1 . Throughout history, humans have come up with ways to entertain themselves using objects such as cards, counters, and boards. Over thousands of years, these have evolved (进化) into the games we know today, from traditional sets with simple rules and basic pieces, all the way to modern electronic consoles (see the picture attached on the right-hand side) with advanced technology and lifelike interactive graphics (图形).
| Strategy game Chess Where Asia When c. 600 AD Many countries claim to have invented chess but one forerunner of the game appeared in India in the 7th century. Over the centuries chess has evolved and spread across the globe, becoming one of the most popular strategy games. It is played with two players who take turns to move 16 pieces to attack each other’s king. The aim is to trap the king into checkmate (将死), so that it cannot move to safety. |
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| Card game Chinese playing cards Where China When 9th century AD The earliest known playing cards are believed to have originated in China during the Tang Dynasty, though how games with these cards were played is not known today. The modern pack of 52 playing cards, with ♥hearts, ♠spades, ♦diamonds, and ♣clubs, developed much later, in France during the 15th century. |
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| Word game Crossword Where US When 1913 The first crossword puzzle was published in the Sunday supplement (增刊) of the New York World newspaper. A series of written clues help the player complete a grid (方格) of horizontal and vertical missing words. Crosswords are not only entertaining, but also expand vocabulary and aid brain development. |
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1. Which of the four choices best matches the description on the left?
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．follower | B．pioneer | C．winner | D．loser |
| A．Cultures of Asia | B．Playing Games |
| C．20th-century Fashion | D．Scientific Inspiration |
Ways to Stay Motivated
Many distance learners agree that the most difficult part of studying online is staying motivated. Because students must take the initiative to complete their courses completely on their own, without the physical presence of teachers and other peers, many students find it easy to become distracted and discouraged in their work. Don’t let this happen to you-plan ways for yourself to stay motivated before you’re tempted to stray from your books. Use the following motivational tips to stay on task.
Find a friend or relative who has similar interests or who would enjoy hearing about your studies and let them know what’s going on in your classes. You’ll understand the material better when you have a chance to explain it out loud and will be motivated to stay on task in order to keep up with the conversation.
Don’t rely on campus consultant; design your own map of completed classes and post it somewhere that is visible daily. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with watching your goals be accomplished. When times get hard, you can always turn to your chart and see how far you’ve come.
You get rewarded for good credit and safe driving. Why shouldn’t you reward yourself for doing well in your coursework? Whether it be a night on the town, a new dress, or even a new car, setting up a reward system just may be the extra push you need to succeed. If you stick to your system, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . I started participating in student journalism when I was in high school. And when I started, I really just saw my articles as more fun versions of the academic essays I was writing every day in class. It wasn’t really until an article I wrote in March 2020, that I really understood the power of expressing my voice through journalism, and the unique appeal and responsibility of being both a student and a journalist.
Most of the things reported on in student publications directly or indirectly affect the journalists writing about them. This differs from mainstream publications (刊物), who often have the privilege (特权) to objectively cover things that they have no connection with. Student journalists, on the other hand, often find themselves trying to put on a different “hat” when it comes to reporting, but in my eyes part of the magic of being a student journalist is that despite putting on a different “hat”, it’s still the same you.
We know what is important to report on because we are constantly surrounded by the student voice. An Irish Times or Independent reporter would never know about the burden of high rents, or why so many campus spaces are not accessible, or feel the fears of examination changes in light of artificial intelligence. Students know what students care about, and what issues aren’t getting the attention they deserve.
I’ve always been drawn to comment articles, particularly because it’s a place I feel my voice holds a special significance, and one where my words and my articles come together to represent me. Opinion pieces are unique, in that they are the only article format that doesn’t have to be entirely objective. I, and many other comment writers I chat to, find this freeing. It’s a relaxing experience to work out an important issue from your own viewpoint and even with your own frustration (挫败、失意) or praise, and it feels especially personal.
We need to protect student journalists, but we also need to expand the field we can cover in student journalism. The student voice is powerful because it is diverse, and it’s critical to reflect their voice. The press also has an important role in defending itself. Freedom of information is one of the most sacred (神圣的) things we have, and one that we as students need to protect.
