1 . I teach digital technology. Although this class is high-tech; we try to make it high-touch. In other words, we keep screen-time to a
One day, I helped my Grade 8 students build robotic arms. They’re
Educators and parents have done a lot of thinking lately about the future of
A.balance | B.target | C.height | D.minimum |
A.displaying | B.allowing | C.improving | D.inspiring |
A.ordinary | B.urgent | C.significant | D.tough |
A.work out | B.turn around | C.show off | D.catch up |
A.mental | B.legal | C.mechanical | D.financial |
A.disappearing | B.failing | C.freezing | D.boiling |
A.applications | B.opportunities | C.possibilities | D.challenges |
A.suggestions | B.mistakes | C.excuses | D.apologies |
A.bring | B.call | C.lift | D.wake |
A.thinking | B.training | C.learning | D.teasing |
A.Crucially | B.Suddenly | C.Seriously | D.Occasionally |
A.candidates | B.competitors | C.colleagues | D.audience |
A.entertainment | B.education | C.society | D.technology |
A.scene | B.stage | C.ground | D.screen |
A.provide | B.replace | C.combine | D.assist |
• Do personalized quizzes with speaking.
• Understand and truly enjoy real-world videos.
• Learn new words in multiple contexts.
Reviews from users
FluentU is a great method to learn a foreign language. We watch videos with subtitles and at any time, we can stop the video if we don’t understand a word or an expression. We click on for additional explanations. Then, we have a quiz to work the vocabulary. I find this method very interesting to improve and stay motivated.
—Estelle Jaouen
I appreciate being able to hear the pronunciation from a male and female voice. I think the mix of characters and pinyin are great and well-balanced. I love the fact that I’ve only been doing this for less than a month and I already know dozens of useful phrases and words!
—Maria van Eeden
I like the fact that it’s very dynamic and not grammar focused. Also, having many videos to learn from makes it even less boring no matter where you are as long as you have a smart phone. I like to just watch each video one time, pause at each sentence and try to remember words and sentences.
—Eduard Marius
The best thing about FluentU is that you have direct context for each new vocabulary that you learn. Repeating the dialogues is the way I learn. Also, that you can bring in your own vocabulary list and that the program searches for videos or material in which the words are included are remarkable!
—Jan Rehmer
1. What is included in FluentU?A.Lots of videos. | B.Many language tutors. |
C.Varieties of educational websites. | D.Much advice on grammar learning. |
A.Estelle Jaouen. | B.Maria van Eeden. | C.Eduard Marius. | D.Jan Rehmer. |
A.An English brochure. | B.A language textbook. |
C.An interview about AI. | D.An introduction to an App. |
3 . A satellite is an object in space that orbits around another. It has two kinds — natural satellites and artificial satellites. The moon is a natural satellite that moves around the earth while artificial satellites are those made by man.
Despite their widespread impact on daily life, artificial satellites mainly depend on different complicated makeups. On the outside, they may look like a wheel, equipped with solar panels or sails. Inside, the satellites contain mission-specific scientific instruments, which include whatever tools the satellites need to perform their work. Among them, high-resolution cameras and communication electronics are typical ones. Besides, the part that carries the load and holds all the parts together is called the bus.
Artificial satellites operate in a systematic way just like humans. Computers function as the satellite’s brain, which receive information, interpret it, and send messages back to the earth. Advanced digital cameras serve as the satellite’s eyes. Sensors are other important parts that not only recognize light, heat, and gases, but also record changes in what is being observed. Radios on the satellite send information back to the earth. Solar panels provide electrical power for the computers and other equipment, as well as the power to move the satellite forward.
Artificial satellites use gravity to stay in their orbits. Earth’s gravity pulls everything toward the center of the planet. To stay in the earth’s orbit, the speed of a satellite must adjust to the tiniest changes in the pull of gravity. The satellite’s speed works against earth’s gravity just enough so that it doesn’t go speeding into space or falling back to the earth.
