A music concert “Echoes of Ancient Tang Poems” jointly performed by iSING! Suzhou and the Philadelphia Orchestra was staged at Kimmel Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia on Jan. 6.
Another concert featuring Tang poetry was
The iSING! Suzhou International Young Artists Festival
The performances were also held to commemorate(纪念) the
Thanks to the country’s protective efforts, traditional Chinese culture today is shining with a new strength,
Wearing a delicate traditional Chinese dress
The surprising truth is that her short videos have attracted many thumbs-up and positive
“It is great
3 . That youngsters were glued to online games on their smart phones was a great concern for Ngurang Meena, a school teacher in Nirjuli.The 30yearold social science teacher, who ran the Ngurang Learning Institute, an adult literacy centre, said that she felt disheartened when she read student papers.“The graph of student performance is falling every year.It breaks my heart whenever I see answer sheets — basic grammar skills are missing and there’s an absence of any cohesive (连贯的) expression.They lack guidance and their reading culture is almost zero,” Meena said.When her school and the centre she ran had to close due to infectious diseases, she planned to do something to address the problem.
Inspired by a similar proposal in Mizoram, Meena set up a bookshelf with around 80 books as well as some benches on the side of the road in Nirjuli on 30 August 2020, where passersby could spend time reading.The selections included motivational books, biographies and novels as well as comics for young children.“I have to please the minors with sweets to sit and read, but that is okay,” she laughed.
Meena’s bookshelf became a hit among youngsters who spent hours in the reading corner.Within two months, her effort became the talk of the town.
Now, generous contributions of books come in from the public and she is even receiving requests to set up such libraries in other parts of the state, including one in the capital, Itanagar.Since the tiny libraries are far from the main town, she also lends books out to those who want to read at home.
“I never thought that this would become such a big inspiration,” Meena said.“Since childhood, we have been told that books are our best friends.The next generation of kids is focused on games and other things.I don’t want them to head on the wrong track,” she added.
1. What’s the aim of Meena’s reading program?| A．To care for youngsters lacking in reading. |
| B．To help adults learn some cohesive expression. |
| C．To keep Ngurang Learning Institute running well. |
| D．To highlight the importance of reading for adults. |
| A．She offered some rewards to them. |
| B．She provided them with transportation. |
| C．She chose novels with beautiful covers. |
| D．She selected books covering every category. |
| A．Small and useless. |
| B．Influential and meaningful. |
| C．Large but impractical. |
| D．Widespread but unwelcome. |
| A．Books：Sources of Knowledge |
| B．The Roadside Reading Corner |
| C．The Library：an Ideal place for the Young |
| D．New Ideas about Setting a Reading Plan |
1. 表达问候；
2. 写信目的；
3. 期待回复。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
5 . What is IQ—and how much does it matter?
IQ tests can also help identify students who would do well in fast-paced “gifted education” programs.
| A．IQ plays a role in how successful we become. |
| B．IQ is a measure of a person’s reasoning ability. |
| C．Every student can learn, no matter how intelligent. |
| D．Intelligence helps, but so does interest and patience. |
| E．It’s tempting for people to read a lot into someone’s IQ score. |
| F．In a word, intelligence matters, but not as much as you might think. |
| G．Many colleges and universities also use exams similar to IQ tests to select students. |
6 . From the moment we are born, we interact with the world through movement. We move our lips to smile or to talk. We extend our hand to touch. How does our brain remember this wide range of motions? How does it learn new ones? How does it make the calculations necessary for us to grab a glass of water, without dropping it, squashing it, or missing it?
Technion Professor Jackie Schiller from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and her team examined the brain at a single-neuron (单神经元) level to shed light on this mystery. They found that calculation happens not just in the interaction between neurons, but within each individual neuron. It turns out that each of these cells is not a simple switch, but a complicated calculating machine.
This discovery, published recently in the Science, promises changes not only to our understanding of how the brain works, but better understanding of conditions ranging from Parkinson’s disease to autism. And if that isn’t enough, these same findings are expected to advance machine learning, providing inspiration for new architectures.
“We used to think of each neuron as a sort of whistle, which either rings, or doesn’t,” Prof. Schiller explains. “Instead, we are looking at a piano. Its keys can be struck at the same time, or in order, producing an infinity (无限) of different tunes.” This complex music playing in our brains is what enables us to learn and perform an infinity of different, complex and precise movements.
