1 . He lived his whole life as a poor man.His art and talent were recognized by almost no one.He suffered from a mental illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two years later.But after his death, he achieved world fame.Today, Dutch artist Van Gogh is recognized as one of the leading artists of all time.
Now,150 years after his birth on March 30,1853, Zundert, the town of his birth，has made 2003 “The Van Gogh Year” in his honor.And the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam，home to the biggest collection of his masterpieces, is marking the anniversary with exhibitions throughout the year.The museum draws around 1．3 million visitors every year.Some people enjoy the art and then learn about his life.Others are interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of a pastor.He left school when he was just 15．By the age of 27, he had already tried many jobs including an art gallery salesman and a French teacher.Finally in 1880, he decided to begin his studies in art.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotions into his paintings and show his feelings about a scene.His style is marked by short, broad brush strokes (绘画笔法).“Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color more freely, in order to express myself more forcibly，” he wrote in a letter to his brother in 1888．
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life.He relied heavily on support from his brother, an art dealer who lived in Paris.But now his works are sold for millions of dollars.His portrait of Dr.Gacher sold for $89．5 million in 1990．It is the highest price ever paid for a painting.“I think his paintings are powerful and the brilliant color in them are attractive to people，” said a Van Gogh’s fan.
1. All through his life Van Gogh ________.| A．depended on his brother |
| B．worked hard on art studies |
| C．was not recognized by people |
| D．expressed himself in paintings |
| A．the likeness between his paintings and the reality |
| B．the short time for him to complete a painting |
| C．the various styles mixed together |
| D．the special strokes he made |
| A．his powerful art came from his poor life |
| B．his fellow townsmen regret treating him unfairly |
| C．all his paintings were drawn in the last 10 years of his life |
| D．most of his paintings are kept in the museum of his hometown |
2 . Life beneath the sea surface can be lovely and lively. But many organisms there produce poisonous chemicals to hunters. Divers are now collecting such poisons as drugs for human medicine.
Sharks aren't the scariest things in the ocean for scientists who dive to work. Powerful currents, creating where the ocean floor drops away, can be just as deadly. But the scientists who work underwater are trained to deal with these dangers. The rewards of research and underwater adventures are greater than the risks.
The sea may seem like a strange place to look for new drugs. But organisms in the ocean have had to adapt to a tough environment. The chemicals they make for survival might help people, too. More than 50 years ago, scientists discovered a new anticancer drug in a sea sponge. Since then, researchers have been hunting for more of such useful natural products in the seas.
With the help of underwater robots and small submarines, scientists are searching the seas—from shallow reefs to the ocean's great depths.
Bacteria living in the Arctic's cold waters break down their food using more different ways than organisms on land do. This process of turning food into energy for growth, activities and reproduction is called metabolism (新陈代谢). These pathways also produce chemicals called “secondary metabolites”. One day they also might help people.
During a fouryear project called PharmaSeas, scientists made thousands of extracts from those seafloor samples. In about a dozen of them, researchers found mixtures that can kill bacteria that some of today's antibiotics (抗生素) cannot kill. Three other newfound chemicals reduce epileptic seizures (癫痫病发作) in mice. Yet another compound may reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
1. Why do sea organisms produce chemicals?| A．To warn themselves in the sea. | B．To benefit other creatures. |
| C．To change their environment. | D．To struggle for survival. |
| A．Medicinal value. | B．The way of hunting. |
| C．The way of breaking down food. | D．Importance to humans. |
| A．They have the same effects as today's medicine. |
| B．They have unique functions. |
| C．They can treat most diseases. |
| D．They can kill all bacteria. |
| A．Diving for New Medicines | B．Threats from the Ocean |
| C．Future Sources of Bacteria | D．Danger of Diving in the Sea |
3 . Traveling to a foreign country can make you frightened if you don't know the local language.Mr.Thibault has a number of tips to help travelers manage in a destination when they don't speak the native tongue, based on his own experience.Here are a few of them.
