1 . 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. |
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FESTIVALS?
Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime— the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.
Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialised, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.
Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
1. What’s mainly talked about in the text?From the title, we can predict the passage is mainly about
2. Match the main idea with each paragraph.
a.The harvest festival. b.Festivals are an important part of society. c.Festivals are celebrated all around the world. d.The customs in festivals. e.The commercialised festivals. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
3 . Last year, my friend, Kydee Williams, and I started a non-profit project because we wanted to do charity work differently. Thus, The Pop-Up Care Shop was
TPUCS is a traveling shop of
From our experience, we learned smaller shelters, especially those in less-commercialized areas were often
While material things like food, clothes, money, and shelter can help people survive, what
A.found | B.donated | C.born | D.purchased |
A.cheap | B.free | C.value | D.messy |
A.quit | B.chose | C.forbade | D.held |
A.homeless | B.fearless | C.guiltless | D.restless |
A.Ceasing | B.Highlighting | C.Starting | D.Monitoring |
A.hard | B.fun | C.odd | D.core |
A.crucial | B.unnecessary | C.impossible | D.logical |
A.breaking down | B.giving back | C.keeping up | D.pulling through |
A.ignored | B.emphasized | C.mentioned | D.estimated |
A.harmful | B.relevant | C.opposed | D.open |
A.shoppers | B.pioneers | C.officers | D.volunteers |
A.reliable | B.selfless | C.creative | D.courageous |
A.understand | B.satisfy | C.anticipate | D.illustrate |
A.originally | B.slightly | C.truly | D.barely |
A.identify | B.detect | C.reveal | D.make |
4 . Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of bamboo strips (竹板), Yang Ziqi, 17, from Xi’an Qujiang No l High School, listens to interesting stories in the Shaanxi dialect. The stories range in subject greatly from the story of the Monkey King to instructions on garbage sorting.
“Shaanxi kuaiban is amazing. It can not only bring you great joy, but also broaden your horizons” said Yang. Shaanxi kuaiban is a traditional Chinese form of storytelling in the Shaanxi dialect to the rhythm of bamboo clappers. In June, it was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage at the national level. It can be performed by a group or solo. The art form can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911). According to its performers, the art was originally used by farmers to share their knowledge and earn money. But now, more people perform Shaanxi kuaiban on different occasions-for example, at festival celebrations, parties and art shows.
Yang Jinlong, 45, is an experienced Shaanxi kuaiban artist. He first learned the art at the age of 9. Before that, he often went with his father, an amateur performer, to watch kuaiban performances.
“As a young boy, I was attracted to the art form because many of the stories are about heroes. The performer tells stories while playing kuaiban, and it’s easy for the audience to remember the stories since all the lines rhyme,” Yang said. He has practiced Shaanxi kuaiban for more than 30 years. Since 2003, he has been teaching the art form to young people. At 9 am on weekdays, he drives to primary and middle schools in Xi’an and teaches students about Shaanxi kuaiban until about 6 pm. Then, he returns home to prepare classes for the next day. On the weekends, he teaches for six hours each day at art education institutions in Xi’an.
Yang has made some adaptations to the art form to relate more to students. When he tells modern stories, Yang abandons the traditional gown and wears a suit. He also integrates many pop elements like tap dance, ballet, jazz dance and the rhythm of popular music into kuaiban performances. His stories focus on more trendy topics, like stories of heroes who have worked to alleviate poverty (扶贫), as well as the Chinese Olympic team.
“Art education is important for students in China. Just as many students learn to play Western musical instruments like the piano and violin, there are many people learning traditional Chinese folk arts, including Shaanxi kuaiban. They are committed and passionate,” Yang said.
1. What do we know about Shaanxi kuaiban?A.It dates back to the late Ming Dynasty. |
B.People perform it in Shaanxi dialect. |
C.It was originally used by teachers for teaching. |
D.It focuses on Chinese ancient literature. |
A.Because all the lines rhyme. | B.Because he liked stories about heroes. |
C.Because it was away to earn money. | D.Because he wanted to be like his father. |
A.He wore local clothes of Shaanxi. |
B.He told stories about superheroes. |
C.He added pop elements to performances. |
D.He performed Shaanxi kuaiban in We stem countries. |
A.Talented and modest. | B.Patient and capable. |
C.Determined and creative. | D.Humorous and responsible. |
5 . Psychological science is full of interesting topics, many of which tell a coherent picture of human nature, but some of which create seemingly contradictory stories. A case in point is the misunderstood overlap(交叠) between strengthbased science and the research on narcissism (自恋).
