1 . My passage into eighties a few weeks ago gave me a moment’s reflection and the thought that I should watch how others in this situation have been affected. After a while it seemed to me that the first 80 years are the hardest.
Once you reach 80, everyone wants to carry your baggage and help you up steps. If you forget your name or anybody else’s name, or an appointment or your own telephone number, or promise to be three places at the same time, or you can’t remember how many grandchildren you have, you need only explain that you are 80.
Being 80 is a lot better than being 70. At 70 people are mad at you for everything. At 80, you have a perfect excuse no matter what you do. If you act foolishly, it’s your second childhood. Everybody is looking for symptoms of your failures of the brain.
Being 70 is not fun at all. At that age they expect you to retire to a house in Florida and complain about your arthritis (关节炎) and you ask everybody to stop mumbling (咕哝) because you can’t understand them. (Actually your hearing is about 50% gone.)
If you survive until you are 80, everybody is surprised that you are still alive. They treat you with respect just for having lived so long. Actually they seem surprised that you can walk and talk sensibly.
So please, folks, try to make it to 80. It’s the best time of life. People forgive you for anything. In response to the question of what years were the most difficult, an 80-year-old responded “those between 10 and 70.” Life begins at 80.
1. According to the passage, how old is the writer now?| A．Eighty. | B．Seventy. | C．Sixty. | D．Not known. |
| A．They are often mad at him. | B．They make fun of him. |
| C．They talk loudly to him. | D．They offer help to him. |
| A．They are not respected by other people. | B．They are often forgetful. |
| C．They can’t understand other people. | D．They are afraid of death. |
| A．negative | B．serious | C．humorous | D．passive |
2 . Chinese Astronauts in Outer Space
Here are some of the most famous astronauts in China who have travelled in outer space.
Yang Liwei
Yang is the first astronaut in China that visited outer space in 2003 by Shenzhou Ⅴ. Since then, space exploration has been inspired greatly in our country. After initial steps, upcoming missions are carried out smoothly nearly every year.
Liu Yang
Liu is the first Chinese woman taikonaut in space. She has travelled in the universe twice. Liu toured outer space by Shenzhou 9 in 2012 first, and now is in the Shenzhou ⅩⅣ along with Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe. They are scheduled to stay in the Tiangong space station for six months.
Jing Haipeng
Jing is the first astronaut that has visited outer space for three times. He toured in outer space in Shenzhou Ⅶ in 2008, Shenzhou 9 in 2012 and Shenzhou Ⅺ in 2016.
Wang Yaping
Wang is called the first space teacher and is the first female spacewalker in China. “I hope the Tiangong classes will lead more teenagers to shoot for the stars and plant the seeds of passion for science.” Wang said. She, together with Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu is also the first astronaut to welcome Chinese New Year in space in Shengzhou Ⅻ.
1. Who is the first woman astronaut to visit the universe in China?| A．Yang Liwei. | B．Liu Yang. |
| C．Jing Haipeng. | D．Wang Yaping |
| A．She teaches lessons live in space. | B．She is still in the space station now. |
| C．She is the only one to walk in space. | D．She has travelled in space for three times. |
| A．It is difficult to do sports in space. |
| B．Chinese space career develops slowly. |
| C．Male is more suitable than female to be spaceman. |
| D．There will be more Chinese astronauts in space. |
3 . If you look for great books for children that have stood the test of time, below you’ll find the best ones for 2022.
Aunty’s Wedding
by Miranda Tapsell
The book tells us a story about an island girl preparing for her aunty’s wedding, but she needs to know what a wedding is all about. This lovely picture book talks about family, culture and love.
For ages 3-6.
Freedom, We Sing
by Amyra Leon
This is a powerful book that explores what freedom means. Through conversations with a mother and her young daughter, this beautiful picture book discusses the way to live freely and be themselves. For ages 4 and up.
Ways to Make Sunshine
by Renée Watson
Ryan lives with her parents in Portland happily, but when Ryan’s dad loses his job, things start to change. This is a story of a black girl growing up and dealing with family pressures bravely. For ages 6 and up.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin
This book helps kids learn how to recognize different animals and name all the colors by the interesting pictures. It’s a perfect book for children who are just starting to read. For ages 1 and up.
1. Who is the writer of Aunty’s Wedding?| A．Miranda Tapsell. | B．Amyra Leon. | C．Renée Watson. | D．Bill Martin. |
| A．Love. | B．Culture. | C．Freedom. | D．Family. |
| A．Aunty’s Wedding. | B．Freedom, We Sing. |
| C．Ways to Make Sunshine. | D．Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? |
4 . Boring weekend? Take a look at some of the science fiction novels below to get you into a different world.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, the character, is a scientist who works on human life science research and tries to create life artificially. Through countless explorations in his laboratory, he created an ugly, scary monster. The author Marry Shelley thinks people have dual (双重的) personalities. Being laughed for a long time will make people become evil and even get out of control. It also creates a new word—Frankenstein, something that destroys its creator.