These same findings can also serve as an inspiration for the machine learning community. Deep neural networks, as their name suggests, attempt to create software that learns and functions somewhat similarly to a human brain. Although their advances constantly make the news, these networks are primitive compared to a living brain. A better understanding of how our brain actually works can help in designing more complex neural networks, enabling them to perform more complex tasks.
1. Why does the author raise the questions in paragraph 1?| A．To pursue answers. | B．To raise his puzzles. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To share his interest |
| A．The result of the research. |
| B．The function of a single neuron. |
| C．The way the research was conducted. |
| D．The aspects the discovery can be applied to. |
| A．The way that neurons work. |
| B．The music that neurons play. |
| C．The difficulties that researchers encounter. |
| D．The process where neurons produce memory. |
| A．Individual Neuron Works like a Piano |
| B．Calculation Happens Between Neurons like a Machine |
| C．Complex Neural Networks in the Brain Enable People to Learn |
| D．The Mystery of Learning and Remembering Movement Has Been Uncovered |
7 . New research suggests that a gene that governs the body's biological (circadian) clock acts differently in males versus females and may protect females from heart disease. The study is the first to analyze circadian blood pressure rhythms (节奏) in female mice.
The body's circadian clock-the biological clock that organizes bodily activities over a 24-hour period-contributes to normal variations in blood pressure and heart function over the course of the day. In most healthy humans, blood pressure dips (下降) at night. People who do not experience this temporary drop, called “non-dippers”, are more likely to develop heart disease. The circadian clock is made up of four main proteins (encoded by “clock genes”) that regulate close to half of all genes in the body, including those important for blood pressure regulation.
Previous research has shown that male mice that are missing one of the four clock genes (PER1) become non-dippers and have a higher risk for heart and kidney disease. A research team studied the circadian response and blood pressure of female mice that lack PER1 and compared them with a healthy female control group. On both low-and high-salt diets, both groups “retained an apparent circadian rhythm” of blood pressure, the researchers explained. Unlike the male mice in previous research, the females without PER1 showed normal dips in blood pressure overnight.
These results suggest that the lack of PER1 acts differently in males and females. The findings are consistent with research showing that women are less likely to be non-dippers than men of the same age. "This study represents an important step in understanding sex differences in the regulation of cardiovascular (心血管) function by the circadian clock," the researchers wrote.
1. What does the new research find?| A．Biological clock may protect males from heart disease. |
| B．Biological blood pressure rhythms in female mice acts normally. |
| C．Biological clock organizes bodily activities over a 24-hour period. |
| D．A gene controlling biological clock works differently between sexes. |
| A．Helping males cure heart disease. |
| B．Helping blood pressure vary normally. |
| C．Contributing to abnormal variations in blood pressure. |
| D．Making up four main proteins regulating almost half of all genes. |
| A．treated. | B．warned. | C．kept. | D．watched. |
| A．One clock gene is important | B．Women may benefit from body clock |
| C．New study analyzes blood pressure rhythms | D．Blood pressure of healthy humans dips at night |
8 . A family vacation may be a good opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves. Destinations nestled in nature with plenty of breathing room and easy access to fresh air are trending. Here are four destinations with an eye towards the great outdoors.
Woodloch Resort, Pennsylvania
Considering meals, drinks and activities are all included, it is worry-free to travel at Woodloch Resort. With vast rural grounds, its location and safety measures make it easy to be socially distant. You can sail on the lake, hike, swim or enjoy family-friendly games and entertainment. Comfort food classics served three times each day should satisfy even picky eaters.
Ocean Lakes Family Campground, South Carolina
Camping is a time-honored tradition. Families may bond over simple pleasures such as eating burgers grilled over an open fire and stargazing. Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sits on nearly a mile of beachfront. Each site is roomy enough for a large camper. Mini-golf, a waterpark, and bike rentals are a few of the many family friendly recreational options.
Hull-O Farms, New York
Develop a connection to the land when you stay on a working farm. Take part in simple agricultural tasks such as picking fruit, gathering eggs and milking cows. Kids can enjoy the outdoor environment with healthy freedom that their parents might not be able to allow them in a crowded city. Hull-O Farms is a 7th-generation family farm. Guests may reserve one of three comfortable houses and participate in farm life as much or as little as they please.
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is not far from Philadelphia and New York. You’ll find a slower pace as you travel along scenic country roads through mountains, valleys and forests.
You can hike in Shenandoah National Park, explore large caves» or rent a boat moving down the Shenandoah River.
