1 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic(学业的) growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.
A recent study by Brown University has shown that students who had music classes were better in math and reading skills than those without having music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on taking part in music education.
Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self-confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. Students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.
Music crosses language, class cultural and political boundaries(界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet(二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally, they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self-confidence and a common purpose through music.
The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure of having necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.
1. What can we know about education with music classes?| A．It wastes a lot of money from parents. | B．It leads to a lot of emotional problems easily. |
| C．It helps students improve their school work. | D．It has a bad influence on the quality of education. |
| A．not all students take part in music classes |
| B．students with great success attend music classes |
| C．students having music classes are better in all courses |
| D．music plays an important role in students’ academic success |
| A．Different cultures have different styles of music. |
| B．Music makes cross-country communication possible. |
| C．Japan has a good international relationship with America. |
| D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano. |
| A．Music education in schools | B．How to get music back? |
| C．Music—a bridge to understanding | D．The importance of listening to music |
2 . A couple of years ago, Ashok Goel was overwhelmed by the number of questions his students were asking in his course on artificial intelligence. Goel teaches computer science at Georgia Tech, sometimes to large classes, where students can ask thousands of questions online in a discussion forum. Professor Goel already had eight teaching assistants, but that wasn’t enough to deal with the increasing number of daily questions from students.
When students feel confused and reach out with questions that go unanswered, their motivation to continue begins to fade. Professor Goel decided to do something to improve this situation and his solution was to create a virtual assistant named Jill Watson, which is based on the IBM Watson platform.
Goel and his team developed several versions of Jill Watson before releasing her to the online forums. At first, the virtual assistant wasn’t too great. But Goel and his team sourced the online discussion forum to find all the 40, 000 questions that had ever been asked since the class was launched. Then they began to feed Jill with the questions and answers. After some adjustments and enough time, Jill was able to answer the students’ questions correctly 97% of the time. The virtual assistant became so advanced and realistic that the students didn’t know she was a computer. The students, who were studying artificial intelligence, were interacting with the virtual assistant and couldn’t tell it apart from a real human being. Goel didn’t inform them about Jill’s true identity until April 26. The students were actually very positive about the experience.
The goal of Professor Goel’s virtual assistant next year is to take over answering 40% of all the questions presented by students on the online forum. The name Jill Watson will, of course, change to something else next semester. Professor Goel has a rosy outlook on the future of artificial intelligence, believing it will be widely applied.
1. What did Professor Goel find in the online course?| A．The course was too difficult for students. | B．Most students dropped out of his course. |
| C．Students’ questions were too many to handle. | D．Assistants’ capacity made students unsatisfied. |
| A．She was easily identified as an AI. | B．She turned out to be a great success. |
| C．She was released online as the first version. | D．She could answer all the questions correctly. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Sensitive. | C．Adventurous. | D．Cautious. |
| A．An online computer course benefits students. | B．An Al team develops online discussion forums. |
| C．A knowledgeable AI assists in online education. | D．A new outlook promises online AI development. |
3 . Forget smartphones and smart glasses. One day, we might have smart tattoos (纹身). The company NewDealDesign came up with an idea for a product called UnderSkin. The device would look like a pair of tattoos on your palm and the side of your thumb, but it would actually be a very thin computer implanted just below your skin. It would draw power from your body’s energy, and you could use it to unlock doors, monitor your health, exchange and store information, or even express your personality. UnderSkin is just an idea—you can’t go out and get one—but the technology exists to make it work.
Writer and technology entrepreneur Amal Graffstra already has a chip called a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag implanted in his hand. “I use it to log into my computer. I also use it to share contact details with people,” he says. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and responds to radio signals with a unique identification number.
If a computerized tattoo or embedded (植入的) tag isn’t crazy enough for you, what about a brain chip? The company Intel is working on technology that would let you control your devices with your mind. The researchers explain, “We’re trying to prove you can do interesting things with brain waves… Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts.”
Do you think embedded chips sound frightening or cool? Some doctors are concerned about people hurting themselves while getting devices implanted. They argue that medical procedures are meant to treat sick people, and not to give healthy people special powers. Others worry about hacking and privacy. Could someone hack in and steal your identity, or even control your mind? On a more philosophical level, if you have a computer inside your body, are you still human? Or are you a cyborg?
