1 . A Portland, Oregon man has become the first person to travel across Antarctica by himself without receiving any assistance.
Colin O’Brady has completed the 1,500-kilometer trip. He crossed the continent in 54 days. Friends, family and other people followed his progress through messages and pictures he left on social media.
O’Brady spoke with his wife Jenna Besaw by telephone soon after he completed the journey. “It was an emotional call,” she said. “He seemed overwhelmed by love and appreciation, and he really wanted to say ‘thank you’ to all of us.”
The 33-year-old O’Brady documented the trip on the social networking services Instagram. He called his journey “The Impossible First”. He wrote that he traveled the last 129 kilometers in one big, final push to the finish line. The distance took over one day to complete. O’Brady wrote, “While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced.”
The day before, he wrote that he was “in the zone” and thought he could make it to the end without stopping. “I was listening to my body and taking care of the details to keep myself safe,” he wrote. “I called home and talked to my mom, sister and wife. I promised them I would stop when I need to.”
Other people have traveled across Antarctica, but they all had some form of assistance. They either had better, more plentiful supplies or devices that helped move them forward.
In 2016, British explorer Henry Worsley died in his attempt to travel alone across Antarctica unassisted. Worsley’s friend Louis Rudd, also from Britain, is attempting an unaided solo journey in Worsley’s honor. He was competing against O’Brady to be the first to do it. Besaw told the Associated Press that her husband plans to stay in Antarctica until Rudd finishes his trip.
1. What did O’Brady think of his journey in Antarctica?| A．It was pleasant. | B．It was discouraging. |
| C．It was impossible to complete. | D．It was hard to complete. |
| A．Making sure of his safety. | B．Trying to achieve the goal. |
| C．Keeping in touch with them. | D．Stopping the travel halfway. |
| A．To wait for another explorer. | B．To compete with others. |
| C．To help other explorers. | D．To make his victory recognized. |
| A．The Antarctic Continent | B．The Impossible First |
| C．Traveling in Antarctica | D．An Incomplete Journey |
2 . In October, 2019, Beijing Daily warned the youth that they shouldn't let Internet slang （俚语） deepen the generation gap（代沟），after People Daily started a discussion on Chinese microblog Weibo on how to "explain" the youth's Internet slang terms to parents. The post got 40,000 likes. People were commenting that they couldn't keep up with the rapidly developing Internet lingo （术语）in China.
People also fear that Chinese Internet slang will negatively influence broader linguistic （语言的） trends of Mandarin Chinese, in particular, the gradual taking over of pinyin, the romanization of traditional Chinese characters using the Western alphabet. As pinyin gets widely used when people text or write on mobile phones or computers, while less and less people write characters by hand, people gradually forget how to write them, which is called "character amnesia" in China.
2019’s latest slang terms add a further simplification: the use of pinyin acronyms. "Awsl" in pinyin, for instance, means Ah, wo si le (Oh, I'm gonna die), and is used if something is too cute or adorable. "Nsdd" stands for ni shuo de dui (you're right).
Certainly, as an age-old written language, Chinese has been evolving and developing over the years. But the Chinese Internet lingo is unlikely to replace the existing use of Mandarin Chinese, but will rather be enriching it by adding another layer.
Acronyms aren't new. They have appeared with the limited space available in early-generation cell phone messaging. Some of them have become a part of the English language, such as BTW (by the way) and LOL (laugh out loud), while others had a rather short lifetime. That's likely to be what's going to happen with China's Internet slang terms. Some are going to be old in a few weeks, while others might make it into mainstream use, and as they do, young net users are coming up with new slang words to differentiate themselves.
In China, using Internet slang means belonging to a certain generation that likes to watch the same talk shows, play the same games, etc., and therefore, creates unity. Older generations don't have to feel left out, and certainly don't have to fear a degradation (没落)of the Chinese language. While language development is unavoidable, Internet slang is not going to let 6,000 years of Chinese written language completely change overnight.
