1 . As an immigrant from China, my mother loves Chinese culture deeply. She
Why is American Chinese food not
My mother has a deep feeling for authentic Chinese food and restaurants, so I decide to open a restaurant where she and other immigrants can feel the
A.orders | B.cooks | C.donates | D.receives |
A.However | B.Therefore | C.Besides | D.Otherwise |
A.alternatives | B.restrictions | C.meals | D.comments |
A.unwilling | B.illegal | C.ambitious | D.quick |
A.agreeable | B.contemporary | C.massive | D.complicated |
A.complex | B.actual | C.expensive | D.previous |
A.believe | B.find | C.deny | D.conclude |
A.deserves | B.helps | C.hates | D.refuses |
A.make | B.prepare | C.defend | D.distinguish |
A.process | B.cuisine | C.mood | D.discount |
A.differently | B.generously | C.abnormally | D.vividly |
A.build | B.equip | C.accept | D.monitor |
A.careers | B.platforms | C.ranks | D.tastes |
A.decrease | B.atmosphere | C.reflection | D.duty |
A.spied on | B.called on | C.handed down | D.broken down |
2 . Classical Chinese furniture — a desk, a cabinet or any other fine piece of furniture and often out of precious wood —impresses us with its delicate shape. The secret of its graceful form is less visible and lies in its complicated sunmao (榫卯) system, which allows the various components to be assembled neatly without glue or nails.
Suzhou, a scenic and peaceful city in Jiangsu, a province long known for its wealth, developed its own tradition of classical furniture design over the centuries. Examples of the Suzhou-style furniture are currently on display as part of Oriental Wisdom in Sun Mao, a group exhibition at the Prince Kung’s Palace Museum in Beijing.
Running until Sunday, the show demonstrates the way that the complex sunmao technique has been used in making furniture, as well as the variations that developed in different parts of the country. Also on display are models of different kinds, as well as the components of two chairs, which are disassembled and laid out to give museum goers a clear view of the inner structure of classical furniture.
The Suzhou style flowered during the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), and once dominated the market in Jiangnan, the southern region along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It integrated input from the intellectual class, who put their ideals regarding living spaces and spiritual harbors into its design. According to Xu Jianping, one of the inheritors of classical furniture design in the city, the Suzhou style presents beauty in the same delicate way the city does, and represents the life philosophy of its people to achieve “refinement through careful calculations”.
Guangzhou style furniture is normally made out of tropical hardwood, and its forms and decorative patterns show the influence of European furniture styles resulting from Guangzhou’s history as an international trade port. The Beijing style, which is more splendid, incorporates aesthetic (美学) and stylistic elements from both Suzhou and Guangzhou.
“While the Suzhou style is light in weight and elegant in outline, furniture in the Beijing style is more magnificent, as it used to be made for royalty and aristocracy.” Xu says. “Ultimately, people live with their furniture, so the principle of quality furniture is that it should be appropriate to the space.”
1. What is on display in the exhibition?A.The lifestyle in Sunzhou. | B.The modern furniture in Suzhou. |
C.The secret of sunmao system. | D.The classical furniture in China. |
A.taken apart | B.broken up | C.torn down | D.given away |
A.The beauty of the delicate city. | B.The development of the Suzhou Style. |
C.The influence of historical design ideas. | D.The formation of the Suzhou life philosophy. |
A.To compare their differences. | B.To evaluate the usage of furniture. |
C.To express the way to display furniture. | D.To illustrate the theory of furniture design. |
3 . Welcome to American United Travel Company. We’ll help you spend a perfect holiday. For over 6 years, we have been organizing value for money summer holidays, whether it’s a late holiday deal or your main summer holiday. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a luxury 5-star holiday, or you just want to relax and soak up the sun, we’ve got access to the very best flight and hotel deals throughout the world. We are proud to offer you various services unlike other tour companies where we offer one-stop shop for complete tourism.
Our Services Include
Tours. Meet & Assist Services. Airport Transfer. MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conferences, Exhibitions) private Jets. Ground handling (24 hours) VIP services on arrival & departure. Adventure Tour.
Means of Transportation Reservations
We operate for all means of transportation available in the country, starting with buses for groups to car rental to individuals.
