1 . A 37-year-old fast food courier(外卖小哥), Lei Haiwei, got the first prize in the third season of The Chinese Poetry Conference on CCTV on April 4th, 2018.
“My interest in ancient poems began as early as I was six years old,” Lei said after winning the poetry competition.
Lei Haiwei was born in a small village in Hunan Province. When he was young, his father taught him ancient poems by putting them on the kitchen wall for him to read.
“My father hoped I would grow up to be a man who keeps the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas in mind.” Lei said.
In 2001, Lei Haiwei graduated from a technical secondary school and found a job in Shanghai. There, he began to read books on ancient poems at bookstores or libraries in his free time because he didn’t have enough money to buy books. He also developed a habit of reciting(背诵)poems he liked and wrote them down after coming back home.
Lei Haiwei came to Hangzhou in 2008 and worked as a fast food courier. Every day, he had to take fast food to different people. On his busiest workdays, Lei Haiwei had to deliver more than 50 orders(订单)a day. Even so, his love for poems went on and he seized(抓住)any chance to recite poems.
As for his future plans, Lei Haiwei said he would go on reading and reciting more poems.
Will he take part in the next poetry competition?
1. When did Lei Haiwei get the first prize in the competition?| A．On March 7th, 2019. | B．On April 4th, 2018. |
| C．On May 5th, 2017. | D．On June 6th, 2016. |
| A．His sister. | B．His brother. | C．His mother. | D．His father. |
| A．he wanted to learn English there |
| B．he wanted to have a good rest there |
| C．he didn’t have any friends in the city |
| D．he didn’t have enough money to buy books |
| A．To take something to somebody. | B．To say something to somebody. |
| C．To lend something to somebody. | D．To speak something to somebody. |
| A．Fast Food Courier Won Sports Competition |
| B．Fast Food Courier Won Singing Competition |
| C．Fast Food Courier Won Poetry Competition |
| D．Fast Food Courier Won Dancing Competition |
2 . In ancient times, people didn’t have smartphones or computers to use for fun. Still, they had interesting games to play.
Kites
Kites have a very long history. People first used kites to send messages. In the Song Dynasty, kites got very popular with people. Now, Beijing, Tianjin, Nantong and Weifang are the four most important places of kite making.
Cuju
It is an ancient Chinese football game. At first, soldiers played the game as training. In the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty, the game was popular. People across the country loved playing it. Women also played the game.
Chuiwan
Chuiwan is a ball game. It’s a little like golf. The game got popular in the Song Dynasty. It was still popular in the Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. But the game got less popular in the Qing Dynasty.
Go
Go, or Weiqi, is a game for two players. It has a history of over 4,000 years and is still popular nowadays. People in ancient times thought it was a game for gentlemen.
1. What were kites first used to do in ancient times?| A．To have fun. | B．To do exercise. |
| C．To train soldiers. | D．To send messages. |
| A．In the Song Dynasty. | B．In the Qing Dynasty. |
| C．In the Ming Dynasty. | D．In the Yuan Dynasty. |
| A．They are all ball games. |
| B．They are all still played today. |
| C．They were all played for fun in ancient times. |
| D．They were all games only for men in ancient times. |
3 . In the United Stated, it is reported that one in fourth nurses are obese, with nearly two-thirds being overweight.
While some have argued that obese nurse may be less productive and take more time off sick, this isn’t my concern at all. I’m just worried about the example they set to others. Yes, of course, nurses and doctors struggle with having a healthy lifestyle like everyone else. But if they stick to the basic principles of keeping a healthy lifestyle, then they have no business being on the front line. No patient is going to take them seriously unless they show that they at least try to practise what they promote.
It’s a serious professional failing, because it sends the disastrous message of “do as I say not as I do”, which is never going to result in someone changing their ways. You wouldn’t take advice about reducing your drinking from an alcoholic. So why should you be expected to listen to an overweight nurse who is telling you to lose a few pounds?
Of course, there are lots of examples when a doctor or nurse’s personal struggles can really help. I used to smoke and I find this actually helps me because I can relate to patients — I know their struggles, I know their concerns and I know the things they say to themselves to avoid quitting. Knowing that I used to smoke helps me come across as more human to my patients — I’ve done silly things but I’ve changed and so they can.
1. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Strong. | B．Fat. | C．Healthy. | D．Weak. |
| A．They may not be so productive. |
| B．They are likely to take more time off sick. |
| C．Everyone will follow their examples. |
| D．They can’t act their role in health promotion. |
| A．He has always lived a healthy life. |
| B．He struggles against any patients. |
| C．He understands smokers better. |
| D．He keeps asking them to quit smoking. |
| A．doctor | B．teacher | C．reporter | D．smoker |
4 . Last May, my 15-year-old son Ben, informed his mother and me that he would like to attend an upcoming rap concert of Kendrick Lamar. We told our son that he was too young to go to a concert in Toronto alone. But my son refused to take no for an answer.
A few weeks later I happened to be in Ottawa visiting my mother and her sister, Martha. I complained to them about the absurdity (荒唐) of my situation: a man in his fifties attending a rap concert so that his son could go! Then they told me a story.
In the summer of 1964, my aunt Martha, then an 11-year-old girl begged her father, Cuthbert, who was 61, to attend a concert of the Beatles. Cuthbert had to drive Martha from Ottawa to Montreal to see the Fab Four. Once the band came on the stage, the crowd exploded. Poor old Cuthbert didn’t know what had hit him. But as the band started to sing, Cuthbert found he was getting into it. His foot was tapping (轻拍). By the time McCartney started to sing, Cuthbert appeared to have forgotten that he was a respected lawyer.
If Cuthbert could attend a Beatles concert without embarrassing his daughter, I could do something similar for my son. The first thing to do was to learn something about Mr. Lamar and his music. I downloaded and listened to all his albums. I even had some discussions with Ben about what to wear.
The truth is the concert was great. While Kendrick Lamar may still not be my favourite, I’m glad my son introduced me to him, and I’m glad I went.
Often, we don’t keep an open mind to new things and new experiences. Fortunately, we have children, like Ben and Martha, to help us do that.
1. What did the author complain about to his mother and aunt?| A．He was too old to go to a rap concert. |
| B．His son argued with him again. |
| C．His son was so crazy about travel. |
| D．He had too many questions to answer. |
| A．He got a bad headache. |
| B．He began to enjoy the concert. |
| C．He forgot the time for his work. |
| D．He was knocked off his feet. |
| A．The Beatles concert. |
| B．The author’s feelings about the concert. |
| C．The author’s preparation for the concert. |
| D．Differences between the two concerts. |
| A．New Information About My Family |
| B．How a Rapper Lifted My Day |
| C．What My Grandfather Did for His Kid |
| D．How My Son’s Determination Changed Me |
5 . Jennifer Jones was a fifteen-year-old. She was in her morning PE lesson when she
Jennifer’s parents were very
| A．jumped off | B．gave up | C．moved on | D．passed out |
| A．low | B．sudden | C．high | D．sharp |
| A．pleased | B．worried | C．curious | D．angry |
| A．made | B．forgotten | C．skipped | D．prepared |
| A．eating | B．sleeping | C．drinking | D．growing |
| A．fun | B．time | C．difficulty | D．confidence |
| A．still | B．even | C．hardly | D．never |
| A．Hopefully | B．Interestingly | C．Unbelievably | D．Fortunately |
| A．recovery | B．plan | C．start | D．choice |
| A．breath | B．exercise | C．diet | D．meal |
6 . Reading can make you feel less alone and more connected with the world at large. It can open your eyes to issues, successes and challenges. Here are the top books all teens should read before they turn 18.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Though this book recently became popular again because of the movie based on it, the movie is not a substitute (替代物) for this beautiful story about family and the process of becoming who you truly are.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Auggie was born with a facial difference that kept him out of school for years. In the fifth grade, he discovered what was like to long for normalcy (常态) and also learned that difference could be the most meaningful teacher.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
The author shares beautiful poetry that will speak to teenagers about her experience of growing up in the South as an African-American in the 1960s and 1970s. The poems enjoy the themes of self-awareness and identity.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The attractive advice given in this book is perfect for teens going off to college or beginning a new stage of independence. It is a book that can be reread all throughout life without losing its power.
