1 . Once upon a time, there was a small village in the center of a big forest. All the villagers were used to their robotic farm work and none of them had the imagination or the will (意愿) to try something new, except for one girl named Jo. Very few could read or write, and Jo was one of them.
One afternoon, when Jo was on one of her explorations in the forest, she came upon an abandoned cottage (废弃的小屋). Though she’d been warned to stay away from abandoned places, her curiosity got the best of her. She slid in and was amazed to find a room full of books! Jo’s excitement was huge when she realized she had found a hidden treasure.
She ran to tell the villagers everything, thinking that they would share her excitement but instead, she heard roars of laughter! Jo was confused by this reaction (反应) and a little hurt too, but she did not give up on her books.
She came to the cottage every day and got down to reading the books. For her, each page was an adventure with characters who challenged difficulties with their determination and who struggled for good. Knowing the power of stories in impressing on people the values of life, she decided to share the stories with the villagers, though she knew it would be a difficult journey. Making this her mission (使命), Jo started telling stories every day at her cottage.
In the beginning, only a few came to the readings. But word spread rapidly, causing more and more people to come, some of whom even traveled from far away to just listen to her stories. She also conducted workshops in which she taught people how to read and write. She was remembered and lived in her stories even after she was long gone.
1. What do the underlined words “got the best of” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Prevented. | B．Frightened. | C．Cheated. | D．Beat. |
| A．They already knew it. | B．They thought nothing of it. |
| C．It was related to something fun. | D．It was all Jo’s imagination. |
| A．Caring but confusing. | B．Honest and helpful. |
| C．Adventurous but careless. | D．Determined and influential. |
| A．The Discovery of a Hidden Treasure |
| B．Jo’s Journey: from Adventure to Education |
| C．The Power of Stories in Challenging Difficulties |
| D．Jo’s Adventure: Unearthing an Abandoned Cottage |
2 . My mom spent years as a stay-at-home mom so that my brothers and I could focus on our education. However, I could tell from her curiosity of and attitudes toward working women that she envied their financial freedom and the self-esteem that must come with it. When I asked her about working again, she would tell me to focus on achieving my dream. I knew she had once dreamed for herself.
For years, I watched het effortlessly light up conversations with both strangers and family. Her empathy and ability to reach the heart could make anyone laugh, even when the story itself did not apply to them at all. “Mom, have you ever thought about being a stand-up comedian?” “It is too late for me, son,” she responded, laughing at the idea. I could not bear to watch her struggle between ambition and doubt.
Her birthday was coming up. Although I had already bought her a present, I knew what I actually wanted to give her. I placed little notes of encouragement inside the present. I asked my family and her friends to do the same. Eventually I had collected 146 notes, and each with the same sentiment: “You are humorous, full of life, and ready to take on the stage.”
On the day of her birthday, my mom unwrapped my present. She was not surprised as she had hinted at it for long. But then she saw those little notes. She started to weep with her hands full of notes. She could not believe the support was real.
Within two months, my mom gave her first performance in a New York comedy club. I have read the notes countless times with my mom. They are framed and line the walls of her new office space that she rented with the profits she made from working as a professional comedian. For many parents, their children’s careers are their greatest accomplishment, but for me my mom’s is mine.
1. What was the attitude of the author’s mother to working women?| A．She was curious about their income. | B．She admired what work brought them. |
| C．She felt indifferent to working women. | D．She appreciated their ambitions in finance. |
| A．Her effort in making friends. | B．Her talent to bring people joy. |
| C．Her curiosity about working women. | D．Her desire for financial independence. |
| A．Amazed and hesitant. | B．Sad and disappointed. |
| C．Moved and encouraged. | D．Delighted and proud. |
| A．Supporting Mom’s dream. | B．Achieving his own dream. |
| C．Securing financial freedom. | D．Becoming a successful comedian. |
Taking a gap year before you move into further education is not a new concept, which now focuses on making the most of this break from academic life. Long gone are the days of just hanging out on a beach or
Doing something productive is exactly what students
For those who do have the funds, a
4 . Have you ever lost something in a hard-to-reach space, like behind a couch or a cupboard? Wouldn’t it be nice to just be able to squeeze in and out? New innovations in the field of robotics will soon be able to make this nice idea into a reality.