Guidance
We have the most qualified guides who speak French, English, German, Italian, and Spanish. We bank on their communication skills as well as their knowledge in various fields.
Fancy Dinners
We prepare outdoor dinners in particular places such as castles, beaches, old and traditional houses, etc. Usually, these dinners are arranged according to the clients’ choices.
Luggage Concierge
Don’t worry about luggage size and weight when travelling. Give your bags to Luggage Concierge in advance and they will be waiting for you at your destination when you arrive.
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1. What is special about United Travel company?A.It provides one-stop complete tourism. | B.It supplies the best flight and hotels. |
C.It offers transfer service. | D.Its guides speak various languages. |
A.Send it to your destination directly. | B.Carry it by yourself. |
C.Keep it as light as possible. | D.Hand it to Luggage Concierge. |
A.To diversify the economy. | B.To attract tourists. |
C.To conserve the environment. | D.To entertain readers. |
4 . I was halfway across Indiana headed home to Kentucky when my car broke down. My phone was
I sat alongside my car for several hours trying to
Right then and there, this total
A.busy | B.loud | C.dead | D.secure |
A.mechanic | B.policeman | C.manager | D.guide |
A.washing | B.parking | C.purchasing | D.maintaining |
A.feel | B.beat | C.absorb | D.produce |
A.promised | B.refused | C.stopped | D.volunteered |
A.solved | B.noticed | C.escaped | D.explained |
A.surprise | B.regret | C.amusement | D.disappointment |
A.called up | B.pulled out | C.put down | D.threw away |
A.liar | B.beginner | C.stranger | D.loser |
A.free | B.ready | C.uncertain | D.unable |
A.pronounced | B.agreed | C.discovered | D.doubted |
A.Tiredness | B.Kindness | C.Loneliness | D.Carefulness |
A.Folding | B.Drying | C.Soiling | D.Mending |
A.saved | B.called | C.judged | D.banned |
A.friend | B.daughter | C.coworker | D.customer |
5 . For lots of kids, toddlerhood (幼儿期) is an important time for friendship. Studies show that the earlier kids learn to form positive relationships, the better they are at relating to others as teenagers and adults. Playing together also helps these kids practice social behaviors, such as kindness, sharing, and cooperation.
Even so, how quickly your child develops into a social creature may also depend on his temperament(性格). Some toddler s are very social, but others are shy. In addition, the way that toddlers demonstrate that they like other children is markedly different from what adults think of as expressions of friendship. Research at Ohio State University in Columbus found that a toddler’s way of saying “I like you” during play is likely to come in the form of copying a friend’s behavior.
This seemingly unusual way of demonstrating fondness can result in unpleasant behavior. Regardless of how much they like a playmate, they may still grab his toys, refuse to share, and get bossy. But experts say that this is a normal and necessary part of friendship for kids this age. Through play experiences, toddlers learn social rules. That’s why it’s so important to take an active role in your toddler’s social encounters by setting limits and offering frequent reminders of what they are. When you establish these guidelines, explain the reasons behind them.
Begin by helping your child learn sympathy (“Ben is crying. What’s making him so sad?”), then suggest how he could resolve the problem (“Maybe he would feel better if you let him play the ball.”). When your child shares or shows empathy(同理心) toward a friend, praise him (“Ben stopped crying! You made him feel better.”).
Another way to encourage healthy social interaction is by encouraging kids to use words- not fists-to express how they feel. It’s also important to be mindful of how your child’s personality affects playtime. Kids are easy to get angry when they’re sleepy or hungry, so schedule playtime when they’re refreshed.
1. What does it indicate when toddlers copy their playmates’ behavior?A.They are interested in acting. | B.They are shy with the strangers. |
C.They are fond of their playmates. | D.They are tired of playing games. |
A.Design games for them. | B.Find them suitable playmates. |
C.Play together with them. | D.Help them understand social rules. |
A.Giving examples. | B.Explaining concepts. |
C.Providing evidence. | D.Making comparisons. |
A.How Children Adapt to Changes | B.How to Be a Role Model for Children |
C.How Your Baby Learns to Love | D.How to Communicate with Your Kid |
6 . In his 1936 work How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote: “I have come to the conclusion that there is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.” This distaste for arguments is common, but it depends on a mistaken view of arguments that causes problems for our personal and social lives — and in many ways misses the point of arguing in the first place.
