1 . Many libraries around the world are as amazing in their architecture and organization as they are in the huge amount of knowledge they contain. With shelves and shelves of books, various collections and amazing historical and cultural displays, there are plenty of undiscovered wonders.
Beinecke Rare Book Library (New Haven, Connecticut)
Yale University has one of the most beautiful college campuses in America, and one of its most interesting features is the Beinecke Rare Book Library. It is one of the largest buildings in the world devoted to rare books and manuscripts (手稿) of famous people. From 2015-16 the library building was closed for 18 months for major improvement. Inside there is a statue of its main founder that rises up high.
Vennesla Library (Vennesla, Norway)
Located near the southernmost tip of Norway, Vennesla Library is more than a collection of books—it’s a city cultural center and meeting place. The building hosts a coffee shop, open meeting spaces, classrooms for children and adult education courses, and a cinema. It is mainly built out of wood. The long, thin beams (横梁) on the inside were designed to look like the inside of a whale.
Suzzallo Library (Seattle)
Among the many beautiful features of the campus at the University of Washington, such as its cherry flowers and a light rail station, Suzzallo Library was built in the Collegiate Gothic style. Its buttresses (扶壁) are decorated with 18 statues featuring famous academics and writers such as Plato, Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Galileo, Beethoven, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.
Library of Muyinga (Muyinga, Burundi)
A school for deaf children, the Library of Muyinga in Burundi was built with local techniques and traditions. A rope hammock (吊床) that hangs between the first and second floors of the library serves as part of the children’s reading room, a great place for indoor activities.
More information of them is just a click away.
1. Which one is suitable for people who want to appreciate statues?| A．Beinecke Rare Book Library. | B．Vennesla Library. |
| C．Suzzallo Library. | D．Library of Muyinga. |
| A．It is mainly intended for children. | B．It is built in the shape of a whale. |
| C．It is located within the campus. | D．It is a kind of culture complex. |
| A．A culture magazine | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A website. | D．A historical book. |
2 . City: Hangzhou
Launched: 2008
Size: 2,965 stations/ 69,750 bikes
Price: $28.59 deposit(押金) + time charge
While taking a look at this city, you may see the best bike sharing in the world. As the second on the planet by size, the Hangzhou Public Bicycle System is one of the most common and useful shares, largely because it’s combined with public transportation: a single card can be used in subway, bus, taxi and bike sharing. Residents and tourists can put down a deposit of 200 Chinese Yuan (about $29) and ride for an hour for free in this scenic city. Each additional hour costs only $0.15. It was also the first new-generation bike-sharing system in China.
City: Barcelona
Launched: 2007
Size: 420 stations/6,000 bikes
Price: $61.93 per year
Barcelona’s Bicycling Program developed Spain’s bike-sharing business in a big way. This program took off like wildfire on wheels, and because four times bigger in one year. It inspired different copycat programs all over the country. Today, Spain has 132 bike-sharing systems. The program is one of the world’s most respected and popular shares. But it is only open to residents and tourists are not allowed to use them.
City: Paris
Launched: 2007
Size: l,751 stations/23,900 bikes
Price: $38. 52 per year/ $2.26 per day
Bike sharing in Paris is the star of the world. Launched in 2007, it is the world’s largest outside of China. Cheap by American standards, you can ride around Paris on a $1.7 day pass—the first half hour of each trip is free. Because this system covers the city with an average of 50 stations per square mile, it’s a favourite with both locals and tourists.
1. What do we know about Barcelona’s Bicycling Program?| A．It has driven the development of Spain’s bike sharing. |
| B．It has once been ruined by fire accidents. |
| C．It is popular among travellers. |
| D．It consists of 175,000 bikes. |
| A．Nothing for an hour. | B．$61.93 per year. | C．$2.26 per day. | D．$1.7 per day. |
| A．They are open to both locals and tourists. | B．They have the same amount of stations. |
| C．They were founded in the same year. | D．They require a deposit of over $30. |
3 . Where to Eat in Bangkok
Bangkok is a highly desirable destination for food lovers. It has a seemingly bottomless well of dining options. Here are some suggestions on where to start your Bangkok eating adventure.
Nahm
Offering Thai fine dining. Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary (烹饪的) experiences. It’s the only Thai restaurant that ranks among the top 10 of the world’s 50 best restaurants list. Head Chef David Thompson, who received a Michelin star for his London-based Thai restaurant of the same name, opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in 2010.
Issaya Siamese Club
Issaya Siamese Club is internationally known Thai chef Ian Kittichai’s first flagship Bangkok restaurant. The menu in this beautiful colonial house includes traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.
Bo.lan
Bo.lan has been making waves in Bangkok’s culinary scene since it opened in 2009. Serving hard-to-find Thai dishes in an elegant atmosphere, the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine’s roots, yet still manages to add a special twist. This place is good for a candle-lit dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food. For those extremely hungry, there’s a large set menu.
