2 . Top Music Festivals in 2021

Coachella

Selling out fast every year, the Indio desert becomes a fashionable place where the coolest bands are watched by trendy people and celebrities. Near the top of everyone's bucket list of festivals, Coachella is a constant source of annual expectation and a hotbed for musical discussion.

When &. where: April 9-11 &. 16-18, 2021; Indio

Ultra Music Festival

Seen as the ultimate gathering for electronic music fans across the nation and globe, the streets of Miami turn into a bold and bumping party with popular DJs playing what will be the sounds of summer.

When & where: March 26-28, 2021; Miami

South By South West

Regarded as the ultimate trend-setter and launcher of careers, SXSW is an annual showcase of music, films and interactive highlights enjoyed through performances, showcases, talks, screenings and more. Virtually taking over the city of Austin, everyone in the world of music from fans to media flock here to discover the next big thing.

When &, where: March 16-20, 2021; Austin

The Governors Ball Music Festival

Another event which proves the music loving potential of Randall's Island Park is Governors Ball, an exciting and infectious mix of rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop and folk.   Providing a variety of music and food tastes, whether you look to kick back and relax or dance to the beats, Governors Ball has what you want.

When & where: June 11-14, 2021; New York

1. Which music festival lasts the most days?

A．Coachella	B．Ultra Music Festival.
C．South By South West	D．The Governors Ball Music Festival.

2. What is special about Ultra Music Festival?

A．It's held in a park.

B．It features electronic music

C．It's a gathering of popular DJs.

D．It's the most popular in the country.

3. Which city could you go if you love both music and movies?

A．Indio.

B．Miami.

C．Austin

D．New York.

3 . There are nearly 2,800 working satellites in space, which we depend on for technology we use every day, such as video calls, online maps, satellite TV, and weather tracking. Scientists use them to study space and learn more about our planet.

But there are many other satellites in orbit (轨道) that are no longer working. They're among the objects cluttering (使杂乱) up space. Some of these eventually fall back toward Earth, either landing or burning up in the atmosphere. But much of this space junk (垃圾) circles Earth for years. Space junk is a problem. Debris (残骸)   floating around Earth puts technology and future space tasks at risk. Experts are working on ways to solve it.

Orbital debris, a type of space junk, is any human-made object that has slopped working but continues to float around the Earth. This includes satellites that are no longer used and pieces of spacecraft, such as rocket stages. It has been a large problem since the 1960s.

Space junk also includes broken pieces of objects. These occur when satellites hit against things. They also result from an object crashing into an old rocket stage that still contains fuel, causing an explosion (爆炸) . There have been more than 250 space explosions since the 1960s. These tiny broken pieces can damage working satellites, which can affect research in space.

Companies all over the world are working to clean up the area surrounding our planet. A company based in Japan will test the method of using magnets (磁石) to collect space debris. Another mission is led by a company based in Switzerland. It plans to carry out a debris-removal spacecraft in 2025. The craft will get hold of a piece of an old rocket, slow it down, and move it back to Earth. Eventually, the debris will burn out like a shooting star.

Governments are trying to help too. Some are updating their country's space guidelines to limit the amount of debris created. Space is so large that the problem won't be solved by a single organization or a single country. We have to work on this together.

1. What is the biggest harm that space junk does to human beings?

A．It will fall back toward the Earth.	B．It circles the Earth for years.
C．It puts other space objects in danger.	D．It will burn up in the atmosphere.

2. How will the Swiss company clean up the Earth orbit?

A．By making the orbital debris fall back to Earth.	B．By putting the pieces all together.
C．By collecting space junk with magnets.	D．By sending space junk into deep space.

3. What does the author suggest on cleaning up space junk?

A．Strict laws.	B．Global efforts.
C．Stopping in space exploration.	D．Setting up professional organizations.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Earth and its satellites.	B．The problem of space junk.
C．Ways of cleaning up space junk.	D．The various uses of man-made satellites.

4 . The company SpaceX has already launched hundreds of its Star-link satellites, with plans to put as many as 42,000 of them in Earth orbit. Its goal is to provide high-speed Internet to billions of people. Moving toward that kind of access is important, but it comes at a cost. Glittering with reflected sunlight, these first orbiters, sent up in the past year, are brighter than 99 percent of the 5,000 or so other satellites now circling Earth, and obviously there are going to be a lot more. This sudden increase is bad for astronomy: the probability of a Star-link satellite crossing a telescope’s field of view and ruining an observation will be quite high near sunset. For that reason, my fellow astronomers have signed a petition (请愿书) calling for governments to protect the night sky from this invasion.

