2 . The week-long Spring Festival holiday starting on Feb 11 is usually a busy, moneymaking movie screening season in China. It will see the release of eight movies, all domestic productions, according to the schedule already disclosed by film data platforms.

Detective Chinatown 3, the newest installment in China’s well-received Detective Chinatown film franchise, topped the list of most-anticipated holiday films compiled by movie-ticketing platform Maoyan.

A sequel to the 2018 comedy hit Detective Chinatown 2 that grossed 3.4 billion yuan ($526 million), Detective Chinatown 3 is set for release on the Spring Festival that falls on Feb 12. More than 3.7 million Maoyan users have expressed interest in seeing this film, according to data.

The other six films to be released on the same day are the time travel comedy Hi, Mom starring popular comedians Jia Ling and Shen Teng; the mobile game-turned fantasy film The Yinyang Master that stars Chen Kun and Zhou Xun; Boonie Bears: The Wild Life, the new installment in the domestic animated comedy franchise; Assassin in Red, a fantasy thriller film based on a novel co-starring popular actress Yang Mi; New Gods: Nezha Reborn, a new animated film from Light Chaser Animation (the same production company behind the 2019 animated movie Withe Snake); Ren Chao Xiong Yong, a comedy-drama co-starring singer and actor Andy Lau.

My First Love is Eighteen Years Old, a romance movie, is set to hit theaters on Feb 14.

China’s box office continued robust growth into 2021 after scoring a record high for New Year’s Day earnings. The total box office revenue in the first ten days of 2021 exceeded 2 billion yuan, up by more than 730-million-yuan year on year.

The market’s total earnings in 2020 were 20.4 billion yuan. Of these, the top 10 earners were all domestic productions, according to official figures.

1. Who are the target readers of the text?

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

2. How many movies are set to hit theaters during the week-long Spring Festival holiday?

A．Six.

B．Seven.

C．Eight.

D．Nine.

3. Which movie can’t you watch if you are only free on Feb 12?

A．Hi, Mom	B．Detective Chinatown 3.
C．Boonie Bears: Tire Wild Life.	D．My First Love is Eighteen Years Old.

3 . Have you ever wondered if you see the same colours as other people? Most people know what blue is when they see it. They call it "blue” because they were taught the word and connected it with what they saw. But how do you know what you see as blue isn't someone else's red?

The ability to perceive （感知）different colours is up to receptors （接受器）in our eyes. Light waves hit these receptors and they react depending on which colour the light is, sending signals to the brain. The brain then reads these signals to determine which colour light the eyes are receiving.

Some people's receptors are more developed than others. The inability of the receptor to feel the light waves correctly means that some people cannot tell the differences between similar colours. Those with more developed receptors can see more colours. We sometimes hear people having an argument about whether something is dark blue or black. It might be because one person has stronger receptors to feel the light than another.

In the past, most scientists would argue that everyone saw colours in the same way. However, research was conducted on monkeys, in which their receptors were changed. This enabled them to see more colours than usual. Normally monkeys can only see blue and green, but the change allowed them to see red. Their brains automatically got used to new colours. This suggests that our brains may find new colors of the things we see. Colours could be a very personal experience , unique to everyone.

So, the next time you talk about your favourite colour, just remember if yours is blue and your friend says red, you two might actually be thinking about the same colour. What if everyone in the world has the same favourite colour, but just calls it different names?

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．How we perceive colours.

B．The inability to see colours.

C．What the brain does with signals.

D．The connection between receptors and light waves.

2. Which of the following might the author agree with?

A．Some people cannot feel colours with their developed receptors.

B．The more light people feel, the weaker receptors they have.

C．People with poor receptors usually have colour weakness.

D．People who have strong receptors can see dark blue.

3. What's the purpose of conducting the research on monkeys?

A．To test the monkeys with colours.

B．To develop the receptors of humans.

C．To enable monkeys to find more colors.

D．To prove everyone sees colours in a different way.

4. Where does the text probably come from?

A．A film review.	B．A science magazine.
C．An art journal.	D．A business newspaper.

