1 . Theatres and Entertainment
St David’s HallSt David’s Hall is the award winning National Concert Hall of Wales standing at the very heart of Cardiff’s entertainment centre. With an impressive 2,000-seat concert hall, St David’s Hall is home to the annual Welsh Proms Cardiff. It presents live entertainment, including pop, rock, folk, jazz, musicals, dance, world music, films and classical music.
The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AHwww.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
The Glee Club
Every weekend this is “Wales” premier comedy club where having a great time is the order for both audiences and comedy stars alike. It is hard to name a comedy star who hasn’t been on the stage here. If you are looking for the best comedies on tour and brilliant live music, you should start here.
Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 5BZwww.glee.co.uk/cardiff
Sherman Cymru
Sherman Cymru’s theatre in the Cathays area of Cardiff reopened in February 2012. This special building is a place in which theatre is made and where children, artists, writers and anyone else have the opportunity (机会) to do creative things. Sherman Cymru is excited to present a packed programme of the very best theatre, dance, family shows and music from Wales and the rest of the world.
Senghennydd Road, Cardiff CF24 4YEwww.shermancymru.co.uk
New Theatre
The New Theatre has been the home of quality drama, musicals, dance and children’s shows for more than 100 years. Presenting the best of the West End along with the pick of the UK’s touring shows, the New Theatre is Cardiff’s oldest surviving traditional theatre. Be sure to pay a visit as part of your stay in the city.
Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3LNwww.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
1. Where is the Welsh Proms Cardiff hosted?
| A．At the New Theatre. | B．At the Glee Club. |
| C．At Sherman Cymru. | D．At St David’s Hall. |
| A．Watch musicals. | B．Enjoy comedies. |
| C．See family shows. | D．Do creative things. |
| A．www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk | B．www.shermancymru.co.uk |
| C．www.glee.co.uk/cardiff | D．www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk |
2 . While established by Woodrow Wilson as a holiday in the United States in 1911, the practice of recognizing mothers on a specific day or time of year has spread to more than 40 countries. Here's a look at the various traditions.
France
Mother's Day in France only started in the 1950s. After World War I, it was celebrated on the last Sunday in May, unless it conflicted with the Pentecost（五旬节）. If it did, mothers were celebrated on the first Sunday of June. Regardless of the day, a traditional gif is a flower-shaped cake.
Japan
Following WWI, Mother's Day in Japan gained some popularity, and it is now celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Gifts include red or pink conations（康乃馨） as they symbolize sweetness and purity. Children will often draw pictures of their mothers and present them to mom in addition to preparing dishes that their mothers have taught them.
Sweden
Celebrated on the last Sunday in May, the day isn't all that different from the U. S. version. There's breakfast in bed and homemade cards and the like. One difference is that the Swedish Red Cross collects money by selling red plastic flowers. The money from the flowers goes to mothers and children in need.
Thailand
While all mothers are recognized during Mother's Day in Thailand, the holiday is largely centered on Sirikit, the queen mother of Thailand. Mother's Day is celebrated on her birthday, August 12, and public places and households are decorated with lights and pictures of Sirikit. Flowers like jasmine are popular gifts.
1. What do Japanese children usually do for their mothers on Mother's Day?| A．Buy pictures. | B．Cook meals. | C．Grow flowers. | D．Present cards. |
| A．France. | B．Japan. | C．Thailand. | D．Sweden. |
| A．To tell us how different countries celebrate Mother's Day. |
| B．To protect traditions of Mother's Day in different places. |
| C．To introduce the origin and development of Mother's Day. |
| D．To call on us to show respect for our mother on Mother's Day. |
3 . For more than fifty years, Fabrizio Cardinali, aged 72, has lived entirely without the public electricity network, or grid.
Cardinali lives in a stone house near Ancona, on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast. By choice, he has no electricity, no gas, and no indoor plumbing.
In the past, he lived alone. Right now, he has two people who live with him, as well as animals such as a rooster, chickens and a cat. He calls the small community “The Tribe of the Harmonious Walnuts“.