In response to protests, SpaceX has promised to address the visibility problem by, for example, applying experimental coatings — essentially painting the satellites black — but the company’s aggressive launch schedule remains unchanged. And the satellites’ illuminated (被照亮) surfaces are mostly their solar panels — exactly the part that cannot be painted over.

Unfortunately, at present no regulations govern how bright a single satellite can be, let alone thousands of them together. Even if there were such regulations, one nation’s laws can not hinder (阻碍) another country’s launches. Space literally has no borders, and the sky will need to be protected at an international level. As a consequence, we hope that the United Nations will find a way to think outside of the box to save the sky for everyone.

When I was growing up in Montana, it was a game to be the first to find a moving satellite among the host of stars in the night sky. Soon it could be a game to recognize the constellations (星座) behind a swarm of moving points of light.

1. What is the writer’s attitude toward Space X’s launching plans?

A．Indifferent.

B．Doubtful.

C．Optimistic.

D．Disapproving.

2. Why have my fellow astronomers signed the petition?

A．SpaceX plans to send too many Star-line satellites into space.

B．The Star-line satellites will possibly ruin an observation near sunset.

C．The first orbiters are brighter than most of other satellites circling Earth.

D．Space X fails to provide high-speed Internet to people around the world.

3. According to the author, who should shoulder the responsibility to save the sky?

A．The United States.	B．The United Nations.
C．The company SpaceX.	D．Just one nation.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Preserve the Night Sky	B．Ban Star-line Satellites
C．Observe the Stars Attentively	D．Protest against Space X

5 . The new year always brings predictions. You know who gets them right?

BLUETOOTH

In his futuristic 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury anticipated Bluetooth, describing wireless earphones that allowed for "an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk" to be transferred through the air. Imagine how thrilled he would have been with a Bluetooth toaster! That was the idea behind Griffin's Connected Toaster, which warned you via smartphone when your toast was done. At $ 100, this baby cost a lot of bread, which may be why it was discontinued just two years after launch.

SMART WATCH

The Apple Watch lets you chat, play games, and watch videos on a device fastened to your wrist. Cool, huh? The Jetsons thought so… in 1962 — when Steve Jobs was still in second grade!

WI-FI

Nikola Tesla called it! In 1909, the famous electrical engineer told the New York Times, "It will soon be possible to send wireless messages all over the world so simply that any individual can carry and operate his own equipment." No doubt he was thinking of the Kérastase Hair Coach brush, which measured brushing speed and employed a micro-phone to listen to your hair, all to compute an overall hair-quality score sent to your smartphone. (Alas, it too is gone.)

GPS

Writer Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Space Odyssey) saw a world in which no one got lost. In 1956，he wrote that satellites “could make possible a position-finding grid (铁网) whereby anyone could locate himself by means of a couple of dials on an instrument about the size of a watch.” Clarke didn't mention that his system might also track another person, such as a criminal. Last year, the New York City police arrested a robber who was wearing a GPS ankle monitor — because he was still on probation (缓刑) for a prior crime.

1. Which of the predictions is the earliest?

A．BLUETOOTH.	B．SMART WATCH,
C．WI-FI.	D．GPS.

2. Why did Griffin's Connected Toaster disappear?

A．Too expensive.	B．Out of date.
C．A little awkward	D．Energy-consuming.

3. What was Clarke’s prediction?

A．A GPS ankle monitor.

B．A robber-arresting instrument.

C．A watch that could see the world.

D．An instrument that could locate a person.

6 . Our wedding was about to begin. My throat was tight and my cheeks got red, but I didn't care. I was ready to marry David Sanchez. We're a “nontraditional” couple: getting married in a bookstore that supports a charity to fight HIV and homelessness.

“Kim! I could walk you down the aisle (走道) if you like！” David's father offered gently.

“I'm OK. But I appreciate that，” I said with a smile. And I was reminded, again, of my dad's absence.

My father died of cancer six weeks ago. For the last two months, we tried to make him feel comfortable and loved as he departed from this world. He always told us that he didn't like a funeral (葬礼) and insisted that our wedding go forward as planned. But how could we honor him since the wedding would be the first time the family would gather after his death and some even didn't know he was sick?

During the ceremony, my dear friend Eva delivered a reading entitled “When Things Go Missing” by Kathryn Schulz. She paused and got everyone on the same page, “When we are experiencing it, loss often feels like confusion in the usual order of things. In fact, the entire plan of the universe consists of losing, and life amounts to a reverse (逆向的) savings account in which we are eventually robbed of everything.”

