1 . If you walk through a park in the morning, you’ll see a series of beautiful movements performed in a slow, focused manner with deep breathing. While this may be a common sight for many, this practice was recently attractive.
On Dec, 17, China’s taijiquan (also known as tai chi) was officially listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Tai chi is a traditional physical practice by relaxed, circular (环形的) movements. The origins of tai chi can date back to Wenxian County in Henan province in the mid-17th century. Now it has spread to more than 150 countries and regions, attracting more than 100 million people to practice.
Tai chi can be practiced any time and anywhere without equipment. It is a practical way for one to further balance, movement control and rhythm (节奏) of movement. However, for many, it is more than just exercise.
“Taijiquan is not just a sport to make people fit, but also contains Chinese culture and philosophy that can make people peaceful,” Yan Shuangjun, a researcher of taijiquan, told Xinhua.
Marleni Calcina from Peru is an example of the many people who have benefited from tai chi. She has practiced tai chi for more than 10 years. For her, it’s a way of life. Tai chi has taught her the value of “going slowly”.
She once felt great stress at work and in her life, but that began to change thanks to tai chi, which helped her “gain peace and inner harmony”, she told Xinhua News Agency. “For me now, practicing tai chi is like speaking with my soul.”
1. What is the main purpose of Paragraph1?| A．To tell us what is Tai chi. |
| B．To stress the importance of workout. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the article. |
| D．To describe an image of Tai chi. |
| A．more than 350 years | B．about 200 years | C．about 300 years | D．less than 250 years |
| A．Tai chi benefits her a lot in many ways. |
| B．Tai chi keeps her free of stress from work. |
| C．Tai chi has changed her attitude to life. |
| D．Tai chi costs her too much time and energy. |
2 . Up to 1 billion birds die from building collisions(碰撞) each year in the United States, and according to a new study, bright lights in big cities are making the problem worse.
The research, published in 2019 in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, examined two decades of satellite data and weather radar (雷达) technology to determine which cities have the most building collisions. The study focused on light pollution levels, because birds can become attracted to and disoriented (迷失方向的) by lights, and then they are more likely to crash into buildings.
The study found that the most deadly bird-skyscraper collisions are happening in Chicago. Houston and Dallas are the next cities to top the list as the most dangerous. One of the study's authors, Kyle Horton, a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, called the cities a “hot spot of migratory (迁徙的) action,” adding, “they are sitting in this primary central passage that most birds are moving through spring and fall.”
Collisions are most common during the two migration periods every year. More than 4 billion birds migrate across the United States per migration period, according to Horton. For Chicago, more than 250 different bird species migrate through the city, adding up to 5 million overall for each migration period.
“Many of these birds are already in serious decline for other reasons,” said Annette Prince, director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a local conservation group. “So when they're hitting buildings, this is adding to the loss of the healthy members of their species by needless collision.”
In recent years, there have been efforts to cut down on deadly collisions of birds into skyscrapers. The National Audubon Society (Audubon) runs a “Lights Out” campaign to encourage people to turn off their lights from 11 pm to dawn during migration periods.
Prince stressed that reducing urban light is extremely important in the effort to cut down on building collisions. “It's within our power to make sure that we give these birds a better chance,” she said.“They really do deserve a better environment.”
1. Why did the researchers conduct the study?| A．To collect satellite and weather radar data. | B．To explain the causes of building collisions. |
| C．To identify the most dangerous cities for birds. | D．To study the destructive effect of light pollution. |
| A．They try to minimize light pollution. | B．They are located on the bird migratory routes. |
| C．They have a large number of green skyscrapers. | D．They are making efforts to reduce building collisions. |
| A．250 bird species. | B．Around 5 million. |
| C．About 4 billion. | D．Over 8 billion. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Cautious. |
| C．Uncaring. | D．Supportive. |
3 . Solothurn is a picturesque town in the northwest of Switzerland known primarily for its closest relation with the number eleven. It seems like everything in this place was designed around this magical number, from the fact that there are precisely eleven churches, as well as eleven historical fountains, eleven museums and eleven towers, to the unusual clock in the town square that features an elevenhour dial and the number twelve missing.
Although nearly everyone in Solothurn knows about the town's obsession with the number eleven, the origin of that is covered in mystery. The first mention of eleven in Solothurn's history dates back to 1252, when eleven members were first elected for the town's council. Another great example of Solothurn's obsession with the number eleven is the magnificent Cathedral of St. Ursus. Designed by Italian architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni, it was built in eleven years. It features three sets of steps, each numbering eleven rows, eleven doors, eleven bells and eleven altars, one of which is made out of eleven different types of marble. Interestingly, the altars can be viewed at the same time from only one place in the cathedral, the eleventh black stone in the long central part.
