1 . “May 17, 2157

Dear diary,

Today, Tommy found a real book!...”

“What’s it about?” Margie asked.

“School.” replied Tommy, turning the yellow pages.

“Why would anyone write about school? I hope they can take my geography teacher away.”

“It’s not our school. This is the old sort that they had centuries ago.”

“Anyway, they had a teacher.” Margie said, reading the book over his shoulder.

“Sure, they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”

“A man? How could a man be a teacher?”

“Well, he just told the boys and girls things and gave them assignments and asked them questions.”

“A man isn’t smart enough.”

“Sure, he is. My father knows as much as my teacher.”

Margie wasn’t prepared to argue about that. She said, “I wouldn’t want a strange man in my house to teach me.”

Tommy laughed. “The teachers didn’t live in the house. They had a special building and all the kids went there.”

“And all the kids learned the same thing?”

“Sure, if they were the same age.”

“But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.”

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read the book.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.

They weren’t even half-finished when Margie’s mother called, “Margie! School!”

“Not yet, Mamma.”

“Now!” said Mrs. Jones.

Margie said to Tommy, “Can I read the book some more with you after school?”

“Maybe,” Tommy said.

Margie went into the schoolroom, right next to her bedroom, and the mechanical teacher was on waiting for her.

The screen was lit up, and it said, “Please insert yesterday’s assignments in the proper slot.”

Margie was still thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another on the assignments and discussed them.

And the teachers were people…

1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A．Margie doesn’t like her school.

B．It’s common to read paper books in 2157.

C．Online learning is what Margie wants.

D．Tommy feels his father is smarter than his teacher.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about a school in 2157?

A．There are only female teachers at school.

B．Teachers give no assignments to students.

C．A special building is constructed for teachers.

D．Students learn different things at their own pace.

3. What does the underlined word “slot” probably mean?

A．Envelope.	B．Opening.
C．Screen.	D．Schoolroom.

4. What can we learn about Margie’s feelings about old schools?

A．Longing.	B．Objection.
C．Suspicion.	D．Tolerance.

2 . Alifa Chin is a 13-year-old Bangladeshi girl whose last name sometimes leads to her being mistaken for a Chinese.

“I like my name very much. I think my name is the _________ of friendship between Bangladesh and China,” she said. In 2010, Chin’s mother, Jannatul Ferdous, was unable to _________ naturally due to a serious heart problem. Local doctors failed to _________ the necessary surgery (外科手术).

_________, the Chinese navy’s Peace Ark hospital ship was about to arrive to provide medical _________ for locals in Chittagong. “Now we feel _________ for the efforts of Chinese doctors and nurses that help me give birth to a healthy baby,” Ferdous said.

This year, Chin wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping to _________ her gratitude. To the family’s _________, Xi wrote back. In the letter, Xi _________ her to study hard, pursue her dream and carry forward the __________ friendship between China and Bangladesh.

“To __________ President Xi’s expectations, I will study medical science to help those in need,” she said.

The girl’s father said, “We didn’t __________ that our daughter would receive the letter from the Chinese president. This is the most __________ thing in our life.”

“We have seen how people in other countries have gained a better understanding of China through the medical __________. To local residents, China is a major country that is responsible, peace-loving and always __________,” she said.

1.

A．presence

B．symbol

C．signal

D．proof

2.

A．pick up

B．hand over

C．give birth

D．work out

3.

A．show

B．perform

C．follow

D．load

4.

A．Luckily

B．Originally

C．Obviously

D．Gradually

5.

A．transportation

B．shelter

C．budget

D．treatment

6.

A．thankful

B．generous

C．proud

D．sympathetic

7.

A．contribute

B．supply

C．express

D．release

8.

A．relief

B．embarrassment

C．credit

D．surprise

9.

A．called

B．offered

C．fought

D．encouraged

10.

A．temporary

B．traditional

C．unique

D．contemporary

11.

A．live up to

B．figure out

C．make up for

D．account for

12.

A．agree

B．exhibit

C．expect

D．charge

13.

A．unnecessary

B．unavoidable

C．uneventful

D．unbelievable

14.

A．benefit

B．assistance

C．concern

D．agreement

15.

