1 . The skies were dark. Rain fell in big drops. Along the way, I saw some schoolchildren rushing home. I also saw that some
It looked like a hole had been dug and covered with boards in a hurry.
I moved on but suddenly
I was not sure what to do or where to go but
The parents of the children who had just arrived from work were totally surprised to hear
| A．bridge | B．building | C．road | D．car |
| A．Luckily | B．Finally | C．Actually | D．Obviously |
| A．signs | B．paths | C．sources | D．people |
| A．doubted | B．stopped | C．shook | D．left |
| A．singing | B．playing | C．crying | D．debating |
| A．turned back | B．broke down | C．set off | D．got down |
| A．covered up | B．looked for | C．talked about | D．fallen into |
| A．promised | B．decided | C．offered | D．needed |
| A．wish | B．problem | C．result | D．view |
| A．tracked | B．formed | C．helped | D．joined |
| A．asked | B．managed | C．attempted | D．competed |
| A．pained | B．raged | C．trembled | D．worried |
| A．of | B．from | C．out | D．to |
| A．thankful | B．sorry | C．famous | D．ready |
| A．suggestion | B．feeling | C．goal | D．comment |
2 . The English language arrived in South Asia as a result of colonization (殖民).
The British first arrived in India in the early 1600s and soon established trading posts in a number of cities under the control of The East India Company. By 1765 the company’s influence had grown to such a degree that the British were effectively controlling most parts of the country. This date is often taken as the start of what is referred to as The Raj — a period of British rule in India that lasted until Independence in 1947.
At first, there were no official attempts to force the language on the masses. But by the 1700s, English had firmly established itself as the language of administration (行政) and many educated Indians were demanding instruction in English as a means of social advancement. By 1857 universities had opened in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. English was increasingly accepted as the language of government, of the social elite (精英), and of the national press.
After Independence, India became a nation state, and it was intended that English would be phased out as the language of administration. But there was no simple solution as to which language should replace it. At first Hindi, the most widely spoken language, seemed to be the obvious choice, but since protests in 1963 in the state of Tamil Nadu against Hindi as a national language, opinion has remained divided. In a country with over 1. 3 billion people and more than a thousand languages, it is difficult to choose a single national language, as mother tongue speakers of that language would benefit more from it.
Despite continued pressure from nationalists, English remains at the heart of Indian society. It is widely used in the media, in higher education and government and therefore remains a common means of communication, both among the ruling classes, and between speakers who do not understand each other’s languages.
1. What led to the introduction of the English language to India?| A．The British rule. | B．The Indian press. |
| C．The contribution of social elite. | D．The promotion of English culture. |
| A．The progress of Indian education. | B．The change of social classes in India. |
| C．The advancement of Indian society. | D．The development of English in India. |
| A．Widely used. | B．Equally taught. |
| C．Publicly recognised. | D．Gradually put to an end. |
| A．Thankful. | B．Unconcerned. |
| C．Unsupportive. | D．Friendly. |
3 . When Marion Sheppard was unable to see in her 40s, she cried. Wasn’t it
Sheppard had always been an enthusiastic dancer since childhood, but now she was so scared that she
At 61, Sheppard attended a camp organized by Visions for blind people, where she taught her first dancing class. She
As a way to combine movements with her faith, Sheppard
| A．crucial | B．desperate | C．enough | D．abnormal |
| A．perspective | B．prejudice | C．potential | D．preference |
| A．tough | B．different | C．gentle | D．sensitive |
| A．willingly | B．occasionally | C．constantly | D．rarely |
| A．sound | B．relate | C．appear | D．reply |
| A．educated | B．permitted | C．reminded | D．forced |
| A．tended | B．applied | C．anticipated | D．prepared |
| A．declined | B．evaluated | C．approved | D．advocated |
| A．temporary | B．regular | C．weekly | D．voluntary |
| A．popularity | B．encouragement | C．assistance | D．advantage |
| A．recovered | B．improved | C．worsened | D．adjusted |
| A．pressed | B．drilled | C．swept | D．made |
| A．set up | B．opened up | C．took on | D．put on |
| A．purpose | B．wish | C．recipe | D．effort |
| A．rewards | B．blessings | C．surprises | D．barriers |
4 . Flooding was fairly usual for a Queensland summer. This time, however, there had been a lot of rain and flash flooding further north which
My younger brother was getting
Finally, we decided to
The
| A．fast | B．slowly | C．actually | D．eventually |
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．curious | D．disappointed |
| A．turn | B．lay | C．calm | D．break |
| A．hours | B．degree | C．meters | D．days |
| A．level | B．ground | C．speed | D．house |
| A．made | B．sold | C．covered | D．moved |
| A．swim | B．separate | C．leave | D．stay |
| A．reaching | B．flooding | C．entering | D．destroying |
| A．weekend | B．money | C．holiday | D．night |
| A．fallen | B．run | C．risen | D．washed |
| A．funniest | B．scariest | C．strangest | D．greatest |
| A．lies | B．operates | C．keeps | D．spreads |
| A．height | B．length | C．depth | D．width. |
| A．stood by | B．waved at | C．looked through | D．walked across |
| A．flood | B．building | C．view | D．sport |
5 . Sometimes, we meet with situations that cause us to feel angry to the point we may want to erupt like a volcano or curse (咒骂) someone out.
