1 . Mary Poppins held on to her famous black umbrella while floating overhead and singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” The audience watched in amazement, and many sang along! Poppins floated for a bit and eventually landed in the midst of the excited crowd before getting on stage. No, this wasn’t a scene from a Disney movie.
They had limited success until 1995 when Rieu was asked to provide entertainment for a soccer game. He got the entire stadium to sing along to a popular waltz.
Today Rieu is the best-selling classical artist worldwide. He has sold in the ballpark of an astonishing 40 million records. He is the biggest male solo touring artist on the planet. His concerts sell more tickets than Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen!
Many classical concerts are serious events, but Rieu’s are the opposite. He’s been nicknamed “The King of the Waltz” because he loves waltzes.
His shows are attended by people of all ages and always include surprises, like the delightful appearance by Mary Poppins. As Rieu says, “I only play music that touched my heart. And I know when it touches my heart, it will touch your heart.” During his performances, many audience members are visibly moved. They often clap, sing, dance, laugh, weep or hug one another. Rieu promises his audience, “You will have an evening that you will never forget.”And he is true to his word.
| A．Afterward, he sold over 200,000 CDs and his popularity rising. |
| B．Rather, it was part of one of André Rieu’s amazing concerts. |
| C．As a result, Rieu became a house-hold name and won great popularity. |
| D．Yet his shows consist of an extensive variety of musical genres and performances. |
| E．Then, Rieu continued his style until he got his nickname. |
| F．From early on, Rieu knew what he wanted - his own orchestra. |
2 . Every summer, Europeans and tourists from all over the world sail by boat down the Danube River. Their trips often begin in Nuremberg, Germany, where they can visit the Imperial Castle, the ancient city wall, and the water fountain in Market Square.
From Nuremberg, the boats proceed down the Danube to Melk, which for centuries was one of Europe’s most important religious centers. Among the interesting sights in Melk is its famous church tower.
After Melk, the boats pass through wine country to Vienna. Called the “City of Waltzes”, Vienna has a magnificent opera house and an imperial palace. Aside trip from Vienna takes visitors into the Austrian Alps. The tour bus trip offers marvelous views of the surrounding countryside.
From Vienna, the boats sail to Budapest. The capital of the central-European country of Hungary, Budapest boasts a history that’s more than 2,000 years old.
The city’s name combines those of “Buda”, “Obuda” and “Pest”, once separate towns on either side of the Danube River. In 1873, these towns were unified and their names combined into one. Budapest’s World Heritage site also comprises several distinct areas, designated (指定) by UNESCO starting in 1987. These include the Castle District, the Banks of the Danube, Gellért Hill and Andrássy Avenue. At each of these locations, you can explore many hundreds of years of history, art and culture. One great way of doing so is through guided walking tours. Some of these tours are free, led by local people who have extensive knowledge of their city. Or, if you prefer something that’s faster-paced and easier on the legs, try a Segway tour! The Castle District displays centuries of the city’s history. Numerous attacks, wars and natural disasters destroyed much of the original Castle Quarter. Still, beauty and charm remain.
1. What does this article mainly describe?| A．Voyages with several interesting stops. |
| B．Cycling through urban and rural areas. |
| C．Travel by air to a continent’s oldest towns. |
| D．Fascinating rides on a historic railway. |
| A．Its location made it an important political center. |
| B．Hunting was a popular activity there years ago. |
| C．It has attracted a lot of people who enjoy skating. |
| D．Dancing has been an important part of its culture. |
| A．They frequently include a meal. |
| B．They don’t cost anything. |
| C．They require advance reservations. |
| D．They may not be entirely safe. |
| A．International festivals. |
| B．Military conflicts. |
| C．An educational institution. |
| D．Industrial expansion. |
3 . Product info:
Jacobsen Healthy Charms Cereal 500g $6.99
By Jacobsen Foods
1.8 out of 5 stars 815 customer reviews
It's time to feed your family cereal that's both healthy and exciting! Healthy Charms combines both the fun of sugary cereals with the health benefits of healthy foods. After years of research, we've created this cereal that appeals to both kids and adults alike. It's made with 18 nutritious ingredients that provide your body with vitamins, minerals, and proteins to start your day off right! We've added dried fruits in fun shapes that your children will love.
Low in fat
Low in sugar
No GMO or artificial colors or ingredients
ONLINE REVIEW:
1.0 out of 5 stars Definitely tastes healthy
By parent of 4 ★★★★★ May 18, 2023
Well, I can't say I didn't try. I wanted to feed my kids something healthier for breakfast than their usual Frosted O's and Cinnareal, but this one completely failed. My kids aren't even picky, but this cereal tasted like cardboard.There was absolutely nothing fun or "charming" about it. The "shaped fruit" just looked like pressed bugs, and that was the only part of the cereal that tasted good. And it was so expensive on top of it all!
