“No!” screamed Asha as she saw a huge pimple (粉刺) on her nose. She didn’t have time to cover the pimple as she was running late to school. She ate her breakfast fast, grabbed her bag and caught her school bus just in time. As soon as she got on the bus, kids started laughing. Nobody was willing to let her sit beside them. Even Anita, her best friend, acted a bit differently, which made her more upset.
Asha was lost in thought. A new thought popped in her mind every second. Once she thought “Great! I have to worry about my pimple as if homework and exams were not enough.” The next minute another thought popped in her mind.“I am tired of using this face wash. I still wonder how I agreed to use that thing!” Then suddenly, Mr. Shetty, the bus driver, said, “Asha, do you want to miss the class?” Asha was so lost in her thought that she did not even notice that everybody had got off the bus except her.
She did not want to step into the school campus. She thought, “What will my teachers think? What will my friends think?” After some time, she gathered courage and entered her class, expecting that she would be laughed at. While entering the class, she heard students commenting on her pimple. A child laughed, “Look, someone’s cherry is on her nose! Get it for me.” She heard some boys murmuring, “She would definitely be chosen as the joker in the dance.”
It was a very hard day at school for her. As soon as she got home, she hugged her mother tightly, with tears welling up in her eyes.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Asha told her mother what she had experienced in the day.
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Asha opened the door and in came her friend Anita with a bunch of flowers.
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A woodblock print art exhibition kicked off in Guangzhou-based Ji’nan University in the provincial capital on November 16,
More than 220 precious woodblock print artworks and dozens of historical
Shizhuzhai (Ten Bamboo Studio) is an art museum in the Zhejiang provincial capital of Hangzhou, which was
Watermark woodblock prints have a history of more than 1,200 years. Since their appearance, they
Lin Rupeng, Party secretary of Ji’nan University, said the exhibition organized by the university aims
“Ji’nan University integrates much
3 . Writing Competitions for High School Students in 2024
Ocean Awareness Writing Contest
Ocean Awareness Writing Contest provides a platform for young people to understand environmental issues through artistic creation and creative thoughts, explore their relationship with the changing world, and become advocates of positive change.
Competition time: The deadline for submission is June 10, 2024. Students can upload their submissions starting from December 24, 2023.
Suitable for students: The contest is an international competition, which is open to any student aged 11—18 in middle or high school.
·Junior Division: 11—14 years old
·Senior Division: 15—18 years old
Young Authors Writing Competition
Young Authors Writing Competition is sponsored by the English and Creative Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago. The competition has grown into a yearly international con test of high school writers. You may enter up to two works (in separate files) in either of the categories: Creative Nonfiction and Creative Fiction. In the Poetry category, you may enter up to two files, but each can have 1—5 poems.
Competition time: The deadline is July 31, 2024.
Suitable for students: Open to students in grades 9—12 worldwide
Leonard L. Milberg’ 53 High School Poetry Prize
Leonard L. Milberg’ 53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding works by student writers in the 11th grade in the U. S. or abroad. Contest judges are poets on the Princeton University Creative Writing faculty.
Competition date: March 26, 2024
Suitable for students: Students in the 11th grade in the U. S. or around the world
The New York Times Annual Student Review Contest
The New York Times invites students to play critics and write an original review for their New York Times Student Review Contest. Students can review anything that fits into a category of creative expression that The New York Times covers—from architecture to music.
Competition date: April 6, 2024
Suitable for students: Students ages 11—19 anywhere in the world attending middle or high school can participate.
1. How many categories are included in Young Authors Writing Competition?| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
| A．Ocean Awareness Writing Contest. |
| B．Young Authors Writing Competition. |
| C．Leonard L. Milberg’ 53 High School Poetry Prize. |
| D．The New York Times Annual Student Review Contest. |
| A．They are international contests. | B．They are organized by colleges. |
| C．They are intended for all students. | D．They are open to different categories of works. |
Jackie was searching for her library book in her room. Outside her house stood her friend Sasha waiting for her to go to the library. But the book was missing.
Jackie then ran into her sister’s bedroom. “Have you seen my library book? Last week my book was bitten by your cat. The week before that, you dropped my book in the park,” Jackie asked angrily. Her sister shook her head. Despite her efforts, Jackie found no traces of the book there.
