WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.
The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the AngloSaxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century and left behind lots of new vocabulary, as well as the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the wellknown Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.
1. Match the main idea of each paragraph| A. The four countries of the UK. B. How the UK came into being. C. The four groups of people in the history. D. Introduce the topic to the readers. E. The history and modern culture make the UK fascinating. |
2. What can help us find out the difference between some different names of the UK?
| A．British languages. | B．British history. |
| C．British location. | D．British education. |
| A．Britain. | B．Scotland. |
| C．Wales. | D．Ireland. |
| A．The flag. | B．The currency. |
| C．The military defence. | D．The education system. |
| A．Building towns and roads. |
| B．Changing the way of building houses. |
| C．Leaving behind many new vocabulary. |
| D．Changing the legal system. |
| A．Teachers. | B．Students. |
| C．Tourists. | D．Guides. |
| What’s in a name | Rise a question | What is the |
| Explain the question | How did the UK come into being? | |
| The same and different areas | The share the same | |
| The have different | ||
| A long and interesting history | You will be surrounded by | |
| The advantage of studying the history | Make you visit much more |
A.标出句中含有情感变化的词汇。
(1)The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean.
(2)Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
(3)The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions.
(4)Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable.
B.在课文中找出表示情感变化的句子。
(1)
(2)
A DAY IN THE CLOUDS
The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snowcovered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass, I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they were in. They were hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.
My guide is Zhaxi, a villager from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.
1. Match the main idea of each paragraph.| A. We should learn to live in harmony with nature. B. Measures were taken to save this species from extinction. C. Tibetan antelopes are in danger. D. The good effects the measures have had. E. The guide, Zhaxi, and the Changtang National Nature Reserve. F. The bad times for the Tibetan antelope. G. The reason why we visit Tibet. |
Para. 2
Para. 3
Para. 4
Para. 5
Para. 6
Para. 7
2. Why did the writer visit Tibet?
| A．To go camping alone. | B．To enjoy snowcovered mountains. |
| C．To watch Tibetan antelopes. | D．To meet a villager from Changtang. |
| A．For their valuable meat. | B．For their valuable fur. |
| C．For their habitats. | D．For their bones. |
| A．He is the writer’s close friend. | B．He is one of the local people. |
| C．He is a visitor from China. | D．He often hunts the wildlife. |
| A．They are very effective. | B．They should be stopped. |
| C．They are too hard to carry out. | D．They are not enough. |
| A．A report. | B．A travel journal. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．A short story. |
| antelopes | what I see and hear | Far away on the plain, I can |
| situation in the past | There were bad times in the 1980sand 1990s. The population dropped by more than 50%. Hunters shot them for | |
| the effect of the measures | The measures were |
(1) The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp.
(2) To our left, snowcovered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch.
(3) On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals.
(4) Watching them move slowly across the green grass, I’m struck by their beauty.
9. 在课文中找出表示环境描写的句子。
(1)
(2)
| A．My cat watched over me in the same way that I took care of her. |
| B．A feline (猫科动物) is a marvel of grace and ferocity (残忍) in the same lovely package. |
LIVING LEGENDS
Help us choose some “Living Legends of Sports”. They must be athletes who are masters in their sports and also set good examples for others. Here are our first two choices.
Lang Ping
As a player, Lang Ping brought honour and glory to her country. As a coach, she led the China women’s volleyball team to medals at world championships and the Olympics. As a person, Lang Ping is loved by fans at home and abroad. When the Chinese team was preparing for the 2015 World Cup, her determination was tested. The team that Lang Ping had built was falling apart. One of the best players had been injured, and the team captain had to leave because of heart problems. Losing two important players was a big challenge, but Lang Ping did not lose heart. She had faced difficulties before, and she knew that her young players could win if they worked together as a team. Two weeks later, they were world champions! Then in 2016, Lang Ping led her volleyball team to Olympic gold in Brazil.
Michael Jordan
When Michael Jordan’s feet left the ground, time seemed to stand still. The player who became known as “Air Jordan” changed basketball with his graceful moves and jumps. Jordan’s skills were impressive, but the mental strength that he showed made him unique. In the final seconds of a game, Jordan always seemed to find a way to win. Jordan says that the secret to his success is learning from his failures. “I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Losing games taught him to practise harder and never give up. In life, Jordan has learnt to share his success with others. The Boys and Girls Club which he started in Chicago has been helping young people since 1996.
