1 . Every act of kindness starts with something small, something we all can — and should — do every single day.
I’m Will Rubio, one of the
On Random Acts, it may be a neighbor or a colleague who
So, where can you start? The key is to be like Lily: look for an opportunity to make a
After two seasons of hosting Random Acts, the joy of
Be that person doing acts of
A.photographers | B.directors | C.viewers | D.hosts |
A.expose | B.conduct | C.arrange | D.advocate |
A.changing | B.counting | C.ranging | D.transforming |
A.in search of | B.in need of | C.in defence of | D.in favor of |
A.recognizes | B.ignores | C.rejects | D.abolishes |
A.Bring | B.Take | C.Create | D.Make |
A.anxious | B.proud | C.afraid | D.unwilling |
A.exception | B.dilemma | C.competition | D.challenge |
A.provided | B.seized | C.spotted | D.missed |
A.successful | B.acceptable | C.reasonable | D.available |
A.choice | B.difference | C.promise | D.decision |
A.generous | B.caring | C.ambitious | D.sociable |
A.never | B.even | C.still | D.just |
A.put up with | B.make up for | C.work at | D.bring down |
A.bearing | B.carrying | C.reducing | D.overcoming |
A.admit | B.realize | C.remember | D.assume |
A.truth | B.deadline | C.destination | D.boundary |
A.accompany | B.surprise | C.locate | D.please |
A.refreshes | B.inspires | C.hits | D.satisfies |
A.forgiveness | B.politeness | C.generosity | D.kindness |
2 . Six “sacrificial pits(祭祀坑)”, dating back 3,200 to 4,000 yeas, were newly discovered in Sanxingdui Ruins site in Guanghan. Over 500 artifacts, including gold masks, bronze wares, ivories, jades and textiles were unearthed from the site. Sanxingdui site is located in Sanxingdui Town, Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, on the south bank of Qianjiang River (Yangtze River), a tributary of Tuojiang River in the north of Chengdu Plain. The site covers an area of about 12 square kilometers, and the core area is the ancient city of Sanxingdui, with an area of about 3.6 square kilometers. It is the largest and highest-grade central site found in Sichuan Basin during the Xia and Shang period.
Sanxingdui site, first found in 1929, is generally considered as one of the most important archaeological sites along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. However, the work of excavation on the site only began in 1986, when two pits — widely believed for sacrificial ceremonies — were accidentally discovered.
Investigation in the area around No.1 and 2 pits was relaunched in October 2019, and No.3 pit was found in December 2019, according to Lei Yu, a researcher of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute who heads the ongoing excavation. Thirty four research universities and research institutes have cooperated in this project. He said the new discoveries will help to better understand many unexplained findings in 1986.
More excavation followed in March 2020, and five more pits were found last year. And detailed research began in October. Excavation capsules with hi-tech equipment were set up in the pits in order to prevent the site from further damage.
According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, studies of Sanxingdui site will become a crucial project in an ongoing program Archaeology China, which tries to explain the origins of Chinese civilization and how diverse cultures communicate and come together.
1. What does the underlined word “excavation” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Check. | B.Dig. | C.Protection. | D.Extension. |
