1 . For many, Labor Day weekend signals the end of summer and an opportunity to host a socially-distanced barbecue (an outdoor meal). But this national holiday—celebrated every year in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September—has revolutionary (革命性的) origins.

By the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution had made working life miserable for people around the world. In many places, workers toiled for at least 12 hours a day six days a week in mines, factories, railroads, and mills. This holiday actually originated in the US on May 1, 1866, in what came to be known as the Haymarket Riot, workers flooded Chicago streets to demand an eight-hour workday.

It would take another conflict in the American Midwest to make Labor Day a national holiday. On May 11, 1894, workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company, a railroad car manufacturer near Chicago, went on strike to protest their low wages and 16-hour workdays. In August 1893, James Kyle introduced federal legislation (立法) to make Labor Day a public holiday, but for ten months the legislation was put on hold. To quiet the strikers and their supporters, the Senate quickly passed the bill on June 22. The bill passed the House four days later and President Grover Cleveland signed it into law on June 28, 1894.

The holiday is more information May Day labor celebrations. Many observers relax at home or head to outdoor recreational activities, such as boating, barbecues, and camping. It may also be marked with fireworks shows and other events. Labor Day has also become associated with retail sales, as many shop owners try to take advantage of the customers’ day off. It is one of the largest sales events of the year. meaning retail employees actually have to work more on this day. Parades are the most common model of celebration, which often feature processions of labor groups.

1. What do we know about the workers in the late 19th century?

A．They were paid well.	B．They had long workdays.
C．They often had a barbecue.	D．Their contributions were recognized.

2. Which can replace the underlined words “put on hold” in paragraph 3?

A．Put off.

B．Introduced.

C．Got through.

D．Protected.

3. When did Labor Day become an official holiday throughout America?

A．On May 1, 1886.

B．On August 22, 1893.

C．On May 11, 1894.

D．On June 28, 1894.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The origins of Labor Day.	B．The labor groups achievements.
C．The ways to celebrate Labor Day.	D．The official activities on Labor Day.

2 . Engineers from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp ( CASC ) are known for their achievements such as landing a robot to explore Mars. However, the latest display of their wisdom and knowledge took place on the ground at the Bird’s Nest during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. They were tasked with building 11 major components for the 140-minute ceremony.

The “ ice cube (立方) ” , a structure covered by LED screens, was an example of engineers using their knowledge to handle technical challenges. The main body weighed 180 tons and had to be raised gradually during the ceremony, which meant that engineers needed to design a reliable method to lift it. Designers and technicians developed a foldable frame capable of lifting the huge cube in just 43 seconds.

Another visual breakthrough is a ground-based display screen covering 10,100 square meters. They used industrial internet technologies to connect more than 40,000 screens and monitor their working conditions. It is essential that engineers should place four signal transmission lines for the screen to prepare sufficient backup capacity to ensure that it functions properly.

The torches (火把) carried by Chinese athletes during the final legs of the relay in the stadium were developed by researchers who used their knowledge and skills gained from developing rocket engines. The torches can burn among wind up to 28 meters per second. They will not go out during strong rain or in low temperatures. New flag poles in the stadium flying the Chinese national flag and the Olympic flag were also designed and made by space researchers.

There is no doubt that technology from space industry has had an unexpected effect on the performance stage during the opening ceremony. Famous filmmaker Zhang Yimou, director of the opening ceremony, said, “As a crucial technical company, it was responsible for the design and construction work for the performance stage. The designs and equipment provided by this company worked very well and far exceeded our expectations. ”

1. What might be a challenge in lifting the ice cube?

A．Making it more beautiful.	B．Protecting the LED screens.
C．Lifting it safely within a short time.	D．Using the engineers’ wisdom and skills.

2. What played a major role in keeping the display screen functioning well?

A．Industrial internet technologies.	B．Sufficient signal transmission capacity.
C．The area of the display screen.	D．A monitor for their working conditions.

3. What do Zhang Yimou’s words mean in the last paragraph?

A．He felt very satisfied with the opening ceremony.

B．He thought it was important to use space technology.

C．He thought little of the contribution of the company.