A．helpful

B．grateful

C．wealthy

D．creative

3 . Antoine Craig, a blind athlete, has been blind since 2010. He gradually lost his sight due to a genetic disease. Working through difficulties, Craig says, he has found his value. “Once I lost my eyesight, I began the process of rediscovering myself.” he says.

Craig, now 40, heard from a friend about people running at the school’s gym with their hands linked by shoestrings (鞋带). Craig decided to give it a try. “In the beginning, it was pure coping (应对).” he says. “It allowed me to do something I could be proud of. More importantly, here people became my friends, who were always ready to help me. These people became my family.”

In 2017, he won a silver medal in the 200-meter race at the 2017 US Paralympic Nationals. In 2019 he competed at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. In 2021, running for a chance to compete in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo — delayed for a year, he finished second in the 100.

Learning a US national team was forming for blind soccer, he went for it. Last fall. Craig was named to the team, which will play in the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. On March 19 and 20, 2023, the team hosted its first two “international friendly” games against Canada in Chula Vista, California. Craig couldn’t play as planned due to a concussion (脑震荡) in practice before the games. He spoke with his teammates before both games and, on his Facebook page, asked friends and supporters to lend support. When asked how the team performed, Craig answered cheerfully, “You know, we won!”

Craig finished a psychology degree from VCU in 2016 and completed his master’s degree in mental health counseling (咨询) in December 2022. Now he has his own business, LegendaryU Counseling. focusing on athletes with disabilities. He also regularly posts videos to his Instagram, hoping to inspire others.

1. Why did Craig want to try running at first?

A．To meet friends.	B．To help others in need.
C．To find himself.	D．To escape from his family.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．It is important to run.	B．Craig was running well.
C．Running is easy for Craig.	D．Craig succeeded in Tokyo.

3. What can we learn about Craig from paragraph 4?

A．He had a positive attitude.	B．He performed well in the game.
C．His team played in Canada.	D．His supporters were disappointed.

4. Why does Craig start his company?

A．To make improvements to himself academically.

B．To help people see beyond their challenges.

C．To win more medals in the competitions.

D．To post videos to the disabled people.

4 . Every school has students who stand out for their abilities and their eagerness to learn. In Mexico, a school created a program to work with them. In 2019. both teachers Lotta Andersson and John Rennie got the idea to provide learning opportunities for students with a hunger for knowledge. They are English coordinators (协调员) in the school. “We want to have a program to inspire students who really have the abilities and the interests to learn more and continue accepting challenges,” Andersson said during a recent interview.

Students in the program, which was called Learning Challenges, met with the teachers about once a month. Andersson and Rennie would help us choose research topics. We then worked with the teachers to find books, interview subjects and Internet sources, While in Learning Challenges, I gave presentations on European culture and the fashion industry.

When asked what skills students had formed in the program, which ended in June 2020because of the limits of a common disease. Andersson said, “They had learned to ask questions, be more open-minded and see things from different angles (角度). Also, they mastered the skills-reflecting more, acting actively, and learning not to put limits on themselves.”

A student, Yihane Abed, conducted research on the sun, the moon, stars, planets, etc, while in Learning Challenges. “The skills I developed were teamwork and the ways to do research and give a good presentation,” she said.

Andersson and Rennie continue to help students pursue their love of learning. “The program doesn’t exist formally, but as an important part of the culture at school, it is still needed,” Andersson said. “There is much more difference, not only for students who need extra help, but also for those who are higher achievers.”

1. What’s the purpose of creating Learning Challenges?

A．To help some students learn more.

B．To guide students to work out effectively.

C．To raise students’ interest in visiting Europe.

D．To encourage English students to help others.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Methods that students used in the program.

B．Abilities that students got from the program.

C．Difficulties that students met in the program.

D．Topics that students selected from the program.

3. Which kind of research did Yihane Abed conduct?

A．The universe.	B．Teamwork
C．The fashion industry.	D．Travelling.

4. What does Andersson think of the program?

A．Tough.	B．Formal.
C．Necessary.	D．Traditional.

5 . It was a snowy day during the spring break when I walked into a great restaurant. In this blizzard weather, it was the only restaurant that remained open.

The restaurant has a long history in Hong Kong. Its owners, the couple, Peter and Michelle, have been running the restaurant since 2007.

“Things have changed a lot in the past 30 years,” Peter said. “Chinese students 20 years ago thought that a 70-cent bowl of rice was too expensive, but now a $20 meal is acceptable”. He also said that the new generation of Chinese students engaged with other students, bringing all their non-Chinese friends to visit the restaurant.