A.By conducting more experiments around the site. |
B.By dividing the task of excavation into several parts. |
C.By cooperating with research universities and institutes. |
D.By using excavation capsule armed with hi-tech equipment. |
A.There are 6 sacrificial pits discovered in Sanxingdui site in all. |
B.The size of the core zone is about 1/3 of Sanxingdui site. |
C.The discovery of Sanxingdui site only began in 2019. |
D.All sacrificial sites were discovered in the meantime. |
A.Sanxingdui site needed protecting. |
B.Hi-tech helped to explore Sanxingdui site. |
C.Sanxingdui discoveries reveal ancient China. |
D.Sacrificial pits were unearthed in Sanxingdui site. |
1. How do scientists at University College London measure memory loss?
A.By recording the time people spend on TV. |
B.By tracking people’s living habits. |
C.By using memory and fluency tests. |
A.Watching television for hours. |
B.Playing video games for hours. |
C.Surfing the Internet for hours. |
A.Make more friends. |
B.Sleep eight to ten hours per night. |
C.Balance TV viewing with other activities. |
1. How does the man feel about the American football match?
A.Confused. | B.Disappointed. | C.Interested. |
A.She thought it was a soccer game. |
B.She’d like to share the man’s hobby. |
C.She wanted to see how exciting it was. |
5 . Do you get nervous thinking about a coming math test? If yes, you are far from alone. Math anxiety has become a common condition among students around the world. Students in countries with higher levels of math anxiety tend to achieve lower math grades, according to a study published by the National Academy of Sciences on Feb 15.
Math anxiety — a negative emotional reaction to the core subject — causes fear, physical suffering and behavior problems among young pupils, according to a University of Cambridge study. Some people also experience physical symptoms such as sweaty palms or a racing heart. They may then try to avoid every situation involving numbers, meaning they are held back from pursuing careers related to this subject, such as technology or engineering, according to The Guardian.
Relief comes from the fact that those with math anxiety aren’t destined (注定的) to be bad at math. “If a child has math anxiety, don’t assume that they’re not good at math. They may have had a really bad experience with math and there are ways to improve math achievement,” Daniel Ansari, the senior author of the study told The London Free Press.
Also, there are ways to manage your stress related to math. If you’re feeling stressed before a math exam, it may help to spend a few minutes exploring those feelings before the exam begins. “It’s about making sure you’re interpreting your feelings correctly,” Sian Beilock, a cognitive (认知的) scientist told the BBC. “Just because you have a fast heartbeat and sweaty palms, that does not necessarily mean you will fail.”
Math doesn’t come easy, no matter how clever you are. Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian artist, was a huge fan of mathematics. But his notebooks show that Da Vinci couldn’t do fractions (分数). He could never grasp, for instance, that dividing a number by one-quarter is the same as multiplying by four, resulting in a higher number than the original.
1. What do we know about math anxiety?A.People who are good at math don’t experience math anxiety. |
B.It is most commonly seen among teenagers. |
C.It can cause unpleasant symptoms both mentally and physically. |
D.Math anxiety leads to people struggling in their career. |
A.Math anxiety may contribute to better grades. |
B.Students with math anxiety may have higher cognitive abilities. |
C.Math anxiety does not reflect the ability to solve math problems. |
D.Bad experience with math can cause cognitive disadvantages. |
A.Practice more before you take math exams. |
B.Learn to understand your feelings. |
C.Ask cognitive experts for help. |
D.Take all nervous energy as a challenge. |
A.To show that math definitely isn’t easy. |
B.To explain why math is a particularly difficult subject. |
C.To show da Vinci’s math anxiety is very serious. |
D.To suggest a way to solve math anxiety. |
6 . Ryder was born with a serious illness and has never been able to walk. When he started attending preschool, he had to be
Then his father
The hut made of wood was
A.pulled | B.walked | C.driven | D.pushed |
A.car | B.wheelchair | C.bus | D.plane |
A.dance | B.shout | C.rush | D.slip |
A.vehicle | B.scene | C.weather | D.class |
A.searched for | B.put up | C.taken over | D.found out |
A.shelter | B.help | C.benefit | D.hope |
A.fought | B.stood | C.cared | D.sought |
A.art | B.construction | C.music | D.literature |
A.Consequently | B.Obviously | C.However | D.Besides |
A.interested | B.satisfied | C.strict | D.depressed |
A.predicted | B.interrupted | C.delayed | D.responded |
A.big | B.bright | C.heavy | D.light |
A.fixed | B.borrowed | C.delivered | D.thrown |
A.changes | B.designs | C.plays | D.uses |
A.popular | B.fantastic | C.strange | D.flexible |
7 . Electric cars are supposed to help the world go green and stop hurting the planet. Engineers at Brown University and the University of Maryland are taking that goal to another other level, with a new idea for batteries made from trees, according to new findings published in Nature.
