1 . Not all great writers are great spellers. If you want to be published, it's vital to submit a perfect, professionally presented manuscript (原稿).
I keep two reference books close-by on my desk: dictionary and thesaurus (同义词词典). I don't trust my laptop's spellchecker.
In addition, I have an old two-volume copy of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary, picked up a few years ago in a bookshop sale for just 99 pence. Of course, with its 2,672 pages, it's not exactly short. It contains around 163,000 words, plus word combinations and idiomatic phrases.
For well over a hundred years the most influential English dictionary was Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language published in 1755. "To make dictionaries is dull (乏味) work," wrote Johnson, illustrating one definition of "dull".
A.I don't often use this dictionary. |
B.It takes no account of the context. |
C.But I still don't want to replace them. |
D.But a dictionary can be a pleasure to read. |
E.Of course, a dictionary is not only for spelling. |
F.That means good grammar and no spelling mistakes. |
G.Dictionaries don't always give you enough information. |
2 . Is comprehension the same whether a person reads a text onscreen or on paper? And are listening to and viewing content as effective as reading the written word when covering the same material? The answers to both questions are often “no”. The reasons relate to a variety of factors, including reduced concentration, an entertainment mindset (心态) and a tendency to multitask while consuming digital content.
When reading texts of several hundred words or more, learning is generally more successful when it’s on paper than onscreen. A large amount of research confirms this finding. The benefits of print reading particularly shine through when experimenters move from posing simple tasks — like identifying the main idea in a reading passage — to ones that require mental abstraction — such as drawing inferences from a text.
The differences between print and digital reading results are partly related to paper’s physical properties. With paper, there is a literal laying on of hands, along with the visual geography of distinct pages. People often link their memory of what they’ve read to how far into the book it was or where it was on the page.
But equally important is the mental aspect. Reading researchers have proposed a theory called “shallowing hypothesis (假说)”. According to this theory, people approach digital texts with a mindset suited to social media, which are often not so serious, and devote less mental effort than when they are reading print.
Audio (音频) and video can feel more engaging than text, and so university teachers increasingly turn to these technologies — say, assigning an online talk instead of an article by the same person. However, psychologists have demonstrated that when adults read news stories, they remember more of the content than if they listen to or view identical pieces.
Digital texts, audio and video all have educational roles, especially when providing resources not available in print. However, for maximizing learning where mental focus and reflection are called for, educators shouldn’t assume all media are the same, even when they contain identical words.
1. What does the underlined phrase “shine through” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Seem unlikely to last. | B.Seem hard to explain. |
C.Become ready to use. | D.Become easy to notice. |
A.Readers treat digital texts lightly. | B.Digital texts are simpler to understand. |
C.People select digital texts randomly. | D.Digital texts are suitable for social media. |
A.They can hold students' attention. | B.They are more convenient to prepare. |
C.They help develop advanced skills. | D.They are more informative than text. |
A.Students should apply multiple learning techniques. |
B.Teachers should produce their own teaching material. |
C.Print texts cannot be entirely replaced in education. |
D.Education outside the classroom cannot be ignored. |
3 . “I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture (针灸) on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians (兽医) now practicing “holistic” medicine-combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic (按摩疗法) and herbal medicine.
Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.
Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment.
Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.”
1. What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him?A.He’s odd. | B.He’s strict. | C.He’s brave. | D.He’s rude. |
A.He was trained in it at university. | B.He was inspired by another veterinarian. |
C.He benefited from it as a patient. | D.He wanted to save money for pet owners. |
A.Steps of a chiropractic treatment. | B.The complexity of veterinarians’ work. |
C.Examples of rare animal diseases. | D.The effectiveness of holistic medicine. |
A.To prove Farber’s point. | B.To emphasize its importance. |
C.To praise veterinarians. | D.To advocate animal protection. |
4 . In the past few years, online learning has become a significant part of the university and college experience.
We interviewed students and professors to get their advice about online courses, The most obvious advantage of online learning is that you can study anywhere and anytime.
The tip that comes up most often is simple: build online courses into your weekly schedule, just like what you would do with in person courses.