1. The public are worried about Chinese Internet slang abuse because| A．It's used by children to keep secrets from parents. |
| B．It can cause confusion even among young people. |
| C．It was invented in response to the limited messaging space. |
| D．It will rarely have a positive effect on linguistic trends of Chinese. |
| A．They add variety to the language. |
| B．They are replacing its traditional vocabulary. |
| C．They make the language more global. |
| D．They only have temporary effects on Chinese. |
| A．a sense of purpose |
| B．a sense of group identity |
| C．a sense of cultural pride |
| D．a sense of safety |
| A．Is Media Helping Older Generation Understand Internet Slang? |
| B．Is Chinese Language Too Powerful to Be Largely Affected? |
| C．Is Mandarin Chinese Useful to Bridge the Generation Gap? |
| D．Is Internet Slang Deepening the Generation Gap, Ruining Chinese? |
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| Jiu Zhaigou National Park Location: in the north of Sichuan Famous for: green lakes,waterfalls, Colorful forests,snow peaks, Tibetan customs and blue ice, UNESCO World Heritage Site Best time to visit: from June To September. | Huangshan Mount Location: in the south of Anhui Famous for: unique guest-greeting pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and amazing hot springs Abundant in: natural resources and various species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. Best time to visit: Different seasons around a year witness various and unique beauty. | Yungang Grottoes Location: in the south Datong,Shanxi Reasons to visit:Listed among top 4 grottoes in China, one of UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is said to be the best preserved Buddhist cave art in China with 53 caves containing over 51,000 Stone carvings of Buddha and Buddhist dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Best time to visit: summer and autumn for cool weather. | Suzhou Classical Gardens Location: in the downtown area of Suzhou,Jiangsu Reasons to visit: Listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997,the gardens of Suzhou represent the Development Chinese landscape garden design ove more than 2000 years, including three most featured gardens in Suzhou: Humble Administrator's Garden, Master of the Nets Garden and Lingering Garden. Best time to visit: all year around. |
| A．Unique waterfalls | B．Snow-covered peaks |
| C．Ancient culture and art | D．Beautiful natural scenery. |
| A．Being far from city. |
| B．Being a man-made wonder. |
| C．Being rich in natural resources |
| D．Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| A．Yungang Grottoes | B．Huangshan Mount |
| C．Suzhou Classical Gardens | D．Jiu Zhaigou National Park |
4 . The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms for most but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or people with existing health problems. Most infected patients have recovered from it so far.
The leader of the IOCS coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics says there is no May deadline to cancel the games and he remains confident the event will go ahead despite sports coming to a stop globally amid the coronavirus epidemic. John Coates, who will have to go into government-mandated self-isolation when he returns to Australia this week from Olympic business in Europe, told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: “It’s all proceeding to start on the 24th of July.” Dick Pound, a former IOC vice president, said that the end of May seemed to be a possible deadline for the IOC to make a call on the Tokyo Olympics. But Coates told that the IOC didn't recognize the deadline and he thought Pound had backed away from it, too.
The latest measures, which include bans on gatherings of more than 500 people, came in the wake of the suspensionz（暂停） of sporting events in parts of the world affected by the virus outbreak. That has caused postponements and uncertainty for qualifying in some Olympic sports, although the IOC and Tokyo organizers have consistently said the games will go ahead as scheduled. As for athletes traveling to Japan from affected countries. Coates said some national Olympic committees were already preparing. “The Chinese are probably the best organized,” he told the SMH. “The Chinese are in various parts of Europe and the last I heard is they're bringing them all together in a university in Paris where they'll be fully contained, 600 of them, and they will go straight from there, straight into Japan. They won’t put anyone on a plane who has got coronavirus.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To discover the victims of the virus. |
| B．To show that the virus is not terrible. |
| C．To study the harm of the COVID-19 illness. |
| D．To support the IOC'S idea for the Tokyo Olympics below. |
| A．All sports games will start on July 24. |
| B．Australians should self-isolate at home. |
| C．The IOC will not cancel the Tokyo Olympics. |
| D．The Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled in May. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Negative. | D．Dissatisfied. |
| A．IOC's confidence in the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| B．The uncertain future of the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| C．Peoples worries about the spreading of coronavirus. |
| D．Chinese athletes' preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
5 . Global warming is the increase of the earth’s average surface temperature due to the effect of greenhouse gases, for example, carbon dioxide, which traps heat that would otherwise escape from the earth. After the trees are cut down and more greenhouse gases are released, the “blanket” around the earth called the ozone layer（臭氧层）, will get thicker. This catches more heat and makes the earth hotter. Luckily, there are many things that every citizen of the earth can do to help reduce the effects of global warming, and it’s never too late or too early for children to take action.
The children should learn what a carbon footprint is. A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon and greenhouse gases people make as they lead the daily life and go about the normal activities. In other words, the carbon footprint is a measure of the environmental impact the life has. To live an environmentally friendly life that doesn’t contribute to global warming, people want to have the smallest carbon footprint possible.
