1 . Consider the following statement: “My husband bought me a pink Lamborghini...” The correct way to finish the sentence, according to some, is not showing appreciation or acting excited, but to complain about the pricy gift. If you say, “The color is so ugly, men have such bad taste!” Congratulations, you have mastered the “Versailles (凡尔赛) literature.”

The term has nothing to do with the French palace nor with literature. It came from the Japanese manga series “The Rose of Versailles” and was coined by a Chinese influencer earlier this year. This new kind of bragging (吹嘘) is called humblebragging, the psychology behind which is to be recognized for one's successes and be liked by others at the same time. “The humblebragger recognizes that it's hard to be liked and be a showoff at the same time,” said psychologist Dr. Susan KraussWhitbourne at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In an article titled “Why people hate humblebragging” published in Psychology Today, Whitbourne noted that the humblebrag is a “strategy in pursuit of respect” because it draws attention to one's accomplishments, but in a roundabout (迂回的) fashion.

However, studies on social media users show that humblebragging, as a self-promotion strategy does not work. In the essay, “Humblebragging: A distinct-and ineffective-self-presentation strategy,” researcher Ovul Sezer concluded from his research that humblebraggers are perceived more negatively than straight braggers due to the former's insincerity. “The critical factor telling these strategies was sincerity. People don't like braggers, but they at least see them as more sincere than humblebraggers.”

“So, next time if you hear ‘My husband bought me a pink Lamborghini. The color is so ugly, men have such bad taste!’. Just pretend you don’t get whatever it is they try to show off.” a Zhihu user advised others on how to respond to a “pretentious narcissist”, “Respond with genuine sympathy for their complaint.”

1. Which of the following can replace the example in Paragraph 1?

A．“I didn’t even have one look at my paper. I’m so over.”

B．“I have eaten nothing today, but I'm heavier than yesterday.”

C．“My husband bought me another Chanel purse. I love it so much.”

D．“I don’t even remember buying a house. My memory is really failing with age.”

2. Why do people humblebrag according to this article?

A．Because they're really successful.

B．Because they want to show their complaint.

C．Because they want to be liked while bragging.

D．Because they always want to be the center of the topic.

3. What can be inferred from the fourth paragraph?

A．Humblebraggers are dishonest

B．Straight braggers are popular with us.

C．Straight braggers are cleverer than humblebraggers.

D．Humblebraggers' insincerity accounts for their unpopularity.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．How to avoid humblebragging.	B．Who might be a humblebragger.
C．How to fight a humblebragger back.	D．What might hurt a humblebragger.

2 . More than one-third of the world’s food is wasted or thrown away, most of which ends up in landfills, producing very large amounts of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Now, many studies show that it is becoming harder to grow enough food to feed an increasing population due to climate change and soil degradation.

But one of the most promising and simplest solutions lies in the problem itself: this wasted food — if composted (堆肥) — could slow climate change and improve soil quality. Higher-quality soil also continues to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, helping to improve plants and contributing further to fighting climate change. Returning one ton of organic matter to each hectare of soil would increase the production of cereal crops each year in Africa, Asia and South America by millions of tons.

While it is true that people can compost in their yards, community gardens, or even on their kitchen counters, larger-scale efforts, including infrastructure (基础设施) and incentives (激励) for consumers, would take it to the next level. Imagine if consumers could just leave unwanted food in a roadside bin for pickup, or drop it off at a local store, earning a few cents a bucket, just like what has been offered for recycling bottles or newspapers.

Moreover, in the case of composting, the payment incentive system would be sustainable because the end-product of compost can be sold to farmers, making it an economically workable model, something that is often lacking in recycling, especially for certain materials, like many types of plastics.

Eventually, more widespread composting of food would pave the way for solutions to additional waste challenges, such as the disposal of packaging and clothing. This will have other positive effects as well; if more consumers compost, companies will be more inspired to make and use compostable packaging, clothing, and other products. While more compostable items are starting to emerge today, additional composting will further drive demand and innovation, and offer a game-changing solution for the planet.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The uneven distribution of food around the world.