In a study published on Jan 25 in the science journal Matter, engineers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Carnegie Mellon University in the US have developed small robots that can quickly change back and forth from liquid to solid states.
According to the website Mashable, the scientists were inspired by sea cucumbers (海参). They are able to change the stiffness (僵硬度) of their body or reduce the potential for physical damage. The robots in the study were made from gallium (镓), a soft metal with a low melting point of 30 ℃. The scientists then used changes in the magnetic field to manipulate the magnetic particles (粒子) inside the gallium material to provide heat. This heat then allowed the robots to change between solid and liquid states as well as to move around.
As the website Tech Xplore pointed out, other similar materials require external heat sources such as heat guns and electrical currents to induce (触发) a change of states; but now, the robots can use a heat source inside itself to change states independently.
During the robots’ experimental trials, the scientists conducted a number of tests. These tests included having the robots melt into liquid and re-form to escape a prison like cage. It can remove a foreign object from and deliver medicinal drugs to a model stomach. The robot is also able to build and repair hard-to-reach circuits. The robot’s ability to switch between states of matter allows for a number of possible uses and advancements in different fields, such as the biomedical and circuit assembly industries.
Still, in the words of senior author Carmel Majidi at Carnegie Mellon University, for now these are all just “proofs of concept” which show the abilities of these new kinds of robots.
1. What can we learn about the small robots?| A．Chinese and British scientists co-produced them. |
| B．They were made from a newly invented. |
| C．Sea cucumbers provided inspiration for them material. |
| D．They can switch between three states of matter. |
| A．By controlling the magnetic particles. |
| B．By employing a heat source. |
| C．By using electrical currents. |
| D．By using heat guns. |
| A．They have great market potential. |
| B．It will take more time for them to be widely used. |
| C．More proof is needed for their abilities. |
| D．Their abilities are overstated. |
| A．New innovations of robotics |
| B．Liquid robots revealed |
| C．Proofs of concept robots |
| D．The limitations of the robots |
5 . Smart phones are dramatically changing the way we walk down the street. Office workers and young people are walking like pensioners as they check emails and messages.
Scientists have found mobile phones make us walk more slowly, with modest steps, to avoid obstacles. The lead author of the study said the walk is similar to that of someone in their eighties. Researchers found people writing a text message walk more than twice as slowly as those without a phone, finding it harder to stay in a straight line and lift their feet 18 per cent higher above a pavement edge. Their steps are more than a third shorter, as they rely on their restricted vision to avoid falling over while distracted by their phone.
The scientists examined 252 separate participants walking while reading a text message, writing one, speaking on their phone or without their phone at all. Writing a text is the most demanding activity, causing people to look down at their phone 46 per cent more, and 45 per cent longer, than when reading a message. This led people to walk 118 per cent more slowly than when they were without their phone. People walked almost a third more slowly while reading a text and 19 per cent while talking on the phone.
Smart phones were found to prevent people from walking in a straight line, putting them at greater risk of colliding (碰撞) with other people, cars or street lamps. This increased the need to slow down and take more careful steps.
John Timmis said, “The idea for this study came from following someone walking down the street in the afternoon, who was walking as if he had had several drinks. I thought it was a bit early for that, then walked up alongside him and saw that he was on his phone. Simply being on the phone changes the way people walk.”
