1 . HONG KONG — At the school where Ko Cheuk-kiu works, there are neither school bells ringing nor students running around the playground. “You look good today. Shall we review the text together?” After greeting her student Hei Hei, Ko, in a light blue uniform, turns on her tablet computer and begins to teach at the bedside.
Founded in 1954, the Hong Kong Red Cross Hospital Schools initially provided services in only one public medical institution. Now, it is a special education institute funded by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, with 26 school units attached to 19 public hospitals. Its services are mainly divided into three fields — general specialty, psychiatry, and homebound teaching programs. The first two provide services for hospitalized students to reduce their difficulties in returning to school, while homebound teaching is aimed at students who need to stay at home to recover for a long period. Teachers are assigned to different hospitals or students’ homes and shift on a regular basis. Depending on the situation, teachers will carry out small group or one-on-one bedside teaching, and each session lasts about 30 minutes.
“Teaching children in a hospital? I was curious and keen to know more about it,” Ko recalls, explaining she first learned about the school from a newspaper report in 2009 when she had just finished her master’s degree in language. Ko, who also studied special education, applied for a teaching position at the school and was hired as a Chinese language teacher.
Teachers in hospitals have to meet students with different medical conditions and face all kinds of challenges every day, but Ko regards these experiences as training, which have led her to have a deeper appreciation of life. Over the years, Ko has received a lot of greeting cards from parents and students showing their appreciation. Looking at these warm words of encouragement, she silently sends her best wishes to the students. “I hope they can soon recover and go back to school, and continue to pursue their dreams,” she says.
1. What is Ko doing?A.Teaching at home. | B.Teaching online. |
C.Teaching in a hospital. | D.Teaching in a regular classroom. |
A.It was founded by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. |
B.It offers teaching services for students both in hospital and at home. |
C.It runs on money raised from the public. |
D.It assigns teachers to the same hospitals or students’ homes. |
A.Because she was curious about teaching. | B.Because she knew a lot about the school. |
C.Because she just graduated from university. | D.Because she could apply what she had learned. |
A.Passionate and dedicated. | B.Responsible and diligent. |
C.Genuine and aggressive. | D.Self-centered and sensitive. |
2 . “More and more consumers across the country are using cashless payment methods. The rapid development of third⁃party mobile payment tools is helping to encourage cashless payment across the country,” said Dong Ximiao, a researcher at Renmin University of China.
Although there were 3.4 billion third⁃party payment accounts in total in China in 2016, China is not the first country to seek a cashless society. Developed countries like Sweden, Denmark and Singapore are also seeing that increase.
However, the rapid development of the cashless payment does not mean there are no challenges or criticisms. Alibaba’s Hema store has come under the spotlight (成为焦点) recently. The media said that consumers couldn’t buy goods in cash there, which would be considered illegal.
Alipay and WeChat Pay, the nation’s two major third⁃party mobile payment tools, also launched campaigns this month to encourage more people to use cashless payment methods, which caused concern over whether cash will soon disappear.
“Some offline sellers refuse to accept cash, which influences the natural circulation (流通) of cash,” said Dong. He stressed that a cashless society would not mean that cash would completely disappear. “Also it’s important to remember that nearly half of China’s population live in the country, and they are unable to enjoy innovation (革新) brought by the Internet,” said Dong. “And when it comes to China’s senior citizens, most of them prefer to use cash in their daily lives,” he added.
“It’s ridiculous (荒谬的) to question digital payment tools’ contribution to financial development. In the long term, various payment methods will be used by consumers, and merchants should respect consumers’ payment habits,” Dong noted.
1. What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 probably refer to?A.The economic activity. | B.A large amount of payment. |
C.The development of the economy. | D.The cashless payment. |
A.It fights against illegal activities. |
B.Customers are not permitted to use cash there. |
C.It provides comprehensive services. |
D.It starts campaigns to encourage mobile payment. |
A.The cashless payment should be limited in the countryside. |
B.The innovation from payment is ridiculous in fact. |
C.Various payment methods should be supported. |
D.The digital payment should replace cash completely. |
A.Innovation on the Internet | B.Cash or cashless? |
C.Payment online should replace cash | D.Is the circulation of cash dying? |
3 . Three cute brown bear cubs who got lost after getting separated from their mother gripped the hearts of netizens.
The fuzzy cubs were spotted by Gelek Gyatso, an ecological protection officer, when he was patrolling a riverbed at an altitude of nearly 4, 500 meters in Qumarleb county in Qinghai province’s Yushu.
The little cubs eagerly ran toward the ranger on the snow-covered riverbed, then stopped short at a safe distance to stare at him curiously. After realizing that the man was not their mother, the bear cubs turned around and ran along the river calling for mom.
