1 . O'Plerou Grebet is a 22-year-old graphic design student in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa. Everywhere he looks, he sees signs of Western influence — from the glass skyscrapers and malls lining the streets in his home city to the way his fellows speak and dress. “We are living like we’re Western people,” he says. That even applies to the keyboard culture — when his friends text using the messaging apps, they especially love to use the “tears of joy” face emoji (表情符号). So he used his design skills to create digital stickers that show what he thinks is missing: symbols of history, life and culture in Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring countries.
In 2018, he released a free pack of over 360 stickers in a mobile app called "Zouzoukwa”, which means "image" in the local Bété language. Available on Android and iOS, it now has over 120,000 downloads. It's more impressive than other emoji apps, with the feature of connecting to the realities of Africans using it. “ It would make their jokes even livelier,” says Grebet. The stickers include traditional masks, African instruments like the djembe drum and people dressed in a variety of prints and clothing that can reflect local tradition.
Some of his favorite designs are a series of facial expressions commonly used in his area, but not available as standardized emojis. There’s a woman with lips pursed, giving some serious side-eye—a sign you can use when your friend keeps you waiting long for no reason. It's common in Côte d'Ivoire and also translates across cultures, Grebet says.
The next step, Grebet says, is to try and get some of his designs into the official emoji set, where they’d reach more than 2 billion people worldwide, as usable ones on smartphones everywhere. Grebet also plans to keep traveling and expanding his experiences and his sticker pack. His designs so far are drawn from his experience and research into a few African countries.
1. How does Grebet find their local culture according to paragraph 1?| A．It's very similar to Western culture. | B．It's absent in many aspects of their life. |
| C．It's full of inspirational ideas and symbols. | D．It's influential in local people's lifestyle. |
| A．It provides a better source of jokes. | B．It's designed based on daily items. |
| C．It's related more closely to the locals. | D．It applies to both Android and iOS. |
| A．Curiosity. | B．Sorrow. | C．Annoyance. | D．Disappointment. |
| A．Be on tour to advocate his designs. | B．Create an official emoji set. |
| C．Research into more African countries. | D．Standardize some of his emojis. |
2 . Several new films on ordinary people’s contributions were released in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
A kaleidoscope (万花筒) of heroes
Patriotism and realism reflected in My People, My Country are the top two elements that have won the audiences’ hearts. “In the seven stories in My People, My Country, the protagonists (主角) are no longer the main creators of history,” Zheng Yang, a teacher, said after watching the movie.
“We don’t want to simply sing praises of China’s achievements over the past 70 years; we want to show that all the achievements have been made thanks to the Chinese people’s efforts,” Chen Kaige, told People.com.cn in a video interview.
A miraculous escape
The Captain, directed by Andrew Lau, is based on a real incident.
On May 14, 2018, a Sichuan Airlines flight from Chongqing to Lhasa in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, made a miraculous escape when a cockpit window broke. It caused a sudden drop in the air pressure inside the aircraft, leading to the co-pilot almost being sucked out. He was saved by his seat belt. The temperature plunged to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
But against great odds, Captain Liu Chuanjian managed to land the plane and keep all 128 onboard safe. It was regarded as a miracle in civil aviation history.
Peak performance
The Climbers, is based on two expeditions (探险) by Chinese climbers to Mt. Qomolangma, the highest mountain in the world.
In 1960, three Chinese climbers, were the first to reach the summit from the dangerous northern side, becoming the first men to do so. However, the feat was not recognized internationally as the team failed to provide any evidence. To vindicate the Chinese climbers, a gigantic team of over 400 members was put together in 1975. During this expedition, nine climbers reached the top. The expedition also measured the height of the peak—8,848.13 meters.
