1 . Must-Visit Art Galleries In England

Tucked away in cities and countryside across England, there are some exceptional art galleries that should be on every art lover's radar. From classic collections to contemporary installations, here are nine must-visit art galleries in England.

1. Tate Modern, London

Situated on the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of modern art. Housed in a former power station, the gallery is home to an impressive collection of contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney. With its iconic Turbine Hall and stunning views of London, Tate Modern offers a truly immersive art experience.

2. The Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire

Named after the renowned sculptor Barbara Hepworth, The Hepworth Wakefield celebrates modern and contemporary art in a stunning waterside setting. The gallery’s collection includes sculptures, paintings, and drawings by Hepworth and other British artists. With its award-winning architecture and vibrant exhibitions, The Hepworth Wakefield is a must-visit destination for art lovers.

3. The Baltic, Gateshead

In Gateshead, on the banks of the River Tyne, The Baltic is a modern art center that regularly hosts international exhibitions. The Baltic is a contemporary art gallery housed in a former flour mill. The gallery’s vast exhibition spaces showcase cutting-edge contemporary art from around the world, as well as innovative installations and events. With its iconic building and panoramic views of Newcastle and Gateshead, The Baltic is a must-visit destination for art lovers.

4. The Lowry, Manchester

Located in the heart of Salford Quays, The Lowry is a vibrant arts venue showcasing visual and performing arts. Named after the famous painter L.S. Lowry, the gallery houses the largest public collection of his work, as well as contemporary exhibitions and events. With its theatres, galleries, and waterfront setting, The Lowry offers a dynamic cultural experience for visitors of all ages.

These are just a few of the many exceptional art galleries waiting to be explored in England. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or simply curious about the world of art, these galleries offer a diverse range of experiences for visitors of all ages and interests.

1. What sets Tate Modern apart from other art galleries?

A．Its riverside location.	B．Its collection of European paintings.
C．Its focus on contemporary art.	D．Its association with famous artists like Turner.

2. Which gallery is named after a renowned sculptor?

A．The Baltic, Gateshead.	B．The Lowry, Manchester.
C．The Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire.	D．Tate Modern, London.

3. Where is The Baltic gallery located?

A．London.

B．Manchester.

C．Gateshead.

D．Brighton.

2 . When instant cake mixes first appeared in the 1950s, American housewives were doubtful. These mixes, promising easy cake-baking, felt too easy. The manufacturers discovered that requiring the addition of an egg in the baking process was just enough to make the housewives happy with their work. The greater sense of effort gained from a little extra labor is believed to have been essential to the later success of the cake mix.

This reflects the IKEA effect (宜家效应), which is identified by psychologist Michael I. Norton and his colleagues, suggesting we place greater value on things we have worked to create. They conducted four studies in which they asked participants to fold paper cranes and frogs, assemble IKEA boxes, and build sets of Legos. They then asked the builders to bid (出价) for their creations, and compared the prices with bids from people who hadn’t built them. The builders consistently outbid the non-builders.

Interestingly, the IKEA effect works even when people have no opportunity to fully personalize their creations. While most participants’ folding skills left much to be desired, they loved their imperfectly personalized products all the more. Builders valued their wrinkled crane-like creations nearly five times as much as non-builders. Beauty, it seems, is in the eye of the builder.

Today, as cities are suffering from severe housing crises, the IKEA effect can give us insight into the well-being benefits of a self-building approach to housing development. Projects like WikiHouse and the “half-a-house” approach pioneered by Alejandro Aravena’s architecture company Elemental are working to make housing more affordable and sustainable by making it easier for people to build and personalize their own homes.

“The moment people are involved with their built environment, they have a totally different relationship to it,” WikiHouse co-founder Alastair Parvin explained. “When the roof starts leaking or a door starts creaking, they have the power to fix it themselves.”

1. What brought customers the joy of cake-baking according to paragraph 1?

A．A better taste.	B．An easy approach.
C．A detailed recipe.	D．An additional effort.

2. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 imply?

A．Creations are based on skills.	B．Extra labor increases perceived value.
C．Beauty is found through contrast.	D．Strict management brings good quality.

3. What is Alastair Parvin’s attitude towards public involvement in housing?

A．Critical.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

4. What’s the purpose of this text?

A．To promote a brand.	B．To make a proposal.
C．To explain a concept.	D．To introduce a study.