4 . The time that cars could go completely driverless is coming “very soon”, according to Jianxiong Xiao, CEO and founder of AutoX, a Shenzhen-based start-up developing autonomous driving technology.

Now, most regulations across various cities in China still require the presence of a safety driver in vehicles, but the company foresees that as more data gets captured over time, that requirement would be reduced, Xiao told CNBC's “Street Signs Asia" on Wednesday.

The autonomous driving tech firm chose to partner with Alibaba's AMAP — a Chinese mapping service provider --- to roll out its RoboTaxi ride hailing service in Shanghai on Monday. AMAP is a "super mobility app" with almost 500 million active monthly users, according to Xiao.

AutoX had received support from Shanghai authorities to roll out a fleet of 100 autonomous ride-hailing cars in Shanghai's Jiading district in September last year.

Earlier this month, AutoX announced that it had set up an 80,000 square feet RoboTaxi operations center in Shanghai to help facilitate (使容易)operations of its driverless fleet, as well as act as a center to collect data from daily operations.

Backed by investors such as Alibaba, Shanghai Motor and Dongfeng Motor, AutoX is one of the players in the trillion U.S. dollar Chinese autonomous driving vehicles market alongside others like DiDi Chuxing.

Xiao said they were working with the technology to ensure the vehicles were "very, very safe" and are carrying out a lot of testing.

Over a hundred vehicles have been arranged on roads daily to obtain enough data needed to validate the software and system, according to Xiao.

He added that the company was also running a hundred times more simulations (模拟)in the car every day, and the “huge amount of data" would help to prove that the vehicles could be used in "full safety".

“Our goal is not to just make (it) as safe as human beings, but going one step forward to really make...a superhuman safety standard; (cars) that (can) drive much safer than any human being ever,“ Xiao said.

1. What will be most required to go driverless according to CEO of AutoX?

A．Traffic regulations.	B．Driving technology.
C．Enough data.	D．Mapping service.

2. What is the attitude of Shanghai authorities towards driverless technology?

A．Doubtful.

B．Optimistic.

C．Disappointed.

D．Uncertain.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word "validate" in paragraph 8?

A．test

B．invent

C．develop.

D．design

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

A．Driving Technology

B．Science Achievement

C．No Driver in the Future

D．The Development of Driverless

5 . Traveling to a foreign country can make you frightened if you don't know the local language.Mr.Thibault has a number of tips to help travelers manage in a destination when they don't speak the native tongue, based on his own experience.Here are a few of them.

Download a Language Translation App

Mr.Thibault tends to rely on Google Translate and suggests that travelers find an app that works for them.Ideally, find one that specializes in the language you need to translate especially if the language uses a character set you’re not familiar with, or have difficulty pronouncing.

Speak with Your Hands and Head

Pointing with your hands and nodding or shaking your head, Mr.Thibault said, are easy ways to communicate with locals in the country you’re in.“Gestures are all universally understood，” he said.

Learn a Few Key Words

Knowing basic words and phrases like "hello""thank you” and “I’m sorry，I don’t speak your language.Do you speak English?” is a must, Mr.Thibault said.Showing that you care enough to learn some of the language before you go, and at least enough to acknowledge that you don’t know more, is a form of respect and will make you go a long way to be liked by locals.

Work with a Local Travel Agent

If you feel particularly uncomfortable in the country you’re heading to, and you have to go anyway, relying on a local travel agent who knows both your and your destination's languages can be incredibly useful.

Hire a Local Tour Guide

A tour guide can help you get a better grasp of the local language and is a good person to practice words and phrases with.Whenever Mr.Thibault visits a new country, he books a sightseeing tour with a guide on the first day of his trip.“I use this day to learn about my destination and get familiar with the language,”he said.

1. In what situation should a language translation app be applied while traveling abroad?

A．When you have trouble pronouncing the words.

B．When you want to acknowledge your ignorance.

C．When you want to practice the local language.

D．When you feel uncomfortable in the country.

2. What is the easiest way to communicate with foreigners according to the text?

A．Downloading a language translation app.

B．Learning a few key words.

C．Using body language.

D．Working with a guide.

3. How can you better understand the local language?

A．By speaking with your hands and head.

B．By learning a few key words.

