1 . Since the days of Charles Darwin, the long necks of giraffes have been a textbook example of evolution. The theory goes that as giraffe ancestors competed for food, those with longer necks were able to reach higher leaves, getting a leg-up or neck-up over shorter animals.
But a very unusual prehistoric giraffe relative reveals that, in addition to finding food, fighting may have driven early neck evolution. In a study published Thursday in Science, a team of paleontologists described the Discokeryx(獬豸盘角鹿), a giraffe ancestor, as having a helmet-like head and large neck vertebrae(脊椎).The Discokeryx evolved like this to absorb and deliver skull-cracking collisions to seek mates and defeat competitors.
“It shows that giraffe evolution is not just lengthening the neck,” said Jin Meng,a paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History and co-author of the new study.
Head-butting is an ancient and widespread form of conflict solution. Dinosaurs like Pachycephalosaurs have firm skulls(头骨), and knocking heads remain common in bighorn sheep, chameleons and even whales.
But the researchers suggested that the Discokeryx was uniquely expert at head-to-head fight. The team estimated that collisions between Discokeryxes were likely twice as forceful as head-butting muskoxen, which strike each other at nearly 25 mph.
The series of interlocking neck joints haven’t been discovered in any other vertebrate(脊椎动物),living or dead,giving the Discokeryx the greatest head-bashing equipment yet discovered, according to the researchers. “This animal is an extreme example of using head-butting as a fighting tool,” Meng said.
1. What do we know about the Discokeryx?| A．Its evolution helps make and bear crashes. |
| B．It has tiny neck vertebrae. |
| C．Its thin neck can stretch to find mates. |
| D．It has a horn-like head. |
| A．Whales move at the speed of 25 mph. |
| B．Muskoxen are good at giving a side attack. |
| C．Many vertebrates have amazing neck joints. |
| D．Discokeryxes hit opponents with big power. |
| A．How Jin Meng completed a research paper. |
| B．Why giraffes’ necks evolve so long. |
| C．How the impact force between Discokeryxes is measured. |
| D．Why giraffes’ development goes against Charles Darwin’s theory. |
| A．In a:history book. |
| B．In a story collection. |
| C．In a science magazine. |
| D．In a celebrity biography. |
2 . Feeling hungry? Well, get your chopsticks ready! Ho Chi Minh City Food Tours are the tastiest way to travel around the city.
Big eat & Small seat
This afternoon food tour by motorbike is focused on family-run local restaurants. These places are often small and tight with little stools. This is a tour we recommend for travelers that want to be thrown into the city’s delicious street food. It lasts from 1 pm to 5 pm at $65 per person.
A taste of Vietnam
This tour is absolutely comfortable for everyone with indoor seating and atmosphere. The menu is diverse, featuring some hands-on cooking experience and a bowl of whole crab soup that you can only find in Ho Chi Minh City. It lasts from 6 pm to 10 pm at $73 per person.
Chef’s tour
The concept for Chef’s tour is simple: We will drive you from location to location to try some of our favorite street eats in the city while adjusting the menu as much as possible to meet your tastes and personality. It lasts from 5 pm to 10 pm at $123 per person.
Street food stroll
This tour will leave you happy, full, and filled with a new appreciation for our history and culture. We will eat delicious street food while exploring the French architecture and the unique culture in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District Three. A bit different from other tours, we will not use any taxi or motorbike to get from place to place. The walk tour lasts from 5 pm to 9 pm at $38 per person.
Note: During all the above tours, prices take in all food and drinks and we will also take digital photos during the trip that we send to you the next day by email.
1. How much should a tourist pay for the tour with hands-on cooking experience?| A．$38. | B．$65. | C．$73. | D．$123. |
| A．The tourists have to walk all the way. |
| B．The tourists can have free digital photos. |
| C．The tourists will eat in big restaurants. |
| D．The tourists can try the whole crab soup. |
| A．Big eat & Small seat. | B．A taste of Vietnam. |
| C．Street food stroll. | D．Chef’s tour. |
3 . Like many parts of modern life, you can go digital when it comes to food scales (秤). If you want digital scales with an LCD display, then obviously you’ll need batteries which can run out at the most inconvenient of times. But the advantages of digital scales are many, including an accurate button which allows you to instantly remove the weight of an empty bowl, so you don’t need to do any maths calculations (计算). Mechanical (机械的)scales on the other hand have a pleasingly old-school reliability about them and undoubtedly add a touch of the style of the past to any kitchen. Read on for our top picks of mechanical scales, and digital scales, and balance scales.
EK backlit scales
A backlit display is an attractive feature. In addition to its good looks, it has an oversize digital display that is easy to read.