Science suggests that hearing, seeing, or swimming causes our brain to produce neurochemicals that increase blood flow to the brain and heart. “
Proteins such as fish, tofu, and chicken, help us produce higher levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are chemicals in the brain that play a role in your mood, motivation, and concentration. “I found that some foods messed with my stomach.
Whether it’s quick sentences or journal entries, writing down how you feel is a great way to release negative emotions. “
“If you have trouble not getting angry when discussing something or trying to work through a problem with someone, always imagine the conversation is being videotaped. If you keep that in the back of your mind, you will always think about what you say, and it could help keep your mind from the anger,” wrote u/therealtidbits.
| A．For me, nothing is better than exercise. |
| B．Whenever I can’t help getting angry, I read. |
| C．Pretend that when you get angry people are watching. |
| D．Whenever I can’t exercise or burn out the feelings, I write. |
| E．Anyway, there are always better ways to handle when angry. |
| F．They then messed with my head, which brought out the anger. |
| G．Pretend there is a camera before you and be mindful of what you say. |
6 . When someone tells me that they’re going to spend just 3 days in Paris, I feel like they’re most likely not going to love it. I mean, it’s possible to have a great time if you do it right and put what you want to see at the first place. During such a short visit most tourists head to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre and some other tourist attractions, and therefore experience crowds, long lines and not the real local Paris.
Take your pick and spend some time actually enjoying these things instead of rushing through everything. I’m not telling you not to see these famous landmarks, but in order to fully feel the Paris atmosphere, you need to stay in the city longer. A stay in Paris just for a weekend seems far from seeing all the great things.
Almost everyone is dreaming of getting to the top of the Eiffel Tower. But the moment you start approaching the tower you might realize that it’s not very romantic, as it’s surrounded by a ton of visitors and annoying vendors (小贩). The place is crowded, and lines take forever no matter when you visit it.
It’s hard to find a romantic spot unless you book a dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s something you will only do once, as it’s not the best fine dining you’ve ever had — you’re doing it just for the experience. However, if you climb the stairs behind the Croatian Embassy you may be able to find a quiet spot overlooking the tower. The view is wonderful and definitely worth it, especially at night when the tower starts blinking!
I recommend you to see the city from up high from the top of the Tour Montparnasse, Arc de Triomphe, or even a carousel (旋转木马) in Tuileries, and actually have the Eiffel Tower in your view.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．You can only see crowds at tourist attractions. |
| B．He who has a short visit doesn’t love Paris. |
| C．Visitor can have a good time traveling in Paris in three days. |
| D．It takes more time to experience the real Paris. |
| A．Fully feeling the atmosphere of the city. |
| B．Only visiting the famous landmarks of the city. |
| C．Seeing the whole city at the weekend. |
| D．Rushing through all attractions in the city. |
| A．Delighted. | B．Sad. | C．Exhausted. | D．Romantic. |
| A．The atmosphere of Paris. |
| B．The tips of visiting Paris better. |
| C．The view of the Eiffel Tower. |
| D．The tourist attractions in Paris. |
7 . Humans aren’t the only animals that move to music. Parrots have been known to do it. And now rats have been observed bopping their heads in time with the tunes of Mozart, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and others, according to a new study from the University of Tokyo. What’s more, the rats seems to respond to the same beats that get humans’ feet tapping (轻跺).
The researchers played a sonata by Mozart for lab rats at different variations (变更) of the original speed: 75%, 100%, 200% and 400%. Wireless sensors on the rats’ bodies tracked their movements. Meanwhile, 20 human participants were involved and listened to the same music through motion sensor-equipped headphones.
It was observed that the rats’ head movements were the most obvious when the music played at its normal speed, which was around 132 bpm (beats per minute). The same was true for human participants. The researchers then changed to some pop songs such as Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”. As with Mozart’s, rats moved their heads along the rhythm of pop songs, similar to how people do, at about 120 to 140 bpm.
The study showed that both rats and humans moved their heads along to the beat in a similar rhythm. The level of head bopping from both humans and rats decreased as the music sped up. The study suggests that there is something similar about the way human and rat brains respond to rhythm, but rats do not match their motions to the beat like humans do. Humans can predict the timing of a beat and move predictably to it.
Aniruddh Patel, a psychologist who studies brain response to music, says humans and parrots respond to beats with big, voluntary movements such as head shaking, dancing or foot tapping. Patel also stresses that this study does not show that rats have the same emotional associations with music as humans do. Yet he believes it could help reveal how humans and some other animals evolved a sense of rhythm.
1. What does the underlined word “bopping” in the first paragraph mean?| A．Moving. | B．Responding to. | C．Nodding. | D．Reacting. |
| A．They seem more interested in pop music. | B．They make similar movements to different rhythms. |
| C．They prefer moving their heads with the beat. | D．They are unable to predict the beat of music. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Music affects rats’ brains. | B．Humans are the only animals that move to music. |
| C．Music is attractive to rats. | D．Rats may respond to music like human do. |
8 . Movie stars might think their lives are private after leaving the acting location, but they ought to know that they have much power over their audience. The power gives them an ability to change people, events, even history, making them to have the responsibility of being good role models.
