1 . Friday and Saturday were full of surprises for Chinese, as two places in China were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first, a World Natural Heritage, is made up of a series of migratory bird sanctuaries (候鸟保护地) along the coast of the Yellow Sea in Yancheng, East China’s Jiangsu Province. The second, the Liangzhu Archaeological Site in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site.
China began the application process for the bird sanctuaries in 2017. It only took two years to successfully complete the process. The migratory bird sanctuaries are the central point of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and many endangered species, especially threatened migratory birds including red-crowned cranes and flamingos, go there to hunt for food during the migration season. The birds usually take a month to finish their migration. At about 10 days into their migration, they must stop and find food in order to have the energy to continue their journey.
Compared to the short period for the World Natural Heritage’s application, the Liangzhu application was far more challenging. The application team spent six years making their dream a reality. The site in Liangzhu is evidence of the existence of an early regional state in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the late Neolithic (新石器) period in China, which helps fill in the gaps in the history of the rice-cultivating (种植) civilizations of China and East Asia more than 5000 years ago. The site was one of the 20th century’s most important archaeological discoveries in China.
With these two new additions, China now has 55 World Heritage sites, the highest number in the world. The successful application means greater responsibility and duties. Protecting these places is much more important and is our future work.
1. What do you know about the World Natural Heritage?| A．Its application process is comparatively easier. |
| B．It provides safe fixed habitats for endangered species. |
| C．It’s located along the coast of the Yellow River. |
| D．It prevents red-crowned cranes from finishing their migration. |
| A．By creating warm places to produce baby birds. |
| B．By keeping them from being killed by hunters. |
| C．By providing food supplies during their migration. |
| D．By offering treatment to the endangered birds after their journey. |
| A．It shows the long history of China. | B．It proves the wisdom of the people. |
| C．It sees the civilization of an age. | D．It introduces the food culture of the late Neolithic. |
| A．China’s tourism industry has received greater promotion. |
| B．China’s responsibility is getting bigger after the successful application. |
| C．China’s history has been deeply influenced by these two places. |
| D．China’s performance in protecting World Heritage Sites is the best. |
2 . According to related new research, tropical cyclones (热带气旋), from hurricanes to typhoons, are moving more slowly across the globe than they did decades ago, meaning that they get more destructive power and last longer.
It may seem like a good thing that cyclones pace at a slower speed, but in fact it’s not the case. Although the cyclones are moving slower across the ground, they still get high wind speeds inside, which makes hard rains stay longer over communities.
“Nothing good comes out of a slowing storm,” says James Kossin, a climate scientist, “It can increase the amount of time that buildings are suffering strong wind. And it increases rainfall.”
According to Kossin’s findings, changing storm patterns (模式) is causing greater destruction in another way. He noted that the speed of global tropical cyclones slowed by an average of 10 percent from 1949 to 2016. The pace of the storms slowed even more as they made landfall in some regions (地区). In the western North Pacific, it slowed down by nearly a third. That means there will be more time for a storm that may already contain large quantities of water to give off more of it in each place.
Basing his research on the details of nearly 70 years’ worth of storms, Kossin did not try to determine the cause of the slowdown. Even so, the change is the expected result of climate change, just as he and other cyclone experts said.
Kossin’s work was considered to be “important and new” and “pretty reasonable” by Christina Patricola, who has been studying this issue.
It is Kossin’s hope that a model (模型) showing which communities are likely to be at the highest danger could be developed by scientists. Given that in some areas, the storms are moving poleward (极地) and gaining in strength as well, places not normally passed by could be affected by unusually heavy rainfall as a result. “These are not good things to be put together,” he says.
1. Why do cyclones pacing more slowly cause more destruction?| A．They get higher wind speeds outside. |
| B．They cause more serious climate change. |
| C．They move poleward in a faster speed. |
| D．They make rains stay longer in a place. |
| A．The speed of the storms there slows more. | B．It has much wetter air than other areas. |
| C．It has higher danger of being hit by storms. | D．The storms there cause greater damage. |
| A．To attract more attention to research on storms. |
| B．To stress the importance of studying storms. |
| C．To suggest she is a leading scientist in this field. |
| D．To show that Kossin’s work has been recognized. |
| A．Agriculture. | B．Science. | C．Health. | D．Education. |
3 . Russ Miller, 36, from Ohio, was first found ill with a serious disease when he was just 26. The condition attacked joints (关节)，making it more and more difficult for him to do everyday tasks.
