When it comes to ancient Chinese detectives, the name Di Renjie, a famous judge and administrator of the Tang Dynasty (618—907), often
The new TV series “Judge Dee’s Mystery” records the life of Judge Dee. While solving various criminal cases in different places
However, the series never intends
Li believes that every audience can gain
2 . Monet gets his place in the art timeline because of his leading role in the impressionist art movement, and through the lasting appeal of his artistic style. The painting he titled Impression: Sunrise, done early in his career, may not seem one of Monet’s best paintings, but the big deal about it is that it was the painting that gave impressionism its name.
Done with oil paint on canvas, this painting is characterized by thin washes of rather mild colors, on top of which he painted short strokes of pure color. Monet gave depth and perspective to an otherwise flat painting by the use of aerial perspective (空间透视法). Look closely at the three boats, and you can see how these get lighter in the tone, which is the way aerial perspective works. The lighter boats appear to be further away from us than the darkest one.
Monet exhibited the painting in what we now call the First Impressionist Exhibition, in Paris. Monet and a group of about 30 other artists, frustrated by restrictions and politics of the official annual art salon, had decided to hold their own independent exhibition, an unusual thing to do at the time. They called themselves the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Engravers, etc., which included artists who are now world famous such as Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Morisot, and Cezanne. Monet said he’d called the painting “impression” because “it really couldn’t pass as a view of Le Harve”.
Louis Leroy, an art critic, in his review of the exhibition used the title of Monet’s painting as the headline, calling it the “Exhibition of Impressionists”. Leroy had meant it ironically as the term “impression” was used to describe a rapidly finished painting of an atmospheric effect, and artists rarely, if ever, exhibited pictures so quickly sketched. The label stuck. In his review published on 25 April, 1874, Leroy wrote,“Wallpaper in its embryonic (萌芽期的) state is more finished than that seascape.” Then in a supportive review published a few days later, Jules Castagnary was the first art critic to use the term “Impressionism” in a positive way.
1. What do we know about Monet’s Impression: Sunrise?A.It was universally acknowledged as Monet’s best painting. |
B.Leroy was deeply impressed by the painter’s remarkable skill. |
C.The different tones of the three boats gave depth to the painting. |
D.It was exhibited in the official annual art salon with 30 other artists. |
A.The label met strong opposition from other art critics. |
B.The label was stuck to the surface of Monet’s painting. |
C.The label was not regarded as a positive image. |
D.The label stayed and became widely used after that. |
A.Monet. | B.Leroy. | C.Renoir. | D.Castagnary. |
A.Impression: Sunrise gave Impressionism its name. |
B.Critics had a disagreement over Monet’s painting. |
C.Monet is a leading artist of Impressionism. |
D.Impressionism is an appealing artistic style. |
3 . This was the big game. The boys were
Nervously, I looked out Andy’s way. I was
Andy ran up to me at the
I suddenly realized it was nice my son would take timeout to
A.nervous | B.scared | C.curious | D.ashamed |
A.waited | B.struggled | C.prayed | D.run |
A.electric | B.friendly | C.casual | D.romantic |
A.escape | B.erupt | C.jump | D.strike |
A.amused | B.content | C.shocked | D.proud |
A.carrying | B.focusing | C.commenting | D.reflecting |
A.Settled own | B.Stand up | C.Wake up | D.Lie down |
A.informed | B.punished | C.warned | D.spared |
A.meeting | B.break | C.corner | D.entrance |
A.blame | B.comfort | C.entertain | D.threaten |
A.anger | B.anxiety | C.excitement | D.confidence |
A.teammates | B.fans | C.parents | D.stars |
A.create | B.research | C.explain | D.appreciate |
A.need | B.expect | C.afford | D.suspect |
A.become | B.filmed | C.seen | D.followed |
4 . In 1999, David Dunning and Justin Kruger did a series of studies evaluating people’s competence in certain areas, including grammar, humor and logic. The people in the studies were asked to evaluate their own abilities in each area. Dunning and Kruger found that people who scored low on the tests have the tendency to overestimate their abilities, indicating that people who lack skills tend to lack the ability to realize their shortcomings.