1. What’s the common in the seven stories in My People, My Country?| A．They are all based on real incidents. |
| B．They are all about common people. |
| C．They are all about heroes in the history. |
| D．They are all about the founding of China. |
| A．Out of question. |
| B．Around the corner. |
| C．All of a sudden. |
| D．Through thick and thin. |
| A．People’s Heroes |
| B．The Great Escape |
| C．The New Expedition |
| D．People’s Expectation |
3 . Like a tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long been dull. E-books, however, are causing heartache. Libraries know they need digital wares, but many publishers are too cautious about piracy（盗版） and lost sales to co-operate. Among the big six, only Random House and Harper Collins license e-books with most libraries.
Publishers are wise to be nervous. Owners of e-readers（电子阅读器） are exactly the customers they need: book-lovers with money. If these people switch to borrowing e-books instead of buying them, what then? Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient. Unlike printed books, which must be checked out and returned to a physical library miles from where you live, book files can be downloaded at home. The files disappear from the device when they are due.
E-lending is not simple, however. There are lots of different and often incompatible（不兼容的）e-book formats devices and licenses. Most libraries use a company called OverDrive, which secures rights from publishers and provides e-books and audio files in every format. Yet publishers and libraries are worried by OverDrive’s global market dominance the company can control fees and conditions. Publishers were annoyed when OverDrive cooperated with Amazon, the world’s biggest online bookseller, last year. Owners of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader who want to borrow e-books from libraries are now redirected to Amazon’s website, where they must use their Amazon account to secure a loan.
According to Pew, an opinion researcher library users are a perfect for market for Amazon. Late last year Amazon introduced its Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, which lets its best customers borrow free one of thousands of popular books each month.
Library supporters argue that book borrowers are also book buyers and that libraries are vital spaces for readers to discover new work. Many were cheered by a recent Pew survey, which found that more than half of Americans with library cards say they prefer to buy their e-books.
So publishers keep adjusting their lending arrangements in search of the right balance.
Random House raised its licensing prices earlier this year, and Harper Collins limits libraries to lending its titles 26 times.
1. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that __________.| A．libraries and publishers face the same problem of e-books’ piracy |
| B．libraries are eager to keep strong relationship with publishers |
| C．most publishers are hesitant to cooperate with libraries |
| D．several big publishers have sold e-books to libraries |
| A．Book sales may drop sharply because of convenient electronic borrowing. |
| B．There are lots of different and incompatible e-book formats available |
| C．There is no time limit for the book files downloaded on the device. |
| D．E-books must be checked out and returned to libraries regularly. |
| A．e-books can be lent at libraries as many times as you like |
| B．OverDrive distributes e-books and audio files to publishers |
| C．over half of Americans are borrowing e-books from libraries |
| D．Amazon is adopting measures to win more customers |
| A．The Hopeful Future of Publishing Business |
| B．The Uncertain Economics of Lending E-books |
| C．The Dull Relationship between Libraries and Publishers |
| D．The Close Cooperation between Over and Amazon |
4 . McKenzie grew up at a farmhouse. Initially, the fence around the property was old and had several large gaps, so I strengthened the bottom with chicken wire and thought all was well. McKenzie would spend his days frolicking (嬉戏) in the large yard while Connie and I were at work and Sophie was at school.
One day, while on a job in the area, I stopped home to visit. As I pulled up to the driveway, I saw McKenzie outside of the fence playing in the daisies, dancing and nosing at a large butterfly hovering just out of his reach. I watched McKenzie enjoying himself until, suddenly, he realized he wasn’t alone. He took one look at me and fled to a hole under the fence, wriggling (扭动) back into the yard. He ran around to the back of the house, the place where he was usually asleep when we came home. As I stood and watched, McKenzie then proceeded to come around the corner of the house, stretching as if he had just woken up. Then, continuing his act, he looked at me as if he had just noticed I was home and excitedly came up to the fence, where he sat in his “proud boy” stance (姿态), as if he had been good all day and was glad to see me! I laughed as I opened the gate, and then I stood and gave him a frown. With my hands on my hips, I asked the little faker where the hole was. To my surprise, he lowered his ears and dejectedly walked over to the spot in the fence he had earlier wriggled through and sat down, looking at me. I laughed so hard that I cried.
