1 . China has named the nation’s first Mars rover (火星车) Zhu Rong. For all of us, Zhu Rong is a well-suited name.
In an ancient Chinese story, Zhu Rong had the face of a man and the body of an animal. H rode on two dragons.
When he had a big fight with Gong Gong, the god of water, Zhu Rong won. But after the fight, the human world came into complete darkness. Then he brought fire from heaven to the world.
“Zhu Rong is regarded as the earliest god of fire in traditional Chinese culture,” a space official said. “The first Mars rover was named Zhu Rong. The name symbolizes light and hope for space exploration in our country, and means to guide humans to continue exploration.”
After leaving the earth last summer, Zhu Rong circled Mars for several months and landed on it in May. In recent years, our country has sent up the world’s first quantum satellite (量子卫星), and Chang’e-4 has made a soft landing on the moon. We have made great progress in space technology and will soon start building our own space station.
1. What Zhu Rong brought from heaven to the world was ________.| A．fire | B．wars | C．water | D．animals |
| A．a big fight | B．complete darkness | C．light and hope | D．Chinese culture |
| A．the earth | B．Mars | C．the moon | D．the sun |
| A．Zhu Rong is a bad person in an ancient Chinese story |
| B．China has made great progress in space technology |
| C．the writer is proud of China’s space technology |
| D．the official doesn’t like the name Zhu Rong |
2 . Long, long ago, rain stopped falling in China. The people prayed(祈祷)for rain to the Jade Emperor, who controlled everything in heaven(天庭), on the land and in the sea, but no matter how much they prayed, rain did not fall.
Four dragons in the East China Sea saw what was happening, and saw people eating grass from the ground, for the people had nothing else left to eat.
They thought of a way to help. They started swimming this way and that, scooping up water with their bodies. Then all four flew into the sky. Black Dragon flew to the north, Long Dragon to the west, Pearl Dragon to the south of China, and Yellow Dragon to the center of the country. All at once, they let the water fall from their mouths, arms, legs, and even their tails.The people could not see the dragons, _ .“Rain!” they cried happily, and all the people and animals ran out into the rain and started to dance.
When the Jade Emperor saw the rain, he was very angry. Then he saw the four dragons flying around in the sky. He ordered Mountain God to kill the dragons.
When the four mountains landed on top of them and tried to crush(压扁) the four dragons, a strange thing happened. Suddenly four rivers formed, spreading across the whole country.
This is how the four great rivers (the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Pearl and the Heilongjiang) of China were created.
1. Why did the people pray Jade Emperor for rain?| A．Because he controlled the rain. | B．Because he had lots of rain. |
| C．Because he didn’t allow rain to fall. | D．Because there was much rain on earth. |
| A．The people. | B．The rivers. |
| C．The mountains. | D．The dragons. |
| A．but they could see the clouds from the sky |
| B．but they could see the rain falling from the sky |
| C．but they know the Jade Emperor helped them |
| D．but they think the Jade Emperor helped them |
| A．Birth of four Chinese rivers | B．Punishment from Jade Emperor |
| C．Four Dragons and the Rain | D．Jade Emperor and Four Dragons |
3 . Popular Theme Parks
Holiday World
Family-run Holiday World has developed into one of the most successful regional theme parks in the US, offering unlimited free soft drinks, free parking, free sunscreen and free Wi-Fi. The park is divided into four lands, each themed around a different holiday. Understandably, given that the park is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, one of these is Christmas, with the others being Thanksgiving, Halloween and the Fourth of July.
LEGOLAND California
As one of a number of similar LEGOLAND theme parks located all over the world, LEGOLAND California was the first to open in the US. Located in Carlsbad not far from San Diego, it fits families with children aged 2-12. The park hosts a variety of attractions inspired by LEGO toys, along with a predictably large number of stores selling LEGO toys.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Belonging to one of the world’s leading movie studios, Universal Studios Hollywood features attractions showing the art of movie-making. The park is divided into three main sections—the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Upper and Lower Lots, including Jurassic Park, The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, The Ride and Transformer, etc. Visitors can explore those sections by themselves.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego offers the chain’s standard selection of live shows interactive animal exhibits and other theme park attractions. Located on Mission Bay, it combines thrilling rides with up-close-and-personal experiences, and also offers children’s favorite performances starring sea lions, dolphins and even cats and dogs.
