1 . A Cappella Competition
Do you love to sing?
Come and show off your talents at the Chilton Youth A Cappella Competition
October 20th, 11:00-17:00
Edward Greatcoat Theater, Sealey Road, Chilton
Rules
Please remember that this is a cappella (清唱) competition!
No instruments or recorded music will be allowed.
Competitors may sing published or original songs in any style.
Competitors must be between 8 and 15 years old.
There are four categories (类)：
Solo (8 — 11 years old)
Solo (12 — 15 years old)
Group (8 — 11 years old)
Group (12 — 15 years old)
Competitors under 2 years old must stay with a parent or other adult at all times.
Each competitor must pay an entry fee of $10.
Winners will receive $500 and a course of 20 lessons with famous voice teacher Vickie Leonard.
Winners will be decided by three judges from the Chilton School of Music. Their decision is final.
Additional information
Please arrive at the Edward Greatcoat Theater between 9:00 and 10:00 to register, as the competition will start at 11:00. The parking lot has limited spaces so you are advised to come as early as possible.
Shared dressing rooms with showers will be provided for all competitors.
Tickets for the competition are available at the theater from October 1st. There is no charge for these, but again, spaces are limited.
1. What is the purpose of this text?| A．To invite people to a concert. |
| B．To attract more visitors to the theater. |
| C．To offer free singing lessons. |
| D．To tell about a singing competition. |
| A．Showers. |
| B．Tickets. |
| C．Instruments. |
| D．Music lessons |
| A．Competitors shouldn’t be more than 15 years old. |
| B．Competitors can’t park their car at the theater. |
| C．Competitors shouldn’t go into the theater dressing rooms. |
| D．Competitors can’t sing a song written by themselves. |
2 . A club called We Dine Together was formed at Boca High School in Florida last autumn. During each lunch period,
Estimon, who came to the US from Haiti in the first grade, is one of four students who
“When I first arrived, I had a great feeling of loneliness, which was more
Allie, who also helped organize the club, got emotional while
“It’s not a good feeling—you’re
Since the club was founded, dozens of
| A．members | B．researchers | C．teachers | D．graduates |
| A．politely | B．silently | C．alone | D．slowly |
| A．supported | B．chose | C．improved | D．created |
| A．special | B．weak | C．smart | D．new |
| A．ignored | B．rejected | C．separated | D．misunderstood |
| A．serious | B．academic | C．similar | D．usual |
| A．terrible | B．familiar | C．important | D．dangerous |
| A．show | B．form | C．start | D．change |
| A．imagining | B．remembering | C．recognizing | D．understanding |
| A．on the top | B．by yourself | C．at risk | D．around the corner |
| A．learn | B．mention | C．know | D．experience |
| A．praises | B．cares | C．follows | D．admits |
| A．ideas | B．connections | C．circles | D．greetings |
| A．anyway | B．therefore | C．otherwise | D．meanwhile |
| A．celebrate | B．gain | C．share | D．continue |
3 . We know more about the surface of the planet Mars than we know about what is at the bottom of Earth’s oceans. Until recently, scientists had mapped only about 20 percent of the sea floor. But our knowledge of the deep sea is changing because of information from satellites. Scientists have produced a new map that provides a detailed picture of the oceans.
The new map is twice as detailed as the map made 20 years ago. David Sandwell is a geophysics professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceangraphy at the University of California. He and other scientists worked on the mapping project. He says they turned to space to look deeper into the ocean.
“The way we’re doing that is to use a satellite altimeter (测高仪) a radar (雷达) to map the topography (地形) of the ocean surface.”
The scientists collected and studied information from two satellites. One was the European Space Agency’s Cryo-2 satellite that was placed in Earth’s orbit to watch sea ice. The other satellite is the American space agancy’s Jason-1, studying the surface of the oceans. Scientists combined the satellite data with images gathered by equipment on ships. The equipment works by sending sound waves through the water. When the sound waves hit something, its existence is confirmed.
The new map shows the sea floor as it has never been seen before. In one place ,three mountain ridges (山脊) join at the same area. “It’s called the Indian Ocean Triple Junction. It’s one of my favorite spots in the ocean. You have three plates — the African plate, and the Indo-Asutralian plate and the Antarctic plate — all connected at this one point in the center of the Indian Ocean,” says David Sandwel.
The map is powerful tool for those interested in protecting the environment and for oil exploration. It also can help ships travel safely and improve scientific projects worldwide. Of course, scientists will make many more discoveries as they examine the new map and the information it provides.
