1 . Wang Yaping went into space aboard the Shenzhou Ⅷ on October 16th, 2021. She became the first Chinese female astronaut (女航天员) to enter Tiangong space station.
Wang’s space dream started in 2003, when China sent its first astronaut Yang Liwei into space. After having safe flights for 1,600 hours over nine years, Wang was a strong candidate (候选人) to become an astronaut in 2010. She pushed herself hard, getting the same training as men. “The space environment won’t change because you are a woman,” she told Xinhua.
The hardest part is the high-G training. Sitting in a spinning (旋转的) machine, Wang would become blind for a while because her brain was short of blood. But she didn’t give in. That strong spirit finally made her dream come true in 2013.
Wang said that as astronauts, women have their own advantages (优势). “Women may be more patient and can better deal with loneliness. Women’s hearts are also easier to adapt to the weightless environment, making them more suitable for long-term missions.”
Wang Yaping sets a good example for all women who dream of going to space.
1. When did Wang dreamed of being an astronaut?| A．In 2010. | B．In 2003. | C．In 2013. | D．In 2021. |
| A．the space environment is easy to change |
| B．only men can go to space station in the world |
| C．both male and female astronauts can go to space |
| D．men and women will face the same difficulties in space |
| A．Relaxed. | B．Interested. | C．Uncomfortable. | D．Strong. |
2 . This free night of music is a must-attend for jazz fans and music lovers alike! It is presented in association with the American Jazz Museum.
For the first time on stage in an ongoing cooperation, theoretical physicist Stephen Alexander and NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, a New Orleans-based saxophonist, explore their theory of quantum improvisation (量子即兴创作). They will also be joined by composer and bassist Santi Debriano along with other famous musicians for a night of jazz and its poetic link to the universe.
Time
7:00 pm—8:30 pm, December 22,2023
Event
6:00 p. m.—Doors open
7:00 p. m.—Lively conversation on jazz and quantum improvisation with Library President Lisa Browar, Stephen Alexander, and Donald Harrison
7:30 p. m.—Jazz concert—seven to eight songs, including two original pieces—starts!
8:30 p. m.—Jazz concert concludes
Venue
Please note that this event will be held at the Folly Theater, 300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105. The program will be free and open to the public, but advanced registration will be required. Attendees can also purchase the souvenirs such as T-shirts and caps linked to the event as well as the magazine signed by these famous musicians.
Parking
Parking is available in the garage next to the Folly Theater for $10-$15. The garage only accepts credit cards.
1. What does the concert mainly focus on?| A．The modern science. | B．The popular music. |
| C．The musical instruments. | D．The jazz of physics. |
| A．Half an hour. | B．An hour. | C．One and half an hour. | D．Two hours. |
| A．Parking in the garage. | B．A T-shirt worn by a musician. |
| C．Admission to the event. | D．The magazine signed by musicians. |
3 . 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 BookCrossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group. Members go on the site and register the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an identification number 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. BookCrossing 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 Peterson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
BookCrossing is part of a trend 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. How do people of book groups often read?| A．They sell books to read and then meet to discuss them. |
| B．They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. |
| C．They exchange books to read and then meet to discuss them. |
| A．Go on the site—register the books—leave it in a public place |
| B．Register the books—go on the site—leave it in a public place. |
| C．Leave it in a public place—go on the site—register the books. |
| A．The people you miss and books you read. |
| B．The people you meet and books you own. |
| C．The people you meet and books you read. |
| A．Over one million members. |
| B．Over two million members. |
| C．Over three million members. |
4 . Want to see your work published and win some cash along the way? Then read on. The national Spark a Story writing contest is calling in all young storytellers!
●Who can participate?
The contest is open to students in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12, or those who are being home-schooled in the United States.
●Deadline and requirements.
You’re able to send your short story up to October 7th. It will be judged on creativity, originality and overall quality of writing. Your story must be original works and shouldn’t be longer than 5000 words. There is no minimum length requirements.
●How can I send my short story?
*Online at http://learn.hmhco.com/hmhsparkamind
*Send your short story as a PDF or Microsoft word document to Sparka@hmhco.com
*Send your short story via U.S. Mail to:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
●What will I win?