Send your suggestions for “Living Legends of Sports” to LLS@sports.net.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．It’s about living legends, Lang Ping and Michael Jordan. |
| B．It’s about volleyball games. |
| C．It’s about basketball games. |
| D．It’s about the Boys and Girls Club. |
(1)
(6)
3. How was Lang Ping’s determination tested in the 2015 World Cup?
| A．One of the best players had been injured. |
| B．The team captain had to leave because of heart problems. |
| C．The volleyball team she had built was falling apart. |
| D．Lang Ping lost heart. |
| A．Lang Ping is stubborn. |
| B．Lang Ping is determined. |
| C．Lang Ping is easygoing. |
| D．Lang Ping is careful. |
| A．Jordan’s determination in the basketball field. |
| B．Jordan’s success in the basketball field. |
| C．Jordan’s handsome figure (身材)． |
| D．Jordan’s quick moves in playing basketball. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A poster. | D．An advertisement. |
In the 1400s and 1500s, Peru was the centre of the powerful ancient Inca Empire. The Inca emperor lived in the now-famous site Machu Picchu. Spain took control of Peru in the 16th century and ruled until 1821. It is for this reason that Spanish is the main official language of Peru.
TRAVEL PERU
Amazon Rainforest Tour
A short flight from Cusco takes you from the Andes into the Amazon rainforest. From there, you’ll spend one day travelling by boat to your accommodation in the middle of the forest. You can then spend three days exploring the rainforest with a local guide and enjoying the plants and animals unique to the rainforest.
Machu Picchu Tour
This fourday walking tour will take you on amazing paths through the Andes Mountains on the way to the city of Machu Picchu. After reaching your destination you will have a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas’ dry stone method of building. Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing was needed to hold walls together other than the perfect fit of the stones.
Cusco Tour
Spend four days enjoying the unique Spanish and local Indian culture high in the Andes at Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th century. Stay in a local hotel, visit the museums, admire the architecture, enjoy the excellent local food, and go shopping at the local markets.
Lake Titicaca Tour
Enjoy the beautiful countryside as you spend a day driving along the new highway connecting Cusco to Lake Titicaca. There, a boat will take you to stay with a local Uros family on an island for three days. Both the island and the Uros homes are made of water plants from the lake.
So come and experience what Peru has to offer: everything from the ancient Inca culture and centuriesold Spanish villages to deep rainforests, high mountains, and a beautiful coastline.
For more brochures about other package tours around Peru, contact us at tourinfo@travelperu. org.
1. What’s the main idea of the first text?| A．Introducing the Pacific coast. |
| B．Introducing the geographical location, the history and the official language of Peru. |
| C．Introducing the ancient Inca Empire. |
| D．Introducing the Andes Mountains. |
(1)
(5)
3. What can we learn from the first text?
| A．Peru is a coastal country with a pleasant living condition. |
| B．Spain controlled Peru for about three centuries. |
| C．The Andes Mountains surround Peru. |
| D．Spanish is the second language of Peru. |
| A．Enough space for people or things. |
| B．A very strong emotion that you can’t control. |
| C．The way that something is suitable for a particular person, space, etc. |
| D．A short period of time when someone stops working. |
| A．To recommend four tourist attractions of Peru. |
| B．To tell people to travel as often as possible. |
| C．To encourage people to do outdoor activities. |
| D．To help people learn more about Peru. |
| A．An agricultural magazine. |
| B．A medical journey. |
| C．An engineering textbook. |
| D．A tourist brochure. |
①PERU is a country on the Pacific coast of South America with three main areas: narrow, dry, flat land running along the coast, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon rainforest. narrow, dry, flat
②You can then spend three days exploring the rainforest with a local guide and enjoying the plants and animals unique to the rainforest. enjoy the plants and animals; unique
8. 细读短文并找出描写交通方式的句子
①
②
③
THE FRESHMAN CHALLENGE
Hi! My name is Adam and I’m a freshman at senior high school. Going from junior high school to senior high school is a really big challenge. The first week was a little confusing.
First, I had to think very carefully about which courses I wanted to take. The school adviser helped me choose the suitable ones;maths, English, chemistry, world history, and Chinese. I know that Chinese is a very difficult language, but I hope to be fluent when I graduate. My adviser recommended that I should sign up for advanced literature because I like English and I’m good at it.
I had to choose extracurricular activities, too. I tried to join the school football team, but the coach told me that I didn’t play well enough. Obviously, I was unhappy, but I won’t quit. I’ll find a way to improve on my own so that I can make the team next year. I joined a volunteer club instead. Every Wednesday, we work at a soup kitchen and hand out food to homeless people in the community.