There is now convincing evidence to show that narcissism is on the rise, especially in our youth. Some researchers say that about 25% of young people showing symptoms of narcissism.
We are correct to be concerned about this phenomenon, but our fear that all kids are potential narcissists has caused an unhelpful reaction against approaches that seek to make our children and teens feel good about themselves.
In my own research on strengthbased parenting, it is common for people to wrongly think this approach to be the cause of narcissism. Their argument seems to be that a child who knows their strengths will automatically view themselves as better than everyone else. It is argued that the selfassurance that comes with identifying and using their positive qualities will make a child selfish and uncaring.
Why does this occur? It’s partly because more is known about narcissism than strengths. While strengths psychology has largely stayed within the limit of academic journals, research on narcissism has made its way into the mass media and our daily life.The New York Times noted that narcissism is a favored topic and that people everywhere are diagnosing others with it.
The fear that a strengthbased approach will cause narcissism also occurs because of our binary (非此即彼的) thinking. We mistakenly believe that one cannot be both confident and humble. Without confidence in their strengths, Gandhi and Mother Teresa couldn’t have achieved so much, and yet modesty and selflessness are their qualities.
When we assume that strengthfocus is the same as selffocus, we fail to make the idea clear that people who know their strengths are, actually, more likely to be prosocial and ready to help others.
It’s easy to conclude that every young person is at risk of becoming a narcissist but I’d like to stand up for the thousands of young kids I have worked with who are caring, thoughtful and humble—even when they use their strengths.
1. Which of the following opinions may the writer agree with?A.To state all kids are potential narcissists is overstating the case. |
B.Strengthbased parenting results in narcissism. |
C.It’s unhelpful for us to make our children feel good about themselves. |
D.Children knowing their strengths tend to be more selfish and uncaring. |
A.Many people are diagnosed with narcissism by doctors. |
B.There is a shortage of narcissism in our common sense. |
C.Academic journals report more on narcissism. |
D.The general public has fewer approaches to strengths psychology. |
A.Tolerant. | B.Neutral. | C.Supportive. | D.Doubtful. |
A.Teens’ Narcissism Diagnosis | B.Teens’ Misunderstood Confidence |
C.Teens’ StrengthBased Approach | D.Teens’ Psychology Research |
6 . Some penguins(企鹅)adapt their calls to become more similar to their partners over time,an ability that was previously known in only a few species, including humans.
Luigi Baciadonna at the University of Turin, Italy, and his coworkers recorded African penguins from three different colonies(群体)over three years, and also observed the behavioral patterns of one of the colonies to see which penguins were partners or friendly.
They then analyzed specific vocal(嗓音的)calls, which the penguins made when they were alone or trying to keep track of their friends.They compared four distinct vocal signatures such as the frequency of the calls. The signatures became more similar over time for penguins that were partners or in the same colony, and for penguins that heard more of each other’s calls.
This adaptation could make it easier for penguins to find their partners and friends in a colony. “Imagine that you are in a pub, you are with your friends and your environment is quite noisy,” says Baciadonna. “What you do is try to talk in a certain way so that your communication is more effective.”
The ability to adapt calls in response to the environment, known as vocal accommodation, is a key part of vocal learning, a more complex set of skills such as producing new sounds through learning. Identifying which species display vocal accommodation could provide clues to how vocal learning developed. Baciadonna and his team also propose that this accommodation could help with group harmony and social bonds between individual penguins.
The distance of penguins from humans on the evolutionary tree suggests that vocal accommodation could be common to many species, but a lot more data needs gathering first. “There could be a huge variety of different species that are able to adapt their calls slightly, but we don’t know that yet,” says Sara Torres Ortiz at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.