B．The burden of population growth on the planet.

C．The urgency of properly dealing with wasted food.

D．The great impact of climate change on food.

2. What can be learned about the approach to composting wasted food?

A．A good system is needed to carry out it effectively.

B．It would take a long term to have an effect.

C．It is only workable on a small scale.

D．It may raise people’s awareness of reducing food waste.

3. What does the author think of the payment incentive system of composting food?

A．It is highly profitable.

B．It is easy to carry out.

C．It is a sustainable economic cycle pattern.

D．It is more effective than other recycling systems.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How Wasted Food Could Be Reduced

B．How Wasted Food Could Save the Planet

C．How Wasted Food Could Impact Humans

D．How Wasted Food Could Become a Business

5 . International Application

The University of Cambridge welcomes applications from suitably qualified international students. We recognize the great academic and cultural value of a diverse student body. Admitting students from outside the UK allows us to seek talent from the widest possible pool.

Attracting so many talented international applicants means competition for places is fierce. However, academic achievement and potential remain the selection criteria for senior high school candidates.

The application process

The application process is the same for all applicants. Whilst much of the information presented on this website is focused on GCE, and A Levels, many other school and national examinations at an equal level are also acceptable.

All applications to UK universities are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS）, which operates on a pre-qualification basis where offers are made in advance of applicants achieving their final grades. Offer holders are finally confirmed or rejected once the results for the relevant qualifications are received.

UCAS will require applicants’ predicted grades. A predicted grade is the grade of qualification an applicant’s school believes they are likely to achieve, all things being well. These predicted grades are used during the admissions process to help the University understand each applicant’s potential.

For a step-by-step guide, please refer to our main Applying pages.
Application fee

Most international applicants are required to pay an application fee of £60. This is a standard charge that supports the administration of the application process and maintenance of the systems used in this process. See Terms and conditions of the application fee.

1. Why does the Cambridge university welcome overseas students?

A．They are foreigners.

B．They are more qualified than local students.

C．They will provide diversity for the campus.

D．They will be recognized by the UK government.

2. Which of the following is true about the application process?

A．Gaokao results can play a part.

B．International experience is a must.

C．An offer is the guarantee of admission.

D．Applicant’s school can predict the result.

3. Who would be the most likely target reader of the text?

A．A British twelfth grader.

B．A Hong Kong eleventh grader.

C．A student in Peking University.

D．A junior high school student from Beijing.

6 . Research found that when people saw others in their herd (群体) hesitating before making a choice, they were about twice as likely to break from the group and make a different choice.

The findings have meanings for group behaviour in finance, fashion—any situation where there might be herd behaviour, Krajbich said. “Even if it appears at first that everyone is following the same trend, hesitation may show that they are not all on the same page,” he said.

The research studied 72 college students. They participated in groups of eight. When their predecessor (前任) responded slowly, participants chose against the herd about 66% of the time, compared to only 33% of the time when their predecessor chose quickly. In cases where the group was making the wrong decision, this often led people to break from the herd and make the correct choice, he said.

“A couple of bad decisions at the beginning can lead everyone to the wrong road. That’s the herd behaviour,” Krajbich said. “But what we found is that if people can see the hesitation in others’ choices, that can help them break the chain and change the course of the herd.”

Fast decisions by others can consolidate one’s own belief. For example, if a person sees their friends quickly choose to get a vaccine for COVID-19, that may make them more comfortable making the same choice, Krajbich said. If friends hesitate before getting a vaccine—even if they eventually get one—that may make a person less sure about whether to get the shot, he said.

Krajbich said the findings in the research aren’t necessary a universal rule. There may be some decisions for which taking longer to choose could indicate a more thoughtful choice. “It will be important to figure out when fast decisions signal confidence or when instead they signal thoughtlessness,” he said.

1. What will people probably do when seeing others in their herd hesitate?

A．Stop and see.

B．Criticise the trend.

C．Adopt other options.

D．Follow the majority.