With time going on, movie stars become celebrities (名人) and in the process get a large number of fans. Some of them follow their deeds, dress, and act like them. In reality, they want to be like their favorite movie stars. If a movie star engages in acts that the society does not approve, those who look up to them, especially the teens, will do the same. Movie stars should be responsible for what they do and say as following the actions is now simpler because of social media. It is important to behave like a role model even when they think no one is watching.
Nobody is perfect, and movie stars also have had their down moments. They may not have been good role models at the time, but they can change the narrative by doing the right things. They can also turn the past shortcomings into positives by opening up about problems and how they overcame the challenges. And their audience can learn to discuss their problems and seek help.
People starring in movies are the target of companies to promote their products or services for a fee. Their celebrity status is a reason enough to think beyond the payment. A movie star should not recommend something that will influence the way teens live negatively. It would be wrong to promote something like sweetened drinks or foods without health benefits. Movie stars face problems like other people, but because of their influence, they have a responsibility to be role models in the public eye.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．Fans often follow their stars’ dress and hobbies. |
| B．Celebrities’ actions spread fast on social media. |
| C．Movie stars should be responsible for their fans. |
| D．Movie stars’ acts have a great impact on their fans. |
| A．Lie to fans by making up a story. |
| B．Do the right things to overcome the problems. |
| C．Cover their problems with good movies. |
| D．Post their problems online to seek help. |
| A．Don’t tell problems to the public. |
| B．Don’t play roles that have a negative impact on teens. |
| C．Don’t ask for payment when promoting products. |
| D．Don’t recommend unhealthy drinks or foods. |
| A．To tell movie stars how to help people in need. |
| B．To stress movie stars’ impact on teens. |
| C．To call on movie stars to be good role models. |
| D．To advise movie stars to open up about their problems. |
9 . 2023 Hot List: The Best New Restaurants in the World
Place des Fêtes-New York CityThis famous wine bar provides a spot with a rare sweet and warm atmosphere. For date night, go to the bar with views of the open kitchen, or fill up the large table in the back with a group and taste the entire 20-item menu. Either way, do not miss the famous mushroom soup.
Le Doyenné-Saint-Vrain, FranceAustralian chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly transformed the former stables (马厩) of a 19th-century private estate into a working farm, restaurant, and guesthouse driven by the principles of regenerative agriculture. More than one hundred varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs make their way into Henry’s cooking after being carefully nurtured by Kelly.
Mi Compa Chava-Mexico CitySeafood is a hangover cure in Mexico, and almost everyone eating here is devoted to fixing last night’s damage from drunkenness and getting a head start on creating today’s. On the sidewalk, crowds of locals and tourists alike lineup for fisherman Salvador Orozco’s creative takes on Sinaloa and Baja seafood. Anything from the raw half of the menu is a sure bet, though cooked dishes like fish can help fill out a meal.
Vilas-BangkokCan a dish inspired by a Spanish recipe using Japanese ingredients still be considered Thai For Chef Prin Polsuk, one of Bangkok’s most famous Thai chefs, it most certainly can. At his latest restaurant, a small dining room at the base of Bangkok’s landmark King Power Mahanakhon Tower, he draws inspiration from King Chulalongkorn’s 1897 journey around Europe and the foreign ingredients and cooking techniques he added to the royal cookbooks.
1. What does the author highly recommend at Place des Fêtes?| A．Red wine. | B．Mushroom soup. |
| C．Baja seafood. | D．Fried fish. |
| A．Mi Compa Chava. | B．Le Doyenné. |
| C．Place des Fêtes. | D．Vilas. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A life magazine. |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．A health magazine. |
10 . On a cold snowy winter evening, Joe was driving home on a country road. Ever since the local restaurant closed, he had been
He didn’t know he’d soon come across a stranger who would change his
After driving for a while, even in the
So he pulled up in front of her car and got out. Seeing the flat tire, Joe believed that he could
Then, he let the lady wait inside her car while he was
| A．out of order | B．out of work | C．out of shape | D．out of mind |
| A．opportunity | B．ambition | C．motivation | D．life |
| A．stuck | B．injured | C．stopped | D．defeated |
| A．useful | B．safe | C．spare | D．potential |
| A．taken in | B．picked up | C．thrown away | D．powered off |
| A．involvement | B．participation | C．help | D．guidance |
| A．stopped | B．waited | C．begged | D．started |
| A．clear | B．dim | C．shining | D．bright |
| A．destroy | B．handle | C．get | D．cease |
| A．finding | B．watching | C．checking | D．replacing |
| A．appreciation | B．curiosity | C．generosity | D．kindness |
| A．excuse | B．career | C．trouble | D．future |
| A．start | B．meet | C．satisfy | D．obtain |
| A．saw | B．changed | C．received | D．enjoyed |
| A．store | B．hotel | C．park | D．restaurant |