The Valley of Fear
What kind of place is the Valley of Fear? Let Holmes take you into the mystery. The novel is a part of the Sherlock Holmes series written by the late 19th century British detective novelist Arthur Conan Doyle. Most stories focus on cases that need Holmes to investigate, for he is good at solving problems through observation and deduction. Sherlock Holmes, a brilliant detective, describes himself as a “consulting detective”, that is, someone to whom he is often called when other people or the police are in trouble.
I Am Legend
Robert Neville, the last survival human being in the film. But he wasn’t alone. During the day, he searched the dead city. As soon as it was dark, he locked himself in. Not only did Richard Mattson describe a world of horror and vampires (吸血鬼), but also pioneered a way of writing about vampires using scientific method. This is a sad story, but you will be moved by the struggle, courage and hope of human beings in the face of the hopeless situation.
1. Which one is true about Frankenstein?| A．Frankenstein is a doctor with excellent medical skills. |
| B．Frankenstein creates an angle. |
| C．Marry Shelley thinks people’s personalities only have one side. |
| D．This novel has created the word “frankenstein”. |
| A．Expedition and adventure. | B．Observation and deduction. |
| C．Getting extra help from police. | D．Communicating with other people. |
| A．Marry Shelley. | B．Conan Doyle. |
| C．Robert Neville. | D．Richard Mattson. |
5 . The 2022 Chinese Visual Ethnographic Photo Biennale(中国民族影像志摄影双年展)，which aims to collect and preserve the unique history, culture and cherished memories of China’s various ethnic groups, opened in Beijing on Tuesday.
The exhibition combines a grand narrative of the contemporary lives of Chinese ethnic groups with vivid local scenery, connects ancient Chinese civilization to the new era and mirrors the evolution and rebirth of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation in modernization.
The photographers taking part in the exhibition come from all over China and from various backgrounds such as university students or migrant workers. Some are amateur photographers, while others are professionals.
Liu Hui is one of the photographers whose works are on display at the exhibition. His photos document his in-depth exploration of Daliyaboyi, a village in Yutian county, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Over the past decade, Liu has recorded the lots of changes that have taken place in the village and the impact these have had on villagers’ lives. He has taken more than 150, 000 photos of these villagers who originally lived in the desert. The photos at the exhibition focus on an old herdsman in the village. The herdsman and his family have benefited from local poverty-relief policies, moving from the desert to a new town with paved roads. Escaping from a tough environment, the herdsman establishes a new life for himself and his family that blends tradition and modernity.
Yan Shuzhen’s works have also been selected for the exhibition. In a connected series of photos, the photographer creates a window for viewers to appreciate a special traditional ceremony of the Mongolian ethnic group. The cutting hair ceremony is one of the most important and grand ceremonies on the path to adulthood among ethnic Mongolians. During the ceremony, elders send their best wishes for the future to the children taking part, while songs and speeches of praise full of traditional values reveal the rich characteristics of the ethnic group.
At the Biennale, many realistic and moving works grabbed people’s attention. These works demonstrate the progress of China’s ethnic groups and show the backbone and full picture of the unified spirit that binds the country’s diverse cultures.
As a spiritual home for the unity of China’s 56 ethnic groups, the Biennale has demonstrated its profound significance in promoting mutual understanding and unity among different ethnic groups in the country.
1. What do Liu Hui’s works try to illustrate?| A．The vivid local scenery of ethnic groups. |
| B．The culture and customs of ethnic groups. |
| C．The betterment of ethnic groups in Xinjiang. |
| D．The contribution of modern ethnic groups. |
| A．They hold ceremonies frequently. |
| B．They care a lot for their children. |
| C．They’ve changed living conditions. |
| D．They settle in a wild inhabited area. |
| A．The street exhibitions. |
| B．The house reconstruction. |
| C．The photographers’ help. |
| D．The government support. |
| A．Opposite. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unconcerned. |
6 . Attention is focused on mental health on R U OK? Day, September 13th. It's important to settle mental health issues, not just in September, but each and every day. If you feel hopeless or you need to check your brain in a “mind gym”, pick up one of those books.
The Courage To Be Disliked Price: $ 14. 99
Using the theories of philosopher Alfred Adler, The Courage To Be Disliked creates conversations between a fictional philosopher and a young man. The conversations cover many broad, interesting and sometimes touching topics. It’s for those seeking answers and quiet self-reflection.
The Gift Of Silence Price: $ 12. 00
It’s a practical guide to overcoming stress of everyday life. It gives you a little piece of wisdom, or some tools to help you switch off during moments of stress. Perfect for a lunchtime break in the park. If you are one of those who wake at 4 am with a mind full of worries, this book is for you!
