1 . Chen Shaoqin, a woman from Beijing, has shown the world how life should be lived by working as a tour guide in her seventies.
Chen has only a middle school education. She began studying English at the age of 40, changing herself from a factory worker to a white collar (白领) worker in an international trade company.
Chen continued to learn after retirement (退休), studying art and finally becoming an art guide at the age of 67. Over the past five years, from a person who knew nothing about art to a great volunteer guide, Chen's hard work and love for learning have encouraged many. As a guide, she is able to take special training courses and has the chance to learn from artists, giving her courage to continue.
Chen is proud of many exhibitions (展览) guided by her over the years, including those of famous artists like Zeng Fanzhi, Xu Bing, Qiu Zhijie and Pablo Picasso. She believes that every tour is a beautiful journey and a new chance to learn and be moved. Chen's love for learning has made her an excellent guide. After turning 73 this year, she said. “Well, I may be old, but I believe that the width of one's life can be expanded (延伸) through self-exploration and learning.”
1. How did the English learning affect Chen Shaoqin?| A．She became a white-collar. | B．She got a job as an art guide. |
| C．She had a chance to be an artist. | D．She turned out to be a factory worker. |
| A．40. | B．67. | C．72 | D．73. |
| A．She gets into trouble when travelling. |
| B．She becomes famous for her great paintings. |
| C．She has guided many exhibitions successfully. |
| D．She has been a volunteer guide for five years. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Worried. | C．Regretful. | D．Doubtful. |
2 . The world’s first 3D-printed wood log hive (蜂箱) is a new project developed by the Lacrima Foundation in Edinburgh to reduce the troubling decline of honey bee populations around the world.
The Lacrima Foundation is a charity that is “committed to the conservation and protection of one of the Earth’s most important inhabitant.” The charity teamed up with beekeepers in Europe to work towards a rewilding approach that would offer bees a natural nest habitat and, in turn, create resilience (复原力) among bee communities.
Honey bees are one of the most important pollinators (授粉者), and although they may seem small and insignificant, they are vital for the production of our food — we couldn’t eat without them! However, in recent years, bee populations have been severely impacted by the growing climate emergency and our intensive agriculture practices, including the overuse of pesticides.
With help from local partners, the Foundation created 3D-printed wood log hives, which allow the bees to live in an undisturbed ecosystem where they can carry out their lives. They install these hives in high sections of tree trunks to model natural conditions for the big honey bee populations.
Vince Moucha, chairman of the Lacrima Foundation, said, “Even though there are other people and organisations working in the field of natural beekeeping, the impact, progress and scope of these projects is minimal and slow, due to limited access to resources and clear vision. I am driven by responsibility and decided to act on it due to the urgency and importance of this matter.”
The Foundation will continue to work with beekeepers in the UK, Europe, and the United States to help our bee populations survive and thrive for them and us! Check out the Lacrima Foundation, where you can see their mission and donate to the cause and even get a honey bee gift bracelet in return.
1. What is the project of the Lacrima Foundation aimed at?| A．Increasing the production of human’s food. |
| B．Studying the cause of bees’ population loss. |
| C．Developing new habitats for struggling bees. |
| D．Teaming up with beekeepers for fundraising. |
| A．To help bees avoid pesticides. | B．To adapt bees to the new habitats. |
| C．To test the first 3D-printed hives. | D．To protect bees from climate crisis. |
| A．The progress of other projects. | B．The effect of other organizations. |
| C．The difficult position of bees. | D．The responsibility to care about people. |
| A．Live in harmony with nature. | B．Benefit from the Foundation. |
| C．Help bees survive with beekeepers. | D．Support the work of the Foundation. |
3 . Special Museums You May Like
The Instant Ramen MuseumMomofuku first created ins tant noodles in 1958. In 1971, after a visit to America, he went a step further and created Cup Noodles. When he opened his museum in 1999, he filled it with over 800 cups of noodles, as well as fun noodle activities and a kitchen. Here you can also see a cool model of the work shed (工棚) where Chicken Ramen, Momo’s first ins tant noodle dish was invented.
Canun Underwater MuseumLocated beneath the water’s surface in the Canun National Marine Park, this museum became an instant hit with tourists and divers when it opened in 2010. To get a good look at the 500 sculptures in the museum, you have to first get into your swimming suits and bring a diving kit with you!
International Spy MuseumIf you love the world of secrets, spies, missions and mystery, then get yourself over to this Washington museum fast. Opened in 2022, this museum has displays ranging from amazing tools to hidden cameras. Here you can also hear of real-life spies. And the museum’s Operation Secret Sleepover even allows groups of kids to stay the night and receive top-secret spy training.
The Sulabh International Museum of ToiletsThis museum was opened in 1992. Here visitors are treated to a historical tour of toilets, of all things! Taking in versions of the toilet from ancient, medieval and modern times, you get to see how things have progressed from holes in the ground to tech-toilets of the future!
