1 . A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!
Field Day
January 1, 2023, Sydney
Field Day means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi-stage party, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun-filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.
The Envision Festival
February 27—March 6, 2023, Uvita
The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival
March 2—4, 2023, Phoenix
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix’s musical celebration of community culture. Since its foundation in 2004, it has been the only 100% non-profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.
The Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 20—23, 2023, Dale
The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.
1. In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?| A．Phoenix. | B．Uvita. | C．Sydney. | D．Dale. |
| A．It encourages people to receive education. | B．It is not aimed at making money. |
| C．It provides an opportunity for friend gathering. | D．It focuses on cultural exchanges. |
| A．Field Day and the Envision Festival. |
| B．The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| C．The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| D．The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival. |
2 . In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image. I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit — I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness. Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?| A．The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself. |
| B．The author agrees to overspend money on material things. |
| C．The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels. |
| D．The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends. |
| A．people dislike those who love luxuries |
| B．traveling changes a person’s identity greatly |
| C．luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness |
| D．experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries |
| A．Be selective about designer labels. | B．Create your own personal unique style. |
| C．Choose simple and fashionable styles. | D．Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s. |
| A．prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life |
| B．tell how to express yourself through appearances |
| C．report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness |
| D．persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries |
3 . The future of energy production is here and some of the materials used to supply the energy may surprise you! Companies have developed a way to turn plant wastes and other garbage into fuel. It has been called one of the most promising technologies in alternative energy. And the process is expected to become more common this year.
The American-based company, Fiberight, is taking the lead in this new form of energy production. A great deal of garbage is sent to Fiberight’s test plant in Southern Virginia. Old vegetables, cardboard boxes and other wastes become something much more valuable through the work done at the factory. The garbage is loaded into a huge pressure cooker. The material that comes out of the cooker is mostly cellulose (纤维素)，a substance that can be made into sugar. The sugar can then be turned into ethanol (乙醇).
This year, several other fuel production plants are expected to start making ethanol from the cellulose in plant materials. Madhu Khanna is an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. She said, “Making cellulosic ethanol turned out to be harder than expected. We know how to do that in a lab. The main problem is doing that continuously and massively.”
Ethanol production from cellulose has yet to meet expectations. However, this year could be the turning point. But Madhu Khanna explained, “Our cars may limit how much the industry can grow. Only a few models of automobiles can operate on high-ethanol fuel. Without more of them, there is only so much gas made from garbage that will sell.”
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．The benefit of making fuel from garbage. |
| B．The great importance of alternative energy. |
| C．Fiberight’s way to turn wastes into ethanol. |
| D．Fiberight’s influence on the American energy market. |
| A．The high cost. |
| B．The low productivity. |
| C．The high pollution risk. |
| D．The long-term mass production. |
| A．It is cheap for most people. |
| B．It is only suitable for cars. |
| C．It is hard to be used widely at present. |
| D．It is more environmentally friendly. |
4 . A night at the movies is always a good idea. But when you leave the theater and realize you just dropped $45 on a ticket and some snacks, you’ll wish you had been patient enough to wait until the movie came out on Netflix. The average movie ticket price in the United States in 2000 was $5.39; now, a ticket is over $9.
The main reason that movie tickets have gotten so expensive is because of inflation (通货膨胀). It was actually more expensive to go to the movies in the 70s than it is now. A ticket in 1978 cost $2.34. If you plug that into an inflation calculator, the same ticket would cost you $9.46 today. According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average cost for a ticket today is $9.11.
Another reason you need to spend some of your life savings to see a movie on the big screen is that theaters are competing with streaming services that produce their own films, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. And let’s be honest, sitting at home on your sofa or in your bed is more comfortable than sitting in a cold theater.
Because of streaming technology, theaters have to do something to bring in customers. Attractions—including alcohol, reclining seats (躺椅), surround sound, and 3-D movies are all examples of that. And those upgrades come at a price, leading to more expensive tickets.
“There’s all that extra cost, and it’s really important for theater owners and companies to make that experience as enjoyable as possible,” Patrick Corcoran, vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners told Marketplace. “Because you’re offering a superb experience—audience expectations are for the latest and greatest technology. Audiences are willing to pay more for a particular experience.”
