1 . Libraries are the temple for book lovers, the main source of knowledge and wisdom. Here are the biggest libraries in the world.
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress in the US is the biggest library in the world, whose collections are from all around the world. The library has a collection of 32 million cataloged books. It receives 22,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the US. Some of the major works stored in the library are Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence, the world’s most famous architectural designs and so on.
The British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is the second biggest library in the world. It holds 150 million items from different countries. It receives 8,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its collection includes 14 million books. Every year over 3 million items are added to the library. The major highlights of the library collection are Diamond Sutra and Alice’s Adventures under Ground.
Library and Archives (档案馆) Canada (LAC)
Canada has the third biggest library in the world. The library holds 20 million books, 24 million photographs and a lot of digital works. Its collection includes The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act, the British North America Act and many more precious works.
The New York Public Library (NYPL)
It is the fourth largest library in the world. It is the public library having 87 branches. The library has a collection of 53 million items. It also has four research libraries which are open to the general public. You can ask and discover about anything on the official website of NYPL.
1. Which of the following works is stored in the Library of Congress?| A．The British North America Act. |
| B．Alice’s Adventures under Ground. |
| C．Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence. |
| D．The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act. |
| A．About 22,000. | B．More than 8,000. |
| C．About 14 million. | D．More than 3 million. |
| A．Library and Archives Canada. | B．The Library of Congress. |
| C．The New York Public Library. | D．The British Library. |
2 . Welcome to Shanghai Disney Resort. As the second Disney theme park in China, Shanghai Disney Resort will provide visitors with unlimited possibilities and create memories worth cherishing for a lifetime.
Four Amazing Projects:
1. Soaring Over the Horizon
The ride takes you and your dangling feet from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the Taj Mahal to an African savanna filled with elephants. Shown on a domed screen, the movie concludes with nighttime fireworks over Shanghai’s skyline. Scent effects include grass over Africa, an ocean breeze over Fiji and roses over India.
2. TRON Lightcycle Power Run
The motorcycle-style trains look phenomenal with their glowing wheels, particularly in the indoor blue-hued launch area designed to look like the circuits inside a computer. The futuristic scene is so spectacular that you can’t look away from it.
3. Voyage to the Crystal Grotto
The gentle boat ride passes scenes based on “Aladdin” “Tangled” “Mulan” and “The Little Mermaid” with animatronic figures and spouting fountains.
4. Alice in Wonderland Maze (迷宫)
Alice in Wonderland Maze is the first attraction at a Disney park to focus on Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland film. Guests have to make their way through sculpted hedges, stone garden walls, giant flowers and sculptures to get to the Mad Hatte’s Tea Party.
You will also meet your Disney friends from different stories in various parks, such as Mickey, Mulan, Baymax, Disney princesses, Captain Jack Sparrow and Winnie the Pooh.
What are you waiting for?
1. In which project can you experience scent effects?| A．Soaring Over the Horizon. | B．TRON Lightcycle Power Run. |
| C．Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. | D．Alice in Wonderland Maze. |
| A．It is easy to pass. | B．It is based on a film. |
| C．It has a futuristic scene. | D．It has spouting fountains. |
| A．A fashion magazine. | B．An economy newspaper. |
| C．A tour handbook. | D．A science fiction. |
3 . Despite being there for your safety, many people still ignore the red man at the traffic lights and cross early, running the risk of a deadly accident. Now Smart, a car maker, has come up with a smart idea for an experiment to see if safety could be improved at traffic lights by encouraging pedestrians (行人) to wait for the green man with a “Dancing Traffic Light”.
The Dancing Traffic Light was designed to draw the attention of people who were standing waiting to cross the road in Portugal. It shows a dancing red figure, as opposed to the static (静态的) figure that is normally shown. The figure is a low-resolution (低分辨率的) representation of someone who is in a room nearby, dancing.
Those who want to dance can go into the room and then select music of their choice. When the traffic light turns red, the music plays and the individual can then start to dance. A video is from the person dancing in real time to the traffic light and the dancing red figure can keep pedestrians amused while they wait.
Apart from providing entertainment for pedestrians as they wait to cross the road, there is also the “gaming” side to the Dancing Traffic Light as anyone can be the dancing figure and so he or she can contribute to the project.
This isn’t the first time that entertainment has been used for positive social outcomes. The Volkswagen Fun Theory campaign involved a Piano Staircase which encouraged people to walk up the stairs instead of using an elevator and the Bottle Bank Arcade that was made to encourage people to recycle.
Smart said that 81% more people stopped at the red light to watch it dance while they waited for the green light to appear.