Almost everything people do contributes to global warming and is related to fossil fuel consumption. These can be direct uses of fossil fuels, like riding in a gasoline-powered car, or indirect contributions to greenhouse gases, such as eating fruits or vegetables that have to be shipped from far way to reach their tables.
If a child wants to make a contribution to reducing global warming, he should ride a bicycle to the near park, school, his friend’s house, or anywhere else instead of taking the car. Or he may try to walk or jog, which is also helpful. In addition, although trains and buses often run on fossil fuels, on average, each person uses less energy and produces less pollution to run. Next time if children with their parents have to get around town or it’s too far to walk or bike, take the bus or other public transportation instead of asking for a ride.
1. What is the main reason for global warming?| A．The ozone layer. |
| B．The effect of cutting down trees. |
| C．The harmful effect of greenhouse gases. |
D．The increase of the earth’s inner temperature . |
| A．The definition of a carbon footprint. |
| B．Life has an impact on carbon footprint. |
| C．People should live an environmental friendly life. |
| D．People make a huge amount of carbon and greenhouse gases. |
| A．children | B．parents |
| C．citizens | D．children educators |
| A．What Can People Do To Use Less Energy? |
| B．Why Global Warming Affects Humans’ Life? |
| C．How Can Kids Help Reduce Global Warming? |
| D．How Does Carbon Footprints Measure Pollution? |
6 . Let’ s explore the nature!
Are you interested in animals and nature? Want to enjoy your summer holiday and learn something fun and useful?
Here comes your chance! Youth Explorer has prepared you with a three-day summer programme full of hands-on activities and live animal encounters (相遇)-----giraffes, snakes, tigers, you name it! You will be spending time at the Fun Zoo exploring topics like animal care, animal handling and a lot more! The details of the programme are as follows:
Age group: Students aged 8--16
Sections: There are 2 programmes for you to choose from. Each programme is limited to 15 participants.
Programme A
Dates: 8---10 July
Days: Monday to Wednesday
Times:10:00a.m.----4:00p.m
Programme B
Dates: 11-13 August
Days: Tuesday to Thursday
Times:10:00a.m.----4:00p.m
Programme fees: $230 for members, $ 250 for non-members
How to apply: Simply come to our centre to get an application form. Submit your completed form on or before 10 June.
Notice:
1) No lunches are provided due to individual food preferences and allergies. Participants may either bring a lunchbox or buy lunch at our restaurants
2) Both programmes will be put off for one day if the following happens: Typhoon signal number 8 or above.
Come and join us now! Don’t miss this chance!
1. What can be learnt about Youth Explorer’ s summer programme?| A．It is suitable for animal lovers | B．It is held at its centre |
| C．It is full of sports activities | D．It is family-friendly. |
| A．It sets a fixed fee | B．It provides free lunches |
| C．It favours middle school students | D．It may be affected by the weather |
| A．A news report | B．An art show review |
| C．An advertisement | D．A lesson plan |
7 . I have two kids, a boy and a girl. I don’t worry about my girl; I’m sure she’ll be well trained and educated, but I worry about my son. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be feminine (女性化的). No dad wants his son to go feminine, but let’s face it.
You won’t be able to tell the difference between boys and girls in a couple of years. Sound extreme? As often is the case, in a movie where advanced time-traveling beings come to our planet, you can’t tell the male aliens(外星人) from the female aliens!
Look around the world today, kids are soft and fat. People ask why. Is it junk food? No. Junk food has been around for fifty years. Is it video games? No. Video games have been around for thirty years. None of the kids playing them back were terribly obese（肥胖症）. We’re all scratching our heads trying to figure out what we’ve introduced to society to ruin our kids. In fact, you will find it’s stuff we’ve gotten rid of rather than what we’ve added that has ruined our kids.
Take the gym rope for example. Remember the rope that stretched from the floor to the ceiling in your gym class that you could never climb? Most of the kids couldn’t make it to the top. The point is that you should try. We should have put our son on that rope, and given him a start. But we didn’t want to shame the boy, so we took it down.
Taking down the rope would be a good idea if there were no ropes in life. But they’re everywhere. You just can’t see them. They’re in goals unrealized and expectations unsatisfied. The point everyone missed about the rope is that you weren’t supposed to make it to the top. It was there to create a fire burning in the oversize belly of every kid.