1. Why did McKenzie run back when he saw the author?| A．Because he messed up the house. | B．Because he killed a butterfly. |
| C．Because he was afraid to be scolded. | D．Because he was tired of playing alone. |
| A．Disappointedly. | B．Passionately. | C．Delightedly. | D．Indifferently. |
| A．Critical. | B．Ironic. | C．Lighthearted. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．An Unforgettable Experience | B．McKenzie, a Fantastic Actor |
| C．A Lesson from a Clever Dog | D．McKenzie, a Loving Family Member |
5 . Slowly but surely, we’re moving closer and closer to 5G world. From smart-home security to self-driving cars, all the internet-connected devices in our life will be able to talk to each other at lightning-fast speeds with reduced delay. Objectively speaking, the fastest 4G download speeds in the US top out at an average of 19.42Mbps. But by comparison 5G promises gigabit (千兆) speeds.
“5G is one of those heralds (使者),along with artificial intelligence, of this coming data age.” said Steve Koenig, senior director of market research for the Consumer Technology Association. The self-driving vehicle is a great emblem of this data age, and that is to say, it is a sign of time, because with one single task, driving, you have massive amounts of data coming from the vehicle itself, and a variety of sensors are collecting a lot of information to model its environment as it moves. It’s pulling in data from other vehicles about road conditions down the lane. It could be weather information, and also connected infrastructure (基础设施) construction. There’s lots of data behind that task, which is why we need the high speed.
And virtual reality glasses and headsets haven’t yet broken the mainstream, but tech companies are joyfully betting that these devices will eventually replace our smartphones. With 5G, that could actually happen. This is notable because companies such as Apple are reportedly developing AR glasses to assist — or even replace — smartphones.
Ericsson stated at February's Mobile World Congress how smart glasses could become faster and lighter with a 5G connection, because instead of being weighed down with components, the glasses could rely on hardware for processing power.
But don’t get too excited. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the meantime, including various trials to make sure the radios play nicely with hardware and infrastructure construction so 5G isn’t concentrated only in big cities.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The security of 5G. | B．The present world of 5G. |
| C．The future of 5G. | D．The super speed of 5G. |
| A．exhibition | B．symbol | C．sponsor | D．explanation |
| A．They will be heavier than present ones. | B．They will process power on their own. |
| C．They will bring a big fortune to tech companies. | D．They will take the place of smartphones. |
| A．How to fully expand 5G coverage. | B．How to effectively reduce 5G trials. |
| C．How to nicely operate 5G hardware. | D．How to widely construct 5G big cities. |
6 . Online eating shows, or Mukbang(直播吃饭), originated in South Korea and have gained popularity globally.
Many hosts of such shows have become popular for their ability to eat large amounts of food. But these shows have also received criticism for their waste of food. While some hosts actually do consume the amount of food shown, others may be faking it.
On Aug 12, CCTV exposed several Chinese hosts who were pretending to eat large amounts of food while on camera, but actually later threw it away.
To discourage this practice, many video and livestreaming platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishow and Bilibili, have removed videos that show food waste, and have promoted messages to “stop food waste and eat reasonably.”
In June 2020, the United Nations warned that the world is on the verge of the worst food crisis in 50 years.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about a third of the world’s food-1.3 billion tons- is wasted every year. In China alone, 50 million tons of food ends up in landfills every year, according to Beijing News.
Recently, campaigns against food waste have been further promoted. In August, President Xi Jinping stressed the need for safeguarding food security and stopping food waste.
According to China Daily, restaurants and catering associations in more than 18 provinces and all 4 municipal cities have issued guidelines to control food waste.
In Shanxi province, local restaurants have been asked to serve half portions to avoid waste. The Wuhan Catering Association proposed that restaurants adopt the “N-1 mode”. For example, a group of 10 diners should only order enough for nine people first. More food is only brought to the table if required.
In addition, a nationwide “Clear Your Plate” campaign has been launched online. Users of Sina Weibo are encouraged to share photos or videos of empty plates after finishing their meals.