Download a Language Translation App
Mr.Thibault tends to rely on Google Translate and suggests that travelers find an app that works for them.Ideally, find one that specializes in the language you need to translate especially if the language uses a character set you’re not familiar with, or have difficulty pronouncing.
Speak with Your Hands and Head
Pointing with your hands and nodding or shaking your head, Mr.Thibault said, are easy ways to communicate with locals in the country you’re in.“Gestures are all universally understood，” he said.
Learn a Few Key Words
Knowing basic words and phrases like "hello""thank you” and “I’m sorry，I don’t speak your language.Do you speak English?” is a must, Mr.Thibault said.Showing that you care enough to learn some of the language before you go, and at least enough to acknowledge that you don’t know more, is a form of respect and will make you go a long way to be liked by locals.
Work with a Local Travel Agent
If you feel particularly uncomfortable in the country you’re heading to, and you have to go anyway, relying on a local travel agent who knows both your and your destination's languages can be incredibly useful.
Hire a Local Tour Guide
A tour guide can help you get a better grasp of the local language and is a good person to practice words and phrases with.Whenever Mr.Thibault visits a new country, he books a sightseeing tour with a guide on the first day of his trip.“I use this day to learn about my destination and get familiar with the language,”he said.
1. In what situation should a language translation app be applied while traveling abroad?| A．When you have trouble pronouncing the words. |
| B．When you want to acknowledge your ignorance. |
| C．When you want to practice the local language. |
| D．When you feel uncomfortable in the country. |
| A．Downloading a language translation app. |
| B．Learning a few key words. |
| C．Using body language. |
| D．Working with a guide. |
| A．By speaking with your hands and head. |
| B．By learning a few key words. |
| C．By downloading a language translation app. |
| D．By hiring a local tour guide. |
4 . The University of Adelaide employs a full-time staff of fire prevention professionals. They inspect all campus buildings and maintain all sprinkler systems, fire alarms and fire extinguishers. They also provide educational programs on fire safety in the residence hall. Whenever you move to a new area, you should locate the fire alarm pull stations and the two exits nearest your room.
Fire Alarms
The floors of all campus buildings are equipped with manual fire alarm systems which include fire alarm pull stations and pipes. Most are also equipped with automatic fire alarm systems consisting of heat detectors, smoke detectors and sprinklers. For your safety, never toy with these systems. False fire alarms are illegal and may lead to imprisonment.
Fire Drills
A fire drill will be conducted in your residence hall every semester. During a fire drill, please do the following:
·Take your room key and ID. Close and lock the door to your room.
·Exit immediately from the nearest emergency exit and do not use a lift.
·Meet outside of your residence hall and wait for further instructions.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are located on each floor and in each apartment. Use a fire extinguisher only if you have been trained to do so. Irresponsible use of a fire extinguisher can create a dangerous situation for other residents and could result in damage to personal property. Misuse of a fire extinguisher will result in fines.
Smoke Detector
A smoke detector is on the ceiling in your room. Some buildings also have heat detectors on the ceilings. Do the following to ensure the safe operation of your smoke detector:
· If your smoke detector is working properly, the red light should be on. If the red light is not blinking, contact residence hall staff immediately.
·Do not cover or block your smoke detector in any way. If a smoke detector sets off an alarm and there is no fire or smoke, inform your hall staff.
1. What is the main duty of the fire prevention professionals?| A．To provide part-time jobs for students. |
| B．To lead the students to the nearest exits. |
| C．To check and maintain fire prevention equipment. |
| D．To train teachers to be fire prevention professionals. |
| A．rush quickly to a lift |
| B．gather at the nearest exit |
| C．shut the door and leave at once |
| D．wait for instructions in the hall |
| A．contact the hall staff regularly |
| B．cover the things that burn easily |
| C．start the smoke detector in a fire |
| D．make certain the red light is working |
How are you? I saw you posted some wonderful photos of the coastline near your hometown. You're really getting into your photography! Right now I'm taking a break from social media (媒体) to write you an email.
Remember you said you'd like to come over to the UK sometime this year? Well, I was thinking that this year you might like to come to the Edinburgh Festival with me in August. I've got an aunt with a flat in the city centre who could put us up.