RESPONSE:
I'm sorry to hear your family did not like our cereal. We had broad feedback making this product and received lots of good reviews about it. Perhaps the transition from a lot of sugar to a product that has almost none was too quick? We want you to be happy and would be glad to send you a beneficial ticket to purchase something else our company makes. Please email us at contact@jacobsenfoods.com and tell us about your situation and we'll get into contact with you.
1. What was the company's goal when making Healthy Charms?| A．They wanted to be in direct competition with another cereal. |
| B．They wanted to create something that no one had ever heard of. |
| C．They wanted to make kids and parents happy at the same time. |
| D．They wanted to turn a kid's idea into reality with their help. |
| A．The dried fruit was tasty but looked terrible. |
| B．The cereal was a little wet even without milk. |
| C．There was still a lot of sugar for children. |
| D．There was so little cereal inside the box. |
| A．They said the family doesn't know what they're talking about. |
| B．They said that the cereal isn't supposed to taste good. |
| C．They said that the product the family purchased was bad. |
| D．They said the family needs more time to get used to it. |
4 . Here’s the deal: you’re as hungry as a horse and you want a delicious meal from a fine restaurant, but you’re a little low on funds.
So what do you do? If you happen to live in Europe, the answer is as easy as pie: you pull out your smart phone or tablet, and tap Too Good To Go, Europe’s most popular app. Approximately 23,000 restaurants and food sellers post their leftover offerings on the app for half their usual cost.
Why all this incredible generosity? Unbelievably, one-third of the world’s food is thrown away, and nearly one billion people don’t have enough to eat. Besides, burning wasted food releases harmful carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. That’s why environment-minded companies around the world are creating apps for phones, tablets, and other smart devices that connect uneaten food with people who want or need it.
After a long day at work, Anne, a 34-year-old student, pulls out her smart phone and chooses a noodle dish —pasta with mushrooms. Then she heads to a restaurant on the banks of the Spree River, where the owner packs her dinner and also offers her a spoon of free icecream, which is a reward for bringing her own container.
Indeed, there are many programmes serving the same mission around the world. In America, people are using an app called Food for All. One hour before a restaurant closes, its staff can post leftover meals to the app for up to 80 percent off menu prices. The app also allows customers to donate leftover meals to others.
In the Netherlands, 77,000 people have downloaded an app called No Food Wasted. This programme allows grocery store workers to share products that are approaching their expiration dates with customers who might need them.
Some countries are taking their commitment to reducing food waste a step further. France and the Czech Republic, for example, have laws that prohibit restaurants and grocery stores from throwing away food. Instead, workers are required to donate that food to charity.
So think about if there might be a better use for your uneaten vegetables. The planet will thank you.
1. Why are such apps as Too Good To Go created?| A．They are created to show the generosity of some eco-minded companies. |
| B．They are created to offer delicious meals to those who live on a tight budget. |
| C．They are created to call for people to not waste food and to reduce harmful emissions from burning wasted food. |
| D．They are created as a publicity tool for restaurants and companies. |
| A．Make laws and regulations to ban the waste of food. |
| B．Share products approaching their expiration dates with those who might need them. |
| C．Post leftover meals to the app for up to 80 percent discounts. |
| D．Offer consumers a free meal as the reward for bringing their own container. |
| A．Companies are designing environment-friendly apps for poor people. |
| B．Restaurants enable their staff to sell leftover meals at a low price on apps. |
| C．Apps are designed to provide leftover food for people in need to choose from. |
| D．Apps are designed to appeal to the public to treasure food and donate food to people in need. |
| A．more methods are needed to help solve the problem of leftover food |
| B．more applications should be created to help restaurants sell food |
| C．leftover food will pose a great danger to the environment |
| D．the applications already designed cannot ensure a good use of leftover food |
To: Anson Wong <mransonwong@email.com>
Re: Questions about online math contest
Date: June 18, 2023
Dear Mr.Wong,
Thank you for your email. We’re so glad your children are signed up to participate in our math contest. I hope it will be a rewarding and enriching experience for them.
You can access the training session and practice tests by logging into our website at www.mathcontest.com. Once you’re signed in, you will see several tabs on the left-hand side.
One of them will say “Enrolled.” If you click on the drop-down menu there, you’ll find the names of the children you registered. If you click on each name, you’ll be given the option of joining a training session or doing practice tests.
I hope that answers your question!