Meanwhile, new laws are also being considered, according to China daily. “We will make new laws that give clear instructions on avoiding food waste,” said Zhang Guilong from the legislative Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress. The instructions will be detailed in every year of food production, purchasing storage, transportation, processing and consumption, according to Zhang.
1. What is CCTV’s attitude toward online eating shows?| A．Supportive. | B．Critical. | C．Objective. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Most video media are contributing to stopping food waste. |
| B．We should eat up all the food on the table. |
| C．It’s hard to carry out "Clear Your Plate campaign. |
| D．All the videos that show food waste have been removed. |
| A．We can adopt the “N+1 mode”. |
| B．We can eat more food than we need. |
| C．We can choose not to watch online eating shows. |
| D．We can ask the restaurants to serve us half portions. |
| A．Online eating shows should be banned. |
| B．New laws should be made to avoid food waste. |
| C．Measures are being taken to stop food waste. |
| D．We should share photos or videos of empty plates. |
7 . What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop? The products displayed at the entrance? Or the softbackground music?
But have you ever noticed the smell? Unless it is bad, the answer is likely to be no. But while a shop's scent(香味) may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds, it is certainly there. And it is proving to be an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase.
A brand store has become famous for its distinctive (独特的)scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance, by scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air. One sports goods company once reported that when it first introduced scent into its stores, customers’ intention to purchase increased by 80 percent.
But while e-shops can only use sights and sounds, bricks-and-mortar stores (实体店) can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave. Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop, but rather a destination. And scent is just one way to achieve this.
Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department, and coconut（椰子)scent in the swimsuit section. A department store has even opened a new lab, inviting customers on a journey into the store's windows to smell books, pots and drawers, in search of their perfect scent.
1. According to the passage, what is an increasingly powerful tool in the success of some brand stores?| A．Friendly assistants. | B．Unique scents. |
| C．Soft background music | D．Attractive window display. |
| A．show the advantages of bricks-and-mortar stores |
| B．urge shop assistants to change their attitude |
| C．push stores to use sights and sounds |
| D．introduce the rise of e-commerce |
| A．a platform that exhibits goods | B．a spot where travelers like to stay |
| C．a place where customers love to go | D．a target that a store expects to meet |
| A．compare and evaluate | B．examine and assess |
| C．argue and discuss | D．inform and explain |
8 . Chinese tourists prefer hotels and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad. Most Chinese tourists instantly update their social networks using their mobile phones. They send photos and short videos to friends and family when traveling abroad.
About 10 percent of outbound (出境的) Chinese tourists get expensive marring charges (漫游费) by using 4G-powered smart phones. About 90 percent of Chinese travelers consider free Wi-Fi indispensable when traveling abroad. They often use phone apps to create travel routes and book hotels, which requires large data flows that can be expensive without Wi-Fi.
But free Wi-Fi is not always available, even in regions with advanced telecommunications, such as the United States and Europe. Portable Wi-Fi costs 15~50 yuan a day, depending on the country. It’s cheaper in South Korea, Japan and Thailand. The Wi-Fi services increase rapidly thanks to reasonable pricing and smooth surfing.
More than 100 million Chinese went abroad last year, and the10 percent who used Wi-Fi services spent an average of 150 yuan, and it’s expected to grow largely. But the travel agencies business may become out of date in five to eight years, because more locations are offering free Wi-Fi. In the meantime, it is reported that more for-profit models should be introduced and offer more services for outbound travelers in the future.