D．He felt confident in further using modern technology.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Using Space Technology in the Beijing Winter Olympics

B．The Breakthrough of Space Technology in China

C．Using Knowledge to Handle Technical Challenges

D．A Wonderful Ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics

3 . There’s just a 1 in 3, 700, 000 chance that a person will be killed by a shark in their lifetime, but the fear is still enough to have swimmers worrying about being perceived as prey (猎物). Now, new research supports the long-standing theory that when great whites do go in for a bite, it’s a case of “mistaken identity”.

A team of biologists from the UK and Australia compared videos of seals swimming with videos of humans swimming. They then edited the videos to simulate (模拟) a great white’s vision — the sharks are likely colorblind, and they can’t make out fine detail-and found that from the point of view of the ocean creatures, humans do indeed bear a strong resemblance to seals.

“Great white sharks are often regarded as ‘mindless killers’ and ‘fond of human flesh’. However, that's not the case — we just look like their food,” Laura Ryan, lead author of the study, said.

Despite their dissatisfying vision and spatial perception, great white sharks are highly visual creatures, and rely on motion and shadows when on the lookout for prey. To really see through the species’s eyes, the research team had to get creative.

“We attached a camera to an underwater scooter (轻便小车), and set it to travel at a typical speed for predatory sharks,” Ryan said in a statement. The researchers then paired the recordings with computer models to simulate how similar people look from a shark's view below the surface.

“I knew there would be some similarities, but not to the extent we have found,” Ryan said. “Specifically, I thought swimmers might not be as similar as surfers to seals as they typically aren’t involved in as many shark bites. However, the swimmers are also difficult to tell apart from seals.”

Ryan put it in a statement, “Understanding why shark bites occur can help us find ways to prevent them, while keeping both humans and sharks safer.”

1. What do the underlined words “the ocean creatures” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Seals.

B．Sharks.

C．Humans.

D．Swimmers.

2. Why did the researchers use the scooter with a camera?

A．To measure the speed of predatory sharks.

B．To take clear pictures of underwater seals.

C．To keep track of sharks’ travel underwater.

D．To see human beings through sharks' view.

3. What does the research find?

A．Swimmers are easy to tell apart from seals.

B．Swimmers are not as similar as surfers to seals.

C．The similarities between humans and seals are few.

D．Swimmers surprisingly resemble seals in sharks’ eyes.

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Why Sharks Attack Humans	B．Are Shark Bites Common?
C．How Sharks Hunt for Food	D．Are Sharks Really Dangerous?

4 . A recent story on TikTok showed how two neighbors found companionship during the lockdown because of the pandemic (疫情), thanks to a shared love of the piano.

The story started when Giorgio Lo Porto heard his neighbor playing the piano through their dividing wall. Lo Porto, an Italian living in London, decided to reach out to his neighbor and left a note asking him or her to play My Heart Will Go On. The mystery neighbor agreed, leading Lo Porto to send another note suggesting they play a duet (二重奏) together from the comfort of their own homes. The mystery neighbor started playing the piano at 2:00 pm, and when he stopped after finishing a part of a song, Lo Porto continued. Over time the duets between the two complete strangers became a regular weekend appointment.

Weeks later, the pair finally met and it was better than expected. The mystery pianist happened to be a 78-year-old Polish man named Emil, who was living in temporary accommodation until his house was sold. He lost his wife in December due to COVID-19 and all he had left was the piano. And the reason why he played at 2: 00 pm every weekend was that he and his wife used to do that.

The pair finished a final duet together — Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata — before Emil moved out at the end of February.

While this is heartwarming in itself, the story has a heartbreaking ending: On March 14, Lo Porto shared that his old neighbor had passed away in his sleep. He said, “Now he is reunited with his wife.”

While saying goodbye to Emil, Lo Porto wrote, “Dear Emil, I knew very little about you, but you changed my life. You gave me back my passion, and we shared that with the world. You’ll be in my heart. I’ll keep playing, thinking of how powerful music can be. You said I was your light, but you’ve been mine, too. Bye, Emil.”

1. What happened after Lo Porto left the second note for Emil?

A．They composed a new song based on a classic.

B．They reached out to neighbors to cheer them up.

C．They shared their playing skills with TikTokers.

