1 . Opening Notice for the National Museum of China (NMC)
Admission:
NMC is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-17:30 (no entry after 16:30), and is closed on Mondays (except for public holidays). All visitors are required to book online 1-7 days in advance via the NMC official website or WeChat platform.
Audio Guide Rental:
Audio guide devices are available at the West Hall Service Desk for RMB40, with a RMB100 deposit (押金). A valid (有效的) ID is necessary. Damage to an audio guide causes a fee based on the level of damage. Lost devices are subject to payment of the full purchase cost.
Facilities:
Wheelchairs and strollers (婴 儿 推车 ) are available for free use on the day of visit at the Service Desk. A valid ID card and a deposit of RMB500 are required.
Photo Policy:
Photography is allowed in the NMC collection exhibitions without using flash, selfie sticks, or tripods. Temporary exhibits may have specific photo policies, indicated by clear signs put up at both the entrance and the corresponding exhibit halls.
Transportation:
Bus Route:
You can take the No.1, No.2, No. 52, No. 82, No.120 buses, or Sightseeing Line 2, Tourist Bus Line 1 and Line 2 and get off at Tian'anmen East Station.
Metro:
You can take Metro Line 1, get off at Tian'anmen East Station, and exit the station through Exit C.
1. What happens if a rented audio guide device is damaged?| A．An additional fee of RMB40 is charged. |
| B．The visitor is excused from any charges. |
| C．Its full price is charged regardless of the damage. |
| D．Fee for damage is based on the extent of the damage. |
| A．Borrow a wheelchair with a deposit of $500. |
| B．Use a stroller provided by the museum for free. |
| C．Take photos with flashlight, selfie stick or tripod. |
| D．Take pictures of the collections on all exhibitions. |
| A．The No.82 Bus. | B．Tourist Bus Line 52. |
| C．Sightseeing Line 1. | D．Metro Line 2. |
2 . Back in the early 2000s, lots of people couldn’t imagine life without alarm clocks, CD players, calendars, cameras, or lots of other devices. But along came the iPhone and other smartphones, and they took over the functions of many things that we used to think were completely necessary.
The success of smartphones can be a model for dealing with climate change because they represent a different approach to design, which is to focus on function rather than form. This approach requires concentrating on understanding the problems, and then engineering a wide range of potential solutions. By adopting this mindset, we can completely change our thinking about energy efficiency (效率).
Traditionally, improvements in energy efficiency have mostly been centered on individual devices, which can be quite fruitful. But focusing on individual devices is like if Apple had spent effort inventing a better alarm clock, a better CD player, a better calendar, and a better camera. Now with an iPhone, we don’t need the standalone (独立运行的) devices at all, because it can function as all of them.
So when it comes to energy efficiency, instead of only installing more efficient heaters, we should focus on the desired function: warmth. Through creative designs like coating (给……涂层) our house, we can get rid of the need for heaters, significantly saving nearly 99% energy.
Similarly, rather than merely focusing on making cars more efficient, we should consider the desired function — transportation. By developing an efficient transportation system that reduces the need for private cars, we can achieve greater energy savings.
The most energy-efficient car or heater is no car, or no heater, while still being able to get around and stay warm. In other words, it’s not thinking efficiently, but thinking differently.
1. What makes the iPhone a good example of environmental protection?| A．Choosing a simplest design. |
| B．Combining possible functions. |
| C．Perfecting individual instruments. |
| D．Reducing the energy consumption. |
| A．Improving technologies. |
| B．Using recyclable materials. |
| C．Figuring out various solutions. |
| D．Concentrating on the necessary needs. |
| A．Inefficient. | B．Classical. | C．Useless. | D．Perfect. |
| A．Think out of the box | B．Differences make it unique |
| C．Be economical with energy | D．Step out of the comfort zone |
3 . The ranking of universities and colleges at the national global level is a well-known doubtful practice. Imperfect approaches generate inaccurate results of these institutions. Nowadays, prestigious (有威望的) law and medical schools have started to walk away from this “evaluation”.
There are two obvious methodological problems with all of this. One is that the numerical rankings suffer from false precision. Is there really a difference between No.10 and No.11 in the undergraduate (本科生) school rankings? Johns Hopkins University famously had a plan called“10 by 20”with the goal of getting to No.10 by 2020. Hopkins is a great undergraduate institution — whether it’s No.10 or No.11 is meaningless, but it did indeed make it into the top 10 ahead of schedule, which no doubt delighted its trustees and students.