A.But that doesn’t mean there aren’t deadlines. |
B.Your motivation should be your main concern. |
C.Do you know that online courses are also part of your education? |
D.Professor Alex Davidson teaches the same course in person and online. |
E.The chief complain t about online courses is that they lack human interaction. |
F.If you take an online course, what can you do to ensure the best possible grade? |
G.A survey found that 29 percent of college students registered for online courses. |
5 . I looked through the window of the charming little violin shop, and my heart began to race.
I'd been out to dinner that evening. Since it wasn't dark yet after the meal, I decided to walk home from the restaurant. I had traveled that way before, yet I had never noticed that old little shop. But that night I felt drawn to the violin shop the moment I came across it.
I wiped the dirt from the window to get a better look inside. Several violins hung from the dark walls, quietly waiting to be chosen. As my eyes rested on them, I felt as though I were looking through a window into my own past.
My childhood was all about the pursuits I had attempted, most of which had been chosen by Mom. She was like, “Join the swim team, Tara. Your sister is a good swimmer;surely you will be, too. ”What she refused to acknowledge, however, was that I was visibly afraid of water.
Every Saturday I begged Mom not to make me go to the swim meet, but had little chance of success. That said, with a bang of the starting gun, I would dive into the cold water with all my strength and swim to the other side of the pool as fast as I could, only to find that the other swimmers slid past me. I would have given it up if I had not heard my father's encouraging shouts to cheer me on. When at last my hand would grab the edge of the pool, he would always be there with a warm, dry towel, telling me how proud he was of my desperate efforts.
Then came a turning point in my life the day our school orchestra( 管弦乐队)visited my class, and gave a demonstration. The drums annoyed me. The flutes(笛子)bored me. But the violin…ah, the violin. It made the sweetest sound I'd ever heard!My heart was dancing along with its flowing tune. For the first time in my life, I went so wild with joy.
Tightly holding the permission slip from the orchestra director, I ran all the way home after school, and shakily handed it to my parents with a fear that they might dismiss my desire. They didn't. Mom was thrilled to see me finally excited about something, and Dad winked(眨眼示意)at me while eagerly signing the slip.
I began practicing the violin with great passion, and rose quickly in ability. Before long I had won the first seat in the community orchestra …
1. What did the sight of the violins in that little shop bring to Tara's mind?A.Her miserable past. |
B.An unforgettable sport event. |
C.The stories behind the violins. |
D.Her childhood memory. |
A.mindless and bad-tempered |
B.caring and supportive |
C.strict and demanding |
D.tolerant and sympathetic |
A.The tune of the flutes. |
B.The beat of the drums. |
C.The sound of the violin. |
D.The manner of the musicians. |
A.The steady improvement in her taste. |
B.Her strong desire for success. |
C.Her natural gift for music. |
D.The rapid progress in her ability. |
A.It's never too young to learn. |
B.A passionate interest works wonders. |
C.Hard work will pay off in the long run. |
D.Like mother, like daughter. |
6 . Storytelling is an ancient art form that has been used to hand down legends, tales and factual stories. Perhaps the first thing that springs to mind when you think of storytelling is the fantasy land that took shape in your mind while Mom or Dad told you stories about princes, castles and monsters, with a unique voice for each character.
Storytelling does not just take place at bedtime or round a campfire, however. It can take some other forms, either via the books we read or the films we watch. But they usually have some elements in common: rather than a list of dry facts, stories have plots and they introduce characters. We respond to stories, particularly when there is emotional detail.
And unlike what we suppose, storytelling is not just a form of entertainment, but a form of learning as well. Long before reading and writing became widely spread and available, oral storytelling had already been a form that the wisdom and knowledge of the people were passed down from elders to children. A good story engages our curiosity, emotions and imagination.
Storytelling helps with learning also because stories are easy to remember. Research has found that learning obtained from a well-told story is remembered more accurately, and for far longer, than from facts and figures.
And above all, stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world.
This aspect of storytelling-presenting a different perspective of the world—is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen or challenge our opinions and values. So, when someone tells us their own personal story, we catch a glimpse (瞥见) of a view of the world that may be slightly or significantly different from our own. When we see the world as they see it, or walk in their shoes, the experience can inspire empathy (共情;同理心) with them.