Cardinali and his friends, who gave their names only as Agnese and Andrea, use a wood-burning stove for cooking and warmth. They read by lamps fueled with used cooking oil that is given to them by neighbours.
“I feel providential to have the freedom to choose my freedom,” said Agnese, 35, who moved in two years ago. Andrea, 46, spends the week there but goes home to Macerata, about 50 kilometres away, each weekend to look after his mother.
The “harmonious walnuts” grow fruit and vegetables, olives to produce olive oil, and keep bees for honey. A local group sells them foods such as legumes, cereals and wheat, which they grind to make their own bread.
When possible, they trade goods for things they need.
Cardinali believes life is best lived in small communities. His first piece of advice for anyone who wants to follow his example is, “Throw away your so-called smart phone.”
Cardinali sometimes travels short distances to visit friends. He takes olives to a stone press to make oil, and walks or gets rides to the nearest town to have a coffee with local people or visit the doctor.
“I’ve been living this way for about 51 years and I have never regretted it,” he said.
Cardinali added, “There have been difficulties, but they never made me think that I made the wrong choice.”
1. Why does Cardinali live without using electricity?| A．Because of his own decision. |
| B．Because of the location of his house. |
| C．Because of the poor condition of his building. |
| D．Because of the high price of electricity. |
| A．Awkward. |
| B．Confused. |
| C．Astonished. |
| D．Lucky. |
| A．Cut off communication with the outside world. |
| B．Be sure to keep a distance from your friends. |
| C．Life is best lived in small groups. |
| D．Do not give up the use of mobile phones. |
| A．Humorous. |
| B．Impractical. |
| C．Lonely. |
| D．Determined. |
Depression hurts, Prozac can help Depression isn’t just feeling down. It’s a real illness with real causes. Depression can be triggered by stressful life events, like divorce or a death in the family. Or it can appear suddenly, for no apparent reason. Some people think you can just will yourself out of a depression. That’s not true. Many doctors believe that one thing that may cause depression is an imbalance of serotonin — a chemical in your body. If this happens, you may have trouble sleeping. Feel unusually sad or irritable easily. Find it hard to concentrate. Lose your appetite. Lack energy. Or have trouble feeling pleasure. These are some of the symptoms that can point to depression—especially if they last for more than a couple of weeks and if normal, everyday life feels like too much to handle. To help fight depression, the medicine doctors now prescribe (开处方) most often is Prozac. Prozac isn’t a “happy pill.” It’s not a tranquilizer (镇静剂) . It won’t turn you into a different person. Some people do experience mild side effects, like upset stomach, headaches, difficulty sleeping, sleepiness, anxiety and nervousness. These tend to go away. within a few weeks of starting treatment, and usually aren’t serious enough to make most people stop taking it. However, if you are concerned about a side effect, or if you develop a rash (皮疹) , tell your doctor right away. And don’t forget to tell your doctor any other medicines you are taking. Some people should not take Prozac, especially people on MAO inhibitors (单胺抑制剂) . As you start feeling better, your doctor can suggest therapy or other means to help you ● through your depression. Prozac has been carefully studied for nearly 10 years. But remember, Prozac is a prescription medicine, and it isn’t right for everyone. Only your doctor can decide if Prozac is right for you— or for someone you love. Prozac has been prescribed for more than 17 million Americans. Chances are someone you know is feeling sunny again because of it. |
| A．Tremendous determination is essential to getting rid of depression. |
| B．Sleep disorder is one of the signs characteristic of depression. |
| C．Depression can be caused by a combination of factors. |
| D．Depression is a psychological state taking the form of low mood. |
| A．Prozac infuses depression patients with energy at the cost of modest side effects. |
| B．Taking Prozac together with other prescriptions may give you a rash. |
| C．A medical prescription must be acquired if you intend to take Prozac. |
| D．Over 17 million Americans have been involved in studies of Prozac so far. |
| A．an introduction to a scientific project |
| B．a part of prescription drug instructions |
| C．a part of a research report in a medical journal |
| D．an advertisement of a medicine for depression |
5 . The “Chong Yang Festival” is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, which is also known as the Double Ninth Festival.
