1 . For the 70 percent of the world’s population without any chance of using electric washing machines, keeping up with laundry takes up a lot of time. And it is often a painful physical task. The task falls unreasonably to women and girls, who can spend 20 hours a week washing clothes, often without electricity or running water. London engineer Navjot Sawhney, however, has come up with an idea: a portable and lightweight washing machine that is similar to a plastic drum. It also does double duty as a dryer, and costs around $60.

31-year-old Sawhney calls it the Divya, after the woman who inspired the project — his former next-door neighbour in South India, where he spent a year volunteering after leaving his job as an engineer at high-end vacuum (真空吸尘器) maker Dyson. “When I got to know Divya, I was so sad about all the unpaid work she needed to do — cleaning clothes,” says Sawhney. In 2018, he returned to the United Kingdom to found “The Washing Machine Project”, which is developing a washing solution that will be affordable, portable and accessible for everyone, everywhere. After a few months of developing a model, he received some money from Oxfam’s Iraq Response Innovation Lab.

Since March 2019, more than 150 Divyas have been given out to refugees (难民) in Iraq through non-profit partners. “The response was great,” Sawhney says. His goal is to deliver 8,000 machines in 10 countries over the next three years. By saving 75 percent of the time and 50 percent of the water required to wash clothes, he says, women and girls will be freer to accept education.

Aside from the Divya, Sawhney has also worked on making fuel-efficient cookstoves, and plans to develop refrigerators, conditioners, and lighting. Sawhney sees the world’s growing refugee crisis as a call for innovation: “There is a huge need for appliances that make life better for people.”

1. What did Navjot Sawhney do to help the women in India?

A．He provided them with free access to education.

B．He volunteered to wash clothes for them.

C．He worked out a solution by inventing a washing machine.

D．He called on people in his community to donate clothes.

2. What inspired Navjot Sawhney to found the project?

A．His previous work in Dyson.	B．His neighbour’s experience.
C．The request of refugees in Iraq.	D．The support of a science lab.

3. What can we infer about the project in Paragraph 3?

A．It focuses on education.	B．It is highly praised.
C．It has earned a lot of money.	D．It has created many jobs.

4. Which of the following can best describe Navjot Sawhney?

A．Helpful and serious.	B．Selfless and honest.
C．Thoughtful and strict.	D．Caring and creative.

2 . 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。

Before moving to the city of Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Robin Gilbank had     1     (limit) knowledge about the city despite a keen interest in Chinese culture.

“Like many foreigners     2     had never been here, I knew nothing about the historic city except for terracotta warriors at that time,” recalled the 41-year-old scholar from North Yorkshire in Britain.

Enchanted by its profound history and distinctive culture, Gilbank applied     3     a teaching position at Northwest University in Xi’an in 2008. “Shaanxi boasts (拥有) many famous writers. So I decided to translate their works into English so as to provide a new window for the world     4     (get) a glimpse (一瞥) of the real and diversified life here,” said Gilbank.

    5     (work) with Hu Zongfeng, dean of School of Foreign Languages of Northwest University, Gilbank travels     6     (wide) in Shaanxi and learns the dialect from locals to have a deep understanding of customs. They have translated over 30 Chinese novels into English.

The past decade witnesses his deeper friendship with the     7    (native) and the centuries-old city. In 2018, he was awarded as one of the 40 most     8     (influence) foreign experts during the past 40 years since the initiation of China’s reform and opening-up policy.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed by China in 2013, China     9     (open) wider. Gilbank’s experience is a microcosm (缩影) of the story of     10     increasing number of foreigners settling down in Xi’an. They are kick-starting a new journey in the open and livable city with a population of 13 million.

3 . Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Interested in exploring two million years of human history and culture in one place? The British Museum is a good choice. In this guide, find out what you need to know to visit the British Museum. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Pro Tip: Bookmark this post in your browser (浏览器) so you can easily find it when you’re in London.

Opening hours and tickets

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day (to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays). A booked time slot will get you guaranteed entry.

It’s free to visit the British Museum, but there are also priced special exhibitions. For example, “Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt” is on until February 2023 and tickets cost £18 for adults.

What to see

There are more than 60 galleries exhibiting items. Here are our recommendations on what to see.

The Younger Memnon	（Room 4-Egypt）
Oxus Treasure	（Room 52-Ancient Iran）
Lewis Chessmen	（Room 40-Medieval Europe, 1050-1500）
Royal Game Of Ur	（Room 56-Mesopotamia, 6000-1500 B.C.）
Aztec Serpent	（Room 27-Mexico: 2000 B.C.-A.D.1521）
Ife Head	（Room 25-Africa）

Guided tour options

A knowledgeable guide will cover the exhibits in a more reasonable time so you have a memorable visit.

