1 . It will come as no comfort to a child shivering (打哆嗦) on a playing field on a cold winter’s day. But regular organized school sport helps children in their academic studies in years to come. The researchers said other “structured” activities such as music or religious activities were not as beneficial for attention as taking part in a games lesson. The difference in academic ability was noticeable even at age ten, with those who had taken in sports since the start of junior school performing better than those who hadn’t.
The Canadian study looked at children aged six and then ten. Professor Linda Pagani said:“We worked with information provided by parents and teachers to compare kindergarteners’ activities with their classroom activities as they grew up. By the time they reached the fourth grade, kids who played structured sports were clearly better at following instructions and remaining focused in the classroom. There is something special to the sporting environment — perhaps the sense of belonging to a team to a special group with a common goal — that appears to help kids understand the importance of respecting the rules and honoring responsibilities.”
Researchers began studying 2,694 Canadian children around the age of six, with teachers filled in questionnaires about their behavior in school. Meanwhile, the children’s parents were interviewed by phone or in person about their home life. The exercise was the repeated four years later to test what effect the behavior had.
Professor Pagani said: “We found children who had better behavior in the kindergarten class were more likely to be involved in sport by age ten. Nevertheless, we found those children who were specifically involved in team sports at kindergarten scored higher by the time they reached the fourth grade.” The researchers believe sporting activities and attention skills go hand in hand. Professor Pagani added: “The results should be encouraging for schools looking to cut childhood obesity rates and low attainment in schools.”
1. What kinds of children may do better in their academic study according to paragraph one?| A．Those who join in structured activities. |
| B．Those who don’t shiver on a cold winter’s day. |
| C．Those who don’t like school sports. |
| D．Those who take part in game lessons. |
| A．The classroom activities. | B．The results of the exams. |
| C．The performance at kindergarten. | D．The time spent in classrooms. |
| A．understand each other better | B．follow the rules |
| C．respect the teachers | D．give up |
| A．How scientists carried out the research. |
| B．Why parents were interviewed by phone. |
| C．How kids behaved at home or at school. |
| D．How many sports kids did at school. |
| A．The research will be of great benefit. |
| B．It’s necessary for children go to kindergartens. |
| C．Childhood obesity rates can lead to low attainment. |
| D．Team sports will be reduced at kindergartens. |
My neighbor Josie was a good cook and college professor. We have been good friends for many years. Each early morning, Josie would invite me to join her in walking and she would make breakfast for me as a reward!
Josie planted a lovely garden. Every flower and vegetable made its debut (首秀) once a year. There were so many kinds that I could not even recognize what was growing, and we had the freshest salads in the neighborhood all summer long!
Each evening, Josie and I would sit in front of the garden. We would have a chat, exchanging our world views as well as funny jokes. However, one evening, Josie was a “no-show”. Then I heard the ambulance and saw her husband and children running outside. Josie suffered a stroke (中风).
Later, when I set eyes on her, she was in a wheelchair, covered in a thick blanket. She looked smaller and older than before. But how she chose to face it made me surprised. During the days when Josie had some strength, her husband wheeled her into the living room, and they watched old movies together. She called it “date time”. And during the most special days when Josie was doing well, her husband took her for a walk outside in her wheelchair. She called it “going on vacation”. Despite the fact that Josie was not expected to make a full recovery, they continued to watch movies and took lots of mini-vacations.
She is grateful for listening to her grandchildren telling stories to her, smelling a summer barbecue, sharing a laugh with her favorite neighbor, and being here for another day. I am thankful for her simple life lesson: Find the positive, and you will find your reason to live.
1. What was Josie like before she suffered a stroke? (no more than 10 words)2. How was Josie’s skill in gardening? (no more than 5 words)
3. How can we understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 5 words)
4. What made the author surprised after Josie suffered the stroke? (no more than 10 words)
5. How does Josie’s story inspire you? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
3 . If students will arrive at UT Dallas (the University of Texas at Dallas) after the first day of classes, the ISSO (International Students and Scholars Office) strongly suggests they put off their admission. It’s our experience that late-arriving students have a stressful time settling in and meeting all the pre-registration requirements, such as TB Test (肺结核检查), orientations (入学培训), housing and so on. The inability to meet all these requirements may harm a student’s F-1 or J-1 visa status.
