1 . My violin is like a soul mate that whispers words of wisdom to me. Together, we've gone through both tears and happiness.
About 12 years ago, I knew it following an order from my mom. Many hours of boredom were spent practicing it. And to make things worse, the disappointment in my teacher's eyes as I played the wrong notes was like an invisible hammer, striking on my heart. One day, I finally decided: I hate it!
By chance, things changed when I was seven. I was at home lying on the sofa, wondering how those famous violinists dealt with this terrible dilemma. I searched online for the E-minor Concerto, a well-known violin work by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, and listened to it.
A beautiful and mysterious sound came from the violin as the bow (琴弓) moved across it. It was like the music slid over the flowers, rose up, and started to fill the air. The violin's voice woke up the sun, made the trees green, and freshened the air. As the music changed, the sky turned back to gray. A gloomy shade covered the grass as all the sunshine disappeared. I could hear children crying and men shouting. It was like an invisible claw had grabbed my heart tightly, making it unable to beat.
That glorious day set off my passion and, interest in violin—I grabbed mine and never let it go. Before the memories faded, I stared at my instrument. Without hesitating, I picked it up, rosined the bow, and began to play. Peace filled my heart.
My violin has been by my side for 12 years. When I feel happy, an energetic tune makes it even better; when I'm deep in sorrow, a peaceful tune washes it away, when I'm walking on air, feeling especially pleased with my achievements, solemn tunes calm me down. Gradually, it has become a part of my life.
My violin, shall I compare you to a summer's day?
1. What further led to the author's dislike of violin-playing?| A．Orders from Mum. | B．Boredom of practice. |
| C．Disappointment in the teacher's eyes. | D．Loss of passion for violin. |
| A．The author's feeling was continuously influenced by the music. |
| B．The weather actually changed because of the tune. |
| C．The sudden change made the author's heart unable to beat. |
| D．The scenery outside the room was quite attractive. |
| A．The invisible hammer and claw are gone. |
| B．The beautiful imagination changed his attitude. |
| C．A famous tune aroused his interest and passion. |
| D．He was crazy about Felix Mendelssohn's works. |
| A．Musical soul mate—violin. | B．My dislike and like of violin. |
| C．An inspiring story of violin. | D．Deep love for music. |
2 . A fairy tale castle has been saved and is open to visitors thanks to the generosity and appreciation of thousands of complete strangers.
The Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers, located in the town of Les Trois-Moutiers in France，was purchased by thousands of Internet users. Today, the castle is co-owned by nearly 28,000 people from 115 countries.
According to the crowdfunding platform Dartagnans.fr, each contributor was given the opportunity to become a shareholder through an investment of at least 50 euros. Thousands of people around the world donated a total of 1.6 million euros. Shareholders voted not to restore the castle to its original elegant state, but to leave it as a “living ruin”. About 1,200 of the shareholders volunteered to clear the castle to prepare it for visitors. Organizers hope to welcome as many as 50,000 tourists by 2021 and more than 70,000 by 2022.
Constructed in the early 13th century, the Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers was originally the stronghold of the Baucay family, lords of Loudun. It was taken several times by the English during the Hundred Years’ War and destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1809, a wealthy businessman named Francois Hennecart purchased the castle with an aim to return it to its former glory. Over a century later, it was left to play host to nature after a fire destroyed much of its contents, including a library of rare books and antique furniture.
Recognizing that the natural beauty of the castle is now as much a monument as its architectural significance, the organizers behind the crowdfunding effort are aiming to delicately balance the preservation of both. “It is essential, in our view, to keep the castle in its green setting,” they write. “We hope it remains a unique castle in the world where heritage and nature will blend. It is also essential to protect it in such a way that visitors can enter safely and appreciate this masterpiece taken by nature.”
1. What did shareholders decide to do with the castle?| A．Keep it the way it is. | B．Restore it completely. |
| C．Put it up for sale online. | D．Protect it against tourism. |
| A．The value of the castle. | B．The history of the castle. |
| C．The owner of the castle. | D．The construction of the castle. |
| A．Visited. | B．Rebuilt. | C．Attacked. | D．Abandoned. |
| A．It will combine the depth of history and the beauty of nature. |
| B．It will inspire a new way of saving our heritage. |
| C．It will take on a new architectural significance. |
| D．It will be recognized as a national heritage. |
3 . I’ll never forget the day when Mary came into my office and said, “I am too old to learn how to use a computer.” I shook my head. Here was a woman who had raised 6 children and who had made great progress in her career telling me that she was too old to learn something new. I told her that I always believed people were never too old to learn.