“What’s taking you so long, Jackie?” Mom’s voice rang through the house. “I need to find my library book. It has a red cover. It’s due (到期) today. If I have lost the library book, I am not allowed to check out any books for a whole month,” Jackie sighed, walking down the stairs. She nearly ran into her mom, who was carrying a heavy laundry (待洗衣物) basket.
“Good luck with that book. The library closes in twenty minutes.” Mom stopped to grab Jackie’s clothes from the railing and wrinkled her nose. “I’m putting these in the laundry,” said Mom, disappearing down the basement stairs.
Jackie ran around the house, looking under the sofa, in the fridge, and behind the piano. However, the book was nowhere to be found. Where was that library book? The thought of not being able to get into the world of stories and knowledge for a whole month made her feel very sad. Jackie sank onto the living room sofa, her mind racing with thoughts of the result she would soon face.
Just then Mom came into the living room and suddenly said, “Have you searched all the places? You need to think carefully and see if you’ve missed anything?” “I’ve searched everywhere I can think of, but I still haven’t found it,” Jackie almost cried. “I looked for you in your painting room in the backyard last night where you were practising your painting. I seemed to see a red thing. Maybe it was in the painting room,” Mom added.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Without wasting another moment, Jackie rushed outside to the painting room.
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Rushing to the library, Jackie and Sasha found the door still open.
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5 . Nature has the power to alter an element’s identity with time and space. This is evident by the transformative effect Britain’s deep coal mines have been showing after decades of being one of the biggest reasons for pollution. Now, they’re being employed to supply green energy to the town of Gateshead. The town is the first place to experience something like this in the country, but the success of the phenomenon has encouraged the authorities to apply it to other towns.
In 2021, coal was just producing 2% of electricity in the UK. Most of the electricity in the country is being supplied through oil and gas. This has resulted in massive abandoned coal mines all across the country. As years went by, these mines were flooded with water, making it a source of geothermal（地热的） energy, which is used to generate heat and electricity. Gateshead hosts such a mine in its town, whose council, therefore, launched a mine water project in March 2023.
The authorities put in a large central heat pump in the mine. Mine water can often sit with a temperature of 45℃. The water is then pumped using appliances to home heat pumps. The process increases the temperature further. The water then goes ahead and warms up the interior space and home water supply. After the heat from the water has been used, it’s sent back to the mine where it again goes through the same process. The project has been successful in supplying low-carbon heating to 350 high-rise buildings, a college and several office buildings.
“Recovering heat from mine water below the ground within abandoned coal mines provides an exciting opportunity to generate a low-carbon secure supply of heat, benefitting people living or working in buildings on the coalfields,” said Gareth Farr, head of heat and by-product innovation at the Coal Authority.
The water resources through the mines are estimated to be two billion cubic meters or half the amount of water in Loch Ness. Farr added, “With many millions of people living upon abandoned coalfields in Great Britain, the potential for mine water heat could be significant.”
1. What does the town of Gateshead feature?| A．It’s been one of the most heavily polluted areas. | B．It has the most deep coal mines nationally. |
| C．It mainly relies on geothermal energy. | D．It is the first one to reuse abandoned coal mines. |
| A．They were quite remote. | B．Prices of coal declined a lot. |
| C．There weren’t enough miners. | D．The UK prioritizes cleaner energy. |
| A．The number of abandoned coal mines is stably increasing. |
| B．The future of sourcing energy from coal mines is promising. |
| C．The dependence on water resources in the UK is decreasing. |
| D．The technique to take advantage of mine water is impressive. |
| A．An innovative way to obtain green energy. | B．A method of living in harmony with nature. |
| C．A national project for abandoned facilities. | D．A discussion on the future of coal mines. |
6 . Study Abroad Scholarships to Apply for in 2024
Found the perfect study abroad program, but don’t know how to pay for it? Fortunately, here are some study abroad scholarship opportunities for students looking to take their studies overseas!