1. Why did Smart design the Dancing Traffic Light?| A．To draw the attention of people. | B．To help reduce traffic accidents |
| C．To provide entertainment for pedestrians. | D．To make traffic lights more interesting. |
| A．A real person dances beside the traffic light. |
| B．A pedestrian performs a dance while waiting |
| C．A figure dances in real time to red traffic lights. |
| D．An individual dances to various music in a room. |
| A．The good results of safety product. |
| B．The needs for more such campaigns. |
| C．The influence of the Dancing Traffic Lights. |
| D．The use of entertainment in some social activities. |
| A．A Dancing Traffic Light—A Guardian of Life |
| B．Road Safety—An Essential Talk |
| C．A Campaign—A Solution from the Air |
| D．Smart—A Pioneer in Traffic Light Research |
4 . Children begin influencing us even before they are born: We plan for their arrival and adjust our lives to welcome them. As babies, they direct our sleep and, as a side effect, our moods. We know that parents of crying babies are more stressed, sleep less and may even think they are parenting badly. In a vicious cycle, stress and lack of sleep can then lead to an increased risk of parental anxiety.
But there’s more. Many studies show that a child’s innate (天生的)personality shapes how we parent them. It means how we parent depends on our children’s character. One child may be naturally outgoing and therefore enjoy a constant stream of playmates. Another might like play by himself, meaning we are quieter around them. One child might love surprises, while another may find them stressful and prefer order and routine.
As children get older, their influence on us becomes more obvious. In one 2016 study, psychologist Leon Kuczynski and colleagues asked parents from 30 families to talk about any recent events where their children had some influence in their lives. He found a wide range of responses from comments on a parent’s appearance, their politeness, their health and driving abilities. They even changed their recycling habits. One parent of a 10-year-old says: “Maybe we didn’t believe in being environmentally friendly before he drew our attention to it.”
The study, explains Kuczynski, shows that while our actions affect the child, the child’s actions affect you. By being in a close relationship, you’re likely to accept this child’s influence”. It happens for good reason too—parents wanting to maintain a close relationship with their children, to improve closeness and respect. Finally, parents and children are learning from each other. Accepting this and responding to their needs make life easier.
1. What does the underlined word “vicious” in the first paragraph?| A．Calm. | B．Demanding. | C．Successful. | D．Awful. |
| A．Parents should stay quiet around their children. |
| B．Parents ought to be based on children’s characters. |
| C．Parenting has nothing to do with children’s personality. |
| D．Parents’ ways of parenting determine children’s development. |
| A．maintain good relationships with their children |
| B．show their deep affection towards their children |
| C．be treated with respect by their naughty children |
| D．establish authority in relationship with their children |
| A．Business. | B．Politics. | C．Life. | D．Entertainment. |
5 . Nancy Meherne lives a simple life by the sea, gardening and riding the soft waves at Scarborough Beach just a couple of blocks from her house. The 92-year-old’s board made in the 1970s is a little old, but it's easy to carry and suits her just fine. Often wearing just a swimsuit, despite summer water temperatures ranging from 14℃ to 18℃, the grandmother of seven walks into the waist-deep water, waits for the perfect wave and jumps on.
Born in Wellington in 1929, Meherne says her life has been full, with “never a dull moment”. In her early 20s, after training and working as a schoolteacher, she left New Zealand by ship to study and work in England and other countries in Europe, spending her weekends and holidays exploring the regions.
Her travels also took her to India, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan, where she taught at a school for three months. After returning to New Zealand, Meherne raised three children with her husband, Doug, while teaching in primary schools and tutoring at a music school. Her teaching philosophy was similar to her life philosophy: “You’ve got to have fun.”
She remembers seeing the ocean for the first time and being shocked at its scale. “I just thought water came in small quantities.” A keen swimmer and surf life saver in her youth, Meherne says she didn’t pick up surfing until her late 30s or early 40s when she was living in Summer and started borrowing her son’s board. “I never did try and stand up, but I loved it. I’d go wherever I could.”
Meherne will be 93 in August, 2022 and says she will keep surfing as long as she is able to “do a little jump” to get on the waves. Her husband Doug says: “She has definitely kept the bar pretty high there. She has aged but she hasn’t got old.”
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Meherne surfs near her home. |
| B．Meherne started surfing in the 1970s. |
| C．Meherne’s worn board is too old to be used. |
| D．Meherne can’t bear the water temperatures. |
| A．Busy and modest. | B．Aimless and relaxing. |
| C．Full and adventurous. | D．Hard and challenging |
| A．Meherne keeps practicing to reach her limit. |
| B．Meherne has set a high standard for others. |
| C．Meherne is no longer fit for surfing due to age. |
| D．Meherne is still quite energetic despite old age. |
| A．People’s comments on an unusual surfer. |
| B．A woman who has stuck to surfing for decades. |
| C．The travelling experience of a remarkable surfer. |
| D．The sport which attracts people of different ages—surfing. |
6 . Volunteers Wanted
Elephant Volunteer Project, Laos
The 7-day volunteering programme is your gateway to feeling like a part of the elephant conservation team! You will start by following the 3-day visitor programme. Then you will be asked to assist us in the center’s development by participating in projects on site. Your activities may include things like: maintenance work (painting, construction, cleaning, gardening); observing and recording of elephant behaviour; making enrichment tools and materials for the elephants.
