1 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic(学业的) growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.
A recent study by Brown University has shown that students who had music classes were better in math and reading skills than those without having music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on taking part in music education.
Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self-confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. Students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.
Music crosses language, class cultural and political boundaries(界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet(二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally, they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self-confidence and a common purpose through music.
The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure of having necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.
1. What can we know about education with music classes?| A．It wastes a lot of money from parents. | B．It leads to a lot of emotional problems easily. |
| C．It helps students improve their school work. | D．It has a bad influence on the quality of education. |
| A．not all students take part in music classes |
| B．students with great success attend music classes |
| C．students having music classes are better in all courses |
| D．music plays an important role in students’ academic success |
| A．Different cultures have different styles of music. |
| B．Music makes cross-country communication possible. |
| C．Japan has a good international relationship with America. |
| D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano. |
| A．Music education in schools | B．How to get music back? |
| C．Music—a bridge to understanding | D．The importance of listening to music |
2 . A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." However, that's not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn't matter if the words come from someone 's else or ourselves- -the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We 're usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn't be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This“self-talk" helps us motivate (激励) ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order lo stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying“Good job!"
Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh (刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.
Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking. we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn't pass this test, then it's better left unsaid.
Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that| A．negative words may let us down |
| B．inspiring words give us confidence |
| C．words have a lasting effect on us |
| D．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us |
| A．we can benefit from talking to ourselves |
| B．talking to ourselves always gives us courage |
| C．almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves |
| D．it does no harm to have “self-talk" when we are alone |
| A．remind ourselves |
B．give ourselves amusement |
| C．make ourselves relaxed |
| D．praise ourselves |
| A．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers |
| B．it is better to think twice before talking to others |
| C．people tend to remember friendly words |
| D．negative words may inspire us to make more progress |
3 . Covid-19 has brought a great deal of trouble for all of us since March 2020. During this time, mobile phones have been the solution for the boredom and restlessness caused from staying indoors. The most downloaded apps on play store 2020 are;
TikTok
TikTok was the most downloaded app. With over 111.9 million downloads, TikTok has seen a huge growth in 2020, twice more than what it got in 2019. 20% of its total downloads were from India and around 9. 3% of the total downloads were in the US.
Zoom
Zoom was the second most installed app in the overall downloads category. With nearly 94. 6 million installs, Zoom is the most used app for online meetings and virtual classrooms. 17% of its downloads were in the US and India. Offices and educational institutes were shut down and to continue working and studying from home, people relied heavily on Zoom for video conferencing and calling.
WhatsApp ranked third in overall downloads with more than 100 million downloads. It is one of the most popular and widely used chat applications; WhatsApp also supports communication between international phone networks.
It ranked fourth in the overall downloaded list. Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking application. Facebook builds technologies that give people the power to connect with friends and family, find communities and grow businesses.
1. What do we know about TikTok?| A．It is an India-based app. | B．It has most users in America. |
| C．It is used for growing business. | D．It has doubled its download than in 2019. |
| A．TikTok. | B．Zoom. | C．WhatsApp. | D．Facebook. |
| A．Communication. | B．Training. | C．Teaching. | D．Payment |
4 . Germany is a highly developed country.Many people think its people lead a luxurious(奢侈的) life.
One day，my friend and I
As we were
When we were leaving，the young man spoke to us in English.We
After a while，an officer from the Social Security Organization(社会保障组织) arrived.Upon knowing what had happened，he gave us a €50 fine(罚款)，which
The officer told us in a
Their attitudes to eating put both of us to
| A．entered | B．opened | C．left | D．called |
| A．still | B．even | C．already | D．only |
| A．cheap | B．simple | C．expensive | D．common |
| A．gentle | B．stupid | C．mean | D．friendly |
| A．full | B．hungry | C．honest | D．free |
| A．disagreed | B．ignored | C．understood | D．doubted |
| A．ordering | B．eating | C．serving | D．wasting |
| A．business | B．power | C．action | D．concern |
| A．slowly | B．calmly | C．exactly | D．immediately |
| A．surprised | B．upset | C．worried | D．satisfied |
| A．relaxing | B．serious | C．grateful | D．boring |
| A．Money | B．Decision | C．Right | D．Freedom |
| A．old | B．young | C．rich | D．poor |
| A．thinking about | B．suffering from | C．bringing in | D．getting along with |
| A．use | B．reason | C．need | D．way |
| A．interest | B．trouble | C．shame | D．joy |
| A．purpose | B．method | C．education | D．opinion |
| A．returns | B．shows | C．lends | D．passes |
| A．single | B．wealthy | C．important | D．special |
| A．expect | B．manage | C．afford | D．begin |
5 . A lot of travelers who are going to new cities are often told to begin their trips by a bus tour. This thinking is that they can then go to the places that
You will not only get to the
But there is a problem: What if I got lost? No one ever gets
First, know before you go.
