1 . Every Thursday afternoon, the food pantry (食品储藏室) at the local high school opens up to provide fresh food bags for families who can hardly make both ends meet to get their meals to last through the weekend. Nearly a hundred families rely on the extra food. Some are between jobs, some got hit hard with medical bills for a few months, and some are new to the neighborhood, placed there by refugee services.
On one breezy afternoon, two young mothers walked in together, each accompanied by a young child. There was nothing different about their dress, but their manner revealed a shyness that they struggled to overcome. When they spoke, it was clear why: Their accents were thick, even though they were trying hard to make their English sound American. They were uncertain of being understood. But the pantry is run by grandmothers who are never pressed for time when it comes to conversations. So they sat for a moment and told their story while the little ones were held in arms so very familiar with children.
The two lived in apartments in the basement of the Methodist Church. They had been in the United States for one month. Their husbands were well-educated but working labor jobs to pay for food and save for more typical apartments.
Both had fled the war in Eastern Europe, one family from Ukraine and one from Russia. They ended up in the same church basement and discovered that they needed each other. They became fast friends. Their children played together. They shared meals and navigated their new world together.
There were no bombs or soldiers or rations in their new neighborhood, only a chance to start over. Friendships are sometimes hard to come by, yet matter so much to each of us. A good friend gives us strength, love, laughter and the courage to keep trying.
These two families — worn down by uncertainty and war, thrown together in a new country, a new community with a new language — found so much in common. And isn’t that what we all need? A friend who faces the same life challenges, even if the forces above them have different political views. We are, after all, just mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors.
1. In the article, who primarily benefits from the services provided by the food pantry?| A．High school students. | B．People with disabilities. |
| C．Families with tight budgets. | D．Underpaid individuals. |
| A．Their clothing. | B．Their language. |
| C．Their children. | D．Their ID documents. |
| A．They both live in the basement of the same church. |
| B．They met at the same restaurant. |
| C．They are from the same country. |
| D．They both have similar professions. |
| A．Challenges of Life and New Friendship | B．The Story of the Food Pantry |
| C．New Life in America | D．From War to Peace |
2 . The movie Home Coming《万里归途》took the lead in the box office (票房) during the National Day holiday in 2022.
It tells a story that happened in North Africa. After a war breaks out there, two Chinese diplomats (外交官) are ordered to help evacuate the overseas Chinese. After completing the first task successfully, they learn that another group of Chinese citizens (公民) are still in great danger. Realizing that these people will die if they don’t give a hand, the two men travel through the war area. They risk their lives to help over 100Chinese citizens go to a safe place. The movie not only shows how the two diplomats protect the people with courage, but also shows their deep love for the country and people.
Home Coming reminds many people of a similar real event which truly happened in Libya in 2011. Chinese Embassy (大使馆) helped the evacuation of more than 30, 000 Chinese citizens. Behind this event were many efforts of Chinese diplomats. After watching the film, a man recalled his personal experience. “We are the lucky ones because we have a strong country and are well protected,” he said.
Home Coming is a success partly because of the growing national pride and confidence Chinese people have in our country. A comment (评论) reads, “Chinese passport might not get you anywhere you want, but it can always bring you back home.”
1. The movie Home Coming is about a story that happened in ______.| A．North America | B．South America | C．South Africa | D．North Africa |
| A．躲藏 | B．逃避 | C．撤离 | D．评价 |
| A．Over one hundred. | B．Over thirty thousand. |
| C．Over three million. | D．Over three thousand. |
| A．The two diplomats protect the people with courage. |
| B．The two diplomats love the country and people deeply. |
| C．We Chinese have a strong country and are well protected. |
| D．Chinese passport can get you anywhere you want. |
3 . Are you ready to get down to a thrilling journey through the pages of captivating stories and profound knowledge? Join us for an unforgettable reading event that promises to ignite your passion for literature and broaden your horizons!
Celebrating the Richness of American Literature
Immerse yourself in a treasure of literary masterpieces that showcase the cultural richness and diversity of American voices. From timeless classics to contemporary gems, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
Book Highlights:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Delve into the timeless tale of justice, morality, and compassion set against the backdrop of the American South.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Experience the glitz, glamour, and disillusionment of the Jazz Age through the eyes of the enigmatic Jay Gatsby.
Beloved by Toni Morrison: Journey into the haunting world of slavery’s legacy and the enduring power of love and memory.
Meet the Authors: Signed Copies and Book Giveaways!
