacking interest in their work, and in the well-being of the team
Blaming others for mistakes and failures
Missing deadlines
Avoiding challenging tasks and projects, and not taking risks
Regularly complaining about unfair treatment by team leaders and members and engaging in self-pity
Avoiding being dependent on others for work, advice and instructions
Lacking trust in team members and leaders
Ways to encourage responsibility
Start by talking
Your first step is to talk to the individuals concerned. Are there circumstances that are contributing to the situation, or problems that you can deal with?
Communicate roles, responsibilities and objectives
Your people need to know clearly what their roles and responsibilities are. Ensure that you have an up-to-date job description for each team member, and be as detailed as possible about every responsibility that they have.
Re-engage people
Your people will be more engaged if their work is supported with their values. Talk to them to find out what they are. Then, illustrate how their daily tasks and responsibilities go with those values.
Give plenty of praise
Finally, be sure to give your people plenty of praise when they do take responsibility. And help them improve by providing them with regular, effective and fair feedback.
1. What will happen if John fails to take responsibility?| A．He can complete his jobs. |
| B．His teams may suffer. |
| C．His growth will continue. |
| D．He will lose his life. |
| A．“It’s not my fault.” |
| B．“I’ll have it completed tomorrow.” |
| C．“It’s tough, but I can manage it.” |
| D．“I need resources to solve the problem. ” |
| A．Let him know their specific tasks. |
| B．Get them to find out the values of work. |
| C．Praise them for their good jobs. |
| D．Have a chat with him to find out problems. |
10 . A merchant wanted to purchase a good-looking camel in the market and after spotting one began to bargain for it with the seller! There was a long bargain between the merchant and the camel seller, and finally the merchant bought the camel and took it home!
On reaching home, the merchant called his servant to take out the camel’s saddle. Under the saddle, the servant found a small velvet bag which upon opening revealed him to be full of precious diamonds! The servant shouted, “Boss, you bought a camel, but look what came with it for free!”
The Merchant was also surprised when he saw diamonds in his servant’s hands which were shining and twinkling even more in the sunlight! The Merchant said: “I have bought a camel and not the diamonds, I should return it immediately!”
The servant was thinking in his mind “How stupid my boss is! Nobody will know who the owner is!”
However, the merchant did not listen to him and immediately reached the market and returned the velvet bag to the shopkeeper.
The camel seller was very happy and said, “I had forgotten that I had hidden my precious diamonds under the saddle. Now you choose any one diamond!”
The Merchant said, “I have paid the right price for the camel, so I do not need any gift and prizes!”
The more the merchant was refusing, the more the camel seller was insisting. Finally, the merchant smiled and said: “In fact, when I decided to bring back the bag, I had already kept two of the most precious diamonds with me!”
After this declaration, the camel seller was infuriated and he quickly emptied the bag and began to count his diamond! But after he counted with a heavy sigh of relief, he said “These are all my diamonds, so what were the two most precious ones that you kept?”
The Merchant said: “My honesty and my self-respect.”
1. If the servant had bought the camel, what would he have done?| A．Giving them to his master. |
| B．Returning the diamonds. |
| C．Pocketing the diamonds. |
| D．Dividing them with his boss. |
| A．He thought he should reward him. |
| B．He regretted he had bargained with him. |
| C．He knew the he had made a big mistake. |
| D．He volunteered to lower the price. |
| A．Content. | B．Funny. | C．Angry. | D．Happy. |