3 . When it comes to lowering blood pressure, studies have typically shown that aerobic (有氧的) exercises are best. Recent research suggests another type of physical activity is worth including as an effective tool to prevent and treat high blood pressure.

Exercises that engage muscles without movement, such as wall squats and planks, may be best for lowering blood pressure, according to a large study published in July, 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This type of training is known as isometric exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Isometric muscle action happens when muscles contract but do not visibly change length, and the joints involved don’t move, facilitating stability of the body. Isometric exercises can be done with weights or without, just relying on the body’s own weight.

“These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure,” said study coauthor Dr. Jamie O’Driscoll in a news release.

The researchers looked into randomized controlled trials that had reported the effects of exercise interventions, lasting two or more weeks, on blood pressure between 1990 and February 2023. From a review of 270 trials with 15,827 participants, the researchers found that among HIIT (high intensity interval training), isometric exercise, aerobic exercise, dynamic resistance training and a combination of the latter two, isometric exercise led to the greatest reductions in blood pressure.

It’s also important to note that there are other lifestyle changes as well as exercise that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and ensuring that you continue to take any prescribed medication.

More research is needed to determine exactly why isometric exercises might be better for lowering blood pressure than other types of training, the authors said.

1. What does the underlined part “isometric exercise” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Exercise that is done with extra weights.

B．Exercise that involves visible muscle contraction.

C．Exercise that focuses on stability of the body.

D．Exercise that engages muscles without movement.

2. How did the researchers carry out the study?

A．By providing statistics.	B．By interviewing experts.
C．By doing experiments.	D．By making comparisons.

3. What does the author suggest the future studies about isometric exercise focus on?

A．Exploring the reasons for its effectiveness.

B．Demonstrating its influences on mental health.

C．Assessing its suitability for different populations.

D．Determining its long-term impacts on blood pressure.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The benefits of aerobic exercises.	B．The best exercise for blood pressure.
C．The effects of various types of exercises.	D．The importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle.

4 . As reported in the journal Nature, one system can directly remove carbon dioxide from sources ranging from flue gas (烟道气) to the atmosphere by using electricity to induce a water-and-oxygen-based electrochemical reaction. This technological achievement could turn direct air capture (捕获) from edge industry into a promising front for climate change relief.

Most carbon-capture systems involve a two-step process: First, high-pH liquids are used to separate the carbon dioxide, which is acidic, from mixed-gas streams such as flue gas. Next, the carbon dioxide is regenerated from the solution through heating or by injecting a low-pH liquid.

“Once the carbon dioxide is trapped in these solvents (溶剂), you have to regenerate it,” says Haotian Wang, assistant professor at Rice University. “There are literally no chemicals produced or consumed with our process. We also don’t need to heat up or pressurize our device, we just need to put it into a power outlet and it will work.”

Another drawback of current carbon-capture technologies is their reliance on large-scale, centralized infrastructure. By contrast, the system developed in the Wang lab is an extensible, modular, point-of-use concept that can adapt to a variety of scenarios. “The technology can be scaled up to industrial settings-power plants, chemical plants-but the great thing about it is that it allows for small-scale use as well: I can even use it in my office.” Wang says.

Also the reactor can continuously remove carbon dioxide from a simulated (模拟的) flue gas with efficiency above 98% using a relatively low electricity input. Wang notes that the process has “no carbon footprint or a very limited footprint” if powered by electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind. “This is great news considering that renewablel electricity is becoming more and more cost-effective,” Wang says.

1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?

A．Add up some opposite reasons.	B．Offer basic evidences to the topic.
C．Summarize the following paragraphs.	D．Provide some background information.

2. What do we know about Wang’s system according to the text?

A．It involves a two-step process.	B．It creates some chemicals.
C．It is simple and easy to operate.	D．It needs to be used in big plants.

3. How does the author support the topic?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By listing many numbers.
C．By providing research results.	D．By analyzing causes and effects.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Wang’s technology?

A．Unclear.

B．Favourable.

C．Objective.

D．Disapproving.

5 . Around 3,500 Americans ingest (摄入) batteries every year. It’s apparently such a repeating issue that even a specific hotline was built in the event of such an emergency.