1. What occurs to us the moment we think of “storytelling”?A.A child's imaginary world. |
B.Voices of Mom or Dad. |
C.An ancient art form. |
D.Factual stories. |
A.Form and style. |
B.Facts and figures. |
C.Emotional and physical details. |
D.A series of events and characters. |
A.It carries more wisdom and knowledge. |
B.It is more widely available to young learners. |
C.It satisfies our imagination and releases our emotions. |
D.It makes what is learned more precise and longer lasting. |
A.By offering us more opportunities to know people. |
B.By helping us stay connected with the contemporary world. |
C.By allowing us to understand the world the way they see it. |
D.By enabling us to tell reality from imagination. |
A.The History of Storytelling |
B.The Power of Storytelling |
C.The Forms of Storytelling |
D.The Art of Storytelling |
Herman Cruse, a school bus driver from New Jersey, has been with Middle Township Public Schools for the past nine years. He believes bus drivers are the eyes and ears of students when they're away from home and they have a gift to discern what kids are feeling.
During one morning ride, Cruse noticed a kindergartner seemed a little sad. When Cruse asked him what was wrong, the boy explained that he wasn't able to complete his reading assignment because his parents were busy with his four siblings (兄弟姐妹). An idea suddenly crossed Cruse's mind. “Listen, if you don't mind, I'd like to come to the school and read with you. ”he said.
After receiving permission from the boy's teacher, Alex Bakley, Cruse showed up at her classroom the following week. When he walked in, the boy shouted proudly, “Hey, that's my bus driver!”They went into a quiet corner and began reading together. Later, a second student wanted to read with him, then a third. All the kids went to the teacher asking, “Can I read with Mr. Herman?”
Cruse now volunteers to help kindergarten students with reading two days a week, and on a third day, he instructs the school's first-and second-graders. After dropping the kids off at school, of course. Every child looks up to Cruse, both on and off the school bus. “Herman is super positive and he's a bright light at our school who makes every child feel loved and heard. ”said Bakley.
For Cruse, what started out as a way to kill time has now developed into a way to make a difference in the heart of a child. He used to go to the gym or library after delivering students to schools. It wasn't until he offered to help the boy on the bus that he realized there was something more rewarding he could be doing. It's a joy for him to see the kids get excited when they learn to sound out words. He loves how reading opens up a new world for them.
1. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 1? (1 word)2. Why did the boy on the bus look a little upset? (no more than 11 words)
3. What help does Cruse offer after delivering students to schools? (no more than 12 words)
4. Why does Cruse think his voluntary work is rewarding according to the last paragraph? (no more than 16 words)
5. Who's “a bright light” in your life? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
8 . Welcome to UCLA Exchange Program! Let’s get started by checking out Student Guide for your academic journey!
Signing up for ESL (English as a Second Language)
ESL courses are designed to help international students improve academic English language skills. Enrollment (课程注册) priority is given to degree students. If space is available, you may enroll. You will then be asked to take an ESL Placement Test. The test results will help you choose the class that is appropriate for you.
Changing Your Course Enrollment List
You may change your class schedule during the first two weeks of the term by adding or dropping courses from your enrollment list. After the second week of classes, there will be a charge for each schedule change. Students often attend classes in which they are not enrolled on the first day of instruction to try adding this new course to the list, as other students may have dropped it.
Withdrawing from Courses
If you choose to drop a course, you must follow the UCLA procedures for removing it from your schedule. If you forget to officially drop that course, a “F” (Fail) grade will be registered on your record at the end of the term. If, at a later date, you wish to apply for a job or graduate school where an official copy of your UCLA record is required, it will be to your advantage to provide an impressive academic record.
Taking Exams
Some instructors choose to put previous test papers on library reserve, making them available to all students. These exams, which students commonly use for practice, can give you an idea of how instructors ask questions and what they regard as relevant material. You can also access the exams online.
1. Exchange students can enroll in the ESL course if they ________.A.have done well in the placement test |
B.are asked to improve their English skills |
C.find a vacancy after degree students’ enrollment |
D.have completed UCLA’s registration procedures |
A.improve the students’ language skills |
B.encourage the students to answer questions |
C.put the students in a class that fits them |
D.help the students apply for a degree |
A.The day when the class is full. |
B.The first day of instruction. |
C.The first week of the class. |
D.The end of the second week. |
A.Seek assistance from UCLA officials. |
B.Go through the procedures to drop it. |
C.Present past academic records to UCLA. |
D.Make a request to the Registration Office. |
A.imitate the way that their instructors write test questions |
B.learn how questions are asked and what they are based on |
C.come up with new ideas about how testing relates to teaching |
D.narrow down to what has not yet been covered in online tests |
9 . 阅读表达
Growing up in San Francisco, Grace Young used to watch her father shop daily in Chinatown for whatever he needed to make traditional Chinese meals at home. As an award-winning cookbook author, Ms. Young, now 66, has spent decades shopping the same way in New York’s Chinatown.