1. What will visitors do in Holiday World?| A．Appreciate the art of movie-making. |
| B．Spend different festivals in a day. |
| C．Enjoy a variety of attractions. |
| D．Explore the world’s leading movie studios. |
| A．SeaWorld San Diego. | B．Universal Studios Hollywood. |
| C．LEGOLAND California | D．Holiday World. |
| A．A news report. | B．A world geography textbook. |
| C．A travel website. | D．An entertainment magazine. |
4 . Should We Fear Maths?
How good are you at maths? Some people love the challenge of algebra (代数) or enjoy working out number puzzles. But many dread the moment when they have to deal with numbers and figures and feel a real sense of worry and confusion. It can seem depressing(令人沮丧的), but this maths anxiety is perfectly normal, and you’re definitely not alone. And anyway, our worries and fears don’t necessarily reflect our ability.
Research has found that maths teachers who are nervous about teaching the subject can pass on their anxiety to the pupils, and girls maybe more likely to be affected. The Programme for International Student Assessment found around 31% of 15-and 16-year-olds across 34 countries said they got very nervous while doing maths problems, 33% said they got tense while doing maths homework, and nearly 60% said they worried maths classes would be difficult.
Psychologists (心理学家) have been trying to work out why mental arithmetic (心算) can bring us out in a sweat. That seed of fear may come from many sources, but some suggest that expressing your fears can loosen their hold on you, and encourage children to see a maths test as a challenge, not a threat. In fact, we need to think positively about maths and give it a second chance.
1. How to understand the underlined words in the paragraph one?| A．You are very lonely in studying maths. |
| B．You are not the only person that fears maths. |
| C．You don't have the ability to study maths. |
| D．You are not good at learning maths well. |
| A．To express the maths anxiety among students. |
| B．To introduce the difficulties of learning maths well. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of learning maths. |
| D．To compare learning abilities between boys and girls. |
| A．The more you worry about maths, the stronger your ability will be. |
| B．Girls find it more difficult to solve maths problems. |
| C．It is normal for most people to have a lot of pressure on maths. |
| D．Maths teachers have nothing to do with students’ anxiety. |
| A．Pupils should learn mental arithmetic to overcome fears. |
| B．Only by expressing fears can people solve maths problems. |
| C．Maths tests can encourage children to challenge themselves. |
| D．People should take a positive attitude towards maths problems. |
5 . Clifton College’s The English Experience
Location：Bristol
Ages： 12 to 17
Fees(费用)： 2 Weeks:£ 2740;3 Weeks:£4110; 4 Weeks：£ 5480
Start Dates：9,16,23,30 July & 6,13 August 2023
The English Experience challenges students while building their confidence in English and many other skills that are useful inside and outside the classroom. At the beginning of each week, students are put into small groups and given a complex problem to work through to find a solution and present it in their chosen way. Teachers are there to guide the students, which is why class sizes are 12at most.
In the afternoons, students choose an elective(选修课) to follow for 6 hours per week. These include such courses as news reporting, presentation skills, a Mini UN, and creative writing. Extra electives such as professional golf, tennis, and football coaching, as well as horse riding and exam preparation, lead to an additional cost.
Students go on two full-day excursions(短途旅行)per week. Mid-week excursions are planned around that week’s topic, soon the environmental week we go to a local environmental activity center, while the theatre week involves a trip to a West End show with a drama workshop. Saturday excursions are more relaxed but still engaging, and include set time for shopping. Sunday excursions are shorter but also include an entrance to a local attraction.
1. What is the aim of Clifton College’s The English Experience?| A．To improve students’ confidence with useful skills. |
| B．To work through complex problems in chosen ways. |
| C．To experience a variety of English learning courses. |
| D．To establish study interest groups within 12 students. |
| A．News reporting. | B．A Mini UN. |
| C．Creative writing. | D．Professional golf. |
| A．By giving a speech on environmental protection. |
| B．By joining an environmental activity center. |
| C．By enjoying a show in a drama workshop. |
| D．By setting time for a local attraction. |
6 . Want to experience the modern style at the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan? We have got a lot to offer here.
GUEST ROOMS
Spacious and stylish guest rooms include all necessities for an unforgettable stay. Each guest room features a marble bath, in-room thermostat (恒温器) control, 37-inch HDTV with HD channels and guide, on-demand HD entertainment, a spacious work area, and two telephones with voice mail.