This principle has become known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. It occurs because only when people have skills in a given area are they equipped to evaluate their own skills. Admittedly, most people are overconfident in their abilities. They want to believe that they are more capable, knowledgeable and even superior to others, and when someone really wants something to be true, it can be hard for them to admit that it isn’t. By the way, the opposite of the Dunning-Kruger effect also happens: capable people have a more accurate view of their own abilities, and sometimes they even underestimate themselves.
It’s tempting (吸引人的) to think of the Dunning-Kruger effect as a problem. People may even laugh at those who think themselves more competent than they truly are, but everyone has areas where they lack competence, and the Dunning-Kruger effect means they may be relatively bad at self-evaluation in those areas. Even if someone is very intelligent in general, there are still things they don’t know much about. Expertise in one area cannot always be transferred to other areas.
That’s why it’s important to keep digging for information even when you think you’ve found answers. It can also be helpful to check your ideas with other people. Receiving negative feedback can hurt, but if you’re willing to listen, it can help you grow. Even just keeping in mind that the Dunning-Kruger effect exists can help you stay modest, accept criticism and, thus, keep learning throughout your life.
1. What did Dunning and Kruger find in their research?A.Unskilled people tend to think too much of themselves. |
B.Skilled people are usually more humorous and logical. |
C.Self-evaluation makes people more logical in some areas. |
D.Knowledgeable people sometimes think they are superior to others. |
A.Complicated. | B.Problematic. | C.Universal. | D.Dismissive. |
A.Evaluate yourself on a regular basis. | B.Remain humble and eager for knowledge. |
C.Be yourself and ignore negative feedback. | D.Make friends with intelligent individuals. |
A.A biology textbook. | B.A book review. |
C.A feature report. | D.A. psychology journal. |
The lantern fair in Zigong. Southwest China’s Sichuan province, boasts a history of more than 1, 000 years. To mark the Year
In addition to the
This year’s show will run until July 30. The sets of lanterns
6 . Falcons are powerful birds that may be trained to hunt in cooperation with humans. The art of training falcons as “hunting dogs of the skies” is called falconry (训鹰术). It was developed in the ancient Arabian Desert around 4000 B. C. In the past, falconry mainly involved hunting with falcons to supplement one’s diet. But now, it has become the favorite sport and pastime in the Arabian Peninsula.
Falconry includes three major processes: acquiring the falcons, training them, and hunting with them. Every year, falconers begin capturing wild falcons in June and July, the migration season. The best birds to catch are the ones with naturally nurtured hunting skills, aged one or two years. Once the falcons are captured, their heads are immediately covered with a leather hood. This is essential because they imprint as their master whomever they see first after the hood is removed. Right after a bird is caught, the training process starts. It begins by depriving (剥夺) the bird of food to make it easier to tame. The birds are taught to know their own name and respond to their master when called. Arab falconers live with their birds day and night in order to build a strong relationship with them.
By the end of October or mid-November, the trained falcons are ready to hunt in the desert. They have excellent vision, 2. 6 times greater than that of a human. They are also the fastest divers on the planet. One hunting technique that sets them apart from other animals is that they can be trained to deliver their prey, without killing it first. This is vital in Islamic culture because animals used for food must still be alive to ensure that the meat is halal, that is, properly prepared according to Islamic law.
Falcons have played such a crucial role in traditional Islamic cultures that a number of countries in the Middle East have made them their national bird. Falconry has grown so popular that specialist hospitals have been established to take care of these magnificent birds. Falcons are even issued their own passports. They are the only animals in the United Arab Emirates that are legally allowed to travel inside planes, enjoying a level of luxury that some humans can only dream of.
