1 . Alexander Graham Bell was born in 1847 in Scotland, but when he was young his family moved to Boston, USA.
He believed that one should always be curious and his most famous saying was: Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do you will be certain to find something that you have never seen before. Follow it up, explore all around it, and before you know it, you will have something worth thinking about to occupy your mind. All really big discoveries are the result of thought.
It was this exploring around problems and his dynamic spirit that led to his most famous invention-the telephone in 1876. Bell never set out to invent the telephone and what he was trying to design was a multiple telegraph.
The original telegraph sent a message over distances using Morse code. But only one message could go at a time. Bell wanted to improve it so that it could send several messages at the same time. He designed a machine that would separate different sound waves and allow different conversations to be held at the same time. In searching to improve the telegraph, Bell had invented the first telephone!
The patent was given in 1876, but it was not until five days later that Bell sent his first telephone message to his assistant Watson. The words have now become famous:
“Mr Watson—come here—I want to see you.”
Alexander Graham Bell was not a man to rest and he interested himself in many other areas of invention. He experimented with helicopter designs and flying machines. While searching for a kite strong enough to carry a man into the air, Bell experimented putting triangles together and discovered the tetrahedron shape. Being very stable, it has proved invaluable in the design of bridges.
1. What does the author think is the key to Bell’s success as an inventor?| A．Curiosity. | B．Intelligence. | C．Good luck. | D．Inspiration. |
| A．In 1847. | B．In 1876. | C．In 1880. | D．In 1888. |
| A．kites | B．telephone | C．flying machines | D．tetrahedron shape |
| A．poor | B．rich | C．creative | D．kind |
2 . Charlie Chaplin, British comedian, producer, writer, director and composer, is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of the screen and one of the most important figures in the film history.
Chaplin was named after his father, a British entertainer. He spent his early childhood with his mother, the singer Hannah Hall, after she and his father separated, and took the place of his mentally unstable mother to appear on the stage. However, he and his mother soon separated from each other because the sick Hall was sent to a hospital. Then, Charlie was sent to a series of boarding schools.
Using his mother’s show-business contacts, Charlie became a professional entertainer in 1897 when he joined the Eight Lancashire Lads, a dancing act.
His early stage characters include a small role in William Gillette’s Sherlock Holmes (1899). While touring America with the Karno company in 1913, Chaplin was signed to appear in Mack Sennett’s Keystone comedy films. Though Making a Living (1914) was not the failure that historians have claimed, Chaplin’s first screen character did not show him to best advantage.
To come up with a more-workable screen image, Chaplin created an outfit consisting of a too-small coat, too-large pants and a walking stick. As a finishing touch,he put on a mustache (胡子). It was in his second Keystone film, Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), that Chaplin’s classic screen character, “the Little Tramp (流浪汉)”,was born.
In truth, Chaplin did not always portray a tramp; in many of his films his character was employed as a waiter,store clerk, stagehand, fireman,and the like. But the Tramp’s attraction was universal: audiences loved his cheekiness (厚脸皮), unexpected bravery and especially his recovery in the face of difficulties which moved the audience most. Some historians have traced the Tramp’s origins to Chaplin’s Dickensian childhood, while others have suggested that the character had its roots in the motto (座右铭) of Chaplin’s teacher, Fred Karno: “Keep it eager, gentlemen, keep it eager.” Whatever the case, within months after his movie was on, Chaplin was the screen’s biggest star.
1. Which word best describes Chaplin’s early life?| A．Carefree. | B．Struggling. | C．Simple. | D．Boring. |
| A．His further study in an art school. |
| B．His performances in another country. |
| C．His mother’s serious health problem. |
| D．His father’s disapproval of their meeting. |
| A．His early works. | B．His main character. |
| C．The reasons for his success. | D．His relationship with others. |
| A．His action with a walking stick. |
| B．His unique and serious appearance. |
| C．His special learning experience. |
| D．His ability to recover from difficulties. |
3 . Peru is a country on the Pacific coast of South America. It has three main geographical areas: a narrow coastal belt; the Andes Mountains running parallel to the coast; and high, flat plains in the southeast. In the high plains area is Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world, on which boats can travel. Peru has abundant plants from desert grasses to vast areas of jungle.