And while it’s unlikely your wristwatch’s power source will ever be safe to eat, that doesn’t mean all batteries will remain uneatable-in fact, some are being designed with digestion specifically in mind.

A team of researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology recently revealed what isl being called as the world’s first fully rechargeable, eatable battery. As detailed in a paper published with Advanced Materials, the new device has made good use of some eatable materials.

“Eatable electronic devices will have major implications for gastrointestinal tract (胃肠道) monitoring, treatment, as well as rapid food quality monitoring,” reads the paper’s abstract, adding that although recent research proved the feasibility of eatable sensors and circuits, “fully eatable electronic devices and eatable power sources are still required, of which there have been very few examples.”

According to the team’s findings, their proof-of-concept battery was capable of producing 0.65 volts, which is safely low enough for the human body to handle. The ingestible could provide 48 μA of current for 12 minutes, or alternatively, a few microamps (微安) for over an hour. Such a power supply could provide enough energy for small electronics alike to eatable pill-shaped modules and other gastrointestinal procedure alternatives.

In a statement, researcher coordinator Mario Caironi explained that such a product could help power monitors for both human health conditions and food storage. Additionally, given their safety, products with stronger power could be used within children’s toys, where ingestion risk is higher.

In the team’s statement, co-author Ivan Ilic also explained that despite the battery’s relatively low power, its digestibility provides a promising example of a battery that doesn’t use any harmful materials.

1. What is the necessity of developing eatable batteries?

A．They help with the food shortage.	B．They can avoid the harm caused by eating batteries.
C．They are useful in some special fields.	D．They have no impact on the environment.

2. Which is the closest in meaning to “feasibility” in Paragraph 4?

A．Availability.

B．Flexibility.

C．Responsibility.

D．Possibility.

3. What can we infer from the statements in the last paragraph?

A．The application of the battery has a long way to go.

B．The eatable batteries will be widely used in our life.

C．The development of the eatable battery is promising.

D．The eatable batteries will soon be put into production.

4. In which section of a magazine can we read the text?

A．News Corner.

B．Story Garden.

C．Language World.

D．Technology Square.

6 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Jiang Zhirong, 22, is from Yingcheng, Hubei Province. Last year, she passed the examination for upgrading from a junior college student to a university student, and     1     (admit) as an undergraduate at Hubei Minzu University.

As she was the only one in her class     2     succeeded in passing the exam, Jiang’s teacher and classmates advised her not to suspend her schooling, but she was     3     (determine) because she “wanted to give back to society”.

As a member of the Plan of the 2022 College Students Volunteer Service to Western Regions, Jiang has now worked in Hubei’s Laifeng County, at the junction (交界处) of three     4     (province), Hubei, Hunan and Chongqing.

In the     5     (two) year of her junior high school studies, Jiang’s father passed away. Her mother was unable to take care of herself because she suffered from     6     illness and her grandmother later succumbed (被压垮) to Alzheimer’s.

    7     (help) Jiang’s family, the local government helped rebuild their house. A kind-hearted man called Nie Chunhua gave support towards Jiang’s mother living in a welfare home.     8     a heart full of gratitude, Jiang studied very hard in technical secondary school and college, until she passed the undergraduate upgrading exam and suspended her schooling.

Speaking of her     9     (decide), Jiang said, “When I was asked whether I would regret     10     (suspend) school to volunteer in the western regions, I was certain I would never.”

7 . Christmastime is generally thought of as joyful. But 40 years ago, it was a ______ time for my wife, Geri, and me. Both of us were about to lose our ______. I was an educator and Geri was a psychologist. To make matters ______, we had loans (贷款) on two houses-at a time when interest rates hovered (徘徊) at 16%. We wanted to ______ one of our houses, but the sale ______ at the last minute.

A place to call ______ looked extremely hopeless for us. Yet we ______ to celebrate Christmas in our new house before we faced the terrible ______ of becoming homeless. So we did something crazy: We ______ a Christmas tree.

It was an artificial tree—the ______ we could find at the local store. I ______ we spent just $11 or $12 on it. It looked ______ with nothing on it, which is only what you would expect from such an inexpensive ______. But it didn’t look half bad when it was fully ______.