The Anxiety Book Price: $10. 58
It’s not a self-help book. It’s more the stories and thoughts of an anxiety sufferer to which people could relate on many levels. It helps people recognize when anxiety appears, and assists people to deal with it. A must-read for anyone who suffers from anxiety, worry and panic attack.
Get Yourself Together Price: $ 13. 50
There are some great tips, from dealing with money problems to managing social relationships and even as far as never losing house keys again! If you are feeling the pressure of everyday life and starting to feel a little stressed, it is the book for you. Readers all found it useful!
Hopefully, these books for a healthy mind can make your days easier and your nights more peaceful.
1. Which book might interest Alfred Adler’s fans?| A．The Courage To Be Disliked. | B．The Gift Of Silence. |
| C．The Anxiety Book. | D．Get Yourself Together. |
| A．$14. 99. | B．$12. 00. | C．$10. 58. | D．$13. 50. |
| A．Society. | B．Leisure. | C．Literature. | D．Health. |
7 . Harry Potter-themed Dinnerware Sets Are Coming
If you are trying to make your dining room look like Hogwarts’s great hall which means, you know, the vaulted (拱形的), star-surrounded ceilings, Target might just be your choice. The company is now selling a variety of Harry Potter-themed dinnerware sets produced by pop culture designer Toynk. These new additions include Marauder Map dinnerware set, a Hogwarts emblem (徽章) bowl set, and more.
The Harry Potter Marauder’s Map 3-Piece Porcelain Setting Set
It is currently going for $39.99 and includes a dinner plate, salad plate, and bowl. Each piece has a special golden design of the famous map. In particular, the plate pays respect to the Animagus forms of characters James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin, otherwise known as the original creators of the Marauder’s Map. These fine porcelain pieces are hand-wash only.
The Harry Potter Houses 4-Piece Porcelain Dinner Plate Set
It is the perfect choice to add a little bit of color and magic to your table. Each fun plates takes after one of the four Hogwarts houses. You can own the set for $44.99.
The Harry Potter Ravenclaw 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set
If you’re Team Ravenclaw, you can show your pride with the Harry Potter Ravenclaw 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set. This $89.99 set is decorated with the house color and symbol and includes salad plates, dinner plates, bowls, and mugs.
The Harry Potter Hogwarts Emblem Bowl Collection
Looking for new bowls? The Harry Potter Hogwarts Emblem Bowl Collection is perfect for serving snacks, as well as salads, soups and meals. You can own it for $29.99.
Looking to add some more wizardry magic to your table? You can shop more Harry Potter at Toynk.com/HarryPotter.
1. Which set can you own if you have 30 dollars?| A．The Harry Potter Ravenclaw 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set. |
| B．The Harry Potter Marauder’s Map 3-Piece Porcelain Setting Set. |
| C．The Harry Potter Houses 4-Piece Porcelain Dinner Plate Set. |
| D．The Harry Potter Hogwarts Emblem Bowl Collection. |
| A．The pieces of the set are hand-wash only. |
| B．The set contains four types of dinnerware. |
| C．Each piece of the set has a golden design of the map. |
| D．The design of the set is to show respect to James Potter. |
| A．A novel. | B．A film review. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．A travel brochure. |
8 . Here are four events you won’t want to miss this week.
World Classic Opera Gala
Presented by the China National Opera House, the World Classic Opera Gala will present audiences with famous Chinese operas including The Long March, The Red Detachment of Women and Red Guards on Honghu Lake and Western operas including Tosca, Rusalka, Rigo letto and Le Nozze di Figaro.
Dates: Dec 24-25 Place: National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Beijing
Drama The Dream of the Red Chamber
Produced by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, the drama The Dream of the Red Chamber is based on the Chinese treasured literature classic of A Dream of Red Mansions. After four years of development, the drama was condensed (压缩) into a six-hour visual feast from the 700,000-word masterpiece.
Dates: Dec 25-26 Place: Shanghai Culture Square, Shanghai
2021 Guardian Art Book Fair
Covering an area of 1,400 square meters, the first Guardian Art Book Fair will display more than 5,000 highlight art books from over 40 top art publishing houses both at home and abroad. In addition, as one of the exhibitors, the National Library of China Publishing House will exhibit over 100 books.
Dates: Dec 22-26 Place: Guardian Art Center, Beijing
Musical Story for Kids-The Waltz Kingdom
During his lifetime, Austrian composer Johann Strauss was known as the “Waltz King”, and was largely responsible for popularizing the waltz in 19th century Vienna. In this concert combining music and videos, children and their parents can enjoy lively stories accompanied by the music of The Waltz Kingdom produced by the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra.