1. What does the underlined word “modest” mean in the second paragraph?| A．Young. | B．Straight. | C．Small. | D．Low. |
| A．Those not carrying phones. | B．Those writing a text message. |
| C．Those reading a text message. | D．Those speaking on their phones. |
| A．The chance of possible accidents. | B．The need to walk straight. |
| C．The traffic jams during rush hours. | D．The desire for using their phones. |
| A．From many people who liked to walk in the afternoon. |
| B．From a lot of people who loved to walk along with him. |
| C．From young people who were walking like the workers. |
| D．From a person who was walking in the street very strangely. |
1. Why was Misty worried about Matthew meeting Father Christmas?
| A．He was too excited. |
| B．He has health problems. |
| C．He is afraid of strangers. |
| A．That he had an accident. |
| B．That he was born too early. |
| C．That he had a terrible fever. |
| A．That Matthew had learning difficulties. |
| B．That Matthew was unable to walk. |
| C．That Matthew couldn’t talk. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Confused. | C．Excited. |
7 . The Best Volunteer Abroad Programs in Africa
Looking for the best volunteer abroad opportunities to join? Here are the best volunteer programs in Africa.
Volunteer in Zanzibar
Looking to unplug from everyday life? Zanzibar program is perfect for animal and nature lovers. As a volunteer traveler, you can live in a beachside bungalow (平房) and regenerate wild turtle populations. Alternatively, you can stay in a forest camp to protect endangered species, such as snakes, lizards and tortoises.
Volunteer in Victoria Falls
Imagine volunteering in a setting where your backyard has breathtaking views over a zebra-filled grassland—Victoria Falls is just that. It is one of the best wildlife conservation volunteer programs, which has been recommended in the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel for 2023. While the volunteer work is physically demanding, you’ll be rewarded with night camping outside the reserve.
Volunteer in Zambia
For those who want to explore the incredible area of Victoria Falls, but also want to volunteer in the community, check this out. Volunteer in Zambia includes construction, teaching and medical care. Thanks to its thrilling activities, this is the “perfect destination for adventure-seekers” according to Lonely Planet! Whether you want to swim on the ledge of a waterfall or take a walking safari (徒步野生动物观光), Zambia is the perfect spot to witness nature at its best while making a positive impact.
Volunteer in Ghana
Volunteers on the Ghana program consistently talk about the immersive cultural experience. The local people you’ll work with will make you feel at home from the moment you land in Ghana. As a volunteer here, you’ll develop a strong sense of connection to your host community and local traditions in Ghana.
1. What do Volunteer in Zanzibar and Volunteer in Victoria Falls have in common?| A．They provide beautiful sea views. |
| B．They offer camping in the reserve. |
| C．They aim to offer wildlife protection. |
| D．They are recommended by Lonely Planet. |
| A．Volunteer in Zambia. | B．Volunteer in Ghana. |
| C．Volunteer in Zanzibar. | D．Volunteer in Victoria Falls. |
| A．People fascinated by wildlife conservation. |
| B．Individuals seeking a relaxing travel experience. |
| C．People with enthusiasm for travel and volunteering. |
| D．Individuals interested in African cultures and traditions. |
The Han Dynasty was one of the heydays in ancient China. Han has a history
Hanfu is
Hanfu is composed of yi, chang, headgear, hairstyle, shoes, etc. There are two types of “yi”.
In recent years,
1. Who is probably the speaker?
| A．A reporter. | B．A teacher. | C．A writer. |
| A．He read a book. | B．He looked after the horse. | C．He enjoyed the snow. |
| A．Sad. | B．Moved. | C．Casual. |
| A．Help those around us as much as we can. |
| B．Read as many books as we can. |
| C．Be grateful for what we have. |
(CHINADAILY Sep.19.2023 Tuesday) Hangzhou, along with five other cities in Zhejiang province,
“The Hangzhou Asian Games — the third Asiad (亚运会)
“We have overcome a lot of challenges
For the
The digital torch relay was launched on June 15, in sync (同步) with the physical one. More than 100 million people online,
“We’ve opened a new era in our preparations for the Asiad; it is the era of digitalization,” Chen said,
