1 . In Europe, many people make friends between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become “twins” with a sister city relationship.
The people find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town.Officials visit the twin town for celebrations.Ordinary people travel to the twin town,too,but not very often if it is far away.
Sometimes,schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany.
Many British towns are so pleased with the results of the twinning that they set out to find more than one twin town!
Tonbridge, a small town in Kent, for example, has twin towns in both Germany and France. Richmond near London has relationships with Germany, France and even a town in a Balkan country!
Town twinning can help make friends. It helps students improve their language skills,and also helps people to understand the differences between nations.
1. Twin towns develop .| A．between European countries and China | B．in the English-speaking countries only |
| C．in the same country | D．between different countries |
| A．4. | B．5. | C．6. | D．7. |
| A．to earn more money | B．to set up schools |
| C．to improve students’ language skills | D．to develop industry and agriculture |
| A．Town Twinning | B．Friendly Towns |
| C．Exchanging Teachers and Students | D．Peace and Understanding |
2 . Kid-friendly attractions & hands-on museums
National Geographic Museum
Animal lovers young and old will look forward to a visit to the National Geographic Museum, which is near Farragut West. There are changing exhibits that always feature work by great photographers, as well as exhibits that show the efforts of international scientists to protect the natural worlds resources (资源) and animals. Children under 5 are free.
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall offers daily programs involving science experimentation. Kids are welcome to make and fly their own paper airplane, look through a real telescope (望远镜) with astronomy experts, watch a show at the Planetarium, climb in an aircraft, or watch an IMAX film.
National Building Museum
Kids can learn how engineers construct architectural wonders by using soft blocks in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. Little ones will love the Building Zone, where they can drive a bulldozer (推土机) and build a house.
Renwick Gallery
Take the kids to the Renwick Gallery, which hosts the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s amazing collection of decorative art, and start a completely new conversation between kids and art.
1. What is special about the museum near Farragut West?| A．It enables kids to build a house on their own. |
| B．It houses a vast collection of paintings. |
| C．It teaches kids about the environment. |
| D．It is free for both parents and kids |
| A．Architects. | B．Animal enthusiasts. |
| C．Art lovers. | D．Astronomy fans. |
| A．A news report. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A geography textbook. | D．A culture magazine. |
3 . When something on your fruit or vegetable looks strange, it isn't unusual to throw it to the side. without any hesitation. But some “unusual" parts of fruits and vegetables actually contain abundant amounts of health benefits or they may offer other little known uses. Those stings in your banana are no different.
Often thrown away with its skin, banana strings, which are scientifically called phloem bundles, are just as nutritious as the rest( inner pat) of the fruit. They are packed full of fibre, vitamin A, and vitamin B6 and other nutritional content, Phloem can be found in all plants, which is responsible for the transport of nutrients.“ Phloem bundles are made up of living cells that send food products and sugar to all the different parts of the plant," says Rebecca Lee, a registered nurse and the founder of remediesforme. com. And that is exactly what those strings do in the banana, transporting necessary nutrients throughout the delicious fruit so that it can grow up properly.
“They are not disgusting, and they just help the banana grow and become delicious," Dr. Elizabeth Trattner A. P. DOM, Doctor of Chinese and Integrative Medicine, told Reader's Digest. “It is fine to eat and although is structure is a little different from the inside.
Those phloem bundles can also be used to determine if your banana is ready to eat. If all of the nutrients haven't been transported completely in a balanced way throughout the fruit yet, then the phloem bundles stay on more tightly, meaning the banana is under ripe. Then the opposite occurs with ripe and over ripe bananas, as the strings can be removed more easily. But if your bananas do end up bring over-ripe. throw them away? Absolutely not!
1. What are the strings of a banana?| A．It’s nutrition producers. | B．It’s transporting cells. |
| C．It’s fleshy inner parts. | D．It’s protective skins. |
| A．The banana is not ripe enough. | B．The phloem's structure is tight. |
| C．The nutrients are distributed fully. | D．The phloem bundles become longer. |
| A．The ways to deal with over -ripe bananas. | B．The reasons for bananas being over -ripe. |
| C．The steps of stopping bananas being ripe. | D．The links between phloem and ripe bananas. |
| A．A biology textbook. | B．A research paper. | C．A medical brochure. | D．A health magazine. |
4 . Johnny Cash was born in 1932 in the southern state of Arkansas. His parents were poor cotton farmers. As a school boy, he began writing songs and he performed on radio programs. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and served as a radio operator in Germany.