Peter takes great pride in his own cooking. He was curious about how the food was made and why particular foods or sauces had specific tastes. He chose to serve mainly Guangdong and Sichuan food at the restaurant, featuring the family-style Chinese dim sum or hot pot.

When I asked whether he would modify the taste of the dishes to suit the taste of most Americans, Peter said, “We are not like those American Chinese restaurants. We provide the genuine Chinese taste to our customers, and they will love it because it is delicious, and their taste will suit the taste of our dishes, not the other way around.”

“If I hear complaints from my customers, I will be so upset that I can’t fall asleep at night”, he said. “Luckily most of my favorite dishes received wide acclaim from my customers and it takes more than one person’s effort.”

He compares himself with the craftsmen in China who are proud of preserving ancient Chinese art and whose motivation is only on people’s enjoyment of their work and thought.

Such a spirit of craftsmanship has been remarkable and greatly valued in the past. The craftsman’s spirit with perfection, precision, concentration, and patience remains in Peter and his cooking.

1. How long have the couple been running the restaurant?

A．16 years

B．20 years

C．30 years

D．70 years

2. Why is the restaurant different from other American Chinese restaurants?

A．Its customers are mainly Chinese.

B．It sticks to its original taste of the dishes.

C．It adjusts the taste according to the customers.

D．Its menu merely contains Guangdong and Sichuan food.

3. Which words can best describe Peter?

A．Generous and patient.	B．Ambitious and economical.
C．Thoughtful and humorous.	D．Precise and devoted.

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．He believes that cooking just needs one person’s effort.

B．He shows an interest in preserving ancient Chinese art.

C．He takes pride in cooking the best typical Chinese cuisine.

D．He cares about the taste of the dishes rather than customers’ complaints.

6 . Sitting in the garden for my friend’s birthday. I felt a buzz (振动) in my pocket. My heart raced when I saw the email sender’s name. The email started off: “Dear Mr Green, thank you for your interest” and “the review process took longer than expected.” It ended with “We are sorry to inform you…” and my vision blurred (模糊). The position—measuring soil quality in the Sahara Desert as part of an undergraduate research programme — had felt like the answer I had spent years looking for.

I had put so much time and emotional energy into applying, and I thought the rejection meant the end of the road for my science career.

So I was shocked when, not long after the email, Professor Mary Devon, who was running the programme, invited me to observe the work being done in her lab. I jumped at the chance, and a few weeks later I was equally shocked—and overjoyed—when she invited me to talk with her about potential projects I could pursue in her lab. What she proposed didn’t seem as exciting as the original project I had applied to, but I was going to give it my all.

I found myself working with a robotics professor on techniques for collecting data from the desert remotely. That project, which I could complete from my sofa instead of in the burning heat of the desert, not only survived the lockdown but worked where traditional methods didn’t. In the end, I had a new scientific interest to pursue.

When I applied to graduate school, I found three programmes promising to allow me to follow my desired research direction. And I applied with the same anxious excitement as before. When I was rejected from one that had seemed like a perfect fit, it was undoubtedly difficult. But this time I had the perspective (视角) to keep it from sending me into panic. It helped that in the end I was accepted into one of the other programmes I was also excited about.

Rather than setting plans in stone, I’ve learned that sometimes I need to take the opportunities that are offered, even if they don’t sound perfect at the time, and make the most of them.

1. How did the author feel upon seeing the email sender’s name?

A．Anxious.

B．Angry.

C．Surprised.

D．Settled.

2. After talking with Professor Devon, the author decided to ________.

A．criticise the review process	B．stay longer in the Sahara Desert
C．apply to the original project again	D．put his heart and soul into the lab work

3. According to the author, the project with the robotics professor was ________.

A．demanding

B．inspiring

C．misleading

D．amusing

4. What can we learn from this passage?

A．An invitation is a reputation.	B．An innovation is a resolution.
C．A rejection can be a redirection.	D．A reflection can be a restriction.

7 . It isn’t every day that the future and the past get to meet on national television.

When his wife of 72 years passed away six years ago, Peter Davies _________ he felt like “almost soul”. The 100-year-old man from Macclesfield, England _________ to find new purpose in his life, so when his daughter suggested he offer his help at the local elementary school, he _________ to go for it.