Rockets carry satellites to different types and heights of orbits, based on the tasks they need to perform. Satellites closer to the earth are in low-earth orbit, which can be 200-500 miles high. The closer to the earth, the stronger the gravity is. Therefore, these satellites must travel at about 17,000 miles per hour to keep from falling back to the earth, while higher-orbiting satellites can travel more slowly.
1. What is Paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?A.The appearance of artificial satellites. | B.The components of artificial satellites. |
C.The basic function of artificial satellites. | D.The specific mission of artificial satellites. |
A.Providing electrical power. | B.Recording changes observed. |
C.Monitoring space environment. | D.Processing information received. |
A.By relying on powerful rockets to get out of gravity. |
B.By orbiting at a fixed speed regardless of gravity’s pull. |
C.By changing speed constantly based on the pull of gravity. |
D.By resisting the pull of gravity with advanced technologies. |
A.They are more affected by earth’s gravity. |
B.They take advantage of rockets more effectively. |
C.They have weaker pull of gravity in higher orbits. |
D.They are equipped with more advanced instruments. |
4 . Social media has completely taken over everyday life, affecting how society runs and changing individuals in ways that even they can feel. While social media can act as a platform for people to express themselves, it can also be overwhelming, especially for high school teens.
To teenager Bryson Lan, quitting social media helped eliminate (消除) a significant distraction in his routine and keep up with teachers. “I was scrolling through social networking sites so much,” Lan said. “I was also starting to struggle since I entered my high school year. When school started, I was super overwhelmed (不知所措的), and I was just not ready for it.”
Most teenagers fear that by eliminating these apps, they will miss out on connections with their peers and feel a significant loss to their social life. However, Lan found he didn’t miss anything during his time without social media.
Another problem with social media is the amount of “junk content” posted. People are regularly posting and updating on social media, and much of the content has no meaning to other viewers and is ultimately a time suck.
However, social media isn’t all negative. Social media can be a place to develop passions and boost creativity. For example, Lan found his interest in photography blossom after seeing works from other photographers on social media. “Social media is a good place where you can have a portfolio (作品集) or upload your works,” Lan said. “A lot of people have photography accounts or art accounts. In some ways, I think it actually furthers your hobby.” “Thanks to this revolutionary development of social media, we can enjoy a world where everyone is closer than before,” Lan said. “But we also need to have the skills to make good use of social media, and that depends on each person’s efforts.”
1. What did getting rid of social media bring Lan?A.More distractions. | B.Confusion about life. |
C.A smaller social circle. | D.More attention on his studies. |
A.A waste of time. | B.A timetable. | C.A lack of time. | D.A time switch. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Unclear. | C.Objective. | D.Supportive. |
A.Most teenagers’ opinions on social media. | B.The effects social media has on teenagers. |
C.Innovative development of social media. | D.The problems social media brings people. |
5 . To American ears, hearing the words “Black Grace” used together makes them feel a kind of quiet strength in times of hardship or perhaps a positive cultural stereotype (刻板印象). To choreographer Neil Ieremia, the words represent the joining of two ideas born from personal and cultural conflict.
In New Zealand, where Ieremia grew up in what he describes as “a fairly tough town” northeast of Wellington, black was used to describe brave, daring behavior. In Ieremia’s youth, brave people were called “black”, linking them to the neighborhood’ s heroes, New Zealand’ s great All Blacks, the national rugby (橄榄球) team.
Ieremia was born in New Zealand to Samoan immigrants who arrived in the country during the 1960s. Illnesses kept him from actively participating in the country’s widespread sports culture. This was difficult for a Pacific Island boy living in a neighborhood where boys were expected to be sporty and tough. In this world, he developed a passion for music.
At the age of 19, Ieremia decided to attend dance school. At his first ballet class, the instructor told him he lacked grace. Ieremia wasn’t discouraged. When he started his own dance company in 1995, he looked to his own experiences for a name that would also reflect his ambitions for dance grace and storytelling. Thus Black Grace was born. Since then, he has changed the face of modern dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one of the most recognizable and successful cultural brands.
