1 . Four unique European music traditions that are protected by UNESCO

Inuit drum dancing, Greenland

In 2021, UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) recognised Greenland’s Inuit drum dancing and singing as an intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) of humanity. The drum dance typical of the tradition can be performed by one dancer alone or accompanied by a group of people singing songs about love, humour and hunting.

Uilleann piping, Ireland

Uilleann piping was included in the UNESCO’s list in 2017. It involves playing Irish music on a particular type of bagpipe (风笛) known as the “uilleann”. It is a highly developed and complex instrument, with some functions that cannot be found elsewhere. It often accompanies music played at weddings and parties, and it’s been passed on through several generations of Irish musicians.

Kaustinen folk music, Finland

In 2019, UNESCO added to its list Finland’s Kaustinen folk music, a tradition where the violin, with or without accompanying instruments, is played by ear. The style is characterised by rhythms or accents that make it easy to dance to. The 250-year-old tradition is played during wedding parties, public concerts and at music festivals in the small village of Kaustinen.

Fado, Portugal

Fado music, which originated in Portugal in the early 19th century, is now a symbol of Portuguese culture and tradition. It combines poetry and music to create a sometimes sorrowful, and always passionate melody, usually performed by a solo singer accompanied by guitars. It was included in the UNESCO’s list in2011.

1. What is a feature of the uilleann?

A．It is easy to play.	B．It is played by ear.
C．It is highly developed.	D．Its functions are common.

2. Which of the following was added to the UNESCO’s list earliest?

A．Fado.

B．Uilleann piping.

C．Inuit drum dancing.

D．Kaustinen folk music.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．An instrument ad.	B．A culture website.
C．A history textbook.	D．A music festival poster.

2 . It’s time to share the winners of this year’s Invent It Challenge! Here are our four winners of the first round!

Glo Zone (Ages 5-7 Individual Winner)

Kabir from California came up with this cool invention after a not-so-fun experience. He was hit by four adults on a ski trip! To make skiing and snowboarding safe for nighttime (especially for smaller kids)， he created Glo Zone，a fun glowing(发光的)rainbow umbrella that is attached to skiers’ helmets.

ProTech Helmet (Ages 11-13 Individual Winner)

Pooja from New Jersey has created a light, safe helmet designed for playing frisbee (飞盘)!She came up with the idea after getting hit right under the eye at a frisbee competition and realizing she could get blinded if it were any higher. The ProTech Helmet has a lining(衬里) made of a new technology called Spin.

Ace Attachment (Ages 8-10 Team Winner)

Levi and Albert from New York dealt with helping people with disabilities enjoy sports. The Ace Attachment makes it easier for wheelchair users to play golf. Unlike similar inventions, the Ace Attachment is easily adjustable.

Skate Shoes “DOOD” (Ages 14+ Individual Winner)

It’s the worst when you ruin your favorite pair of shoes! Fortunately, Rommel from Mexico has come up with new skate shoes. These shoes have exchangeable parts that allow pieces of the shoes to be replaced with new ones when broken instead of getting rid of the whole pair.

Cast your vote!

Which of these fantastic inventions will you choose to win the Cricket Choice Award? While they are all outstanding, only one can win the popular vote! Cast your vote here by May 16!

1. What do Kabir’s and Pooja’s inventions have in common?

A．They are new-type helmets.

B．They are targeted at the same sport.

C．They are designed for teenagers of the same age group.

D．They are inspired by the inventors’ experience of getting hit.

2. What is special about Rommel’s invention?

A．It is disability-friendly.

B．It features replaceable parts.

C．It involves a new technology called Spin.

D．It enables wheelchair users to enjoy sports.

3. What is this text?

A．A short story about young inventors.	B．An introduction to a competition.
C．An award voting invitation.	D．A winner announcement.

3 . As more and more people seek to live healthier lifestyles, the popularity of organic food has grown significantly. But what exactly is “organic” food? Organic food refers to produce and other agricultural products that are grown or raised without the use of synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics, or growth hormones.

Organic farming focuses on sustainable practices that promote soil health, conserve water, and support natural ecosystems. Farmers who practice organic farming often use techniques such as crop rotation, composting, and natural pest control to maintain the health of their crops and the environment.

Consumers are drawn to organic food for various reasons. Some believe that organic food is healthier because it contains fewer synthetic chemicals. Others are concerned about the environmental impact of conventional farming methods and choose organic products to support more sustainable practices.

However, organic food does come with some drawbacks. It tends to be more expensive than conventionally produced food due to the labor-intensive nature of organic farming and the lower crop yields that can result from avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, the strict regulations that govern organic farming can make it challenging for some farmers to obtain and maintain organic certification.

Overall, the choice between organic and conventionally produced food often depends on individual priorities. While organic food offers potential health and environmental benefits, it may not always be the most practical or affordable option for everyone.

1. What does “organic” food refer to?

A．Food grown with synthetic pesticides.

B．Food produced with GMOs.

C．Food grown without synthetic pesticides and GMOs.

D．Food raised with antibiotics and growth hormones.