Carnegie would be right if arguments were fights, which is how we often think of them. Like physical fights, verbal (言语的) fights can leave both sides bloodied. Even when you win, you end up no better off. You would be feeling almost as bad if arguments were even just competitions — like, say, tennis tournaments. Pairs of opponents hit the ball back and forth until one winner comes out from all who entered. Everybody else loses. This kind of thinking explains why so many people try to avoid arguments.
However, there are ways to win an argument every time. When you state your position, formulate (阐述) an argument for what you claim and honestly ask yourself whether your argument is any good. When you talk with someone who takes a stand, ask them to give you a reason for their view and spell out their argument fully. Assess its strength and weakness. Raise objections (异议) and listen carefully to their replies. This method will require effort, but practice will make you better at it.
These tools can help you win every argument — not in the unhelpful sense of beating your opponents but in the better sense of learning about what divides people, learning why they disagree with us and learning to talk and work together with them. If we readjust our view of arguments — from a verbal fight or tennis game to a reasoned exchange through which we all gain respect and understanding from each other — then we change the very nature of what it means to “win” an argument.
1. What is the author’s attitude toward Carnegie’s understanding of argument?A.Critical. | B.Supportive. | C.Tolerant. | D.Uncertain. |
A.They lack debating skills. | B.They may feel bad even if they win. |
C.They fear being ignored. | D.They are not confident in themselves. |
A.Defend. | B.Explain. | C.Conclude. | D.Repeat. |
A.Sense of logic. | B.Solid supporting evidence. |
C.Proper manners. | D.Understanding from both sides. |
7 . As you read this, pause to reflect on your recent interactions. As a politician, husband, and father, I encounter various spoken language styles: analytical or chatty, formal or informal, pointed or gentle, cooperative or decisive. Talk is the currency of politics. It is our way of negotiating, debating, and persuading. Talk is also the currency of learning-how we develop our ideas, deepen our thinking and share our feelings.
That’s why I want speaking skills, sometimes called “oracy”, to play an important part in Labor’s plans for a reformed school curriculum (课程).
Employers value speaking skills equally with reading and writing. The ability to speak well and express yourself should be something every child should master. But the curriculum doesn’t allow us to provide this. This is short-sighted. An inability to express your thoughts fluently is a key barrier to getting on and doing well in life.
Oracy is in part about good public speaking and debating skills, but in reality, it’s about teaching young people to make strong arguments, choose wise words, understand their audience, form meaningful social connections, and use facial expressions and body language to convey their message. Above all else it’s about finding your voice. To work out who you are and what you believe. If reading opens up a world of imagination and possibility, then speaking and listening opens up a lifetime of empowerment-a chance for those who feel invisible in their own country to be heard. It is about the confidence to speak out, to call out injustice or harm.
And the other side of speaking is listening, which can also be taught. Listening, truly listening, develops tolerance and understanding. And as parents we can play our part. We’ve all been there, at mealtimes, silent as we all stare at our devices. Our job, all of ours, is to get off our screens and give young people, and adults, the gift of listening.
So, oracy―speaking and listening―needs to be placed firmly at the heart of school life.
1. How does talk help a politician?A.It deepens his wishful thinking. |
B.It enhances his analytical skills. |
C.It strengthens persuasive power. |
D.It provides emotional support. |
A.Employers underestimate the value of speaking. |
B.Academic pressure makes students poor-sighted. |
C.Spoken language is regarded as least important. |
D.Oracy should deserve more attention at school. |
A.By sharing different opinions. |
B.By clarifying the definition. |
C.By describing personal experiences. |
D.By employing the concept. |
A.Set a good example for their children. |
B.Balance screen time and mealtime. |
C.Have oral face-to-face communication. |
D.Disconnect from the virtual world. |
8 . When I was 12 years old, I already knew that my teen years were going to be the worst years of my life. I was a total outsider, bullied (欺凌) at school. I felt completely alone in my small town.
But by starting to do volunteer work when I was 14, I turned my problem into a passion for helping others. The opportunity to practice kindness made me feel like my life had a greater purpose. The more positive energy I shared, the more kindness and appreciation I received. I realized that my purpose in life would be to reach out to people, specifically teenagers, and help them feel less alone.