Departmental Late Arrival Letter
UT Dallas academic departments have the freedom and authority to write a late arrival letter on a student’s behalf. Departments may only offer this letter if they are willing to make a statement to CBP (Customs and Border Protection), showing that they will ensure that the late-arriving student will be able to meet all university and immigration requirements despite the late arrival.
Approval or denial of late arrival will be based on the individual worthiness of the request. The letter should be addressed to CBP and sent directly to the student from the academic department.
In general, scanned and printed images will be accepted by CBP. The letter should state:
◎ How late the department is willing to let the student start the semester. This must be a specific date.
◎ That the student will be able to enroll full-time in the academic program and make normal academic progress despite the late arrival.
The letter will not guarantee entry into the US; it simply reduces the possibility that late-arriving students will be turned away at the US Port of Entry.
If Entering Late:
Email the following areas the arrival date as soon as possible:
1. Intercultural Programs (ICPrograms@utdallas.edu) to schedule an International Student Orientation.
2. The Student Health Centre (Healthcen @utdallas. edu) to schedule a TB Test.
3. Academic department to communicate about late registration.
Consequences of late arrival:
◎ Late registration for courses
◎ Limited class availability
◎ Late registration fees
Late-arriving students are required to keep full-time enrollment throughout the semester. The ISSO will not approve reduced course loads due to the late arrival.
1. According to the ISSO of UT Dallas, late-arriving students ________.| A．have difficulty starting their university life |
| B．are at the risk of being rejected by UT Dallas |
| C．will unavoidably face damage to their visa status |
| D．have to put off their admission until the next semester |
| A．It ought to be sent straight to CBP. |
| B．Only the original document is effective. |
| C．Every late-arriving student will have one. |
| D．It’s the department’s decision whether to offer one. |
| A．The reason for the late arrival. |
| B．The exact rescheduled arrival date. |
| C．The late-arriving student’s health condition. |
| D．The late-arriving student’s previous academic grades. |
| A．may still be forbidden from entering the US |
| B．can miss some classes without punishment |
| C．can avoid the TB test and the orientation |
| D．will be free from late registration fees |
| A．students who have lost their visas before arrival |
| B．students who need financial aid |
| C．new students from overseas |
| D．all the new students |
4 . “Hi, how are ya,” some people say when they see a familiar face. The words run together into a mass, all sense and meaning lost. All the same, people do care how you are. After they greet you, it’s likely you will greet them back, with an equally meaningless phrase like, “Can’t complain, can’t complain.” You could probably complain, at length, or share a brilliant thought you were just beginning when a greeting interrupted you. You don’t though, you say, “Great, you?”
You are not giving each other information about your health and well-being. All the same, you are sharing information. You’re acknowledging each other’s positions as acknowledged friends, or at least as accepted acquaintances. And you are reestablishing the ties that may have lapsed since yesterday.
It’s what anthropologist Bronislaw Malinoski called a phatic communication. Its message is not in the words you use, but in the fact that you speak ritually accepted words. In Asia, for example, people may ask one another if they have eaten, or if they are busy. They’re not really asking for their lunch menu or their agenda, they are saying hello. A phatic signal says hi.
There’s embarrassment of being near people without acknowledging them. That uncomfortable feeling is one reason why lonely passengers in the subway may behave as if they cannot see anyone around them or may escape their uncomfortable situation with a book. Some people read all the way home, and never turn a page.
Your friend isn’t asking how you are, and you aren’t telling him. However, he is recognizing your existence, and when you answer, you are recognizing his. In addition, the set speech you have shared opens the door to closer communications if both agree. Someday, you may come to real close friendship, and really tell one another how you are.
Meanwhile, people who greet one another this way do care. They care enough to recognize someone’s essential humanity. They send a signal across the space between, to share, very briefly and lightly, in awareness of one another.
Your greetings prove that neither of you has become a social outcast. How are you? You are still a member of society in good status. You are still the one who knows the rituals necessary to get to work each day.