Once the centre of the powerful and extremely wealthy Inca Empire, much of South America was governed by Spain from the sixteenth century. Peru gained its independence from Spain in 1821. The capital of Peru is Lima, which is in the north on the coast. The ancient Inca capital, Cuzco, is found high in the Andes. It is a popular tourist destination as it is close to the famous Inca ruins of the city of Machu Picchu. Cuzco is a lively city where both Indian and Spanish culture and art can be seen.
1. How many geographical parts is Peru made up of?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．It is the highest lake in the world. | B．It is the lowest lake in the world. |
| C．It is the biggest lake in the world. | D．It is the narrowest lake in the world. |
| A．In 1800. | B．In 1821. | C．In 1835. | D．In 1879. |
4 . Alan Mathison Turing was born in England in 1912. Like many talents who go on to great things, Turing showed his incredible intelligence from a very young age. In fact, by the time he was halfway through primary school, Turing’s teachers had already realized he was a mathematical genius. He could do complex calculating in his head even though he had never been taught about it.
Fortunately, Turing was the opposite of Hawking, and he absolutely loved school. Proof of this is the extreme lengths he would go just to get to class. For example, on one occasion when there was a train strike, Turing even cycled 60 miles to attend. Now that’s devotion!
However, in spite of Turing’s scholarly attitude and his obvious genius, his teachers had their concerns about his future. This is because well-known schools in Britain like the ones Turing attended regarded the Classics, such as Latin and Greek as the most important, not subjects like maths and science. Turing’s proud teachers even wrote letters to his parents asking them to convince the young man to focus more on the Classics. Imagine how different the world might be if the young Turing had listened to his teachers! Thankfully, his love for all scientific and mathematical things meant there was no chance of that.
After finishing secondary school, Turing completed a degree in mathematics at King’s College Cambridge, and then obtained his PhD from Princeton University in the USA．It was during these university years that he invented the Turing Machine, which is considered by many people to be the earliest version of a computer processing unit. It sounds unbelievable that anybody could have invented something which was similar to a computer in 1936. But that just shows how far ahead of his time Alan Turing was, even when he was still a young man.
1. What can be inferred about Turing according to paragraphs 1-2?| A．He was inspired by his teachers. |
| B．He showed a strong desire for schooling. |
| C．He ignored parents’ advice on course selection. |
| D．His intelligence was first recognized by his parents. |
| A．He argues it’s still limited in many functions. |
| B．He doubts if it is truly invented by a young man. |
| C．He considers the construction of such machines impossible. |
| D．He thinks it has a great influence on the invention of computer. |
| A．To indicate the link between genius and success. |
| B．To illustrate the invention of the Turing Machine. |
| C．To stress the impact of teachers’ guidance on Turing’s life. |
| D．To introduce Turing’s genius, scholarly attitude and achievement. |
| A．Contented with little, yet wishing for more. |
| B．Chances favor the minds that are prepared. |
| C．Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. |
| D．Ordinary people hope, while talented people create. |
5 . The Walt Disney Company turns 100 years old in 2023, and the whole world will celebrate its stories, characters and imagination — but only Philly’s Franklin Institute will house Disney 100: The Exhibition.
Making its world debut (首秀) right here in Philadelphia, the exhibition takes guests behind the scenes into the magical world of Disney at what’s sure to be one of the region’s must-see exhibitions of 2023.
When to Visit
From February 18 to August 27, 2023
What to Expect
Disney 100: The Exhibition features 10 large galleries, each with a distinct theme relating to the history of the House of Mouse, celebrating the classics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Strange World.
The Walt Disney Archives (档案馆) is displaying its treasures, including more than 250 of its “Crown Jewels”, rarely seen artworks, costumes and other memorabilia (纪念品).
