1 . By drawing patterns on the surface of a cup of tea, chabaixi (茶百戏), an ancient Chinese tea trick displayed in a recent TV drama, has gone viral for its apparent similarity with modern coffee art. However, ten years ago, this distinctive technique was close to disappearing. Zhang Zhifeng, a practician of chabaixi, found scenes of chabaixi in the drama aroused great interest among ordinary people.
Chabaixi can create endless patterns such as bamboos and mountains or even calligraphy. There are over a dozen steps, from grinding (碾碎) tea for fine powder, to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth (泡沫), and finally drawing the patterns. It is different from making coffee because people use clear water as the object to put into the cup instead of milk. But when the water touches the surface of whipped (搅打起泡的) tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before the drawing is known as the tea—making technique, diancha. The quality of diancha is crucial to whether patterns can be successfully produced later.
“Chabaixi is one of the countless forms of tea-making techniques in China. The importance of chabaixi is not only that this technique is unique in the world, but also it gives us a window into people’s lifestyle in the Song Dynasty, a period of time when leisure activities in some ways are similar to what we have now,” Zhang said.
Before chabaixi was discovered by TV audiences, the technique was listed as part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017, after it was recovered by Zhang Zhifeng. He started researching the origins of chabaixi in the 1980s and brought the technique back in 2009 after decades of trials and practice.
“To let this technique fade would be a shame. It must be passed on to the next generations so they can understand its history,” Zhang said.
1. What do the underlined words “gone viral” in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Maintained highly competitive. | B.Received good protection. |
C.Started declining gradually. | D.Became popular quickly. |
A.It develops based on coffee art. | B.It involves complicated tea-making skills. |
C.It mainly describes beautiful scenery. | D.It is painted with whipped milk. |
A.The origin of chabaixi. | B.The uniqueness of chabaixi. |
C.The significance of chabaixi. | D.The development of chabaixi. |
A.Zhang Zhifeng—A Practician of Chabaixi |
B.Ancient Tea Technique Finds New Popular Recognition |
C.A China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage |
D.Chabaixi—A Famous Tea-making Technique |
2 . As a child, I never considered myself an athlete at all as I was very uncoordinated(不协调的). However, I did love to run because I felt as if I was flying but this all changed two years ago when I suffered a knee injury. I was bedridden for two weeks and I had a difficult time moving even short distances. I literally cried myself on my way to the car for a few days.
When therapy wasn’t working well for me, I signed up for a hot yoga class for girls, Bikram Yoga to be exact. Starting a yoga practice was truly a godsend because it helped me gain strength in my knees but, most importantly, yoga helped me attain a more peaceful state of mind, body and spirit.
Since each class was heated to 105°F, every time I stepped foot in the yoga studio, I’d feel a surge(涌起) of negative thoughts come upon me like a big ocean wave. Some of these thoughts were, in the beginning of my practice, so strong that I walked out of the class several times. However, as the months passed by, I noticed that when I didn’t get swayed away by my negative thoughts, I could stay in the hot room for longer.
After 3 – 4 months of practicing hot yoga, my arms and legs were beginning to get definition. I also woke up with so much more energy than I had before starting my yoga practice and I gradually started shedding the pounds from my body. Yoga literally made me feel as if I’d taken a shot of energy drink and just gave me that burst that helped my knees heal and made my overall health better.
As I saw some of my classmates do poses that looked appealing to me, I started to think maybe I could do them too. Therefore, yoga helped show me that I have no real limitations physically unless I set those limitations myself through eating junk and thinking in negative limiting terms.
Also, practicing yoga in front of a mirror helped me connect with myself and practicing with a group of people really helped me to feel a greater sense of connection with humanity whereas before I didn’t. Overall, this yoga practice has helped me to see I’m part of a bigger picture in life!