D．They performed music together through the wall.

2. Why did Emil play the piano at a special time?

A．To upload his updates.	B．To remember his wife.
C．To advertise his house.	D．To comfort strangers.

3. What is the sad part of the story in the author’s opinion?

A．Emil's passing away.	B．Lo Porto’s departure.
C．The pair’s final performance.	D．The unfamiliarity between the pair.

4. What does Lo Porto mainly convey at last?

A．He admired Emil’s ambition.	B．It is easy to say goodbye.
C．Emil positively influenced him.	D．Music is a universal language.

5 . Shaine is not your average 16-year-old. In fact, she has turned her love of animals into a _______ to make a big difference in the lives of _______ pets. In her spare time, Shaine makes wheelchairs for dogs and cats.

For many pet owners, the cost of buying mobility (移动) equipment is not _______, so many dogs get _______ because they’re disabled. Wheelchairs usually go for more than $1, 000. But Shaine only _______ for the parts. She does this through the nonprofit that she _______ in 2020.

“I really had to _______ that she took the money at least for the _______,” Jennifer said. Jennifer’s dog was born with front legs shorter than her back legs and needed a way to be mobile before and after _______ surgery. Latham said, “If she isn’t mobile, we’ll kill her, and that shouldn’t be a(n) __________.”

Shaine was taking a(n) __________ science class in her high school. When a class discussion __________ exploring careers, she was __________ unsure what direction she wanted to go in. She thought about starting her own animal __________ after discovering animal wheelchairs, and the idea __________.

Shaine is __________ building a wheelchair for a dog named Scooter from Saudi Arabia. Scooter was at risk for __________ sores (疮) on his back legs that could have led to __________. Now, he is getting a new __________ in life. She has already made 10 devices that have given the gift of mobility to disabled pets. Her goal is to make some __________ of wheelchairs to animal shelters.

1.

A．mission

B．session

C．search 1

D．burden

2.

A．used

B．favored

C．abandoned

D．disabled

3.

A．flexible

B．affordable

C．reasonable

D．logical

4.

A．held up

B．taken up

C．held down

D．put down

5.

A．pays

B．prepares

C．charges

D．sends

6.

A．opened

B．respected

C．assumed

D．convinced

7.

A．order

B．promise

C．prove

D．insist

8.

A．discoveries

B．materials

C．benefits

D．advantages

9.

A．creative

B．direct

C．corrective

D．abundant

10.

A．commitment

B．excuse

C．responsibility

D．option

11.

A．home

B．animal

C．plant

D．community

12.

A．involved

B．tolerated

C．suggested

D．postponed

13.

A．traditionally

B．professionally

C．originally

D．constantly

14.

A．training

B．rescue

C．recreation

D．employment

15.

A．took off

B．dropped off

C．held back

D．fell behind

16.

A．casually

B．constantly

C．temporarily

D．currently

17.

A．organizing

B．dotting

C．developing

D．scratching

18.

A．inferences

B．infections

C．rejections

D．limits

19.

A．sense

B．appointment

C．start

D．surprise

20.

A．donations

B．collections

C．designs

D．records

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

We believe that acts of kindness can change the world for the     1     (good). On April 28,       2     (country) across the world will unite with one common goal:to stand for kindness together. Pay It Forward Day helps conduct a series of goodness     3     (feel) across the globe.

Pay It Forward Day, a worldwide celebration of kindness,     4     (create) in 2010 in the United States, working hard to bring forward     5     concept of paying it forward to the world at large. We are excited that we now have over 80 countries     6     (participate)   in Pay it Forward Day with over 100 state and city proclamations.

Of course,     7     we all hope is that people pay kindness forward every day and make each day a little bit brighter. We believe that small acts, when multiplied by millions of people can     8     (definite) have a deep impact on the world—and on April 28th we’ll set out to prove it! For this year's international Pay it Forward Day(PIFD)we are aiming to inspire over 10 million acts of kindness around the world. Imagine the     9     (different) that would make! Join us     10     paying it forward and help spread the word about this important day!

7 . One thing that sets humans apart from other members of the animal kingdom is our tendency to develop customs and traditions. Here are some astonishing customs from around the world.

