1 . Over the past ten years, stand-up comedy(独角喜剧) clubs have become common on college campuses in America. The culture of stand-up has gotten a lot of media attention. These clubs allow students to explore their abilities and develop interests beyond their field of study.
They give funny speeches, tell jokes and make humorous body movements. Their humor entertains and helps ease the stress of crowds of busy, young people. However, club member Ariella Shua says comedy is serious work. She says she has become a better observer of what is going on around her ever since. She does not go anywhere without bringing something on which she can take notes. Students write all their own materials. Then, in weekly club meetings, they try out that material to see what works and what doesn’t. So, it starts as an individual project for themselves and becomes a group effort.
Last year, Harry Kuperstein joined the club and discovered it was a natural fit. Noticing the funny qualities of different situations improved his way of looking at the world. Becoming an active member also helped him work on the future skills he will need as a medical doctor. It helps him talk to patients as a doctor and make him a better public speaker.
Despite the group meetings, rewrites and rehearsals, some ideas just are not funny. Club member Benjamin Monteagudo said performing in front of a group of students does not mean comedians will not receive strong criticism. Last year, they came up with an idea to keep the audience involved and get their opinions.
They called it “Tomato Show”, where if they were performing very badly on stage, they just let the audience throw tomatoes at them to kind of roll with the joke. So, they spent their entire budget on a big box of 300 soft tomatoes. They gave them to the audience, and it was the best show ever.
1. Ariella Shua thinks comedy is serious work because it ________.| A．has to be approved by all of the members |
| B．takes much time and is boring sometimes |
| C．requires her to take a lot of notes |
| D．needs personal efforts and teamwork |
| A．convenient. | B．suitable. |
| C．funny. | D．attractive. |
| A．It allowed audience to participate and respond. |
| B．Comedians avoided receiving strong criticism. |
| C．Club members were very skilled in acting. |
| D．The performance itself was very humorous. |
| A．The rise and fall of stand-up comedy clubs. |
| B．The influence of stand-up comedy clubs. |
| C．The popularity of stand-up comedy clubs. |
| D．The future of stand-up comedy clubs. |
2 . Have you ever made a mistake while trying to print from a computer? That paper probably went right into the recycling bin. From there, it is taken to a waste-handling plant to be eventually broken down and remade. But what if you could simply erase your mistake and reuse that paper? It may become available, thanks to a new technology.
It's a new type of rewritable paper that can be used more than 100 times. Words and pictures remain visible on it for at least half a year. This is nearly the first rewritable paper. But the marks on those earlier versions tended to fade away in less than three months.
Luzhuo Chen led the group that made the new rewritable paper. His team was inspired by pens that contain erasable ink. That ink disappears when heated. To make its new rewritable paper, Chen's group switched the ink from the pen to the paper. They covered one side of regular paper with the ink used in those erasable pens. Using a heated pen or printer, they can now write or print on this paper. That warmth makes the ink disappear.
This is the opposite of how writing usually works, where ink is applied to paper. With the new system, the spots where you write become white instead of colored because that heat makes the ink covering the white paper disappear.
Qiang Zhao has a creative mind behind another type of rewritable paper. He thinks Chen's paper is simple and doesn't cost much to make, so it should be easy and fairly inexpensive to produce. However, the paper will need a lot of ink. In large doses（剂量），chemicals in the ink can be bad for the environment and people's health. Zhao would like scientists to develop a safer ink. Still, he thinks this paper will have wide applications.
1. Why does the author raise the questions in the first paragraph?| A．To prove the necessity of recycling paper. |
| B．To introduce the importance of rewritable paper. |
| C．To draw readers attention to the new technology. |
| D．To show the development of paper-making technology. |
| A．It can be reused for a lot more times. |
| B．The costs of producing it are much lower. |
| C．It can be produced in a much easier way. |
| D．The contents on it can be more long-lasting. |
| A．It still needs improving. | B．It's somewhat impractical. |
| C．It does no harm to its users. | D．It's worth promoting right away. |
| A．It shows colored words or pictures. |
| B．It doesn't require ink to write on it. |
| C．It will replace ordinary writing paper soon. |
| D．It has no requirement on the writing tool. |
3 . Thailand's southern beaches attract travelers with their clean water and dramatic cliffs (峭壁), but there's more to explore in this Southeast Asian country.
Lopburi for history buffs
Bypass the tour groups at the ancient city of Ayutthaya and head two hours north of the capital, Bangkok, for a peaceful walk through Thai history. Lopburi, one of Thailand's oldest cities, boasts Khmer-era temples and the uncrowded ruins of King Narai's Palace, which was built in the 1600s. It's also known for the monkeys that gather at Phra Prang Sam Yot temple in the center of town.