Lithium-ion batteries (锂电池) have become the new form of rechargeable batteries thanks to their extraordinarily long charge. You’re probably reading this story from a device powered by such a battery. Most electric cars like ones made by Tesla use lithium-ion batteries.
These batteries use a liquid solution that conducts lithium ions from the battery’s cathode and anode (阴极和阳极), but the liquid is not what helps ensure electrical power goes from the battery to the device it’s powering. The problem is that this liquid is made of harmful materials that are sometimes unstable. They sometimes have explosive results. A solid conducting structure would prevent this from happening, but it could be likely to crack and break, making the battery useless.
An ideal material for solid state lithium-ion batteries would be thin and flexible to resist structural stresses, and it is wood from a tree. The team in charge of the new research developed a mixed material made of copper (铜) and fibers coming from wood. They tested it out as a model for conducting ions back and forth in a lithium-ion battery, and found it works 10 to 100 times better than other solid-state conductors-a record high.
The new findings are just based on basic model tests, and a rechargeable battery made of trees is still quite a way off. But if it passes test as a practical form of energy, it can very well replace rechargeable batteries. It is not hard to imagine electric cars having better sales for their real green, but saying that their batteries are just made from trees is beyond our imagination.
1. How are engineers making electric cars greener according to the text?A.By improving the materials of batteries. |
B.By reducing lithium ion in the batteries. |
C.By using liquid to conduct electric power. |
D.By producing more lithium-ion batteries. |
A.They contain eco-friendly liquid. |
B.Their charge lasts for a long time. |
C.They offer electrical power stably. |
D.They are safe and unlikely to explode. |
A.It is resistant to structural pressures. |
B.It is much thicker and less changeable. |
C.Its copper and fibers conduct ions well. |
D.It proves to be a practical form of energy. |
A.They have taken effect for a long time. |
B.They are still being tested at present. |
C.They will never replace current batteries. |
D.They will make electric cars hard to sell. |
8 . Elaine Su shared her experience of asking her neighbors to put up Lunar New Year decorations, helping her two-year-old son experience the festival as part of the large community. In a neighbourhood mostly consisting of non-Chinese residents, more than half of the households complied the tradition as well.
Interviewing her for the story provoked my own memories of celebrating Lunar New Year. The holiday was a big deal for me as a kid growing up in Jiangsu.
Legend says the holiday originated with the fight against a mythical beast called Nian, who came down from the mountains to hunt people on New Year’s Eve. Villagers discovered that Nian feared the colour red, candle light and loud noise. So they began to decorate with the vibrant hue, light their homes with lanterns and set off firecrackers to prevent its return.
On New Year’s Eve, my family would come together to celebrate with food prepared by my grandma. Moments before the countdown, the sound of firecrackers would fill every corner of our apartment and the celebrations continued into the next day.
For breakfast, we would eat yuan xiao, a kind of glutinous rice ball, which symbolizes the idea of reunion. Then, it was off to visit my grandparents, who were already awaiting us and my other extended family with lucky money and more traditional delicacy!
My favourite part of the holiday came after the adults were playing mahjong. My cousins and I were finally freed from our parents. With all the lucky money, we hit the streets and bought more snacks and more firecrackers!
Having immigrated to Canada for years, I further lost touch with my Chinese culture as I gradually dived into my new life in a new country. Maybe it’s time for me, like her, to reclaim Lunar New Year.
1. What can we infer about Elaine Su in paragraph 1?A.She missed her family in China very much. |
B.She forced her son to accept Chinese customs. |
C.She shared her happy memories with her neighbors. |
D.She celebrated Lunar New Year in another country. |
A.Stirred up. | B.Wiped out. | C.Took after. | D.Set down. |
A.By analyzing studies. | B.By answering questions. |
C.By explaining factors. | D.By sharing experience. |
A.The Origin of the Chinese Lunar New Year | B.The Spring Festival Stored in My Memory |
C.An Unforgettable Interview on New Year’s Eve | D.A Chinese Celebrating the Spring Festival Abroad |
9 . London’s four wonderful hotels
Here’s a pick of four wonderful hotels, each different in terms of size, style and location, but all performing to an exceptional standard.