Gaggan
Earning first place on the latest “Asia’s 50 best restaurants” list, progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues (场所) to arrive in Bangkok in recent years. The best table in this two-story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen, where you can see chef Gaggan and his staff in action. Culinary theater at its best.
1. What do Nahm and Issaya Siamese Club have in common?| A．They adopt modern cooking methods. | B．They have branches in London. |
| C．They have top-class chefs. | D．They are based in hotels. |
| A．Gaggan. | B．Bo. lan. | C．Issaya Siamese Club. | D．Nahm. |
| A．It hires staff from India. | B．It puts on a play every day. |
| C．It serves hard-to-find local dishes. | D．It shows the cooking process to guests. |
4 . Some China Podcasts (播客) to Listen to
Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer to China, there’s always more to learn about this awesome country. To help in your never-ending thirst for knowledge, we’ve rounded up some most entertaining China-focused podcasts that hit on everything from history to business.
Tech Buzz China by Pandaily
Tech Buzz China by Pandaily is a technology podcast about China’s innovations. Its co-hosted by Rui Ma and Ying Lu, who are both seasoned China-watchers with years of experience working in the technology space in the country. They share and discuss the most important tech news from China every week.
The China History Podcast
Started in 2010, Laszlo Montgomery presents topics that cover 5, 000 years of Chinese history and culture. The show has a lot of unknown and interesting history lessons that help provide more color as to why China is the way it is. Topics like the history of Tang poetry, or the Hokkien people are analyzed and explored.
China Untold
The China Untold podcast is a program that aims to introduce listeners to lesser-known stories from the Middle Kingdom. From urban tales and extinct religions to China’s role in the exploration of space, this podcast hosted by Matt Bossons, is your essential guide to the unusual and wonderful aspects of the world’s most highly populated nation.
The Wasai Show
The Wasai Show is hosted by Ne to Trevino from Mexico and Alice He who is a local Chinese. In each episode, stories are collected from listeners about a topic and shared in a funny way by both comedians. The first half of the show is presented in English, followed by a Chinese section.
1. Who are the podcasts intended for?| A．Foreigners in China. | B．Chinese historians. |
| C．Technology enthusiasts. | D．Podcast hosts in China. |
| A．Tech Buzz China by Pan daily | B．The China History Podcast |
| C．China Untold | D．The Wasai Show |
| A．It is a talk show about local Chinese life. |
| B．It has a single host discussing various topics. |
| C．It features two hosts sharing stories from listeners. |
| D．It includes interviews with experts on Chinese culture. |
5 . Choose your path forward
The following teen programs, designed specifically for ages 13 – 18, provide meaningful experiences today so teens are ready to realize their dreams tomorrow.
Diplomas 2 Degrees
Age 13 - 18
Diplomas 2 Degrees (D2D), a college readiness program, provides a range of services to guide club members as they work toward high school graduation and prepare for post - secondary education (高等教育) and career success.
Keystone Clubs
Age 14 - 18
Keystoning is the Boys & Girls Club Movement’s ultimate teen program for youth ages 14 - 18. This unique program provides leadership development opportunities for youth to participate in activities, both in and out of the club, in three focus areas: academic success, career preparation and community service.
UPS Road Code
Age 13 - 18
UPS Road Code is a free national program that educates teens on safe driving techniques based in part on the training UPS uses for its own drivers, who are among the safe drivers worldwide.
Computer Science Pathway
All ages.
The Computer Science Pathway, a key component (成分) of Boys & Girls Clubs’ Education & STEM programming, invites youth and teens on a journey from their first encounter with code (代码) to creative computing.
1. What is special about Keystone Clubs?| A．It provides a range of college services. | B．It offers leadership development chances. |
| C．It gives guidance for pre - school students. | D．It allows one to engage in computer programming. |
| A．Safe driving. | B．Computer code. |
| C．Academic success. | D．Post - secondary education. |
| A．A textbook. | B．A news report. | C．An exam paper. | D．A teenager magazine. |
6 . It is that time of the year, when a handful of world’s leading scholars, social activists and researchers are rewarded with what is often cited as the most prestigious acknowledgement of human effort-the Nobel Prize. Here’s a look at who has won the prize and for what.
Physiology or Medicine
Swedish geneticist Svante Peabo won the first Nobel of the year, for starting the field of ancient DNA studies. He is well-known for extracting, sequencing, and analyzing ancient DNA from Neanderthal bones.
Physics
Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger’s work in quantum (量子) technology landed them the second Nobel Prize announced in 2022. Although Aspect is from France, Clauser from the U.S, and Zeilinger from Austria, the three separately performed “groundbreaking experiments” as one team. “Their results have cleared the way for new technology,” the committee stated.
Chemistry
The Nobel Prize for chemistry went to another trio, Carolyn R. Bertozzi from the U.S., Morten Meldal from Denmark and K. Barry Sharpless from the U.S. “for the development of click chemistry and biorthogonal chemistry,” the committee stated. Dr. Bertozzi is the eighth woman chemist to be awarded the prize, while Dr. Sharpless is the fifth scientist to be awarded two Nobel Prizes.