1. What made the author sign up for the yoga class?A.Her currently disabled knee. | B.Her being uncoordinated. |
C.Her failure to find her car. | D.Her serious mental disease. |
A.Lack of confidence prevented her doing yoga. |
B.The temperature was difficult to bear in yoga classes. |
C.She couldn’t stand the pain the knee injury brought. |
D.She was greatly impacted by negative thoughts at first. |
A.She did better than her classmates at school. |
B.Her physical and mental states have improved a lot. |
C.She has developed many healthy eating habits. |
D.Her social circle was widened in the yoga classes. |
A.To share her experience in taking yoga classes. |
B.To call on readers to sign up for yoga courses. |
C.To present the benefits of practicing yoga regularly. |
D.To show readers the necessary skills needed to do yoga. |
3 . Each April Thais celebrate their “Thai New Year” with a great water fight on the streets. People throw water at everyone passing by and even block the road so they can enter buses and “paint the faces” of all the passengers. But there are a few people who don’t wish to participate in the fun. When I first experienced this celebration, I was one of them.
The first time our bus was stopped, 4 people coming into the bus intended to paint everyone’s face. I slowly shook my head to say “No, thank you.”, but a man came from behind me and quickly painted my face. Then the other three felt inspired and added a little more “paint” to my face. I didn’t actively stop them for fear that if I did, they would become more aggressive (好斗的) and throw even more water at me and possibly my backpack, which would damage whatever was inside.
Even though it happened only once, emotionally it was very frightening because I felt so powerless. The experience caused me to think a lot about respect and moral autonomy or individual judgment vs “permission” from the authorities. On this day, people of Thailand, including the police, give “permission” for these activities. So what about respect for the individual? If someone does not want to be painted, is it OK to do it anyhow because the majority is having a good time and sincerely believes it is harmless fun, or because the police allow it?
In my opinion, if someone does not want to have something done to them, then you’re supposed to respect their decision. You can’t rely on the authorities or some group to tell you if something is right or wrong or if you should or shouldn’t do something. I believe this is a much healthier way of living with one another in this world.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?A.By raising a question. | B.By making an assumption. |
C.By providing a comparison. | D.By supporting a celebration. |
A.He was afraid of causing conflict. | B.He wanted to protect things in his backpack. |
C.The activity got official permission. | D.The majority were in favor of the behavior. |
A.It was unpleasant. | B.It was invaluable. |
C.It was informative. | D.It was acceptable. |
A.Do as you would be done by. |
B.Fear always springs from ignorance. |
C.When in Rome do as the Romans do. |
D.Respect matters in interpersonal communication. |
4 . This is the five-day trip for those seeking a short getaway to the perfect island of Bali!
Day 1 Begin Your Stay at Alaya Resort(酒店), Ubud
Your private driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you to Alaya Resort in Ubud, the cultural center of Bali. Surrounded by rice fields, the hotel offers an outdoor pool and a fitness center. You can spend the afternoon enjoying these hotel facilities. In the evening you can head into the town for local cuisines and a look around the craft shops.
Day 2 Explore the Central Bali Temples
Today’s adventure takes you to the must-see sites with a private driver. Going down about 300 steps, you’ll get to a breathtaking 11th-century complex—Pura Gunung Kawi Temple, the final resting place of past dominators, located deep in a valley and known as the “Valley of the Kings”. Visits to other different temples will bring a close to the day.
Day 3 Sunset Performance
You ‘l 1 checkout of the Alaya Resort Ubud and take the scenic drive to Benoa in South Bali. You’ll visit Balinese temples and watch an amazing sunset performance by local dancers, which is characterized by complicated body movements, shining costumes and the accompaniment of traditional music. You’ll stop off at a restaurant and try food typical of local cookery.
Day 4 Leisure Day in Bali
You have the entire day free to relax in Bali. You can choose to shop for local products or relax by the beach. At sunset, you’ll notice how everyone gathers at the beach bars to watch Bali’s truly magical sunset.
Day 5 Departure Day
After breakfast at your hotel, a private driver will drive you to the airport, marking the end of your trip.