Mary followed my advice and did learn how to use the computer. Now, she is retired and leading a very active life volunteering in her community, using her computer skills and helping anyone who needs help.
When she was in her sixties, one day she called me and said she had played the piano for others all her life, and she was going to make a CD of her own. My mind flashed back to the day when she told me she was too old to learn. You can imagine my surprise and delight.
To produce the CD, she had a lot of things to learn. It was not just sitting at the piano and playing. She had to research the songs, learn about copyright, and learn about marketing. It was pretty amazing for someone who once said she was too old to learn. And finally she made it. Now she has her own CD.
Most of you probably have heard about some people who have gone back to university in their seventies and have also graduated. They are on their way again to charging themselves with a new skill and a new attitude towards life. The point is that you are unable to learn anything at any age if you believe you are too old. On the contrary, you can achieve anything at any age if you believe you can.
1. When Mary said she was too old to learn, how did the author react to it?| A．He became disappointed with her. | B．He felt sad and decided to help her. |
| C．He did not agree with her. | D．He thought what she had said was true. |
| A．To ask him for some help. | B．To talk about her new CD. |
| C．To ask him to make a CD. | D．To tell him about her plan. |
| A．He thought it was impossible. | B．He thought it was difficult. |
| C．He thought it was unnecessary. | D．He thought it was interesting. |
| A．We’re never too old to learn. | B．We should always learn new skills. |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．Some people succeed for a reason. |
4 . My mother is 92. Unless I have to be out of town, each week I take my mother to do her
Last week she walked up to the store, but when she went to pay for her groceries, she was
At this store, people
My mother was so
So, whoever you are, thank you for the random act of
| A．exercise | B．housework | C．cooking | D．shopping |
| A．reward | B．medicine | C．company | D．shelter |
| A．return | B．collet | C．order | D．buy |
| A．short | B．cautious | C．wrong | D．concerned |
| A．aim | B．way | C．advice | D．reason |
| A．weight | B．things | C．mask | D．glasses |
| A．raise | B．add | C．bring | D．switch |
| A．show up | B．call in | C．check out | D．sit down |
| A．store | B．select | C．deliver | D．bag |
| A．stranger | B．cashier | C．friend | D．doctor |
| A．looked for | B．talked about | C．threw away | D．put back |
| A．receipt | B．soap | C．cash | D．bottle |
| A．asked | B．waited | C．cared | D．searched |
| A．repay | B．trust | C．recognize | D．help |
| A．luck | B．chance | C．gift | D．turn |
| A．surprised | B．amused | C．touched | D．convinced |
| A．in case | B．even if | C．as though | D．so that |
| A．energy | B．money | C．space | D．time |
| A．faith | B．courage | C．kindness | D．honor |
| A．made her day | B．changed her mind | C．caught her eye | D．met her demand |
5 . Popularization has in some cases changed the original meaning of emotional (情感的) intelligence. Many people now misunderstand emotional intelligence as almost everything desirable in a person's makeup that cannot be measured by an IQ test, such as character, motivation, confidence, mental stability, optimism and “people skills.” Research has shown that emotional skills may contribute to some of these qualities, but most of them move far beyond skill-based emotional intelligence.
We prefer to describe emotional intelligence as a specific set of skills that can be used for either good or bad purposes. The ability to accurately understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims. Being emotionally intelligent does not necessarily make one a moral person.
Although popular beliefs regarding emotional intelligence run far ahead of what research can reasonably support, the overall effects of the publicity have been more beneficial than harmful. The most positive aspect of this popularization is a new and much needed emphasis (重视) on emotion by employers, educators and others interested in promoting social well-being. The popularization of emotional intelligence has helped both the public and researchers re-evaluate the functionality of emotions and how they serve people adaptively in everyday life.
Although the continuing popular appeal of emotional intelligence is desirable, we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives (视角) from which to study how people manage their lives. Emotional intelligence, with its focus on both head and heart, may serve to point us in the right direction.
1. What is a common misunderstanding of emotional intelligence?| A．It can be measured by an IQ test. | B．It helps to exercise a person’s mind. |
| C．It includes a set of emotional skills. | D．It refers to a person’s positive qualities. |
| A．To explain a rule. | B．To clarify a concept. |
| C．To present a fact. | D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Its appeal to the public. | B．Expectations for future studies. |
| C．Its practical application. | D．Scientists with new perspectives. |
6 . I was doing some last-minute shopping when I saw a nicely dressed little girl looking through the Barbie dolls with a roll of money in her little hand. When she came upon a Barbie she liked, she asked her father if she had enough money to buy it. He usually said “ yes”, but she would keep looking and going through their conversation of “ Do I have enough?”