1. How are student journalists different from the mainstream publications?| A．They can hardly identify issues relevant to peers. |
| B．They have an objective viewpoint on the issues. |
| C．They report on issues directly affecting them. |
| D．They prioritize objectivity over other things |
| A．student voice may always lead us to making unfair judgments |
| B．student reporters can keep their individuality when playing various roles |
| C．student articles offer an entertaining twist on traditional academic essays |
| D．student journalists should focus on the topics within their professional fields |
| A．inform readers of the high rents |
| B．attach importance to student voice |
| C．praise mainstream media for their efforts |
| D．bring up the topic of artificial intelligence |
| A．Freedom of speech and the press |
| B．The importance of student journalism |
| C．The responsibility of mainstream media |
| D．Embracing the diversity of student voice |
4 . In 2008, a man who lived in Detroit named Jerrold Foke, whom everyone called “Uncle Jerrold”, came up with an unusual idea. Foke had realized that for a long time, there had only been 26 letters in the English alphabet. He had referred to another alphabet, called the phonetic alphabet (音标字母表) — which is like an alphabet for sounds — and came across a symbol that aroused his interest. It looks like an upside-down, lowercase “e” (“ə”) and represents the sound, “uh,” like the noise you make when you’re confused. It is called the “schwa”. Foke thought it might be time for a new letter to be added.
Jerrold had a good reason for wanting to add a new letter to the English alphabet. He thought that if English got a new letter, then people might be able to make new words. He reasoned that if people made new words, they might be able to communicate better.
Jerrold began telling everyone he knew about the schwa. He requested that friends help him make new words using the schwa. People would use the schwa to make an “uh” sound in the word. His friends thought this was a pretty good idea.
Jerrold lived in a hotel in downtown Detroit. Every day, when he went down to the lobby (大厅) someone he knew would tell him a new word he’d made. In an effort to spread the schwa still farther, Jerrold began to spend some of his days standing in Campus Martius Plaza, with a sign that said “Have you heard about the schwa?” He liked to share some of the words he and his friends had made, and then invite these people to make their own schwa-based words. Some people did so enthusiastically, while others were more doubtful about the schwa’s potential. When people asked Jerrold where the schwa should go in the alphabet, he’d always say, “In the front.” When people asked him why, he’d say, “Because that’s where it belongs.”
Because of Jerrold’s work, people were encouraged to make their own words, whether using the schwa or not. His goal of increasing communication between different people remained one that was greatly valued.
1. According to the passage, Jerrold’s unusual idea was to ________.| A．develop an interest in language | B．make a confusing noise in public |
| C．introduce a new word to his friend | D．add a letter to the English alphabet |
| A．it would catch on in England very soon | B．people were reluctant to make new words |
| C．it might allow people to communicate better | D．there were things for which English had no word |
| A．valueless | B．confusing | C．inspiring | D．unreasonable |
| A. backfire B. compensate C. extend D. impressive E. meaningful F. measure G. needle H. overall I. perceive J. punishment K. typically |
Many of us are lacing up our sneakers and starting (or restarting) exercise regimens (练身计划) in hopes of shedding unwanted pounds. Unquestionably, aiming to be more active is good. But if the main reason is to lose weight, your New Year’s resolution could very well
For starters, exercise — at least the kind most of us do — is
Studies
When moderate exercise is added to diet, the results are equally not
In studies where exercise has produced
Perhaps the biggest problem with exercising to drop pounds is that it turns physical activity into
The point is that we’re more likely to
Of course, the benefits of physical activity
By all means, striving to exercise regularly in the new year is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your health. But to improve the odds of success, focus on how movement helps you feel better physically and emotionally — and forget about how it moves the
| A．By using cash. | B．By entering a password. |
| C．By scanning the code. | D．By using a tap-and-go card. |
| A．Because it touches the card reader. | B．Because it uses the password. |
| C．Because it has a built-in signal receiver. | D．Because it receives the flying data. |
| A．The bank will cover its clients against the loss. |
| B．Every transaction is completed within half a second. |
| C．People must enter their ID card number for continual use. |
| D．Each payment is restricted to a certain amount of money. |
| A．Look for his wallet. | B．Apply for a tap-and-go card. |
| C．Borrow cash from the woman. | D．Stick to buying things in cash. |
| A．The girl may realize her dream with social media. |
| B．The girl can present and record fashion on social media. |
| C．The girl should first learn to make proper use of social media. |
| D．The girl isn’t qualified as an influencer for her lack of taste in fashion. |
| A．He is usually not bad-tempered. | B．He doesn’t like the man. |
| C．He started the semester in a bad mood. | D．He has few responsibilities. |
| A．The location of the session has been changed. |
| B．She will definitely go to the session this evening. |
| C．She’ll probably be too tired to walk to the session. |
| D．The session might be canceled because of a heavy snow. |
| A．She has lost the credit card. |
| B．They can’t buy meals at a low price. |
| C．None of the restaurants is worth a try. |
| D．The meals are less expensive than expected. |