He returned to the United States in 1954 and formed a band with two friends and performed at local events. They began recording for Sun Records in Memphis. One of the songs Cash wrote became the first country music hit record for the company. It was “Cry, Cry, Cry.”
Johnny Cash performed all across the United States and Canada. By 1958, Johnny Cash was a successful recording artist, songwriter and singer. He was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Johnny Cash won many awards, including eleven Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He died on September 12, 2003, in Nashville at the age of seventy-one.
Fans say that Johnny Cash's music was important because it told simple stories about life and death. They say he cared about social issues and continued to express support for those who are poor and without political power. One of the last songs he recorded was one made popular by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails. It is called “Hurt.”
1. Johnny Cash returned to the United States after ________.| A．he finished high school | B．he formed a band |
| C．he served in US Air Force in Germany | D．his song Cry, Cry, Cry became famous |
| A．Johnny Cash performed his famous song Cry, Cry, Cry at the Grand Ole Opry |
| B．Johnny Cash didn't care about social problems |
| C．Johnny Cash's music was only loved by his fans |
| D．the Grand Ole Opry is a place where famous singers hold their concerts. |
| A．Beat | B．Failure | C．Strike | D．Success |
| A．he won many awards in his lifetime |
| B．he often performed in the Grand Ole Opry |
| C．his songs expressed support for the poor people with no political power |
| D．his songs were sung by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails |
5 . My father told me a family story about his mother, my grandmother.
In 1949, my father had just returned home from the war. On every American highway you could see soldiers in uniform hitchhiking home to their families, as was the custom at that time in America.
Sadly, the excitement of this reunion with his family soon disappeared. My grandmother became very ill and had to be in hospital. The doctors told my father that she needed a blood transfusion immediately or she wouldn’t live through the night. The problem was that Grandmother’s blood types was AB-, a very rare type even today, but even harder to get then because there were no blood banks or air flights to ship blood. All the family members had their blood tested, but not one member was a match. So the doctors gave the family no hope; my grandmother was dying.
My father left the hospital in tears to gather up all the family members, so that everyone would get a chance to tell Grandmother good-bye. As my father was driving down the highway, he passed a soldier in uniform hitch-hiking home to his family. Deep in sadness, my father had no inclination at that moment to do a good deed. Yet it was almost as if something outside himself pulled him to a stop, and he waited as the stranger climbed into the car.
My father was too upset to even ask the soldier his name, but the soldier noticed my father’s tears right away and asked why. My father told this total stranger everything.
It got very quiet in the car. Then this soldier reached his hand out to my father, in which rested the dog tags from around his neck. The blood type on the tags was AB-. The soldier told my father to turn the car around and get him to the hospital.
My grandmother lived until 1996, and to this day no one in our family knows the soldier’s name. But my father has often wondered, was he a soldier or an angel in uniform?
1. Why did the author’s father leave the hospital ?| A．To buy something necessary for Grandmother. |
| B．To ask the family members to have their blood tested |
| C．To pick up a soldier whose blood type was the same as Grandmother’s |
| D．To gather the family members to pay their last respects to Grandmother |
| A．After her serious illness, Grandmother lived 47 years. |
| B．Grandmother’s children refused to help her. |
| C．My father has forgotten the soldier. |
| D．The doctors didn’t try to save Grandmother. |
| A．arrangement | B．design | C．schedule | D．willingness |
| A．A Strange Soldier | B．An Unexpected Gift |
| C．An Angel in Uniform | D．An Unknown Soldier |
6 .