“I was married for 72 years, and when my wife died, life changed _________,” Peter explained. “My daughter suggested that, to get some _________ back into my life, I do something I’m _________ of doing.”

Peter chose to_________ at a primary school, and he was a huge _________ with all of the children he tutored. He _________ reading into a fun game. Besides, his new __________ as a grandfatherly figure made him feel more connected to his community than ever before.

“The __________ are great, ”said Peter. “I’m sure I get more than the kids do. It is a lovely warm feeling that I __________ the community. I’m part of it. Moreover, my image is __________ . Wherever I go in the village, a child will shout ‘Hello Mr. Davies. I feel 10 feet tall. ”

Recently he was __________ with a British Empire Medal (BEM) on television with the youngest recipient, 18-year-old Dara McAnulty. “He is the future, and I am the past, ”Peter said. “It’s just simple as that, it really is. I’m__________ for him.”

1.

A．admitted

B．suspected

C．proved

D．argued

2.

A．refused

B．struggled

C．regretted

D．pretended

3.

A．failed

B．determined

C．requested

D．forgot

4.

A．dramatically

B．temporarily

C．casually

D．secretly

5.

A．information

B．creation

C．affection

D．meaning

6.

A．afraid

B．tired

C．capable

D．ashamed

7.

A．study

B．perform

C．investigate

D．volunteer

8.

A．star

B．scholar

C．hit

D．model

9.

A．expanded

B．transformed

C．recovered

D．compared

10.

A．responsibility

B．challenge

C．status

D．mission

11.

A．assistants

B．instructors

C．applicants

D．kids

12.

A．belong to

B．object to

C．adapt to

D．reach to

13.

A．apparent

B．tremendous

C．flexible

D．particular

14.

A．remarked

B．accompanied

C．honoured

D．impressed

15.

A．concerned

B．respectful

C．embarrassed

D．delighted

8 . One day, I received a text from my assistant Susan. It read, “Congratulations! You have been _________ for the shooting of a cruise commercial (游轮广告).” I was _________ since it was a great opportunity for an actress. But as I saw the _________ of my character: “she” has to be a strong swimmer, my heart sank. I called Susan to _________ the shooting. “I’m so sorry; I can’t swim.”

I had a terrible _________ for swimming in high school. I recalled that my P.E. teacher _________ me because on the final test I tried to swim the entire length of the pool while holding my breath.

Even now, I still feel the pain of giving up that great shooting opportunity. I thought, “Maybe it’s time to _________ my fear.” Then, I slowly walked into the pool in my backyard, _________ myself by saying: “You can do this.” However, I realized I needed _________ help after trying several times. Luckily for me, I found an excellent coach who stressed that the most __________ point was “breathing and building confidence”. She said I had to __________ my face in the water, practicing blowing out bubbles (吐泡泡), and then surface for air to repeat the __________. Instructed by my coach, I practiced very hard every day. __________, I gained strength in my movement and managed to __________ my breath.

It has now been two months since I started my brave water __________, and I’m proud that I’m no longer afraid of water.

1.

A．excused

B．chosen

C．trained

D．praised

2.

A．excited

B．worried

C．amused

D．puzzled

3.

A．discussion

B．collection

C．description

D．impression

4.

A．hand in

B．set up

C．put away

D．turn down

5.

A．hobby

B．idea

C．memory

D．plan

6.

A．failed

B．noticed

C．tricked

D．saved

7.

A．face

B．hide

C．understand

D．exhibit

8.

A．disturbing

B．enjoying

C．encouraging

D．appreciating

9.

A．spiritual

B．professional

C．ordinary

D．repeated

10.

A．interesting

B．important

C．popular

D．surprising

11.

A．read

B．remove

C．put

D．clean

12.

A．experiment

B．process

C．mistake

D．knowledge

13.

A．Gradually

B．Normally

C．Directly

D．Secretly

14.

A．reduce

B．lose

C．catch

D．control

15.

A．routine

B．visit

C．equipment

D．adventure

9 . Do you know Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton? They are musicians who can make their instruments sing. But do you know there are some musicians who are greater than them? The drummers in West Africa, who play the dùndún drums, can make their instruments talk.

