1 . Antiquities (文物) are ancient objects and artworks. Museums acquire works to exhibit from many different sources. Sometimes they purchase them. Other times they receive donations. Today there are strict guidelines forbidding art that has been stolen from other countries. However, antiquities that have been at museums for decades or even centuries may have arrived there by dishonest means. Now, some countries claim that museums have a responsibility to return these antiquities to their original locations.
Should museums return these antiquities? Malcolm Bell says yes. Bell is a retired professor of art at the University of Virginia. He says, "Many antiquities and artworks have special cultural value for a particular community or nation. When these works are removed from their original cultural setting they lose their context and the culture loses a part of its history." According to Bell, a country's request for the return of an antiquity "usually has a strong legal basis". It "was exported illegally, and is now stolen property". He called the return of antiquities "an expression of justice".
James Cuno says not always. Cuno is president of an art museum in Los Angeles. He agrees that museums have "a social and legal responsibility" to return illegally exported antiquities. However, he doesn't support the return of legally acquired works. He said, "An area of land held today by a given nation-state likely belonged to a different country in the past. Even if one wants to reunite scattered works of art, where will one do so? Which among the many countries, cities, and museums that own parts of a work of art should be the chosen 'home' of the reunited work?" Cuno believes that museums should collect art from the world’s diverse cultures. This should be done "through purchase or the long-term loan and working together with museums and nations around the world".
This debate is far from over. As a complex question with no easy answer, the issue requires more study.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?| A．The return of antiquities. |
| B．The sources of ancient objects. |
| C．The cultural value of artworks. |
| D．The responsibility of museums. |
| A．Illegally-owned antiquities should not be exhibited. |
| B．Museums should return illegally-owned antiquities. |
| C．Antiquities from other countries may lose their cultural value. |
| D．Museums should collect antiquities from different cultures. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Objective. | D．Uninterested. |
2 . China is developing a system that recognizes individuals by their body shape and walking movements.Systems that recognize human faces are already being used to identify people in crowds or as a secure way to unlock personal devices.
The new system,known as “gait recognition”,is already on trial by police on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai.The Chinese technology company Watrix developed the system.The company announced last month that it had raised $14.5 million to speed up the development and sale of the technology.
The system works in a similar way to face recognition.Cameras capture video of people in public places.Then,machines powered by artificial intelligence (AI) examine and study the video.
Facial recognition systems identify the shapes and expressions on a person’s face to identify them.Gait recognition uses a person’s body shape and their way of walking to identify them.The system records a person’s shape and movements and then creates a model of the way they walk.
Huang Yongzhen is a former researcher who co-founded Watrix in 2016.He told the Associated Press his system can identify people from up to 50 metres away.It is designed to work even when a person’s face is covered or hidden.Huang says his gait recognition system is correct 94 percent of the time.This is below the success rate of many face recognition systems.But he says the system can still be helpful to police and for other commercial purposes.He also believes the system can be effective when used together with face recognition.
Gait recognition is not new.The technology has been researched by scientists in Japan and Britain and by US defense officials for about 10 years.But attempts to sell the technology have been slow.One of the reasons the technology has not developed further is that the systems are more complex than facial recognition.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．A system that can recognize human faces is around the corner. |
| B．It is tough to accurately follow a person in crowds. |
| C．A system that can identify a person by walking is being developed. |
| D．A new system that can check a body shape is under way. |
| A．It has invented a lot of systems adopted by the police. |
| B．It has earned $14.5 million by inventing the system. |
| C．It has become famous for the face recognition system. |
| D．It has got well prepared for the new system. |
| A．Cameras catch video of people’s expressions. |
| B．A person’s body shape can be recognized very easily. |
| C．Cameras record video of a person in public places. |
| D．A person’s action will be sent to the police. |
| A．Japan and Britain kept a secret about the system. |
| B．The systems of gait recognition are hard to develop. |
| C．Gait recognition will suffer a poor market very soon. |
| D．Almost no one understands how gait recognition runs. |
3 . There was a time an event would not begin without a photographer.“I remember the days when event organizers would even delay a show if the photographer was running late,” says Balachandra Raju,a photographer of Sathyam studio,a still surviving photo studio in India’s southern city of Chennai.