Please let me know if you need any further help.
Sincerely,
Bridget Pecolini
1. What can Gary do at the beginning of August?
| A．He can take a class to learn how to succeed. |
| B．He can do the contests from two years ago. |
| C．He can contact the contest organizers. |
| D．He can try the most recent practice contest. |
| A．She was checking in on him. |
| B．She was responding to his email. |
| C．She was looking for information. |
| D．She was asking him to pay. |
| A．It takes place on June 18. | B．It takes place on August 7. |
| C．It takes place on August 12. | D．It takes place on August 14. |
6 . Have you ever wondered what you would look like as a cartoon character or a marvel superhero? With the power of artificial intelligence (AI) text-to-image generators, you can create images just like that - without any art skills.
How does it work?
AI text-to-image generators are trained through a process called machine learning. In this process, the generator’s “brain” is fed massive numbers of images and learns to distinguish what they are. But the generator doesn’t just learn to tell the difference between a banana and a balloon.
Some artists worry that they are being replaced by this technology. But other artists like to cooperate with the generator, using its power for ideas and inspiration.
This powerful tool is now available to anyone through generators like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E. You can use them to create all kinds of imaginative images.
The dark side
Generators like Stable Diffusion are trained using images that are gathered from all over the internet. But the training process doesn’t exclude (排除) images that are violent or inappropriate, so the generators “learn” those as well. The DALL-E program comes with built-in filters that prevent it from generating perverse (变态的) images. But Stable Diffusion is an open-source technology, meaning that people can modify its code and remove the content filters. Despite this, Stable Diffusion’s founder Emad Mostaque remains optimistic about how people will use his generator. He says, “The bad stuff that people create ... will be a very, very small percentage of the total use.”
For better or for worse,
| A．But this technology can be dangerous as well. |
| B．You just need to have some experience with technology as well as a proper computer. |
| C．Therefore, AI technology will be used more and more wildly in the future. |
| D．AI text-to-image generators will become as common and easy to use as Google image search. |
| E．Rather, it will categorize every possible detail. |
| F．Meanwhile, the generator can help people to recognize various information accurately. |
7 . You constantly find yourself apologizing to a friend when you’ve done nothing wrong. You feel you must obey someone’s demands, or they will be upset with you or even harm you or themselves. An unclear or specific threat is made that causes you to fear that someone will reveal a secret or weakness, so you do what that person wants. Or perhaps a relative is trying to make you feel obliged to do something by saying, “That’s what friends or family do for each other.” They arouse feelings of guilt in you for not meeting their needs.
If you have had experience with any of these cases, then you are the victim of emotional blackmail (勒索). This style of handle controls you through your emotions. Fear, obligation and guilt - FOG - are used by an emotional blackmailer to get what they want from people.
Anyone - a friend, colleague, parent, partner or other family members - could be that person. Their demands are intended to control their victim’s behavior in unhealthy methods. Intentional or unintentional, if your needs are always brushed aside in favor of the other person’s, things need to change.
Dr. Susan Forward identifies six stages in emotional blackmail. Implied or obvious demands come first. “I don’t think you should do things with that person. They’re not good for you.” After this kind of statement, the ball is in the victim’s court, so stage two is resistance. The victim often avoids the blackmailer or suggests alternatives instead of saying no. Stage three is persistent pressure by the blackmailer: “If we were really friends, you’d do it.” Stage four involves threats: “If you don’t do this...then I will ...” The victim doesn’t want the blackmailer to make good on their threats, so obedience, which is stage five, often leaves the victim feeling guilty or resentful. In stage six the blackmailer backs off until the next demand.
What can you do? First, recognize if you are being pressured, threatened or controlled. Stay calm, and stop so you can consider other possibilities. Identify your triggers; don’t be pressured into an immediate response. Offer a compromise (妥协). Tell the blackmailer how you feel, and give them a chance to acknowledge their behavior and change. If they won’t, walk away from the relationship. Under no circumstances should you let your fears be used against you.
1. According to the passage, emotional blackmail means ______.| A．a kind of emotion that can be mailed to others online |
| B．a kind of action to influence others by means of emotion |
| C．a colour that can greatly influence others’ emotion |
| D．a situation where emotion can be stored and given out freely |
| A．To illustrate the process of emotional blackmail. |
| B．To explain the origin of emotional blackmail. |
| C．To prove the existence of emotional blackmail. |
| D．To demonstrate the theory of emotional blackmail. |
| A．amazed | B．frightened | C．indifferent | D．angry |
| A．wherever you are, it is impossible to avoid emotional blackmail in life |
| B．whenever you’re emotionally blackmailed, just let it be with no response |
| C．it’s an advisable way to give a proper response when emotionally blackmailed |
| D．it’s a correct response to sincerely negotiate with emotional blackmailer then |
8 . During the Second World War, Dr. William Walsh served on a U.S. Navy ship in the South Pacific. While serving there, Walsh observed the poor health conditions in which the people of the South Pacific lived.