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet renowned authors and get your books personally signed! Plus, stand a chance to win exclusive giveaways and limited edition merchandise.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, March 23rd
Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: Central Public Library, 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA
Who Should Attend?
This event is perfect for crazy readers, literature enthusiasts, and anyone eager to explore the diverse landscape of American literature. Whether you’re a high school student preparing for college or a seasoned bookworm, there’s something here for you!
Registration and More Information:
Visit our website at www.booklovers.com to register for this exciting event and learn more about the featured authors and book selections.
Why It Matters:
By celebrating the rich tapestry of American literature, we not only honor the voices of the past but also inspire future generations to embrace diversity, empathy, and the power of storytelling.
1. Which book is NOT mentioned as an emphasis of the event?| A．To Kill a Mockingbird. | B．The Great Gatsby. |
| C．Moby-Dick. | D．Beloved. |
| A．Sign their own names on books. | B．See and greet famous authors. |
| C．Participate in a reading competition. | D．Watch a movie screening. |
| A．A food magazine. | B．An astronaut’s journal. |
| C．A sci-fi handbook. | D．A reading website. |
4 . As a child, Liu Wenwen disliked the suona, a “loud, high-pitched” traditional Chinese musical instrument, an ancestral heritage of her family that was to become her career.
Her peers at primary school laughed at her, saying her whole family was engaged only in “weddings and funerals.” Indeed, these are the two major occasions where the horn-like wind instrument is played in China’s rural areas. Liu felt ashamed. People admired things that were modern and international. “Suona, in comparison, was considered an art of the hillbilly.” Her father’s family has performed suona for seven generations.
The music is rooted in Liu’s DNA, but it takes time and hard work to become a skilled musician. The instrument was so loud that it annoyed the neighbors when she practiced at home. “So my parents would wake me up at 4 a.m. every day and take me to practice outside in a park.”
While she followed her parents to play the suona as a child, she only fell in love with the instrument at university. She found suona music beautiful for the first time in 2008, when she entered Shanghai Conservatory of Music to learn the instrument more systematically.
On China’s social media platforms, her name is often followed by a video of her live performance at a concert in Sydney, Australia, alongside award-winning composer Tan Dun in 2017. For her debut on the international stage, she was playing Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, a masterpiece that often represents excellence in suona performance.
Liu promoted the “hillbilly” music to an international audience, thanks to Tan and his team, who recomposed the traditional music and arranged the piece into an orchestra. “It was a smooth dialogue between a Chinese instrument and a Western orchestra, loved by the musicians and audience alike,” she said. “I felt my hard work had paid off. I trained for over 20 years, probably just to win cheers and applause for traditional Chinese music on the international stage.”
1. What can we learn about Liu from the first two paragraphs?| A．She was born into a musical family. |
| B．She enjoyed playing the suona as a child. |
| C．She showed a talent for suona when she was young. |
| D．She felt ashamed of admiring modern and international things. |
| A．To get more time for her practice. | B．To avoid disturbing the neighbors. |
| C．To spend more time with her parents. | D．To make practising the suona a habit. |
| A．Audience like Chinese instruments better than Western orchestra. |
| B．Liu’s performance at a Sydney concert got her recognized by the public. |
| C．Liu promoted traditional Chinese music to the whole world with her parents. |
| D．Social media is a major platform to carry forward traditional Chinese music. |
| A．Technology. | B．Education. |
| C．People. | D．Entertainment. |
5 . Here are four universities in Germany that offer free tuition for their students.
Technical University of Munich (TUM)This university is the best technical university in Germany. It was established in 1868 by King Ludwig II. The university was renamed Technische Universitat Munchen in 1970. Its alumni (校友) included several Nobel Prize winners, including Konrad Emil Bloch for Medicine or Physiology and Robert Huber for Chemistry. This free university offers undergraduate degrees in Aerspace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Information Science, Nuclear Technology, and Agricultural Sciences and others.
Munich University of Applied Sciences (MUAS)Established in 1971, it is the largest university of applied sciences in Bavaria, and the second largest in Germany. It was established following the merger (合并) of seven colleges of higher education. It offers a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different subjects. It holds partnerships with more than 200 universities across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Approximately 13% of its students come from abroad.
Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU)LMU, founded in 1472, is a renowned European university known for its academics and research, As a top European research university, LM covers many subjects, including humanities, law, economics, medicine, and natural sciences. LMU has 18 faculties and an excellent library system. They emphasize creative thinking, problem - solving, and research in their academic programs.