2. What is a common practice in organic farming to maintain crop and environmental health?

A．Using synthetic pesticides.

B．Employing genetic modification.

C．Practicing crop rotation and natural pest control.

D．Applying growth hormones.

3. Why do some consumers choose organic food?

A．To reduce labor-intensive farming.

B．To support conventional farming methods.

C．To save costs on groceries.

D．To promote healthier and more sustainable practices.

4 . Bantham Beach, Devon

The South Devon coast is knee-deep in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Bantham is a golden bank of sand. There are rock pools for younger children and for their elders. This is one of the county’s favourite surfing beaches.

The 14th-century Sloop Inn (01548-560489, sloopatbantham. co. uk) has summer doubles from ￡145 per night (and it’s only a couple of hundred yards to the beach).

Camber Sands, East Sussex

Head to the western end of the overflow car park and then it’s a pleasant walk through dunes (沙丘) to your own private area on the endless sands.

If you haven’t bought a picnic, the village’s Rye Bay Cafe is good for lunch and the nearby Rye Bay Nature Reserve provides walking, cycling and bird watching options.

Charming double rooms at The Galivant (01797-225057, thegalivant. co. uk) start at￡115 per night.

Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife

This small, rural, sandy beach is beside woodland and offers dreamy views out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm.

The Fife coastal path passes through and there’s a good walking road following the cliff top to Hawkcraig with views across the River Forth to Edinburgh.

Lunch at Sands Beachfront Cafe and book a room at Forth View Hotel (01383-860402, forthviewhotel. co. uk), where doubles cost from￡85 per night.

Druridge Bay, Northumberland

Druridge Bay has 99 acres of golden, sweeping sands. The kids can explore the towering grassland dunes that shelter the bay, and just 300 yards from the beach is the Druridge Bay County Park and Visitor Centre with wildlife displays and play areas.

Food can be had at the Widdrington Inn (eight miles away) while Eshott Hall (01670-787454, eshotthall. co. uk) has doubles from￡120 per night.

1. Where will you go if you are interested in wildlife displays?

A．Bantham Beach, Devon	B．Camber Sands, East Sussex
C．Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife	D．Druridge Bay, Northumberland

2. Which of the following can you enjoy at Camber Sands?

A．Surfing in rock pools.

B．Watching birds.

C．Playing in a park.

D．Exploring islands.

3. Which hotel charges the most for a double room?

A．Sloop Inn.

B．The Galivant.

C．Forth View Hotel.

D．Eshott Hall.

5 . Four European Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2023

Festival Medieval (中世纪的) de Sedan

For an unforgettable slice of Medieval France, head to Festival Medieval de Sedan in May. Held at the largest medieval castle in Europe, the Chateau de Sedan, the festival brings the spirit of the Middle Ages alive. Exciting tournaments and atmospheric parades take place around the castle grounds. Around 15,000 people come to explore the castle. Just be prepared to climb a lot of stairs!

La Fete de la Musique

There’s music in the air throughout France on 21 June. This is when La Fete de la Musique (Music Day) takes place. The first all-day musical celebration was first held in Paris in 1982 but later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world. During the festival, thousands of musicians gather in the streets, bars, and cafes giving free public performances.

Festival d’ Avignon

Another fantastic French festival not to miss is the Festival d’ Avignon. The annual theater festival is held in July in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes in Avignon. During this time, Avignon transforms its architectural heritage into various grand performance venues. Tens of thousands of theater lovers of all ages come to enjoy theatre, dance, visual arts, and live music.

Bastille Day

Celebrated nationwide on 14 July, Bastille Day is the biggest and most important festival in the French calendar. It marks the day that Parisian civilians and peasants stormed the fortress (堡垒) and prison of Bastille. This caused events that would end the monarchy (君主制) and start the age of liberty and equality. Celebrations are held all over France, including large-scale public events and parties.

1. Which of the following holidays takes place earliest?

A．Bastille Day.	B．Festival d’ Avignon.
C．La Fete de la Musique.	D．Festival Medieval de Sedan.

2. What can people do on La Fete de la Musique?

A．Enjoy beautiful music.	B．Explore some castles.
C．Make delicious coffee.	D．Learn about the monarchy.

3. When should you go if you are interested in the most important festival?

A．In May.

B．In June.

C．In July.

D．In August.

6 . What was the reason for the man to work at the charity at first?

A．To help the homeless.

B．To do a college project.

C．To get work experience.

7 . Yogita Dighe works as a salesperson at an electronics store in Aundh, an upmarket neighbourhood in Pune, India’s ninth-largest city.

Even though she has a comfortable job, Dighe used to be filled with uneasiness at the thought of having to use the store’s toilet. It is a unisex space shared by customers and staff, and is “constantly dirty” owing to overuse, being cleaned only once every day.

A year ago, Dighe discovered a “Ti bus” (“ti” means “her” in Marathi) —a restroom inside a decommissioned bus, parked about five minutes away from her workplace. Since then, she’s used it regularly. Cleaned after every use, the toilets within the bus “feel nice and fresh”.