This was Gelek Gyatso’s first encounter with bear cubs separated from their mother. With his knowledge of wild animals, he drove the cubs towards an area near their cave in the hope of a safe reunion. Thankfully, later that day, other patrol officers found that the mother bear had reunited with her cubs and that the family was happy and healthy.
This year marks Gelek Gyatso’s tenth year as an ecological protection officer. He patrols the area every day, diligently records the animals he sees, carefully checks on the vegetation, and helps clean up litter.
Over the decade, Gelek Gyatso has witnessed great changes in the ecological environment of his hometown. There has been an increase in the number of wild animals, and everyone is participating in the protection of these species, making coexistence between humans and animals more harmonious.
He also reminds people that if they encounter wild animals in the wild, they should keep their distance, not disturbing or feeding them, and that if they find an animal that needs to be rescued, they should call the fire or forest department in time.
1. What happened to the three bear cubs?A.Losing track of the mother bear. |
B.Following Gelek with curiosity. |
C.Mistaking a man for their mother. |
D.Being trapped in the cold riverbed. |
A.Ambitious. | B.Romantic. | C.Devoted. | D.Innovative. |
A.Changing their living surroundings. |
B.Feeding and sheltering wild animals. |
C.Getting involved in saving endangered species. |
D.Seeking professional help to rescue those in need. |
A.A project of wildlife conservation |
B.A journey of friendship connection |
C.A knowledgeable ecological officer |
D.An encounter leading to a safe reunion |
4 . The Four Most Exotic Black Sand Beaches in the World
Papenoo Beach: Tahiti, French Polynesia
Popular with surfers, this remote black beach on Tahiti’s northern coast boasts some of the most impressive waves in the world. Here you will discover more breathtaking natural beauty of the island, with its green mountains and picturesque scenery. Not- to-be- missed sights include the spectacular waterfalls: Topatari, Puraha and Vaiharuru falls.
Lovina Beach: Indonesia
A highlight of this beach destination is visiting Kalibukbuk, one of the coastal villages along Lovina Beach, and the Kalibukbuk Buddhist temple on the beach. There is also an abundance of incredible marine and underwater life, so diving is a popular relaxation, but the main draw for beachgoers is spotting the playful bottle nosed dolphins.
Stokksnes Beach: Iceland
One of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes is the mountain Vestrahorn on the Stokksnes peninsula in southeast Iceland. The magical setting here was featured in the Bollywood movie Dilwale. It’s a popular destination for photographers but surprisingly not a big tourist spot; this privately owned land charges a small fee to visit. You can visit the Stokksnes beach on a group Ring Road tour or a self-driving circuit of the country.
Perissa Beach: Santorini, Greece
Situated in southeastern Santorini, this unique black beach boasts crystal clear waters and the rocky Mesa Vouno mountain. For more active pursuits beyond sunbathing and swimming, visitors can rent water sports equipment for other fun activities like diving. You can also hike to the top of Mesa Vouno to visit the ancient ruins of the city of Thera.
1. Which of the following landscapes is a must for tourists in Papenoo Beach?A.Waves. | B.Valleys. | C.Mountains. | D.Waterfalls. |
A.Papenoo Beach. | B.Lovina Beach. |
C.Stokksnes Beach. | D.Perissa Beach. |
A.They are good places to hike. |
B.Visitors can go diving for relaxation. |
C.Both are rich in underwater life. |
D.Tourists can visit ancient coastal villages. |
5 . It was through Bill Bryson’s book The Lost Continent: Travel in Small-Town America that I first experienced small-town travelling. I was interested instantly on reading it, for driving across the countryside is always something I like.
Many tourists don’t realize the real purpose for travelling is to relax.
I once travelled to the Midwest and drove through the countryside. The scenery was absolutely magnificent.
Suddenly, it seemed to me that life couldn’t be better. Just throw away the sadness and burdens (负担) that annoy us. What matters is the simple happiness of enjoying life.
A.I have never been a fan of huge cities. |
B.Cities are full of people we don’t know. |
C.Roads found their way through cornfields. |
D.Big cities and small towns have their own uniqueness. |
E.In big cities, they just leave one busy center, and get right into another. |
F.Those problems, however, simply disappear into air in the countryside. |
G.So why not leave the noisy cities behind, and get lost in the streets of small towns? |
6 . Hundreds of millions of birds die every year from crashing into windows, one of the biggest sources of human-caused bird deaths — far greater than wind turbines (涡轮) and airplane strikes put together. In an attempt to help birds see the windows before it’s too late, people may stick decals (贴纸) or coloured films on their windows — often on the indoor side.But a recent study challenges the effectiveness of this practice.
“Putting these window films on the inside really is not giving you the benefit that you would want for protecting the birds,” says John P. Swaddle, lead author of the new study.