Then a little boy in worn clothes wandered in the aisle (过道). He kept picking up the Pokemon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his father, his father shook his head, “ No.” Rather dejectedly, the boy had to give up on the video games.
The little girl put her Barbie back on the shelf, and ran over to the Pokemon games. She excitedly picked up one and raced toward the check-out, after speaking with her father. I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them.
After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered something in her ear. The cashier smiled and put the package under the counter. I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things in my purse when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier said, “ Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize!” With that, she handed the little boy the Pokemon game, and he could only stare in disbelief. It was exactly what he had wanted!
The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest, toothless smile on that little girl. As I walked back to my car in amazement over what I had just witnessed, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that.
“ Daddy, didn’t Nana and Pawpaw want me to buy something that would make me happy?”
“ Of course they did, honey.”
“ Well, I just did!”
With that, she giggled and started skipping toward their car. Apparently, she had decided on the answer to her own question of “ Do I have enough?”
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “dejectedly” in Paragraph 2 ?| A．disappointedly. | B．pleasantly. | C．angrily. | D．surprisingly. |
| A．The writer | B．The boy. | C．The girl | D．The store. |
| A．Having many Barbie dolls. | B．Helping a poor boy. |
| C．Playing Pokemon games. | D．Buying something Nana and Pawpaw like. |
| A．At a Toy Store | B．A Christmas Gift |
| C．Do I Have Enough? | D．The Most Beautiful Barbie Doll |
7 . The first set of Chinese stories presented in English scripts (剧本), titled Stories of China: Performed in English, was officially published by Foreign Languages Press. Planned by the New Channel International Education Group with the participation of playwrights from China, the United Kingdom and the United States, the book provides a new way for young people to learn English while inheriting (传承) and spreading Chinese culture.
The book contains 20 English scripts in novel formats covering a wide range of subjects. Unlike the most common English scripts for young readers on the market which are based on adaptations of European and American stories, those presented in this book are unique for being based on classic Chinese stories, readapted and written in English. The book is divided into first to third grades in terms of grammar and vocabulary difficulty, making it suitable for young English learners from primary school to junior and high school.
All the scripts in the book are written by top playwrights with elegant, pure and vivid language. The scripts are provided with a summary of the story in both Chinese and English, so that readers can fully understand the plot as well as the history and culture behind it. Readers can not only improve their English skills through immersive (沉浸式) reading and performance but also appreciate Chinese culture.
Hu Min, English education expert and founder of the New Channel, said the combination of traditional culture and English teaching has become a trend, guiding young people to bring their own wisdom and deep cultural heritage to tell Chinese stories to the world. New Channel will offer special courses on Stories of China: Performed in English in its many schools across the country, and cooperate with primary and secondary schools in Beijing, Shanghai to offer English drama courses on a trial basis. Hu believes the courses will set off a new wave of enthusiastic learning among young people.
1. Why was Stories of China: Performed in English published?| A．To offer English drama courses on a trial basis. |
| B．To make foreign students enjoy Chinese culture. |
| C．To advertise some of the top playwrights in China. |
| D．To improve English learning and circulate Chinese culture. |
| A．It’s been published by a foreign press. |
| B．It stands out for its unique writing style. |
| C．It introduces classic Chinese stories. |
| D．It’s been popular in various schools. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Conservative. |
| A．Business. | B．Lifestyle. | C．Culture. | D．Politics. |
8 . Elephants might be the most well-known well-loved animal in African wildlife. But conservation (保护) of the African elephant still faces special difficulties. While the elephant population is half of what it was 40 years ago, some areas of Africa have more elephants than populated areas can support. That’s why AWF scientists are studying elephant behavior, protecting habits and finding ways for humans to live peacefully with elephants in Africa.
Years ago, overhunting and the ivory trade were the biggest threats to elephants’ survival. Luckily, ivory bans (禁令), hunting rules and protected areas protect elephants from these dangers today.
The 21st century brings a different challenge to elephant conservation—land-use. Elephants walk across borders and outside parks and other protected areas. So they often destroy crops, causing conflicts (冲突) between local farmers and these big animals.
Successful conservation strategies (策略) must allow elephants to walk freely in their natural habitats while reducing conflicts between elephants and local people.