“My hands are not shaped properly and I can’t manipulate them normally,”said Miller in a letter to the company. “I can no longer use normal computer keyboards and it’s hard for me to even hold a pen anymore.”
Russ’ condition worsened at fast speed, which resulted in him living on the streets in Florida for 4 years —but in 2018, he started trying to turn his life around.
“I was trying to get help and get myself out of my situation. I had a phone, but I had difficulty typing on normal keyboards... So I started looking for different smartphone keyboards. I found Typewise by accident.”
Russ thinks much of the Typewise smartphone keyboard for it enables him to “get his life back”by giving him freedom to communicate with people, get help, get an apartment and even get a job.
“Because I was able to type on my phone again, I was able to use social media to reach out to an organization that helps people with disabilities.”
It’s the specially designed keyboard that Russ finds a lot easier to use. “I can move my fingers around and don’t mess things up as often.”
“Now I have a part-time job where I take care of dogs and cats. I can’t work full-time because of my physical problems, but at least I have something to do and something to look forward to.”
1. What does the underlined word “manipulate” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Control. | B．Wave. | C．Touch. | D．Wash. |
| A．To enable Russ to live better than before. |
| B．To enable Russ’ fingers to move more quickly. |
| C．To enable Russ to do anything easily. |
| D．To enable Russ to find more people like him. |
| A．Helpless and boring. | B．Encouraging and easy. |
| C．Satisfying and hopeful. | D．Active and busy. |
| A．Illness is never an excuse. | B．Communication is powerful. |
| C．The keyboard contributes to life. | D．A homeless man rebuilt his life. |
4 . Four famous classic Italian writers
When speaking of Italian literature, many people come up with Dante. But there are many other famous Italian authors. Below are four recommended writers and their masterpieces.
Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533)
Ariosto is best known for his epic (史诗般的) poem Orlando Furioso, which was published in 1977. As a poet always with new ideas, Ariosto invented the way of “singing the poem to the audience”. The poem presents a rich variety of characters, which has been an encouragement for many paintings and musical works.
Italo Calvino (1923-1985)
Calvino was the author of If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler published in 1979. The novel differs from others for its unique description of a frame story - a unifying story within which several tales are related. It has encouraged musicians like Sting to create their works. At the time of his death in 1985, Calvino was one of the world’s most translated Italian writers.
Umberto Eco (1932-2016)
Eco wrote The Name of the Rose, a historical murder mystery (神秘) novel published in 1980. In the story, he skilfully applied the use of signs and symbols to it. A number of his books deal with the meaning and understanding of communication.
Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873)
Manzoni is most famous for his novel The Betrothed published in 1827. The novel was regarded to be connected with Risorgimento, the Italian unification movement(统一运动) in the 19th century. Probably we can say, without this great novelist and this masterpiece of world literature, Italy wouldn’t be Italy.
1. What do Orlando Furioso and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler have in common?| A．They have both influenced musical works. |
| B．They both have related characters and stories. |
| C．They were both published in the same year. |
| D．They are both translated into many languages. |
| A．A unique describing style. | B．A mix of new ideas. |
| C．The use of signs and symbols. | D．The history of a movement. |
| A．Ludovico Ariosto. | B．Italo Calvino. | C．Umberto Eco. | D．Alessandro Manzoni. |
5 . During that special period, lockdown and homesickness combined to leave me feeling lonely and longing to meet people. So, when I received an email inviting volunteers to join the university’s graduate students’ society, I was mentally disturbed (不安的). While I originally worried that extracurricular activities would take my focus away from my Ph.D. work, my professor considered it a chance to make connections with others and encouraged me to have a try.
I looked through the list of the open volunteer roles. Then a newly developed company matching graduate students with internships (实习职位) caught my eye. The program needed coordinators (协调员) to help bring in industry partners and work with the university administration and student applicants. The opportunity to interact with different groups was inviting to me, so I decided to apply in spite of my lack of relevant experience.