1. What is the example of aliens used to show?| A．Boys are going feminine. |
| B．Girls are dressed like boys. |
| C．There are really time-traveling beings. |
| D．Alien movies are popular with children. |
| A．Junk food. |
| B．Video games. |
| C．Stuff introduced to society. |
| D．Things removed from society. |
| A．They are overprotected. |
| B．They are less independent. |
| C．They have too much dignity. |
| D．They are too highly thought of. |
| A．Motivation. |
| B．Challenges. |
| C．Assistance. |
| D．Expectations. |
8 . America is a mobile society. Friendships between Americans can be close and real, yet disappear soon if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while—then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship. This can be quite difficult for us Chinese to understand, because friendships between us flower more slowly but then may become lifelong feelings, extending (延伸) sometimes deeply into both families.
Americans are ready to receive us foreigners at their homes, share their holidays, and their home life. They will enjoy welcoming us and be pleased if we accept their hospitality (好客) easily, but truly can't manage the time to do a great deal with a visitor outside their daily routine. They will probably expect us to get ourselves from the airport to our own hotel by bus. And they expect that we will phone them from there. Once we arrive at their homes, the welcome will be full, warm and real. We will find ourselves treated hospitably.
Another difficult point for us Chinese to understand Americans is that although they include us warmly in their personal everyday lives, they don't show their politeness to us if it requires a great deal of time. This is usually the opposite of the practice in our country where we may be generous with our time. Sometimes, we, as hosts, will appear at airports even in the middle of the night to meet a friend. We may take days off to act as guides to our foreign friends. The Americans, however, express their welcome usually at homes,
For the Americans, it is often considered more friendly to invite a friend to their homes than to go to restaurants, except for pure business matters. So accept their hospitality at home!
1. Where are we expected to call our American friends if we go there by plane?| A．On the bus. |
| B．At the airport. |
| C．Near their home. |
| D．At our own hotel. |
| A．Friendships between Americans usually last for all their lives. |
| B．Americans always show their warmth even if they are very busy. |
| C．Americans will continue their friendships again even after a long break. |
| D．Friendships between Americans usually extend deeply into their families. |
| A．Treating friends at home. |
| B．Sharing everything they have. |
| C．Taking days off to be with friends. |
| D．Meeting friends at the airport at midnight. |
| A．Americans' hospitality. |
| B．The mobility of Americans. |
| C．Friendships between Chinese. |
| D．Americans' views of friendships. |
| A．Culture. | B．News. | C．Story. | D．Travel |
The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St. Petersburg. There you can see lots of different paintings of old masters inside the Hermitage. Prepare to come face-to-face with classic Western artists.
The Russian Museum
The Russian Museum holds one of the largest collections of Russian art in the world. View Russian art creations through the ages, from Byzantine (拜占庭)-style icons to the Socialist Realism of Stalin’s times.
Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island is an open-air museum of wooden buildings from the Karelia Region of Russia. These impressive structures are made without any nails (钉子) — the wood fits together with joints and grooves (沟槽).
Peterhof
Peterhof is as beautiful as it is fun. You’ll be charged for admission (门票), but go to Peterhof when the fountains (喷泉) are working — during the day in the summer. They are shut off in winter as well as in the evenings.
The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood
Love it or hate it, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood is an attractive must-see sight. The beautiful look may make your eyes brighten, and the paintings inside the church will make you say “Wow!”
The Bronze Horseman Statue
The Bronze Horseman is a part of Russian Culture and a symbol of St. Petersburg. Made famous by Alexander Pushkin (普希金), this statue of Peter the Great sitting on his horse can truly show Peter the Great’s influence on the Russian idea of greatness.
1. If you’re interested in paintings, you’d better go to _____.
| A．the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof |
| B．the Hermitage Museum and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood |
| C．Kizhi Island and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood |
| D．the Russian Museum and Kizhi Island |
| A．Peter the Great | B．Alexander Pushkin |
| C．Byzantine | D．Stalin |
| A．The fountains in Peterhof can be seen all year round. |
| B．The largest collection of Russian art is in the Hermitage Museum. |
| C．The buildings on Kizhi Island are made of wood. |
| D．You can visit Peterhof free of charge. |
| A．show the wonderful history of Russia |
| B．introduce the famous buildings in Russia |
| C．persuade artists to study St. Petersburg |
| D．attract tourists to visit St. Petersburg |