Admission & Tickets
Tickets to Disney 100: The Exhibition are on sale now, and guests have several options when it comes to experiencing the Disney magic.
Folks looking to visit in the daytime (9 am to 5 pm) can buy timed tickets for $45 (adults) and $41 (children aged 3-11). The best part: General museum admission to the rest of the Franklin Institute is included in the cost.
Looking to save on tickets? Consider visiting during the exhibition’s evening hours, which run from 5 pm to 8 pm from Thursdays to Saturdays. Tickets run $25 per person and do not include admission to the rest of the museum.
For maximum flexibility, consider picking up Flex Time Tickets, which allow exhibition access for any time. These run $61 per person and must be purchased in person at the Franklin Institute or over the phone.
Location & Contact
The Franklin Institute 271N. 21st Street Philadelphia, PA 19103(215)448-1200
1. What can guests do at the exhibition?| A．Watch a new Disney movie. | B．Try on different Disney costumes. |
| C．Create artworks about Disney characters. | D．Learn about the history of the House of Mouse. |
| A．They are available at a low price. | B．They can help avoid a long wait. |
| C．They can be bought over the phone. | D．They include general museum costs. |
| A．$50. | B．$131. | C．$90. | D．$86. |
6 . Not long ago my daughter’s favorite shoes were cut with a knife. She cried. I took them to a shoemaker to get them
Two days later, I went to collect the shoes. At first
Another time, my wife’s white skirt had an opening. My wife checked it
“I got the
What she said set me thinking: perfection is
| A．cleaned | B．repaired | C．sold | D．painted |
| A．glanced | B．arrived | C．laughed | D．called |
| A．comb | B．replace | C．congratulate | D．invent |
| A．seize | B．cast | C．add | D．ferry |
| A．delighted | B．convinced | C．dynamic | D．confused |
| A．explained | B．expected | C．asked | D．whistled |
| A．assume | B．arrest | C．leave | D．forget |
| A．attempt | B．sight | C．hand | D．light |
| A．occupied | B．filled | C．decorated | D．mixed |
| A．regulation | B．plot | C．antique | D．skill |
| A．angrily | B．bravely | C．carefully | D．curiously |
| A．opening | B．substitute | C．boundary | D．scratch |
| A．breathed | B．said | C．jumped | D．complained |
| A．significance | B．truth | C．desire | D．idea |
| A．primitive | B．perfect | C．horrible | D．cheap |
| A．necessary | B．easy | C．disgusting | D．impossible |
| A．hire | B．appear | C．miss | D．slip |
| A．obtain | B．tap | C．change | D．classify |
| A．wound | B．punishment | C．concept | D．advantage |
| A．failure | B．meaning | C．system | D．border |
7 . Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal, or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasise the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example,business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work,it is necessary to spend a lot of time in“small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realised that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a better chance to us to understand and learn from each other.
1. What’s the benefit of eating together at restaurants in some countries according to this passage?| A．People can develop closer relations. | B．People can share the same culture. |
| C．People can get to know each other. | D．People can keep each other company. |
| A．To show the English prefer to make long speeches. |
| B．To show too many words are of no use. |
| C．To show people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature. |
| D．To show even talk and silence can be culturally different. |
| A．By sharing different ways of life. | B．By accepting different habits. |
| C．By recognising different values. | D．By speaking each other’s languages. |
| A．Multicultural Environment | B．Cross-cultural Differences |
| C．How to Understand Each Other | D．How to Build up a Relationship |
8 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar (农历) divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气), which reflect the Chinese people’s understanding of time. Here several special solar terms are listed.
Rain Water
Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the river water defreezes (解冻), wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in this period. The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.
Awakening of Insects
As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name implies that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. Modern meteorological (气象) science shows that around this period, the earth becomes wet, the hot humid air from the north is strong and creates frequent winds. For this reason, thunder often occurs.