A variety of themed audio guides in their app are available for anyone interested in self-guided tour.

You can purchase the full bundle per language for £4. 99 (introductory offer) or themed tours per language for£1.99–£2.99.

Places to eat nearby

Great Court Restaurant, Hakkasan and Zeo’s London are museum’s restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks at a reasonable price. Apart from those above, there are also the Court Café and the Montague Café inside the museum. Also, there are other options not too far beyond the museum gates, in case you are seeking more inspired dining.

1. If interested in Mexico relics, which room will you visit?

A．Room 25.

B．Room 27.

C．Room 40.

D．Room 56.

2. What do Zeo’s London and the Montague Café have in common?

A．Bargains are not allowed there.	B．They both serve a variety of cuisines.
C．Drinks there are welcome by visitors.	D．They are both located in the museum.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel website.	B．A health magazine.
C．A report on heritage.	D．A brochure for tourists.

4 . On an extremely hot summer day, my friend Shelia and I treated our children to some rides at Libertyland, an amusement park. Libertyland ________ finds talented teenagers who must put on four or more shows a day for their little pay in its theater.

By mid-afternoon, Shelia and I were ________ while the kids were still full of energy and ________ to continue riding the rides. With security assistants ________ them, we decided to look for a cool ________. After a long time, in the theater, we ________ found a bench. We just sat down, hoping for a few moments of rest.

Luckily, a show ________ soon. The performers put on a wonderful show. ________, their audience of about 20 people seeking to escape the ________ didn’t seem to care.

At the end of the show, the audience gave ________ applause. But Shelia jumped to her feet, ________ and oohed and aahed (叫好) as if she ________ the most amazing Broadway production in her life. She ________ and said to me, “They’re someone else’s ________. Since their moms aren’t here, we need to ________ them.” In that instant, Shelia gave me ________ I had never thought of! Then I stood, cheering those ________ kids.

That happened over six years ago, and Shelia’s ________ still stay with me now. When I’m in a fast-food place, they ________ me that the teen behind the counter is someone’s child, and so is the pizza delivery boy. I ________ those kids as I’d want other people to do to my own children.

1.

A．already

B．just

C．still

D．also

2.

A．worried

B．tired

C．addicted

D．excited

3.

A．unsure

B．happy

C．proud

D．nervous

4.

A．accompanying

B．teaching

C．assessing

D．questioning

5.

A．show

B．sight

C．place

D．time

6.

A．eventually

B．constantly

C．secretly

D．immediately

7.

A．finished

B．began

C．continued

D．changed

8.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

9.

A．noise

B．dust

C．heat

D．people

10.

A．familiar

B．comforting

C．embarrassing

D．half-hearted

11.

A．listened

B．observed

C．clapped

D．predicted

12.

A．demonstrated

B．saw

C．created

D．directed

13.

A．looked down

B．came along

C．turned over

D．stepped forward

14.

A．kids

B．co-workers

C．students

D．teachers

15.

A．attract

B．coach

C．impress

D．support

16.

A．insights

B．chances

C．challenges

D．memories

17.

A．cautious

B．hard-working

C．curious

D．warm-hearted

18.

A．stories

B．promises

C．words

D．concepts

19.

A．convince

B．inform

C．warn

D．remind

20.

A．educate

B．persuade

C．serve

D．treat

5 . Erinna’s son, Jackson, was an autistic (患自闭症的) child. One of the most _________ things for him was getting a _________. He would get so anxious that he would start _________ and crying. It was really hard for Erinna to _________, so she decided to _________ taking him to the barber.

Jackson went almost two years with no haircuts. _________, Erinna found a barber named Ree. For the past few years, Ree had been able to _________ things slowly with Jackson. But one day in early 2022, things _________.

“We got caught in traffic. He _________ his headphones behind. We hadn’t had lunch. It was just like a series of __________ events for him,” Erinna remembered. Ree was just trying to put the cape (斗篷) on Jackson when he was greatly __________ and started running __________ around the shop.

Erinna was about to __________ it a day. But Ree encouraged her to give it a few more minutes. The barber then made the haircut into a __________. She would shave a little hair off Jackson’s head; he would __________ it off and then run to a new __________ in the shop. “He doesn’t like the hair to get on him... so the game was a good distraction (分散注意力的事) for him. And she was able to cut his hair,” Erinna said. When the haircut was complete, Jackson was __________ and happy.

It meant a lot to Erinna that Ree took the time to __________ a way to give Jackson a haircut that day. “The patience and __________ that Ree took with my son seems like a __________ in the darkness,” Erinna said.

1.

A．simple

B．normal

C．free

D．difficult

2.