Economics
The Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to three American economists, Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig “for research on banks and financial crises,” the Nobel Prize committee announced on Monday. By studying the history of American economics, particularly the Great Depression of the 1930s,they improved how we understand the role of banks during times of hardship and the bank’s impact on societal functions.
1. What prize is related to the research with bones?| A．Physiology. | B．Chemistry. | C．Physics. | D．Economics. |
| A．About societal functions. | B．About the history of America. |
| C．About banks and financial crises. | D．About the Great Depression of the 1930s. |
| A．Their winners are from different countries. | B．They have three winners. |
| C．They improve new technology. | D．They help people understand hardship. |
7 . Product placement (植入式广告) is a form of advertising in which a company pays a content creator to place its products on the set of a movie, TV show or music video. The oldest examples of products appearing in films date back to the production of a French motion picture in 1896. Recent years have witnessed the bloom of product placement. With viewers migrating to web videos, this trend makes sense.
When watching web videos, about 90% of consumers either skip or ignore those traditional ads that run before the video. So as advertisers struggle to reach potential consumers, they’re increasingly turning to product placement, spending their advertising budgets to get their ads into media content in ways that the ads can’t be skipped. Studies have shown product placement can increase viewer’s awareness of products and their positive attitudes toward them.
But not all product placement works as intended, and research has shown that advertisers need to engage in delicate dance with viewers to effectively influence them. Viewers tend to be turned off if the product placement is too obvious — as when a character in the show holds the product and talks about it. Most viewers don’t want to be immersed (沉浸) in an intense drama only to be reminded that they’re being targeted by corporations.
In contrast, viewers are most influenced by product placement in which the product or the brand name is spoken by one of the characters but not shown. These pieces of product placement are more likely to be noticed by viewers than those where products are simply shown on the screen. Also, viewers may be more attracted to product placement that appears earlier in a show or movie. Because they become more engaged as a movie or a show progresses. If the placement at the climax — the moment when their attention is fixed on what will happen next — they’re either less likely to notice the placement or more likely to be annoyed by it if they do notice it.
With increasing online viewers and better designed product placement, perhaps advertisers will consider product placement as their first choice. After all, it’s incredibly effective at getting the targeted audience interested without influencing their viewing experience.
1. What can we know about product placement?| A．It’s still popular nowadays. | B．It first appeared in TV shows. |
| C．It was overlooked in the 1890s. | D．It aims to make videos interesting. |
| A．It has a lower price. | B．It’s more interesting. |
| C．It’s less likely to be ignored by viewers. | D．It makes advertisers understand customers well. |
| A．Gain satisfaction. | B．Get confused. | C．Feel funny. | D．Lose interest. |
| A．Product Placement: the Future Trend for Advertising |
| B．Product Placement: a New Driving Force Behind Movies |
| C．Product Placement: a Mirror of the Advertisement History |
| D．Product Placement: the Perfect Companion to Online Videos |
8 . The Hear Clear Go Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aid is a popular member of our rechargeable hearing aid family for a good reason: it combines great performance with incredible value! This hearing aid features advanced third-generation digital technology at an unbelievably affordable price. The Go is packed with the same key technologies that all high-end digital hearing aids share while leaving out the extra fancy bells and whistles that increase costs and require expensive adjustments. With the Go, you’ll hear clearly while saving a lot of money.
With the Go’s included charging station, you won’t have to keep buying and replacing tiny hearing aid batteries! You’ll love the lightweight design. The Go is pre-programmed for most moderate to significant hearing losses — no costly professional adjustments needed. They are shipped directly to you and will help you hear better right out of the box!
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1. What do we know about the Go?| A．Its price is unbelievably low. | B．It features fancy bells and whistles. |
| C．It includes charging station and batteries. | D．It needs expensive professional adjustments. |
| A．$239. | B．$478. | C．$199. | D．$398. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A research paper. | C．A travel brochure. | D．A scientific journal. |
The first regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant (每日新闻). It came out in March 1702.
In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston Newsletter (波士顿新闻通讯), the first newspaper published in the American colonies. By 1760, the colonies had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States.
Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation (发行量) in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Dhimbun (朝日新闻).It sells more than 11 million copies every day.
1. The first daily newspaper came out in _____.
| A．59 BC | B．700’s | C．1609 | D．1620 |
| A．England | B．Germany | C．France | D．Sweden |
| A．Washington | B．New York | C．Boston | D．New Orleans |
| A．1621 | B．1704 | C．1760 | D．1800 |
| A．The first regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in Amsterdam. |
| B．English language newspaper sells more than 11 million copies every day. |
| C．Europe didn’t have a regularly published newspaper in 1608. |
| D．The first daily English newspaper came out in March 1702. |