After the war ended in 1945, Walsh founded an organization called Project Hope. Its goal was to bring health education and care to people in poor countries around the world. In 1958, Walsh convinced U.S. President Eisenhower to allow Project Hope to rent a U.S. Navy hospital ship for just one dollar a year. Many companies and ordinary people donated money to Project Hope. The organization used the funds to turn the navy ship into a civilian hospital ship called the SS Hope.
During the next 14 years, the SS Hope traveled to every region of the world. Wherever it went, it provided health care for needy people and helped poor countries establish their own health care systems. In 1974, the SS Hope was retired from service, and Project Hope began to provide health care on land instead.
The story of the SS Hope inspired Don and Deyon Stephens to buy a passenger ship in 1978 and transform it into another hospital ship. Since then, their organization, called Mercy Ships, has sent ships equipped with medical supplies and hospital beds around the world. Doctors volunteer to travel on these vessels or ships and perform free surgeries on people who need them. They can correct people’s vision, straighten bent limbs, remove facial tumors (肿块) and more. Mercy Ships also provides medical equipment for local health clinics and builds medical facilities. In addition, it teaches local people how to farm their land more effectively and more sustainably.
1. What happened to the SS Hope in 1974?| A．It sank unexpectedly. |
| B．It was fully repaired. |
| C．It launched new services. |
| D．It ceased operations. |
| A．An entertainer in America. |
| B．Two American accountants. |
| C．An America’s top politician. |
| D．Smart American investors. |
| A．They put physicians and nurses at risk. |
| B．They’re done at no charge to patients. |
| C．They mainly benefit wealthy individuals. |
| D．They’ve resulted in serious infections. |
| A．Make a good living from tourism. |
| B．Grow crops with greater success. |
| C．Manufacture popular electronics. |
| D．Establish education institutions. |
9 . It is hard for modern people to imagine the life one hundred years ago. No television, no plastic, no ATMs, no DVDs. Illnesses like tuberculosis, diphtheria, pneumonia meant only death. Of course, cloning appeared only in science fiction. Not to mention, computer and the Internet.
Today, our workplaces are equipped with assembly lines, fax machines, computers. Our daily life is cushioned by air conditioners, cell phones. Antibiotics helped created a long list of miracle drugs. The by-pass operation saved millions. The discovery of DNA has revolutionized the way scientists think about new therapies. Man finally stepped on the magical and mysterious Moon. With the rapid changes we have been experiencing, the anticipation for the future is higher than ever.
A revolutionary manufacturing process made it possible for anyone to own a car. Henry Ford is the man who put the world on wheels.
When it comes to singling out those who have made a difference in all our lives, you cannot overlook Henry Ford. A historian a century from now might well conclude that it was Henry Ford who most influenced all manufacturing everywhere, even to this day, by introducing a new way to make cars—one, strange to say, that originated in slaughter houses(屠宰场).
Back in the early 1900s, slaughter houses used what could have been called a “disassembly line.” That is, the carcass(尸体) of a pig was moved past various meat-cutters, each of whom cut off only a certain portion. Ford reversed this process to see if it would speed up production of a part of an automobile engine called a magneto. Rather than have each worker completely assemble a magneto, one of its elements was placed on a conveyer, and each worker, as it passed, added another component to it, the same one each time. Professor David Hounshell, of The University of Delaware, an expert on industrial development tells what happened: “The previous day, workers carrying out the entire process had averaged one magneto every 20 minutes. But on that day, on the line, the assembly team averaged one every 13 minutes and 10 seconds per person.”
Within a year, the time had been reduced to five minutes. In 1913, Ford went all the way. Hooked together by ropes, partially assembled vehicles were towed past workers who completed them one piece at a time. It wasn’t long before Ford was turning out several hundred thousand cars a year, a remarkable achievement then. And so efficient and economical was this new system that he cut the price of his cars in half, to $260, putting them within reach of all those who, up until that time, could not afford them. Soon, auto makers over the world copied him. In fact, he encouraged them to do so by writing a book about all of his innovations, entitled Today and Tomorrow. The Age of the Automobile had arrived. Today, aided by robots and other forms of automation, everything from toasters to perfumes is made on assembly lines.
Edsel Ford, Henry’s great-grandson, and a Ford vice president: “I think that my great-grandfather would just be amazed at how far technology has come.”