Academy of Media Arts Cologne( KHM)The Academy was founded in 1990, also known as KHM in German. It is a public academic institution that offers a special and unique concept of study: instead of separating the field s of film, television, art, design and theory, they are integrated into a single course of study leading to a diploma in Audiovisual Media. It is home to over 400 students, with nearly 50% international students.
1. What do we know about Munich University of Applied Sciences?| A．It is the biggest university in Germany. |
| B．It was formed by combining several colleges. |
| C．It owns an excellent library system. |
| D．It has some Nobel Prize winners in its history. |
| A．TUM. | B．LMU. | C．KHM. | D．MUAS. |
| A．It was founded by a king. | B．It is a private academy. |
| C．It has fewer international students. | D．It only provides one program. |
6 . One day, a woman bought a parrot (鹦鹉) from a pet store. However, the woman decided to send the parrot back to the store the next day. “This bird doesn’t talk,” she told the pet store owner. “Does he have a mirror?” the owner asked. “Parrots enjoy watching themselves in it.” So the woman bought one and left.
The next day, she came back, saying that the bird still didn’t say anything. “How about a ladder (梯子)? Parrots love ladders,” the owner said. The woman bought a ladder and left.
But the next day, she went back a third time. “Does your parrot have a swing (秋千)? No? Well, once he starts swinging, he’ll talk a lot happily,” the owner said. The woman then bought a swing and left.
When she walked into the store the next day, she began to cry and said sadly, “The parrot died.” The pet store owner was surprised at what she said. “What? I’m sorry. Tell me, did he say anything?” he asked. “Yes, right before he died,” the woman answered in a low voice, “he asked me weakly, ‘Don’t they sell any food at that pet store?’”
Sometimes we forget what’s really necessary in life. We sometimes have lots of things to do at once, but we forget to do with the most important things first. We have to remember to “feed the parrots” in our lives.
1. The woman bought ______ for the parrot from the pet shop owner.①a cage ②a mirror ③a ladder ④a swing ⑤some food
| A．①②⑤ | B．②③④ | C．①②③ | D．②③ |
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
| A．the woman gave him nothing to eat | B．he couldn’t enjoy himself in the mirror |
| C．he couldn’t fly in the sky like others | D．the woman was angry and killed him |
| A．喂养鹦鹉 | B．放飞鹦鹉 | C．做最重要的事情 | D．让鹦鹉唱歌 |
7 . Have you ever heard of the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”? Well, in Chinese, we have an expression called “yi mao qu ren”.
Imagine you meet someone new at school. They might look different from you in hair, clothes, or looks. It’s important not to make any judgments about them just because of how they look.
Sometimes, people make a mistake by judging others by their looks. They might think someone is mean or unfriendly just because they have a serious face or wear unusual clothes. But what meets the eye isn’t always the truth!
In fact, people are like books with many, many pages. We need to read more and more pages to understand them. That means getting to know them, talking to them, and learning about their interests and personalities.
Think about your best friends. When you met them at early time, you might not have known they would become your best friends. But as you spent time together and got to know each other, you realized how amazing they are.
By not judging people by their looks, we open our hearts to new people in our lives. We start to understand and treasure the distinctions between us, like different cultures, backgrounds, and ways of thinking.
So, let’s keep an open mind and be nice to everyone we meet. Let’s treat others with kindness and fairness, no matter how they look. When we do that, we make a world where everyone feels important and accepted for who they are. After all, the most amazing things are hidden—within every one of us!
1. How does the writer begin the text?| A．By listing numbers. | B．By showing a saying. |
| C．By giving an example. | D．By making an expectation. |
| A．Cultures. | B．Differences. | C．Successes. | D．Advantages. |
| A．With a happy mind. | B．With a serious face. |
| C．With kindness and fairness. | D．With some doubts. |
| A．Try to Read More Books | B．Try to Understand Others Better |
| C．Don’t Be Unfriendly to Others | D．Don’t Judge People by Their Looks |
8 . It is necessary for students to learn some team skills like developing relationships, communicating well with others and solving problems. Here are two fun team activities.
Activity 1: Water Relay (接力赛)
Tools
Two large buckets (水桶) to hold water
One small bucket for each team member
Instructions
Fill one large bucket with water.
Make holes in the bottom of the small buckets.
Have the team members line up between the two large buckets.
Pass the water from one large bucket to the other, using small buckets. Try to keep as much water as possible.