1. What do we know about the book A Wrinkle in Time?| A．It was made into a movie. |
| B．Its story is never popular. |
| C．It is not so good as its movie. |
| D．It talks all about the process. |
| A．Madeleine L’Engle’s. |
| B．R. J. Palacio’s. |
| C．Jacqueline Woodson’s. |
| D．Don Miguel Ruiz’s. |
| A．A Wrinkle in Time. |
| B．Wonder. |
| C．Brown Girl Dreaming. |
| D．The Four Agreements. |
| A．The authors are African-Americans. |
| B．They are intended for teens. |
| C．They are all beautiful stories. |
| D．The poems enjoy the same themes. |
7 . As the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) keep growing, some companies are hiring “AI prompt (提示) engineers” to help them get the best out of the emerging technology. Are these jobs set to become a universal presence, or are they a passing fad (时尚)? Generative AI creates text or images in response to prompts entered by the user. This can be as simple as asking for something in plain English, similar to using a search engine. But there is a key to it: including the right references and keywords that can guide AI towards the desired outcome.
“By buying a pre-built prompt given by prompt engineers, you can ensure the AI model will generate what you want. The average price is $3.50, but some prompts can cost hundreds of dollars,” says Ben Stokes, the founder of Prompt Base. Most of the prompt engineers on the site don’t have a technical background. The engineers tend to come from a photography or graphic design background, and those working on prompts for generating text used to work in marketing or copy writing.
Aaron Sines at US recruitment firm Razoroo has been placing engineers into AI jobs for five years, but only came across the term “prompt engineer” earlier this year. Sines says that a lot of the companies approaching him looking for a “prompt engineer” are actually seeking a more rounded AI researcher with technical skills. He believes AI models could become better at extracting (提取) information from humans about what they want, making the idea of a specialized prompt engineer obsolete, but thinks there will always be a need for humans to oversee AI models during development and application.
Zhan Qin at Zhejiang University in China says complex prompts, and the prompt engineers who create them, are unlikely to disappear any time soon because AI models aren’t like traditional algorithms (算法) that work on logic and can be entirely understood by humans. “Some prompts are short. But there are a lot of very, very long prompts. Even the generators of those prompts do not know the exact meanings behind those magical words,” says Qin.
1. What matters most in providing prompts for generative AI?| A．Short content. | B．Appropriate words. | C．Simple English. | D．Attractive images. |
| A．The basic function of AI models. | B．The development of AI models. |
| C．The urgent need for prompt engineers. | D．The problems of prompt engineering. |
| A．Outdated. | B．Complicated. | C．Dominant. | D．Understandable. |
| A．They’ll still have a role to play. | B．They will lose appeal soon. |
| C．They will face cruel competition. | D．They will experience ups and downs. |
8 . Processed foods like chips, sodas and frozen pizzas are full of salt, sugar, and fat. Now, scientists are trying to understand if there is something else about such foods that may be bad for humans.
Scientists have already linked low-cost, packaged foods to rising obesity rates around the world. Obesity increases the risk of many health problems. Three recent studies offer more clues on how our increasingly industrialized food supply may be affecting our health.
The researchers created a system that places foods into four groups. The system says highly processed foods are made mostly of industrialized materials and additives(添加剂). Sodas, packaged cookies, instant noodles and chicken nuggets(鸡肉块) are some examples of highly processed foods. But also included are products that can seem healthy, such as morning cereals, energy bars and some kinds of yogurt.
Researchers conducted a four-week study involving 20 people. They found that people ate about 500 more calories a day when fed mostly processed foods. That is compared to when the same people were given less processed foods. The researchers permitted the 20 participants to eat as much or as little as they wanted. They were taken to a medical center so their health and behavior could be observed. In another study, researchers in France found people who ate more processed foods were more likely to have heart disease. A similar study in Spain linked eating more processed foods to a higher risk of death in general.
When fed less processed foods, people in the study produced more of a hormone that controls hunger, and less of a hormone that causes hunger. The reason for the reaction is not clear. The scientists also found that people ate processed foods more quickly. Kevin Hall is one of the researchers who led the study. He said that processed foods were usually softer and easier to chew and swallow”. Hall noted the source of nutrients might make a difference. For example, fiber from fruit and vegetables may be better for making people feel full than fiber added to packaged foods such as energy bars and yogurt.
Avoiding processed foods can be hard, especially for people with limited time and money. Processed foods can also take many forms. In addition, companies continually re-engineer products to make them seem healthier. The newest studies may provide more reasons to avoid processed foods. But, they also call attention to the difficulty of coming up with ways to do that.