1. What is the main reason for Arabic people to hunt with falcons today?A.To serve as entertainment and exercise. |
B.To supplement their diet. |
C.To replace the practice of hunting with dogs. |
D.To honor their national bird. |
A.Falconers don’t give food to falcons in order to capture them. |
B.Falcons are not allowed to see their masters during the training process. |
C.Wild falcons with natural hunting skills are ideal for falconers to catch. |
D.The trainers’ names are written on the hoods covering the birds’ heads. |
A.Falcons keep their prey alive before delivering it to falconers. |
B.Falcons can form a strong bond with their owners quickly. |
C.Falcons’ vision is particularly suitable for hunting in deserts. |
D.Falcons are relatively easy to train for specific hunting. |
A.Free air ticket. | B.Passports issued by the King. |
C.Expensive meals. | D.Access to specialized medical care. |
7 . At 13, I resolved to be an amazing teacher, overwhelmingly driven by a
In fifth grade, Ms. Charlotte, an English teacher could magically
She told us stories from books we would otherwise never
What a man! So Ms. Charlotte inspired us to fight for our own pride and defend it,
Now, dear teachers, we love you and thank you from the bottom of our heart! I will keep the
When your dreams come alive you’re unstoppable
Take a shot, chase the sun, find the beautiful
We will glow in the dark turning dust to gold
1.A.depressing | B.burning | C.living | D.entertaining |
A.transport | B.interpret | C.deliver | D.transform |
A.feature | B.factor | C.function | D.flavour |
A.attached | B.advocated | C.breathed | D.exposed |
A.pursue | B.contract | C.emerge | D.correspond |
A.pick up | B.put up | C.set up | D.get up |
A.catching | B.carving | C.casting | D.ceasing |
A.seal | B.seashell | C.fish | D.dolphin |
A.declare | B.contain | C.encounter | D.integrate |
A.drilled | B.soiled | C.nailed | D.covered |
A.genuine | B.identical | C.tough | D.internal |
A.right away | B.at once | C.on the spot | D.on end |
A.embarrassed | B.depressed | C.disappointed | D.exhausted |
A.in addition | B.despite | C.due to | D.given |
A.stick | B.hit | C.strike | D.rank |
8 . I was the only kid in college with a reason to go to the mailbox, because my mother never believed in email or cell phones. I was literally waiting to get a letter to see how her weekend had gone, which was usually the warmest comfort for a girl of my age.
So when I moved to New York and got sucker-punched in the face by depression, I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote those same kinds of letters like my mother for strangers, and slipped them all over the city. I blogged about those letters and crazily promised if asked for a hand-written letter, I would write one.
Overnight, my inbox became this harbor of heartbreak — a single mother in Sacramento, a girl being bullied in Kansas, a 22-year-old immigrant, all asking me to write them and gave them a reason to wait by the mailbox. And this is how I initiated a global organization, fueled by those trips to the mailbox.
It is awesome. In fact, the thing about these letters is that most of them have been written by people who have grownup into a paperless world where some best conversations happen on a screen. We have learned to record our pain on to Facebook, and we speak swiftly in 140 characters or less.
But it’s not about efficiency. And I could tell you about a woman whose husband was traumatized (受精神创伤) by his war experiences in Afghanistan and isolated himself, and her love letters slipped throughout the house eventually got him back to her. Or a man, who decides to take his own life, finally sleeps soundly with a stack of letters from strangers slipped beneath his pillow.
The scare the kinds of stories that convince me that letter-writing will always be needed even in these days, because it is an art now.
1. Why did the author share her experience in college?A.To show her attachment to letters. |
B.To convey her love for writing letters. |
C.To prove how convenient it was to write letters. |
D.To indicate how much she cared for her family. |
A.The letters’ comforting effect on people. |
B.Her intention of providing professional aid |
C.The positive influence of modern technology. |
D.Her mother’s fear of modern communication. |
A.Digital generations still choose to handwrite letters. |
B.People prefer to write strangers letters on the Internet. |
C.So many people badly need hand-written letters to survive. |
D.People post their sufferings and happiness on social media. |
A.Family Letters Are Priceless |
B.Love for Writing Never Declines |
C.World Needs More Love Letters |
D.Hand-written Letters Improve Efficiency |
9 . German physicist Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, the personification of genius and the subject of a whole industry of scholarship. In The Einsteinian Revolution, two experts on Einstein’s life and his theory of relativity―Israeli physicst Hanoch Gutfreund and German historian of science Jurgen Renn—offer an original and penetrating(厚利的) analysis of Einstein’s revolutionary contributions to physics and our view of the physical world.
