1 . Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee. In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.

Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法) to be one of their primary contributions to civilization. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet. The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.

But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.

In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six-year-olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully attempting to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now?” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture,” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up.” says the teacher.

1. What can we learn about the Character Hero?

A．It’s open to people of all ages and all walks.

B．It’s the most-viewed TV programs in China.

C．It aims to spread Chinese culture to the world.

D．It draws great public attention across the country.

2. Why are Chinese people forgetting how to write the characters?

A．Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often.

B．Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy.

C．Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters.

D．Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology.

3. .According to Shen Bin, being able to write characters by hand is_________.

A．necessary for adults to survive in China

B．a requirement made by the Education Ministry

C．helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive

D．an ability to be developed only when you are students

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A news report.	B．A science report.
C．An advertisement.	D．Children’s literature.

2 . Artemis is NASA’s new lunar exploration program. Through the Artemis program, NASA will use new technology to study the Moon in new and better ways, and prepare for human missions to Mars.

NASA’s new rocket will carry the Orion spacecraft to lunar orbit. Then, astronauts will dock (对接) Orion at a small spaceship called the Gateway, from which the crew will take trips to the lunar surface in a new human landing system, and then return to the Gateway. The crew will return to the Earth aboard Orion.

NASA will test the rocket and spacecraft in flight, then send a crew for a test flight:

Artemis 1 will be a test flight of the SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft with no crew.

Artemis 2 will fly SLS and Orion with a crew past the Moon, then circle it and return to the Earth. This trip will be the farthest any human has gone into space.

Artemis 3 will send a crew with the first woman and the next man to land on the Moon by 2024. The Artemis 3 crew will visit the Moon’s South Pole. No one has ever been there.

At the Moon, astronauts will:

Search for the Moon’s water and use it.

Learn how to live and work on the surface of another celestial body (天体) where astronauts are just three days from home.

Test the technologies we need before sending astronauts on missions to Mars, which can take up-to three years round trip.

The Moon is a good place to learn new science. NASA will learn more about the Moon, the Earth and even the Sun. The Moon is a “test bed” for Mars. The Moon is a place to show that astronauts will one day be able to work away from the Earth on Mars for long periods of time.

1. What is the aim of the Artemis program?

A．To help astronauts return to the Earth.	B．To be ready for the landing on Mars.
C．To study the Mars using new science.	D．To test the Moon landing spacecraft, Orion.

2. Which will be the achievement of the Artemis series?

A．Going to the Moon’s South Pole.	B．Making the farthest trip into space.
C．Sending the first man to the Moon.	D．Flying to the Moon with three persons.

3. What will Artemis astronauts do on the Moon?

A．Send astronauts to Mars.	B．Run a three-year-long test.
C．Find and make use of water.	D．Learn to live not far from home.

4. What can we conclude from the text?

A．It is possible to live on another planet now.

B．The crew will reach the lunar surface from the Orion.

C．NASA has sent the first woman astronaut to the Moon.

D．The Artemis program is of great help to Mars exploring.

3 . I believe that my actions show my beliefs, not my words.

I wrote a letter to my kids a few years ago. It’s three pages long, and it sums up my life experience of four decades. By the time they reach adulthood, they will have heard most of their father’s advice in that letter: live in the moment, do not attach yourself to physical things, treat others the way you would like to be treated, etc. I sealed the letter in a white envelope, and wrote instructions that nobody should open it unless something horrible happened to me.

As a police officer, I have seen life disappear in an instant. I realize that could happen to me at any time. Yet knowing that letter is there in my locker makes me more comfortable with my own death.

Every day, when I open my locker, I see the letter. It makes me aware that I should be careful at work, and show my children and the people I have connection with that I try to practice everything I have written. If that day comes and my children finally read the letter, I hope that because of my actions, they will take my written beliefs to heart and improve upon my example.

But for me, it’s not enough to write down my beliefs. I try to be the best person I can be every day-even in very difficult circumstances. I am more successful some days than others, but sometimes I curse too much. Sometimes I am cynical, unwilling to believe that people have good and honest reasons for doing something. I also get stressed and upset, yelling at my kids sometimes, and sometimes I am not as loving or as sympathetic as I should be. In fact, I am far from perfect, but I hope my children will eventually realize that perfection is an illusion. What really matters is that, instead of just writing down our beliefs, we all take action to be the best humans we can be.

1. Which of the following can best describe the author?

A．Humorous.	B．Interesting.
C．Selfless.	D．Considerate.

2. Why did the author open the locker to see the letter every day?

A．He wanted to confirm his beliefs.	B．The letter served as a reminder.
C．He kept adding something new to it.	D．His kids asked him to check it.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “cynical” in the last paragraph?

A．Doubtful about others’ motivations.	B．Curious about everything around.
C．Worried about his future life.	D．Unsatisfied about his profession.

4. What is the author’s understanding of life?

A．Parents should care for children.	B．To become a successful father.
C．To be better today than yesterday.	D．Bad guys deserve to be punished.

4 . Student Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Application Deadline： August 20th

Scholarship Description： The 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation is a team of experienced educators that have over 30 years of experience in helping minority nationality students get into college. We have teamed up to form a foundation that's going to be devoted to building groups of 5 college ready scholars and placing them on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Contact： Andrew H. Ragland； 770-873-6621

$ 1,000 College JumpStart Scholarship

Application Deadline： October 8th

Scholarship Description： The $ 1,000 College JumpStart Scholarship is a virtue-based competition that is open to 7th—12th graders and college students and non — traditional students. Applicants must be juniors or seniors or adult students.

Contact： Adrian Monk； 650-319-8441

ACF Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship

Application Deadline： July 9th

Scholarship Description： One or more scholarships are awarded each year to New Mexico graduating high school seniors and continuing college students. Students must go after a degree or certificate from a non-profit public or technical professional institution including community college.

Contact： Daniel White； 505-883-6240

“Species On The Edge 2. 0” Social Scholarship

Application Deadline： September 19th

Scholarship Description： Conserve Wildlife Foundation invites high school student from across the state to submit an original social media campaign showing why wildlife is important to protect. The fun and educational contest provides students with the opportunity to show their talent, creativity and love for nature. The students may get scholarships if they perform well.

Contact： Stephanie Dalessio； 609-984-6021

1. What's the $ 1,000 College JumpStart Scholarship mainly based on?

A．Certificate.	B．Virtue.
C．Protecting wildlife.	D．Helping black students.

2. Who can minority nationality students call for help if they want to get a scholarship?

A．Stephanie Dalessio.	B．Adrian Monk.
C．Daniel White.	D．Andrew H. Ragland.

3. Which of the following is intended for New Mexican students?

A．5 Strong Scholarship.

B．$ 1,000 College JumpStart Scholarship.

C．ACF Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship.

D．“Species On The Edge 2. 0" Social Scholarship.