1. What can you do in Alaya Resort?A.Visit craft stores. | B.Have a swim. |
C.Watch live concerts. | D.Enjoy free drive service. |
A.It’s the burial ground of ancient rulers. |
B.It’s a newly-developed tourist attraction. |
C.It’s an annual vacation spot for royal families. |
D.It’s a meeting place for leaders from around the globe. |
A.The first day. | B.The second day. |
C.The third day. | D.The fourth day. |
5 . Seagrass meadows(海草床)are wonder plants growing beneath the sea. They feed and shelter sea life and are masterful at storing carbon.
Seagrass has usually been detected by Earth-orbiting satellites that identify darker patches in the blue water. In this study, tiger sharks were selected as research tools due to their highly consistent associations with seagrass ecosystems. They spend 70% of their time in seagrass meadows. The team equipped eight tiger sharks with satellite tags and used a 360-degree camera on them for the first time ever.
The data researchers collected was astonishing. The world’s largest seagrass ecosystem, measuring at least 66,900 square kilometers, has been discovered. This reflects a 41% increase from previous estimates of global seagrass. Seagrass can capture(捕获)huge quantities of carbon by photosynthesis and stores it on the seafloor. In terms of climate change, this is excellent news; seagrass is 35 times faster at removing carbon than tropical rainforests. When referred to global seagrass carbon stock estimates, the study indicates that seagrass in the Bahamas may contain 19.2% to 26.3% of all the carbon stored in seagrass meadows on Earth.
Yet seagrass meadows are rapidly disappearing, with over 92% of meadows in the UK gone, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Scientists are collecting seeds and trying to grow new seagrass meadows through restoration projects.
The sharks led us to the seagrass ecosystem in the Bahamas, which we now know is likely the most significant blue carbon sink on the planet. What this discovery shows us is that ocean exploration and research are essential for a healthy future. The untapped potential of the ocean is limitless, offering hope for climate change around the globe.
1. Why were tiger sharks chosen as research tools?A.hey are more flexible than other sea animals. |
B.They can quickly adjust themselves to the deep sea. |
C.They can be easily equipped with experimental devices. |
D.They have a strong connection with seagrass-ecosystems. |
A.The decline of global seagrass meadows. |
B.The impact of climate change on sea life. |
C.The rapid increase in the amount of carbon on Earth. |
D.The potential value of the world’s largest seagrass ecosystem. |
A.Planting more seagrass meadows. |
B.Developing new technology to collect seeds. |
C.Mapping the distribution of seagrass meadows. |
D.Encouraging people to join in restoration projects. |
A.The New Way of Removing Carbon |
B.The Significance of Ocean Exploration. |
C.A New Discovery: World’s Largest Seagrass Meadow |
D.Tiger Sharks: Scientists’ Essential Helper to Study Climate |
6 . With the new semester about to start, our school is welcoming a group of new international students. We have some apps here that will make your life easier. We hope you will have a wonderful life here.
WeChat is now the most popular social media app in China. Almost everyone is using WeChat. You can send both text and voice messages on WeChat. You can also make voice and video calls. You can also post texts, pictures and video clips. If your friends in your home country have this app, you can also chat with them through voice or video. WeChat is also widely used now as a form of payment which can be used in stores, online, and in other shopping apps.
★Alipay
Alipay is a similar app to PayPal. It was first used on Taobao and now people can still use it as a mobile payment option. You can even use mobile payment at street vendors, so if you have this app, you can leave your wallet at home.
★Didi
Now Didi seems to be the smartest way to travel around. With one tap, a car comes directly to you. Didi is a Chinese car-hailing service app. It has a function called “ride sharing”, which saves a lot of money for passengers. But it does not have an English version, so if you want to use it, you will have to learn some Chinese.