The best stories will be published next year. Winners will receive a free copy of the book and $100 cash.
1. Who is this passage intended for?| A．Students. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Editors. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Sports. | B．Science. | C．Education. | D．Fashion. |
5 . According to a survey in the UK market, British families are throwing away 1.4 million bananas that are perfectly good to eat every day.
Supermarket Sainsbury’s has found that one in three British people throw away bananas if there is a single bruise (擦伤) or mark on the skin. More than one in ten customers also admit throwing away the fruit if there is any green on the skin. The supermarket is making efforts to reduce food waste. It’s pushing British shoppers to make bread and desserts (甜点) out of bruised and blackened bananas.
Starting from this week, Sainsbury’s will launch hundreds of “banana rescue” stations to encourage shoppers to give bruised bananas a chance. The stations will provide tips and ideas on how to bake with bananas or use them in drinks, and the stations are already set up in 500 stores nationwide.
The supermarket’s boss, Paul Crewe, said Sainsbury’s wants to encourage customers to use the fruit in different ways. “We are determined to help shoppers reduce the number of bananas going to waste at home too,” he said. “61% of Britons admit they never use the bruised bananas in baking, so we also want to encourage customers to use their fruit in different ways,” he added.
1. What ’s the percentage of the British people throwing away bruised bananas according to the Supermarket Sainsbury’s?| A．About 20%. | B．About 33%. | C．About 66%. | D．About 90%. |
| A．Send. | B．Sell. | C．Start. | D．Release. |
| A．British people don’t like eating bananas. |
| B．Bruised bananas can be stored in the supermarkets. |
| C．Paul wants to sell more bruised bananas to his customers. |
| D．There is no need to throw away the bruised bananas anymore. |
| A．Banana Rescue | B．Banana Harvest | C．How to Cook Bananas | D．How to Sell Bananas |
6 . Serena was walking to her class slowly. She worried about the
Serena’s very first
“Thanks, Serena. I have been
Miss James told her not to
A few days later, the test papers were returned to the class. To her pleasant
“You know,” she told her friends, “I could
| A．English | B．Chinese | C．maths | D．history |
| A．disappeared | B．landed | C．slid | D．hung |
| A．aimed at | B．laughed at | C．looked at | D．shouted at |
| A．answers | B．introductions | C．explanations | D．marks |
| A．discovery | B．impression | C．thought | D．guess |
| A．forget | B．memorize | C．ignore | D．correct |
| A．dangerous | B．wonderful | C．dishonest | D．hopeful |
| A．useful | B．easy | C．difficult | D．unfair |
| A．pushed | B．returned | C．introduced | D．recommended |
| A．waiting | B．hoping | C．searching | D．asking |
| A．worry | B．lie | C．hesitate | D．excuse |
| A．pictures | B．questions | C．places | D．goals |
| A．surprise | B．regret | C．anger | D．horror |
| A．never | B．ever | C．hardly | D．easily |
| A．pleased | B．bored | C．patient | D．angry |
7 . The sun is shinning. I get on No. 151 bus. I’m heading for my office. The sight on the bus is striking: People sit so close together, using those thin sheets of newspapers to keep their distance.
As the bus approaches the National Park, a voice suddenly rings out, “Attention! Attention! This is your driver speaking.”
No one speaks. We look at the back of the driver’s head. His voice carries authority. “Put your papers down. All of you.” The newspapers come down and they are placed on our laps.
“Now, turn and face the person next to you. Go ahead.” Amazingly, we all do it. Still, no one smiles. Just follow the order.
I face an old woman, her head wrapped tightly in a red scarf. I see her nearly everyday. Our eyes meet. We wait for the next order from the driver. We smile to each other. There is a feeling of relief. The barrier (隔阂) has been broken. We cannot help saying, “Good morning, neighbor.”
It is not so hard after all. Some of us repeat it. Others shake hands. Many laugh. The bus driver says nothing more. Slowly, I hear laughter, a warm sound I have never heard before on the bus.
When we reach my stop, I say good-bye to my seatmate, and then jump from the doorstep. As No. 151 bus drives away, I smile as I watch the happy faces of the passengers. This day is starting off better than most.