Ban Krut for beach bums
In Ban Krut, travelers will find one of the cleanest and quietest stretches of white sandy beach within driving distance of Bangkok. This sleepy seaside community, known mostly by locals, is a five-hour drive or six-hour train trip down the Gulf of Thailand. Don't miss the magnificent Wat Tang Sai, a huge, fairy tale castle-like Buddhist temple.
Cave for holiday hikers
Hiking trails, wetlands and forests make Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park a weekend adventure worthy of topping your Thailand to-do list. The park's crown jewel is the extraordinary Phraya Nakhon Cave. Come early to catch the picturesque chamber flooded with morning sunshine that spotlights the royal pavilion that sits inside.
River Kwai for nature lovers
Most visitors come for the beaches, but the rivers and parks in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province have much to offer. Scenic trails and waterfalls abound in Sai Yok and Erawan national parks. Just two hours from Bangkok is the bridge made famous in the book Bridge over the River Kwai by French author, Pierre Boulle, and the 1957 Academy Award-winning 1957 film adaptation of the same name. Stay on the river at one of Kanchanaburi's many floating hotels, where you can travel to your front door.
1. From which of the following can you learn more about Thai history?| A．Ban Krut |
| B．Kanchanaburi |
| C．Phraya Nakhon Cave |
| D．Lopburi |
| A．Visit temples. |
| B．Meet lovely monkeys. |
| C．Go hiking. |
| D．Go to the beach. |
| A．River Kwai was made famous by a book and a film |
| B．Tourists can stay at the floating hotels on River Kwai. |
| C．Most visitors visit Thailand for rivers and parks |
| D．Travellers can find Khmer-era temples in Ban Krut. |
4 . You signed up for soccer, and played every game of the season. Sure, you're not the best player on the team, but most days you gave it your all. Do you deserve a trophy (奖杯)?
If the decision is up to Carol Dweck, the answer would likely be no. She's a psychology professor at Stanford University, California. She says a player doesn't have to be the best to get a trophy. But those who receive an award should have to work for it. She suggests trophies go to the most improved player, or the one who contributed most to the team spirit, as well as to those who play the best.
“The trophy has to stand for something,” Dweck told TFK. “If we give a trophy to everyone, then the award has no value.” Dweck argues that giving kids trophies for particular reasons, such as improving in a sport, teaches kids that adults value hard work and trying our best.
Others say that there's no harm in giving awards to all kids who play a sport, regardless of how they played or whether or not they improved.
“I think we should encourage kids' participation in sports,” says Kenneth Barish, a psychology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. “A trophy is one way to encourage kids' efforts.”
Barish argues that when we single out only the best or even the most improved players with a trophy, we are teaching kids the wrong lesson. We are sending the message that winning is everything. “Winning is only part of the equation (等式),” Barish told TFK. “Playing sports also teaches kids about teamwork and the importance of exercise.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for kids to learn about competition as they get older, says Barish. They'll soon realize that only one soccer team wins the World Cup and only one football team wins the Super Bowl. For now, he thinks there's nothing wrong with letting all kids who play a sport feel like winners. That means trophies for everyone.
1. According to Carol Dweck, which player should receive a trophy?| A．Tony, the most attractive player of the soccer team. |
| B．David, a soccer player who is both clever and funny. |
| C．Peter, who is ready to help his partners to score goals. |
| D．Jim, a soccer player who tries his best to win the game |
| A．There is no sense in giving a trophy to everyone. |
| B．Kids fond of playing sports should be rewarded. |
| C．Kids should be given trophies for trying their best. |
| D．It is necessary to encourage kids' participation in sports. |
| A．honor | B．choose |
| C．value | D．stress |
| A．Who deserves a trophy? | B．All kids deserve a trophy |
| C．What does a trophy deserve? | D．Best player deserves a trophy |
5 . Ready or not, here they come: Scientists who played hide-and-seek with rats found that their furry subjects seemed to love the game- and they were remarkably good at it.
The researchers taught six adolescent male rats how to play a one-on-one version of hide-and-seek. They equipped a large room with cardboard barriers and small containers to serve as hiding places for humans and rats, respectively. The game started when the rat was placed in a small box in the middle of the room. If the rat was the “seeker,” the scientist would hide and then remotely open the box. If the rat was the “hider the scientist would crouch (蹲伏) by the box when the rat came out. This prompted the little rodent to running quickly for cover. All six rats learned how to be the seeker. Five of them were able to handle hiding as well.
Compared with something like playful wrestling, hide-and-seek is more complex for several reasons. It requires an understanding of the rules, a clear grasp of players’ distinct roles and the ability to assume different roles on different rounds. This unconventional experiment sheds light on the sophisticated sense of play in these tiny rodents, and also hints at the evolutionary usefulness of this type of play.