Ms. Young developed a passion for cooking at an early age. At 13, she started to sit in on cooking classes. After college, Ms. Young moved to New York and worked in a book-packaging company. In her 30s, she realized that while she had helped create more than 40 cookbooks, she didn’t know how to make the dishes that tasted of home. “I knew if I recorded all of my parents’ recipes, it would be a great gift that I could give my family and the next generation.” she says.
Yet what began as a recipe book became a kind of memoir. Talking about food encouraged her parents to finally open up about their past, like the fact that her father had owned a Chinatown restaurant in the 1940s. “It was really an amazing way to learn not only my family’s recipes, but also my family’s story. “she says. The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen (1999) launched Ms. Young’s work in preserving and sustaining Chinese culinary (烹饪的)traditions.
Ms. Young has also devoted herself to supporting the restaurants in Chinatown. Since early 2020, Ms. Young has raised money to buy meals from Chinatown restaurants and deliver them to those in need. This year, instead of cooking at home for her husband and friends, she celebrated the Chinese New Year with various dishes from local restaurants in Chinatown. “If these restaurants don’t survive, Chinese culinary traditions in our city won’t survive.” she says.
1. What is Ms. Young known as?(no more than 5 words)10 . One freezing morning last February, I walked through Ontario Place. Trees were frosted sculptures. Large chunks of ice floated in the lake. Then I saw a group of people in bathing suits bouncing up and down in the water. They held hands, shouting and yelling into the sky. They looked and sounded so free.
I’ve always found cold water thrilling. The shock of it is like pressing a switch. It seems to reset my body and soul.
And last winter, I definitely needed a reset. I woke up most mornings with a dull, grey feeling as I forced myself out of bed to start the day. I needed something to cheer myself up, but I didn’t know what, until that day.
The ice warriors (勇士) emerged from the lake, their skin steaming. Trembling, they were yet laughing and hugging each other. I called out: “You guys are awesome!” One woman waved back, “Come and join us! We’ re here every Monday morning.”
The night before my first dip (游泳), I was excited and nervous. Cold water was one thing, but this icy lake was a whole other level. Should I back out? Eventually, I got up in the dark and drove to the meeting spot.
After some wild warm up, I charged into the lake along with others. We yelled into the sky. Teeth chattering heart rates slowing, fingers and toes going numb (麻木), we stayed there for somewhere between two and five minutes. Knowing it was my first time, people cheered me on. It felt amazing. I was stupid with cold, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so happy.
Now I go dipping almost every day, and I’ve come to long for that moment when the cold becomes a second skin and my internal voice goes silent. Apart from the thrill of those first heart-stopping dives, which, ironically, saved me from going under, what has drawn me is this community of generous, open-hearted souls.
We laughed together, often, but from the stories we’ve shared about ourselves, I know I’m not the only one who faces life’s challenges. Holding hands in the freezing lake, we looked out for each other last winter and will do so through this one.
It won’t fix everything in our lives—but for some reason, it helps. At the end of each session I return home feeling stronger, lighter, more able to carry on. As another winter sets in, I’m more than ready to embrace the cold again.
1. When the author saw the people in the lake, her feeling can be best described as __________A.nervous | B.amazed |
C.frightened | D.calm |
A.To expand her social circle. | B.To lift her spirits again. |
C.To adapt to the cold weather. | D.To prepare for a new career |
A.She hesitated a bit before going. |
B.She suffered from a heart problem. |
C.She stayed in cold water too long. |
D.She regretted not doing enough warm up. |
A.She is more intelligent. |
B.She gets more competitive. |
C.She becomes a better storyteller. |
D.She regains her inner peace. |
A.Severe cold builds up character |
B.Group wisdom brightens our life. |
C.Tackling the odds together cures. |
D.Doing sports promotes friendship. |