In the early years of Black Grace, Ieremia struggled with the conflict between Samoan and New Zealand cultures. Questions of how and where one belongs were at the forefront of his work. Ieremia draws inspiration from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural and generational barriers. The work itself is highly physical, rich in the storytelling traditions of the South Pacific, and expressed with unique beauty and power.
1. What is Neil Ieremia’s occupation?A.a sports figure | B.a dancer | C.a psychologist | D.a great writer |
A.Stay calm and positive when facing difficulties |
B.The quality of being courageous and elegant |
C.A kind of stereotype from cultural conflict |
D.The expectation of being sporty and tough |
A.Ieremia immigrated from New Zealand to Samoan. |
B.Ieremia played a key role in mainstream sports culture. |
C.Ieremia had a talent for dance at an early age. |
D.Ieremia made Black Grace become a successful cultural brand. |
A.Bridging cultures through dance | B.A conflict between two cultures |
C.Breaking cultural stereotype | D.Neil Iremia—a successful choreographer |
6 . A man named Randy liked to look for big trees and old trees. He made maps to show where these trees were. He did not want to cut them down. He wanted people to take care of them.
Randy was told that there was a very tall tree on Vancouver Island. The tree was said to be 314 feet tall. That would make it the tallest tree in Canada. Randy started to find the tree.
But someone else found it first. It was found by a logger (伐木工). Loggers wanted to cut down Canada’s tallest tree and all the trees around it.
Randy made a path in the forest so people could see the tallest tree. The tree was so big and beautiful that it would bring them enjoyment. More and more people wanted to save that forest. Thanks to these people, that forest is now a park. Canada’s tallest tree is still there.
1. Why did Randy make maps of big trees and old trees?A.To carry out his duty carefully. | B.To avoid getting lost in forests. |
C.To show where these trees were. | D.To get information for selling them. |
A.Take care of it. | B.Cut it down. |
C.Take pictures of it. | D.Make it famous. |
A.To help people cut it. | B.To help people see it. |
C.To help people water it. | D.To help people move it. |
A.It is now a park. | B.People burned it down. |
C.It will disappear soon. | D.People lost interest in it. |
7 . The Internet plays a big part in human life. We use it for work and entertainment. We can find new recipes on the Internet or advice on staying healthy. We can even use it to learn a new language and connect with family and friends.
As far as the Internet being a part of our lives —well, that train has left the station. This expression means there is no going back to an Internet-free life. But can using the Internet too much be bad for our health? It might be, say researchers.
A new study finds that heavy Internet use may be connected to high blood pressure in an unlikely group— teenagers. The study results show that teens who spend at least 14 hours a week online were more likely to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart and kidney (肾) disease. It is also closely linked to some forms of dementia (痴呆), a brain disease. Dementia is marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and a reduced ability to reason.
The Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan did the study. 335 young people from 14 to 17 years old participated in it. One hundred and thirty-four of the teens were described as “heavy Internet users.” Researchers found that out of these 134 teens, 26 had high blood pressure.
The lead researcher of the study is Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow. In a statement she said, “Using the Internet is part of our daily life but it shouldn’t consume us.” For the purpose of the study, she explains, teens considered heavy Internet users were online on “average 25 hours a week.” Ms. Cassidy-Bushrow adds that it is important for teens to take “regular breaks from their computers or smartphones” and to do some “kind of physical activity.”