Photo studios are facing extinction in the digital age.But as they struggle to continue doing the business,one research project is looking at ways to preserve their legacy(遗产) by digitizing archival(档案的) pictures.
The project,funded by the British Library,visited around 100 photo studios across the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and digitized 10,000 prints.Many of the photos were taken between 1880-1980,and they ranged from pictures of families and famous stars to weddings and funerals.“The digital archive will be useful for those interested in history,” Said Zoe E Headley,one of the researchers.Ramesh Kumar,another researcher on the project,called it a “gold mine” for photographers.“The research we’ve done also highlights production techniques used before digital photography arrived in our cities and towns,” he said.
However, the researchers would often find old photos piled on top of one another in the storage room of a studio.“No one had bothered to clean them,” Kumar said,adding that many photos had been damaged due to the hot and wet weather in Tamil Nadu.
The owner of Nallapillai studio in central Tamil Nadu said he spends about 20,000 rupees (￡230;$310) each month to run the studio that was founded by his great grandfather almost 150 years ago.To survive in this digital age has been a struggle.“Many customers don’t book us for special events anymore,” he said,adding that they had all got smartphones to do the job.“I’m not sure if photo studios will exist five years from now,” he said.But this is why,according to Mr Raju,this archival project is so important.
1. What’s the main function of the research project?| A．Protect the legacy of photo studios. |
| B．Speed up the extinction of photo studios. |
| C．Search for better ways of taking photos. |
| D．Visit all the photo studios across the India. |
| A．Photo studios can attract many visitors. |
| B．Photographers can have a good working place. |
| C．Photographers get to learn about old photography techniques. |
| D．Photo studios have the chance to take pictures of famous stars. |
| A．Some photo studios are doing well. |
| B．Photo studios are booked for special events. |
| C．Some photo studios suffer from bad weather. |
| D．Photo studios give old pictures little protection. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Negative. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Dissatisfied. |
4 . The way you learn most effectively will impact many different aspects of your life. Visual learners process information best when it’s presented with images drawn on a whiteboard, charts or graphs. Visual learners usually process pictures before they read printed text and are also able to visualize concepts quickly. People who are visual learners prefer when instructions are printed rather than given verbally (口头地), and may often write or draw when conceptualizing (构思、将……概念化) or attempting to make sense of a new topic. Many visual learners remember something better once they’ve written it down or drawn it out.
Auditory (听觉的) learners process information best when it’s said out loud, such as in a lecture setting or spoken presentation. These types of learners can easily recall what others say and prefer to talk through topics they find complex or difficult to understand. People who are auditory learners prefer verbal directions and may use repetition or repeat things aloud to memorize. They may ask questions to understand the subject matter better and may need to hear something repeated more than once before they fully comprehend. Auditory learners also often benefit from listening to recordings as a method of absorbing new concepts.
Kinesthetic (动觉的) learners process information through experience rather than by being shown or told. These types of learners prefer to do things that are more “hands-on.” They prefer to touch and feel items and can easily recall things they’ve done. People who are kinesthetic learners like to make and create things using their hands, and remember information best when they are physically involved. Kinesthetic learners like to participate in the process by shadowing or assisting, and prefer to practice or rehearse concepts as a way to absorb new information.
Take time to consider how you prefer to lake in new information. Think about the last time how you worked to ensure you retained the information? The answer to these questions will help you discover which learning styles work best for you.