Why It’s Fun
It’s fun to work out a way to lose as little water as possible. It’s water. Isn’t it fun to get you wet on a hot summer day?
Activity 2: Truth and Lie
This activity will allow team members to learn about each other.
Instructions
Have each team member think of three pieces of information about themselves, and one of them is a lie. Each team member tells the group all the three pieces of information. Let the other team members guess which is the lie.
Why It’s Fun
Students love talking about themselves and this gives them the chance to do so.
Members can learn about each other.
Members will be surprised at what others think of them.
1. What tools are needed for each team in Water Relay?| A．One large bucket for each member. |
| B．Two large buckets for each member. |
| C．Two large buckets and one small bucket for each member. |
| D．Two small buckets for each member and one large bucket. |
| A．Get themselves wet. | B．Keep as much water as possible. |
| C．Pass the water as slowly as possible. | D．Pass the large bucket to the other team. |
| A．Because the team can have a chance to talk about themselves. |
| B．Because the team can share love with each other. |
| C．Because the team can tell lies. |
| D．Because the team can learn all the information. |
| A．A science book. | B．A travel guide. |
| C．A fashion magazine. | D．A school magazine. |
9 . One day, Sue argued with her mother. She left home without saying a word.
When she saw a noodle shop, she suddenly felt
“Don’t worry. I’ll
“What’s wrong?” the shop owner asked.
“I am touched by your kindness. Even a
“Girl, why do you think so? Think again. I
Sue was surprised after
On the way home, Sue thought over. She stopped in front of the door and saw her
Sue couldn’t control herself. She cried and hugged her mother.
In our life, it is
| A．Because | B．If | C．Although | D．Unless |
| A．thirsty | B．cold | C．hungry | D．sleepy |
| A．leave | B．call | C．borrow | D．treat |
| A．you | B．me | C．her | D．him |
| A．child | B．friend | C．relative | D．stranger |
| A．even | B．never | C．often | D．just |
| A．seeing | B．tasting | C．hearing | D．touching |
| A．sister | B．mother | C．father | D．brother |
| A．sleep | B．drink | C．eat | D．play |
| A．unusual | B．strange | C．difficult | D．easy |
10 . Floating Markets in Bangkok, Thailand
One might feel as though they are entering a different world upon visiting a Thai floating market. While some countries in Asia have their own floating markets, none compare to Thailand’s, and the special experience is one you cannot miss while visiting the country.
Long-tail boats, ancient and traditional houses, and shouting vendors (商贩) are the major elements of floating markets in Bangkok. They are excellent options for experiencing the unusual culture and life of Thailand. Here are the top 8 floating markets in Bangkok, where you can experience the chaotic and charming atmosphere.
| Name | Distance from Downtown Bangkok | Open Times | Features |
| Damnoen Saduak | 80 km (50 mi) | Every day from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m | Long-tail boat cruises, remote villages, plantations |
| Amphawa | 90 km (55mi) | 11 a. m. to 9.30 p. m., Friday to Sunday | Thai food, little wooden houses, temples |
| Wat Sai | 23 km (14 mi) | 8 a. m.-6 p. m., Tuesday-Saturday | A mixture of Chinese culture and Thai culture |
| Taling Chan | 12 km (7 mi) | 8 a. m.-6 p. m., Saturday-Sunday | Temples, massages (按摩) on boats, foot massages under trees |
| Bangkhla | 100km (60 mi) | 8 a. m.-6 p. m., Saturday-Sunday | Remote countryside, charm, biking |
| Bang Nam Pheung | 20 km (12 mi) | 8: 30 a. m.-5p. m., Saturday-Sunday | Fruit, food, a nature sanctuary (避难所) |
| Bang Phli | 38 km (24 mi) | 11 a. m.-5:30 p. m., Tuesday-Saturday | Oldest, historical buildings, temples |
| Khlong Lat Mayom | 21 km (13 mi) | 7 a. m.-5p. m., Saturday—Sunday | Food, fruit, boat noodles |
1. Which floating market only opens on weekends with the shortest opening hours?
| A．Taling Chan. | B．Bang Phli. |
| C．Bang Nam Pheung. | D．Khlong Lat Mayom. |
| A．Delicious Thai food. | B．Numerous temple buildings. |
| C．Various massage services. | D．The traditional countryside life. |
| A．It is influenced by Chinese cultural elements. |
| B．Its number of open days in a week is the largest. |
| C．It is the centre of cultural exchange around the world. |
| D．It is a must-see tourist destination for Chinese tourists. |