Peggy Mason, a neurobiologist (神经生物学家) at the University of Chicago, said that she was most impressed by the discovery that the rats didn’t just learn hide and seek—they wanted to play it. Play probably helps young animals learn how to socially interact, Mason said. She pointed to evidence that when rodents are prevented from playing during early development, they don’t grow into normal adults. Instead, they become anxious, they don’t play well with others and they aren’t great parents.
1. What can we know about the experiment?| A．Rats do better than other creatures in hide-and-seek. |
| B．Rats may enjoy themselves in hide-and-seek. |
| C．Rats prefer hide-and-seek to other games. |
| D．Rats may be subject to humans in hide-and-seek. |
| A．The scientist’s getting close. |
| B．Potential danger out of the box. |
| C．Its sense of safety under the cover. |
| D．Other rats’ call for help. |
| A．Unique | B．Outdated |
| C．Easy | D．Demanding |
| A．Deep anxiety over their kids’ growth. |
| B．Unwillingness to get on well with their kids. |
| C．A lack of confidence in their kids. |
| D．Absence of play in their early life. |
6 . “The Lion King” is one of Disney’s highest earners. But behind “The Lion King”, a true story of Sundiata Keita is still largely invisible outside his own country.
Known as the Lion of Mali, Sundiata was the founder of the Malian Empire, the largest kingdom in West Africa. His empire expanded more than 1,000 miles from the Atlantic coast all the way to the Niger River. Sundiata ruled from 1235 to 1255.
Sundiata’s father, King Naré Maghann Konaté, was told by fortune tellers that if he married an ugly woman she would give birth to a son who would become a mighty and magnificent king. He already had a wife named Sassouma Bereté and a son named Dankaran Tourman. However, Konate took Sogolon Kedjou as his second wife. She gave birth to Sundiata, who was born disabled. Though the king favored him, both Sogolon and Sundiata were unfairly teased for his disability.
Sundiata became a great leader among his people, sparking resentment from his half-brother Tourman who wanted the throne for himself. When Konaté died, many suspected that he had been murdered. Fearful of an attack on their lives. Sogolon took Sundiata and the rest of her children and fled. The Mandinka people were taken over by the cruel and unfair King Soumaoro Kante of the Sosso people.
In need of their true leader, the people sent word for Sundiata to return and take his rightful place as the king. Outside of the country, Sundiata built alliances with the king of Mema and other local rulers. He gathered an army to free the Mandinka people and defeat the Sosso king. Upon his victorious return, he adopted a new title for himself. “Mansa,” which means king or emperor in Mandinka. Sundiata’s kingdom became one of the most wealthy and powerful empires in history.
1. Why is the movie “The Lion King” mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To show us one of Disney’s achievements. |
| B．To encourage a view of the movie. |
| C．To introduce a true story. |
| D．To tell us its popularity among the public. |
| A．Because she was a recognized beauty. |
| B．Because he expected her to produce a great successor. |
| C．Because she adored him for his immense power. |
| D．Because he was not content with his first wife. |
| A．Inspiration. | B．Anger. |
| C．Admiration. | D．Guilt. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A diary. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A novel. |
7 . Welcome to Oxford University Museums
Ashmolean Museum
Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the oldest museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the world. It houses the University’s extensive collections of art and antiquities, ranging back over four millennia.
Location: Beaumont Street Tel: 01865278000
Open: Tue. Sun. 10: 00-17: 00.
Charge: Admission is free; special exhibitions are ticketed and a charge may apply
Note: For group bookings Tel:01865278015
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The University Museum of Natural History houses the University’s collections of zoological, entomological, paleontological and mineral specimens. With 4. 5 million specimens it is the largest collection of its type outside of the national collections.
Location: Parks Road Tel: 01865 272950
Open: 10: 00-17: 00 daily
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
Museum of the History of Science
The Museum of the History of Science is housed in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building. It contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments.
Location: Broad Street Tel: 01865277280
Open: Tue.Sun.12: 00-17:00
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Booking required for groups of 15 or more
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects from every continent and from throughout human history.
Location: Parks Road enter via the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Tel:01865270927
Open: Tue. Sun. and Bank Holiday Mondays: 10: 00-16: 30
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
1. If a group of 20 students want to visit the oldest museum in the UK, they should call_______| A．01865277280 | B．01865278015 |
| C．01865270927 | D．01865272950 |
| A．Ashmolean Museum. | B．Museum of the History of Science. |
| C．Oxford University Museum of Natural History. | D．Pitt Rivers Museum |
| A．Ashmolean Museum is on the Broad Street. |
| B．Pitt Rivers Museum contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments. |
| C．We don’t have to book in advance if our group want to visit the University Museum of Natural History. |
| D．We can enter the Pitt Rivers Museum through the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. |
8 . For Western designers, China and its rich culture have long been an inspiration for Western creative.