Trenchard Cox ScholarshipAll you have to do is write two 400-word reasoned descriptions: one on a work of art you love and one that you hate. The scholarship, established in memory of Sir Trenchard Cox, awards the winner an Art History Abroad 2-week summer course in Venice.
Requirement: At least 16 and no older than 18 years of age
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial AidDid you know that Arcadia Abroad provides financial aid to around 70% of students who apply for it? It values equity, diversity, and inclusivity when awarding scholarships. Students who apply for scholarships will need to write a 300-word essay.
Requirement: Must be included in an Arcadia Abroad program
Award: $ 500-$ 2,500
Deadline: February 1, 2024
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial SupportWe believe a study abroad experience is an important part of well-rounded university education and we are committed to providing financial help to as many students as possible. AIFS also offers internship (实习期) and study abroad + internship mixed programs to support the development of personal and professional skills.
Award: $ 500- $ 5,000
Deadline: June 1, 2024
American Association of University Women(AAUW) Fellowships & GrantsThe AAUW supports women searching for a variety of graduate academic opportunities. There are no barriers (障碍) to full participation in this organization. Preference is given to those who show great interest in the advancement of girls and women.
Requirement: Women only
Award:$ 2,000- $ 50,000
Deadline: November 15, 2024
1. What is required to apply for Trenchard Cox Scholarship?| A．Being over 18 years of age. | B．Fluency in English and Italian. |
| C．Two 400-word essays on artworks. | D．A member of the Art History Abroad summer course. |
| A．Trenchard Cox Scholarship. |
| B．Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid. |
| C．AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support. |
| D．American Association of University Women(AAUW)Fellowships & Grants. |
| A．A freshman suffering economically. | B．A graduate needing internship abroad. |
| C．An art student from a developing country. | D．A female student devoted to women education. |
7 . With artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology improving at impressive rates, there are some who worry that there’s a risk of artistic and creative people being replaced. A new study by the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology, however, is showing exactly why that can’t and shouldn’t happen. It all started when the South Korean company posed this question: Can robots replace conductors?
Over a year ago, work to develop automaton (自动化) began. At first, it was designed like a machine, and didn’t live up to expectations. Then the company sought ways to improve it. In the end, it was given two arms with joints to copy wrists and elbows, allowing it to move a stick similarly to how a human conductor would move it. It was named the EverR 6 robot, and stands at 1.8 meters. It was finally time to figure out how it could follow through on its musical role.
“We got involved in this project to see how far robots can go in more creative fields like the arts, and what the challenges are,” Dong-wook Lee, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology said.
In order to pull this off, Dong-wook Lee cooperated with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. The 12-minute piece they planned to perform, “Feel” by Il-hoon Son, was created specifically for this event. It was created with the strengths of both EverR 6 and the human conductor, Soo-yeol Choi, in mind.
To pull off this impressive performance, the robot was preprogrammed to conduct through 30 cycles of beat patterns. Meanwhile, it was up to the human conductor to lead the orchestra in creating an improvisational (即兴的) score, adding depth to the otherwise planned piece.
Together, they pulled off a masterful performance that the audience seemed more than happy to have had the opportunity to witness it firsthand!
With the concert having gone so well, this is only the start of EverR 6. Still, no matter the improvements they’re able to make to this Android robot, the human conductor isn’t concerned about being replaced.
“Let’s leave the accuracy to the robots,” Soo-yeol Choi said, “but the musical and artistic aspects to a human conductor.”
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The function of the EverR 6 robot. |
| B．The development of the EverR 6 robot. |
| C．The EverR 6 robot’s role as a conductor. |
| D．The difficulty in designing the EverR 6 robot. |
| A．It is a piece familiar to the audience. |
| B．It is a piece showing the human-robot cooperation. |
| C．It is the only piece that EverR 6 will perform. |
| D．It is a piece requiring great ability to conduct. |
| A．He corrected the robot’s mistakes. |
| B．He programmed the EverR 6 robot. |
| C．He led the improvisational section of the performance. |
| D．He was the main conductor of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Uncaring. | C．Supportive. | D．Doubtful. |
8 . Known as “the roof of the world”, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has long been an ideal and mysterious destination for visitors who are passionate about exploring remote lands. Here are some of the best tourist destinations in Tibet which might suit your discerning travel taste with the arrival of spring.