1. What does the underlined word “signatures” mean in paragraph 3?A.Effects. | B.Characteristics. |
C.Sources. | D.Adjustments. |
A.To explain the reason why penguins adapt their calls. |
B.To highlight the role communication plays in social life. |
C.To prove humans’ ability to recognize each other's voices. |
D.To stress the difference between human and animal sounds. |
A.Whether penguins can promote group harmony. |
B.Whether all species can adapt to the environment. |
C.Whether more species display vocal accommodation. |
D.Whether penguins and humans are similar in vocal learning. |
A.Vocal learning involves a complex set of skills. |
B.Vocal accommodation helps build up social bonds. |
C.Penguins produce similar sounds even in different colonies. |
D.Penguins adapt their accents to sound more like their partners. |
7 . The idea of climbing Mt.Qomolangma disgusted me. The mountain came to represent the opposite of everything that I loved and respected about climbing. What had once been the final mountain climbing goal became the focus of a commercial guiding industry. Over the years, the crowds at Base Camp grew, leaving behind tons of trash. Whenever I was asked whether I’d climb Mt.Qomolangma, my answer was always the same: not interested.
That was probably where my personal Mt. Qomolangma story would have ended, were it not for an old friend and his obsession (迷恋) with one of the greatest mysteries. In 1999, Thom Pollard began to explore and found the remains of George Mallory, the celebrated British climber who disappeared while he was attempting to be the first to climb Mt. Qomolangma. But Mallory’s partner, Sandy Irvine, and the camera he had likely carried, were not found. The mountain climbing world has been wondering whether they might have reached the top in 1924.
Pollard’s story moved me. I began to pack for the climb and expected that our advanced equipment would make it manageable, perhaps easy. I was wrong. On the highest point on the planet, I was more tired than I’d ever been in any climbing. Along the way, I continuously tipped_my_hat, not just to Mallory and Irvine but to anyone who has the drive to push himself or herself up this route. My search was in vain, but I began to reconsider Mt. Qomolangma.
I witnessed many climbers, who were much more than just selfcentered tourists. We shared route information, weather forecasts, and family photos—all united around a common goal.
I went to Mt. Qomolangma to seek Irvine. But in the end, I found something more difficult to get: the spirit that Irvine and Mallory shared. It was hiding in plain sight, right where it has always been: inside the brave souls who risk so much to follow in storied adventurers’ footsteps up Mt. Qomolangma.
1. What is the main reason why the author hated climbing Mt. Qomolangma?A.He changed his climbing goal. |
B.Mt. Qomolangma was seriously polluted by trash. |
C.Mt. Qomolangma became an industry to make money. |
D.The mountain was too crowded with climbers. |
A.Because he desired to challenge himself. |
B.Because he got motivated by Thom Pollard. |
C.Because his old friend persuaded him to climb again. |
D.Because he wanted to follow the footsteps of Mallory and Irvine. |
A.Expressed my gratitude. |
B.Proved my determination. |
C.Relieved the tiredness. |
D.Showed my respect. |
A.Admiration for the climbers. |
B.Concern about the risk. |
C.Confidence in the journey. |
D.Hope for Mt. Qomolangma’s future. |
8 . Have you ever suddenly developed an appetite from a passing glance at a freeway billboard featuring a brightly colored cheeseburger, or decided to step into a candy or ice cream store displaying a window full of lively shades and hues (色调) of sweet treats?If so, you are in good company. Unless we are medically restricted or strictly dieting, we are not likely to resist inviting fare simply because we recognize the lack of nutritional value.
Devina Wadhera and Elizabeth D. CapaldiPhillips in A Review of Visual Cues Associated with Food on Food Acceptance and Consumption recognize the impact of sensory cues (信号) on food consumption and enjoyment, and the potential they have to promote healthy eating behavior. They cite previous research in providing some interesting examples of the visual impact of different color schemes (方案) on taste and food enjoyment. They note that pink food on a white plate was considered sweeter and more flavorful than the same food on a black plate. Apparently, we consume food with more of our senses than we realize.
So when we’re faced with so many appealing food choices and given the rainbow of colors around us, is there any way to control our appetite? Thankfully, some research says yes.
Oliver Genschow demonstrated that when it comes to eating less, colors impact consumption. They specifically researched the effect of the color red. They found that people ate fewer pretzels when using a red plate, as opposed to white or blue, and drank less from a red cup than a blue cup. They suggested that the color red reduces food and drink intake by functioning as a stop signal.