The other methodological problem is that rankings reward those schools that promote measurements by admitting students who have had the advantages of better pre-college education and test preparation coaching, and whose wealth will make them likely future donors. Equally worthy applicants without such resources will fail to enter the schools.
The good news is that in recent months, a reckoning (清算) has begun. Last September, Columbia University chose not to participate in the undergraduate rankings after an enterprising professor discovered that the school was fudging its own numbers. If Columbia’s data were corrected, it would drop from No. 2 to No. 18. Two months later, law schools began pushing back. Yale and Harvard Law Schools announced that they would refuse to provide data to U. S. News, and several outstanding law schools followed suit.
This resistance to rankings has now begun in the world of science. This is a great sign. In announcing its decision, the dean of Washington University’s medical school said, “…it is time to stop participating in a system that does not serve our students or their future patients.”
1. Why does the author mention Johns Hopkins University?| A．To share an experience. | B．To give specific example. |
| C．To make a detailed comparison. | D．To illustrate a complicated concept. |
| A．Its data was not based on facts. |
| B．It was left behind by other universities. |
| C．It didn’t think the system served their students. |
| D．Other universities chose to refuse to participate in the rankings. |
| A．Objective. | B．Indifferent. | C．Supportive. | D．Opposed. |
| A．Resistance to Educational Rankings |
| B．The Ranking of Universities and Colleges |
| C．Educational Rankings: Scientific or Imperfect |
| D．Reasons for Universities’ Refusal of Rankings |
4 . Music is an international language, spanning cultures across the world, and, in fact, across time. Looking at today’s musical landscape, certain cities truly stand out for their music scenes. Here we’re naming some of our favorite cities for music.
NashvilleWith the nickname “Music City”, Nashville makes our list of best music cities. You’re bound to hear live music anywhere, whether at your hotel bar, or at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Nashville is not only home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Johnny Cash Museum, but it’s still active in the recording studio scene.
ViennaIf you’re after classical music on your next vacation, be sure to head to Vienna. Once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the city was the center of all societal affairs which included music. The greatest classical composers—from Mozart to Haydn to Beethoven to Mahler—all lived and worked in Vienna at one point or another.
New YorkNew York has been described as a “melting pot (熔炉)” of cultures, and that applies to its music, too. The 20th century was particularly fruitful for New York’s music scene. During this time, it became the birthplace of hip-hop, disco, and salsa music, among other styles. The list truly goes on and on.
New OrleansThe city is filled with jazz, where you can listen to the great music every night. Of course, you can catch jazz at venues across town—the genre was born here, after all. If you’re a huge jazz fan, you might want to consider visiting during the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
1. Which city is more attractive to visitors who want to know the classical musicians?| A．Nashville. | B．Vienna. | C．New York. | D．New Orleans. |
| A．It is a meeting pointing for various styles of music. |
| B．It is recognized as the birthplace and hot area of Jazz. |
| C．It holds musical festivals for hip-pop and disco fans each year. |
| D．It enables people to enjoy the live shows inside and outside hotel bars. |
| A．A poster. | B．A news report. | C．An encyclopedia. | D．A magazine. |
5 . England Tours
Rick Steves England tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. Browse Rick’s best England tours and vacation packages.
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour
$4,485 per person
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days delivers a colorful mix of must-see cities. Along the way, you will encounter some fascinating bits of art, history, and culture — as well as a couple of castles, a boat, plenty of hiking, and even a swimming pool or two. Our stress-free Europe vacation package provides great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing — and memories to last a lifetime. And on this tour, kids aged 8 —19 get a $200 discount!
Best of London in 7 Days Tour
$4,495 per person
London has just what you need for a quick escape: direct flights, the best live theater scene on the planet, and an inviting pub on every corner. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead to the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle.
Best of England in 14 Days Tour
$4,395 per person
Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and village charm. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. From there you’ll be guided to King Arthur’s Glastonbury, flower-boxed Cotswold villages, and Caernarfon Castle. You’ll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District.
Best of South England in 10 Days Tour
$4,595 per person
Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. Your Rick Steves guide will introduce you to locals who have talents to share and stories to tell. You’ll also learn about and taste the delicious seafood and traditional Cornish pasties.
1. Which tour is probably the cheapest for a teenager?| A．Family Europe: London to Florence. | B．Best of London. |
| C．Best of England. | D．Best of South England. |
| A．Sea bathing. | B．Local school visits. |
| C．Local stories. | D．North Ireland’s history. |
| A．Direct flight. | B．Guided tour. |
| C．Village walk. | D．Delicious seafood. |
6 . Adults usually do not remember most of the things that are taught by their teachers at school. But this story is one such lesson that I will never forget. Every time I drift off course, I think of this story.