1. What makes the production of the new ocean map possible?| A．The need for more knowledge of the earth. | B．Europe’s working together with America. |
| C．Scientists’ measuring work under the sea. | D．They changed over to outer space research. |
| A．They used space technology to map the oceans. | B．They wanted the satellite to produce the map. |
| C．They went into space to explore the oceans. | D．They changed over to outer space research. |
| A．The function of sound waves. | B．The differences of two satellites. |
| C．The difficulties of mapping the oceans. | D．The process of mapping the ocean floor. |
| A．How to Explore the Deep Sea. | B．How to Get Pictures of the Ocean. |
| C．Scientists Create New Maps of Ocean Floor. | D．Much of the Sea Floor Waits for Exploration. |
4 . What makes a person a giver or taker? The idea of “give vs. take” take shape in all interactions and relationships of our lives. We’re either giving advice, making time for people, or we’re on the receiving end. We keep changing between the two based on different situations on a daily basis, if not a hourly one.
According to Adam Grant, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, most people are matchers. They make careful observations on takers and make it a point for them to pay something back. They hate to see people who act so generously towards others not receive any rewards. Actually, most matchers will try hard to promote and support givers so that they can get the good they should get.
Is there a gender factor (性别因素) that plays a part in this?
A study led by Hannah Riley Bowles, a professor at Harvard University, focused on this question. She asked 200 senior managers to sit down in pairs where one person would act as the boss and the other as a worker to discuss salary promotions. Male “workers” asked for an average salary of $146k while the females asked for only $141k. But why did they not bargain as hard as the men? Simply because they were more likely to be givers.
As a woman, I do enjoy the act of giving up my time, my knowledge, and my care and attention to others. I don’t expect anything in return, but I do tend to pull myself away when I feel like I’m being taken for granted (理所当然). I also tend to get upset when I see a loved one’s continuous actions of kindness go unnoticed. So, it’s safe to say I’m 50% giver, 35% matcher and 15% taker.
I do know someone, however, who is 99% giver. They’re constantly giving their time, sharing valuable ideas and going our of their way for everyone who crosses their path. Although they’re changed the lives of many people , they rarely see any of it returned. But the universe is slowly repaying them; they’re now extremely successful, well known for what they do.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Most people think they are givers. |
| B．People are not always givers or takers. |
| C．An individual is born to be a giver or a taker. |
| D．Few differences exist between givers and takers. |
| A．They hate themselves for being givers. |
| B．They see no point in giving generously. |
| C．They do not like being treated unfairly. |
| D．They want to balance giving and taking. |
| A．The role of giving and taking in jobs. |
| B．The gender difference in giving and taking |
| C．The role of men and women in society. |
| D．The salary difference between women and men. |
| A．Giving is the shortest path to success. |
| B．Sharing is the greatest human quality. |
| C．No good deed goes undone. |
| D．Givers are worth respecting. |
5 . The inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Bemers-Lee, has won an important award which comes with a prize bag of one million Euros (₤671,000). The “Father of the Web” was named as the first winner of the Millennium Technology Prize by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation. He said he had just been “in the right place at the right time” and did not want his photo taken.
In 1991, he came up with a system to organize, connect and browser (浏览) Net pages which completely changed the internet. The British scientist was knighted (封爵士) for his pioneering work in 2003.
Sir Tim created his program while he was at the particle physics institute (粒子物理研究院), Cem, in Geneva. The computer code he came up with let scientists easily share research findings across a computer network. In the early 1990s, it was called the “World Wide Web”, and is still the basis of the web as we know it.
The famous man never went on to commercialize his work. Instead he worked on spreading the use of the Net as a channel for free expression and cooperation.
“The web is encouraging new types of social networks and opening up new ways for information management and business development. The web has obviously improved many people’s ability to obtain information central to their lives,” said Pekka Tarjanne, chairman of the Millennuim Technology Prize award committee.
Just under 80 people from 22 countries were nominated (提名) for the prize for their work in the areas of health, communication, new materials and the environment.
The Millennuim Technology Prize was set up by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation, an independent body backed by the public and private money which aims to recognize outstanding creations.
Sir Tim currently heads up the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, where he is now based as an academic.