I know I’ll have to study harder as a senior high school student and get used to being responsible for a lot more. I’m a bit worried about keeping up with the other students in my advanced course, and it’ll be quite difficult to get used to all the homework. Still, I’m happy to be here. Studying hard isn’t always fun, but I’ll be well prepared for university or whatever else comes in the future.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The importance of taking courses. |
| B．Why Adam joined a volunteer club. |
| C．How Adam dealt with the freshman challenge. |
| D．Adam is worried about his advanced course. |
Para.1: Senior high school: a
Para.2: How to choose
Para.3: How to choose
Para.4: How to
3. What is the function of Paragraph 1?
| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To arouse the interest of readers. |
| C．To stress the importance of challenge. |
| D．To open a new stage for high school. |
| A．Excited. | B．Interested. |
| C．Confused. | D．Worried. |
| A．He felt disappointed and gave up. |
| B．He felt confused and left the football team. |
| C．He felt worried and signed up for a new team. |
| D．He felt unhappy but didn’t give up and tried to improve. |
| A．Hardworking and responsible. | B．Shy and strongwilled. |
| C．Humorous and confident. | D．Careful and clever. |
①Obviously, I was unhappy, but I won’t quit.
②I’m a bit worried about keeping up with the other students in my advanced course...
③Still, I’m happy to be here.
④The first week was a little confusing.
8. 细读短文并找出描写Adam爱好与性格的句子
①
②
③
④
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
(10:45 p.m.)
Han Jing’s World
7:00 a. m.
So this is it — senior high school at last! I’m not outgoing so I’m a little anxious right now. I want to make a good first impression. Will I make any friends? What if no one talks to me?
12:30 p.m.
I just had my first maths class at senior high school! The class was difficult, but the teacher was kind and friendly. He even told us a funny story, and everyone laughed so much! I found most of my classmates and teachers friendly and helpful.
5:32 p.m.
This afternoon, we had our chemistry class in the science lab. The lab is new and the lesson was great, but the guy next to me tried to talk to me the whole time. I couldn’t concentrate on the experiment. I really wanted to tell him to please be quiet and leave me alone!
10:29 p.m.
What a day! This morning, I was worried that no one would talk to me. But I was wrong. I didn’t feel awkward or frightened at all. I miss my friends from junior high school, but I believe I will make new friends here, and there’s a lot to explore at senior high. I feel much more confident than I felt this morning. I think that tomorrow will be a great day!
1. What’s mainly talked about in the text?| A．Han Jing’s first day at junior high school. |
| B．Two classes at senior high school. |
| C．Han Jing’s first impressions of her first school day. |
| D．A first-year senior high school student. |
Han Jing’s World
Post 1(7:00 a.m.): Han Jing was
Post 2(12:30 p.m.): Han Jing felt
Post 3(5:32 p.m.): Han Jing became
Post 4(10:29 p.m.): Han Jing didn’t feel awkward or
3. How was the maths teacher?
| A．Kind and friendly. |
| B．Strict and cold. |
| C．Learned and handsome. |
| D．Outgoing and kind. |
| A．She is much more frightened. |
| B．She is afraid to go to school. |
| C．She is much more confident. |
| D．She is unwilling to make friends. |
| A．Because she didn’t like chemistry. |
| B．Because she didn’t feel well. |
| C．Because the teacher was not friendly. |
| D．Because a guy tried to talk to her all the time. |
| A．In a newspaper. |
| B．In WeChat Moments. |
| C．In a diary. |
| D．In a report. |
①I’m not outgoing so I’m a little anxious right now.
②This morning, I was worried that no one would talk to me.
③I didn’t feel awkward or frightened at all.
④I feel much more confident than I felt this morning.
8. 细读短文并找出人物描写的句子
Longji Rice Terraces
Imagine mountains wrapped in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the Longji Rice Terraces.
These terraces were built by the local Zhuang and Yao people, to whom Guangxi is home. Starting in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years, until its completion in the early Qing Dynasty. Reaching as far as the eye can see, these terraces cover tall mountains, often from the bottom to the very top.
So why did these people go to so much trouble to turn the entire mountains into terraces? Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. Building the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas in which they could grow rice. Secondly, although the region has plenty of rain, the mountains are steep and the soil is shallow. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away.
But perhaps what is most significant is the way in which people have worked in harmony with nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are cleverly designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turns it into vapour. This forms clouds from which rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again. These terraces also provide a perfect environment for birds and fish, some of which feed on insects that can harm the rice crops.