1. Why do Chinese travelers prefer hotels and restaurants with free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad?| A．They want to have their phones updated. |
| B．They are fond of using phone apps to create their travel routes. |
| C．They prefer to experience the Wi-Fi service in different countries. |
| D．They'd like to share what they have seen with their friends and-family. |
| A．Necessary. | B．Useless. | C．Expensive. | D．Amazing. |
| A．Travel websites will stop offering free Wi-Fi services to travelers. |
| B．Travel website Tuniu intended to compete with Ctrip and launched its Wi-Fi phone service. |
| C．The Wi-Fi costs less when traveling in some Asian countries than in European countries. |
| D．The demand for Wi-Fi transmitters is growing in pace with 4G-smart phones. |
| A．It will be useless when for-profit models are introduced. |
| B．It will be used by more than 100 million Chinese next year. |
| C．It will grow in the future but will be outdated in a couple of years. |
| D．It will offer more non-profit services for outbound travelers. |
9 . Writing letters to relatives was once what most children did before Christmas and birthdays. Surprisingly, half of teenagers have never written a thank-you letter. They think they have no need to write when they communicate with family and friends on e-mails or social media. Most of teenagers complain handwriting is too slow and 17 per cent insist it is outdated. People are worried that the decline could mean the art of handwriting may one day die out even though many still consider it a key skill.
Yet most say that their relying on social media has a negative impact on their writing. More than two thirds of teenagers admit that using their smartphones and social media is, in fact, detrimental to their writing. Meanwhile, some believe typing on a phone makes spelling worse — and seven per cent say their grammar suffers. And a further 7 per cent confess that using text speak in messages means they find writing normally harder as a result. Of those who have actually written a letter,30per cent say they last did so purely because a teacher made them do. Meanwhile, more than one in ten concede it was because his parents forced them to do so. This may seem surprising given the study showing that many believe a handwritten letter is more heartfelt. Almost two thirds say receiving a handwritten letter would mean so much more.
It is showed that, outside of school, many don’t even have the means to write at home. Nine per cent do not own a pen. And 56 per cent do not have letter paper at home. However, 73 per cent have an iPad and 89 per cent own a smartphone.
The government has now launched a Just Write campaign, aiming to encourage people of all ages to pick up a pen and start writing. Handwriting is one of the most creative abilities we must have. Youngsters should be encouraged to put pen to paper.
1. Why aren’t the teenagers fond of writing?| A．Because their way of communication has greatly changed. |
| B．Because they are not fond of Christmas and their birthdays. |
| C．Because they don't consider it an important skill to master. |
| D．Because the writing will make people think of good things. |
| A．Helpful. | B．Cool. |
| C．Harmful. | D．Careful. |
| A．It is tiring. | B．It is moving. |
| C．It is troublesome. | D．It is frightening. |
| A．The children have written too much at school. |
| B．The children are very busy with smartphones. |
| C．The children think that writing is out of date. |
| D．The children don't have the tools to write with |
10 . When on vacation, what do you look for in a hotel? Maybe you want a comfortable bed, luxurious facilities or a convenient location. However, if you want something out of the ordinary and wish to go beyond the ordinary,these spectacular hotels offer a stay you won't soon forget!
Hippo Point
For those who prefer an overnight stay with some four-footed-or two-winged-guests, Hippo Point in Kenya offers unique housings on the East African plains. The nine-storey tower on a private estate and wildlife sanctuary rate as one of the top 10 resorts in the world. Guests enjoy incredible views of Olodian Bay while observing the densest population of hippos in Africa. More than 520 species of birds flock around the lake, their calls echoing in the air. After a restful night's sleep, you'll find a delicious breakfast waiting on an outside patio.
The Poseidon Undersea Resort
Nestled in a Fijian lagoon, the Poseidon Undersea Resort boasts the world's first seafloor suite 12 meters below the surface of the ocean. By day, people enjoy golf, tennis and water sports or learn to pilot a three-passenger Triton submarine to explore the pristine(原始的)ocean depths.
1. The first paragraph talks about_______.| A．comment | B．argument | C．background | D．explanation |
| A．can’t sleep well for the calls of birds |
| B．can climb a nine-story tower too bserve hippos |
| C．can walk around the lake to catch birds |
| D．can enjoy the beauty of Olodian Bay |
| A．the Poseidon Undersea Resort | B．Hippo Point |
| C．the Magic Mountain Hotel | D．Sala Silver mine |
