1 . Magical box
In the 1994 film Forrest Gump, there’s a famous saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.” The surprise is part of the fun. Now blind box toys are bringing the magic of surprise to online shopping.
A blind box toy is hidden inside uniform packaging (统一的包装)and cannot be seen from the outside. You don't know what will be inside, although the toys typically come from pop culture, ranging from movies to comics and cartoons.
Blind boxes have caught on since they were first introduced from Japan to China in 2014. According to a 2019 Tmall (天猫)report, the mini-series of Labubu blind box, designed by Hong Kong-born Kasing Lung, was named Champion of Unit Sales with 55,000 sold in just 9 seconds during the Singles Day shopping event. Most customers for these magical mystery (神秘)boxes are young people aged 18 to 35.
According to the report, blind box toys are popular partly because of their cute appearances. The typically cute cartoon figurines (小塑像)conic in very small sizes, making them suitable for display almost anywhere. There is another main reason why people buy blind boxes one after another. “Fear of the unknown is always a part of the box-opening process,” said Miss Cao, 24, who loves buying blind boxes. Speaking to Sina News, she said, “Until you open all the boxes, you cannot know what it is inside.”
Opening a blind box is a delightful little surprise for our boring daily lives, something small but fun to wait for each day, week or month. When people open this simple little box, they may be disappointed, but the uncertainly is part of the fun. People will open more blind boxes and hope for a better outcome.
When someone remakes the film Forrest Gump, don't be surprised if he says, “Life is like a blind box ...”
1. What can we learn about blind boxes?| A．People buy blind boxes when they feel bored. |
| B．The toys in blind boxes come from pop culture. |
| C．Blind boxes are designed by a Hong Kong artist. |
| D．All of blind boxes were sold out on Nov. 11, 2019. |
| A．Small size. | B．Uniform packaging. |
| C．Professional design。 | D．Mystery and uncertainty. |
| A．The history of blind boxes. | B．The problems of blind boxes. |
| C．The popularity of blind boxes. | D．The cultural effects of blind boxes. |
2 . The two-year Master’s program Computational Linguistics is a research-oriented program. It is designed to provide more in-depth skills in specialized subjects building on the contents of a B. Sc. in Natural Language Processing or a related field. The program is characterized by an emphasis on team work, laboratory work and research skills.
Which interests and skills should I have?
The M. Sc. Computational Linguistics is ideal for students with a background in Computer Science and Linguistics who want to study in an interdisciplinary, innovative environment.
Which areas of specialization are there?
Students can focus on one of the following areas by choosing specific elective courses: Core Computational Linguistics, Applied Natural Language Processing, Speech Processing, Computer Science.
What job prospects are available to me after graduation?
With an M. Sc. in Computational Linguistics, students are prepared for advanced academic or industrial research and development in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing, or for working in companies involved with speech and language technologies.
Typical fields of work include speech processing, automatic generation and analysis of texts, machine translation, electronic dictionaries, search technology, (social) media monitoring, or dialogue systems. Students with an M. Sc. in Computational Linguistics from Stuttgart work in renowned organizations not only in Germany, but also all over the world.
What opportunities does my study program offer?
In the 3rd semester, students can study abroad and use the credit points for their M. Sc. Computation Linguistics. Various partner institutions offer interesting courses in the CL field.
What opportunities does the University of Stuttgart has to offer?
Are you interested in going on exchange for a semester or two? Or would you rather do some research or attend a language course? Have you ever thought of joining a Summer School or planned an internship abroad? Whatever you have in mind for your exchange, the International Office will help you make your stay abroad an unforgettable experience. The first step will be to sign up online for our information sessions at the International Office that are offered on a regular basis. We look forward to your registration!
1. According to the passage, the two-year Master’s program Computational Linguistics ________.| A．attaches great importance to research skills |
| B．gives students a guarantee of working abroad |
| C．asks students to focus on more specialized areas |
| D．requires no basic knowledge of computer science |
| A．do some related research | B．attend a language course |
| C．register online for meetings | D．get the required credit points |
| A．A college website. | B．A popular magazine. |
| C．An academic journal. | D．A science newspaper. |
Long-distance running is a great for beginners. To start with, you should draw up a training plan. Set
4 . The simplest smartphone ever
The Jitterbug® Smart2 from GreatCall® is the simplest phone with a simple menu, large screen and particular health and safety services.
Easy Everything you want to do, from texting and taking pictures, to emailing and getting directions, is organized in a single list on one screen with large legible letters. Plus, voice typing makes writing emails and texts effortless.
Smart Turn your Jitterbug Smart2 into a personal safety device with GreatCall’s 55tar® Urgent Response Service and particular health apps.
Affordable GreatCall has a variety of plans with data starting as low as $17.48 per month. Compared to other cell phone companies, you could save over $300 per year.