1. What do visual learners do to form an idea in mind?| A．Visualize or read. |
| B．Process or present. |
| C．Recall or speak. |
| D．Write or draw. |
| A．Visual learners. |
| B．Auditory learners. |
| C．Kinesthetic learners. |
| D．Lifelong learners. |
| A．Reflect perfectly. |
| B．Watch closely. |
| C．Memorize carefully. |
| D．Inquire constantly. |
| A．To help readers explore learning styles. |
| B．To introduce effective learning methods. |
| C．To arouse readers’ curiosity about learning. |
| D．To inform a new scientific study about learning. |
5 . Futurologists(未来学家)predict that life will probably be very different in 2050 in all the fields of activity，from entertainment to technology.First of all，it seems that TV channels will have disappeared by 2050.Instead，people will choose a programme from a “menu”(菜单)and a computer will send the programme directly to the television.Today，we can use the World Wide Web to read newspaper stories and see pictures on a computer thousands of kilometres away.By 2050，music，films，programmes，newspapers and books will come to us by computer.We will also be able to see，smell and touch the things that we see on television.
In transport，cars will run on new，clean “gas” and they will go very fast.Cars will have computers to control the speed of the car and there won't be any accidents.Today，many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are.By 2050，the computer will control the car and drive it to where you want to go.Space planes will fly all over the world and people will fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.
In technology，robots will have replaced people in factories.Many factories already use robots.Big companies prefer robots — they do not ask for pay rises or go on strike，and they work 24 hours a day.By 2050，we will see robots everywhere — in factories，schools，offices，hospitals，shops and homes.
Last but not least，medicine technology will have conquered many diseases.By 2050，we will be able to help blind and deaf people see again and hear again.Scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look，how they behave and how much intelligence they have.
1. What is NOT true about television by 2050 according to this passage?| A．One will be able to smell the food on television. |
| B．One can have a try of the food he or she sees on television. |
| C．There will be no channels for us to choose programmes. |
| D．Televisions will be completely controlled by computers. |
| A．Cars will go at a very high speed on their own. |
| B．Space planes will fly all over the world in a short time. |
| C．There will be less pollution and no car accidents. |
| D．Computers will tell people where they are going. |
| A．people will live more healthily and longer |
| B．computers will control the speed of cars |
| C．people can read newspapers through a computer |
| D．there will be no people working in factories |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Sad. |
| C．Happy. | D．Worried. |
6 . An extreme sport is a popular term for certain activities regarded as having a high level of danger. These activities often involve speed, height, and a high level of physical effort. In the past, young athletes would play baseball. Today，they want risk and excitement — the closer to the edge, the better. They snowboard over cliffs and mountains, or bike down steep mountains.
Extreme sports started as an alternative to more expensive sports such as golf. A city kid who couldn’t afford expensive sports equipment could get a skateboard and have fun, but now it has become a whole new area of sports, with specialized equipment and high levels of skill. There is even an Olympics for extreme sports, called the winter Xgame, which includes snow boarding. mountainbiking and ice climbing.
What makes extreme sports so popular? People love the risk. City people want to be outdoors on the weekend and do something challenging. The new equipment is so much better that people can take more risks without getting hurt. Sure there’s a risk. Once you go mountain biking or snowboarding, it’s impossible to go back to bike riding or skiing. It’s just too boring.
Now even the older crowd is staring to join in. Every weekend, groups of friends in their early 30s get together. On weekdays they work as computer programmers in the same office. On weekends they rent mountains together.
Extreme sports are certainly not for everyone. Most people still prefer to play basketball or watch sports on TV. But it has been a fact that, extreme sports are gaining in popularity.
Nowadays more and more young athletes are taking part in the risky activities.
1. All the following sports are Xsports EXCEPT _________.| A．ice climbing. | B．snow boarding. |
| C．skiing. | D．mountainbiking. |
| A．Risky. | B．Challenging. |
| C．Exciting. | D．Unskilled. |
| A．replacement. | B．activity. |
| C．equipment. | D．competition. |
| A．all young people like extreme sports. |
| B．playing basketball is still a popular game. |
| C．people prefer extreme sports to traditional sports. |
| D．bike riding and skiing are boring sports. |
7 . Yesterday night, over a dinner with my elder brother’s family, a topic of happiness came up. My wife, Marla, a psychologist, was sharing Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” with us. Marla explained that according to the research on flow, people are happiest when they are absorbed in a task that is just challenging enough for them to experience a sense of mastery.