It was a normal Monday morning, and my teacher was teaching us on important things in life and about devoting ourselves to what is important to us. This is how the story went.
An old man lived in a certain part of London, and he would wake up every morning and go to the subway. He would get onto the train right to Central London, and then sit at the street corner and beg. He would do this every single day of his life. He sat at the same street corner and begged for almost 20 years.
His house was dirty, and a stench (恶臭) came out of the house and it smelled terrible. The neighbors could not stand the smell any more, so they called for the police officers to clear the place. The officers knocked down the door and cleaned the house. There were small bags of money all over the house that he had collected over the years.
The police counted the money, and they soon realized that the old man was a millionaire (百万富翁). They waited outside his house expecting to share the good news with him. When the old man arrived home that evening, one of the officers told him that there was no need for him to beg any more as he was a rich man now, a millionaire.
But the old man said nothing at all; he went into his house and locked the door. The next morning he woke up as usual, went to the subway, sat at the street corner and continued to beg.
Clearly, this old man had no great plans, dreams or anything significant for his life. We learn nothing from this story other than staying focused on the things we enjoy doing.
1. The underlined part in the first paragraph may mean ______.| A．I wouldn’t like to go to school | B．I get lost in the direction of life |
| C．I get tired of learning my subjects | D．I fail to listen to lessons attentively |
| A．the old man wouldn’t buy tickets for the train |
| B．the old man kept begging money from them every day |
| C．there was something dangerous in the old man’s house |
| D．they couldn’t bear the smell from the old man’s house |
| A．felt worried | B．became excited | C．remained calm | D．became nervous |
| A．Make great plans for your life. | B．Keep on doing what is important. |
| C．Do something that is good to society. | D．Depend on yourself rather than others. |
7 . A Joke and Balloon
In 2001, a young girl called Laura Buxton released a balloon from her bedroom window in Staffordshire, England. Attached to the balloon were a joke and Laura’s e-mail address. “At the time, I thought it was funny,” said ten-year-old Laura. Amazingly, six weeks later, Laura received an e-mail from another ten-year-old girl who lived in the town of Buton, about 200 kilometers away. In the e-mail, the young girl explained how she had found the balloon and she enjoyed the joke. Incredibly, the little girl’s name was also Laura Buxton.
A Walking Book
During a tour of the US, the British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins lost one of his favorite novels, a copy of The Girl from Petrovka by George Feifer. Inside the book was a dedication (献词) from his mother. He searched everywhere for it, but the book had disappeared. However, three years later, Hopkins was on the London Underground when he noticed a copy of the book on the seat next to him. On opening the first page, he saw his mother’s familiar handwriting.
Supermarket Surprise
66-year-old John Foundergen of Liverpool had been trying to trace his brother for decades. Many years before, there had been a family argument and the two brothers hadn’t seen one another since. However, one day, John met a woman in a supermarket who said, “Hey, you know, you look just like my husband.” You can guess the rest.
Delayed Gratitude
In 1965 Roger Akua, aged four, was saved from drowning by a woman called Alice Blaise. Nine years later, Roger saw a man drowning on the same beach. Roger dived in and saved the man. Roger later found out that the man was Alice Blaise’s husband.
1. Why did Laura Buxton release a balloon?| A．To tell a story. | B．To ask for help. |
| C．To have some fun. | D．To convey her kindness. |
| A．It is written by a British actor. | B．Hopkins found it written by his mother. |
| C．A passenger gave it to Hopkins. | D．The handwriting of Hopkins’ mother can be found in it. |
| A．Strange stories. | B．Moving stories. | C．Adventurous stories. | D．Fairy stories. |
8 . In today’s classroom, homework is completed not only with the pen and paper, but also with computers and cell phones. How to make the best use of such digital products is an important question for teachers and students. The following top digital portfolio platforms (作品集平台) offer a broad range of functions. Most importantly, they provide a way to share students’ work with pride.
Google SitesCreating a digital portfolio could not be any easier than Google Sites makes it. It lets students quickly put in contents, such as text, images, videos, maps, and much more. Use one of the provided six themes or create a custom one, and then publish it as a public or restricted-view (限制浏览的) site.
Seesaw for SchoolsDesigned for education, Seesaw for Schools provides a platform through which students complete and share school projects. By recording the process of gradually improving their schoolwork, kids gain a sense of master y and pride, so it is popular among them. Plus, parents can be involved too—just download the Seesaw Family app.