The people of Solothurn also show an intense interest in the number eleven in their daily life. There are special celebrations held on eleventh birthdays, and there are local products and businesses that include the special number. There is “ÖufiBier” (Beer eleven), “eleveni Schokolade” (elevenChocolate), and even “öufiyoga” (eleven o'clock yoga). The mysterious relationship between Solothurn and the number has become one of the town's primary tourist attractions, and there is even a themed tour about the number eleven.
1. What is mainly discussed about Solothurn in Paragraph 1?| A．Its unique designs. | B．Its cultural origin. |
| C．Its natural attractions. | D．Its connection with nature. |
| A．The number eleven. | B．The city of Solothurn. |
| C．Solothurn's love for eleven. | D．The history of Switzerland. |
| A．Its steps contain 33 rows in all. | B．Its doors are made out of marble. |
| C．It has eleven bells on each step. | D．It has eleven altars in the center. |
| A．They attach great importance to tourism. | B．They bring number eleven to daily life. |
| C．They lead a busy but comfortable life. | D．They are expert at designing products. |
4 . In this most unusual year, the gift of giving will feel especially good. These tips can help make the season merry and bright for everyone.
What’s Different This Year
Hot Ticket Items May Be Extra Hot: Some companies have scaled back their holiday ordering this year to trim inventory, so popular products might sell out fast — in stores and online. So if you see a good price for an item on your list, be sure to grab it. And plan to ship gifts at least two weeks before Christmas Eve.
Online Sales Will Start Early
This year, it maybe more like Cyber Season, with online promotions and sales starting right after Halloween. With concerns about crowds, retailers will likely save a lot of their inventory for online sales. To avoid parking lot chaos, try to pick up your purchases first thing in the morning or later in the evening, when wait times should be shorter.
Outlets Are Online Too
If one of your holiday shopping traditions is a trip to the outlets, you can still experience the thrill of the bargain hunt—from home. Shoppremiumoutlets.com is the virtual version of the country’s largest outlet company. In someways, it’s even better than an in-person trip because you can shop by item or category and immediately see what different retailers have in stock, rather than going store to store .
When to Shop
Not on Thanksgiving: Many stores that opened their doors on the holiday last year have announced that they will be closed this year. One upside for shoppers is rock-bottom prices as some stores liquidate (清仓). The downsides: They might not be around if you need to return something or use a gift card. In other words: Bankruptcy buyers beware.
1. Which is the best time to send gifts?| A．October 30. | B．December 9. | C．December 15. | D．December 24. |
| A．Shoppers can only buy items online. |
| B．Shopping on Thanksgiving is the best choice. |
| C．Popular products might sell out fast only in stores. |
| D．Shoppers may see a good price for an item right after Halloween. |
| A．People who are money-less. | B．People who like shopping at home. |
| C．People who are retailers. | D．People who are fond of bargains. |
5 . When mentioning China, what comes to mind? As a country with a history of more than 5000 years, China is rich in civilization and culture. What best represents China?
Confucius (551BC-479 BC)
Confucius was a teacher and philosopher from the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius stresses individual morality including kindness, fairness, politeness, and sincerity. Confucius' principles have a broad basis in common Chinese tradition and belief.
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with winding or crawling characters. The dragon symbol is frequently used on ancient Chinese emperor's items including chairs or costumes. It is considered a representation of power.
Peking Opera
Peking Opera is considered the essence of China. As the larger form of Chinese opera, it has many "firsts" in Chinese dramas: the abundance of talents, the number of artists, opera groups and audience.
The Great Wall
There is an old saying that goes. "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man." The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, is a destination one must see when visiting China.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Developed in China, TCM has a tradition dating back to more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, cupping, massage, exercise (Qigong), and dietary therapy.
1. What do we know about Confucius according to the passage?| A．He died at the age of 72. |
| B．He put stress on teamwork spirits. |
| C．He was a teacher in the Waning Stales Period. |
| D．He created common Chinese tradition and belief. |
| A．Confucius. | B．Dragon. |
| C．Peking Opera. | D．The Great Wall. |
| A．Learn to exercise Qigong. |
| B．Appreciate Peking Opera. |
| C．Pay a visit to the Great Wall. |
| D．Experience the treatment of cupping. |
6 . Visitors to Rome can now see one of the most important private collections of ancient Greek and Roman marble sculptures. The 90 works from the Torlonia Collection opened this week in the newly rebuilt Palazzo Caffarelli, overlooking the Roman Forum.