To test the films’ effectiveness, Swaddle and his colleagues applied one of two commercially available (可获得的) films to either inside or outside window surfaces. One film reflected shorter light wavelengths that humans cannot see, and the other reflected longer wavelengths (many birds can see both). The researchers also fixed super-fine nets in front of the windows to keep birds from actually hitting the glass. Both films helped to prevent bird strikes by more than 35 percent when put on the outside surface, the study found — but films on the inside had no benefit at all.
“It’s some groundbreaking work about the differences of what can and can’t work in terms of preventing window strikes from birds,” says George Mason University biologist David Luther.
People usually find it much easier to put films or decals on the indoor side of a window, says Natalia Ocampo-Penuela, a conservation ecologist. For taller buildings, to apply something to the outside, “you need scaffolding (脚手架)...you need to clean the windows extra well for them to apply correctly, and they don’t last as long.”
Swaddle assumes that films placed on the inside don’t effectively stop the reflection of outside light. This might also be the case with decals, although those were not tested in this study, he says.
1. What’s the main killer for human-caused bird death?A.Wind turbines. | B.Air pollution. |
C.Window strikes. | D.Airplane crashes. |
A.Types of films. |
B.Availability of films. |
C.Places to put films. |
D.Wavelengths films reflected. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Positive. |
C.Unclear. | D.Confused. |
A.How long the films will last when put correctly. |
B.What is needed to clean the windows completely. |
C.How people apply films to the outside of buildings. |
D.Why people choose to place films inside the window. |
7 . Kyra Peralte thought keeping a diary during the pandemic (流行病) might help her sort out her feelings. In April 2020, the mother of two in Montclair, New Jersey, now 46, started writing about the challenges of work, marriage and motherhood during a global crisis. She invited women from near and far to fill the notebook with their own pandemic tales.She named the project The Traveling Diary.
Peralte created a website for people to add their names to the queue. Each person gets to keep the diary for three days and fill as many pages as she wishes. Then she is responsible for mailing it to the next person, whose address Peralte provides. So far, more than 2, 000 women from 30 countries have joined in.
The diary reached Colleen Martin in Florham Park, New Jersey, in November 2020. “I had just recently lost my brother. By the time I actually got it and wrote in it, it was much more of a relief,” she says. Adding to the diary, she says, helped her look for meaning and “the growth and development that occurs in terrible times.”
Martin shipped off the diary to the next person, and Dior Sarr, 35, received it at her home in Toronto just before the new year. “I wrote about my ambitions(抱负), my goals and how I wanted to step into the new year, ” she says, “It felt meaningful to pass on something so personal. It felt like these were women that I had known even though I didn’t know them at all.”
Like many of the women who wrote in her diary, Peralte feels a strong bond with the people who filled its pages, none of whom she would have otherwise known. Her idea, Peralte says, has had a great effect on her and, she hopes, the other women who were part of it.
1. Why did Peralte start the project “The Traveling Diary”?A.To become famous online. |
B.To offer women an emotion outlet. |
C.To meet more people on the Internet. |
D.To popularize medical knowledge of pandemic. |
A.Achieving her goals. |
B.Receiving timely help. |
C.Promoting personal growth. |
D.Improving her writing skills. |
A.Connection. | B.Competition. |
C.Impression. | D.Need. |
A.The Power of Unity |
B.Warmth in a Global Crisis |
C.The Sisterhood of the Traveling Diary |
D.Friendship on the Internet |
8 . SUMMER BREAK CAMPS
Strategic (策略) Thinking Training Camp
Ages: 6﹣16
Tel: 818﹣699﹣6401
Location: In person (Cobble Hill)+ Online
Full﹣day or half﹣day Summer Break Camps explore strategic thinking using board and card games. Kids will develop and discuss strategies for game play through socialization and learn good sportsmanship through cooperative and competitive play.
Rock Camp
Ages: 8﹣18
Tel: 918﹣210﹣1720
Location:In person (Williamsburg)+ Online
The music school is offering an in﹣person “ Rock Camp”for kids to play music with a band. Kids will spend three hours every day learning and rehearsing(排练) songs from popular bands. The week﹣long camp will get to its peak in a live performance to be showed on Facebook to friends and family. You can also sign up for a “5﹣day Immersion Pass” that will allow kids to learn one instrument in a program.
The Maker Space Camp
Ages: 6+ years old
Tel: 718﹣576﹣3035
Location: Online
The maker space is offering many remote programs at Geek Forest for kids’ exploration, cooperation (合作), self﹣learning, making, and sharing, which includes “Storytelling through Comics” (ages 6–10), “Video Production Lab” (ages 8–12), “Arcade! JavaScript Game Design”(ages 8–12) , and “Creator Collector, Carnifex”(ages 12+).