2. What can be concluded from the research?

A．A wrong beginning leads to a wrong road.

B．Predecessors help speed up decision making.

C．People tend to choose against the herd without hesitation.

D．Hesitation in others’ choices helps when the majority is wrong.

3. What does the underlined word mean in the fifth paragraph?

A．Strengthen.

B．Challenge.

C．Weaken.

D．Change.

4. Why do some people make fast decisions according to Krajbich?

A．They may lack confidence.	B．They are persuaded by friends.
C．They are affected by COVID-19.	D．They may act without due consideration.

7 . In astronomy, star classification is governed by the Morgan-Keenen system, which categorizes stars based on their composition and surface temperature. The origins of this system can be traced back to the work of Annie Jump Cannon, a late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century astronomer who spent over forty years classifying stars based on their unique spectra (光谱) of transmitted light.

Beginning early in her life, Cannon demonstrated an exceptional talent for the physical sciences. As a child, she developed an interest in astronomy and transformed her study into a temporary observatory. Later, as a student at Wellesley College, Cannon earned a degree in physics and became an expert in spectroscopy, the process by which light is separated into its component wavelengths. During this period, she also took up photography and traveled extensively in order to experiment with the newly invented black-box camera.

Cannon’s background in physics, astronomy, and photography provided her with a unique skillset that would serve her well for the rest of her career. After working as a research assistant for a number of astronomers at Wellesley and Radcliffe Colleges, Cannon was hired by Professor Edward Charles Pickering, the director of the Harvard College Observatory. Under Pickering, she classified over 300,000 stars — more than any other human in history — using only a telescope, a spectrometer, and a camera. Using this knowledge, she developed her own classification system that relied on the surface temperature of the stars, which could be accurately estimated using the spectra of light transmitted from stars. It was said that Cannon could classify three stars a minute and, using a magnifying glass, could classify stars down to the 9th magnitude — sixteen times fainter than what can be seen by human eyes.

Today, Cannon’s unique classification system is used by countless astronomy enthusiasts around the world. Harlow Shapley, the astronomer who succeeded Pickering, once referred to Cannon’s contribution to astronomy as “a structure that probably will never be duplicated (复制) in kind or extent by a single individual.”

1. What do we know about Cannon according to the passage?

A．She invented black-box camera.	B．She built a star-watching spot at home.
C．She majored in photography in college.	D．She spent forty years in studying light transmission.

2. What is the principle behind Cannon’s classification system?

A．The camera could receive the spectra of light.

B．A star’s light could tell its external temperature.

C．The light of stars could be classified into nine types.

D．Approximately 300,000 stars possessed the same spectra.

3. Which of the following best describes Cannon?

A．Ambitious and generous.	B．Persistent and brave.
C．Work-addicted and honest.	D．All-around and creative.

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．A Woman Classifying the Stars	B．A Pupil Outdoing Her Master
C．Science Knows No Gender	D．Astronomy Taps Potential

8 . In a small, rough shipyard on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a small team is building what they say will be the world’s largest ocean-going clean cargo ship.

Ceiba is the first ship built by Sailcargo, a company trying to prove that zero-carbon shipping is possible, and commercially available. Made largely of wood, Ceiba combines both very old and very new technology: sailing masts stand alongside solar panels, a uniquely designed electric engine and batteries. Once on the water, she will be capable of crossing oceans entirely without the use of fossil fuels, which sets her apart.

“The thing that is striking is the fact that she’ll have one of the largest marine electric engines of her kind in the world,” Danielle Doggett said. The system also has the means to capture energy from underwater propellers (螺旋桨) as well as solar power, so electricity will be available for the engine when needed. “Really, the only limit on how long she can stay at sea is water and food on board for the crew.”

Despite some hold-ups due to the global disaster, the team hopes to get her on the water by the end of 2024 and operating by 2025, when she will begin transporting cargo between Costa Rica and Canada.

“There are actually loads of innovations happening that could transform shipping emissions, but few companies are willing to apply them to building ships like Ceiba.” says Lucy Gilliam. “So it’s not that we don’t have great ideas. The problem that we have is that fossil fuels are still too cheap. And we don’t have the rules to force people to take up the new technology.”