1. Which destination offers all-inclusive service?| A．Shenandoah Valley. | B．Woodloch Resort. |
| C．Hull-O Farms. | D．Ocean Lakes Family Campground. |
| A．People can camp on the beach. |
| B．People can enjoy all kinds of foods. |
| C．People can take part in farm life. |
| D．People can row a boat along the river. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a farming magazine. | D．In a travel brochure. |
9 . Some 20 percent of adults are procrastinators (拖延症患者). Everyone might put off a task or two, but long-term procrastinators do it at home, at school, at work and in their relationships.
For years, researchers have focused on the personalities of people who procrastinate. The results suggest procrastinators may be impulsive (冲动), worriers and have trouble regulating their emotions. But procrastinators are not lazy. They’re actually very busy doing other things than what they’re supposed to be doing. Though procrastinators may think they perform better under pressure, studies have reported the opposite. And when deadlines are uncertain, procrastinators tend to delay their work.
When people put off a tough task, they feel good-in the moment. Procrastinating is a way to avoid the negative emotions linked to the task. But the relief it provides is only temporary, and many seek out ways to stop procrastinating.
In fact, most research today suggests procrastination is a behavioral pattern, which means it’s something you can change, regardless of whether you’re impulsive. What works best is still under research. Some scientists have reported success with time management. But the evidence for that is all over the map. That’s because poor time management is a symptom not a cause of procrastination.
For some procrastinators, seemingly obvious tips can work. Researchers advise students to simply put down their smartphones. Silencing notifications or studying in the library rather than at home can regulate distractions and keep people on task. But that won’t be enough for many people. Stubborn procrastinators may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (认知行为疗法). This type of therapy, which involves managing thoughts and emotions and trying to change behavior, seemed to be the most helpful. Still, not many studies have examined treatments, and there’s room for improvement.
1. What does procrastination mean to longtime procrastinators?| A．A personal advantage. | B．A habitual behavior. |
| C．A working motivation. | D．An excuse for laziness. |
| A．They are inactive. | B．They are efficient. |
| C．They are anxious. | D．They are careful. |
| A．Their temporary relief from the stress. |
| B．Their imperfection in personalities. |
| C．Their poor time management at work. |
| D．Their high ability to deal with hard work. |
| A．Avoiding smartphones. | B．Proper studying places. |
| C．Good time management. | D．Cognitive behavioral therapy. |
10 . Near-death accidents and summit failures have not slowed down mountaineer Saray N’ kusi Khumalo. The Zambia-born mother of two holds a corporate job, hosts a podcast, has climbed some of the tallest mountains around the world, and still has the time to run a non- profit organization that focuses on education in Africa.
“My grandfather always used to say, ‘if you don’t live a life of service, that’s a life wasted, ” she said. In 2013, she founded Summits With A Purpose in South Africa. With every climb, she raises funds to help build schools and libraries. Khumalo is not going to just climb and take a selfie. She is going to climb and then make a difference.
Not long after her first-ever summit, she turned her eyes toward the world’s tallest peak: Mt. Qomolangma, located in the Himalayas. The first three attempts were tough and heart-breaking for Khumalo: She experienced everything from natural disasters to losing consciousness in the “death zone”, Qomolangma’s top stretch over 8, 000 meters above sea level, where oxygen is dangerously low.
On May 16, 2019 —her fourth bid —she succeeded, becoming the first Black African woman to reach the summit. In total, only eight of the 4,000 people who’ve ever summited Qomolangma are Black.
Khumalo is humbled by what she’s achieved so far, but she notes, “I don’t think that I’ve broken those stereotypes yet; there’s still a lot more work to be done,” adding that representation should extend beyond the mountain tops, too.
“It’s not just about Qomolangma; it is a gift that we need to leave for the next generation wherever we are,” she says, calling on her peers to step outside their comfort zone to show that Black people belong in all spaces.
1. What can we know about Khumalo from paragraph 1?| A．She suffers from injuries. | B．She is energetic. |
| C．She loves her family. | D．She is struggling with life. |
| A．To make herself rich. | B．To fulfill her grandfather’s wish. |
| C．To raise funds for her climbing. | D．To collect money for African education. |
| A．Her life experiences. | B．The success of her climbing. |
| C．The hardship in climbing. | D．The conditions of the Qomolangma’s top. |
| A．To introduce a mountaineer pioneer. | B．To show a respect for mountaineers. |
| C．To tell the history of mountain climbing. | D．To attract more people to conquer Mt. Qomolangma. |