SUITES
Our luxurious, modern suite accommodations arc on high floors and provide all the desirable facilities of our guest rooms while adding spacious living areas and access to our Executive Lounge (贵宾室).
ACCESSIBLE ROOMS
Enjoy added features for your ease of use such as lowered in-room thermostat controls, remote control curtains, raised beds and cither tubs or roll-in showers, which arc all specially designed for the disabled. You will also find desirable facilities such as 37-inch or larger HDTVs, depending on the room type chosen, on-demand HD entertainment, large work spaces, and two telephones with voice mail.
EXECUTIVE LOUNGE
The room is open seven days a week and features daily continental breakfast, snacks in the evenings and continuous coffee and tea service.
HIGHLIGHTS
•We’ve proudly hosted every US president since Kennedy.
•Rated highest in New York City for WiFi confidence and connectivity by Business Traveler magazine.
•Surrounded by top New York City attractions like Times Square, Rockefeller Center & Broadway.
BEST PRICE GUARANTEE
We guarantee you always get the lowest price when you reserve a room through an official Hilton booking channel. If you find a lower price anywhere else, we will match that price and give you an additional $50 back.
REACH US AND RESERVE
1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS. NEW YORK, 10019, USA
TEL: +1-212-586-7000
1. Which of the following should be most suitable for a person with disabilities?
| A．SUITES. | B．GUEST ROOMS. |
| C．ACCESSIBLE ROOMS. | D．EXECUTIVE LOUNGE. |
| A．The exploration of wilderness. | B．The reception of US presidents. |
| C．On demand HD entertainment. | D．Remote control curtains. |
| A．$80. | B．$50. | C．$30. | D．$ 20. |
7 . In 2020, Pink launched the World Regret Survey, the largest survey on the topic ever undertaken. With his research team, Pink asked more than 15, 000 people in 105 countries, “How often do you look back on your life and wish you had done things differently?” Most of them said regret was at least an occasional part of their life. About 21 percent said they felt regretful all the time. Only 1 percent said they never felt regretful.
If you are of the “no regrets” school of life, you may think that all this regret is a recipe for unhappiness. But that isn’t the case. Letting yourself be overwhelmed by regret is indeed bad for you. But going to the other extreme may be even worse. To extinguish your regrets doesn’t free you from shame or sorrow but causes you to make the same mistakes again and again. To truly get over our guilt requires that we put regret in its proper place.
Uncomfortable as it is, regret is an amazing cognitive(认知的) feature. It requires that you go back to a past scene. Imagine that you acted differently to change it, and with that new scene in mind, arrive at a different present-and then, compare that fictional present with the one you are experiencing in reality. Not all regrets are the same, of course. Pink says they come in four basic types, and an instance of regret may involve just one combination.
Many connection regrets overlap (重叠) with moral regrets, which can come about after you go against your own values. For example, you may pride yourself on being a loving person, and thus regret not living up to this image in the relationship you harmed. Moral regrets can also involve just yourself. Maybe you regret not living up to your promise to your health when you ate a whole pizza or skipped the gym.
If not analyzed(分析) and managed, any kind of regret can be harmful to your well-being. Regret is linked to depression and anxiety, and too much regret can negatively affect your immune system. But regret doesn’t have to be put aside and ignored.
1. What could be concluded from Pink’s research?| A．Half of the people felt regretful. | B．Most people lived without regrets. |
| C．None could live a life without regrets. | D．Most of the people had regrets. |
| A．Destroy. | B．Admit. | C．Treasure. | D．Experience. |
| A．The harm of moral regrets. |
| B．The importance of promise. |
| C．The relationship between regrets and values. |
| D．The connection between reality and imagination. |
| A．Types of regrets. | B．Causes of regrets. |
| C．Benefits of experiencing regrets. | D．Ways of dealing with regrets. |
8 . BBC: Top 4 Wonderful English Novels
Great Expectations
By Charles Dickens, 1861
Mrs Dalloway
By Virginia Woolf, 1925
Middlemarch
By George Eliot, 1874
Wuthering Heights
By Emily Bronte, 1847
1. Which of the following might be the purest British novel?
| A．Great Expectations. | B．Mrs Dalloway. |
| C．Wuthering Heights. | D．Middlemarch. |
| A．In 1847. | B．In 1861. | C．In 1874. | D．In 1925. |
| A．Its plot is very simple. |
| B．It describes the hero’s events in one day. |
| C．It is powered by more psychological energy than any other book. |
| D．It is the greatest social and psychological novel written in English. |
| A．George Eliot. | B．Virginia Woolf. |
| C．Emily Bronte. | D．Charles Dickens. |
9 . Valentina is 9 years old living in Plano, Texas with her parents. She loves Beatrice, an American Girl doll (洋娃娃) very much. But Valentina left her beloved doll behind by chance during a flight earlier this summer. Rudy and Dominguez, Valentina’s parents, tried everything they could to reunite their daughter with her best friend, Beatrice.