I felt the energy full of the room. Everyone was listening. By choosing to accept the pain, we knew what a wedding does to join two families and mark the next chapter for a couple. Loss became a compass that kept us away from a fantasy and toward celebrating the difficult realities of life.

After rings were exchanged, fried chicken was served, our friends offered so many funny and touching toasts, and finally David sang “Married” on my father's guitar. I felt joy filling all the holes in my soul. Celebrating my father's life at our wedding made me grateful for all the time I had spent with him.

1. Why did David's father offer to walk the author down the aisle?

A．To relieve her tension.

B．To welcome her to his family.

C．To play the author's late father's role.

D．To contribute something to the charity.

2. What do we know about Kim at her wedding?

A．She got a compass as a wedding gift.

B．She enjoyed David's promise for their marriage.

C．She received more sympathy from families and friends.

D．She recalled the days spent with her father and understood life better.

3. Why did Kim feel energy full of the room?

A．Because she could keep away from the pain.

B．Because she knew everyone was listening.

C．Because she got more courage for the marriage and life.

D．Because she could read a piece of Kathryn Schulz's works.

4. What do we know about Kim and David's wedding ceremony?

A．It was held in a library.

B．It was a touching and happy one.

C．Kim and David turned it into a funeral.

D．There was no other activity except reading.

7 . Non-Credit Courses

The Pre-College Program offers non-credit courses. Students will experience college-level courses given by some of our college’s leading experts and will receive written feedback (反馈) on their work at the end of the course. Pre-College students will also receive a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program.

All non-credit courses meet from 9:00 a. m.-11:30 a. m. daily and may have additional requirements in the afternoons or evenings.

COURSE: Case Studies in Neuroscience

·June 11— July 2

·Leah Roesch

Using student-centered, active-learning methods and real-world examples, this course is designed to provide a fuller understanding of how the human brain works.

COURSE: Psychology of Creativity

·June 15—June 28

·Marshall Duke

Why are certain people so creative? Is it genetic (遗传的), or a result of childhood experience? Are they different from everyone else? This popular psychology course highlights the different theories of creativity.

COURSE: Creative Storytelling

·June 21 — July 3

·Edith Freni

This college-level course in creative storytelling functions as an introduction to a variety of storytelling techniques that appear in different forms of creative writing, such as short fiction and playwriting.

COURSE: Sports Economics

·July 19 — August 1

·Christina DePasquale

In this course we will analyze many interesting aspects of the sports industry: sports leagues, ticket pricing, salary negotiations, discrimination, and NCAA policies to name a few.

1. Who is the text intended for?

A．The general public.	B．College freshmen.
C．Educational experts.	D．High school students.

2. Which course can you take if you are free only in June?

A．Sports Economics.	B．Creative Storytelling.
C．Psychology of Creativity.	D．Case Studies in Neuroscience.

3. Whose course should you choose if you are interested in creative writing?

A．Leah Roesch’s.	B．Edith Freni’s.
C．Marshall Duke’s.	D．Christina DePasquale’s.

8 . The Pharos, the great lighthouse of Alexandria, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It stood on the island of Pharos, in the harbor of the city of Alexandria. In 290 B.C, Ptolemy I Soter, the ruler of Egypt, ordered the building of the lighthouse. Twenty years later, it was finished−the first lighthouse in the world and the tallest building on Earth except the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

The Pharos was designed by Sostrates, a Greek architect. Sostrates wanted to leave his name on the base of the lighthouse. But Ptolemy refused, ordering that only his own name appear on the building. But Sostrates found a way to do that. At the base of the Pharos, Sostrates left a message containing his own name. Then he covered it with plaster (建筑石膏) and left Ptolemy's name over it. After many years, the plaster disappeared and people knew the true architect of the lighthouse.

In 1302 and 1323, two strong earthquakes hit Alexandria, and the lighthouse was damaged. In 1326, it finally fell into the sea. Much of what we know about the lighthouse comes from the writings of Arabs who once visited the Pharos.

The Pharos was about 384 feet tall, the same height as a modern 40-storey building. At the top of the lighthouse stood a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Under it was a beacon, the source of light for the lighthouse. The Pharos used two kinds of beacons. At night, a large fire created the light. During the day, a huge mirror made use of the sunlight to create the light.

It was said that the mirror was also used to set enemy ships on fire as they entered the harbor by directing the sun’s rays (sunlight) at them. Although it is clearly impossible, the idea is interesting.

1. Why did Sostrates use plaster at the base of the Pharos?

A．To follow Ptolemy's orders.

B．To hide his name left on the base.

C．To protect the base from damage.

D．To make the lighthouse more beautiful.