CN folding kitchen scales
When space is limited in your kitchen, you sometimes don’t want to buy another kitchen item. Folding kitchen scale is your best choice.
DM traditional cast iron balance kitchen scales
Cooking and baking isn’t all about time efficiency. It’s also about memories and the simple enjoyment of doing something that connects you.
MF 3-in-1 digital scales
We love the one that makes life easier by performing many functions. One part is a traditional balance, one part is a mixing bowl, and one part is a measuring pot, and the grade of the bowl itself allows accurate measurement of the liquid.
There are plenty of good reasons to prepare the best kitchen scales for your kitchen set up. More importantly, the sense of loss because of inaccuracy can be avoided. If you’ve got young kids, using scales is also a great way to add to their knowledge of weights and measures and to do some basic maths with them.
1. What is the feature of a mechanical scale?| A．It has LCD display. |
| B．It needs batteries |
| C．It is a little inaccurate |
| D．It shows an old-fashioned style. |
| A．EK backlit scales |
| B．CN folding kitchen scales |
| C．DM traditional cast iron balance kitchen scales |
| D．MF 3-in- 1 digital scales |
| A．Mechanics. | B．Mathematics. | C．Chemistry. | D．Physics. |
4 . Architect Daniel Libeskind is the designer of some global landmarks such as New York’s One World Trade Center and Berlin’s Jewish Museum. In his new book, he reviews his life’s work and its inspirations — including these books.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. I love Lewis Carroll; he’s a total genius (天才). His two classic works are children’s books for grown-ups because they show aspects of the creative mind that we all have but seldom use in adulthood. Inspired by Carroll, I make a habit of trying to learn seven amazing things before breakfast.
Ulysses by James Joyce. Joyce once said that if Dublin were destroyed, you could recreate the entire city from this novel. You can’t do urban planning without Ulysses because it is a labyrinth (迷宫) you can never leave.
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. Proust’s great novel is really a book of reflections about how architecture — our living spaces — creates a blueprint (蓝图) for our dreams, our desires, our emotions, and our memories. Where we have lived, what we have eaten, and what kind of cups we use — all of those aspects are examined here in minute detail.
Emily Dickinson’s Herbarium about Emily Dickinson’s work. From childhood onward, Dickinson collected, pressed, and classified the plants she grew in her garden in Amherst. Through the pictures in this book, you can see how her poetry — all her symbols, all her metaphors (隐喻), the colors she mentions — mirrors nature. You don’t even have to read her poetry to see what a great artist she was.
1. Which of the following books is set in Dublin?| A．Ulysses. |
| B．In Search of Lost Time. |
| C．Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass. |
| D．Emily Dickinson’s Herbarium. |
| A．James Joyce. |
| B．Emily Dickinson. |
| C．Marcel Proust. |
| D．Lewis Carroll. |
| A．They are all novels. |
| B．They are written for children. |
| C．They offer inspirations to Daniel Libeskind. |
| D．They focus on the power of nature. |
5 . Garden Veggie Frittata (煎蛋饼)
1 tablespoon of olive oil (橄榄油)
1 large potato, thinly sliced
2 green onions, sliced
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped (切碎的)
1 cucumber, chopped 8 eggs
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil (罗勒) plus more for decoration
1 cup of cheese salt and pepper to taste
Safety Reminder: Remember to wash all vegetables before you begin cooking, and wash your hands after you handle raw eggs.
Additional Materials: oven safe pan, sharp knife, whisk (搅拌器), measuring cup, cutting board.
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Heat half a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced potatoes to the pan, and fry them until they are tender but firm (about 6 minutes). Remove the potatoes from the pan. Put the rest of the olive oil in the pan, and then add the green onions, red pepper, and cucumber. Fry just until the cucumber is tender. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, basil, and cheese with a whisk. Pour into the pan over the vegetables. Reduce heat to medium low, and stir (搅拌) the eggs for about a minute. Return the potatoes to the pan, and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. You should notice the eggs starting to set around the edges.
4. Place the pan in the preheated oven, and roast for 10 to 12 minutes, until the eggs have completely set in the center.
5. Put the frittata onto a serving place. Decorate it with some fresh basil. Slice and serve while warm.
1. What is the next step after the oven is preheated?
| A．Heat the olive oil. | B．Pour vegetables into the pan. |
| C．Add egg mixture to vegetables. | D．Decorate the frittata with basil. |
| A．About 1 minute. | B．2 to 3 minutes. |
| C．About 6 minutes. | D．10 to 12 minutes. |
| A．To decorate. | B．To add sweetness. |
| C．To reserve eggs’ color. | D．To keep vegetables fresh. |
6 . With more recognition than Halloween and less than Christmas,Valentine's Day as an imported festival faces a dangerous situation in China, where it's caught between forces of tradition and fashion.Valentine’s Day has a natural enemy in China.And it is not the Chinese equivalent, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar, usually around half a year away from Feb.14. It is the Spring Festival,also known as the Chinese New Year, that will influence the Feast of Saint Valentine.