Perhaps it gave us good ______. Our job situation turned around, making it ______ for us to keep our new house after all. We ______ put up the tree every year. Friends have advised us to ______ it. But our daughters, who know its ______, insist that we keep it.

Today, the tree is a reminder of our ______ beginnings in our present home-the same one where it first stood up 40 years ago.

1.

A．confusing

B．difficult

C．embarrassing

D．annoying

2.

A．chances

B．hopes

C．jobs

D．lives

3.

A．easier

B．further

C．less

D．worse

4.

A．rent

B．sell

C．build

D．donate

5.

A．fell through

B．went through

C．fell behind

D．went down

6.

A．home

B．heaven

C．office

D．palace

7.

A．refused

B．hesitated

C．decided

D．supposed

8.

A．process

B．progress

C．result

D．practice

9.

A．bought

B．planted

C．found

D．borrowed

10.

A．biggest

B．heaviest

C．prettiest

D．cheapest

11.

A．realize

B．remember

C．wonder

D．imagine

12.

A．pitiful

B．grateful

C．joyful

D．powerful

13.

A．gift

B．theme

C．topic

D．object

14.

A．equipped

B．polished

C．decorated

D．deserted

15.

A．choice

B．luck

C．support

D．reward

16.

A．hard

B．necessary

C．urgent

D．possible

17.

A．still

B．again

C．also

D．even

18.

A．hide

B．remove

C．repair

D．improve

19.

A．record

B．quality

C．history

D．function

20.

A．potential

B．guilt

C．illegal

D．hard

8 . The 1973 horror film “The Exorcist” and “Silent Night, Deadly Night” released in 1984 were so scary that audiences left the theater up and out—throwing up and passing out, that is.

Based on this evidence after the release, it would seem to most people that horror movies are bad for people’s health. Yet experts actually argue exactly the opposite: The Halloween tradition of watching scary movies is actually good for your mental health.

“There is some research on this in psychology, but I think what’s basically been found is that there’s a benefit to recalling fears in your mind,” Matthew Strohl, the author of Why It’s OK to Love Bad Movies, told Salon. “You can gain a sense of distance from them. You feel you can conquer them through this sort of exposure, as it were, by repeatedly putting yourself in a position where you have to engage with them. But because it’s in a fictional (虚构的) artistic context, you can deal with them.”

Frank T. McAndrew, who has studied how places can “creep” people out (让人害怕)—researched on the science behind how horror movies are in many ways ideal as a specific vehicle for meeting this need to be scared.

“That is kind of born with us,” McAndrew pointed out. “We like stories. We like to learn through the experience of other people. We learn valuable lessons that might be kind of costly to learn on our own. So we are attracted by horror movies and horror experiences because by watching other people deal with scary things, we can mentally practice strategies that will make us better prepared for dealing with that ourselves in the future.”

Whether it is turning down the movie’s volume, covering your eyes, or reminding yourself that it is just a movie, McAndrew said “that kind of playful engagement with fear can not only help people avoid fainting from horror in face of a horror movie, but also handle the pressure and anxieties of the real world.”

1. How experts’ opinion differs from most people’s belief?

A．People like horror movies.	B．Horror films are actually beneficial.
C．Horror may cause physical discomfort.	D．Halloween tradition is watching horror movies.

2. Which statement might Matthew Strohl agree with?

A．Horror films can give people a sense of control.

B．Fears can keep people away from scary films.

C．Fears in life differ from those caused by scary films.

D．Not everyone can appreciate the beauty of fictional arts.

3. What does “That” underlined in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．The appeal for a vehicle.	B．The need for fear.
C．The fear for some places.	D．The science behind horror.

4. In which aspect can scary film lovers perform better?

A．Studying literature and art.	B．Writing film reviews.
C．Dealing with stress and anxiety.	D．Interacting with others.

9 . The Mona Lisa is the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting of a woman with a mysterious smile. This week, the painting gave up a secret.

Scientists using X-rays to examine the chemical structure of a small part of the painting discovered a technique Leonardo used in the work. An oil paint used for it was a special, new chemical mixture, which suggests that the Italian artist was in an experimental mood when he worked on the painting in the 16th century.