The researchers analyzed the Yorùba language and the drumming of dùndún drums. They found that the drumming sounds like the tones of the Yorùba language, while the correctness decreases when the drums are used only for music or less direct communication such as songs. The scientists also found four modes through which dùndún drums connect music and language. Called “talking drums”, dùndún drums can be used as purely musical instruments or what scientists refer to as speech surrogacy (替代).

More importantly, the research shows how studying non-western cultures can enrich the way scientists understand music and speech, according to lead author Dr Cecilia Durojaye. “These kinds of findings are useful for considering deeper relationships and understanding of various types of communication and the development of language and music,” she said. “The talking drum is unique because it has a foot in both language and music camps and its existence reminds us of the boundary (边界) between speech and music.”

While the talking drum is specific to the Yorùba language, speech surrogacy in music occurs across cultures, so the research can contribute to how scientists understand the phenomenon in general and in the Yorùba culture specifically. Speech surrogacy can spread history. Through musical instruments like these drums, one can know the history of a particular culture, as well as aspects of how the people think, their belief systems and values, and what is likely important to them.

But there is still much that scientists don’t understand about speech surrogacy. “Our study, which focuses on the spoken, sung and drummed forms, represents one of the first steps towards understanding these various structures,” Durojaye said. “We will continue exploring this unique instrument.”

1. What do we know about dùndún drums from the text?

A．They are pretty popular instruments in Africa.

B．They are used to add fun to the Yorùba language

C．They make sounds similar to the Yorùba language.

D．They can clearly convey the drummers thoughts.

2. What does Durojaye think is the significance of the new research?

A．Showing people the importance of body language.

B．Drawing public attention to cultural heritage protection.

C．Being the first study on the boundary between speech and music.

D．Providing insights into the connection between music and language.

3. What does the author mention about speech surrogacy in music?

A．It happens in limited kinds of cultures.

B．It is likely to cause trouble for the Yorùba people.

C．It can greatly influence people’s beliefs and values.

D．It enables people to know different aspects of a culture.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Talking drums convey more than a language

B．A significant musical instrument is found in West Africa

C．New research analyzes the development of African music

D．Scientists have found more forms of the Yorùba language

10 . The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most diverse places in America, a wonderful place filled with people from all backgrounds. Each of them drew something different from their own experience. Their stories are the focus of Status Update, an exhibition of 14 projects offered by Dundon and former WIRED contributor Pete Brook. The show at SOMarts uses personal tales to show the Bay Area’s culture.

The Bay Area is a microcosm (缩影) of the national melting pot, a place where people of color comprise 58 percent of the overall population and are a majority in four of the region’s five countries, San Francisco in particular is the type of place where you can’ t walk down the street without hearing another language. Yet the change is not all for the better. The gap between rich and poor is widening at a frightening speed, and San Francisco is becoming less diverse as minorities escape from the city for more affordable communities elsewhere in the region.

Status Update reflects these changes and the challenges they bring. Joseph Rodriguez’s Faces of Foreclosure features quiet images of people like Ethel Gist, who lost her home in the East Bay suburb of Brentwood six years ago. Photographer Sam records Oakland resident Shannon and his efforts to provide for his daughter. And Laura Morton documents millennials (千禧一代 )hoping to make their way to the top in Silicon Valley in her series Wild West Tech.

Status Update starts a conversation about how the Bay Area is changing, and what people can do to build up a more just equitable (公正的) society. “I hope people walk away from this show with a little more respect for our neighbors and communities and the ways we depend on one another.” Dundon says. “we’re all out here together”

1. What are the artworks in Status Update mainly about?

A．The real lives of people in the Bay Area.

B．The beautiful construction of the Bay Area.

C．The friendliness of people in the Bay Area.

D．The technological development of the Bay Area.

2. What is happening in San Francisco?

A．It is facing a rapid economic slowdown.

B．The population has been falling in recent years.

C．More and more local people tend to speak the same language.

D．It is getting harder and harder for minorities to afford their lives.

3. What’s the most suitable subject of Status Update?

A．Sharing the successful experience of the Bay Area.

B．Recording the diversity and change of the Bay Area.

C．Introducing the long and rich history of the Bay Area.

D．Showing the past, the present and the future of the Bay Area.

4. What does Dundon expect of visitors?

A．They can know more about themselves.

B．They can open their hearts to other people.

C．They can respect the people around them.

D．They can develop an interest in diverse cultures.