1. What can be learned from the first paragraph?| A．Bemers-Lee was the first to receive the Prize. |
| B．Bemers-Lee’s sense of timing led to his success. |
| C．Bemers-Lee was the one who invented the internet. |
| D．Bemers-Lee was awarded one million pounds. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Modest. | C．Humorous. | D．Careful. |
| A．To enable more people to use the Net. | B．To win more honors and prizes. |
| C．To earn more money to better his life. | D．To set up a company himself. |
| A．The Millennium Technology Prize | B．The History of the Internet |
| C．The World Wide Web | D．An Honor for the Web’s Inventor |
6 . Chloe Smith is a girl aged 6 from Atlanta, Georgia. One day, while taking a walk with her father near their home, she
The medal belongs to former canoeist (划艇运动员) Joe Jacobi, who won gold while
Chloe’s dad had seen Jacobi’s story on the news, and
Chloe was
| A．sought | B．buried | C．noticed | D．dropped |
| A．waste | B．object | C．material | D．antique |
| A．embarrassed | B．satisfied | C．frightened | D．shocked |
| A．competing | B．applying | C．coaching | D．preparing |
| A．broken | B．stolen | C．replaced | D．deserted |
| A．purchase | B．register | C．preserve | D．recover |
| A．secured | B．prized | C．advertised | D．priced |
| A．project | B．decision | C．habit | D．idea |
| A．quickly | B．gradually | C．really | D．carefully |
| A．identifying | B．obtaining | C．evaluating | D．investigating |
| A．sorry | B．eager | C．upset | D．hesitant |
| A．In addition | B．In fact | C．In return | D．In advance |
| A．purpose | B．report | C．attempt | D．story |
| A．heart-warming | B．breath-taking | C．eye-catching | D．life-changing |
| A．important | B．simple | C．interesting | D．right |
7 . This year marks the 20th anniversary of China’s first manned space mission, with Yang Liwei becoming the first Chinese astronaut to go to space. Since then, another 19 astronauts have reached for the stars. The selection of the fourth generation of astronauts began in 2022 and is now in full swing. Experts revealed how tough the training is before astronauts can fly to space.
The human body is not designed for space life. Astronauts are faced with multiple challenges on a space mission. The changes in gravity can have an impact on their bodies. The sensation of confinement(封闭)living in a small spacecraft for months can damage their mental health. Emergencies during missions challenge their knowledge and ability to solve problems under huge pressure. So it’s no wonder that astronauts have to meet extremely high standards and go through a tough training program.
To make sure that Chinese astronauts complete their missions and return to Earth safely, “Eight types, including over 200 subjects of training, were set,” Huang Weifen, chief designer of the astronaut system for China’s manned space project, told CCTV News. Apart from physical fitness training, it also includes basic scientific theories, psychological health, and mock(模拟)missions.
Among the training subjects, the most tiring one is underwater training. This training is designed for astronauts to adapt to the microgravity environment in space. According to Huang, astronauts stay underwater in suits weighing over 100 kilograms for six hours at a time. Water resistance(阻力)and the heavy suit make every move exhausting. “Nie Haisheng, one of the astronauts, once reported a two-kilogram loss in weight after one underwater training exercise,” said Huang. Each astronaut receives training for at least three and a half years before having the chance to go to space.
1. How many generations of Chinese astronauts have been sent to space?| A．3 | B．4 | C．19 | D．20 |
| A．Human body is perfect for space exploration. |
| B．The spacecraft has enough space for astronauts to operate. |
| C．Astronauts ought to complete missions under huge pressure. |
| D．The isolated condition in space benefits people’s mental health. |
| A．To stress how challenging the training is. | B．To describe Nie’s personal achievements. |
| C．To introduce the weight limit for astronauts. | D．To explain the importance of proper training. |
| A．Microgravity environment cause health problems. |
| B．Astronauts need tough training to meet various challenges. |
| C．China has completed numerous missions in space exploration. |
| D．Experts reveals the high standards of selection process of astronauts. |
8 . Argentina lies in the South America. There are many festivals in Argentina during the year. Therefore, you can enjoy the different interesting festivals when traveling there.
First of all, we should talk about the Tango (探戈) Festival inArgentina, which is held in the capital of this country — Buenos Aires, from February to March. You ought to know that Argentina is the home of tango, so Argentinians admire this dance very much. Even if you cannot dance perfectly, you should join the people and try to perform this dance.
The next festival in Argentina is Open Polo (马球) Tournament. You should go to Palermo to see this festival in Argentina. This festival is held every year and is the most important polo tournament in Argentina.This kind of sport is considered the most important in Argentina.
Attending this festival in Argentina, you will be able to communicate with different people and admire the fascinating competition between the teams of different countries, such as Argentina, England, Australia, as well as the US. This festival in Argentina is usually held between November and December every year. So don’t miss the opportunity if you travel to Argentina at this time.
The other festival in Argentina is the Semana Musical Liao Liao. This is a festival of classical music. The festival was created in 1993 and is held at the Liao Liao Hotel, near Bariloche. The festival is held yearly in October. So if you admire this kind of music, you should travel toArgentina in October.