Virtual Camp
Ages: 7﹣15
Tel: 618﹣966﹣6000
Location: In person (Prospect Park) + Online
They are offering an in﹣person camp where kids meet in Prospect Park and create their own Survivor Kids show. Campers learn all about making short video projects while having fun outside. Virtual camp options include a painting show and a cooking show.
1. Which number should a mother call if her kid is interested in music?A.618﹣966﹣6000. |
B.718﹣576﹣3035. |
C.818﹣699﹣6401. |
D.918﹣210﹣1720. |
A.Video Production Lab. |
B.Creator, Collector, Carnifex. |
C.Storytelling through Comics. |
D.Arcade!JavaScript Game Design. |
A.Play card games. |
B.Show their cooking skills. |
C.Create a live music show. |
D.Share self﹣learning experience. |
9 . Top Silk Road Attractions
Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)
Type: History Museums, Historic Sites
Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours
As the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it has a history of more than 2, 200 years. Oriental mummies (东方木乃伊) wait for you to discover their mystery.
Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)
Type: Buddhism, Historic Sites
Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours
Considered as the eastern Louvre Museum, Mogao Grottoes is a glorious treasure of ancient Buddhist cave art. The history of Mogao Grottoes can be traced back to the “Five Hu — 16Kingdoms” period (AD 304-439).
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)
Type: Culture & History, Buddhism
Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours
For hundreds of years, this great pagoda has always been the symbol of Xi’an. It is famous for the great traveler Xuanzang of Tang Dynasty who traveled from China to India to learn the Buddhism and got back to China with many precious Buddhist scriptures (佛经).
Qinghai Lake
Type: Lake
Recommended Length of Visit: 5 hours
Known as the largest inland lake, as well as the largest salt water lake in China, it is the most visited and famous attraction in Qinghai Province. Here, you not only enjoy the fantastic natural beauty, but also experience the amazing culture here.
Please click here to add the attraction to your favorite list. Let us plan a private Silk Road Tour for you!
1. What do Mogao Grottoes and Big Wild Goose Pagoda have in common?A.Both contain ancient Buddhist cave art. |
B.Both are related to history and Buddhism. |
C.Both are known as the symbol of Xi’an. |
D.Both were constructed during the Tang Dynasty. |
A.Terracotta Warriors. | B.Mogao Grottoes. |
C.Big Wild Goose Pagoda. | D.Qinghai Lake. |
A.A novel. | B.A storybook. |
C.A website. | D.A magazine. |
10 . A crowd cheered Kunle Adeyanju as he turned off his motorbike engine after completing a tiring 41-day trip. The 44-year-old left London on April 19 and arrived in Nigeria’s commercial center Lagos on Sunday after travelling more than 8, 000 miles across 13 countries. He started the impressive journey to raise funds for Rotary International to deal with polio(小儿麻痹症)in his native Nigeria.
Accompanied by a dozen bikers for the last stretch of the journey from the Republic of Benin , Adeyanju was welcomed by supporters in Ikeja, in central Lagos. Adeyanju, called “Lion Heart” by fans won popularity among the public by posting daily pictures with comments about his journey on social media. At every stop along the way, he was greeted by enthusiastic supporters.
He did face some challenges, like the one in Mali where one of his wheels broke. “I was standing in the middle of the night, alone in a bush, not knowing what to do,without speaking the language,”he said, explaining he had to walk to the nearest village.“Fortunately, the locals helped me. ”Not all of the challenges he faced were solved smoothly.“Mauritania, a country in northwest Africa, was ‘terrible’, ” he said, after he got robbed of hundreds of euros. “The worst experience,” he added.
The former Shell employee self-funded his trip with $ 20, 400 in savings,hoping to raise up to $ 48million for Rotary International. “I have been suffering from a lack of sleep lately because I slept only three to four hours per night. But I feel proud because I finished this challenge,” Adeyanju said just after he arrived, wiping the sweat off his face. Adeyanju added that he is now planning to have a possible cycling trip to Ghana or a bike ride to Israel to help raise more funds. And he has another dream: to climb Mount Qomolangma.
1. Why did Adeyanju go on the 41-day trip?A.To challenge himself. | B.To help fight polio. |
C.To connect with more people. | D.To advertise Rotary International. |
A.By using the title “Lion Heart”. | B.By commenting on other bikers’ journeys. |
C.By sharing his experiences online. | D.By showing his deep love for his hometown. |
A.His getting lost in the bush. | B.His failing to understand the locals. |
C.His meeting with crime. | D.His motorbike’s breaking down. |
A.Caring and determined. | B.Generous and sensitive. |
C.Reliable and enthusiastic. | D.Adventurous and confident. |