Why the Jitterbug Smart2 is your best choice for a new smartphone:
| No long-term contracts | Keep your current phone number | 100% U.S.-based customer service and technical support | No hidden monthly fees | Affordable, flexible plans |
| To order or learn more, call 1-800-410-2629 | Or visit greatcall.com/Smart | |||
25% off of $149.99 MSRP is only valid(有效的) for new lines of service. Offer valid 11/12/2020 through 1/2/2021. Monthly fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of a GreatCall device and a one-time setup fee of $35. $300 savings calculation based on market leaders’ lowest available monthly published fees. JITTERBUG are trademarks of Best Buy and its attached companies. © 2020 Best Buy. All rights reserved.
1. What makes writing emails and texts easy according to the passage?| A．The simple menu. | B．The large screen. |
| C．The single list. | D．The speech input. |
| A．November 11st, 2020. | B．January 10th, 2020. |
| C．January 1st, 2021. | D．February 10th, 2021. |
| A．To advertise a smartphone. | B．To recommend health apps. |
| C．To introduce a safety device. | D．To compare wireless networks. |
My grandfather is a Party member. He often shares stories about the Communist Party of China
International Workers’ Day is a day to show respect for the working people and advocate the spirit of hard work. The Chinese are known
7 . With over 250 registered art institutions，London is one of the world's greatest cultural capitals. The city's museums are a huge draw — especially for first-time visitors.
British Museum
PHONE +44 20 7323 8299
If there's one museum to see in London, this is it. From Egyptian mummies and pieces of the Parthenon to the game﹣changing Rosetta Stone and an enormous Easter Island figure, the British Museum — covering 18.5 acres — is not just one oi London's best museums, but one of the world's. Organized by geographic territories, modern-day Indiana Joneses could spend weeks exploring these halls, which back to 1753. Plan your visit in advance by mapping out the highlights.
Victoria and Albert Museum
PHONE +44 20 7942 2000
The V&A knows how to make a good first impression. Hanging in its entrance hall is a blue -and-green Dale Chihuly blown glass chandelier, and that's just the beginning. Established in 1857, the museum's collection is spread over seven floors and consists of decorative arts and design from every time period. Highlights include the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, arts by Picasso, a copy of the first edition of the collected works of Shakespeare, art treasures from Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and one of the most comprehensive jewelry collections in the world.
Tate Modern
PHONE +44 20 7887 8888
Housed in a former industrial power station at the foot of the River Thames,the Tate Modern is one of the world's largest and most modern art museums. Exhibiting British and international works dating from 1900 to today, the Tate Modern displays the works of masters like Rothko, Matisse, Picasso, and Dali, alongside Yayoi Kusama, Tracey Emin, and Marina Abramovic.
Tate Britain
PHONE +44 20 7887 8881
The sister gallery to the Tate Modem is the Tate Britain. With its old-world marble floors, spiral staircases, and Grecian columns, the Tate Britain is a veritable temple of British art from 1500 to today.
1. If you are interested in Egyptian mummies you should visit________.| A．V&A Museum |
| B．British Museum |
| C．Tate Modern |
| D．Tate Britain |
| A．44 20 73238299. |
| B．44 20 78878888. |
| C．44 20 79422000. |
| D．44 20 78878881. |
| A．Health. |
| B．Sports. |
| C．Business. |
| D．Tourism. |
8 . I was standing in the checkout line behind a woman who looked to be in her 60s. When it was her turn to pay, the cashier greeted her by name and asked her how she was doing.
The woman looked down, shook her head and said: “Not so good. My husband just lost his job. The truth is, I don’t know how I’m going to get through these days.” Then she gave the cashier food stamps(食品券).
My heart ached. I wanted to help but didn’t know how. Should I offer to pay for her groceries, or ask for her husband’s resume(简历)?
Walking into the parking lot, I spotted the woman returning her shopping cart. I remembered something in my purse that I thought could help her. It wasn’t a handful of cash or an offer of a job for her husband, but maybe it would make her life better.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice trembling a bit. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said to the cashier. It sounds like you’ re going through a really hard time right now. I’m so sorry. I’d like to give you something. ”
I handed her the small card from my purse. When the woman read the two words “You Matter” on the card, she began to cry. And through her tears, she said: “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
I was a little startled by her reply. Having never done anything like this before, I didn’t know what kind of reaction I might receive. All I could think to say was: “Would it be OK to give you a hug? ”
A few days earlier, one of my workmates gave a similar card to me as encouragement for a project I was working on. When I read the card, I felt a warm glow spread inside of me. Deeply touched, I ordered my own box of “You Matter” cards and started sharing them.
1. What was the woman’s trouble?| A．She lost her job. |
| B．She needed more food stamps. |
| C．She didn’t know how to get through the hard time. |
| D．She didn’t have enough money to pay for her groceries. |
| A．She inspired the woman with a card. |
| B．She bought some food for the woman. |
| C．She gave the woman a handful of money. |
| D．She offered the woman’s husband a better job. |
| A．Moved. | B．Surprised. | C．Pleased. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．You Decide Who You Are | B．Bad Things Will Go Away |
| C．The Help from a Stranger | D．The Power of a Small Card |
Children in the United States and other rich countries
The United Nations Children’s Fund, also known as UNICEF, is a United Nations organization based in New York. It offers help needed by children all over the world.
UNICEF