★Pleco
This is one of the top Chinese/English dictionary apps and it covers 130, 000 Chinese words and includes 20, 000 example sentences with pinyin. It is perfect for those who want to learn Chinese, and also for tourists who need to translate words or phrases from English to Chinese.
1. Who are the intended readers for this text?A.Chinese learners. | B.International teachers in China. |
C.Foreign students studying in China. | D.Students furthering their studies. |
A.People can hail a car with Didi in English. |
B.People can use WeChat to post, call and pay. |
C.Pleco is useful for tourists who know little Chinese. |
D.Alipay was originally used to make payments on Taobao. |
A.WeChat. | B.Alipay. | C.Didi. | D.Pleco. |
7 . ChatGPT, a new chatbot model developed by US-based AI research laboratory OpenAI, has quickly become a hit globally due to its advanced conversational capabilities,
It can write emails, computer codes, even academic papers and poems, and has passed a number of tests within seconds. Academicians worldwide are discussing whether AI should be used in education. Some universities have banned it. The New York City’s Department of Education, for example, banned the chatbot from its public school devices and networks, with some people warning that it could encourage more students to cheat, especially in exams.
Many more welcome this app, claiming that, like most technological advances and groundbreaking innovations in history, ChatGPT is a powerful tool for the development of higher education.
Embracing AI as early as possible is advisable. Higher education institutions should make preparations for including AI in their syllabus (教学大纲). They can start by offering related courses, because by understanding how it works, they can make better use of it. Besides, students with good knowledge of AI are more competitive when it comes to getting a good job, as an increasing number of jobs are being done by computer programmes-some in cooperation with humans, AI-powered education technologies can be adopted to make the learning experience more suitable for each student based on his or her strengths and weaknesses. As for professors, AI can free them from doing some dull tasks so they can concentrate on teaching and interacting with students.
Since we cannot avoid ChatGPT and other AI-powered applications from entering the field of higher education, we should make collective efforts to ensure they have a positive impact on society and the future of education Despite AI helping make learning much more interesting and enjoyable, humans need to work very hard to win the race with technology.
1. Why do some higher education institutions forbid ChatGPT?A.ChatGPT can write emails and computer codes quickly. |
B.Some professors might not perform their duties properly. |
C.Students would have conversations with each other via it. |
D.Students might seek help from it in completing the exams. |
A.Fearful. | B.Disapproving. | C.Supportive. | D.Uncertain. |
A.It offers students an increasing number of jobs. |
B.It personalizes students’ learning experience. |
C.It equips students with competitive skills to cooperate with humans. |
D.It handles uninteresting tasks so students can better focus on learning. |
A.We should guard against AI apps. |
B.AI will be more widely used in education. |
C.The future of education relies on AI apps. |
D.Humans will be left behind by technology. |
8 . How clever can a computer be? Maybe you can get the answer after reading the following passage about a newly-developed US computer program called Smarter Child.
If you ran into Smarter Child online, you would be surprised at this kid’s huge memory. It can remember many facts. For example, Smarter Child knows every baseball player in every team this season and the weather in every city across the US. He also knows every word in the dictionary. However, if you ask Smarter Child other private questions, you will get strange answers. A question about Smarter Child’s age returns, “I’ll be older than you after further study!”, and asking where he lives, you will get, “In a clean room in a high-tech building in California.”
Smarter Child uses the huge information on the World Wide Web as his memory bank. To answer questions about spelling, for example, Smarter Child goes to www.ahdictionary.com. For the weather, he visits www.intellicast.com. He turns to www.the-scientist.com for scientists and www.moviefone.com for a fantastic movie.
Some scientists believe that by joining many systems of the Internet, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the combined (结合的) knowledge of, say, Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon and Britney Spears could be born. However, Smarter Child has difficulty in discerning whether a behavior is right or wrong, which is obvious to any young child. If he wants to think and learn without any help from the programmers like boy-computer David in the movie Artificial Intelligence (AI), he must solve two problems.