The first few weeks in my new role were challenging. Along with my normal Ph.D.work, I was suddenly managing a team of four volunteers and arranging virtual meetings. Luckily, the director was supportive. It turned out that the interactions became enjoyable and rewarding.
I also learned a lot from my members. One day, a member came to me, feeling upset that I wasn’t including her more fully in decision-making. I was upset too; didn’t she trust my leadership? After calming down, I saw that she had a point. I reached out to other team members, getting a similar reply. Then I began to ask them to lead some meetings and encouraged them to express their views. This new approach allowed us to meet our targets while keeping everyone happy.
Besides, my work with the graduate students’ society unexpectedly broadened my mind. Before I joined, I only knew about academic career paths, and I assumed that was my future. But when one professional asked me what I would like to achieve, I began to think about what is the most important thing. I now know I want to make a direct, measurable impact. Getting closer to completing my Ph.D., I’m approaching job searches, clear about my expectations.
1. How did the author feel about the volunteer invitation at first?| A．Excited. | B．Hesitant. |
| C．Hopeful. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Explaining her idea to the director. |
| B．Communicating with the university students. |
| C．Handling relationships with her team members. |
| D．Balancing her academic tasks and volunteer work. |
| A．She realized her disadvantages in leadership. |
| B．She expressed her complaint to other members. |
| C．She had to face competition in team management. |
| D．She persuaded her team members to change their views. |
| A．Wise and humorous. | B．Confident and generous. |
| C．Caring and easy-going. | D．Competitive and self-centered. |
6 . Several months ago, a tornado fiercely hit our city without any signs before. We hadn’t
Never did I imagine that we would put our regular
I couldn’t
Because of the tornado, I realized that my job as a teacher meant a lot. Behind every well-behaved students are a long line of teachers who have made it their life’s
| A．paid | B．searched | C．accounted | D．prepared |
| A．agency | B．education | C．emergency | D．selection |
| A．suddenly | B．finally | C．secretly | D．immediately |
| A．games | B．trainings | C．languages | D．saving |
| A．mixed up | B．stood out | C．lined up | D．spoken out |
| A．fear | B．anger | C．shame | D．shock |
| A．encounter | B．comfort | C．satisfy | D．praise |
| A．problem | B．result | C．success | D．reason |
| A．hate | B．expect | C．see | D．approach |
| A．simple | B．ideal | C．scary | D．strange |
| A．follow | B．provide | C．repeat | D．change |
| A．fortunate | B．honest | C．confident | D．brave |
| A．trust | B．pride | C．interest | D．growth |
| A．reward | B．power | C．wisdom | D．goal |
| A．chances | B．challenges | C．adventures | D．discussions |
7 . Today was another enlightening day at my new American school. Back in China, lunchtime is a
The bell rang, and everyone
And the nap? Forget about it. There’s no
At first, I felt quite sleepy in the afternoon classes. I
But then I noticed something. Even without the nap, my classmates were hardly tired. Perhaps they’re used to this fast schedule, or maybe they
I’m beginning to
| A．cherished | B．productive | C．fixed | D．secure |
| A．fight | B．recharge | C．depress | D．evaluate |
| A．narrow | B．secret | C．desperate | D．peaceful |
| A．march | B．test | C．race | D．game |
| A．paraded | B．wandered | C．leapt | D．rushed |
| A．logical | B．sufficient | C．limited | D．solid |
| A．excuse | B．initiative | C．category | D．access |
| A．concept | B．application | C．competence | D．knowledge |
| A．scary | B．odd | C．awkward | D．shallow |
| A．replaced | B．engaged | C．missed | D．exposed |
| A．operate | B．insist | C．concentrate | D．reflect |
| A．consider | B．anticipate | C．grasp | D．imagine |
| A．regularly | B．hurriedly | C．properly | D．literally |
| A．agreement | B．interaction | C．contrary | D．contrast |
| A．manner | B．circumstance | C．fault | D．challenge |
8 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Energetic. | B．Dangerous. | C．Romantic | D．Famous. |
| A．Do proper exercise. | B．Enjoy the rest of her life. |
| C．Spend more time with her family | D．Keep away (远离) from traveling |
| A．It was her last adventure. | B．She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
| C．She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D．It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
| A．A business trip to China | B．Stroke, a dangerous disease |
| C．How I overcame the fear of disease | D．Why I still travel to the wild |
9 . Robots really are taking over the world. They’re writing novels— the first was 1 the Road, a cyborg’s homage to Jack Kerouac published in 2018. And they’re making lunch: The California restaurant chain Cali Burger is trying out a robot that can flip 2, 000 burgers a day. What human can compete--especially given that robots don’t complain, ask for raises, or get drunk at the office Christmas party?