A few moments later my brother, Yuri, offered the following opinions: “The first and only, necessary and sufficient factor for happiness is to stop associating happiness with pleasure. The two—happiness and pleasure—have nothing to do with each other. ”
This morning, with my cup of coffee, I searched through a pile of books on my bedside table and at the bottom found a book by Bertrand Russell, I started reading but didn’t finish. In it, I found the following thought:
“The human animal, like others, is adapted to a certain amount of struggle for life, and when he is satisfied with his whims without effort, the mere absence of effort from his life removes an essential ingredient of happiness.”
The conversation came full circle: people are happiest when they are in a state of flow (Csikszentmihalyi’s language), which is the effortful devotion in a moment, which has nothing to do with pleasure.
Indeed, as Yuri insisted: happiness-as-pleasure is a myth; the association between happiness and pleasure is nothing but a semantic habit; psychologically, the two—happiness and pleasure—are arguably different; and breaking up this association between pleasure and happiness might, in fact, be a powerfully first step in pursuit of happiness.
As I look back on the exchange, I recall that there was an effort, a struggle to find a common understanding about this seemingly difficult idea—a struggle that made me happy.
1. What is the purpose of writing this passage?| A．To tell readers how to be happiest. | B．To advise readers to read Bertrand Russell. |
| C．To look back on the happy night. | D．To show different opinions on family gathering. |
| A．get what they want without effort | B．involve themselves in a challenging task |
| C．master the happiest around them | D．experience things that can bring pleasure |
| A．Giving examples. | B．Offering arguments. |
| C．Making comparisons. | D．Using quotes. |
8 . All parents have sky-high hopes for their children. We want them to be confident and content. What can parents do to help their kids grow up to lead happy lives? Experts advise:
Helping them find their talents. In order to succeed, children need to feel they’re good at something. So expose your children to as many interests as possible; then let them choose those they like best.
Applauding their achievements. A study found that students whose parents paid attention to their abilities were far more likely to do well in school—and in life—than students whose parents didn’t show such support. So celebrate your kids’ achievements, no matter how small they are.
Praising their efforts. Kids won’t always come out on top. Still, they deserve kudos for trying their best. Ten-year-old April Cutler, for example, has had trouble with math since the second grade. “She usually gets C’s on her report card, but last year she was determined to get A’s and worked hard at it, ” says her mom. “When the first grading period ended, April was disappointed when she got a B minus in math, ” Lueille continues. “But my husband and I told her we were very proud that she’d improved. That inspired her to try even harder. She got a B plus for the next period!”
Letting them make decisions and mistakes. Making his/her own decisions increases a child’s sense of control and builds his/her self-esteem. And allowing kids to make wrong decisions—so long as doing so won’t harm them—helps kids learn from their mistakes.
Encouraging them to solve their own problems. As they grow, children need practice in communicating, standing up for themselves and compromising. One of the best places to learn these skills is at home. So the next time your child runs to you complaining that her brother is blaming her, step back and let them work it out.
1. What is the purpose of the passage?| A．To encourage parents to admire their kids. | B．To show how to praise kids. |
| C．To help kids study harder. | D．To give advice on how to help kids become mature. |
| A．Praising kids’ efforts can help them make greater progress. |
| B．Setting a high goal makes kids feel discouraged. |
| C．Solving problems by themselves helps kids feel confident. |
| D．Interest is the best teacher. |
| A．Making mistakes is a normal thing for a kid. |
| B．Adults also make mistakes now and then. |
| C．Kids can learn something valuable from their mistakes. |
| D．Making mistakes won’t harm kids. |
9 . A study shows that nearly ninety percent of teens report that they have tried alcohol.That’s an increase of 23 percent in just four years!