Many of today’s innovations come from Japan. Norman Bodek, who publishes books about manufacturing processes, finds this ironic. On a recent trip to Japan, he talked to two of the top officials of Toyota. “When I asked them where these secrets came from, where their ideas came from to manufacture in a totally different way, they laughed, and they said, ‘Well. We just read it in Henry Ford’s book from 1926: Today and Tomorrow.’”
1. By calling Henry Ford “the man who put the world on wheels”, the author means ________.| A．he made quality wheels famous to the whole world |
| B．he produced cars for free for people all over the world |
| C．his innovation made it possible for anyone to own a car |
| D．his innovation provided everyone in the world with a car |
| A．The revolutionary scientific changes lead people to be indifferent to what will happen. |
| B．By reversing the working process, Henry Ford increased the meat-cutters’ efficiency. |
| C．After the assembly line was introduced, a Ford’s car cost $260, unaffordable to common people. |
| D．Henry Ford wrote a book about his innovations, promoting the system of assembly lines. |
| A．Today and Tomorrow provides technological solutions for manufacturers |
| B．Today and Tomorrow has influenced and inspired many Japanese innovators |
| C．Today and Tomorrow is more popular among the Japanese than the Americans |
| D．Today and Tomorrow is the encyclopedia for Japanese manufacturing workers |
| A．The Power of Innovation | B．Henry Ford and Assembly Line |
| C．An Accidental Discovery | D．Analysis of the Origin of Innovation |
10 . How to Travel to Machu Picchu
Mysterious. Brilliant. Powerful. These words describe the Inca (印加). Every year, visitors rush to the Incan citadel (堡垒) of Machu Picchu (meaning “the ancient peak”) in search of the lost civilization. But getting to this UNESCO World Heritage site isn’t cheap and easy. Here’s how to expertly navigate your way to Peru’s most famous destination.
Hiking to Machu Picchu
* The most famous way to hike to Machu Picchu is along a section of one of the Incan roads built as the empire expanded. Dozens of tour operators offer Inca Trail hikes with varying durations and levels of comfort (though all require camping).
* For those who would like a less crowded experience, there are a number of diverse hiking alternatives, one of which is around Salkantay Mountain, one of the most imposing peaks in the Peruvian Andes. Several tour companies offer the treks, but Apus Peru offers an express Salkantay trek, which shaves a day off the normal itinerary for those eager to push their physical limits on their way to Machu Picchu.
* Travelers interested in archaeology should consider the Choquequirao Trek with a Machu Picchu extension. This itinerary includes spectacular hiking in the less-traveled steep Apurimac Canyon and exploration of the Choquequirao archaeological site before heading for Machu Picchu. Note that the trail is closed in December every year for regular maintenance.
Tips for Visiting
* Getting Acclimated (适应水土): Where you`re coming from is probably much lower than Machu Picchu. We highly recommend you go to Aguas Calientes first, and spend a night getting used to it before exploring Machu Picchu. Meanwhile, avoid alcohol and physical exertion to help your body slowly adjust to the thinner air.
* Entrance tickets: If you’re traveling independently, you can buy individual entrance tickets, though you should note that you’ll be required to hire a local guide before entering the site. If you book a tour package through a travel agency, all services should be included. Moreover, all entry tickets are timed, allowing entrance on the hour, and you’re allowed to stay at the site for up to four hours.
*Bring: Water and a rain jacket, even if it looks like a beautiful sunny day. And speaking of sun, remember that the ozone layer (臭氧层) over Peru is compromised. That, combined with the elevation, makes the sun extremely strong, so wear a hat and use high SPF sunscreen.
* Don’t bring: Drones, walking sticks, trekking poles or umbrellas since they’re all prohibited at Machu Picchu. Travelers who require sticks for mobility can bring them in but only with protective rubber tips over the ends.
1. Andy is a college student majoring in archaeology. He is also a keen lover of extreme sports and a seasoned hiker eager to explore the unbeaten track. Now he is considering hiking to Machu Picchu this Christmas. Which of the following routes is he most likely to choose?| A．The Inca Trail. | B．The Apus Peru Trek. |
| C．The express Salkantay Trek. | D．The Choquequrao Trek. |
| A．Vigorous exercise isn’t recommended during the hike for fear of altitude sickness. |
| B．Visitors should bring rain jackets or umbrellas due to the changeable weather there. |
| C．Visitors can enter the site anytime during the opening hours and stay for four hours. |
| D．Tour guide services are necessary for individual and group visitors to enter the site. |
| A．harmed | B．strengthened |
| C．detected | D．lowered |