1. What can be inferred about UnderSkin?| A．It is thumb-sized. | B．It is only a fantasy. |
| C．It is body-powered. | D．It is good for health. |
| A．To show how crazy new technology might be. |
| B．To introduce a new smart device — the embedded tags. |
| C．To prove there’s technology to make UnderSkin a reality. |
| D．To tell the difference between UnderSkin and RFID tags. |
| A．The concerns they raise. | B．The applications of them. |
| C．The special powers they have. | D．The pros and cons of them. |
| A．A descriptive essay. | B．A comparative essay. |
| C．A two-sided argumentative essay. | D．An expository essay. |
4 . Our library buildings are home to a wide range of subject-specific resources and facilities to support your studies, which will remain open during the summer holiday.
The COVID-19 safety measures
* Face coverings must be worn at all times inside the library, including at study space.
* Keep your distance: Please sit at your designated study space and keep your distance from others.
* Food is not allowed in our libraries. Drinks are permitted but please replace your face covering immediately.
PS: To help keep everyone safe, anyone failing to follow the COVID-19 safety measures above will be asked to leave the library and will be unable to book study space for seven days.
About opening hours
* The library is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.
* You must bring your Library Card for entry to the library.
* Advance booking is not required for study space from 9 p.m.
* Library staff’s service is available until 8 p.m. every day to answer any questions about resources or facilities. After this time, the library spaces are monitored by Octavian Security.
Fine rates and lost books
*You will be fined at a rate of ￡1 per day on any book that is returned late.
*When you reach a limit of ￡10 in fines your library account can no longer be used until you pay the outstanding charges.
*You can pay fines/charges through your library account, or your credit card.
*Tell us if you’ve lost a book and we’ll let you know the replacement cost.
1. Which of the following will get you kicked out of the library?| A．Drinking water. | B．Eating sandwiches. |
| C．Wearing a face mask. | D．Keeping a safe distance. |
| A．For 7 hours. | B．For 8 hours. | C．For 12 hours. | D．For 13 hours. |
| A．Cover the fine of ￡1 per day. | B．Pay the cost of replacement. |
| C．Provide a replacement copy. | D．Stop using your library account. |
5 . Different types of volunteer opportunities for teenagers exist in a wide range of time periods and fields.
After school opportunities can help teenagers develop a sense of responsibility and a good work attitude. Volunteer opportunities for teenagers looking to volunteer after school include private teaching and volunteering as an instructor.
During the holidays, a wide variety of volunteer opportunities exist to help give back to the surrounding community during times of need.
Volunteering to help pets is an option for teenagers with a love of animals.
| A．Options may also vary according to a child’s age. |
| B．Volunteers can help keep animals clean, fed, and exercised. |
| C．Working with the elderly is another opportunity for teenagers. |
| D．It’s necessary to do some research to find volunteer opportunities. |
| E．They are available after school, during the summer, and over the holidays. |
| F．These opportunities can often be found through local schools or community centers. |
| G．Volunteering at food banks and homeless shelters is a good way to help the less fortunate. |
6 . Television's favorite red-headed female characters
There are many incredible female characters on television, but perhaps the most impressive are the redheads. Here is a list of some popular red-headed characters and the actresses who played them.
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones
Sansa started out as an innocent child, but over the seasons, she grew to become a strongwoman and eventually the Queen in the North. As the character grew, so did the red hair, and by the last season, Sansa's hair reached all the way to her waist.
Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway on Mad Men
Joan mostly wore her short hair up, but when she was going to parties, she would letdown the red curls to frame her face. Joan exercised power as she rose in the ad company from head secretary through the ranks to one of the top people there, breaking the glass ceiling of the boys’ club.
Rose Leslie as Ygritte on Game of Thrones
As another actress on Game of Thrones, Leslie played the warrior Ygritte. With her beautiful red hair, she was loved by Jon Snow (Kit Harington). While Ygritte was killed in Season 4, Harington and Leslie's love story began and lived on as the couple married in 2018.
Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
This red-headed doctor was so successful on Grey's Anatomy that the broadcasting company gave her a spin-off series called Private Practice, where the character finally achieved success in love and career. While Addison's hair was often put up into a cap during surgery, when she let it down, her beauty was striking.
1. According to the text, which of the following female characters got promoted?| A．Ygritte. | B．Sansa Stark. | C．Joan Holloway. | D．Addison Montgomery. |
| A．She is a warrior. | B．She was killed in 2018. |
| C．She is famous for her red hair. | D．She met her future husband when filming a TV series. |
| A．They were both doctors. | B．They were both innocent. |
| C．They both achieved personal growth. | D．They both gained money and power. |
7 . The relationship between parents and a child is among the most important in a person's life. Of all the people in the world, but parents are the only ones who are always there for us, no matter what happens.