A．doctor

B．headphone

C．haircut

D．babysitter

3.

A．kicking

B．falling

C．dropping

D．throwing

4.

A．notice

B．ignore

C．review

D．watch

5.

A．try

B．stop

C．keep

D．begin

6.

A．Suddenly

B．Finally

C．Generally

D．Constantly

7.

A．find

B．send

C．take

D．finish

8.

A．came true

B．faded away

C．broke down

D．went wrong

9.

A．lost

B．stayed

C．left

D．missed

10.

A．bad

B．nice

C．hard

D．funny

11.

A．relieved

B．alarmed

C．inspired

D．embarrassed

12.

A．quickly

B．eagerly

C．noisily

D．crazily

13.

A．end

B．call

C．quit

D．change

14.

A．trick

B．task

C．game

D．pleasure

15.

A．wipe

B．wash

C．brush

D．bathe

16.

A．spot

B．exit

C．path

D．block

17.

A．crying

B．leaving

C．whispering

D．smiling

18.

A．turn out

B．carry out

C．work out

D．give out

19.

A．care

B．duty

C．hope

D．effort

20.

A．trust

B．light

C．warmth

D．comfort

6 . Having been based in Thailand for seven years, I was informed my visa was no longer legally acceptable, which meant that I had to quit the job that I was succeeding in and leave behind this wonderful life I had built. I felt very, very down. Then, a friend, aware of what I was going through, messaged: “I can see you walking around Great Britain and then writing a book on it.”

Three weeks later, I did just that. Another friend suggested that I set up an Instagram account to document my journey, which I did, and so I set off with just a sleeping bag. When I took those first steps, I knew this journey would change my life, but not in the way it did. All of a sudden, I started to feel better, clearer and happier out in nature, walking. I remember what the first days were like. I walked the southwest coastal path for 635 miles. Its rough land and beautiful scenery were in equal measure, and it challenged me every day.

I met so many people who became my friends very quickly and supported me in many ways. Mentally, I felt stronger at this point. Of course, with the enormous amounts of miles walked and the challenging weather conditions that I faced, I had the occasional hesitation. But when this did happen, I’d just remind myself of what I’d achieved and the overwhelming support that I’d had to get me through. Finally, in April, I finished my walk around the UK.

I was cheerful, I felt proud, and I never imagined in my wildest dreams I could do it. But quickly after, I realized I had more in me. The walk had changed my life so much that I wanted to pay it forward and help people like the previous version of me that had been left in the past. So I decided to do it again — this time in 12 months, and for 12 charities. And that’s what I’m doing now.

1. Why did the author walk around the UK?

A．To find inspiration.	B．To remove depression.
C．To meet a friend’s request.	D．To escape from reality.

2. What can we know about the author’s journey from paragraph 2?

A．It was refreshing.	B．It was documented by a friend.
C．It turned out smooth just as expected.	D．It proved more challenging than satisfying.

3. Which word best describes the author?

A．Modest.

B．Outgoing.

C．Smart.

D．Determined.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Step Out of Your Comfort Zone	B．Something beyond Walking in Life
C．Walk around the UK for Charities	D．A Life-Changing Tour around the UK

7 . A survey of 2,000 parents of primary and secondary school children found 34 percent were out of their depth with primary school homework and unable to help their child.

Trigonometry (三角学) provided the biggest headache, with 52 percent of parents unable to help, followed by algebra (代数), which left 46 percent confused. 39 percent of parents could not calculate Pi (π) and 35 percent did not understand the periodic table. Foreign languages stumped many, with 31 percent unable to ask for directions in French. The English language also proved a struggle, with 21 percent no longer knowing the difference between a noun, verb and adjective.

As for history, 19 percent said they did not know the beginning and end dates of the world wars. On average, parents spent four hours a week attempting to tutor (辅导) their children, according to the survey by MyTutor, a company that links families with private tutors. About 73 percent ended up arguing with their children over homework and 87 percent believed schoolwork had become more challenging than the work they completed when they were at school.

Families turned to schools for extra help, with 19 percent of parents saying they had requested this from their child’s school. Thirty-nine percent said not enough support was provided. Florence Milner, a manager at MyTutor, said, “Even though most parents devote a significant amount of time weekly to helping their children with schoolwork, it’s not surprising that many find the task challenging.” Schools can use the National Tutoring Programme to support pupils they believe are most in need, but government funding has dropped this academic year from 60 to 50 percent of the cost.

Some studies have suggested that homework has little impact on a child’s progress at primary school, but helps at secondary school. The Education Endowment Foundation, which provides evidence to help improve teaching, said homework has a positive impact, particularly at secondary level, but warned that some pupils may not have a quiet space for home learning.