1. According to the passage, what makes movie tickets so expensive?| A．The viewers are wealthier than before. |
| B．The movie theatres offer popcorns, alcohol for free. |
| C．Inflation has made the ticket price appear higher than before. |
| D．The popular movies with famous stars deserve the high price. |
| A．Netflix is always a better choice for movie viewers than theatres |
| B．with comfortable seats, theatres are more attractive than streaming services |
| C．the viewers actually pay more for the updates of the movie theatres |
| D．the theater owners and companies update the theaters to make the theatres famous |
| A．It’s unwise for viewers to pay so much to watch a movie in the theater. |
| B．The high price of a movie ticket is supposed to agree with a wonderful experience. |
| C．It’s a waste of money to provide the latest technology in the theatre. |
| D．The viewers would prefer to sit at home on the sofas or in the beds. |
| A．Behind the Increasing Price of Movie Tickets |
| B．Technological Improvement on Movie Theatres |
| C．The Competition between Movie Theatre and Streaming Services |
| D．How to Save the Viewers’ Wallets |
5 . Sometimes pets are more than we can handle, like when a small puppy grows up to be a huge dog. People can usually find a new home for a big dog, but a giant pet snake is not so easy to give away. As a result, some people in Florida have released their pet pythons into the wilderness of the Florida Everglades. Problem solved? Only for the pet owners.
The snakes that are the biggest problem are Burmese pythons. These snakes are not native to the Everglades. Pet dealers originally brought them to the United States from Southeast Asia. Because Burmese pythons are not native, they disrupt the natural order of the Everglades’ ecosystem.
The snakes’ size and strength are also a problem. Burmese pythons can grow to be 20 feet long. There are reports of terrifying battles between pythons and alligators in the Everglades. Even more worrisome is the impact on creatures that are no match for the monster snakes. For example, biologists have discovered endangered birds, bobcats, and wood rats in pythons’ stomachs.
Another effect of python dumping is the spread of these snakes beyond the Everglades. Pythons swim well and can move more than a mile a day on land. In addition, one snake can produce nearly 100 eggs. Their wide range of movement and high rate of birth means that the snakes can quickly overrun a habitat.
As a result of this scary scenario, Florida park rangers, wildlife officials, and others are on “python patrol.” They capture and kill Burmese pythons to try to keep the numbers under control. There is also a greater effort to teach people about the responsibilities of keeping a python.
1. Which of these has caused Burmese pythons to be found in the Florida Everglades?| A．Pet owners who let them go. | B．Pet dealers who released them into the wild. |
| C．The large number of eggs the snakes produce. | D．The snakes’ ability to swim and move well. |
| A．they can even grow to 20 feet long | B．they put endangered animals at greater risk |
| C．biologists can study them in the natural habitat | D．they control the alligator population |
| A．selling unwanted goods very cheaply | B．moving information from a computer |
| C．putting something down carelessly | D．getting rid of something unwanted |
| A．Pythons are not native to the Everglades. | B．Burmese pythons can grow to 20 feet long. |
| C．Pythons can swim and move well on land. | D．Florida park rangers are on "python patrol". |
| A．Pythons will grow too big to handle at home. | B．Owners will become educated about pythons. |
| C．People will no longer get pythons as pets. | D．Pet dealers will stop bringing pythons here. |
A Beginner’s Guide to Video Game Design TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE: A Brief History of Video Game Design CHAPTER 1: The Dawn of a New Era: 1960s and 1970s ................1 CHAPTER 2: A Gaming Explosion: 1980s to the Present.................17 PART TWO: Types of Video Games CHAPTER 3: Action! Games That Test Your Reflexes and Timing...........39 CHAPTER 4: Explore! Games That Take You on an Adventure............... 55 CHAPTER 5: Role-play! Games That Let You Be Someone Else.............71 CHAPTER 6: Plan! Games That Require Strategic Thinking....................87 PART THREE: Game Design Fundamentals CHAPTER 7: Programming Gets a C++.........................103 CHAPTER 8: What Does Math Have to Do With It?......125 CHAPTER 9: Putting the Laws of Physics to Work........149 CHAPTER 10: Artificial Intelligence Makes Games Smarter Than You...........163 PART FOUR: The Hall of Fame and The Hall of Shame CHAPTER 11: All-Time Top Ten Video Games................197 CHAPTER 12: The Worst Video Games Ever....................227 |
1. In Chapter 9, you can probably read how video game designers .
| A．use math in their work on video games |
| B．create artistic backgrounds for video games |
| C．invent character names for video games |
| D．apply scientific knowledge to video games |
| A．Part One. | B．Chapter 3. | C．Part Four. | D．Chapter 11. |
| A．the best and worst video games ever created |
| B．how designers build video games |
| C．the history of video gaming |
| D．the different categories of video games |
Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a
The term “third-culture kid”
Yet many
8 . Volunteering offers vital help to people in need and the community.