“Beatrice means a lot to me. She brings me happiness and she’s my best friend,” Valentina said. “When she was missing, I felt like my heart was broken.”
When finding Beatrice was lost, the Texas family immediately searched everywhere for the lost doll with brown hair, including their travel bags, without success. They remembered seeing her on the plane so they called the airline (航空公司), and then sent an email to it.
The family also spread the message about the lost doll on the Internet — a message that finally reached pilot James, a first officer for American Airlines who lives not far from Plano.
James said he got the chance to help young Valentina locate (定位) Beatrice, who was last seen on July 20 on a plane in Tokyo, where the family had a stopover (中途停留) on their flight back home from Bali, Indonesia.
James said he got in touch with the Airlines’ Lost and Found at Haneda Airport in Tokyo and was able to locate the missing doll after two tries. He then took photos with Beatrice in various airports and on flights as he carried her back home to Valentina in Plano, over 5,800 miles away. One Monday, James drove to the Texas family to return Beatrice to Valentina in person. They were all moved for what James had done.
1. What can we know about Valentina?| A．She was sad at losing Beatrice. | B．She has brown hair. |
| C．She loved taking photos with Beatrice. | D．She lives in Tokyo. |
| A．They sent an email to the airline. | B．They got in touch with James. |
| C．They searched their travel bags. | D．They spread the message online. |
| A．She found it at home. | B．James sent it back in person. |
| C．She got it from the waiting room. | D．Her parents discovered it on the plane. |
| A．Encouraged. | B．Confident. | C．Calm. | D．Thankful. |
10 . A new study shows that when heavy cognitive (认知的) work is lasted for several hours, it causes potentially poisonous materials to build up in the part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex (前额叶). This in turn changes your control over decisions, so you shift toward low-cost actions requiring no effort or waiting as cognitive tiredness sets in.
Influential theories suggested that tiredness is a sort of illusion (错觉) cooked up by the brain to make us stop whatever we are doing and turn to a more pleasing activity but new findings show that cognitive work results in a true functional change — accumulation of poisonous materials — so tiredness would indeed be a signal that makes us stop working but for a different aim: to preserve the perfection of brain functioning.
To look for evidence of this, researchers monitored brain chemistry over the course of a workday. They looked at two groups of people: those who needed to think hard and those who had relatively easier cognitive tasks.
They saw signs of tiredness only in the group doing hard work. Those in that group also showed in their choices a shift toward options with rewards at short delay with little effort. Critically, they also had higher levels of poisonous materials in the brain. Together with earlier evidence, the researchers say it supports the concept that poisonous materials accumulation makes further activation of the prefrontal cortex more costly, such that cognitive control is more difficult after a mentally tough workday.
So, is there some way around this limitation of our brain’s ability to think hard? The answer is negative. But there is good evidence that poisonous materials disappear in the brain during rest and sleep. The study result may have other practical uses. For example, the researchers say, monitoring of prefrontal metabolites (前额代谢物) could help to detect severe mental tiredness. Such an ability may help adjust work plans to avoid burnout. They also advise people to avoid making important decisions when they’re tired.
1. What is the purpose of our tiredness according to the new study?| A．To keep our brains in a good condition. | B．To make us stop whatever we are doing. |
| C．To force us to improve our abilities to work. | D．To change brain chemistry over the workday. |
| A．The loss of our abilities to work. | B．The poisoning of our brain tissue. |
| C．The attitude to our responsibilities. | D．The difficulty in cognitive control. |
| A．By summing up the old data. | B．By comparing experiment data. |
| C．By referring to historical reports. | D．By interviewing many scientists. |
| A．They get round the brain’s limitations. | B．They shouldn’t work out key decisions. |
| C．They try to avoid sleeping and resting. | D．They have to leave work for a holiday. |