An odd custom associated with the United States is its complicated tipping culture. Unlike many other countries that don’t tip at all or that only tip in small amounts when the food is particularly good, tipping is actually mandatory at most restaurants in the US. To put it another way, customers have a duty to leave between 10-20 percent of the bill in tips. Wait staff rely on these tips for a living because legal wages for waiters are low. Furthermore, there are rules for tipping bartenders, delivery people and other service personnel. While some criticize this practice as irrational, there’s no doubt that tipping culture in the US gives an incentive for waiters and waitresses to provide better service.

Some countries find the act of pointing with the index finger to be rude. While members of most cultures would probably agree that pointing fingers, both literally and figuratively, isn’t exactly the nicest thing in the world, in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, this gesture can be seen as incredibly offensive. Instead, it is customary to gesture towards things with the thumb as this is seen as a more polite option. In many countries in Africa, pointing is reserved for inanimate objects only, not people.

Most societies around the world have rules about table manners. For western cultures, noisily consuming food is considered rude. In Japan, however, making slurping(啧啧响的)sounds while eating has an entirely different meaning. This might have something to do with the fact that in western countries, noodles are properly consumed by twirling(缠绕)them on a spoon before putting them in the mouth. Meanwhile, the Japanese simply slurp up their noodles without contorting them first, an act that is naturally noisier than the former. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan is a way of indicating that you’re rely enjoying them. Some scientists even argue slurping invites air into the mouth and actually enhances the noodles’ flavor.

1. What does the underlined word “mandatory” in paragraph2 probably mean?

A．Required by tradition.	B．Highly spoken of.
C．Changeable over time.	D．Popular among people.

2. What does the author think of tipping?

A．It is totally unreasonable.	B．It must follow a fixed standard.
C．It can improve the quality of service.	D．It should only target waiters and waitresses.

3. Which practice is acceptable according to the text?

A．Skipping tipping in the USA.	B．Twirling noodles on a spoon in Africa.
C．Pointing with the index finger in Indonesia.	D．Making sounds while eating noodles in Japan.

4. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A research paper.	B．A travel brochure.
C．An online advertisement.	D．A popular magazine.

8 . The boy’s name is Aaron Moreno, and he’s 8 years old. He started his own business selling_________ in Los Angeles.

The story began earlier this year, when his mother _________ her job because of the pandemic. They were already in a financially _________ situation: Aaron’s older sister had been sent back to Mexico to _________ with her grandparents. They even ended up homeless, living in shelters.

In June this year, the situation got so bad that Aaron _________ to start a business selling plants to help his mom support the family. He hoped to make it_________ to bring his older sister back home from Mexico.

At first, he bought plants in the downtown Los Angeles and took them with his mother to resell at various places in the city. He called the_________ “Aaron’s Garden”.

It was hard work, as they had no tools of their own. They had to carry the plants by their_________ on public transportation. By June 24, he had a social software account that he used to start _________ what plants he was selling. Providers started bringing him plants to__________.

On July 13, __________ by Aaron’s initiative （倡议）and hard work, a friend of the family started a GoFundMe __________, and Aaron’s Garden started to get media__________ as well. “People support us by buying plants, following us, leaving us__________comments, and they tell us nice things to keep us moving forward. It’s what we__________, ”Aaron told local TV station.

All the hard work__________. The GoFundMe campaign had an initial__________of $1, 000, but it’s raised nearly $70, 000. Thanks to both the business and the__________ of donors, the family has__________ behind the shelters where they were living. The family has now moved into their own home and Aaron’s __________ has come back from Mexico!

1.

A．flowers

B．vegetables

C．plants

D．fruits

2.

A．got

B．lost

C．changed

D．continued

3.

A．satisfying

B．new

C．busy

D．poor

4.

A．live

B．flee

C．work

D．travel

5.

A．pretended

B．happened

C．decided

D．agreed

6.

A．possible

B．horrible

C．careful

D．wrong

7.

A．place

B．home

C．patent

D．business

8.

A．cars

B．hands

C．tools

D．heads

9.

A．thinking

B．praising

C．announcing

D．collecting

10.

A．buy

B．sell

C．send

D．remove

11.