Portugal: Experience Life in a European Town While You Help Its People
Portugal was one of the countries that led the “discovery” of the Americas, but now it struggles with economic recession(经济衰退) while the people suffer the consequences. As a volunteer in Portugal, you can serve in the city of Beja. You can teach youth and adults in classrooms and municipal(市政的) learning centers.
St. Lucia: Visit a Caribbean Paradise and Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
St. Lucia is one of the world’s most beautiful islands. However, in this tropical paradise, children face life-limiting nutrition, health and education challenges. That’s why we need your help to care for these children, provide them with nutritious meals, as well as educate and encourage the children’s parents.
Social Worker and Construction Volunteering Work in Nepal
Most of the schools in rural Nepal consist of simple stone structures with no water or electricity. They have no bright classrooms, toilets or playgrounds, and no libraries. Most students do not even have drinking water. Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN) places international volunteers for construction and manual work in the areas most in need. VSN asks you to paint, construct or repair necessary buildings. These projects are usually funded by your own contributions.
1. What may volunteers do both in Laos and Nepal?| A．Do some gardening. | B．Raise their own funds. |
| C．Paint and construct things. | D．Make some tools and materials. |
| A．Laos. | B．Portugal. | C．St. Lucia. | D．Nepal. |
| A．Education. | B．Economy. |
| C．After-school activities. | D．Wildlife protection. |
7 . On a hill 600 feet above the surrounding land, we watch the lines of rain move across the scene, the moon rise over the hills, and the stars appear in the sky. The views invite a long look from a comfortable chair in front of the wooden house.
Every window in our wooden house has a view, and the forest and lakes seldom look the same as the hour before. Each look reminds us where we are.
There is space for our three boys to play outside, to shoot arrows, collect tree seeds, build earth houses and climb trees.
Our kids have learned the names of the trees, and with the names have come familiarity and appreciation. As they tell all who show even a passing interest, maple makes the best fighting sticks and white pines are the best climbing trees.
The air is clean and fresh. The water from the well has a pleasant taste, and it is perhaps the healthiest water our kids will ever drink. Though they have one glass a day of juice and the rest is water, they never say anything against that.
The seasons change just outside the door. We watch the maples turn every shade of yellow and red in the fall and note the poplars (杨树) putting out the first green leaves of spring. The Rainbow Smelt (彩虹香鱼) fills the local stream as the ice gradually disappears, and the wood frogs start to sing in pools after being frozen for the winter. A family of birds rules our skies and flies over the lake.
1. What do we learn from Para. 2?| A．The forest outside the windows is colorful. |
| B．The views are changeable outside the house. |
| C．There are a lot of windows in the wooden house. |
| D．The views remind us that we are in a wooden house. |
| A．like playing in trees | B．are good at playing games |
| C．find trees useful learning tools | D．have learned good knowledge of trees |
| A．The change of seasons is easily felt. | B．The seasons remain unchanged inside. |
| C．The weather often changes outside the door. | D．The door is a good place to enjoy changing views. |
| A．Sharing the joy of living in the nature. |
| B．Showing that living in the forest is healthy. |
| C．Picturing the beauty of the scene about the house. |
| D．Describing her children’s happy and unforgettable childhood. |
8 . Stuck at home with nothing to watch? Curious about China, but don’t know where to begin? Well, we’ve got you covered with this brand-new video series exploring Chinese culture. All you have to do is press play.
● Dazu Rock Carvings
One of China’s UNESCO World Heritage sites is hidden among the mountains on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Chongqing. Here, tens of thousands of sculptures collectively make up the Dazu Rock Carvings — considered one of the finest examples of China’s cave art, exhibiting the most sophisticated craftsmanship of Dazu Rock Carvings. The delicate Dazu Rock Carvings tell ancient, mystical stories.
● Bamboo Carving
The art of bamboo carving originated at the Qing imperial court. Today, the art lives on, appreciated for its historical value and elegance.
Just 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, in the Xiong’an New Area, a group of skilled artists are keeping this art alive. Carving bamboo requires focus, precision and elbow grease (重活). Watch the video and feast your eyes on the bamboo masterpieces.
● Peach-stone Carving
In the small town of Siyang in Jiangsu Province in eastern China, craftsmen create art on the tiny cores of the peaches.