Do you know much about the festival? It's very famous — the biggest, most popular arts festival in the world! There are lots of things going on — art exhibitions (展览), concerts of all kinds, modern dance, a book festival, etc. The thing it's most famous for is the newest and most exciting theatre. People come from all over the world and perform (表演) in their own language.
In Scotland you have the best of both worlds: culture and wild land. After the festival, we could hire (租) a car and go up to some of the islands off the west coast, like Skye. The weather can be changeable in August, but the landscape (风景) is beautiful, with empty beaches and rocky mountains. It's the perfect place for you to take photos. Afterwards, we could head back to the east coast and visit my friend Rob in St. Andrews. It's really pretty and Rob's enjoyable to be with. You'd get on well with him.
So, why don't you have a think about it and then get back to me? Take your time, there's no rush.
Speak to you soon.
1. What is the best known activity at the Edinburgh Festival?| A．Modern dance. | B．Art exhibitions. |
| C．Performances of plays. | D．Different kinds of concerts. |
| A．Seeing her friend Rob in St. Andrews. |
| B．Driving along the east coast of Scotland. |
| C．Taking photos while climbing mountains. |
| D．Visiting islands along the west coast of Scotland. |
| A．To invite her to visit Scotland. |
| B．To talk about her holiday plan. |
| C．To take a break from social media. |
| D．To introduce the Edinburgh Festival. |
6 . Welcome to Vietnam!
Day 1: Endangered Primates and Stunning Landscape Of Ninh Binh
After breakfast take the electric car to the Endangered Primates Rescue Centre. Here, they focus on the conservation of the gibbons (长臂猿) and langur (叶猴). You will have chance to see how the staff feed them in captivity and semi-wild areas of primary forest. Then you’ll see how their behavior is studied in semi-wild conditions and how they are prepared for full release into the wild.
Day 2: Cruising Halong Bay
A delicious lunch will be served as you slowly sail through this Halong Bay. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. Mid-afternoon head to the Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boats to explore the interesting daily lives of its inhabitants. In the evening you will experience a Vietnamese cooking meal served in the main dining room. Evenings are beautiful on Halong Bay. Relax on the top deck and take in the transformation of the bay.
Day 3: Discover Hue the Authentic Way
Today, you will get a taste of what real life is like in Hue. One of the city’s most famous cooking experiences is the Royal Dinner. You will have a unique experience where you will have a private audience with descendant (后裔) of the last royal family of Vietnam, in her own home. Spend time tasting the real dishes that were once served to royalty.
Day 4: Walk to the Hang Tien Cave
Hang Tien is actually two huge caves, one of which is over 3km long. The wonder lies in unusual rock formations, such as breathtaking rock formations that look like terraced rice fields, giving the caves an otherworldly feel. On your way back, take a dip in the natural jungle swimming pool and have a coffee, a quick swim, before making your return journey.
1. What are tourists scheduled to do on their first day?| A．Tour a bay by boat. |
| B．Watch endangered animals. |
| C．Climb breathtaking rock formations. |
| D．Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site. |
| A．Tasting local foods. |
| B．Exploring huge caves. |
| C．Visiting a small fishing village. |
| D．Enjoying water-related activities. |
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
7 . LONDON, England - London, England’s famous “Big Ben” bell will be silenced for four long years. The keeper of the Great Clock announced this news Monday. The 158-year-old British clock will be getting some repairs.
Londoners were not happy. On social media like Twitter, many said the hourly rings of Big Ben are very important. “A silent Big Ben will be super strange,” tweeted Rob, a history student at King’s College who can hear the rings from his room. He called them the “sound of London.”
“It will be very sad, but it needs to be done,” said Kirsten Hurrell. The 71-year-old runs a busy newsstand facing the clock tower. “Quite honestly, we live with it and half the time we don’t hear it,” she said about the bell. “But we will miss it when we suddenly find it’s not there anymore.”
