1 . Snowboarding genius Su Yiming made a name for himself by winning China’s first Olympic gold in the sport on Tuesday. By cleanly stomping back-to-back 1800 tricks, the teenager landed the biggest prize so far in his young career—gold in the men’s Big Air at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The notable achievement realized a childhood dream to reach the peak of the sport, which he began to learn at the age of 4.
Now with two shinning medals hung around his neck, the 17-year-old described his superb Olympic debut ( 首秀) as an unbelievable experience that has made all his sacrifices worthwhile. “This feels so surreal that I’ve finally accomplished what I’ve dreamed of since I was little,” said an emotional Su.
Over the past four years, Su has combined his talent with hard work to produce one of the swiftest rises to prominence the sport has ever seen. When the Shougang Big Air venue hosted its first international event, Su was an unknown qualifier, who didn’t even make the final runs. Just over two years later, Su is the name on everyone’s lips at the venue’s Olympic debut—drawing the whole nation’s attention to the sport he loves.
“The biggest motivation (动力) for me is my love for snowboarding,” Su said, when asked about the secret to his success. “In snowboarding, I feel like I can show my own style and creativity. Every time I ride my board, it’s always a joyful moment. I hope through my experience, I can inspire more young people to get interested in the sport.”
Su, a former child actor who featured in action movies, said the Olympic gold will encourage him to seek for more breakthroughs—even beyond his athletic career. “I enjoy snowboarding just as much as I enjoy acting,” said Su, who turns 18 on Friday. “I think I still have a lot of possibilities to explore in my future career either in snowboarding or in acting. But now I just want to enjoy the moment and celebrate it as the best possible birthday gift.”
1. What does the underlined word “landed” in Paragraph 1 mean?A.Arrived. | B.Gained. | C.Created. | D.Dreamed. |
A.His acting experience. | B.His talent and hard work. |
C.His being fond of snowboarding. | D.His life dream of achieving success. |
A.Talented and thoughtful. | B.Lovely and famous. |
C.Creative and kind-hearted. | D.Hard-working and devoted. |
A.Upset. | B.Hopeful. | C.Anxious. | D.Satisfied. |
2 . London and Paris are two of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations, just a few hours away from each other by road or rail and an hour’s distance by air. What about the train-ferry combination that many recall fondly from their childhoods? Well, though it’s budget-saving, this option is too time-consuming today, so better leave it to your memories. Since the UK is not part the Schengen Area, passengers need to go through passport control prior to boarding.
Air trips
Though flying between London and Paris is by no means recommended, there are still a few people traveling between the two dynamic cities by air. A very low one-way fare is possible through advanced booking, but of course it’s rare, and that doesn’t include the taxi and rail fares traveling to and from the airports.
* One-way fares from Paris can be as low as 49;
* From London, Air France flies with fares as low as £39(46), and British Airways as low as £48 (56).
Rail trips
The only direct train between London and Paris is the Eurostar, which travels 15 -17 times per weekday. Eurostar’s 2015 edition trains can make the journey in two hours at speeds of up to 320 km/h. Besides, they offer good seating space.
* Fares begin at a reasonable £58(68), round trip;
* The earlier you book, the more you save.
Bus trips
The bus is by far the least expensive and longest way to travel between Paris and London. Eurolines and OUIBUS are two major bus lines traveling between the two capitals. The journey takes between seven and nine hours. Both lines advertise free Wi-Fi.
* One-way Eurolines fares begin at 15;
* One-way OUIBUS fares begin at 15 too, but early bird sales can even lower the fare.
1. Which way is probably the cheapest for a round trip?A.By train-ferry. | B.By air. | C.By rail. | D.By bus. |
A.Free booking. | B.Taxi pickup. |
C.Good seating space. | D.Free Wi-Fi. |
A.There are different competing companies. |
B.They are cheaper if booked ahead of time. |
C.They are more expensive from the Paris end. |
D.There are still additional fees to be included. |
3 . There are always some people teaching you important lessons about life. They come into your life suddenly when you have no
Several years ago I was diagnosed (诊断) with a disease that was
First of all, my son, Eric, who
Dozens of lovely people
A.control | B.need | C.guarantee | D.expectation |
A.incurable | B.serious | C.unusual | D.communicable |
A.exercise | B.swim | C.dance | D.drive |
A.issues | B.surgeries | C.rules | D.tensions |
A.looked on | B.held out | C.stepped forward | D.came by |
A.made | B.generated | C.transformed | D.restarted |
A.researched | B.operated | C.suffered | D.remained |
A.exciting | B.inspirational | C.comforting | D.humorous |
A.adjusting | B.trying | C.fighting | D.defending |
A.trip | B.effort | C.march | D.visit |
A.volunteers | B.specialists | C.nurses | D.housewives |
A.always | B.never | C.even | D.still |
A.wander | B.combine | C.insist | D.pour |
A.admire | B.recognize | C.name | D.thank |
A.Realizing | B.Supposing | C.Considering | D.Imagining |
4 . I was at a new school in a new state and needed something solid to stand on: a place to feel grounded. I also needed to do laundry, so I walked to a nearby self-service laundry and stuffed a machine with my clothes. As I struggled to close the washer door, the woman working behind the counter told me to give it a good hit with my hand. The washer did its job, yet even after an hour, the dryer seemed to have barely warmed my clothes. I left, having decided to air-dry them on my car in the August heat.