The real disagreement between East and West probably took place over a century ago,when China’s door was forced open by Western powers and Chinese scholars supported westernization as a means to strengthen our nation’s ability to compete.
The introduction of the solar calendar and Western measurements was both an acknowledgment of their influence and an effort to be accepted by the world order.
For a full century, we have had two systems running in parallel. When it comes to the eventual outcome, practicality usually beats all other concerns. Laws can help, such as the three traditional festivals of Tomb Sweeping, Dragon Boat and Mid-Autumn gaining legal status in 2008 and giving every Chinese citizen a day off, but laws cannot push what people have no feelings for. So, the celebration or boycott of imported holidays or homegrown ones should be no cause for worry. If they are irrelevant, no social media will change the public’s mind; and if they are accepted, there must be a need which they happen to satisfy.
Since we have no global Qin Shihuang to force one system on every country,we can always rely on a dual (双重的) approach by which we share with the outside world on the one hand but preserve our own ways of life on the other.
1. What does the author think about Valentine's Day in present China? ______| A．It meets with a natural enemy. | B．It is better known than Christmas. |
| C．It strongly attacks Chinese culture. | D．It is more popular with young people. |
| A．the Dragon-boat Festival | B．the Spring Festival |
| C．the Mid-autumn Festival | D．the Chinese Valentine's Day |
| A．current laws | B．people’s needs | C．public media | D．age-old tradition |
| A．the conflict between the East and the West will last long |
| B．Chinese festivals are to be paid more attention to in years |
| C．both Chinese and foreign systems of festivals can co-exist in China |
| D．this cultural shock is normal and will be received by more people in the future |
7 . My folks bought their first house in the early 1940s after Dad got a better job in Marquette, Michigan. We lived just inside the city limits in what was still a rural area.
In the spring of 1948, when I was 6 years old, my parents bought a calf (小牛) to replace our cow, which had been killed the year before. So one day we drove to a local farm and returned with a white and brown calf we named Tubby.
We didn’t own a truck, so Tubby rode home in the backseat of Dad’s car with my 9-year-old brother, Steve and me. As you can imagine, the trip was a lot of fun for us kids.
Later that summer, Mom thought it would be cute to take a picture of me sitting on Tubby’s back. All went well until the flashlight of the camera sent Tubby charging off on a run, with me holding on for dear life and my heart pulled to my throat.
I lasted for about 30 feet before I hit the ground. Mom was quick enough to shoot a follow-up picture, so we had photos of me both on and off Tubby!
When summer had passed, the day arrived for poor Tubby to fill our freezer (冰柜). I must have been somewhere else with my mom on the fateful (决定性的) day, because I have no memory of what happened. All I knew was that the barn (畜棚) was empty, and that we had plenty of meat for dinners.
I hadn’t lived on the farm like my mother, so I didn’t understand that what had happened to Tubby was not unusual. Livestock (家畜) aren’t meant to be pets, and most farm kids know and accept the truth.
Whenever we had beef for dinner, I would tearfully ask, “Is this Tubby?” This went on for a couple of months until Dad had enough and declared, “No more cows!” That made me feel better about poor Tubby.
1. Why did the parents buy Tubby?| A．To raise it for meat. | B．To produce enough milk for the kids. |
| C．To keep the kids company. | D．To have Tubby help with farm work. |
| A．The writer witnessed Tubby killed. |
| B．The writer felt happy to see the freezer filled with meat. |
| C．The writer’s mother thought it natural to kill Tubby for meat. |
| D．The writer felt excited on Tubby’s back when it was running off. |
| A．Sad. | B．Thankful. | C．Moved. | D．Hopeless. |
8 .