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world. With a total length of about 500 kilometers, its altitude spans from 7,782 meters at Namcha Barwa, the highest peak of the eastern Himalayas, to 550 meters around the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Metog county.
One unique feature of the spring sight here is that visitors can enjoy both the peach blossoms and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The water Peach Blessom Fair is also an attraction in the area.
Lake Manasarova
Lake Manasarova sits 4,500 meters above sea level in Purang county, Ngari prefecture. Snow melt from the Gangdise Mountains hugging the lake is the source for the nearby Yarlung Zangbo River as well as the mighty Ganges.
The Manasarova wetland is a key “climate regulator” on the plateau and home to more than 400 rare species including the black-necked crane and the Tibetan wild donkey. Enshrined as “holy lake and sacred mountain” along with Gang Rinpoche, Lake Manasarova attracts a large number of pilgrims as well as tourists from home and abroad.
Nanyi Valley
Nanyigou scenic spot is 20 kilometers away from Milin county and is an important birthplace of the mysterious Tibetan medicine culture. The scenic area covers a total area of 820 hectares. The ecological conditions here are so good that the place is rich in various animal and plant species.
Nanyi Valley is known as “the highest green mysterious place on Earth”. Surrounded by mountains and shrouded in clouds, Nanyi Valley is an ideal spring destination for visitors, where you can find peach and azalea blossoms everywhere.
1. What is special about the spring scenery in the Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon?| A．It is possible for people to see the deepest canyon in the world. |
| B．Visitors can go to the water Peach Blossom Fair in Metog county. |
| C．A great range of cultural heritage sites can be enjoyed in pleasant weather. |
| D．Tourists can admire charming flowers as well as mountains covered with snow. |
| A．The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon | B．Lake Manasarova |
| C．Nanyi Valley | D．Milin county |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．An academic article. |
| C．A geography textbook. | D．A marketing website. |
1. 优点与缺点;
2. 合理建议。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 题目和首句已为你写好, 不计人总词数。
Make Better Use of Digital Reading
Nowadays, digital reading is becoming increasingly popular.
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10 . People with high levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B3, in their blood may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with lower levels. Excessive amounts of the vitamin, which is routinely added to fortified food and can be taken as a supplement, may inflame blood vessels.
Heart attacks and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. While researchers have made significant strides over the past few decades in discovering the risk factors for these conditions, they haven’t identified them all.
In an effort to fill these gaps, Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2331 adults in the US and 832 adults in Europe who had elected to undergo cardiovascular screenings. The team analysed the samples for substances called metabolites, byproducts of metabolic processes such as digestion. The researchers then tracked incidents of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among the participants over three years.
They found that people with elevated levels of a metabolite called 4PY, which only arises when the body breaks down excess niacin, were around 60 percent more likely, on average, to experience such an event than those with lower levels. And it was found in further experiment that 4PY causes blood vessel inflammation, a major contributor to the development of heart disease, in rodents.
It isn’t uncommon for people to have high niacin levels, Hazen says. This is partially due to certain foods, such as cereals and flours, being routinely fortified with the vitamin in countries that include the UK and the US. Niacin supplements are also increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-ageing benefits, says Hazen. Plus, it wasn’t until recently that doctors stopped prescribing high-dose niacin to people at risk of cardiovascular disease, as it was initially thought the vitamin protected people from these conditions by lowering cholesterol.
“I think this study really shows that sometimes, when it comes to vitamins, you can have too much of a good thing,” says Jenny Jia at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. However, this research was mainly conducted in people of European ancestry. It is therefore unclear if similar results would occur in people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, says Jia.
1. What is presented in paragraph 3?| A．Theoretical models. | B．Research procedures. |
| C．Practical examples. | D．Historical findings. |
| A．Increased 4PY. | B．Extra niacin. |
| C．Blood vessel inflammation. | D．Cardiovascular diseases. |
| A．Having niacin supplement is fashionable. | B．Food with niacin can rapid aging. |
| C．Certain vitamins are added to foods. | D．Niacin was prescribed to people. |
| A．Neutral. | B．Supportive. | C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