1. Which of the following statements is closest in the meaning to the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?A.The train has stopped at the wrong station. |
B.There is something wrong with the train. |
C.Life without the Internet is nowhere to be found. |
D.The train has changed its course. |
A.will remember everything clearly | B.will change his character |
C.will develop a brain cancer | D.can do analysis accurately |
A.40% | B.19% | C.25% | D.7% |
A.The Internet Does Harm to the Study. |
B.Too Much Internet May Be Bad for Teenagers. |
C.We Should Stop Using the Internet. |
D.High Blood Pressure Is around the Comer. |
8 . Yesterday was Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, my mother was not among the many happy mothers, as I couldn’t visit her this year. I made a
My mother always says that kids don’t need to
If you
However, her deep connection to the song helped her to
Last week, a colleague
A.remark | B.promise | C.practice | D.suggestion |
A.long for | B.turn to | C.wait for | D.refer to |
A.missed | B.tried | C.regretted | D.avoided |
A.visit | B.like | C.leave | D.hate |
A.strangely | B.carelessly | C.seriously | D.kindly |
A.remember | B.think | C.doubt | D.wonder |
A.called | B.designed | C.made | D.created |
A.assist | B.place | C.win | D.adopt |
A.in | B.except | C.besides | D.about |
A.duty | B.gift | C.idea | D.habit |
A.hits | B.comes | C.occurs | D.catches |
A.develops | B.controls | C.remains | D.increases |
A.compared | B.shared | C.provided | D.filled |
A.common | B.special | C.serious | D.rare |
A.respect | B.attention | C.satisfaction | D.manners |
9 . Two new residents in Aarwangen, a small village in Swiss, filed complaints with the village council about the constant ringing of cowbells. They asked for the cows’ bells to be
Long-term residents, and the village’s remaining farmers were
Cowbells have been used in rural Switzerland for centuries. They were once useful for
Over the past few decades, many new
This year’s battle is not the first time residents have
Next month, Aarwangen’s villagers will gather for a public meeting to vote on the
A.marked | B.watched | C.fastened | D.removed |
A.angry | B.proud | C.frightened | D.excited |
A.effect | B.comment | C.attack | D.reliance |
A.study | B.preserve | C.record | D.restore |
A.counting | B.tracking | C.entertaining | D.feeding |
A.catch | B.contact | C.spot | D.hear |
A.Besides | B.Therefore | C.However | D.Meanwhile |
A.instead of | B.thanks to | C.regardless of | D.according to |
A.residents | B.researchers | C.tourists | D.pioneers |
A.attracted | B.accustomed | C.opposed | D.devoted |
A.thought over | B.gave up | C.put on | D.complained about |
A.hoped | B.promised | C.ordered | D.refused |
A.alive | B.asleep | C.ashamed | D.awake |
A.future | B.number | C.tone | D.design |
A.rise | B.continue | C.spread | D.return |
10 . Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact, many people never read a poem once they get out of high school.
It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in America. In the nineteenth century, a usual American activity was to sit around the fireside in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at that time, nor movie theatres, nor World Wide Web, to provide diversion. However, poems were a source of pleasure, of self-education, of connection to other people or to the world beyond one’s own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one, and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was, like reading poems by the fireside, another way in which poetry has a place in everyday life.
How did things change? Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry, and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and that they can do well without poems?
There are, I believe, three factors: poets, teachers, and we ourselves. Of these, the least important is the third: the world surrounding the poem has betrayed us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century, poetry in English headed into directions unfavourable to the reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night, and that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged.
Poets failed the reader, so did teachers. They want their students to know something about the skills of a poem; they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles.
1. Why is reading poems thought to be a social act in the nineteenth century?A.Because it built a link among people. |
B.Because it helped unite a community. |
C.Because it was a source of self-education. |
D.Because it was a source of pleasure. |
A.Stories. | B.Changes. | C.Amusements. | D.Concentrations. |
A.Students are poorly educated in high school. |
B.Poems have become difficult to understand. |
C.Students are becoming less interested in poetry. |
D.TV and the Internet are more attractive than poetry. |
A.The history and changes of poetry. |
B.The correct way for teachers to teach poetry. |
C.The failure of poetry in people’s life nowadays. |
D.The reason why people aren’t keen on poetry today. |