There are also many carnivals in Argentina in summer. Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about festivals in Argentina into just one article. We hope that you have found this article interesting and eye-catching.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．Entertainments in Argentina | B．Festivals in Argentina |
| C．Travel to Argentina | D．A brief introduction to Argentina |
| A．is organized by the government |
| B．welcomes everyone to take part in it |
| C．is held in summer |
| D．holds parties for different dances |
| A．Open Polo Tournament. | B．Every carnival in Argentina. |
| C．The Tango Festival. | D．The Semana Musical Liao Liao. |
| A．Buenos Aires in spring | B．Palermo in April |
| C．Palermo in winter | D．Bariloche in October |
9 . When my son was eleven years old, he came home from school in tears one day. A couple of the older kids bullied (欺负) him at the bus stop. Rob wanted to stay home from school, so he wouldn’t have to meet the boys.
We called the school. “We’ll be happy to call the boys’ parents,” We were told, “And you should call the police.” “We don’t know what we will do yet.” I said. I felt that calling the police was a choice to be used when everything else failed, and I wanted first to consider other ways of dealing with the situation, I asked him to hold off calling the boys’ parents.
The next day was Saturday. Rob happened to look our of the window and said in fer, “There are the boys who beat me up!” Two older boys were standing in front of our house, as if they were waiting for Rob to step outside.
My wife Bev opened the door and said with a smile, “Hi guys. Would you like some ice cream?” They looked at each other in puzzlement. But they were teenagers, after all, so one of them said, “Sure. Why not?”
Bev quickly introduced herself, Rob’s younger brothers and me. She even introduced Rusty, the dog. “And I think you already know Rob,” She said. Her idea was to help them to see that Rob was a person, not a target. He had a family and even owned a family pet.
Bev drew the boys into chat while we ate ice cream. After a few minutes, she said, “I know there’s been some trouble at the bus stop. I think there may be a misunderstanding.” They nodded that there had indeed been trouble at the bus stop. She continued, “Maybe we can talk about the misunderstanding, so you can be friends.” We talked until the ice cream was finished. Finally the boys apologized.
Understanding is a difficult task. It may be easier to control conflict by force than to find a way to cooperate. Force can calm a situation. But understanding leads to peace.
1. Why didn’t the writer call the police?| A．He feared his son would be bullied again. |
| B．He meant to try some other ways to solve it first. |
| C．The police wouldn’t take the bullying seriously. |
| D．The school promised to call the boys’ parents. |
| A．They couldn’t refuse the attraction of ice cream. |
| B．They could be cheated into telling the truth. |
| C．They dared to face any challenges bravely. |
| D．They were too young to understand the invitation. |
| A．To give the dog to the boys as a gift. |
| B．To advise the boys to have a family pet. |
| C．To expect the boys to treat Rob kindly. |
| D．To show off the wealth of the family. |
| A．fond of children |
| B．angry with the boys |
| C．skilled at making ice cream |
| D．good at making peace |
10 . The village super league, or “Cun Chao” in Chinese, is a soccer game among different villages in Rongjiang county, Guizhou Province, and it is so down-to-earth but popular that it has attracted not only the attention of football legend Michael Owen but also millions of Chinese netizens (网民), who are paying attention to this non-professional football league.
The players come from a variety of backgrounds. They are vendors, drivers, students, carpenters, tilers, former butchers, and brick factory workers. Their ages range from 15 to over 40 years old. At the game site, representatives wearing various traditional national costumes play national musical instruments and enter the field with the players, and perform songs and dances.
“This kind of football game is natural and with ‘pureness’ and it is driven by the love of the ordinary people not the economic benefits. The game is providing not only values of sports, but also a way of socializing with low costs,” an expert noted. This kind of atmosphere is very rarely seen and is treasured, especially for people in urban areas who are getting increasingly busy and under great work pressure, and when they look at the fun, relaxing and down-to-earth way of life in the countryside, they will naturally be interested, experts said. There is at least one good effect brought by the “Cun Chao” to Chinese soccer—to make more people see the pureness of joy and encourage them to play soccer.
Today, more and more grassroots sports events are held in the mountains and are using sports as a medium to showcase the unique charm of the local area, reflecting an energetic lifestyle filled with agricultural activities and rural fun.
1. Why does the author mention Michael Owen in Paragraph 1?| A．To show he is a household name in China. |
| B．To voice his view on modern soccer game. |
| C．To show the great popularity (流行) of “Cun Chao”. |
| D．To stress the importance of “Cun Chao”. |
| A．They are from all walks of life. |
| B．Seniors are welcome to join the team. |
| C．They are able to play national musical instruments. |
| D．They wear traditional costumes on the soccer field. |
| A．Slow-paced (慢节奏的). | B．Highly stressed. |
| C．High-cost. | D．Nonprofitable. |
| A．The village super league wins the hearts of Chinese. |
| B．The village super league: From nobody to somebody. |
| C．The village super league bridges the countryside and the city. |
| D．The village super league promises the future of Chinese soccer. |