A month later, I learned her name was Sandy, which she told me after I’d helped her stop a washing machine from moving across the floor. I was grading poems at a table when one of the washers broke loose and skipped an inch into the air. I jumped to the machine and held on while she unplugged it. The next week, Sandy told me dryer No. 8 was the fastest.
It went on like this. I’d do laundry once a week, usually Thursday or Friday. Sandy worked Tuesday through Saturday and we’d talk small while I folded clothes. She told me about her son and his grades, as well as the new dog they’d just adopted. She was fascinated that I was studying poetry. She teased (开玩笑) that it was harder making a living as a poet than as a laundry attendant. Even then I knew she was probably right.
I began to recognize others there: workers taking breaks by the door, a mother and her baby, and even some delivery drivers. But Sandy was the center of my community. For nearly three years and almost every week, I’d do laundry and talk with her. We checked on each other, expecting the other to be there. We asked where the other had gone when we missed a week. There was a note of concern for the other’s absence, a note of joy at their return.
I’d found a place to stand on solid ground.
1. Why did the author leave with his wet clothes?A.He liked the August heat better. | B.He had to go back to the meeting. |
C.He wanted to show off his new car. | D.He didn’t think the dryer worked well. |
A.She was warm-hearted. | B.She needed a volunteer. |
C.She wanted to thank him. | D.She was sorry for the mess. |
A.It was harder to fulfill. | B.It was really fascinating. |
C.It was badly-paid work. | D.It needed a lot of effort. |
A.He formed a close friendship with Sandy. |
B.He made a lot of friends in college. |
C.He expected Sandy to do laundry for him. |
D.He often wrote to Sandy after graduation. |
5 . Patrick, Scheels store’s fishing manager, always helps customers with their angling (垂钓) needs, but one
One day, a young boy named Xander entered the store with his mother, Brynn. Patrick noticed his eye were filled with
Brynn shared the
However, Patrick’s generosity didn’t
Patrick’s kindness was
A.argument | B.journey | C.adventure | D.encounter |
A.curiosity | B.nervousness | C.concern | D.regret |
A.debated over | B.bonded over | C.stuck to | D.turned to |
A.wisdom | B.evidence | C.significance | D.definition |
A.missing | B.blaming | C.admiring | D.persuading |
A.Annoyed | B.Touched | C.Amused | D.Surprised |
A.gifted | B.lent | C.showed | D.made |
A.ambitious | B.strange | C.genuine | D.urgent |
A.practical | B.avoidable | C.secure | D.common |
A.root | B.stop | C.appear | D.reach |
A.recording | B.postponing | C.organizing | D.canceling |
A.reveal | B.stress | C.prove | D.ensure |
A.accompanied | B.monitored | C.assessed | D.sponsored |
A.possibly | B.initially | C.truly | D.mainly |
A.deal | B.experience | C.task | D.performance |
6 . Istanbul & Faces
Titled “Timeless City: Istanbul & Faces”, the Turkey photography exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of Istanbul and Shanghai’s sistership. The 42yearold photographer focuses on the distinctive (独特的) historical quarters and the atmosphere that spreads in Istanbul. His work also pays respects to its people as well, with welldefined portraits.
Date: Till Jan. 18, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Venue: Shanghai Art Collection Museum.
Knitted Works
The knitted (编织的) show is aimed at raising awareness of post natal depression. The works were created by more than 20 mothers from different cities. All the knitted dolls and other works will be sold with the profits (利益) going to charity when the exhibition ends. If you are interested in the knitted works, you can order a special piece.
Date: Till Jan. 1, 7 a.m.—9 p.m. Venue: B1 Jinxiu Fun.
Old Shanghai Teahouse
The newlyopened zone at Shanghai Dungeon features nostalgic sets and experiences for visitors to have “scary fun”. Visitors can wear traditional Chinese costumes and take photos with the performers.
