Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is the economic and
Kunming's mild climate makes it a good place
In addition to its own charms, Kunming serves as a base from
2 . Mary Edwards Walker was the fifth daughter of the family. Her parents, who used to encourage her to think freely and allowed her to wear men's trousers, started the first free school in Oswego, New York, so their daughters would be just as educated as their son. Outside of school, all of the children helped work on the farm. After finishing at her parent's school, Walker attended the Falley Seminary in Fulton, New York. When she graduated, she became a teacher, but she knew she wanted to be a doctor. Later she attended Syracuse Medical College and received her medical degree in 1855 as the second woman to graduate from the college.
When the Civil War began in 1861, Walker wanted to join the Union's efforts. She went to Washington but was not allowed to serve as a medical officer because she was a woman. At the time, the army had no female surgeons, so Walker was only allowed to practice as a nurse.However, in 1863 her request to practice as a surgeon was finally accepted. She became the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War.
During her work as a surgeon in the war, Walker often crossed the battle lines to care for soldiers and civilians. In April of 1864, she was thought to be a spy and held as a prisoner of war for four months. A month after she was released, she became the assistant surgeon of the 52nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the war, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson.
In addition to her work with the army, Walker began to advocate for women's rights. She famously wore men's trousers and advocated for "dress reform". She also fought for suffrage (选举权) and tried to register to vote in 1987,but she was denied.In 1916,the Medal of Honor was taken away from Walker, who died of illness at 86. Decades later, President Jimmy Carter legally restored the Medal of Honor to Walker's name. In 2012 Walker's hometown setup a 900-pound bronze statue in honor of her contributions.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us about Walker?| A．Her dress style. | B．Her farm experience. |
| C．Her favorite occupation. | D．Her educational background. |
| A．Moral intolerance. | B．Racial intolerance. |
| C．Gender discrimination. | D．Political discrimination. |
| A．She was stopped from voting. |
| B．She was recognized as a nurse. |
| C．She was put into prison as a spy. |
| D．She was awarded the Medal of Honor. |
| A．To support women's suffrage. |
| B．To remember a great woman. |
| C．To introduce Walker's dress reform". |
| D．To encourage females to become surgeons. |
3 . Looking for a new weight loss plan? Try living on top of a mountain. Mountain air contains less oxygen than air at lower altitudes, so breathing it causes the heart to beat faster and the body to bum more energy. A handful of studies have found that athletes training at high altitudes tend to lose weight. Doctor Florian Lippl of the University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich wondered how the mountain air would affect overweight individuals if they weren’t doing any more physical activity than usual.
Lippl and his colleagues invited 20 overweight men to an environmental research station about 300 meters below the summit of Zugspitze, a mountain around 2,970 meters near the Austrian border. They were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The men also gave blood so that researchers could test for hormones (荷尔蒙) linked to appetite and fatness. At the end of the week, the men, whose mean weight starting out was 105kg, had lost on average about 1.5kg. The men’s blood pressure also dropped, which the researchers attributed to weight lost.
Exactly what caused the weight loss is uncertain. Loss of appetite is common at higher altitudes, and indeed the men ate significantly less than usual—about 700 calories fewer per day. Lippl also notes that because their consumption was being recorded, they may have been more self-conscious about what they ate. Regardless, eating less accounts for just 1kg of the 1.5kg lost, says Lippl. He thinks the increased metabolic (新陈代谢) rate, which was measured, also contributed to weight loss but cannot separate the different effects with the given data.
Appetite loss at high altitudes could certainly be key, notes Damian Bailey, a physiologist at the University of Glamorgan, UK, who recently lost 11kg during a 3-month expedition to the Andes in Chile.
Unfortunately, for the average person, there’s no treatment that can resemble living at high altitude, says Lippl. The only alternative is a hypobaric chamber (低压舱) , which exposes subjects to low oxygen and isn’t practical as a therapy. He says, half-jokingly, “if fat people plan their holidays, they might not go to the sea, but maybe to the mountains.”