“He loved to experiment, and each of his paintings is completely different technically,”said Victor Gonzalez, a chemist who has studied the chemical element (成分) of several works by Leonardo and other artists. The researchers found a rare lead compound (铅化合物) — plumbonacrite, in Leonardo’s first layer of paint. The discovery proved that da Vinci most likely used lead oxide to thicken and help dry his paint. The paint in the study is about the thickness of a human hair, lying in the top right area of the painting.

The scientists looked into its atomic structure using X-rays, moving particles at the speed of light, permitting researchers to look deeper into the paint structure. “ Plumbonacrite is really a fingerprint of his recipe, as it’s the first time we can chemically confirm it,” Gonzalez said.

Dutch artist Rembrandt may have used a similar mixture when he was painting in the 17th century. Gonzalez and other researchers have found plumbonacrite in his work, too. Leonardo is thought to have put lead oxide powder, which has an orange color, in the oil to make it thicker and dry faster. “What you will get is an oil that has a very nice golden color,” Gonzalez said. “It flows more like honey.”

But the Mona Lisa — said by the Louvre to be a portrait (肖像) of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk businessman — and additional works by Leonardo still have other secrets to tell. “What we are saying is just a little brick in the knowledge,” Gonzalez said.

1. What’s the new discovery about the Mona Lisa?

A．A new explanation of the secret smile.

B．A new chemical element used in the painting.

C．The secret of the woman in the painting.

D．The structure of the paint da Vinci used.

2. Which best explains the underlined word “fingerprint” in paragraph 4?

A．Open secret.

B．Widespread use.

C．Hidden element.

D．Long-term dream.

3. How does Gonzalez view the use of lead oxide powder in paintings?

A．It helps to make many things into paints.

B．It helps to make paints easy to deal with.

C．It helps to keep the paintings last long.

D．It helps to make paintings rich in color.

4. What can we learn about the Mona Lisa from the last paragraph?

A．It has more secrets to tell the world.

B．It’s the portrait of a silk businessman.

C．It’s well kept in bricks in the Louvre.

D．It has a mixture of different art styles.

10 . Ride a Wave of Weekend Music in New York City

Bill Saxton All-Stars

Sept. 9 — 10 at Bill’s Place, Manhattan

Honoring the spirit of Harlem jazz since opening in 2006, Bill Saxton is now part of the history it celebrates. Each weekend, Saxton, who grew up in the neighborhood packed with jazz in the mid-20th century, takes the stage with his Harlem All-Stars to tear through bop classics, spiritual jazz beauties and his originals with earthy power.

Tickets are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and $30 at www.billsplaceharlem.com.

An A24 Comedy

Sept. 9 at Littlefield, Brooklyn

The comedian Sarah Rachel shows her love for A24, an award-wining film, by hosting a celebration of dress party. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite A24 characters, with a prize for the best dressed.

Tickets, starting at 8 p.m., are $20 in advance, $25 on the day, and available at www.littlefieldnyc.com.

CMOM’s Art Festival

Through September 30 at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The museum is inviting visitors to celebrate summer in the city with storybook readings and craft activities, all devoted to New York themes. Grub Gallery offers two daylong workshops, where children can carve a refrigerator out of a cake as their treats.

All activities are included in museum admission, starting at $13, available at www.cmomsummerart.com

Burna Boy

Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at Citi Field, Queens

Burna Boy, a famous Nigerian artist, heads to Citi Field, where the singer and rapper will perform on Saturday, combining sounds rooted in hip-hop, dancehall and more. Tickets for Saturday’s concert, part of his ongoing tour promoting “Love, Domini”, start at $54.50, available from Ticketmaster.

1. What do we know about Bill Saxton?

A．He will dress up to perform a character of A24.

B．His workshop offers special treats to children.

C．He grew up in a place filled with jazz music.

D．He is a Nigerian artist performing in New York.

2. What can visitors do at CMOM’s Art Festival?

A．Have a taste of the spiritual beauty of jazz.

B．Dress up as their favorite characters of a film.

C．Join the singer for a promotion of a rap tour concert.

D．Carve a fridge out of a cake supplied in the workshops

3. Where can one go for a ticket to the show at Citi Field?

A．At Ticketmaster	B．At www.littlefieldnyc.com.
C．At www.billsplaceharlem.com.	D．At www.cmomsummerart.com.