The Everyman
Watt
A wide-eyed stranger gets down from a country train. The destination（目的地）：Mr Knott’s house. The task: to serve. The story of a manservant in the home of his unseen master, Samuel Beckett’s 1953 novel comes to the stage in a one-man production starring one of the greatest interpreters（演绎的人）of the writer in the world—Barry McGovern．
Dates: Mar 10-12
Tel: 021 450 1673
Kilkenny
Queen of Technicolour—The Story of Maureen O’Hara
This one-woman show marks the centenary（一百周年）of Irish actress Maureen O’Hara who was born in 1920. Star of Hollywood’s golden age, she played roles that often showed her true character as a tough and courageous woman. Written and performed by Elaine O’Dwyer, this is a journey with Maureen, showing the person she was behind the stage．
Date: Mar 21
Tel: 056 776 1674
Town Hall Theatre
3 Hail Mary’s
A comedy taking Ireland by storm, 3 Hail Mary’s centres on three characters named Mary who have lived in a nursing home together for over 10 years and have become great friends. However, they are being moved to three separate nursing homes. The play is set around their last few hours together as they decide to celebrate them in style．
Dates: Mar 19-21
Tel: 091 569 777
Cork Arts Theatre
Julia
Presented by the Polish Arts Festival, Julia is the story of a women’s journey into her inner self through her life experiences. Her feelings onstage are shown in the form of a dancer and the voice of the soul is revealed by singing and music. The performance is bilingual (Polish-English). Also at the Cork Arts Theatre: Beyond the Curtain Mar 30-Apr 1
Date: Mar 22
Tel: 021 450 5624
1. Where is the performance that is based on a novel showed?| A．The Everyman． | B．Kilkenny． |
| C．Town Hall Theatre． | D．Cork Arts Theatre． |
| A．091 569 777． | B．021 450 5624． |
| C．021 450 1673． | D．056 776 1674． |
| A．It will be showed in April． |
| B．It is performed in two languages． |
| C．It invites Polish musicians to play the music． |
| D．It is created based on the performers’ experiences． |
7 . Head to Music City for a variety of great lodging (住宿) options. Whether you want to check out Downtown or head to the eastern part of the city, there’s something for everyone.
◎ Gaylord Opryland
Located in the downtown and Music Row area, it is home to two different fine dining options within its estate (庄园), three casual-style restaurants, and six options for fast food. Other great conveniences include an indoor pool, a hot tub, free WiFi, refrigerators and more.
◎ Hermitage Hotel
Also located in the downtown area, the Hermitage Hotel was named after the estate of late President Andrew Jackson. Guests can enjoy countless conveniences that will help to make their vacation absolutely unforgettable, including a fitness center, business center, free WiFi, and an on-site laundry facility.
◎ Radisson Airport TN
Located within miles of the International Airport, this is a fantastic option for those who are flying into the city as it offers free transportation service to and from the airport. The lodging features free WiFi, ATM machines on-site, and a free daily newspaper. Some great options for entertainment are also offered here, including an indoor heated pool, hot tub, gift shop, and fitness center.
◎ Hilton Garden Inn
Located just a mile away from the Country Music Hall, this downtown site provides convenience and wonder for any Music City adventure. Guests will be able to enjoy accommodations such as free WiFi and paid breakfasts. Plus, each room comes equipped with microwaves and refrigerators for added convenience. When you are not relaxing in your comfortable room, guests can take a dip in the indoor heated pool.
1. Which would a customer particular about food most probably choose?| A．Gaylord Opryland. | B．Hermitage Hotel. |
| C．Radisson Airport TN. | D．Hilton Garden Inn. |
| A．It supplies fast food options. |
| B．It is related to Andrew Jackson. |
| C．It is near the Country Music Hall. |
| D．It offers free transportation service. |
| A．They provide Internet service. |
| B．They offer an indoor heated pool. |
| C．They are located in the downtown. |
| D．They are equipped with microwaves. |
8 . These are four famous tourist attractions around the world.
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, was completed in 1420 during the early Ming Dynasty. It is the largest ancient palatial (宫殿似的) building in the world and it’s open to tourists to allow them to have a look at ancient Chinese architecture.
Niagara Falls State Park
When you arrive at Niagara Falls State Park, you’ll explore the Cave of the Winds to have an up-close look at the falls. The Cave of the Winds is a self-guided tour, which means you can spend as much time as you would like. There is no need to make a reservation (预订).The Cave of the Winds closes during winter, so make sure it’s open before visiting.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is a statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. It sits on a roc kin the harbor. It was inspired by a performance of a ballet based on the fairytale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. It was presented to the public on 23 August, 1913. And there are many tourists taking photos with the Little Mermaid every year.
The Taj Mahal
As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of India. It is considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a mix of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles.
1. What should you do before visiting the Cave of the Winds?| A．Book in advance. | B．Find a tour guide. |
| C．Learn about its history. | D．Check the opening time. |
| A．Listen to a fairy tale. | B．Attend a performance. |
| C．Take a picture with the statue. | D．Meet Hans Christian Andersen |
| A．The Cave of the Winds. | B．The Taj Mahal |
| C．Niagara Falls State Park. | D．The Little Mermaid. |
9 . Life as a student can be very exciting and rewarding, but it can also be a huge challenge. You find yourself dealing with family life, social life and your studies at the same time —you may even have to add work into the mix if you are trying to earn some cash as a student. All of this can make it difficult to keep on top of your studies.