Currently, 12 decommissioned city buses in Pune have been turned into restrooms by SaraPlast, a private sanitation (卫生设备) company. Each solar-powered bus toilet comes with a full-time female attendant and can be accessed either free of charge or for a fee of 5 rupees, affordable even for low-income women. Showers, breastfeeding and baby-changing stations, and drinking water are all included in the buses to meet the needs of every woman.

A kiosk (小摊棚) selling masks and juices has been set up on one side of the bus, making it a sustainable business. Ads on the bus also bring in profits, which go towards water supply, electricity, repairs and the salary of the attendant who cleans and maintains the restroom from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m.

“Every person, whether rich or poor, should have access to a good, clean toilet,” SaraPlast states, “A public bus goes out of service after 15 years in India. Transforming it into the restroom extends its life by up to two decades, aside from the social service it offers.” This concept was so well received that other cities are following in Pune’s footsteps.

1. Why does Dighe feel uneasy about her store’s toilet?

A．It is far from her present office.	B．It is designed for customers only.
C．It is never fully cleaned by staff.	D．It is continuously in a great mess.

2. What does the underlined word mean in paragraph 3?

A．Advanced.

B．Damaged.

C．Soiled.

D．Retired.

3. What does the “Ti bus” provide?

A．Car repairing service.	B．Dish washing products.
C．Baby caring facilities.	D．Phone charging stations.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．The Restroom on Wheels for Females.	B．The Extra Function of New City Buses.
C．The Project of Defending Human Rights.	D．The Company Offering Cleaning Items.

8 . 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。

Yunnan is the hometown of tea. It provides the ideal climate and the ecological environment for large-leaf tea trees, which are located in the     1     (region) along the Lancang River. Thousands of years ago, they formed those ancient tea plantations,     2     are the best gift that nature has grated us.

    3     (preserve) the ancient tea trees, Southwest Chinn’s Yunnan Province has passed a protection regulation recently,     4     (clarify) that wild and cultivated ten plants aged over 100 wars should be better protected in the province. The new regulation, which will come into force starting from March 1, 2023,    5    (prohibit) six kinds of behaviors that harm ancient tea plants and their growing environment. Unauthorized cutting and transplantation of ancient tea trees, carving tree branches, digging the roots,     6    damaging the ancient lea trees are all banned.

Other     7     (legal) practices include using harmful chemical herbicides, releasing waste gas and water, as well as dumping and throwing waste     8     (casual) within the protection range of the trees, according to the regulation.

Yunnan has diverse resources of tea trees. The regulation also advocates proper research and     9    (apply) of Yunnan’s resources of ancient tea trees, raising varieties     10    new tea trees of good quality, as well as the establishment of relevant industrial chains.

9 . Hawaii Volcanoes National Park wants to help you plan with four insightful tips to guide the busy season.

Plan Ahead	Make sure you know about eruption viewing tips, basic information, current conditions, directions & transportation, entrance fees and parking.
Tap the App	Download the free National Park Service app(and offline content) before you arrive.
Know Before You Go	Visitors should expect long waits at the entrance station, congestion on roads and popular trails, and little or no parking at Devastation Trail, Nhuku and the summit of Klauea between 10 am and 5 pm, June through early January. Have a Plan B during the busy season, and visit the Kahuku Unit. Kahuku is never crowded, and open Thursday through Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm. Kahuku is located on Highway 11, approximately one hour from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Stay Safe	Learn more about how you can have a safe visit. Do not enter closed areas. It is critical to stay on trails and in designated(指定的)overlooks. Feeling sick? Visit another day. Maintain social distance of 6 feet from others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Park staff are available to answer questions at 808-985-6011.

1. What in for nation do you need to get in advance?

A．Queue length.	B．Travel agency.
C．Catering Services.	D．Duration of eruption.

2. When is the best time to visit the park?

A．At 8 pm on May 16 th.	B．At 11 am on July 11th.
C．At id am on March 6 th.	D．At 6 pm on September 22 th.

3. What is the text?

A．A show review.	B．An announcement.
C．A visitor check list.	D．An exhibition guide.

10 . 语法填空。

Humour has been an essential part of human behaviour and can not only entertain but     1     throw new light on sensitive or emotive issues. Mark Twain is remembered for his ability     2     (combine) humour with more serious messages. Twain’s particular style of writing is     3     (fun) and often mischievous. For example, in his classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, he famously says, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is     4     (cross) out the wrong words.”

Lin,     5     became famous for his unique brand of humour, brought the concept of humour to modern Chinese literature. In 1924, he     6     (creative) borrowed “youmo” from Ancient Chinese as the translation for the English word “humour”. “Youmo”     7     (use) still in this way today.

Humour isn’t just about laughter,     8     is a way of life and a tool that can be used to illuminate the world. Lin even created an equation     9     (explain) this concept: Reality + Dreams + Humour = Wisdom. Living and working with others can sometimes be complicated, and humour makes this easier.     10     (share) jokes and laughing together can bring individuals and even communities together. Mark Twain says, “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing”.