Among the works is a marble fountain (喷泉) that was made in ancient Greece. Experts on ancient Rome believe the fountain once stood in the garden of the general and statesman Julius Caesar. At the time, it was already hundreds of years old.
The 620-piece Torlonia collection is believed to be the greatest private collection of classical art in the world. It was begun more than a century ago by Prince Alessandro Torlonia. He found many of the pieces on the grounds of his family’s Roman properties. Wealthy from a business relationship with the Vatican (梵蒂冈), the family bought other well-known sculpture collections.
In 1884, the Prince built his own museum to show off his collection. When the museum closed in 1976, the pieces went into storage.
“The reappearance of such a collection is a very important event,” said art historian Salvatore Settis. “When I saw the collection for the first time, it was very emotional because I knew most of those pieces from books, but I had never seen them.”
The Torlonia family chose Settis to do the difficult job of deciding which works should be shown to the public. Anna Maria Carruba helped prepare the statues for the show. “Many of these pieces were already restored from the year 1600 onwards. We didn’t need to work on the structure of the statues but only on the surfaces, cleaning them,” she said.
The show will stay open until June 29, 2021. It is the result of public and private cooperation among the culture ministry, the city of Rome, the Torlonia Foundation and the Roman jeweler Bvlgari.
1. What did the author stress about the marble fountain?| A．Its beauty. | B．Its huge size. |
| C．Its long history. | D．Its unique structure. |
| A．It’s the biggest collection of classical art. |
| B．It was totally passed down from the family's ancestor. |
| C．It is a combination of ancient and modern sculptures. |
| D．The family enlarged it through purchases. |
| A．92 years. | B．376 years. | C．1600 years. | D．1884 years. |
| A．Bvlgari. | B．Salvatore Settis. |
| C．The Torlonia family. | D．Anna Maria Carruba. |
7 . The Isle of Wight Festival
Start Date
17th Jun 2021
End Date
20th Jun 2021
Location
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
Lineup (阵容)
Lionel Richie，Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Pete Tong, Duran Duran, Jess Glynne, Sam Fender, The Script and many more!
Details
The Isle of Wight Festival is a landmark moment for their time. The first Isle of Wight Festival took place on 31st August 1968 and featured the likes of T-Rex and Fairport Convention. The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was a five-day marathon featuring The Doors, Hawk-wind and Joan Baez. Jimi Hendrix also played at the festival in 1970 just weeks before his death.
Flower power
At the height of the flower-power times, hundreds of thousands of music fans came from all over the world to join in the Isle of Wight Festival. They packed onto the Isle of Wight ferry (渡口) from the mainland for up to five days (although some stayed relatively longer) of live rock, communal living, free love and mind-bending substances. Besides all the peace, love and toilets, there was the music-non-stop performances from some of the greatest pop musicians of any era.
The Isle of Wight Festival has been one of the biggest names across the music industry. Come and join in the festival!
1. How long has it been since the first Isle of Wight Festival took place?| A．54 years. | B．52 years. | C．51 years. | D．50 years. |
| A．By sea. | B．By air. | C．By car. | D．By train. |
| A．To introduce the Isle of Wight. |
| B．To praise the Isle of Wight Festival. |
| C．To invite musicians to the Isle of Wight. |
| D．To recommend the Isle of Wight Festival. |
8 . Jinsi Grand Canyon（峡谷），Shaanxi
Jinsi Grand Canyon lies southeast of Shangnan county，Shangluo city，Northwest China's Shaanxi province. It is in the Yangtze River Basin（流域）.It is proud of having more than 100 tourist attractions. Five of the better known ones are Bailong Canyon，Heilong Canyon，Qinglong Canyon，Shiyanzhai and the Danjiang River estuary.
Jinsi Grand Canyon，has a total length of 20.5 kilometers and a depth of more than 10km. Famous for its narrow and deep valleys，stunning and beautiful landscapes，and well protected environment，Jinsi Grand Canyon is open for sightseeing all year long.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Perfect Sightseeing Season: Early March to Late November
Opening Hours：7：30-16：30
Ticket Price：120 yuan（$17.28）before Sept 20
100 yuan（$15.27）after Sept 20
Free Tickets：
①Children below 7 years old or below 1.2 meters；
②Those aged 65 or above with valid certificate（有效证件）.