When it comes to promoting this kind of boat, it has to be said that Ceiba is small for a cargo ship — tiny in fact. She will carry around nine standard shipping containers. She is also relatively slow. Being a world-first, there are some aspects of Ceiba’s design that have yet to be proven at sea.

1. What is unique about Ceiba as a cargo ship?

A．It is the world’s largest.	B．It is environment-friendly.
C．It is wooden with old technology.	D．It is modern with unique equipment.

2. What determines Ceiba’s length of staying at sea according to Danielle Doggett?

A．The size of the sail.	B．The weather of the ocean.
C．The power of the electric engine.	D．The quantity of the living supplies.

3. Why are companies unwilling to build ships like Ceiba?

A．The rules are disobeyed.	B．The fuels are affordable.
C．The bigger ships are preferable.	D．The innovations are distrusted.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the innovation of Ceiba?

A．Objective.

B．Doubtful.

C．Critical.

D．Favorable.

9 . This is Your Dream Dance

With growing evidence that dancing helps boost brain health and manage symptoms of neurocognitive (神经认知的) and movement disorders, accessible dance programmes and movement therapists are helping improve the lives of millions.     1    .

● Dance as brain movement

There’s actually a lot more happening inside the brain when trying to follow even the simplest choreography (舞蹈编排). “In dance class, we have to learn patterns, and remember sequences,” says David Leventhal, a programme director. The effect extends beyond the dance class to the real world.     2    .

●    3    

In addition to the physical and neurological benefits, dance can also help people living with disease make out what their bodies can and can’t do. Rather than trying to control, or “fix” our body, dance is about developing greater body awareness and moving at our capacity, regardless of physical or cognitive difference.

● Dance as community

    4    . Dancing with others not only makes people feel less different in their abilities when dealing with neurological and movement disorders, it also helps to combat the loneliness and social isolation of living with a chronic illness.

Still, researchers say they’re only scratching the surface of understanding how dance can be used therapeutically.     5    . Researchers are also trying to find out the most effective types of dance movements and the optimal length and frequency of classes.

A．Dance as body acceptance

B．Dance as physical exercise

C．The uniqueness of dance as a therapy lies in the following aspects

D．Dancing requires more “brain power” than simpler repetitive exercises

E．Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of dance is the sense of belonging it creates

F．Larger studies are needed to confirm the findings of the smaller trials that have been done

G．Tasks like navigating the kitchen or walking to the bus stop can be more attainable after dancing

10 . The history of the school bus can date back to 1886 when the Wayne Works company made horse-drawn carriages (四轮马车) known as “ school wagons” or “kid hacks” in Indiana.     1    

In the early 1900s, the car industry was beginning to develop fast.    2     The company managed to make its carriages powered by engines. But the design remained mostly the same as that of the previous ones, with students sitting along the walls of the bus while facing inside.

In 1927, a man built the first bus that primarily used steel. Before long, Wayne Works introduced the first all-steel school bus body with safety glass windows.     3     This led to a turning point in the history of the school bus in 1939, when a conference was organised at Manhattan College to develop school bus standards.

Many new national standards were created, determining everything from seating designs to the famous yellow color that school buses still sport today. The reason why the color was chosen was simple.     4    The color is especially easy to see in the early morning and evening light when school buses usually operate.

    5     For example, a variety of changes have been made to enable the school bus to not only be safer but also have better fuel (燃料) economy, be easier to drive, etc. The most creative approach among all of these is probably a kind of stop signal arm that warns traffic of a stop in progress, which states began to require in the early 1950s.

A．Horses were easy to control.

B．Not all chose to paint their buses yellow.

C．Yellow is quite eye-catching to human beings.

D．Before then, many children simply walked to school.

E．Now, school buses have had many more improvements.

F．Still, parents were increasingly concerned for children’s safety.

G．This gave Wayne Works a great opportunity to improve its carriages.