The good news is that there are lots of tools for students to use these days, and one of these is live streaming (直播). Over the past couple of decades, technology has come a long way and has helped to improve our lives in many ways. When it comes to learning, live streaming can make a big difference and can really help with your educational goals.
One of the ways in which you can use streaming technology is to access online classes and tutoring, which proves invaluable to many students. You can attend classes from the comfort of your own home or on your smart devices if you are elsewhere. This means that even if you cannot get to in-person classes due to illness, being away or other reasons, you can still keep up with your studies. This is also a perfect solution for those who are struggling with some subjects and need a helping hand. You can benefit from extra fees by using these live streaming classes and tutoring, which means you can get up to speed with your weaker subjects.
Another thing you can do with online streaming is to stream relevant documentaries that may help with your education depending on the subjects you are studying. Online streaming sites such as Netflix are packed with documentaries, and you can stream these with ease straight to your computer or smart devices. In years gone by, students had to rely on textbooks for information, but the students of today can benefit hugely from streamed documentaries and programming that can help with their education.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To summarize the whole text. |
| B．To arouse the reader's concern. |
| C．To introduce the theme of the whole text. |
| D．To stress the importance of the studies in life. |
| A．Expensive. | B．Interesting. | C．Convenient. | D．Difficult. |
| A．By process. |
| B．By example. |
| C．By comparison. |
| D．By classification. |
| A．The current situation of live streaming. |
| B．The educational benefits of live streaming. |
| C．The application of live streaming in our life. |
| D．The advantages of live streaming over traditional classes. |
10 . Paswan and his teen daughter Jyoti Kumari recently completed the 750-mile journey from their former apartment on the outskirts of New Dehli all the way to their home village. What's remarkable is that they rode the entire distance on a bicycle they purchased with their last $20, with Jyoti pedaling(脚蹬）as her father rode on the seat with his heavy bag.
The story of their determination has inspired millions of migrant workers across the country, where the novel coronavirus lockdowns has resulted in severe work shortages. Many of these laborers have needed to take similar journeys from major cities back to their home villages where they can be supported by their family-but financial problems have left many of them stranded（使搁浅）and wondering what's next.
Things had not been going well for Paswan,even before the pandemic(大流行病）. In January, he was involved in a traffic accident while working as a rickshaw driver. His daughter, who had dropped out of school a year earlier because of the family's financial troubles, decided to make the trip to New Dehli to care for her injured father. When the lockdown hit and Paswan was unable to earn a living, their landlord cut off their electricity and threatened to kick them out of their apartment. It was then that Jyoti suggested that they head home to their village in Bihar.
Jyoti had cycled a lot in their village, and they had just enough money to purchase a bicycle. She insisted that she would get her dad home safely.
That being said, it was not a bewitching journey for Jyoti and Paswan-they often found themselves without enough to eat; they slept at gas stations, and often relied on the generosity of strangers. The pair traveled nearly 100 miles per day. On borrowed cell phones, Jyoti would reassure her worried mother:"Don't worry, I'll get Papa home good.”
True to her word, Jyoti and her father made it home. Additionally, since the Indian media has dubbed(把......称为）her “Jyoti the lionhearted",the teenage girl has been contacted by Onkar Singh, the chairman of the Cycling Federation of India, urging her to try out for the national team.
1. What caused Paswan and his daughter to decide to go home?| A．The worsening situation |
| B．The terrible traffic accident. |
| C．The expectation from family. |
| D．The desire to travel by bicycle. |
| A．Paswan and Jyoti would continue to pay the landlord. |
| B．Paswan and Jyoti lived a good life before the pandemic. |
| C．Paswan failed to earn a living due to the traffic accident. |
| D．Paswan and Jyoti had no choice but to leave New Dehli. |
| A．Tough. | B．Smooth. | C．Unforgettable. | D．Meaningful. |
| A．She might go back to New Dehli to earn a living. |
| B．She might check if she has the potential for cycling. |
| C．She might invite Onkar Singh to be her private coach. |
| D．She might complain to the media about the new name. |