Books were my true friends back then. I was so thankful that the authors wrote those books. The kindness they offered me with their books saved my life. One of my biggest dreams was to become an author so I could write books that would help other teenagers the way those books helped me.
After surviving terrible experiences at school and at home, I made a choice to take the optimistic, positive road in the next steps of my journey. My dream career, one I thought was only possible for the authors I loved, is what I am doing now. I have been a full-time author of teen novels since 2007 and am grateful for this amazing opportunity to reach out to readers every single day.
Kindness saved me when I needed help the most. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s life. You never know what someone else is going through. But by practicing daily kindness, you become an architect of positive change.
1. What was the author’s life like when he was 12?A.Boring. | B.Peaceful. | C.Painful. | D.Meaningful. |
A.It made him popular in his town. | B.It helped him find the meaning of life. |
C.It helped him understand others’ lives better. | D.It helped to shape his dream career. |
A.He was inspired by his teacher. | B.He could pass positive energy to readers. |
C.He wanted to share his school experiences. | D.He found he had a talent for writing. |
A.Say “no” to bullies bravely. | B.Make positive changes in their lives. |
C.Treat others with kindness in daily life. | D.Learn to care more about others’ feelings. |
9 . When Roy Austin went on his first wildlife trip back in 2018, his only goal for the leisurely vacation was to catch sight of some African wildlife in its natural habitat—but he ended up finding something much more meaningful. He was most captivated (迷住) by the people he met in rural Kenya—particularly at the Amboseli Primary and Secondary School in Amboseli National Park.
In addition to befriending many of the students and teachers, Austin was surprised to learn how difficult it was to get books and school supplies for the children. “In rural Kenya, the government does not build school buildings. You either build it yourself or raise money to have it built,” says Austin. “A teacher was asked if they had a library. She replied, ‘ No, but we would love to have a library.’ That stuck in my mind.”
When Austin eventually returned to his home in Bluffton, South Carolina, he launched Libraries for Kids International. Since starting the charity, Austin has managed to ship more than 1000 books to 11 schools across Kenya and Tanzania. He sends the books through the post office rather than FedEx to keep the shipping costs down.
As it continues to collect books and donations for additional shipments, Austin says that the charity is now helping to move a shipping container of 22, 000 books from Atlanta to Kenya. In the future, the philanthropist (慈善家) hopes to start sending donations to South America as well.
“Many people told me that it can’t be done. It’s too expensive to ship books, and they will disappear going through customs,” Austin says. “However, every worthwhile project will have problems and barriers. If you focus on the problems, you will never start. On the contrary, if you focus on the aim and solve the problems as they arise, most anything is possible.”
1. What problem does Austin find in rural Kenya?A.Education depends on charity. |
B.Students lack education resources. |
C.Books get lost going through customs. |
D.Families can’t afford the kids’ schooling. |
A.He teaches at school. | B.He funds a library for them. |
C.He reduces the shipping costs. | D.He ships books to schools. |
A.It is the first step that costs. |
B.Success belongs to the persevering. |
C.Every bit of effort makes a big difference. |
D.Nothing is difficult to a determined mind. |
A.A crazy adventurer. | B.A devoted educator. |
C.A charity enthusiast. | D.A passionate volunteer. |
10 . Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the website Book Crossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.
Members go on the site and register (登记) the books they own and would like to share. Book Crossing provides an identification number (识别码) to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.
Bruce Pederson, the managing director of Book Crossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. Book Crossing combines both.”
Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.
People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. E— mails are then sent to the BookCrossers to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
Book Crossing is part of a trend (趋势) among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual (虚拟).The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty—five countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?A.To explain what they are. | B.To introduce Book Crossing. |
C.To stress the importance of reading. | D.To encourage readers to share their ideas. |
A.An adventure. | B.A public place. |
C.The book. | D.The identification number. |
A.Keep it safe in his bookcase. | B.Mail it back to its owner. |
C.Meet other readers to discuss it. | D.Pass it on to another reader. |
A.Online Reading: A Virtual Tour | B.Electronic Books: A New Trend |
C.A Book Group Brings Tradition Back | D.A Website Links People through Books |