Volunteering can connect you to others.
Volunteering can advance your career. If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization.
| A．Volunteering can reduce depression. |
| B．Volunteering can increase your skills. |
| C．It can be hard to find time to volunteer. |
| D．But the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. |
| E．One of the benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. |
| F．Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. |
| G．You might feel more comfortable at work once you’ve learned these skills in volunteering. |
Lungs nearly bursting, I struggled to lift my head out of the water. Inch by inch, my tired body reached for the end of the pool.
The extent of my swimming career was purely recreational, while the competitive swimmers nearby thought nothing of the seemingly simple task of a 500-meter swim test. Pushing myself to finish what I had started, I could only think: why not take the easy way out?
Earlier that week, I had turned in my first job application at a local pool. Overqualified, I was hired on the spot. However, the tasks were boring: helping confused visitors and measuring the height of children before they went down the slide, those sorts of things. I was capable of more.
So a swim test was required, establishing the mere fact that I was not completely helpless in a pool. Midway through, the manager administering the test remarked, “This looks really easy for you. Why aren't you applying to become a guard?"
“The thought hadn't crossed my mind."
“Well, lifeguarding demands more responsibility, strength and respect. Thus the position pays $2 more per hour. Your swimming skills are strong enough. All you need to do is complete a certification class.”
Inside I was unsure of myself, but his words inspired me-You never know what you are capable of until you force yourself to do it.
Soon I passed the swim test. All left was to practice and learn first aid, CPR(心肺复苏), and procedures for different land and water-based emergencies.
Work started soon. A well- intentioned yet anxious feeling in me soon passed. Days, weeks, and months went by without incident; emergencies were rare. The skills and training I had so carefully studied and acquired seemed unnecessary.
Today appeared to be another uneventful day. However, shortly after the other guards signaled to the children to exit the pool, I noticed one boy was still in the middle while the others had climbed up.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Something must have gone wrong with him,” I thought to myself.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Having the boy on the floor, I put my ear to his mouth and my fingers at his neck.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . I took a deep breath and walked through the front door, my arms full of groceries. A challenge lay ahead of me, someone who could hardly boil water: cooking the Easter Sunday dinner. What if I made everyone sick? It could truly be our family’s last super meal.
Making the holiday meal was my brother’s job, not mine. I could never fill his shoes. Peter had died in September at the age of 45 from a heart attack, but he’d been a natural in the kitchen all his life. He planned every course in detail, from the crescent rolls to the Dutch apple pie.
My family was lost without him, and we went out to dinner for Thanksgiving and ordered pizza for Christmas. By the time Easter rolled around, though, I couldn’t bear the idea of another holiday surrounded by takeout (外卖食品) boxes. Peter would have hated that. To him, there was nothing more important than a meal made with love. So I convinced Mom that we should cook Easter dinner together. But we were terrible cooks.
I had been thinking what to cook for Easter dinner. I’d bitten off more than I could chew. No one could do this half as well as Peter.
I stepped into the family room. Mom was still at church, but her newspaper was opened on the coffee table, to the sports section, as usual. She was a huge Notre Dame women’s basketball fan, and the featured story was about the forward Devereaux Peters. I read the headline and nearly dropped my grocery bags, Filling Peters’ Shoes.
That afternoon, cooking in the kitchen, I didn’t feel so alone. Mom and I pulled together and the Easter feast was not that bad. The ham may have been a little dry, but it was all made with love— just like Peter would have wanted.
1. What would Peter have preferred to do if holidays had come?| A．To go out to have dinner. | B．To order pizza. |
| C．To show off his cooking skills. | D．To cook a big dinner for his family. |
| A．the Easter dinner was the family’s last dinner |
| B．Mom persuaded the author to cook the Easter dinner |
| C．Peter enjoyed cooking a dinner with love |
| D．their Easter dinner this year was a complete failure |
| A．she wasn’t confident in cooking the Easter dinner |
| B．she was not able to eat a lot of food |
| C．the Easter dinner made her sick |
| D．she couldn’t cook the dinner alone |
| A．Cooking in the Kitchen | B．Filling Peter’s Shoes |
| C．Happy Easter Day | D．Terrible Cooks |