1. What contributes the most to one’s heart rates, according to the first paragraph?| A．Our bodyweight. |
| B．The consumption of energy. |
| C．The rates of our breathing. |
| D．The amount of oxygen provided. |
| A．He experimented with the new weight loss plan in the Andes. |
| B．He found no other reasons for his loss of weight in the Andes. |
| C．He researched the related subject in the Andes. |
| D．He lost much weight in the high altitude Andes. |
| A．casualness | B．inaccuracy |
| C．uncertainty | D．confidence |
4 . School will be back in session by midAugust. The good news, kids and parents？There’s still time to enjoy yourself. From sports to movies, here’s a selection of familyfriendly activities we found, including some deals to make it easier on the wallet.
Free Golfing for Kids
Tired of your kids being in the house all summer？Get them outside, physically active and possibly interested in a new sport. Kids 5 to 15 can leave their electronic devices and onto the golf course with one free bucket of range balls and free golfing with one paid adult. 7:00 am－6:30 pm daily through Aug. 31. Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Blvd. , Land O’Lakes. (813) 9967122. plantationpalms. net.
Family Movies in Historic Theatres
Families can experience a bit of Tampa Bay history as they watch movies in two renovated(翻新的) area landmarks(地标).
As part of the summer Hollywood Classic Series, Tampa Theatre invites you to 1939’s The Wizard of Oz(Aug. 26). (You can remind the kids that Tampa Theatre is old enough to have showed The Wizard of Oz on its first run.) $10. 711 N Franklin St. , Tampa. (813)2748982. tampatheatre. org.
Together with Ruth Eckerd Hall’s 201819 Broadway Season, the historic Capitol Theatre presents movie versions of the Broadway musicals. Next up is The Lion King(Aug.11). $5. Upgrade to $9 for unlimited fountain drinks and popcorn. 3pm 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. (727) 7917400. rutheckerdhall. com.
Summer Series
Curtis Hixon Park has turned into a 12, 000squarefoot play wonderland focused on fitness and adventures. Free. Rotating(循环的) daily activities include live animals and animal education by Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park(Aug. 6), kids fitness classes by the YMCA(Aug.11), kidfriendly recipes by Salt Block Catering(Aug. 7) and craft activities by the Hillsborough County Library(Aug. 8). Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. (262) 9399908. tampasdowntown. com.
1. Which number should you call if you want to go golfing?| A．(262)9399908. | B．(727)7917400. |
| C．(813)2748982. | D．(813)9967122. |
| A．They have been rebuilt many times. |
| B．They were built about eighty years ago. |
| C．They are famous in the Tampa Bay area. |
| D．They have turned into a play wonderland. |
| A．At the YMCA. | B．At Lowry Park. |
| C．At Salt Block Catering. | D．At the Hillsborough County Library. |
5 . Four of the Oldest Buildings in the World
Knap of Howar
One of the oldest buildings in the world is the Knap of Howar, which dates back to 3700-3500 BCE.The farmhouse is one of the oldest, still-standing stone houses in Europe. It includes two stone homes linked through a hidden passage and joint walls. Archaeologists say Irish or Scottish monks could be the first builders and residents of the Knap of Howar. Although the house is still standing, these abandoned places around the world are better candidates for restoration.
Ġgantija Temples
The Megalithic Temples of Malta, or the Ġgantija Temples, date back to 3600 to 3200 BCE. The two temples on the island of Malta are UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s one of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Archaeologists think the temple was used for ritual animal sacrifices.
Shunet el-Zebib
Shunet el-Zebib is partially standing, but mostly in ruins. It’s still, however, one of the oldest buildings in the world. The Egyptian temple built in 2750 BCE is of mud and brick. It has an underground tomb as well as an above-ground complex. Architecturally, it’s a nod to the Egyptian pyramids soon to come.
Tomb of Cyrus
Built in 530 BCE, the Tomb of Cyrus is one of Iran’s World Heritage Sites and one of the oldest buildings on the planet. It’s also believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world, according to Atlas Obscura. The base isolating used on the tomb protects the main structure from moving apart from the foundation.