A．advocated

B．admired

C．acquired

D．inspired

12.

A．campaign

B．company

C．trip

D．battle

13.

A．advice

B．command

C．attention

D．emphasis

14.

A．clear

B．good

C．easy

D．controversial

15.

A．underline

B．prepare

C．show

D．need

16.

A．paid off

B．broke off

C．took action

D．rose up

17.

A．result

B．vote

C．goal

D．value

18.

A．kindness

B．patience

C．confidence

D．exploration

19.

A．fallen

B．run

C．disappeared

D．left

20.

A．mother

B．sister

C．grandmother

D．family

9 . Most Famous Paintings in the World

Among the millions of paintings that are created and shown in galleries and museums all around the world, a very small number of them go beyond time and make history. Below are some examples.

The Persistence of Memory — Salvador Dali. Painted in 1931, The Persistence of Memory is one of the most recognizable pieces in art history. This work is known to make people reflect on their way of life and the way they spend their time, and it is also thought that Albert Einstein’s well-known Theory of Relativity gave Dali the idea for this wonderful painting.

Girl with a Pearl Earring — Johannes Vermeer. Considered by many to be “the Dutch Mona Lisa”, this beautiful painting features an unnamed young woman looking over her shoulder to stare directly at the viewer. It was completed in 1665 and is exhibited in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Guernica — Pablo Picasso. The famous painting by Picasso was completed in 1937. It was painted in Paris following the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The painting is on permanent display in the Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain.

Starry Night — Vincent van Gogh. Painted in 1889, Starry Night is one of the most famous paintings in modern culture, which is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is based on van Gogh’s direct observations as well as his imagination, memories, and emotions and was the inspiration for the song Vincent (also known as Starry, Starry Night).

1. What do we know about The Persistence of Memory?

A．It was finished in the 1920s.	B．It centers on people’s lifestyle.
C．It reflects the painter’s memories.	D．It may be inspired by a famous theory.

2. Which painting is based on a true story?

A．The Persistence of Memory.	B．Starry Night.
C．Girl with a Pearl Earring.	D．Guernica.

3. What is the common feature of the listed paintings?

A．They are everlasting artworks.	B．They share the similar theme.
C．They are on permanent display.	D．They give ideas for music creation.

10 . Life on earth evolves (进化) through the passing on of genes. How does culture evolve?

The evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, coined the term “meme” in his book The Selfish Gene. According to Dawkins, while genes are the pieces of biological information from our parents which determines our appearance and how we grow, memes are units of cultural information — ideas and beliefs — that “pass from brain to brain”. Like genes, memes must compete for survival — if a meme cannot gain our attention. it disappears.

Basically, any shared idea related to culture is a meme. Myths, for example, are memes. Every society has its own stories that have survived, with some variations, for hundreds or thousands of years. The mythological dragon in Chinese culture is an idea that has been successfully passed among people for generations and is therefore also a meme.

Historically, memes have spread very gradually by word of mouth. Within Internet culture, though, a successful idea can be shared among millions of people within a few hours. Internet memes (which may for example, take the form of an image, a video or a website) may not last long, but they are particularly catching. They are shared “liked” copied and thus rapidly grown.

Then why do some ideas succeed in gaining our attention while others fail to attract us? It’s difficult to say, but humor is generally a factor. People are most likely to forward something to their friends if they think it is funny and the easier it is to digest the further the meme travels. Other memes may gain ground because they are something out of the ordinary. Aside from pure entertainment. Internet memes have a commercial aspect. Given their mass appeal, it is no surprise that advertisements turn up alongside them.

1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “coined” in Paragraph 2?

A．Accepted.

B．Preferred.

C．Invented.

D．Understood.

2. What do we learn about memes?

A．They are genes passed down from our parents.

B．They are cultural units that spread among people.

C．They belong to myths in different cultures.

D．They determine the development of the Internet.

3. How does a meme within Internet culture differ from one in history?

A．It spreads faster and wider.	B．It takes fewer forms.
C．It’s harder to digest.	D．It lasts longer.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The distance a meme can travel.	B．Achievements of Internet memes.
C．Reasons for the success of some memes.	D．The uniqueness of a meme.