1. What kind of food do energy bars belong to?| A．Fairly health-friendly foods. | B．Especially beneficial foods. |
| C．Relatively high-cost foods. | D．Highly processed foods. |
| A．It does harm to people potentially. | B．It can often result in death. |
| C．It makes people get less calories. | D．It makes little difference to people’s health. |
| A．Fiber added to packaged foods. |
| B．Fiber from fruit and vegetables |
| C．Highly processed foods like instant noodles. |
| D．Foods made mostly of industrial materials and additives. |
| A．Different Kinds of Processed Foods |
| B．Recent Studies on Processed Foods |
| C．How Bad Processed Foods Are! |
| D．Advantages and Disadvantages of Processed Foods |
9 . A recent study says volunteering can be good for your health. Kids and teenagers who volunteer aren’t just helping their community. They might also be helping themselves. That’s according to a new research published in JAMA Network Open, in May.
Kids who participated in community service were 34% more likely to be in very good physical health than those who didn’t participate, the study found. And those who volunteered were 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” or doing well in general. Kids aged 12and older who volunteered were 25% less likely to have anxiety than peers who didn’t. The findings come from survey data provided by the parents of some 50,000 kids in the United States ages 6 to 17. About half of those parents reported that their kids did volunteer work.
Studies like this have limitations. Parents answered questions about their kids’ health and community-service activities. But a parent might not know if their child experiences anxiety or considers themselves to be flourishing. This type of data also can’t prove cause and effect. It can only uncover associations. So it’s not possible to say for sure that volunteering leads to better mental and physical health. It could be that people in good health are more likely to have the energy or desire to volunteer.
But the data comes at an important time for youth mental health. In recent years, rates of depression and anxiety have risen among young people. More than 40% of high school students reported experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. So there’s a clear need for accessible and effective mental health resources. Giving back to the community may be one such resource. And this study isn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.
1. What does the study suggest about kids who volunteer?| A．They are more likely to help others. | B．They are 25% less likely to have anxiety. |
| C．Volunteer work can lead to more anxiety. | D．They can also benefit from volunteer work. |
| A．Narrow study subjects. | B．The single research method. |
| C．Narrow geographical locations. | D．Surveyed parents’ lack of knowledge. |
| A．Joining a school club. | B．Involving in outside sports. |
| C．Helping in the community. | D．Taking time to be with family. |
| A．A Breakthrough in Health | B．Volunteering: Good or Bad? |
| C．Volunteering Can Better Health | D．Volunteering: a Good Way of Treatment |
10 . Top Family Vacation Destinations Everyone Will Love
Think of taking a vacation and need some inspiration for where to travel? We have you covered. Here are some of our top picks for kid-friendly destinations.
Anaheim, California
California is a great family vacation destination that you will remember forever. Additionally, there are many other places to visit around the Anaheim area besides Disneyland Park. Other attractions like Knott’s Berry Farm, a water park and museums are close by as well, so you are sure to have lots of family adventures.
Panama City, Florida
If you’re looking for some family beach fun, why not try Panama City in Florida? You’ll find white sand and a beautiful tropical climate. It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself.
Salzburg, Austrian Alps, Austria
One of our top family vacation destinations outside of the United States is Salzburg. You can visit Mozart’s home and catch a concert show. Or, if you’re looking for a snowy outdoor adventure, then Austria is also a great place to go during the right time of year. Austria has some great family hotels. Some even offer baby monitors and child care available.
Dublin, Ireland
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, and beautiful surroundings, why not go to Dublin? It’s a place where your kids can run around wild and free and it also has a romantic feel. There are attractions to visit as well, such as Clara Lara Amusement Park, located in the Wicklow mountains and many other outdoor activities kids can take part in.1. Which of the following destinations is suitable for kids fond of coastal life?
| A．Anaheim, California. | B．Panama City, Florida. |
| C．Salzburg, Austrian Alps, Austria. | D．Dublin, Ireland. |
| A．White sand. | B．Wildlife. | C．Music. | D．Water. |
| A．They both feature theme parks. |
| B．They both offer child care service. |
| C．They are both perfect places for museum lovers. |
| D．They both provide visitors with a romantic feeling. |