While most people think nothing of peach stones and just throw them away, they are a source of inspiration for these artists. The artist goes to great length to find the perfect core to fit his concept. Using tiny tools, they chip away at the cores to create intricate designs，extremely detailed and delicate. These peach stone carvings are often worn as jewelry symbolizing fortune in China.
1. What do Dazu Rock Carvings feature?| A．Mysterious tales. | B．Mountain shapes. |
| C．Design inspirations. | D．Painting exhibitions. |
| A．Materials. | B．Origin. | C．Craftsmanship. | D．Symbols. |
| A．To show wealth. | B．To bring good luck. |
| C．To symbolize status. | D．To appreciate design. |
9 . The Chinese fashion icon, qipao, was born a century ago in Shanghai. However, the dress made its way through history from the hands of old craftsmen and is deep-rooted in Chinese culture.
“Qipao used to be so popular,” Leung Long-kong, 89, a well-known qipao craftsman, says, adding that the dress was an everyday outfit among women, from the less well-off to women at the highest levels of society. “Now, nobody is wearing them except on grand and happy occasions.”
To carry on the tradition, fashion designer Mary Yu, 41, who has been attending classes teaching knot button-making techniques, is trying to renew the design of qipao by taking symbols from Chinese history and literature.
“I feel I should look into Chinese culture and learn more about the past. People should have an in-depth understanding of their culture in order to move on,” Yu says. “Fashion design requires a profound knowledge of one’s culture before visualizing it.” “After a period of wearing foreign brands all the time, there will be a day when one looks back to traditional Chinese culture. It is about finding the stuff that exists in your genes and suits you best.”
Yu set up her own qipao brand in 2016. Most of the clothes were made by tailors based in Shenzhen and Hangzhou, for their lower cost and more traditional work.
In the constantly evolving fashion industry, qipao is catching up with the times. Zippers, digital print patterns and new materials such as lace and denim have been introduced to a new generation. More daring ideas like 3D printed qipao have also become a reality. Yu believed that with the help of these new technologies, qipao will find its way back to the daily life of Chinese people in the near future.
1. Why does the author quote Leung Long-kong in Paragraph 2?| A．To call on Chinese women to wear qipao in everyday life. |
| B．To introduce the development of qipao in China. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of qipao in China nowadays. |
| D．To show that qipao is no longer as popular as it was. |
| A．Creative. | B．Conservative. | C．Cautious. | D．Considerate |
| A．passing | B．withdrawing | C．developing | D．following |
| A．Qipao is an iconic sign in the fashion industry. |
| B．Qipao is on its way back to the daily life of Chinese. |
| C．Qipao enjoys a good reputation in the world. |
| D．Qipao is seen as a symbol of wealth in modern China. |
10 . Todd Bol, a retired businessman, could never have expected that a wooden container he built in his front yard one day would have the global impact it does today.
Bol built a dollhouse-size structure that looked like a schoolhouse on a post and he put it in his yard as a free community library to remember his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol’s design gave birth to Little Free Library (LFL), a nonprofit organization that seeks to place small, accessible book exchange boxes in neighborhoods around the world. The concept is simple: Neighbors are invited to share a book, leave a book, or both. Today, there are over 50,000 of these libraries registered in 70 countries.
Almost everyone can register with LFL and start a library as long as the person keeps it in good shape and makes sure that book materials are appropriate for his/her neighborhood. Library owners can create their own library boxes; therefore, the libraries are usually unique in appearance, and there seems to be no limit to the possibilities. One library in California was built out of a used wine container; another in Texas had tiny stairs and bright colored walls. Once registered, libraries are assigned a number at LFL’s website. The LFL Index lists the locations of all libraries with GPS coordinates (坐标) and other information. Owners receive a sign saying “Little Free Library”.
People say they have been attracted to pick up a book when walking by a Little Free Library, out of curiosity and because it’s convenient. Some sidewalk librarians say they have met more neighbors since having a little library in their front yard. Bol is also most proud of the way Little Free Library is bringing communities together. “It’s started a neighborhood exchange. It gets people talking and more comfortable with their neighbors,” he says. “This leads to them helping each other.”
1. What does the underlined word “design” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A community center. | B．A dollhouse on a post. |
| C．A book exchange box. | D．A nonprofit organization. |
| A．There is no limit to the selection of books. |
| B．The library can come in any shape and color. |
| C．The library needs to hire many professional librarians. |
| D．The owner must first be assigned a number from the LFL website. |
| A．It helps improve GPS functions. | B．It connects libraries around the world. |
| C．It makes reading accessible to the poor. | D．It helps restore human connections. |
| A．LFL: A Booster to Shared Reading | B．LFL: The Best Place to Meet Neighbors |
| C．Todd Bol: A Successful Book Businessman | D．Reading: An Approach to Improving Yourself |