1. When people greet, they ________.| A．want to show their different educational backgrounds |
| B．rarely show something related to the words themselves |
| C．want to know other people’s privacy |
| D．often complain about the bad weather |
| A．is rarely used by Asian people | B．is too complex to be used often |
| C．helps establish or keep certain relationships | D．often ruins the normal relationships between friends |
| A．they want to be polite to others | B．they feel uncomfortable to do it |
| C．they don’t know when to greet them | D．they want to do something meaningful |
| A．a person who is well-educated | B．a person who succeeds suddenly |
| C．a person who is a burden to society | D．a person who is not accepted by others |
| A．Greetings should be better expressed. |
| B．Greetings convey different meanings to different people. |
| C．Greetings help prove an individual’s social independence. |
| D．Greetings help an individual be connected with the society. |
5 . A few years ago, Charles Barkley got into a lot of trouble for making the observation that sports figures didn’t need to be role models. Thousands of fans and professional journalists were cross at this attack on the fundamental principle that the person who jumps highest must aim highest and the person who handles the running back must also be able to deal with life’s problems with grace as well.
The problem is not that we look to these people for perfection when they take off their uniforms. It’s that we expect anyone to be our representatives for perfection. That’s stupid and it makes the rest of us down here lazy.
I get the importance of having heroes, the people who inspire us to cultivate the best potential within us and nurture our better angels. I personally have many heroes. from my mother, Lucy, to my favorite law professor, Howard. But these are personal contacts, people who have actually touched my hand and my heart, and who occupy a pedestal (基座) built of my own experiences and aspirations. To look at an athlete or an actress with high salary and demand that he or she match our dreams is not only a waste of time, but it’s dangerous. The danger comes in how this type of hero worship dehumanizes both the object of affection and the person who blindly adores. That was Barkley’s point, not that we should give public figures a pass for being faulty but that we shouldn’t abandon our own moral compasses and look to them for true north.
Recently on a television program I participated in, the discussion turned to Kathleen Kane. Someone suggested that the fact that the first female attorney general (首席检察官) in Pennsylvania was really messing things up could have unfortunate consequences for women seeking elected office. I offered the opinion that Kane was unquestionably criticized and that it was not hatred towards woman but incompetence at the root of the attacks. After the show aired, I had people emailing to tell me that I was either a traitor (叛徒) for publicly attacking a fellow female when we need to stand together behind this “role model”, or a fool for not going a step further to say that this incompetent lawyer had made it harder for all women to move to the next level.
How depressing! Why should the inferior performance of one woman lead to such diverse but passionate views in people? The answer is obvious: Kane has stopped being an attorney general but has instead become The First Female Attorney General. She can’t just make a mistake and pay the normal consequences.
If we stopped trying to live our lives through the accomplishments of public figures, many of whom look and sound like us, we’d learn how to recognize the heroic character of those we might actually know, and the heroic potential within ourselves. Or, perhaps, the honesty to accept our ordinary humanity.
1. Many people were angry with Charles Barkley mainly because ________.| A．he was not good enough to be a role model |
| B．he broke fundamental principles in life |
| C．he doubted the perfection of some sports figures |
| D．he thought sports figures could have weaknesses |
| A．Because we shouldn’t waste time imitating public figures. |
| B．Because an athlete or actress cannot match our dreams. |
| C．Because we blindly admire public figures for their faults. |
| D．Because we may let go of our own moral standards. |
| A．unfairly criticized due to being female |
| B．the first female attorney general in the US |
| C．less qualified than the public had expected |
| D．a role model for women seeking elected office |
| A．It’s foolish for us to expect anyone to be our representatives for perfection. |
| B．It is a waste of time having heroes. |
| C．Kathleen Kane had to resign office because of messing things up. |
| D．Public figures have the heroic character that ordinary people don’t have. |
| A．Be Our Representatives for Perfection |
| B．Exploration of Our Own Heroic Potential |
| C．Our Unrealistic Expectation of Public Figures |
| D．Our Conventional Views of Female Politician |
Life on the street is a constant struggle for homeless people. In extreme weather conditions, that struggle becomes even more difficult. Recently, homeless people across Chicago faced freezing to death if they couldn’t find shelter for the night.
Thankfully, one local woman refused to let that happen. On January 30, 34-year-old Candice Payne, a local managing broker, was lucky enough to have shelter from the dangerous conditions. “It was -20℃, and I knew they were going to be sleeping on ice and I had to do something,” said Payne. Payne started brainstorming different ways she could possibly help. Finally, she decided to see if there were any rooms available at local inns and hotels that she could get to help those stuck on the street.
For Payne, her mission was personal. According to Payne, her husband, Carlos Callahan, had lived on the street at one point in his life. Based on his experience, Payne knew that the homeless people still living on the street desperately needed help and she wanted to step up.