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the invention of the word robot by the Czech playwright Karel Capek, we thought it would be fun to take a look at another side of robotkind, one that’s all too human. Here’re two failed attempts by robots to replace us flesh-and-bone types.
A few years back, the Hennna Hotel in Nagasaki, Japan, hired 243 robots to cover positions ranging from receptionists to bellboys. Unfortunately, the check-in robots had trouble answering guests’ questions and photocopying passports, while bellboy robots kept banging into walls and tripping over curbs. One in-room assistant sprang to attention every time a lodger snored, saying, “Sorry, I couldn’t catch that. Could you repeat your request?” Not long after the experiment began, the hotel "fired" half of the malfunctioning robots. And they didn’t get their tips, either.
Facial recognition software has one problem— it can’t always recognize faces. The American Civil Liberties Union proved that point when it used the Amazon Rekognition software to match mug shots of criminals to 28 members of Congress. But what about soccer ball recognition? During a match last year, the Scottish soccer team Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC unveiled AI-programmed video cameras designed to automatically follow the ball. Alas, the cameras constantly mistook the referee’s bald head for the soccer ball. One helpful viewer called the team to suggest supplying the referee with a cap.
1. Why did the hotel fire as many as half of the robots they had hired?| A．Because they cost much more than they earned. |
| B．Because they didn’t answer their guests’ questions. |
| C．Because they often disturbed their customers. |
| D．Because they failed to do their jobs as expected. |
| A．borrowed | B．introduced | C．purchased | D．invented |
| A．His protest against the cameras. | B．His deep love for soccer matches. |
| C．Some failure attempted by robots. | D．The great success achieved by robots. |
(①=Paragraph 1, ②=Paragraph 2, ③=Paragraph 3, ④=Paragraph 4)
A． | B． | C． | D． |
10 . Walled Cities Of The World
There are numerous historical walled cities across the world, whose walls date back several centuries. These walls were fortification (碉堡), a necessity throughout medieval eras for defense. They have been preserved as historical monuments and popular tourist attractions in the modern time.
York, England
The city of York is a medieval city situated in the north of England. Historically, the city was ruled by the Romans, Angles, and the Vikings before being incorporated as part of the Kingdom of England in 954. Located in the city are walls built in 71 AD which have been restored and extended with time.
Xi’an, China
The city of Xian is one of the oldest cities in China. It prospered economically as the eastern last station of the Silk Road. The existing walls were originally built in 770 BC and reconstructed in the 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The walls are well preserved and are a major tourist attraction in the city.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City was a colonial (殖民地的) town which was fortified by the settling Europeans. The walls began to be built in 1608 under both British and French regimes (政权). A fort was constructed by the British as an additional defensive measure and remains undamaged to date. The city’s fortifications were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Mexico City, Mexico
Historically, the City of Mexico gained importance as the Aztec Capital. The Spanish then drove out the Aztecs and rebuilt it as the Spanish Capital. The walls protecting the city were built in 1521. Mexico City is also home to numerous colonial-era buildings which together with the walls are major tourist attractions in the city.
1. Which city has walls of the longest history?| A．York, England. | B．Xi’an, China. |
| C．Quebec City, Canada. | D．Mexico City, Mexico. |
| A．They were once colonies of other countries. |
| B．They were once the capital of the Aztec empire. |
| C．Their walls were once built under British regime. |
| D．Their walls were once damaged after construction. |
| A．Culture. | B．Entertainment. | C．Science. | D．Society |