1. Where does the story take place according to the passage?| A．On a street. | B．On a bus. | C．In a park. | D．In an office. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Unclear. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．To stress the effect of reading on people. | B．To introduce the ways of communicating. |
| C．To ask people to use more public transport. | D．To encourage people to break the barriers. |
8 . Labor is important and necessary for everyone. I am glad that I learned the
I grew up on a farm. We had to care for such
I also learned the satisfaction of work well done. The young animals were my responsibility. Most
| A．value | B．difference | C．amount |
| A．shops | B．animals | C．plants |
| A．Seldom | B．Never | C．Even |
| A．farm | B．office | C．research |
| A．left | B．paid | C．lent |
| A．give | B．return | C．save |
| A．got | B．lost | C．refused |
| A．of | B．in | C．for |
| A．old | B．early | C．average |
| A．teachers | B．farmers | C．engineers |
| A．healthy | B．nervous | C．weak |
| A．ate | B．studied | C．worked |
| A．bring up | B．put away | C．look for |
| A．provided | B．taught | C．introduced |
| A．experiences | B．discussions | C．directions |
9 . Skin-diving (潜泳) is a new sport today. This sport takes you into a wonderful new world. It is like a visit to the moon. When you are under water, it is easy for you to climb big rocks because you are no longer heavy.
Here, under water, everything is blue and green. During the day, there is plenty of light. When fish swim nearby, you can catch them with your hands.
When you have tanks (罐) of air on your back, you can stay in deep water for a long time. But you must be careful when you dive in deep water.
To catch fish is one of the most interesting parts of this sport. Besides, there are more uses for skin-diving. You can clean ships without taking them out of water. You can get many things from the deep sea.
Now you see that skin -diving is both useful and interesting.
1. Skin- diving is a new sport. It can take you to________.| A．the moon | B．a new world of land | C．the mountains | D．deep water |
| A．you are very heavy |
| B．you are as heavy as on the land |
| C．you are not as heavy as on the land |
| D．you have no weight at all |
| A．catch fish very easily | B．stay under water for a long time |
| C．climb big rocks | D．have more fun |
| A．The only use of skin-diving is to have more fun. |
| B．Skin-diving is like visiting the moon. |
| C．Skin-diving is a new sport. |
| D．Skin-diving is not only interesting but useful. |
10 . Students at an elementary school in California, with the help of their art teacher, created a telephone hotline that people can call to get cheerful advice from kids during difficult times. Shortly afterwards, the hotline began getting thousands of calls an hour.
The hotline is available in English and Spanish. It offers the happy voices of children of different ages sharing positive messages. For example, by pressing 1, you can hear a group of kindergartners saying together, “You can do it! Keep trying, and don’t give up!” Pressing 2 brings the sounds of children laughing-a sound certain to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Jessica Martin, who teaches art at West Side School in Healdsburg, California, thought her students just might have the magic words needed to bring calm to people in difficult times. Ms. Martin worked with students at West Side on a project they called “PepToc”. Actually, they called it “Pep Talk” first. But when Ms. Martin’s 6-year-old son drew an ad for the hotline and spelled it “PepToc”, they decided they liked that even better.
Most of the project was completed in a day. Ms. Martin worked with students from kindergarten to the sixth grade. She had the same basic question for all the students-What could you say to help or encourage someone else? Students working on the hotline thought of what they would like to say. When they were ready, Ms. Martin recorded each one. Later, she sorted out the recordings into the different parts of the telephone hotline.
Ms. Martin thought the project would only attract interest from people near the school. But the hotline was soon getting hundreds of calls a day-and then, thousands of calls an hour. It’s become unbelievably popular with stressed adults, patients in hospitals, older people in homes, and others who just want to hear the happy voices of children.
1. How did the project “PepToc” get its name?| A．Out of a mistake. | B．From a similar project. |
| C．On the recommendation of students. | D．At the request of Ms. Martin’s son. |
| A．Students’ interest in the hotline. | B．Primary purposes of the hotline |
| C．What the hotline focuses on. | D．How the hotline was set up. |
| A．Unacceptable. | B．Unreasonable. | C．Unexpected. | D．Unpleasant. |