A selfie ( 自 拍 照 )with the Great Clock on the top of Elizabeth Tower on the Thames River is almost required. The clock tower stands at one end of the Palace of Westminster, which holds England’s government, known as Parliament. It is also one of the most visited sites in London and Big Ben is the star.
The bell was created by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1859. It was the largest at the time of its first performance. In all these years, Big Ben went through good times and bad, which includes Germany’s eight-month bombing of London in World War II.
The hour bell has been silenced before, though. Big Ben cracked after its first few weeks. The striking hammer was too heavy. Workers changed a lighter hammer and Big Ben rang again three years later. Experts say the crack causes the unique but imperfect sound.
The bell was also silent during the funerals (葬礼) of Winston Churchill and
Margaret Thatcher.
During the repair, one side of the four clock faces will remain visible. An electric motor will turn the clock hands. People in London can continue to set their watches to the clock.
The clock keeper announced the clock would not be completely silenced during the repairs and would strike the hour for important national events, for example New Year’s Eve.
1. What is the main idea of the text?| A．Big Ben is the most important site in London. |
| B．The famous 158-year-old clock will get repairs. |
| C．Big Ben went through good times and bad times. |
| D．Londoners weren’t happy about the silence of the bell. |
| A．It’ll cost a lot of money to repair Big Ben. |
| B．People will not hear the rings any longer. |
| C．They won’t get used to the missing of the rings. |
| D．The rings are the most important thing in their life. |
| A．Tourists visit Big Ben more than many other places. |
| B．Tourists plan on avoiding Big Ben when it stops ringing. |
| C．Tourists to London know about Big Ben but rarely visit it. |
| D．Tourists to London have little knowledge about Big Ben. |
| A．1 | B．2 | C．3 | D．4 |
8 . The year 2114 will be an eventful one for art.In May of that year in Berlin,the philosopher-artist Jonathon Keats’“century cameras”-cameras with a 100-year-long exposure time-will be retrieved from hiding places around the city to have their results developed and exhibited.Six months after that,the Future Library in Oslo,Norway,will open its doors for the first time,presenting 100 books printed on the wood of trees in the distant past of 2014.
As Katie Paterson,the creator of the Future Library,puts it:“Future Library is an artwork for future generations.”These projects,more than a century in the making,are part of a new way of“slow art”intended to push viewers and participants to think beyond their own lifetimes.They aim to challenge today’s short-term thinking and the brief attention spans of modern consumers,forcing people into considering works more deliberately.In their way,too,they are fighting against modern culture-not just regarding money but also the way in which artistic worth is measured by attention.
In a similar fashion,every April on Slow Art Day,visitors are encouraged to stare at five works of art for 10 minutes at a time-a tough ask for the average museum visitor,who typically spends less than 30 seconds on each piece of art.
Like the Future Library,the century cameras are very much a project for cities,since it’s in cities that time runs fastest and the pace of life is fastest.“Since I started living in a city,I’ve somehow been quite disconnected,”Anne Beate Hovind,the Future Library project manager,who described how working on the library drew her back to the pace of life she knew when she was growing up on a farm in her youth,told The Atlantic magazine.
Works like Future Library and the century cameras raise all sorts of questions.Will any of the cameras survive?Will any of Future Library works be any good?What will future generations make of century art,and will they see it as the gift that it’s intended to be?More specifically,for those of us struggling with“a crisis of attention”,the question seems to be:How can we adopt this attitude now,in everyday life?When we struggle to look up from our mobile phones,how can we look beyond the present moment and think broadly and generously across time?