1. What might you see in the Instant Ramen Museum?| A．Cooking tools. | B．Sculptures. | C．Hidden cameras. | D．Toilets. |
| A．The Instant Ramen Museum. | B．Canun Underwater Museum. |
| C．International Spy Museum. | D．The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets. |
| A．They are famous. | B．They are helpful. |
| C．They are popular. | D．They are unusual. |
4 . When I woke up, I made myself breakfast, sat and listened to the traffic. Some of my friends asked me how I could stand living somewhere so noisy. It’s true that there’s always some kinds of noise in my neighborhood, but to me, these are the sounds of life.
It was Saturday morning, so I decided to go to the park. The taxi was the fastest way to go but I took the bus instead.
When you ride the bus, you get to see so much more of the city. It can be kind of loud on the bus, with some people talking on their phones, some people chatting with their friends, and others playing music. It’s just like the traffic’s sounds, though the noise on the bus represents people working, relaxing and living.
Once I got to the park, I picked a bench over near the play area where kids played while their parents sat nearby. I could see and hear almost everything from there. Peoplewatching is one of my favorite things to do. However, I like listening even better. The only problem is that there’s so much to see and hear in the park!
Usually, I like to close my eyes. That way, I can pay more attention to the sounds and not get distracted by what I see. With my eyes closed, I could pick out parts of two old men’s conversation. One of them was telling the other about something his grandson said. I couldn’t hear the rest, but it must be hilarious because his friend’s laugh was so loud.
When I’m old, I hope that I will also have a friend who will sit in the park with me, and who will enjoy listening to the sounds of the city as much as I do.
1. Some of the author’s friends think “the sounds of life” are very________.| A．unpleasant | B．unique |
| C．magical | D．interesting |
| A．there was no other transport to go there |
| B．he wanted to see more about people’s life |
| C．it was the most convenient way |
| D．his friend advised him to do so |
| A．have a good rest |
| B．hide himself from view |
| C．enjoy the sounds of life |
| D．avoid talking with the two old men |
| A．truly different | B．quite popular |
| C．rather strange | D．extremely funny |
In a small town, there lived a young girl named Emily. She had a deep passion for table tennis and dreamed of becoming a professional player. Despite her young age, she was determined to work hard and make her dream come true.
From the moment when Emily picked up a table tennis paddle, she was impressed by the sport. She spent every spare moment practicing her shots, focusing on her footwork and mastering different techniques. Each time she stepped on the court, she was eager to improve and pushed herself to the limit. Unluckily, Emily faced a visual impairment (缺陷) that threatened to slow her progress. She was born with a condition that affected her sight. Some people doubted her ability to play table tennis and said, “Emily, your impairment is a disadvantage. It is impossible to play table tennis well!”
But Emily refused to let their doubts consume her. With solid determination, Emily turned her impairment into strength. She used her other heightened senses to her advantage, relying on touch and sound to anticipate her opponents’ moves. While others relied on sight, she developed an incredible sense of intuition (直觉) and strategy.
Emily finally excelled in table tennis, achieving incredible milestones and representing her town in many competitions. She became an advocate of the sport in her town. However, Emily decided not to settle for winning in her comfort zone but to challenge for something higher. She joined a training team guided by a world-class coach, which brought together the world’s top table tennis players.
In the training team, Emily went through a series of trials. She carried out high-intensity training. She needed to improve not only the batting skills but also perseverance and the sense of teamwork. Her coach often encouraged her and said, “Anyone, regardless of ability, could find success.”
A few years later, Emily’s efforts paid off. She got her chance. As a member of the national team, she took part in an important international competition. That was the stage for her to show her skills, and it was also the important moment for her to realize her dream.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
In the competition, Emily found herself facing a strong opponent, Lily.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the competition, Emily’s story spread throughout the table tennis community.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . Do you have a hard time saying“no”? If “yes” rules your life and “no” doesn’t exist, here are some tips for you to say “no” without feeling bad.
Switch out “no” for “later”If you’re just starting out, you don’t have to jump straight to “no”.
Sometimes, invites or requests happen naturally and in person, requiring an answer immediately.
Offering an excuse may seem polite to decline a request, but it sets you up for an awkward situation. No matter what excuse you offer, people who are determined to get you to say “yes” will come up with a way to reel (卷轴) you in.
If the person asking you for something is someone who you want to maintain a positive relationship with, you can decrease the impact of your “no” by offering an alternative.
| A．Don’t offer an explanation |
| B．Don’t say “yes” to others easily |
| C．Saying “no”at once can be tough |
| D．But noisy places with many people aren’t your choices |
| E．So it would be useful to rehearse your “no” in advance |
| F．Being frank with people by saying “no” doesn’t mean rude |
| G．The goal is to find a common ground and reach an agreement |
7 . Textspeak is an informal term for the abbreviated (缩写的) language used in text messaging and other forms of electronic communication. In the digital age, it’s common to hear how textspeak is ruining language. Some people argue that technology has made us lazy about how we speak and write.
Of course, language does change when it’s used digitally. Textspeak is an evolution of language. It’s even the focus of a field of linguistics (语言学) called CMC, which is committed to the study of interaction facilitated by technology like computers, mobile phones and tablets.