Although modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the people for whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge is passed down through families, which means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The Longji Rice Terraces will have a bright future. |
| B．How people worked in harmony with nature to create the Longji Rice Terraces. |
| C．The Longji Rice Terraces are fascinating all around the year. |
| D．The reason why Longji Rice Terraces were built. |
| A．Beautiful. | B．Common. |
| C．Just so-so. | D．Unpleasant. |
| A．The terraces’ scenery. |
| B．The terraces’ future. |
| C．The terraces’ function. |
| D．The terraces’ history. |
| A．They were built many years ago. |
| B．They have become a tourist attraction. |
| C．They were built in harmony with nature. |
| D．They have brought the locals much money. |
| A．To show the terraces are out of date. |
| B．To show the terraces are still valuable. |
| C．To show the terraces are kept better. |
| D．To show why the terraces are abandoned. |
(1)
(2)
7. 细读短文并找出文中的拟人句
(1)
(2)
The Monarch’s Journey
Many animals move from one place to another at certain times of the year. This annual movement is called migration. They migrate to find food, seek a partner, or in search of warmer weather. One of the most wonderful migrations in nature is that of the North American monarch butterfly.
Every autumn, millions of these beautiful insects with fine black and orange wings begin a long and difficult journey. Somehow they manage to travel around 4,000 kilometres south and find their way to California or Mexico. However, until recently no one knew how they did this.
A team of scientists led by Professor Eli Shlizerman at the University of Washington has now found the answer. They have found out that the monarch is able to tell the time of day. It uses its eyes to measure the position of the sun. These two pieces of information — the time of day and the point where the sun is in the sky — allow the butterfly to determine the way to go. Eventually, it manages to reach the places where it will spend the winter.
The solution to the mystery of the monarch’s amazing ability comes at a time when it is in serious trouble. Its population has crashed by as much as 90 per cent in the last few years. Sadly, human activity is the main reason why the number of monarch butterflies is falling. In many of the places where the butterfly can be found, people are destroying the natural environment. They cut down trees and use chemicals that kill the plants that monarch caterpillars eat.
The research on the monarch’s behaviour has however led to a greater awareness of this creature. People have been working together to record its migration and make sure that there are enough plants for it to feed on. If this works, there may come a time when the number of monarch butterflies increases once again. The more we know about this lovely creature, the greater the chance it will survive and keep its place in the natural world for a long time to come.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The routes of the Monarch’s migration. |
| B．The reasons of the Monarch’s migration. |
| C．The significance of the Monarch’s migration. |
| D．The study of the Monarch’s migration. |
| A．To tell us what migration is exactly. |
| B．To tell us the reasons for migration. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| D．To tell us how many animals migrate. |
| A．They may lose their way. |
| B．They can’t see anything. |
| C．They can’t find any food. |
| D．They will feel very cold. |
| A．Negative. | B．Neutral. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Positive. |
| A．Being caught by humans. |
| B．The destroyed natural environment. |
| C．The bad weather condition. |
| D．Being eaten by birds. |
(1)
(2)
CLICK FOR A FRIEND?
How would you feel if moving to a new town meant losing track of your friends? What if the only way of getting news from faraway friends was writing letters that took ages to be delivered? This was how things worked not very long ago. Thanks to advances in technology, how we make friends and communicate with them has changed significantly.
Nowadays, we can move around the world and still stay in touch with the people that we want to remain friends with. Social media tools let us see what our friends are up to and maintain friendships. All you need is a wi-fi connection.
The digital age also enables us to find people who share our interests, such as collecting model cars or playing an unusual instrument. Whatever our hobbies, the Internet can connect us with others who also enjoy doing them, even if they live on the other side of the world.
But when you “friend” people online, does this mean that they really are your friends?
It depends.
If people always exchange true personal information online, then yes, these friendships can be real and meaningful. But we need to keep in mind that what we see on social media is often not the whole truth about a person.
On social media sites, people tend to post only positive updates that make them appear happy and friendly. But smiling photos can hide real problems. Remember the saying: on the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog. A young person could be old; a woman could be a man; we could even be sharing our information with criminals.
But this doesn’t mean that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. Although technology has changed the way we acquire friends, the meaning of friendship and our longing for friends remain the same. As Aristotle said, no one would choose to live without friends, even if he had all other goods.
1. What does the text mainly talk about?| A．Disadvantages of making friends online. |
| B．Making friends on the Internet. |
| C．How to make friends on the Internet. |
| D．How to maintain friendships. |
| A．By writing letters. |
| B．By making calls. |
| C．By sending emails. |
| D．By using social media tools. |
| A．You don't exactly know who the person on the Internet is. |
| B．You may communicate with a dog on the Internet. |
| C．You can pretend to be a dog on the Internet. |
| D．You may have a chance to be a lucky dog on the Internet. |
| A．The author is in favour of making friends online. |
| B．The author thinks technology makes it hard for us to make friends. |
| C．The author thinks technology helps us maintain friendship more easily. |
| D．The author thinks the meaning of friendship has changed. |
6. 细读短文并找出文中的比喻句