“It’s no secret that China has always been a source(来源) of inspiration for designers,” says Amanda Hill, chief creative officer at A+E Networks, a global media company and home to some of the biggest fashion(时尚) shows.
Earlier this year, the China Through A Looking Glass exhibition in New York exhibited 140 pieces of China-inspired fashionable clothing alongside Chinese works of art, with the aim of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics(美学) on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition had record attendance, showing that there is huge interest in Chinese influences.
“China is impossible to overlook,” says Hill. “Chinese models are the faces of beauty and fashion campaigns that sell dreams to women all over the world, which means Chinese women are not just consumers of fashion — they are central to its movement.” Of course, not only are today’s top Western designers being influenced by China—some of the best designers of contemporary fashion are themselves Chinese. “Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu are taking on Galliano, Albaz, Marc Jacobs—and beating them hands down in design and sales,” adds Hill.
For Hill, it is impossible not to talk about China as the leading player when discussing fashion. “The most famous designers are Chinese, so are the models, and so are the consumers,” she says. “China is no longer just another market; in many senses it has become the market. If you talk about fashion today, you are talking about China—its influences, its direction, its breathtaking clothes, and how young designers and models are finally acknowledging that in many ways.”
1. What can we learn about the exhibition in New York?| A．It promoted the sales of artworks. | B．It attracted a large number of visitors. |
| C．It showed ancient Chinese clothes. | D．It aimed to introduce Chinese models. |
| A．They are setting the fashion. | B．They start many fashion campaigns. |
| C．They admire super models. | D．They do business all over the world. |
| A．learning from | B．looking down on | C．working with | D．competing against |
| A．Young Models Selling Dreams to the World |
| B．A Chinese Art Exhibition Held in New York |
| C．Differences Between Eastern and Western Aesthetics |
| D．Chinese Culture Fueling International Fashion Trends |
9 . Want to choose a picture book to enjoy? Here are four popular books sold on the website of Amazon, Read and choose your favourite.
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
So many beautiful memories are collected when relatives come to visit. Join in the fun as a family gets together for a summer they will never forget. Warm and inviting language as well as wonderful pictures brings the story of this family’s summer get-together to life.
Available from Amazon. S11. 26
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
You know that feeling when you're as excited as you are scared to make a jump. That's how Jabari feels about his first jump off the diving board. He knows how to swim. He knows jumping off surely looks fun. But is he brave enough to make a jump? With some gentle encouragement from his loving father, Jabari jumps.
Available from Amazon. $5.56
There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi
Meet Suki. She's a small dog with a big fear of the beach. When a rescue is in order, Suki saves the day proving that there's nothing to fear but fear itself. It is a perfect picture book for kids who are afraid to try new experiences. It opens the door to calming dialogues and messages of bravery and victory.
Available from Amazon. $11.84
Three Little Words by Amy Novesky
Dory's"Just keep swimming!" message of never giving up is perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they were drowning. Follow Dory to an unforgettable adventure as she finds her way in this beautiful adventure of friendship and survival.
Available from Amazon. $12.06
1. What do we know about The Relatives Came?| A．It tells a story of adventure. |
| B．It is the cheapest picture book. |
| C．It's about a boy's memories. |
| D．It's about a family get-together. |
| A．The Relatives Came. |
| B．Jabari Jumps. |
| C．There Might Be Lobsters. |
| D．Three Little Words. |
| A．Learn to swim. |
| B．Never give up. |
| C．Love their friends. |
| D．Have an adventure. |
10 . What is language for? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and earning lists of words—the longer the list, the better. That's wrong．Language is for the exchange（交流）of ideas and information．It's meaningless knowing all about a language if you can't use it freely. Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules, but they can't speak correctly or fluently（流利地）．They are afraid of making mistakes．One shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language. Native speakers make mistakes and break rules, too．Bernard saw once wrote, "Foreigners often speak English too correctly．"But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make. They're English mistakes in the English language．And if enough native speakers break a rule, it is no longer a rule. What used to be wrong becomes right．People not only make history, they make language．But a people can only make its own language．It can't make another people's language. So Chinese students of English should pay attention to grammar, but they shouldn't overdo（做过头）it. They should put communication first.
1. Language is used to ________.| A．express oneself | B．practise grammar rules |
| C．talk with foreigners only | D．learn lists of words |
| A．never makes mistakes | B．often makes mistakes |
| C．can't avoid making mistakes | D．always makes mistakes |
| A．foreigners speak correct English |
| B．foreigners speak incorrect English |
| C．foreigners speak English according to the grammar rules |
| D．foreigners never make mistakes when they speak English |
| A．speak in Chinese way |
| B．speak by the rules |
| C．speak to native speakers |
| D．not be afraid of making mistakes |