Each year,1.1 billion cans of beer are drunk by students aged 15-19 years old.Beer is the most common alcoholic drink among teens—81 percent of the drinkers had tried it.Beer is followed by wine with 63 percent,hard liquor(烈酒) with 53 percent and wine coolers with 35 percent.
When the young people are asked why they drank,the most common answer is that drinking is “something to do”.If a teen’s parents drink alcohol,the teenager is more likely to start drinking at an early age.Also,teens see all of their friends drinking alcohol so they think it is the must-to-do thing.Peer pressure is probably the hardest thing teens have to deal with.What’s more,teens often drink alcohol because it makes them feel older and cooler.
Researchers asked 56,000 students about their drinking habits and grades,to see how drinking might affect their grades in school.The results seem to be clear.Students who got a C level or lower tend to use three times as much alcohol as those who got B’s or A’s.
Alcohol use can be deadly.About 8,100 young people are killed per year in alcohol-related accidents.Eight young people die per day as a result of a drunk-driving accident.Between 50 and 65 percent of all teen suicides(自杀) occur after the young people drink.
So you see,drinking alcohol doesn’t always end up with a good time.The next time you try to push someone to drink or someone tries to push you to drink,please remember this.One drink can set the habit for life.Why not throw it away?
1. Which of the following reasons for teens’ drinking alcohol is not mentioned?| A．They think it is cool to drink alcohol. |
| B．Their parents set a bad example to them. |
| C．Alcohol can make them happier. |
| D．Peer pressure plays an important role. |
| A．Drinking alcohol makes students stupid. |
| B．Good students never try alcohol. |
| C．Drinking habits have something to do with IQ. |
| D．Students with poor grades tend to use more alcohol. |
| A．To show the bad effect of drinking alcohol. |
| B．To show how many teenagers drink alcohol. |
| C．To tell teenagers not to try alcohol. |
| D．To tell the reasons why teenagers drink alcohol. |
10 . The Florida Sea Base Programmes
Diving Adventure
If you are a diver, this is your programme. During the programme you will be making as many as nine dives (weather permitting), including a night dive.We have open dates in June, July and August for the summer months and for fall we have opening in September, October, November and December. Check out the dates today.
Sea Exploring!
The name brings back the memory of pirates (海盗) sailing the high seas of the past. This adventure is for larger teams of 18 to 20 teammates. Sailing on a tall ship with your team, you will be making memories that you will share for the rest of your life with anyone who will listen. We can fit your timetable to meet your needs with these great dates.
Live Aboard Diving
The Florida Sea Base has the sailing and diving programmes joined for one wonderful adventure! On this adventure, you will spend your days not only in diving, but also in sailing around the Florida Keys. There are openings this fall and winter. Check now for open dates to spend your winter holidays in the keys. Fall dates are open now!
Just around the corner: the Christmas season in the keys! We have an opening for the Live Aboard programme on December 26. Book today — it won’t last long!
Diving Certification (证书)
The Diving Certification programme is designed for teammates who want to get a certification — all who complete the week successfully will be offered PADI certification! Come and learn how to dive in the beautiful waters of the Florida Keys.
We have the following dates open: August 5, August 12, August 19, August 22 and August 26. We also have programmes we offer in the fall: September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, and many more dates. Check out the rest of the dates.
1. What do we know about Diving Adventure?| A．You can dive all the year round. |
| B．You can have a night dive. |
| C．You can dive regardless of weather. |
| D．You can dive every other day. |
| A．Diving goes on during the sailing. |
| B．It is an adventure at sea. |
| C．There are diving programmes in it. |
| D．It is held in the Christmas season. |
| A．To teach. | B．To introduce. |
| C．To report. | D．To advertise. |