The first is that computers find it difficult to read web pages because the files are sorted in different ways. That’s why programmers need to tell Smarter Child where to look for the weather. It would be a much more difficult task to let him find it by himself. Another problem is that while Smarter Child can deal with information more exactly and faster than any human, he needs programmers to make better systems that allow machines to solve problems of common sense, which is a huge challenge.
1. What may be unknown to Smarter Child?A.His age. | B.The weather in New York. |
C.A word in the dictionary. | D.A player’s name of the Boston Redsox. |
A.www.moviefone.com | B.www.intellicast.com |
C.www.the-scientist.com | D.www.ahdictionary.com |
A.Preventing. | B.Copying. | C.Inventing. | D.Telling. |
A.He has a huge memory. | B.He can think and learn independently. |
C.He can make a weather forecast. | D.He deals with information fast. |
9 . EDITOR’S NOTE
A Century in Circulation
This year’s annual classics collection is particularly special, given it is the magazine’s 100th anniversary year. Peeling back the covers of the thousands of editions, published in numerous countries, and dating back to the first issue in February 1922, is always a task we enjoy doing.
This collection offers a wide range of different subjects. Each one we hope will inform, delight, amuse and perhaps even confound our readers: from stepping inside the French artist Pierre-Auguste’s inner circle of friends (Page 84), to finding peace from depression in a solitary walk on the beach (Page 92) and meeting a cat who held a family together as they began to fall apart (Page 20). My favorite article, Exploits of Charles (Page 100), is written by a mother about the increasingly odd behavior of a little boy in her young son’s kindergarten class. I am sure you’ll enjoy this amusing account of a small boy adjusting to his new classmates and teachers. With an endless supply of wonderful stories, surprising insights and experiences to share, Reader’s Digest remains a place to find fresh perspectives and a great read.
Happy reading!
Louise Waterson Editor-in-Chief
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1. What makes this issue of Reader’s Digest so unique?A.A various range of subjects. |
B.A countless supply of stories. |
C.Special anniversary collection. |
D.Fresh viewpoints and insights. |
A.Page 100 |
B.Page 92 |
C.Page 84 |
D.Page 20 |
A.Secret World of a Wise Cat |
B.Four Tips to Prevent Vision Loss |
C.Reunited with My Rescuers, Two Fishermen |
D.What Kind of School do Giraffes Like to Go |
10 . Last December, sixteen teams took part in the first rugby championship (橄榄球锦标赛) for primary and middle school students in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Young players all enjoyed themselves in the games.
The event was held in Fuzhou No. 10 High School. The school set up the city’s first high school students’ rugby team in December 2020. And from September last year, it started to give rugby classes and students are very interested in them.
The event played an important role in developing students’ interests in sports, teaching students about team spirit and supporting the development of rugby in China. “Rugby is a good way to develop teamwork (合作) skills, said Yeh Chao-hsiang, a rugby teacher at a university in Fujian. “Students are taught to respect their teammates and opponents (对手).”
When playing rugby, players must follow strict rules. And since rugby is a sport that needs body contact students safety has to be put first. So when the students are playing a rugby game, they are requested to follow an important rule - when there is a touch on the body of the player who carries the ball, the player should put the ball down and let a teammate continue. “With this rule, rugby is a safe sport for both boys and girls and people of any age.” said WuLusheng, head of the Fujian Rugby Association.
“The sport is easy to learn and the rules are easy to understand. Even small children can take part in rugby training and competitions,” said Wu. “They are curious and excited when they see the egg-shaped ball and the special ways the game is played.”
1. What do we know about the rugby championship mentioned in the passage?A.It was held in 2020. |
B.20 teams took part in it. |
C.It was for primary and middle school students |
D.The team from Fuzhou No. 10 High School won at last. |
A.Its plan. | B.Its theme. | C.Its meaning. | D.Its popularity. |
A.team spirit. | B.body contact. | C.training time. | D.age difference. |
A.Sports. | B.History. | C.Health. | D.Technology. |