However, when Payne explained what she was trying to do, many of the local hotels refused to allow her to pay for the rooms as they didn’t want homeless people to stay in their rooms. “No one wanted them, but one hotel, the Amber Inn, was nice enough to allow me to buy the rooms,” said Payne.
Payne’s selfless act made news across the country. However, she insisted she had never done it for attention. “I am a regular person,” said Payne, who spent thousands of dollars of her own money to help complete strangers. “It all sounded like a rich person did this, but I’m just a little black girl from the South Side.”
1. What was the biggest problem homeless people had when extreme weather came? (no more than 10 words)2. Why was Candice Payne determined to help homeless people? (no more than 10 words)
3. How did Candice Payne help the homeless people? (no more than 8 words)
4. What does the underlined part mean in the last paragraph? (no more than 3 words)
5. What do you think of Payne? Please give your reasons. (no more than 20 words)
7 . As people travelling by air become increasingly aware of their carbon footprint, flying has become not only one of the most polluting industries, but also one with the most potential to turn things around.
After Solar Impulse 2 completed the world’s first flight by a solar-powered aircraft in 2016, airlines and aircraft producers looked to become the first to provide a commercial plane. Bertrand Piccard, one of the pilots responsible for Solar Impulse 2’s journey said, “All the clean technologies we’ve already had can be used everywhere. We have to use them, not only for the environment, but also because they are profitable and able to create jobs.”
The following year saw many projects in the aviation (航空) field as the airline industry acknowledged the future of low- carbon transportation methods. In 2017, Zunum Aero, a small aviation company which focused on delivering a range of hybrid-electric (混合电动的) planes received financial aid from JetBlue and Boeing, whilst EasyJet teamed up with Wright Electric to develop battery-powered aircraft and NASA also announced its plans to develop its own electric aircraft.
Orkney Islands, lying about 20 miles north of the Scottish mainland, are rich in renewable resources, especially the wind energy. Loganair, a Scottish airline, is cooperating with aviation companies to make Orkney the world’s first fully electric airline routes. However, this is never easy. Due to the limited size and weight of a battery that an airplane can carry, airplane producers are faced with a bottleneck — the continued power supply for electric airplanes. They believe the abundant wind energy in Orkney could be the key to solving it.
The benefits of electric air travel transcend its low-carbon emissions. Aviation experts believe these aircraft’s power source will also mean they will be less noisy, smaller, require less maintenance costs, and need a shorter runway to take off and land — this could lead to more airports in small cities and more rural areas being connected to the world at large.
1. What did Bertrand want to convey in his words?| A．The future of aircraft pilots. |
| B．The success of Solar Impulse 2. |
| C．The convenience of commercial planes. |
| D．The significance of using renewable energy. |
| A．By asking for financial support from banks. |
| B．By working together with another company. |
| C．By purchasing patents from other countries. |
| D．By improving the technology on its own. |
| A．Use natural resources to charge airplanes. |
| B．Build more coal-fired power stations. |
| C．Develop shorter airline routes. |
| D．Increase the size of battery. |
| A．Go beyond. | B．Rely on. | C．Differ from. | D．Refer to. |
| A．Making plane tickets cheaper. |
| B．Making the flying time shorter. |
| C．Making the world more connected. |
| D．Making the plane maintenance easier. |
(1)简要介绍这款生活型智能机器人的功能(至少写出两点)；
(2)说明生活型智能机器人的意义。
注意：
(1)词数不少于100；
(2)可适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯；
(3)开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：智能机器人 intelligent robot
Here I would like to introduce a new type of intelligent household robot to you.
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By Li Jin
9 . My brother Joe had a passion for driving cars. Fords in particular. He was especially fond of speed. It was enough to make my mother fear that he was crazy. But she had that fear about everyone, even herself.
When Joe was just a little boy, he would often say to me, “Sister, when I am old enough to get my license and drive my own car, I will fly so fast that angels will run scared.” With a big grin (咧嘴笑), he would imagine the scene.I could have told him it would never happen. No matter how old he got, he would never get a license, never drive a car. But I didn't tell him that.
Joe was born blind. He couldn't see his own face in a mirror. But he could dream like anyone. I didn't want to be the one to dim Joe's dreams. Life would do that for him, soon enough. Until then, didn't he deserve his happiness?