1. What will happen in May 2114 in Berlin according to the article?| A．A camera produced 100 years ago will be exhibited. |
| B．The Future Library will open its doors for the first time. |
| C．Photos with a 100-year exposure time will be developed and exhibited. |
| D．Books printed on the wood of trees planted in 2014 will be displayed in the city. |
| A．brought back | B．put away |
| C．replaced | D．repaired |
| A．started in the late 20th century in Germany |
| B．is pushing people to spend more money on works of art |
| C．aims to promote modern culture |
| D．encourages people to pay more attention to works of art |
| A．People living in urban areas are likely to feel more connected to the outside world. |
| B．Katie Paterson is very optimistic about the survival of the century cameras. |
| C．Anne Beate Hovind believes the Future Library will be a perfect solution to the current crisis of people paying attention. |
| D．There remain a lot of doubts about works like the Future Library and the century cameras. |
9 . It has been four years since the Flashfood App was set to hit Canadian grocery stores and make it easier for shoppers to buy soon-to-expiry (保质期) food at a discount. Much to my delight, I heard it advertised recently on a radio station and figured it’s time for an update, especially since people became more aware of food waste’s role in the climate crisis.
The first thing I did was download the App. I hadn’t done it before because it was limited to a few locations, but now it’s all over Canada. I could see immediately that many brands of yogurt are all marked down 50 percent. Users pay for the food using the App, and then pick it up at a marked location in the store. There is no need for you to worry about them actually being bad.
It makes sense for retailers to get behind this App because it offers a win-win situation for everyone involved. Flashfood sells 75% of the products made available through its App while saving consumers an average of 50% on those grocery items, and it has 300,000 active users right now. That number is expected to grow naturally as Flashfood partners with more grocers.
“As a food retailer, we are in the business of providing food, not wasting it. The Flashfood program allows us to provide our customers with a convenient and environmentally sustainable (可持续的) way to purchase food. Loblaw sells 77% of the items it puts on Flashfood, moving an average of ＄800 to ＄1,000 worth of goods weekly at each of its largest stores,” said Gord Chem, senior VP with Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores.
I love looking for discount deals at the grocery store and always keep an eye out for the hot pink clearance stickers. But it’s always random, and I never know what I’m going to get from week to week. The appeal of Flashfood is that I can see what’s available, pre-purchase it, and leave it off my shopping list.
1. What can we know about the food on the Flashfood?| A．It’s delivered directly to the customers. | B．Much of it is charged at half the price. |
| C．Users can pay for it in the marked store. | D．It’ll be a month away before it goes bad. |
| A．beneficial | B．popular | C．creative | D．reliable |
| A．By listing some examples. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By explaining the cause. | D．By introducing the result. |
| A．Customers can buy much cheaper food on a recent app. |
| B．A win-win situation has been set for Canadians involved. |
| C．Canadians have a smart approach to reducing food waste. |
| D．Canadians adopt a new way of protecting the environment. |
10 . The City of Toronto currently delivers three public art programs: the Public Art & Monuments Collection, the Percent for Public Art Program and StreetARToronto (StART). The programs have had a transformative effect on the city’s vitality, gathering a collection of public art that is of international significance.
Pubic Art & Monuments collection
The City commissions (委托制作) and accepts donations of high-quality public art works and monuments that are relevant to their prospective community, and enrich the urban experience of Toronto’s residents and visitors. These City-owned works of public art and historical monuments enhance public spaces all over Toronto.
Percent for Public Art Program
The governing principle for the Percent for Public Art Program is that art is a public benefit to be enjoyed and experienced by residents and visitors through the city. The privately-owned art is intended to make building and open spares more attractive and interesting and to improve the quality of the pubic spaces. The Program requires that the artwork must be clearly visible at all times from publicly accessible areas.
StreetARToronto
StreetARToronto (StART) is a series of programs designed specifically for streets and public spaces. Launched in 2012 as part of the City’s Graffiti(涂鸦)Management Plan, StART has been successful in reducing graffiti vandalism and replacing it with colourful, community-engaged street art.
StART programs encourage active transportation (walking and cycling), make out streets more beautiful and safer, showcase local artists and more.
1. What is the main purpose of the programs?| A．To host an art competition. | B．To display Toronto’s art collection. |
| C．To attract residents and visitors. | D．To improve the city’s appearance. |
| A．They are donated by artists. | B．They are owned by the city government. |
| C．They are free to experience. | D．They are replacing graffiti. |
| A．Community services. | B．Streets and pubic spaces. |
| C．Privately -owned buildings. | D．Green travel means. |