But why is it that some teenagers act like their parents are the biggest enemies?
Any parents' wish is for their children to be safe and do well.
| A．After all, our parents are our greatest teachers in life. |
| B．However, it is our parents who brought us into the world. |
| C．But any advice they give us is meant to protect and guide us. |
| D．With this in mind, we should put ourselves in our parents' shoes. |
| E．This is because teenagers are just trying to find their own identity. |
| F．They reject their parents in an attempt to create their own unique world. |
| G．Indeed, we tend to think that we know better than our parents as we grow older. |
8 . Smiling is a global smart language. Everybody smiles in the same language. We smile when we feel good.
The act of smiling is connected with neurotransmitters related to pleasure sensations and psychological tensions, as well as with certain stress hormones.
But positive effects of smiling aren't limited to our own mental and physical well-being: Our smile goes beyond us having a positive effect on the people around. Research suggests that happy people influence the people closest to them and provide a boost of good energy.
Attractive smiles suggest confidence, capability and authority, and these feelings can motivate others. A smile is the prettiest thing we can wear.
| A．Smiling can even improve our physical health. |
| B．That's why life isn't always full of reasons to smile. |
| C．Smiling may be the most effective and cheapest anti-stress. |
| D．And we can create well-being feelings just by raising a smile. |
| E．Smiling is one of the most infectious expressions of emotion. |
| F．Never let negative emotions prevent you bonding with others. |
| G．So we should smile more and then benefit ourselves and others. |
9 . It is always said that China is the homeland of tea, which has a very long history of tea.
➢Color
➢Flavor(味道)
New tea is extremely clear and transparent with strong aroma(芳香), while old tea is characterized by brown color and weak fragrance. Take green tea and black tea for example, new green tea tastes a little bitter first, and then the fresh sweet taste begins to surface gradually, leaving a long and memorable after taste in mouth.
➢Place of origin
There is great gap of quality among various places of origin.
| A．Every tea leaf has its own shape. |
| B．Some varieties are identified by tightness of the leaves. |
| C．It is always advised to select tea from its main producing areas. |
| D．While you’re selecting tea, you should pay attention to following aspects. |
| E．For foreigners in China, drinking tea may seem like simple refreshment(提神). |
| F．Generally, new tea leaves look fresh and pleasing, with light green or dark green. |
| G．On the contrary, if bitter taste takes the lead and fresh sweet taste subsides(减弱), it is black tea. |
10 . It's time for people to pick up their boom boxes and dust off their sneakers. Breaking, or competitive break dancing, is going for the gold.
On Dec 7, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that breaking would be an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. It will be the latest modern sport to be added to the Games. IOC President Thomas Bach said that the new addition of breaking could help the Olympics event be “more youthful”. “We had a clear priority, and this was to introduce sports particularly popular among the younger generation,” Bach said. “And also to take into consideration the urbanization of sport.”
Breaking was originally part of early hip-hop culture in New York in the 1970s. In the decades since, it has spread globally, enjoying huge popularity beyond the US and particularly across Europe and Asia. Though breaking is often categorized as a style of street dance, it more easily lends itself to the field of sports than other styles for the competitive nature.
“Back in the Bronx in New York, when it first started, it was always neighborhoods of kids just battling each other,” 26-year-old break-dancer Victor Montalvo told USA Today. “That's how they did it back in the day.”
“Breaking competitions typically consist of one-on-one battles in which one competitor challenges his or her rival with different moves and the other responds. It's a sport/art just as physically demanding as high-intensity dancing and acrobatics”, Montalvo added.
But as an art, breaking also features coordination and creativity. Some combinations of moves can be practiced, but much of a round is improvised. Combining vitality and creativity, breaking is accepted by young dancers across the world who are motivated by the prospect of representing their countries at the world’s biggest sporting event.
1. What does the underlined words “the gold” in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．The coins made of gold. | B．The gold medal. |
| C．Great wealth. | D．The deep yellow color. |
| A．It has a short history. | B．It reflects the urbanization of sport. |
| C．It is a new addition to the Olympics. | D．It is popular with the younger generation. |
| A．Creativity. | B．High intensity. |
| C．Physical coordination. | D．Dancing techniques. |
| A．To stress the importance of breaking. | B．To introduce a new Olympic event- breaking. |
| C．To throw light on the rules of breaking. | D．To make a brief historical overview of breaking. |