AWF researchers are searching for a way to give both elephants and people the space they need. The AWF is collecting information on elephant habitats and behavior. The information they gather will help to develop the widest possible space for elephants.
The AWF is helping elephants by protecting their habitats. And they also work with local farmers to improve their life in order to encourage them to protect rather than destroy elephants.
1. The first paragraph of the text is mainly to tell readers ________.| A．African elephants are endangered now |
| B．there remains a lot to do to protect African elephants |
| C．African elephants are popular animals |
| D．the number of African elephants has increased over the years |
| A．They are still being killed. | B．Their habitats are being destroyed. |
| C．They don’t have enough food. | D．They can’t live in peace with farmers. |
| A．helping farmers improve their life | B．protecting elephants’ habitats |
| C．doing research on elephants | D．keeping elephants |
| A．African elephants conservation | B．Living with African elephants |
| C．African elephants’ situation | D．African elephants being endangered |
9 . Welcome to our free resources for first aid
First-aid education has been included in the health curriculum for schools in England. Now, more children and young people will acquire the skills they need to save a life.
To celebrate the change, we’re launching a brand-new teaching website. It’s aimed at all schools in the UK.
We understand that, for some people, teaching first aid can be quite frightening—especially if you’ve never done it before. So, we’ve designed these free resources to help you confidently deliver lessons in line with the new curriculum. Here’s how:
●Each first-aid skill focuses on one key action.
●The teaching resources provide you with all the guidance you need.
●The resources have easy-to-follow lesson plans that save you time in preparing for your classes.
This new interactive learning website will include:
●a multimedia library with supporting materials you need for each lesson
●different learning activities for those aged 5—18
●a full curriculum mapping for the new requirements in England
How will it benefit learners?
Through all kinds of practical activities, learners will:
●have skills, confidence and willingness to act when someone needs first aid
●learn first aid for common injuries and what to do in a first-aid emergency
● develop basic life skills, including how to deal with challenging situations
● get other ideas such as kindness, safety and sharing learning with others
If you have any questions, please contact reducation@redcross.org.uk.
1. Who is the text written for?| A．Students | B．Parents | C．Teachers | D．Doctors |
| A．Making first aid learning fun. | B．Making first aid easy to teach. |
| C．Being based on life experiences. | D．Being open to learners of all ages. |
| A．They can treat various common injuries. |
| B．They can gain conventional medical knowledge. |
| C．They can be quite willing to perform first aid. |
| D．They can build up confidence in challenging jobs. |
10 . Lifesaving heart operation
When Tal Golesworthy was told he needed lifesaving heart operation in 1993, he said no. Golesworthy has Marfan syndrome （马凡氏综合症）.
Back in 1993, when he was living in the west of England, his doctor told him that the aorta（主动脉）in his heart was so enlarged that it would unavoidable burst unless he underwent major operation.
“They talked through the options,” says Golesworthy, “and I was not interested. The operation really didn’t look attractive.” What he particularly didn't like was having to be on blood thinners after the operation, something that would prevent blood clots（血栓）but presented its own risks: “I was riding motorbikes then, and skiing, so my whole lifestyle would have been affected.” By 2000, however, his condition had worsened. Realizing something had to be done. Golesworthy put his years of experience as research — and — development engineer to good use. He decided he would fix himself. “Learning new stuff and developing new ideas, that was my job,” Golesworthy says.
The aorta, he thought, needed support on the outside. And wrapping something around the outside of the aorta would require a special operation. So Golesworthy subjected himself to 30 hours in an MRI scanner; used 3D printing to create a physical exact copy of the part of his heart. “Luckily, I’d done a lot of work with technical materials,” he says.
Strong determination coupled with an original yet practical solution won him the support of two leading surgeons and helped him raise the money to develop his idea. In May 2004, at the age of 47, he became the guinea pig for his own invention. The operation was a success.
1. Why did Tai Golesworthy refuse the operation at first?| A．A better solution was on the way. |
| B．He was afraid of life being affected. |
| C．The risk of operation tended to cause death. |
| D．He would like to be operated in his own way. |
| A．His creative spirit. | B．Regular exercise. |
| C．Doctors' suggestions. | D．His similar experience. |
| A．The lovely pet. | B．The important assistant. |
| C．The experimental subject. | D．The person to raise money. |
| A．Creative and kind. | B．Strong and imaginary. |
| C．Devoted and generous. | D．Determined and brave. |