Second, move around like a local. Use the subways and buses of the city you are
Third, check the bulletin boards. Sometimes you can find advertisements for free concert, and
So the next time you see a travel poster wishing you to have a bus tour, just save your money. Instead, wander
| A．please | B．disappoint | C．interest | D．encourage |
| A．real | B．true | C．unreal | D．common |
| A．Simply | B．Particularly | C．Generally | D．Especially |
| A．lead | B．move | C．say | D．tell |
| A．different | B．wrong | C．right | D．same |
| A．left | B．felt | C．lived | D．led |
| A．possibly | B．finally | C．hopelessly | D．terribly |
| A．worst | B．hardest | C．nicest | D．saddest |
| A．reach | B．get | C．arrive | D．stop |
| A．in case | B．as a result | C．in fact | D．even if |
| A．experience | B．conversation | C．talk | D．trip |
| A．Talk | B．Spend | C．Pay | D．Use |
| A．going | B．visiting | C．seeing | D．walking |
| A．another | B．the other | C．others | D．other |
| A．of your own | B．of yourself | C．on your own | D．on yourself |
6 . Chinese Culture Shown to the World with Love Li Ziqi, a short video blogger specializing in traditional Chinese cooking and handicrafts has gained worldwide popularity.
Li has about 20 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter，plus 7 million followers on overseas social media networks. Many foreigners say they have got to know traditional Chinese food culture via her channel.
It is the spirit of craftsmanship（技艺） behind her works that makes Li's video clips attractive. She strictly follows the authentic traditional steps and procedures in making traditional Chinese food and handicrafts, such as peach flower wine and silk, and goes to great lengths to ensure her videos are accurate. Sometimes she spends several months producing one of her videos.
Li has been inheriting（继承） traditional Chinese culture in a rather creative way. A closer look at her videos will show that they are never with any "analysis" that makes people feel bored. They just show the audience each and every detail of traditional Chinese culture so that the latter knows how Chinese live their beautiful and elegant lives. It is that universal appeal that makes her works so attractive. Thanks to Li's efforts, many intangible cultural heritages that only existed in memories and written records now appear before our eyes. Via her short videos, Li presents the image of a beautiful and friendly China.
With the growth of the Chinese economy, people overseas are showing more interest in traditional Chinese culture. Li has shown how to satisfy that interest in a good way, namely showing the best parts of traditional Chinese culture with her heart.
To effectively present the beauty of Chinese culture to the world, we need more Li Zigi.
1. What can we learn about Li Zigi's video clips?| A．They promote the sales of Chinese food and handicrafts. |
| B．They attract a large number of foreigners to visit her online shop. |
| C．They aim to introduce traditional Chinese food culture and handicrafts worldwide. |
| D．They are based on her family's recipes of making traditional Chinese food. |
| A．Analysis of Chinese culture in Li's videos makes people bored. |
| B．Details and accuracy play significant roles in the success of Li's videos. |
| C．Li makes sure all of her video clips are short enough to be downloaded. |
| D．Cultural heritages usually exist in memories and written records. |
| A．nonphysical | B．inaccessible | C．invaluable | D．unnoticeable |
| A．To provide guidance on cooking and making handicrafts. |
| B．To suggest a way of attracting more followers on Sina Weibo. |
| C．To give an example of how to gain worldwide popularity as a short video blogger. |
| D．To encourage more people to make efforts to bring Chinese culture to the world. |
7 . Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person.” said the 30-year-old man.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19thcentury explorer John Muir once said. “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.
1. Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?| A．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| D．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
| A．you have to make things on your own. |
| B．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others. |
| C．you can only depend on yourself whatever happens. |
| D．it will finally build your character. |
| A．He started traveling alone at an early age. |
| B．He was once shot in the arm. |
| C．He used to work as a salesman. |
| D．His website will inspire others to travel alone. |
| A．Travel Abroad | B．Travel Alone |
| C．Travel Light | D．Travel Wide and Far |
8 . A Portland, Oregon man has become the first person to travel across Antarctica by himself without receiving any assistance.