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox signals the equal length of the day and night time. On the day of the Spring Equinox, the sun is directly above the equator. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in gradually longer day time in the Northern Hemisphere. Standing an egg upright is a popular game during this period. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.
Grain Rain
Grain Rain originates from the old saying, “Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains”, which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops and people are busy working on the land. Grain Rain falls between the end of spring and the beginning of summer, with infrequent cold air moving to the south and lingering cold air in the north. With dry soil, an unsteady atmosphere and heavy winds and sandstorms become more frequent.
1. What can we know about Rain Water?| A．River water starts to freeze. |
| B．Taking off the thick coats is advisable. |
| C．Lively spring-like scenery can be seen. |
| D．It falls between the end of spring and the start of summer. |
| A．Farming season. | B．Animal activities. |
| C．Air temperature. | D．Frequent thundering. |
| A．the sun moves southwards. | B．the sun is directly above the equator. |
| C．days are short and nights long. | D．it will bring good luck. |
| A．Rain Water. | B．Grain Rain. |
| C．Spring Equinox. | D．Awakening of Insects. |
9 . In America when people say “man’s best friend” they don’t mean another person. Instead they are talking about a lovely animal: A dog ! These words show the friendship between people and animals. Dogs and other pets can give happiness to people’s lives. Some people think of their pets as their children. A few even leave all their money to their pets when they die!
Animals can help people too. Dogs can be taught to become the “eyes” for a blind person or “ears” for a deaf people. Scientists have found that pets help people live longer! They make people happier too. Because of that animals are brought into hospitals for “visit”.
Americans hold “Be-Kind-to- Animals Week” in the fist week of May.
Pets shows are held during the week. Even if you don’t live in America you can do this too. How? First think about how animals make your life richer. If you have a pet take more time this week to play with it. Remember to give it delicious food. Also be sure to keep your pet from those unwanted babies.
If you don’t have a pet, be kind to animals around you. For example if you see a street dog don’t kick it or throw things at it. Instead just leave it alone or better yet make friends with it. If others around you do bad things to an animal try to stop them. As people we must protect animals who can’t speak for themselves.
1. “A few even leave all their money to their pets when they die !” means that________.| A．pets have the right to inherit(继承) money. |
| B．money can give pets happiness. |
| C．it’s the best way to spend money. |
| D．some pets are taken as children. |
| A．Because they are ill and need to see doctors. |
| B．Because they can make the patients happier. |
| C．Because they can find out the problems of the patients. |
| D．Because doctors can do experiments on them. |
| A．be kind to animals around you. | B．kick or throw things at them. |
| C．do bad things to them. | D．take them home. |
| A．the friendship between people. | B．the friendship between people and animals. |
| C．the friendship between animals. | D．the friendship between men and women. |
10 . Many people still remember the magic of Father Christmas from when they were children. As parents, they try to keep that
That is why Letters from Father Christmas could be the
Every Christmas, a(n)
The letters told wonderful stories about Father Christmas’s life and adventures at the North Pole. A regular
Letters from Father Christmas tells us that as well as enjoying the
| A．meaning | B．spirit | C．opinion | D．magic |
| A．specific | B．perfect | C．strange | D．common |
| A．regard | B．expect | C．forget | D．drop |
| A．plan | B．suggestion | C．hobby | D．way |
| A．file | B．letter | C．envelope | D．tree |
| A．postponed | B．connected | C．led | D．addressed |
| A．frightened | B．disappointed | C．excited | D．calm |
| A．roughly | B．beautifully | C．occasionally | D．quickly |
| A．complete | B．pack | C．read | D．save |
| A．character | B．actor | C．waiter | D．hero |
| A．thought | B．heard | C．complained | D．learned |
| A．in spite of | B．in addition to | C．instead of | D．in case of |
| A．contain | B．select | C．inform | D．recommend |
| A．performances | B．adventures | C．writings | D．drawings |
| A．taking | B．laughing | C．discussing | D．giving |