Date: 10:30 am, Dec 25
Place: National Library Arts Center, Beijing
1. What is special about the drama The Dream of the Red Chamber?| A．It is intended for opera lovers. | B．It is a 700,000-word masterpiece. |
| C．It is a drama adapted from a classic. | D．It is held in the city of Shanghai. |
| A．Drama The Dream of the Red Chamber. | B．2021 Guardian Art Book Fair. |
| C．World Classic Opera Gala. | D．The Waltz Kingdom. |
| A．It was produced by Johann Strauss. |
| B．It is shown in the Guardian Art Center, Beijing. |
| C．It has been a popular story since the 19th century. |
| D．It’ll give the audience a feast for eyes and ears. |
9 . Show Some Love to the Ugly and Endangered
Let’s face it-not every animal is going to win a beauty contest. But all of them are important, and they all deserve a chance at survival. Let’s show a little love for some of the endangered species that may not be the prettiest, but need our help all the same.
Pallid Sturgeon(浅色鲟鱼)
The species has been around for more than 78 million years. These guys once shared the planet with dinosaurs. And sadly，they could be going the same way as their now fossilized(变成化石的)friends. Today, the last wild-born pallid sturgeons are nearing extinction. As humans built dams in the waterways these fish need to survive, they blocked the pallid sturgeon from being able to reach its breeding grounds.
California Condor(加州秃鹫)
The California condor sports a bare featherless head, the better to put into dead things without getting too dirty. With a wingspan of up to 9 feet, they’re one of the largest birds in the world. But due in large part to habitat loss, illegal shootings, and lead poisoning, by 1985 the entire known wild population had been reduced to just nine birds.
Northern Long-eared Bat
Few animals have as undeserved a bad reputation as bats do but they actually provide incredibly valuable services like pollination(授粉)or eating insects that could otherwise kill crops or make us sick.
North American bats like the Northern long-eared bat are being killed right now by a disease called “white nose syndrome”. This infection has lent new urgency to efforts to protect bat habitats and reduce other threats to their survival.
These are just three of a long list of endangered species that need our help-even if they aren’t always the ones that get the lion’s share of the spotlight. This Valentine’s Day, show some love for species like these.
1. What is the main reason for the pallid sturgeon’s close extinction?| A．Its ugly appearance. |
| B．The extinction of its fossilized friends. |
| C．Its long history of more than 78 million years. |
| D．Dams prevent them from reaching breeding grounds. |
| A．Bats deserve a bad reputation. |
| B．North American bats are being killed by “white nose syndrome”. |
| C．The California condor sports featherless. |
| D．The California condor is the largest birds in the world. |
| A．No animal can share the spotlight of the lion. |
| B．Few endangered species need human’s help. |
| C．All species are equally important. |
| D．The Valentine’s Day is intended for endangered species. |
10 . A family’s cat has finally been recovered after three weeks of being on the run in Boston’s Logan International Airport. The cat -named Rowdy-had been successfully avoiding airport workers, airline employees, and animal experts since escaping from a pet container. Rowdy was finally caught Wednesday.
“Whether out of exhaustion or hunger we’ll never know, but this morning she finally let herself be caught,”an airport spokesperson said.
Rowdy is to be given a health examination and then returned to her family. “I’m kind of in disbelief,”said her owner, Patty Sahli. “I thought, ‘What are the odds we’re actually going to get her back?’ But I got a call this morning and I am just so shocked. ”
Rowdy’s time on the run began June 24. Sahli and her husband, Rich, returned to the United States from 15 years in Germany with the Army. When their Lufthansa airlines flight landed, the 4-year-old black cat with green eyes escaped her cage. She was chasing some birds in the area.
Soon Rowdy herself was on the object of a chase. Her escape set off a big search involving airport and Lufthansa workers. Construction workers, and animal welfare experts got involved as well. They used wildlife cameras and safe-release traps in an attempt to catch Rowdy. Many people saw Rowdy during her extended airport visit. However, the cat always escaped those who chased her.
Now, with Rowdy safely contained, a little calm has been returned to the airport. “It was such a community effort,” said Sahli, adding, “we’re just so grateful to everyone who helped look for her. ”
1. What finally led to Rowdy’s being caught?| A．The use of wildlife cameras. | B．The attraction of some birds to her. |
| C．Animal welfare experts’ involvement. | D．Her willingness to cooperate in the chase. |
| A．Getting away from the family. | B．Returning home safe and sound. |
| C．Caught by the safe-release traps. | D．Injured and shocked at the airport. |
| A．The efforts of the cat’s owner. | B．The process of chasing the cat. |
| C．The cause of the cat’s losing her way. | D．The whole story of the cat’s getting loose. |
| A．Individual and effective. | B．Extensive and combined. |
| C．Determined but failed. | D．Demanding but overlooked. |