C．By downloading a language translation app.

D．By hiring a local tour guide.

6 . Like most couples, my husband and I dreamed of becoming homeowners. Sure, apartment living comes with its own set of advantages—less housework, shared comfort, less to clean up and care for, and usually cheaper rent. As a result, we decided to downgrade from our neat five-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot house on the water to a three-bedroom, 1,369-square-foot apartment, with two kids.

Once we arrived in our new apartment, we were surprised to find that things flowed relatively smoothly. There was so much less to keep up with—fewer floors to mop, fewer windows to clean, fewer walls to wipe, etc. Now I think of our home as our little playhouse, since it's much smaller and everything is closer together. That also makes it so much easier for me to keep up with as a mom. I collect laundry all on one floor comparing with having to climb stairs to the house's second floor!

In our new home, we use lots of shoe organizers inside of every closet door for more than just shoes—baby items, office items, and medicines. We also have a functional room that serves as an office and gym. Since both my husband and I work from home, we require at least one room to share as an office with fitness equipment fitted into a corner.

While many people choose to downsize for financial reasons, that actually wasn't a factor in our decision. We wanted to be in a lively area with like-minded young families. That was our first priority. Though we may still buy another house in this area at some point down the line, for now, we're thrilled with the concept of renting an apartment. Let me put it this way: We’re not really the “handy” types, so being able to call maintenance(维修)for any repairs is worth every rent coin!

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A．Our old house was upgraded.	B．Living in a house has advantages.
C．Our new apartment was downsized.	D．Smaller size means more housework.

2. How do the couple feel about the new apartment?

A．Confused.

B．Amazed.

C．Tired.

D．Challenged.

3. Why do the couple make changes to their new home?

A．To build up their body.	B．To create a home office.
C．To enlarge all the rooms.	D．To make full use of space.

4. What is the couple’s first concern when moving?

A．Transportation.	B．Neighbourhood.
C．Repair work.	D．Money.

7 . A high level of methane (甲烷) gas on Mars was found by NASA's Mars exploration vehicle. The discovery is exciting because the presence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars:

NASA's Curiosity vehicle recently recorded the largest level of methane ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission.

Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity's Mars Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. Besides methane, the instrument can record levels of water and carbon dioxide.

Nearly all the methane gas found in earth's atmosphere is produced by biological activity. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological processes, such as interactions between rocks and water.

It was not the first time Curiosity has found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere.. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity's other activities to investigate further.

However, Curiosity's team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. The scientists are continuing to study possible causes for the sudden increase.

Curiosity does not have instruments that can exactly identify whether the source of the methane is biological or geological. One leading theory is that methane is being released from underground areas created by possible life forms that disappeared long ago. Even though Mars has no active volcanoes, scientists believe it is also possible that methane is being produced by reactions involving carbon materials and water.

1. Why is the discovery of methane gas on Mars exciting?

A．It was first found on Mars.	B．It's evidence of life existence.
C．It can be used in further studies.	D．It proves the existence of water.

2. What can we learn about the methane gas on Mars?

A．It is colorless and smelly.

B．It is mainly created by rocks and water.

C．It is as important as water and carbon dioxide.

D．It is produced by biological or geological, activity.

3. What brought more puzzles to NASA's scientists?

A．Discovering methane gas several times on Mars.

B．The failure of the follow-up methane experiment.

C．Having no exact instruments to identify methane gas.

D．Sharp changes in the amount of methane gas on Mars.

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

A．Explorations on Mars	B．Methane Level on Mars
C．Methane Mystery on Mars	D．The Sources of Methane on Mars

8 . Do you love holidays but hate the increase weight that follows? You are not alone. Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.

With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.

Do not miss meals. Before you leave home for a feast(宴会), have a small, low-fat snack(小吃). This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods. Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.

Better not have high-fat foods. Dishes that look oily or creamy have much fat in them. Choose lean meat(瘦肉 ). Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables. If you have a sweet tooth, try mints (薄荷) and fruits. They don’t have fat content as cream and chocolate. Don’t let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off excess(过多的) calories.