Date: Daily, 11 a.m.—8 p.m. Venue: Mosaic Shanghai Mail.
Musical Titanic
The Tony Awards winning musical “Titanic” is in Shanghai with more than 100 characters cast. The impressive stage effects promise to take the audience to the bottom of the ocean.
Date: Till Jan. 22, 2 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Venue:SAIC Shanghai Culture Square.
1. Where should you go if you want to learn more about Turkey’s history?A.B1 Jinxiu Fun. |
B.Mosaic Shanghai Mail. |
C.Shanghai Art Collection Museum. |
D.SAIC Shanghai Culture Square. |
A.People can have a talk with the creators. |
B.All the works can be sold when the show begins. |
C.They were made by people from different places. |
D.The show offers people chances to learn how to make one. |
A.Its opening time is the longest. |
B.It raises money for a special purpose. |
C.It allows interacting with performers. |
D.It offers a lifelike experience under water. |
7 . As you walk around the UK in March, you might notice that some people are wearing a daffodil (水仙花) on their coats. The British wear these yellow flowers to show they support one of this country’s best-known charities: Marie Curie.
Marie Curie tries to ensure everyone who has cancer is cared for in the best possible way. It also helps fun d research into possible cures. Founded in 1948, it has been continuing with its goal ever since.
The charity was named after Marie Curie, a famous scientist. She experimented with newly-discovered elements to create the theory of radioactivity (放射性). Unfortunately, over-exposure to the radioactive elements made her develop a disease and die in 1934. Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in two different fields. Because of her pioneering work, the charity decided on the name of Marie Curie.
The daffodil is one of the first plants to flower during spring in the UK, which marks the return of flowering plants to the ecosystem after winter. Because of this, the charity uses the daffodil as a symbol, hoping cancer patients could recover from sickness.
Everyone you see wearing a daffodil has contributed to the charity, but each daffodil is worth only what you want to pay for it. The charity does ask that you stick to a minimum amount of £1.
The charity encourages people to start wearing their daffodils at the start of March, when the “Great Daffodil Appeal” kicks off. But that doesn’t mean you can only wear them in March. People are sometimes seen walking around with daffodils on their clothes all year round.
1. Why do some British people wear a daffodil?A.To advocate a charity. | B.To celebrate patients’ recovery. |
C.To remember a scientist. | D.To offer hope to cancer patients. |
A.Marie Curie’s support for the charity. | B.Marie Curie’s achievement in cancer treatment. |
C.Marie Curie’s study on radioactivity. | D.Marie Curie’s concern over cancer patients. |
A.Bringing life to other people. | B.Returning of flowering plants. |
C.Contributing money to the charity. | D.Encouraging patients to cheer up. |
A.A change in a British custom. | B.The effect of a campaign. |
C.A special activity held in March. | D.The time to wear daffodils. |
8 . In my early teens, I was once given a film camera as a gift. On receiving it, I jumped on my bike, headed to Wimbledon Common and took photos, just for me: photos of trees and wildlife. I was out all day. On my way home I spotted a tree lit up by street lighting and tried to capture its splendour. Rushing home, I popped the spent film in a special little envelope and sent it off to a photography store, desperate to see how it came out. I took many photos then and loved the fact that when you processed your film you got back colour photos which froze the precious moments, gently encouraging the hobby and the payments for processing.
As I grew into adulthood, that simple, deep happiness gradually faded away. One weekend when I was busy answering the work calls, my eyes caught a box in the corner of the room. I suddenly felt a sense of sadness. The stress growing over these years had pushed the camera from beside my pillow to the box in the corner. I thought I needed a change.
I took out the camera and dusted it down. It was a great joy that it still worked. I bought new film and took the camera everywhere I went. Now it is always on hand to accompany me on journeys, to allow me time to myself. Even if the day is full and busy, I can seize some moments for myself to take photos, to observe the world around me.
The wall of my room now holds all my camera equipment along with photos I’ve taken. To me, the room represents how I’ve found happiness: by reconnecting to the younger part of myself I laid aside, by allowing room in my life for pleasure to exist, and by creating an environment that allows opportunities for delight.