| Summer 2016 Art Camps The Harn Museum of Art offers Art Camp for kids, aged 7 to 11, during school breaks. Fees: Half-day: $ 150 per week ($ 130 Harn members) Full-day: $ 290 per week ($ 250 Harn members) | ||
| Dates | Camp Descriptions | |
| Morning: | Afternoon | |
| July 11-15 | Comics for Kids. Learn the art of comics. Create original characters, design backgrounds, and use comics to tell stories. Instructor: Tom Hart. | Asian Art & Anime Explore the art of Asia, from traditional ink painting and block printing to Japanese drawing and Anime. Instructor: Sunny Heo. |
| July 18-22 | Printmaking: Line, Color, and Shape Master the printing press and discover a variety of printmaking techniques. Instructor: Katie McDonald. | Painting a Rainbow: The Art & Science of Color Learn from museum professional and paint a variety of subjects. Instructor: Katie McDonald. |
| July 25-29 | Faces in Art: Masks and Mirrors Explore the face in art, from portraits to masks. Practice working with your own face to create a self-portrait. Instructor: Katie McDonald. | 3D Art: Build It, Shape It, Sculpt It! Move beyond the surface and have fun playing around with 3D art using a variety of techniques, tools and media. Instructor: Katie McDonald. |
| August 1-5 | People in Art Learn how to draw, paint and sculpt people. Instructor: Linda Zidonik. | Wild Things: Animals in Art Go wild and create animal-inspired artwork. Look at animals in art in the museum, and make animal paintings, drawings, sculptures. Instructor: Linda, Zidonik. |
| A．$ 130. | B．$ 150. | C．$ 250. | D．$ 290. |
| A．July 11-15 | B．July 18-22 | C．July 25-29 | D．August 1-5 |
| A．Faces in art. | B．Printmaking. | C．The art of Asia. | D．Animals in Art. |
9 . CAPITOL CLASSROOM
October 2021 through February 2022 on selected Wednesday and Thursday mornings
Overview
Capitol Classroom is a two-hour program including a tour of the US Capitol, interactive lessons, and hands-on activities.
Choose one
Program 1 Art Appreciators: The Art and Architecture of the US Capitol
Students explore the history and culture of America by examining art and architectural elements found in the US Capitol, the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. This program meets state standards and national standards for the visual arts.
Grades: 3 through6
Number: 20-65 students per program
Length: One-hour classroom program and one-hour tour of the US Capitol
Start Time: 9:30 a. m.
Program 2 Capitol Art: History, Culture, or Expression?
Students study the art and architectural features of the US Capitol and participate in a student-centered creative activity. This program meets state standards and national standards for the visual arts.
Grades: 7 through 12
Number: 20-65 students per program
Length: One-hour classroom program and one-hour tour of the US Capitol
Start Time: 9:30a. m.
Program 3 Environment Matters: How Does a Bill Become Law?
To understand the complex way that a bill becomes a law, students participate in activities that illustrate the process. The Chesapeake Bay and the Clean Water Acts of 1948 and 1972 serve as legislative examples. Groups receive passes to visit the Galleries of the US Senate or the US House of Representatives. This program meets the National Council for the Social Studies’ curriculum standards.
Grades: 6 through 12
Number: 20-65 students per program
Length: One-hour classroom program and one-hour tour of the US Capitol
Start Time: 9:30 a. m.
1. Daisy wants to register for Capitol Classroom. Which date is probably available?| A．Wednesday, September 2021. | B．Friday, October 2021. |
| C．Thursday, January 2022. | D．Thursday, March 2022. |
| A．Program 1. | B．Program 2. |
| C．Program 1 and Program 2. | D．Program 1 and Program 3. |
| A．Program 1 includes one-hour classroom program and two-hour tour of the US Capitol. |
| B．Program 2 is open to the students from Grade 3 through 6. |
| C．Program 3 enables students to access Galleries of the US House of Representatives. |
| D．Program 3 enables students to participate in a student-centered creative activity. |
10 . Derek Rabelo was born in Brazil in 1992. His father called him Derek after a famous
When Derek was 17, his father told him about his
Derek explains that
In 2012, he flew to Hawaii to surf one of the most challenging and dangerous
A film producer decided to make a film about him. Beyond Sight tells Derek’s inspirational story and teaches us that nothing is impossible if you
| A．swimming | B．surfing | C．film | D．pop |
| A．problem | B．rule | C．promise | D．plan |
| A．poor | B．weak | C．deaf | D．blind |
| A．necessary | B．real | C．impossible | D．proper |
| A．story | B．advice | C．truth | D．dream |
| A．river | B．beach | C．water | D．wave |
| A．matches | B．lessons | C．photos | D．exams |
| A．instead | B．usually | C．still | D．finally |
| A．although | B．unless | C．when | D．before |
| A．see | B．touch | C．hear | D．taste |
| A．or | B．so | C．but | D．for |
| A．waves | B．beaches | C．islands | D．sports |
| A．sorry | B．worried | C．scared | D．surprised |
| A．after all | B．at all | C．at the same time | D．from time to time |
| A．deal with | B．depend on | C．believe in | D．look after |