1. Holidays are happy days with pleasure but they may ______.

A．bring weight problems	B．bring you much trouble in your life
C．make you worried about your foods	D．make you hate delicious foods

2. In order to really enjoy your holidays without putting on weight, you’d better ______.

A．drink much water and have vegetables only	B．not eat the food in high fat
C．not accept invitations to feasts	D．turn away from delicious foods

3. According to the passage, ______ is a necessary part to stop you from putting on weight.

A．vegetables

B．water

C．calories of energy

D．physical exercise

4. Many people can’t help putting on weight after the holidays because they ______.

A．can’t control themselves	B．go to too many feasts
C．enjoy delicious foods	D．can’t help turning away from the foods

9 . Many of us mistakenly believe that it's wrong to think we have any good qualities. We may spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for our negative qualities, thinking that self criticism is the key to improving our performance. However, a constant focus on our supposed shortcomings can stop our efforts to make friends with other people. How can we believe that others could like us if we believe our inner being is flawed (有缺陷)?

If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesn't like you might be fearful, or shallow, or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time.

Don't take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your good qualities. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. For all the factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least as many factors that will work in your favor with someone else.

You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a real enthusiasm for life. There are many people who don't mind your extra pounds. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wisdom, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior (自卑) because you don't have much money and you don't drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason that you don't have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really likes you as a person.

The point is that you can focus on just about anything and believe it's the reason you do not have friends and cannot make any.

1. According to the author        plays an important role in making friends.

A．admitting your shortcomings	B．self criticism
C．modesty	D．confidence

2. If you are not liked by a person,       .

A．you should find the reason in yourself

B．you'd better talk with the person face to face

C．you may not be the one to be blamed

D．you and that person misunderstand each other

3. We can learn from the third paragraph that       .

A．your good qualities may turn out to be your flaws

B．your weakness may also be your strengths in some way

C．your negative qualities cause a person to reject you

D．you’ll have few friends if your flaws are bigger than your good qualities

4. Which of the following is true according to the author?

A．It is important to lose weight.

B．It is easier for a wealthy person to make friends.

C．Inner qualities are more important than physical appearance.

D．If you are not beautiful enough, try to improve your physical beauty.

10 . When we're in need, we always turn to our parents for help. But would you like them to hear the conversations you have with your friends on the school playground or lunch queue? Social networking sites have become extensions (延伸)of the school hallways, so would you add your parents as "friends" and allow them to view your online activities and conversations with friends？

In the past the generation gap included a technology gap, where children were up to date with the latest technology and parents were left behind, content to continue their day-to-day lives as they always had because they had no need to know more about technology. However, more and more parents are beginning to realize just how important social networks are in their lives. This realization has given many parents the motivation to educate themselves about social networking sites.

These days many people are attracted to social networking sites because they can choose who they have around them; there's also a certain amount of control over privacy(隐私) that we don't get in real life. Sometimes we feel that privacy is violated when we must accept a "friend" request from a parent or family member.

It's a difficult choice whether or not to allow a parent to become a part of our online lives. On the one hand we don't want to "reject" their request because that might hurt their feelings or make them feel you have something to hide. On the other hand if you do accept, then you could have a sense of being watched and no longer feel free to comment or communicate the way you did before.

A recent survey suggested that parents shouldn't take it personally if their children overlook their requests. When a teenager overlooks a parent's friend request, it doesn't necessarily mean that he/she is hiding something, but it could mean that this is one part of his/her life where he/she wants to be independent.

Perhaps talking with parents and explaining would help soften the blow if you do choose not to add them to your friend list.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Privacy online.	B．Parents' friend requests.
C．The generation gap.	D．Social networks.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 2?

A．Parents have realized the importance of social networks.

B．Parents feel secure about their privacy online.

C．Social networks successfully fill the generation gap.

D．Social networks offer a platform for parents to communicate.

3. What maybe the reason for teenagers to refuse a parent's friend request?

A．Their parents make negative comments on them.

B．They hide something from their parents.

C．They are unwilling to be watched by parents.

D．Their parents tend to fall behind in technology.

4. Who are the passage mainly written for?

A．Parents.	B．Teachers.
C．Researchers.	D．Teenagers.