The Goring Hotel
Since first opening in 1910, it is London’s oldest family-owned luxury hotel with the second-largest privately-owned garden in London after Buckingham Palace. The rooms of this hotel are smaller than those of many other London’s top hotels. There are 12 interconnecting rooms, which are ideal for families.
The Beaumont Hotel
This 1926 building, formerly a parking garage, has been transformed into one of London’s hottest hotels. Its art collection, personal service, elegant rooms and hot restaurant make it a favorite on our London list. There’s also an impressive 2. 5 staff to every person and a 24-hour doorkeeper to make sure that guests’ needs are met around the clock.
The Bulgari Hotel
This hotel has some of the largest accommodations in the capital. It’s very modern and huge with six floors below and nine above ground. It feels big, but there are only 85 rooms and suites spread over six floors, indicating how spacious (宽敞的) they are. The Bulgari Hotel has many child-friendly rooms and activities to keep the kids busy:a swimming pool, a cinema, PlayStations, Xbox and lots of other games. The Bulgari spa is spread over two stories. And the doorkeeper can also arrange babysitting.
The Rosewood Hotel
Rosewood is within walking distance of many of the city’s main attractions. From the outside, the building is large and impressive with an elegant courtyard designed for horse-drawn carriages (四轮马车). There is also a great spa and fitness center. As for activities for kids, there are food activities, art and wildlife. The doorkeeper can arrange trips to the London Zoo.
1. Which of the following does the Goring Hotel provide?A.Spacious rooms. | B.Babysitting service. |
C.A large private garden. | D.A spa and fitness center. |
A.Enjoy games. | B.Watch wildlife. |
C.Take part in food activities. | D.Take a horse-drawn carriage. |
A.The Goring Hotel. | B.The Bulgari Hotel. |
C.The Beaumont Hotel. | D.The Rosewood Hotel. |
10 . In our youth-obsessed culture, one would assume that your self-esteem peaks in your 20s—but that’s not the case. Researchers from the University of Bern set out to determine when the average person’s self-esteem is the highest, and the good news is that your peak comes decades later.
Researchers found that self-esteem increases throughout one’s lifetime, with a slight plateau during those awkward teen years. Our self-esteem levels then start rising again and don’t peak until well into midlife. The highest point for self-esteem level happen at age 60 when they can retire and stay there until a slight decline in one’s 70s and 80s.
This news that our self-esteem will continue to rise or stay steady during the majority of our lives is exciting. We often hear of increased stress in the decades of midlife, but there are upsides too. “Midlife is, for many adults, a time of high stability in relationships and work. Moreover, most people further invest in their roles, which might promote their self-esteem,” researcher Dr. Orth told the journalist. “For example, people take on managerial roles at work, maintain a satisfying relationship with their spouse or partner, and help their children become responsible and independent.”
As we age and our roles tend to change, it’s natural for self-esteem to take a small hit. “Old age frequently involves loss of social roles as a result of retirement, the empty nest, and, possibly, widowhood. In addition, aging often leads to negative changes in other possible sources of self-esteem, such as socioeconomic status and health.” Dr. Orth said. However, it’s important to remember that it’s only a slight decrease. Dr. Orth believes that most people maintain a high self-esteem level even into their 90s and beyond.
1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to “peak”?A.Minimum. | B.Maximum. |
C.Average. | D.Height. |
A.A newly-retired person. | B.A teenage boy. |
C.A person in his/her 80s. | D.A middle-aged person. |
A.It is destructive. | B.It is unnatural. |
C.It is important. | D.It is acceptable. |
A.A guide. | B.A fiction. |
C.A textbook. | D.A magazine. |