By setting Einstein’s work in the long course of the evolution of scientific knowledge, Gutfreund and Renn discover the popular misconception of Einstein as an unconventional scientific genius who single-handedly created modern physics—and by pure thought alone.
As a large part of the book explains, Einstein typically argued that science progresses through steady evolution, not through revolutionary breaks with the past. He saw his theory of relativity not as something from scratch, but a natural extension of the classical physics developed by pioneers such as Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and English physicist Isaac Newton in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as nineteenth-century physicists.
The authors highlight how classical physics cannot be separated cleanly from modem Einsteinian physics. The book also includes substantial sections on Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo whose methods inspired Einstein. When Einstein considered himself as standing on their shoulders, he meant that, without their contributions, he would not have formulated(阐述) the theory of relativity.
The Einsteinian Revolution is an important and thought-provoking contribution to the scholarly literature on Einstein and his surprising scientific creativity between 1905 and 1925. Gutfreund and Renn might not have given the final answer as to why Einstein, of all people, revolutionized physics in the way that he did. But they argue in fascinating detail that, to understand his genius, one must take into account not just the earlier history of physics but also the history of knowledge more broadly. Although not always an easy read, the book will interest physicists and historians alike.
1. Where is the text most probably taken from?A.An essay on Albert Einstein. | B.An introduction to a book |
C.A guidebook to a course. | D.A review of physics development |
A.Unclear. | B.Favorable. | C.Dismissive | D.Opposing. |
A.Up to standard | B.From nothing. |
C.By learning from others. | D.With previous knowledge. |
A.Their ideas were rejected by Einstein, |
B.Their devotion to physics impressed Einstein |
C.Their researches contributed to Einstein’s success. |
D.Their hard work deserved the worldwide respect. |
10 . Green Line Performing Arts Center
329 E Garfield Blvd. Chicago, IL 60637
Upcoming Programs Include:
First Monday Jazz Series: Crosswind
Monday Feb.4|7—9 p.m.
First Monday Jazz is a monthly events how easing local Chicago jazz artists.
GreenLight Series: South Side Story Time
Sunday Feb.17|10—11 a.m.
Bring your kids to listen, learn, sing, dance, and interact! South Side Story Time is a small gathering that centres on readings for its young attendees along with the chance for their parents to socialize. Open to families with children of all ages.
Sistergirls and Freedom Fighters: Stories: in Celebration of Women’s Power and Grace
Wednesday Feb.20|7—8:30 p.m.
Join us for an evening of storytelling featuring the dynamic singing, In the Spirit by Emily Hooper Lansana. This performance will highlight a range of stories that demonstrate women’s creative and political genius from folk heroines to Nobel Peace Prize winners.
Family Saturdays:Art together
Every 1st Saturday of the Month| 3—5 p.m.
Explore your child’s artistic curiosity with hands-on artworks bops designed to stimulate creativity and play. These interdisciplinary workshops are exciting for the entire family, offering activities from music to arts and crafts. Come to learn something new! Appropriate for families with children. Registration is encouraged.
Follow Arts+Public Life on Facebook for more event details and a full list of all upcoming performances.
1. When can people enjoy jazz in February?A.At 8 p.m. on the first Monday. | B.At 10 a.m. on the third Sunday. |
C.At 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday. | D.At 4 p.m. on the first Saturday. |
A.It lasts two hours | B.It is a prize-winning performance. |
C.It celebrates women’s achievements | D.It is organized by Emily Hooper Lansana. |
A.Activity types. | B.Event frequency. |
C.Target participants | D.Registration requirements. |