ArtsoniaArtsonia is like a dream come true for art-minded students: a free, safe, educational space through which students show their digital creativity. Friends and family can view, comment on and buy objects. The site also provides a complete teachers’ guide. Just celebrate the artistic skills with Artsonia!
EdublogsOne of the oldest and best-known web platforms for education, Edublogs makes it easy for teachers and students to start building a free WordPress platform. The free plan offers 1 GB of storage space, class management tools, and no advertising. A set of educator guides and community participation is another big plus for Edublogs.
1. What is special about Google Sites?| A．It lets students learn from others’ work. |
| B．It is controlled by educators for safety. |
| C．It offers students online publishing rights for free. |
| D．It allows students to create contents in different forms. |
| A．It helps check their school work. |
| B．It can track their progress. |
| C．It requires teamwork with parents. |
| D．It protects their personal information well. |
| A．They offer professional advice. |
| B．They require support from teachers and parents. |
| C．They remind students to hand in homework on time. |
| D．They can store large amounts of information. |
9 . I’m approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. It’s 5:15 pm. Traffic is slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m stuck even before getting on the bridge.
This has become my normal work commute (上下班往返) routine. Ahead of me is a heavily jammed on-ramp (匝道). I stare at the endless rows of vehicles, depressed. Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks, I start counting — 299, 300, 301 — and I give up.
Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. When the cars do move, I move carefully, making sure not to knock into other vehicles. Finally, I make it onto the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very anxious.
Just then, I hear a faint sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an emergency vehicle approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move.
But I’m wrong. Every single car quickly, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance flashes through.
Afterward, every car moves back into formation (队形). We close up the emergency lane, continuing our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. My exhaustion and anxiety are gone. I start reflecting upon what 300 fellow drivers and I just did.
Despite our exhaustion, we all decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our compassion (同情心) and intelligence, requiring no orders. Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m connected to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.
1. How does the author feel when seeing the on-ramp?| A．Calm. | B．Shocked. | C．Delighted. | D．Discouraged. |
| A．All drivers will be willing to move. | B．It will be hard for it to pass through. |
| C．Someone should direct the traffic. | D．Whoever is inside needs immediate help. |
| A．Deeply doubtful. | B．Extremely confused. |
| C．Feeling confident. | D．Filled with amazement. |
| A．People’s kindness. | B．The drivers’ positive attitude. |
| C．Instructions from a stranger. | D．The drivers’ good driving skills. |
10 . Playing Minecraft, a video game, could be key to creating adaptable (可调试的) artificial intelligence models that can pick up a variety of tasks the way humans do.
Steven James at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and his colleagues developed a test within Minecraft to measure the general intelligence of AI models. This MinePlanner test rates an AI’s ability to ignore unimportant details while solving a complex multi-step problem.
Lots of AI training “cheats” by giving a model all the data it needs to learn how to do a job and nothing related to it, says James. Future AI models will need to deal with confusing problems, and he hopes that MinePlanner will guide that research. AI working to solve a problem in the game will see everything involved, including objects and other details that aren’t necessarily needed to solve a problem and must be ignored. It will have to survey its surroundings and work out by itself what is and isn’t needed.
The virtual test consists of 15 construction problems, and each one can be easy, medium and hard. To finish each task, the AI may need to take some steps in between, like building stairs to reach a certain height. This means the AI has to think about the whole picture and plan what to do next.
State-of-the-art planning AI models were unable to complete any of the tough problems and they only do a little better on the easier ones, suggesting there is room for improvement.
“We can’t require a human designer to come in and tell the AI exactly what it should and shouldn’t care about for each and every task it might have to solve,” says James. “That’s the problem we’re trying to address.”
1. Why is playing Minecraft important for creating adaptable AI models?| A．Because it offers tasks that require human-like ability. |
| B．Because it provides different situations for AI training. |
| C．Because it is an easy game for AI to learn and master. |
| D．Because it is a video game popular among AI scientists. |
| A．AI models are trained in a dishonest way. |
| B．AI models are only taught to perform simple tasks. |
| C．AI models are offered all the necessary data for a task. |
| D．AI models are given wrong information during training. |
| A．It solved all the 15 construction problems. |
| B．It performed poorly in handling hard tasks. |
| C．It was completely unable to deal with any task. |
| D．It performed excellently in solving easy problems. |
| A．Adaptable ability. | B．Computing speed. |
| C．Communicative skills. | D．Data-processing power. |