Joe had trouble not just with his eyes, but with his legs. He was born premature (早产的) suffered from disabilities and could not walk until he was 5. That's when he got his first “car”, a red Radio Flyer tricycle that he called his 49 Ford. He couldn't pedal it, so he would push it everywhere, sometimes even falling over.
Growing up is a tug of war between disappointment and surprise, between dreams and reality. By the time Joe was 12, I think he knew he would never get a license. As with the other hard facts of life, he seemed to accept it without question or bitterness, as if it were nothing more than a card drawn at random.
One hot summer day when he was 16, Joe went tapping out the driveway with his stick, finding his way to my stepfather's 49 Ford. He ran his hand along the car, felt the heat of the metal, opened the door and climbed in.
He looked good.
Under the seat, he discovered a six-pack of Budweiser (百威啤酒). And he drank all six cans. He felt inside the car, found the keys, shouted, “Hooweece!” and fired it up.
I have heard various versions of this story. They all boil down to this: the Ford's engine roared. My mother fainted (昏厥). My stepfather rushed outside.
And my brother, after a moment of pure joy, threw up all over the car. Fortunately, for everyone, the Ford didn't move an inch. But to this day, Joe still swears that when he found those keys and fired that old engine up, he heard the angels starting to flee.
1. What do we know about Joe?| A．He learned to drive at school. |
| B．He is keen on fast-speed driving. |
| C．His mental development is slower than others. |
| D．He had a car accident when he was 5. |
| A．She made fun of him. |
| B．She told him to face reality. |
| C．She let him dream his dream. |
| D．She encouraged him to ride a tricycle. |
| A．Joe thought all this was fate. |
| B．Joe preferred to playing cards. |
| C．Joe accepted it with more questions or bitterness. |
| D．Joe do it on purpose as if he would draw this card. |
| A．He is not living in reality. |
| B．His family members are like angels to him. |
| C．He realizes he fell asleep inside the car. |
| D．He believes he realized his dream of driving fast. |
| A．Positive. | B．Generous. | C．Emotional. | D．Humorous. |
10 . Community Development Projects Overseas
The aim of Community Development Projects abroad in Temple Conservation, DIY and more is to improve poorer local communities. You can do them as part of your work experience, gap year or career break, or just as a volunteering holiday.
South Africa
Time: 1st, March — 31st, May 2024
Registration fee: $65
Maintenance/Handyman/DIY skills, this project would love to have you! The project is truly unique. You will assist an Animal Rehabilitation Center that desperately needs any help it can get and you will be benefiting the animals at the same time! And, of course, the location is very unusual. And finally, conservation are lovely people to work with!
Sri Lanka
Time: 1st, May — 31st, July 2024
Registration fee: Free
Buddhist Temple Repair and Construction, Project in Kandy
Rebuild and repair Buddhist temple in and around Kandy. This unique and fascinating project offers an opportunity to learn about Sri Lankan construction using traditional manual methods, without using modern machines.
Work includes construction, repairing temples, cleaning in and around temples, interacting with children and villagers and helping the Temples arrange Community Centers for the village youths. You will also assist with the repair of paintings and sculptures inside the temples.
Zimbabwe
Time: 1st, October — 31st, December, 2024
Registration fee: $120
Community Healthcare and Medical Project in Gweru gain basic medical experience in local clinics and play a role in HIV/AIDS education and awareness. You will be able to get involved in not only this clinic but others in the nearby area as well. You do not need to be qualified in any particular area. You will work with children from the ages of 3 to 6 years. It is a very worthwhile, enjoyable placement.
1. What is the aim of Community Development Projects abroad?| A．To improve your work experience. |
| B．To bring you a chance to travel abroad. |
| C．To offer a meaningful volunteering holiday. |
| D．To better underdeveloped local communities. |
| A．People skilled in painting. |
| B．People good at treating AIDS. |
| C．People experienced in travelling. |
| D．People expert at tending animals. |
| A．It will all be done in modern method. |
| B．It will involve using hands and strength. |
| C．Experienced experts will direct the work. |
| D．The village youths will help with the repair. |
| A．health and medicine |
| B．animals and resources |
| C．food and environment |
| D．community and education |
| A．They require specific skills. |
| B．They charge a registration fee. |
| C．They have the same length of time. |
| D．They need fluency in foreign languages. |