Colin O’Brady has completed the 1,500-kilometer trip. He crossed the continent in 54 days. Friends, family and other people followed his progress through messages and pictures he left on social media.
O’Brady spoke with his wife Jenna Besaw by telephone soon after he completed the journey. “It was an emotional call,” she said. “He seemed overwhelmed by love and appreciation, and he really wanted to say ‘thank you’ to all of us.”
The 33-year-old O’Brady documented the trip on the social networking services Instagram. He called his journey “The Impossible First”. He wrote that he traveled the last 129 kilometers in one big, final push to the finish line. The distance took over one day to complete. O’Brady wrote, “While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced.”
The day before, he wrote that he was “in the zone” and thought he could make it to the end without stopping. “I was listening to my body and taking care of the details to keep myself safe,” he wrote. “I called home and talked to my mom, sister and wife. I promised them I would stop when I need to.”
Other people have traveled across Antarctica, but they all had some form of assistance. They either had better, more plentiful supplies or devices that helped move them forward.
In 2016, British explorer Henry Worsley died in his attempt to travel alone across Antarctica unassisted. Worsley’s friend Louis Rudd, also from Britain, is attempting an unaided solo journey in Worsley’s honor. He was competing against O’Brady to be the first to do it. Besaw told the Associated Press that her husband plans to stay in Antarctica until Rudd finishes his trip.
1. What did O’Brady think of his journey in Antarctica?| A．It was pleasant. | B．It was discouraging. |
| C．It was impossible to complete. | D．It was hard to complete. |
| A．Making sure of his safety. | B．Trying to achieve the goal. |
| C．Keeping in touch with them. | D．Stopping the travel halfway. |
| A．To wait for another explorer. | B．To compete with others. |
| C．To help other explorers. | D．To make his victory recognized. |
| A．The Antarctic Continent | B．The Impossible First |
| C．Traveling in Antarctica | D．An Incomplete Journey |
9 . It had been a month since anything had happened to brighten my day. I had just moved to a(n)
A week before Halloween, I opened my mailbox and
I put the pumpkin on my coffee table,
As the days passed, I
Can you guess what I did in October? After learning a neighbor was sad about her job
| A．busy | B．unique | C．strange | D．impressive |
| A．silly | B．lonely | C．shocked | D．honored |
| A．secretly | B．finally | C．amazingly | D．successfully |
| A．request | B．clue | C．goal | D．wish |
| A．tell | B．hide | C．identify | D．ask |
| A．annoying | B．exciting | C．suitable | D．warm |
| A．deciding | B．wondering | C．asking | D．worrying |
| A．sent | B．bought | C．packed | D．transported |
| A．searching | B．singing | C．smiling | D．waiting |
| A．concerned | B．hopeful | C．confused | D．curious |
| A．competed for | B．looked for | C．related to | D．adapted to |
| A．better | B．more emotional | C．fitter | D．more confident |
| A．difference | B．mistake | C．decision | D．contribution |
| A．required | B．showed | C．insisted | D．repeated |
| A．chance | B．growth | C．loss | D．application |
10 . About the Irish Experience
The Irish Experience is a program for North American high school students. This program takes place over a four-week period in July. For two weeks the students will live in the beautiful university town of Cork in the South of Ireland. They will attend classes in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
Traditional Irish music is alive in Cork City and can be heard most nights in some of the pubs in the city centre. There are several theatres in the city. A visit to one of these will be part of our schedule. Cork is also the gateway to the beautiful south-west part of Ireland and we will be taking in all the sights of West Cork and Kerry.
The other two weeks will be spent at University College Dublin, a short bus ride from the centre of Dublin, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe with one of the youngest populations — almost 50% of the city`s people are under 25 years old. Staying at student apartments on the university campuses, students will have the opportunity to meet young people of many different nationalities.
The students will enjoy a true Celtic cultural experience and a sense of Irish history and culture through guided tours to various historical sites in Dublin—The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare and the Neolithic passage tombs in Newgrange, County Meath.
1. What can we learn about the Irish Experience?| A．It admits college students. | B．It is hosted by universities. |
| C．It`s a summer study abroad program. | D．It aims to advertise universities in Ireland. |
| A．They will visit a theatre. | B．They will study at West Cork. |
| C．They will play live music at a pub. | D．They will spend a whole night at a pub. |
| A．It is the oldest city in the world. | B．It has a very young population. |
| C．It attracts people under 25 years old. | D．It has people of different nationalities. |