Climbing mountains.
People like to climb mountains on this festival, so the Double Ninth Festival is also called “Mountain-climbing Festival”. The ninth lunar mouth, with clear autumn sky and cool air, is a good time for sightseeing.
Climbing mountains also means “climbing to a higher position”.
Drinking Chrysanthemum Flower (菊花) Wine.
The chrysanthemum flower wine is made with special process. In ancient times, people usually picked fresh chrysanthemum flowers and leaves on the 9th of the 9th lunar month, and made the mixture of them and grains into the wine.
The Double Ninth cake is also known as “flower cake”. It is from Zhou Dynasty. It is said that the cake was prepared after autumn harvests for farmers to have a taste of what was just in season before, and it gradually turned into the present cake for people to eat on the Double Ninth Festival.
| A．Eating Double Ninth cake |
| B．Making “flower cake” with friends |
| C．So people love to go sightseeing this month |
| D．It would not be drunk until the same day next year |
| E．Here are some traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival |
| F．But few Chinese people are aware of the importance of the festival |
| G．That’s another reason why climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the old |
6 . I plan to remember this year’s vacation season with just two words: NEVER AGAIN. Never again, that is, will I take all my technology along.
For several years, I kept my Internet addiction under control by using inconvenient technology: a laptop which is old and not in good condition and a slow dial- up connection.
And that’s the point:
| A．The Internet has ruined summer vacations. |
| B．Access to the Web is unquestionably a wonderful thing. |
| C．I’m not the first to get lost across this problem, of course. |
| D．People should not rely simply on the Internet to provide them with other information. |
| E．It’s important not to let the convenience of the Internet get in the way of simpler beauties. |
| F．Although the Internet is often useful, it can become addictive and prevent human interaction. |
| G．But this year, the combination of a new iPad and very good Wi-Fi turned out to be disastrous. |
7 . Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes. Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological and research has suggested that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a mistake in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also be careful that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters’ performances. Positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．Mental stress should be reduced. | B．Sport should be made less competitive. |
| C．Stress should be made less. | D．Sport can be mentally challenging. |
| A．it can help them learn more about society |
| B．it enables them to criticize themselves |
| C．it can provide them with valuable experiences |
| D．it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves |
| A．Parents and coaches should enable children to enjoy sport. |
| B．Parents and coaches should help children to win every game. |
| C．Parents and coaches should train children to deal with stress. |
| D．Parents and coaches should understand the meaning of sport. |
| A．To teach young athletes how to avoid burnout. |
| B．To persuade young children not to worry about criticism. |
| C．To stress the importance of encouraging children. |
| D．To discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement. |
8 . Distance learning has become the new form of education since schools closed, and teachers have adapted — with the help of some truly amazing online applications.
Google Classroom
This popular application allows teachers to create online forums to share courses, news, or lessons as well as a platform to assign, collect, and give feedback on student work. I’ve used Google Classroom for years, and it has become the cornerstone of my classroom throughout distance learning.
Google Forms
This application is often used to gather information in a variety of contexts. Its test feature can be enabled to block users from opening other windows. It also offers auto-grading for multiple-choice tests. It has become a daily application in my classes during distance learning. I use it for pre-assessments, tests, and surveys.
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is a free online application that allows students and teachers to record short online videos Teachers can easily create accounts and then within accounts create “classrooms.” From there, teachers can create posts for students to respond to via short videos.
Google Meet
Google Meet is an online meeting platform where teachers can share their screens with all participants to see as well as record the meeting. I’ve recorded all of my daily lessons and then posted the recordings to Google Classroom at the request of my students. This is a practice I’d like to continue even after distance learning as students really like the option to return to a recording of the day’s lesson to review it at their own pace.