Tour Guide Service：200 yuan
Address: Jinsi Grand Canyon，Jinsixia town，Shangnan county，Shangluo city，
Shaanxi province Website: http://www.sxjsx.cn/（Chinese）；
http://www.sxjsx.cn/english/index.html（English）
1. What is Jinsi Grand Canyon proud of?| A．Its good tour guide service. | B．Its low ticket price. |
| C．Having plenty of tourist attractions. | D．Having the longest deep valleys. |
| A．January. | B．February. | C．October. | D．December. |
| A．200 yuan. | B．220 yuan. | C．240yuan. | D．300 yuan. |
9 . My Favorite Books
Jeffrey Archer, a well-known novelist and playwright in the UK , has spent a very famous and much admired 45-year-long writing career creating bestsellers such as Not A Penny More , Not A Penny Less, Kane and Abel and Paths of Glory. Here he lists his all-time favorite reads.
Sredni Vashtar
BY SAKI （H. H. MUNRO） ,Dover Publications ,150
I put Munro's short stories equal with R. K. Narayan's. They are my favorite short-story writers. Both write beautifully， but they are also pretty good stories. It’s that rare combination of both. This book is a gem（佳作），as is Narayan's Malgudi Days.
The Count of Monte Cristo
BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS, Rupa Publications , ₹ 295
This is a masterpiece. It’s too long by modern standards? of course. If Dumas was around today， he'd write books of 400 pages. With no television, no other distraction, he wrote books of 1，500 pages. And the surprising thing is that he wrote The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers in the same year! You couldn't do that today!
Reunion
BY FRED UHLMAN，Farrar ，Strausand Giroux ，₹ 864
A wonderful insight into two young Germans---one Jewish, one aristocratic — in 1939, when they're both at school. This is a very fine book, which would help anyone understand the problems the Jews were facing in the late 1930s.
A Tale of Two Cities
BY CHARLES DICKENS, Penguin Classics , ₹ 250
I think this is probably a book I have reread the most number of times. I love the idea of him (Dr Manette)sacrificing his life for something bigger and more glorious than himself. Quaintly old-fashioned in the modern world—I love it. This was Dickens' most successful book, possibly because it was story, story, story, and impossible to put clown!
1. Who does "I" refer to in the text?| A．Alexandre Dumas. | B．Fred Uhlman. |
| C．Charles Dickens. | D．Jeffrey Archer. |
| A．Reunion. | B．A Tale of Two Cities. |
| C．Sredni Vashtar. | D．The Count of Monte Cristo. |
| A．₹ 150. | B．₹ 295. | C．₹ 864. | D．₹ 250. |
10 . Good Schools to Learn English
Atlanta English Institute (AEI)
It is designed for academically oriented, non-native speaking adults from beginners levels to those seeking mastery. Each program in the school is specially designed for our students and based on their current English levels and their goals. a student may register anytime, not merely at the beginning of a course. But at the middle of the course, registration time depends on the availability of space in the classrooms.
Atlanta International Language Institute (AILI)
It provides the opportunity to learn how to read, write and speak English as a second language for those who have little knowledge of the English language. Courses include ten continuous weekly classes and the classes meet once a week for two hours. The curriculum of this language program is built for groups of three or more students who can complete the material in ten weeks.
TALK Atlanta English School (TAES)
Located in the heart of Atlanta's Midtown Center area on Peachtree Street, it opened in 2011. Atlanta is home to numerous industries, making the Midtown location perfectly suited for corporate programs. With ample covered street parking space, the school is designed in the popular Atlanta loft style and has 10 large classrooms, a large and welcoming reception area, devoted full-time teachers and staff for teenagers and adults.
Language Institute of Georgia (LIG)
It is a well-established school in Atlanta that offers English classes using Graded Reader Method. Our maximum class size is eight students. Class meets once a week for two hours for six weeks. Please check our schedule section for start dates. Refunds (退款) have to be requested within a week of the start date of the class.
1. How many hours does it take students to finish the courses at AILI?| A．Ten. | B．Twelve. | C．Twenty. | D．Twenty-four. |
| A．The limited courses there. | B．The location of its reception area. |
| C．The deadline for a refund demand. | D．The requested levels of the students. |
| A．They are located in the same city. | B．They all use Graded Reader Method. |
| C．They have the same registration time. | D．They are all intended for adult learners. |