1. What do the four buildings have in common?| A．All of them are located in Europe. |
| B．All of them are made of stone and mud. |
| C．All of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. |
| D．All of them were built before the birth of Christ. |
| A．Knap of Howar. | B．Ġgantija Temples. |
| C．Shunet el-Zebib. | D．Tomb of Cyrus. |
| A．Shunet el-Zebib is earthquake protected. |
| B．Tomb of Cyrus has an underground tomb. |
| C．Ġgantija Temples are built by Irish monks. |
| D．Knap of Howar may be the oldest building among the four. |
6 . Here are some must-know festivals from a handbook which you cannot miss in some Asia countries.
Singapore Night Festival
Aug. 17-25 The annual Singapore Night Festival is a celebration of the island nation’s arts and cultural heritage (遗产). A highlight of the festival is the interactive light show that transforms the front of surrounding buildings into artistic wonders. http://www.nightfestival. com
Royal Floria
Aug. 25-Sep. 2 This year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of the Royal Floria in Putrajaya, with more than 400,000 floral displays. Floral designers and landscape architects from 10 countries are set to show their talent with their arts and cultural creations. http://www.floriaputrajaya. com
Tet Trung Nguyen
Aug. 25 It is believed that during Tet Trung Nguyen (Ghost Festival), spirits of the dead return home in search of their loved ones. Vietnamese pay homage(敬意) to their ancestors during the festivals by preparing feasts as prayer offerings. http://www.vietnamtourism.com
George Town Festival
Aug. 4-Sep. 2 The George Town Festival was inaugurated(创立) in 2010 in conjunction with the city’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has become one of the region’s important cultural festivals, showing myriad events that include musical performances, art exhibitions and film screenings taking place across multiple venues. http://www.georgetownfestival.com
1. The celebration of Singapore Night Festival lasts .| A．eight days | B．nine days |
| C．ten days | D．eleven days |
| A．Singapore Night Festival. | B．Tet Trung Nguyen. |
| C．Royal Floria. | D．George Town Festival. |
| A．From a handbook. | B．From a magazine. |
| C．From UNESCO. | D．From the websites. |
7 . On my recent trip to Sydney with my parents, we visited the Wildlife Park.
The Wildlife Park has lots of different animals and birds. Some are native to Australia and can only be found there. There are over 600 animals there, including kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles. They are kept in their natural environment. I like the Wildlife Park better than a zoo where most of the animals are in cages.
We first spent some time with the kangaroos. We were allowed to touch and feed them. It was very exciting to be so close to them. There were koalas there too. They looked very cuddly (令人想拥抱的). Although we were not allowed to carry them, I got to take a photo with one. It is a wonderful souvenir of my holiday in Sydney.
The Wildlife Park has plenty of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. Some of them are really big and scary with huge teeth! I did not want to get too close to them. There was also a bird show. The keepers showed us different species they had. I saw an old parrot which could “talk”. It made a great impression on me. I enjoyed the trip very much. There was so much to see.
1. What is a wonderful souvenir of the writer’s holiday?| A．A parrot that could talk. |
| B．A chance to feed a koala. |
| C．A photo with a koala. |
| D．Food for the kangaroos. |
| A．The kangaroos are kept in cages in the Wildlife Park. |
| B．The writer travelled to the Wildlife Park alone. |
| C．The writer went to see koalas first. |
| D．The writer watched a bird show. |
| A．Excited. | B．Unhappy. |
| C．Bored. | D．Hope. |
What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, red?
| A．On the other hand, black is depressing. |
| B．They tell us, among other facts, that we do not choose our favorite color as grow up — we are born with our preference. |
| C．The rooms are painted in different colors as you like. |
| D．If you do, you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. |
| E．Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. |
| F．Life is like a picture or a poem, full of different colors. |
| G．Colors do influence our moods—there is no doubt about it |