1. What does the underlined word “stumped” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Assisted.

B．Amused.

C．Inspired.

D．Confused.

2. What do we know about most parents from the text?

A．They resist too much homework.

B．They doubt their children’s ability.

C．They may have an unpleasant experience when tutoring.

D．They did study hard when they were young.

3. Which of the following may be a suggestion on homework according to the last paragraph?

A．Primary schools should assign more homework.

B．Middle school students should have proper homework.

C．Parents should provide more tutoring for their kids at home.

D．Pupils should improve academic performance by doing more homework.

4. The author develops the text mainly by ________.

A．quoting experts	B．making comparisons
C．listing figures	D．analyzing reason and effect

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman?

A．An athlete.

B．A hostess.

C．A coach.

2. Who influenced Noah to start horse riding?

A．His mother.

B．His brother.

C．His sister.

3. How has Noah benefited from horse riding?

A．Ho is fitter.

B．He is calmer.

C．He is happier.

4. What will Noah probably choose to do when he gets older?

A．Train horses.

B．Teach children.

C．Take part in more races.

9 . It’s often said that it’s better to give than to receive. You may feel too stressed and busy to help others with their burdens in your daily life. However, altruism (利他主义) is its own reward and can actually help you relieve stress.     1     Here are some ways that helping others helps you.

    2     More specifically, when people make altruistic personal sacrifices, they end up being repaid by what they have done in the form of favors from others. These individuals earn the reputation as altruistic people and end up receiving favors from others who they may not have even directly helped.

Altruism is good for emotional well-being. For example, one study on patients showed that those who offered other patients peer support actually experienced great benefits, including more pronounced improvement of confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, depression and daily functioning.     3    

The positive effects of altruism often go beyond just you and that other person, influencing your whole community.     4     Your family and your friends may see your good example and behave in more altruistic ways as well and thus you can contribute to a more positive community. Helping others in need, especially those who are less fortunate than you, can provide you with a sense of perspective on how fortunate you are to have what you do in life.     5     As a result, you can improve your level of life satisfaction.

A．It can improve your quality of life in various ways.

B．It can help you gain a more positive view on your life.

C．Studies show acts of altruism can be a great form of stress relief.

D．Altruism can improve physical and mental health in a variety of ways.

E．When it comes to altruistic acts, what goes around generally comes around.

F．They generally found that their lives were dramatically changed for the better.

G．When you do nice things for others, they may do the same and the kindness grows.

10 . A woman in a cap wanders calmly along. Except for the lava (熔岩) erupting behind her, she could be walking in the park. The woman turns to watch the molten rock flow for a moment then walks calmly toward the camera. The footage(镜头) is from Werner Herzog’s book to volcanoes and volcano hunters, Into the Inferno, and the woman pictured is perhaps one of the most important volcanologists of all time, Katia Krafft.

Born in France, in 1942, Katia developed an interest in volcanoes at an early age. Later, she met Maurice Krafft. The pair bonded over their shared love of volcanoes before marrying in 1970. The Kraffts wrote about 20 books on volcanoes across the globe.

Katia and her husband made great progress in educating the general public in volcanology. Their footage had more than scientific value. For instance, when Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines began to show signs of an eruption in 1991, the Kraffts were able to present Philippine President Cory Aquino with video footage of the effects of the 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, asking him to call for an evacuation of those in the danger zone.

In 1969, Katia was awarded the prize of the Vocation Foundation for her work on active volcanic sites.

The couple lost their lives, along with more than 40 others during the eruption of Mount Unzen in Japan on June 3.1991. when they were caught in a flow of rock, gas and ash moving at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, with temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Katia was 49; Maurice, 45.

Katia’s impact on volcanology has reached far beyond her death and has encouraged many young women to study our restless planet. “Katia Krafft is definitely the reason why I’m doing this job,” says Carla Tiraboschi, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minster, Germany. Carla first saw Katia in a documentary when she was just six or seven years old and has been crazy about volcanoes ever since.

1. What can we infer from the book Into the Inferno?

A．Its author is Katia Krafft.	B．It’s a biography of Katia Krafft.
C．It calls on protecting the environment.	D．It focuses on volcanoes and their explorers.

2. What do we know about the couple?

A．They prevented a natural disaster.

B．They served as a warning in Japan.

C．They helped spread volcano science.

D．They covered Mount Pinatubo’s eruption.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “evacuation” in paragraph 3?

A．Substance.

B．Departure.

C．Occupation.

D．Intervention.

4. How did Katia influence Carla Tiraboschi?

A．Katia’s death made her restless.	B．Katia helped her with her research.
C．Katia taught her to make a documentary.	D．Katia’s deeds inspired her career choice.