2. How long had the Pharos stayed standing?

A．For about 800 years.	B．For about 1,000 years.
C．For about 1,600 years.	D．For about 2,000 years.

3. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The lighthouse.	B．The statue.
C．A large fire.	D．A huge mirror.

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．Sostrates and Ptolemy.

B．The function of an old lighthouse.

C．The Pharos, a wonder of the ancient world.

D．The architect of an old lighthouse.

9 . New Zealand plans to forbid foreigners to buy existing homes. The ban is expected to become law this year. It aims to slow the rising housing prices and protect New Zealanders interested in buying a home.

The Labour Party government believes that foreign investors have pushed many possible first-time home buyers and families out of the housing market. Last year, housing prices across the country rose by 5.8 percent, to over $405,000. Housing prices rose even more in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Price there rose by more than 18 percent over a 12-month period that ended in June 2017.

The rising prices have pushed home ownership outside the reach of many possible buyers. One home owner told VOA he feels sorry for the younger generation. “I just believe the market has made it impossible for them to get into the housing.” Just 25 years ago, three out of every four New Zealanders lived in their own homes. Now the rate is 64 percent — and falling.

The ban on forbidding foreigners to buy existing homes has yet to be approved. But the measure, called the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill, passed its first reading in parliament (国会)in December. Limiting foreign ownership of housing has been tried in other countries, including Switzerland, “ If foreign investors are looking to put their cash into New Zealand, if it then forces up the price of property, people cannot afford to live anymore.” says Norman Gemmell, chair of public finance at Victoria University.

Critics say foreign investors have had only a small effect on the cost of housing. Low interest rates, limited supply and immigration have also driven up house prices.

Housing prices continue to rise across the country. And for many New Zealanders, the dream of owning a home is as distant as ever.

1. Which is the main factor of the high housing prices, according to the Labour Party government?

A．Low interest rates.	B．Investors at home.
C．Immigration.	D．Foreign buyers.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Housing prices rose by over 18 percent over a year.

B．The housing prices of the capital city rose the least.

C．The rate of New Zealanders living in their own houses is decreasing.

D．The country has witnessed the highest rise in housing prices up to now.

3. According to the passage, the ban __________.

A．has been approved in New Zealand

B．will encourage foreigners to buy a house

C．has been tried in other countries

D．will make local people harder to own a home

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．It is hard for the locals to buy a house in New Zealand.

B．New Zealand will prevent foreign buyers from buying a house.

C．The prices of houses in New Zealand have been rising sharply.

D．There are many reasons for high housing prices in New Zealand.

10 . The term “boomerang kids” refers to adult children who move back into their parents’ house after a period of living on their own.

Traditionally, Americans expect to finish their schooling, get a job, and then move out of their parents’ home as soon as they become financially independent. Unlike in other countries where it is common for adult children to live with their parents until they marry, or even after they are married, in the U.S., adults living with their parents after graduating and getting a job is not the typical pattern.

However, things may be changing. The current generation of young adults are being called the “boomerang generation” because the lack of jobs has driven many of them to move back in with their parents, after having lived on their own while in college or after getting a full-time job. Fewer parents are experiencing what we sometimes call an “empty nest”, a home where the adult children leave and only the parents remain.

In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2011, about 30% of people aged 25 to 34 reported that they had moved back with their parents at one time or another. While many of these adult children say that this is a satisfactory situation, with over 75% of these young adults saying they like their living arrangement, sometimes it’s not easy for the parents. 65% parents say that it is difficult to adjust to the return of their children, especially when deciding how much help to give them.

How does this living arrangement affect the relationships between parents and adult children? About a quarter of the young adults say that their relationship with their parents has improved, a quarter say it has worsened, and about 50% say it hasn’t had any effect either way.

1. What does the underlined phrase “boomerang kids” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．People who are adults but mentally childish.

B．People who can save little money every month.

C．People who live on their parents when they’ve grown up.

D．People who take care of their parents by living with them.

2. What’s the traditional pattern in America?

A．Young adults live with their parents after graduation.

B．Young adults find a full-time job with their parents’ help.

C．Young adults go to college to get a degree.

D．Young adults live on their own and support themselves.

3. What may lead to the “boomerang generation” phenomenon?

A．Parents’ overprotection.	B．The tight employment market.
C．Lack of life experience.	D．Parents’ fear for the “empty nest”.

4. Which statement about the study is TRUE according to Paragraph 4?

A．About two thirds of the parents found it hard to live with their adult kids.

B．All the kids in the study wanted to live with their parents.

C．Roughly 30% of people moved back with their parents.

D．65% of the parents gave financial aid to their kids.