But when it comes to healthy eating, instead of putting on a pair of sunglasses to block the inviting hues of food cues, consider the value of discipline. Healthy eating involves intentional choices, not mindless responses to sensory cues. And before you invest in much red tableware to slim down, remember that what goes onto the plates is much more important.
1. What may be a major reason for us to refuse eyecatching food?A.The shortage of nutrition. |
B.The rich color of fine foods. |
C.The doctor's instructions. |
D.Advertisements everywhere. |
A.Benefits of different color schemes. |
B.Interesting examples of food service. |
C.The potential to promote food consumption. |
D.Effects of sensory cues on eating behavior. |
A.Follow the sensory response. |
B.Make food choices sensibly. |
C.Wear sunglasses to block colors. |
D.Avoid colorful food intentionally. |
A.How Can People Control Their Appetite? |
B.How Are People Tricked by Color Schemes? |
C.How Do Colors Impact Food's Appeal and Appetite? |
D.How Do Bright Colors Make Food More Appealing? |
9 . I started cooking when I was thirteen. Both of my parents worked, so I was usually
A few moments later, I
Later that day, my mother told me, “You cannot rush yourself when cooking.” Rather, I should take steps, turning to the basics, such as learning about the ingredients and
I’ve learned that the first
A.alone | B.energetic | C.anxious | D.excited |
A.enjoy | B.prepare | C.serve | D.take |
A.expectation | B.control | C.description | D.budget |
A.owner | B.ruler | C.chef | D.researcher |
A.agreed | B.decided | C.failed | D.switched |
A.various | B.delicious | C.pricey | D.limited |
A.placing | B.covering | C.washing | D.breaking |
A.quit | B.slept | C.rushed | D.collapsed |
A.standard | B.order | C.quality | D.amount |
A.proudly | B.unconsciously | C.fearfully | D.eagerly |
A.burning | B.exploding | C.disappearing | D.mixing |
A.insisted | B.declared | C.grasped | D.explained |
A.stopped | B.reduced | C.existed | D.emerged |
A.working on | B.fixing on | C.referring to | D.contributing to |
A.race | B.try | C.route | D.ride |
10 . In an ideal world, we would be able to devote as much time to sports as we feel we need. But in reality, with growing demands in both work and family, we can only jump at the chance for our physical exercise when we can. Making the most of that time to practice Yin Yang yoga, which mixes the dynamic and slow-paced elements of yoga, helps keep you active and relaxed.
Yin and Yang are the Taoist concepts representing a balance of opposite forces which are also interconnected. Yin is inactive, cooling, and negative, associated with the female force. Yang is active, warming, and positive, associated with action and movement. They are complementary to one another, as one cannot exist without the other.
Yin Yang yoga is a combination of high-energy movement which builds energy, increases strength and promotes stamina (耐力), followed by the more restful practice of Yin to give us a deeper stretch (拉伸) and calm the nervous system.
If you have a busy and active life you may feel more in Yang, so taking some cooler, slower Yin yoga practice into your routine may help you feel calmer and more balanced.
If you are practicing for an hour, divide the time in half, Warm up with sun salutations (拜日式瑜伽), continue into a dynamic flow and then move on to some standing postures. After half an hour your heart will be pumping, muscles tighten up and you are hopefully feeling energetic, but ready for a rest. Then pick five Yin postures to hold for 3-5 minutes, or even longer if you are enjoying them!
As ever with yoga, if you are a beginner or have health issues, always attend a class with a trained instructor first to guide you safely through the yoga practice and avoid injury.
1. What can be inferred from paragraph 1?A.Most of our sports time should be spent on Yin Yang yoga. |
B.We’d better devote as much time to physical exercise as we can. |
C.Busy schedule makes it impossible for us to do any form of sports. |
D.Yin Yang yoga can be a choice of physical exercise when time is tight. |
A.Independent from one another. |
B.Competitive against one another. |
C.Similar to each other but unable to work together as a whole. |
D.Different from each other but together making a good combination. |
A.Relaxing muscles. | B.Building stamina. |
C.Strengthening the body. | D.Quickening the heartbeat. |
A.Hold each Yin posture for longer than 5 minutes. |
B.Do not practice yoga when you are not in good health. |
C.Start your yoga practice under the guidance of a trainer. |
D.Spare half an hour for five Yin postures in every yoga practice. |