1. What did the author think of taking photos as a young boy?A.Inspiring and practical. | B.Troublesome yet delightful. |
C.Complicated yet engaging. | D.Thrilling and rewarding. |
A.He was struck by sudden sorrow. |
B.He was faced with increasing pressure. |
C.He intended to focus on his work |
D.He attempted to behave like an adult. |
A.More enjoyment in the daily routine. | B.New journeys in the wild. |
C.Better skills of observation. | D.Different styles of photography. |
A.Revisiting Lost Childhood Memories |
B.Appreciating Beauty Behind the Lens |
C.Regaining Pleasure Through Photography |
D.Escaping Teenage Sadness with Camera |
9 . It was a sunny afternoon in June of 2022 when 20-year-old Anthony Perry stepped off the train at Chicago’s 69th Street station. On the platform, two men were fighting bitterly. Then the unthinkable happened: the pair fell over the edge and onto the tracks. One man ended up on his back. Suddenly, he started convulsing (抽搐) unnaturally. He had fallen on the third rail, the conduit (导线管) for the 600 volts of electricity that powers Chicago’s L trains. The aggressor leaped backward, bounded back up onto the platform and disappeared.
Perry couldn’t just stand there and watch. He sat at the edge of the platform and eased himself down. He took a few quick bounds and approached the victim. The guy looked dead, his body still moving violently as the electricity pulsed (搏动). Gathering up his courage, Perry reached down and grasped the victim’s wrist. Instantly, he felt a blast of electric shock shoot through his body. Perry shrank and jumped back. He reached down a second time, and was shocked again. But the third time he seized the man’s wrist and forearm and, braving the shock, pulled with all his strength. The guy’s body slid briefly along the third rail, coming to rest on the gravel on the outer edge of the tracks.
The man was breathing, but irregularly. Something wasn’t right. “Give him chest compressions (按压)!” yelled a woman. Perry was no expert, but for a few moments he worked on the man’s heart until the victim began convulsing. Then he heard a sudden noise behind him — medical workers and firefighters had arrived. Perry let the professionals take over. His heart still racing from the electric shocks, he climbed back up onto the platform, grabbed his things and headed home.
The evening news reported the incident. After a friend outed him to the media, Perry became the toast of Chicago. Perry was then recruited by the Chicago Fire Department and is now training to be an emergency medical technician.
1. What made the rescue of the victim particularly difficult?A.The man had lost his consciousness. |
B.The victim lay injured on top of a track. |
C.The rescuer was at risk of an electric shock. |
D.The electricity powering trains was hard to cut off. |
A.He had received professional first aid training. |
B.The local newspaper interviewed him on the spot. |
C.His chest compressions played a key role in saving life. |
D.His heart beat fast because of nervousness and tiredness. |
A.Perry landed a job in the Fire Department. |
B.The city of Chicago awarded Perry a prize. |
C.People in Chicago toasted Perry for his brave deeds. |
D.Perry got popular and greatly admired in Chicago. |
A.To credit a hero with saving a victim’s life. |
B.To highlight Perry’s courage in stopping a fight. |
C.To stress the importance of calmness in rescue work. |
D.To display people’s cooperation in assisting the victim. |
10 . It’s known that reading is good for a child’s vocabulary and literacy skills, teaching them math or science concepts and helping them learn history. Apart from those, reading has another benefit. Have you read a story and felt tears well up because of a character’s suffering? If so, that is because you have empathy (共鸣) for the character — and empathy can be learned through various fictions. “It’s a magic eye that sees into other people’s hearts,” explains author Cressida Cowell.
Research shows that human brains react differently to stories and facts. “Many more areas of your brain light up when you’re enjoying a story,” explains Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab, an organization that builds empathy through reading. “Your brain thinks you are in the story… This means you experience the characters’ thoughts as if they are real.”
Empathy helps you to read people’s emotions and work out the best way to respond. This skill, called emotional intelligence, can make it easier to communicate and connect with people. Research has shown that building empathy can lead to greater kindness and tolerance. One study found that children who read the Harry Potter novels — which tell stories about humans fighting against the evil — were less likely to behave unfairly towards powerless groups including refugees (难民).
This theory has been put into practice by St Michael’s Primary School. After reading The Boy at the Back of the Class — a story about a boy who is a refugee escaping from the war — students in that school were inspired to do a 10-mile walk for the non-profit organization Refugee Action. Their empathy also spurred them to raise £1,000 for people who were forced to leave their homes because of war.
Reading encourages children to empathise with others, which could potentially lead to several beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests. For society to develop, creative, communicative and empathetic individuals really matter.
1. Why do readers cry about a character’s experience?A.They have magic eyes. | B.They want to show empathy. |
C.They understand his feelings | D.They have the same experience. |
A.The process of building empathy. |
B.The benefits of developing empathy. |
C.The definition of emotional intelligence. |
D.The results of the school’s activity. |
A.Reminded. | B.Permitted. | C.Persuaded. | D.Encouraged. |
A.Read to learn empathy. |
B.Become empathetic to others. |
C.Put themselves in others’ shoes. |
D.Read as many books as possible. |