Contrary to the idea that these innovations are aggravating language, CMC demonstrates a creative repurposing of symbols for technology. These swift and clever evolutions illustrate the flexibility of language and its capacity to communicate meanings not relating to words.
People have been complaining about language being “ruined”. In A.D. 63, for example, a Roman scholar complained that students of Latin were writing in an “artificial language”. In fact, this writing was a new language that would become French! Similarly, in 1871, the then-president of Harvard University said,“Bad spelling, incorrectness, inelegance of expression in writing, and ignorance of the simplest rules of punctuation... are far from rare among the young who are well-prepared for college studies.”
Today, people are able to communicate rapidly using a wide variety of tools and technologies. Perhaps no linguistic development better indicates changes in the ways we communicate than the popular emoticon (表情符号). It is a visual representation of a smiley face turned sideways. Although an emoticon may look like a smile, a frown or any number of facial expressions, it doesn’t really represent a face. Instead, it’s intended to convey a feeling, such as “I’m happy” or “just joking”.
So, far from ruining language, the example indicates how people can now communicate complex feelings in a simple manner. This kind of change is perfect for our modern, fast-paced world.
1. What can be learnt about “textspeak” from the text?| A．It has ill effects on language. |
| B．It is ruining language in the digital age. |
| C．It is a visual representation of facial expressions. |
| D．It is an evolution of language and communication. |
| A．Language changes and adapts to new technologies. |
| B．Language has become more rigid with technology. |
| C．Language is being corrupted by modern innovations. |
| D．Technology has made us lazy in our use of language. |
| A．Simplifying. | B．Opposing. | C．Worsening. | D．Shortening. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Objective. |
8 . Top 4 Music Festivals in 2023
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Originally focused on jam bands and folk rock, this festival has expanded to include rock and roll. Once praised by Rolling Stone magazine as being amongst the “50 Moments That Changed Rock &. Roll”,Bonnaroo has firmly strengthened its place as one of the most influential festivals in North America.
When & where: June 15-18, 2023;Great Stage Park, Tennessee
Rolling Loud Festival
In only a few short years Rolling Loud shot up to become the king of all hip hop festival series. With editions held in New York, LA, the Bay Area, Australia, Toronto, the Netherlands, Portugal and of course its flagship in Miami, the festival is by far the biggest festival to hip hop.
When &. where: July 21-23,2023;Miami, Florida
Stagecoach Festival
Stagecoach is the Coachella of country music in every way. The lineup(阵容)is one of the most hotly anticipated in the country and annually features the biggest names in modern country music, you’re likely to spot some celebrities onsite.
When & where: April 28-30,2023;Indio,California
Ⅲ Points
As one of the country’s leading boutique(精品店)festivals,Ⅲ Points has been raising the bar in terms of giving creativiy a platform since 2013.Firmly base on electronic music, the festival also showcases the best from hip hop and rock with only one criteria to make it on the bill: your music has to be good.
When & where: October 20-21,2023; Miami, Florida
1. Where should visitors go if they want to enjoy country music?
| A．Tennessee. | B．Florida. | C．California. | D．Delaware. |
| A．Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. | B．Rolling Loud Festival. |
| C．Stagecoach Festival. | D．III Points. |
| A．They both have the same criteria. | B．They both feature rock. |
| C．They both perform electronically. | D．They both play hip hop. |
9 . Many hear endlessly how good exercise is for our health,but you might be surprised to know just how good.
It helps you breathe better.
Frequent exercise improves the volume of oxygen you can use in your body.This is what makes you fit and the benefits aren’t limited to sport.
Physical activity enhances your mental health.
Doing something active releases “happy” brain chemicals that make you more positive.The more you do it,the better you’ll feel.But you do need to work up a sweat.If you’ve had a bad day,treat yourself to a little bit of exercise.
The way your guts (内脏) feel often impacts on your mental and physical health.Walking,running and yoga strengthen abdominal (腹部的)muscles,increase the heart rate and encourage your muscles to move digestive waste through your body more efficiently and digest food more quickly.
Keeping active keeps you young.
There may not be an elixir (灵丹妙药) of youth just yet,but keeping fit comes close.Just 15 minutes of exercise a day for eight years can increase your lifespan by three years.The more you do,the longer you could live.
| A．It aids your digestion. |
| B．It gives you a better appetite. |
| C．Increased muscle strength helps too. |
| D．Here are the benefits you can get from exercise. |
| E．This is because physical activity delays cell ageing. |
| F．People think this will catch our attention and inspire our action. |
| G．Power walking or rope skipping is a brilliant stress reliever. |
10 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking said you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.
Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveller were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveller wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角). If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show .| A．people’s interest in time travel |
| B．the special features of the book |
| C．the long history of time travel |
| D．the contribution of H. G. Wells |
| A．have similarities in many ways |
| B．push the invention of the first spaceship |
| C．have proved wrong by some time travellers |
| D．suggest the possibility to invent the time machine |
| A．the traveller is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
| B．the traveller goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
| C．the grandfather’s death makes the traveller’s birth impossible |
| D．The reunion of the traveller and his grandfather brings happiness |
| A．Unclear. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