1. Which application is perfect for tests?| A．Flipgrid | B．Google Meet | C．Google Forms | D．Google Classroom |
| A．Responding to posts with short videos. | B．Recording lessons for review. |
| C．Creating online forums to share news. | D．Auto-grading students’ assignments. |
| A．In a magazine. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a travel brochure. | D．In a science report. |
9 . Keeping kids busy with various activities provides them with a well-rounded social life. Growing up, I knew many teenagers who were actively involved in both sports and student government. Those teenagers all ended up going to college and graduating. This may not be the situation in all cases, but from what I have noticed, teens who stay active and do good in the community are typically the ones who deal with anxiety and depression(抑郁) better.
A 2015 study published by professor of biology Theodore Garland concluded, “If kids exercise regularly through the school years, they may be more likely to exercise as adults, which could have far-reaching positive effects on human health and well-being. Our results suggest that any positive effects of early-life exercise on adult exercise tendencies will require reinforcement(强化) and maintenance if they are to be long-lasting.” This study found that along with physical activity, having a spirit of adventure would also help improve children’s physical and mental health.
Some parents disagree. They feel that pushing a child to stay active and involved causes unnecessary stress and can have the opposite effect, making him/her hate being involved or being active. Parents also fear their children will experience failure, which they believe could lead to low self-confidence.
The key to helping the youth stay motivated is not pressuring them too hard. People who have strict parents typically rebel(反抗) or feel they will never be good enough. Keep in mind that encouraging the youth to be competitive isn’t the best thing. Some of the unhappiest people I have met are competitive. Positive reinforcement is the best way to keep people motivated.
An active and involved youth will show personal qualities that will become useful in the future. Some of these include leadership, teamwork, a healthy lifestyle, educational benefits, respect and trust, which will lead to success in the future.
1. According to the author, active teens _________.| A．get much better education | B．concentrate more on self-improvement |
| C．do well in both sports and management | D．deal with some mental problems better than others |
| A．the positive effect of early-life exercise is not necessarily lasting |
| B．physical activity helps children become more confident |
| C．early-life exercise has positive effects on relationships |
| D．school life experience has a long-lasting influence |
| A．They believe it may take a lot of time. | B．They think it is unnecessary to push kids. |
| C．They are worried about the opposite effect. | D．They are afraid it makes their children feel depressed. |
| A．The importance of trusting the youth. | B．The key to keeping the youth motivated. |
| C．The possible problem faced by the youth. | D．The reasons for helping the youth stay positive. |
10 . Famous world film festivals and awards
Venice International Film Festival, Venice, Italy
Held yearly from 1932, it’s the world’s oldest film festival. The awards are lion trophies (奖杯) including the Golden Lion and Silver Lion. Chinese director Zhang Yimou has won the Golden Lion twice.
Festival de Cannes, Cannes, France
It’s held yearly from 1946. Held in May in the beautiful French seaside town of Cannes, it celebrates and awards artistic achievement in film. The highest prize is the Golden Palm trophy (金棕榈奖). Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige won the prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
Oscar Awards, Hollywood, USA
The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor the outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season.
Winners had been announced three months earlier. However, that was changed in the second ceremony of the Academy Awards in 1930. Since then and during the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 p.m. on the night of the awards. This method was used until the Los Angeles Times announced the winners before the ceremony began. As a result, the Academy has used a sealed envelope to tell the name of the winners since 1941.
The Golden Globe Awards, Los Angeles, USA
It was first held in January, 1944 at the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, where the winners in five categories received scrolls. The actual Golden Globe award started in 1946, when the statuette of a “golden globe” was introduced. The list of award categories has grown and changed over the times.
1. Which of the following is held in France?| A．Venice International Film Festival. | B．Festival de Cannes. |
| C．Oscar Awards. | D．The Golden Globe Awards. |
| A．He won the Golden Lion twice. | B．He won the Oscar Awards twice. |
| C．He won the Golden Palm trophy once. | D．He won the Golden Globe awards once. |
| A．Chen Kaige won the Golden Palm trophy. | B．The first Oscar awards ceremony was held. |
| C．The world’s oldest film festival was held. | D．The 20th Century Fox studios launched. |
| A．In 1929. | B．In 1930. | C．In 1944. | D．In 1946. |
