1 . Ever wondered why deep-sea fish look so peculiar or how social media apps track your preferences? The answers to these questions can be found in the videos produced by “Chaizhidao”, a channel on multiple Chinese video platforms, including Bilibili and Douyin, dedicated to popularizing science.
Wang Zhenxing, the founder of “Chaizhidao”, was born in 1992. Recognizing the increasing trend of young people acquiring knowledge through video content, he started pursuing video creation in 2016. His team initially produced both knowledge-based videos and articles. But in 2019, Wang made the decisive commitment to focus solely on video production.
Comprising over a dozen members mainly from Generation Z, Wang’s team boasts diverse professional backgrounds in geophysics, engineering, and design, presenting knowledge in each area in a simple and accessible manner.
However, conveying a complex topic in a digestible 5 to 10-minute video format is not simple. To ensure a comprehensive dissemination of scientific insights, Wang’s team employs a variety of techniques tailored to the nature of the information at hand. For topics rooted in everyday life, they incorporate live-action or real-life footage to foster a sense of relatability with their audience. For more abstract principles, hand-drawn animations serve as an invaluable tool in visually conveying intricate concepts.
In a video discussing the existence of garbled characters in computers, Wang’s team chose to use purely animated illustrations to explain the underlying principles. “We spent nearly three months creating this 15-minute video,” he said.Their hard work has paid off. The channel has attracted over 10 million followers across different platforms.
Sharing knowledge through videos prompted the emergence of “niche knowledge” and “implicit knowledge” categories.Thanks to these video influencers, the implicit knowledge within these fields has now been more widely popularized.
1. What does the founder of “Chaizhidao” mainly focus on now?| A．Producing knowledge-based articles. |
| B．Creating knowledge-based videos. |
| C．Designing science-related products. |
| D．Conducting scientific experiments. |
| A．To attract more followers. |
| B．To make complex topics digestible. |
| C．To improve their video-making skills. |
| D．To meet the needs of different generations. |
| A．The video was created in just three months. |
| B．The video was watched by over 10 million people. |
| C．The video used animations to explain complex principles. |
| D．The video was produced by Wang Zhenxing alone. |
| A．These types of knowledge have become more fashionable. |
| B．These types of knowledge have been widely shared and understood. |
| C．These types of knowledge have attracted more experts’ attention. |
| D．These types of knowledge have been taught in more schools. |
2 . Ever wondered why deep-sea fish look so peculiar or how social media apps track your preferences? The answers to these questions can be found in the videos produced by “Chaizhidao”, a channel on multiple Chinese video platforms, including Bilibili and Douyin, dedicated to popularizing science.
Wang Zhenxing, the founder of “Chaizhidao”, was born in 1992. Recognizing the increasing trend of young people acquiring knowledge through video content, he started pursuing video creation in 2016. His team initially produced both knowledge-based videos and articles. But in 2019, Wang made the decisive commitment to focus solely on video production.
Comprising over a dozen members mainly from Generation Z, Wang’s team boasts diverse professional backgrounds in geophysics, engineering, and design, presenting knowledge in each area in a simple and accessible manner.
However, conveying a complex topic in a digestible 5 to 10-minute video format is not simple. To ensure a comprehensive dissemination of scientific insights, Wang’s team employs a variety of techniques tailored to the nature of the information at hand. For topics rooted in everyday life, they incorporate live-action or real-life footage to foster a sense of relatability with their audience. For more abstract principles, hand-drawn animations serve as an invaluable tool in visually conveying intricate concepts.
In a video discussing the existence of garbled (混乱的) characters in computers, Wang’s team chose to use purely animated illustrations to explain the underlying principles. “We spent nearly three months creating this 15-minute video,” he said. Their hard work has paid off. The channel has attracted over 10 million followers across different platforms.
Sharing knowledge through videos prompted the emergence of “niche knowledge” and “implicit knowledge” categories. Thanks to these video influencers, the implicit knowledge within these fields has now been more widely popularized.
1. What does the founder of “Chaizhidao” mainly focus on now?| A．Producing knowledge-based articles. | B．Creating knowledge-based videos. |
| C．Designing science-related products. | D．Conducting scientific experiments. |
| A．To attract more followers. | B．To make complex topics digestible. |
| C．To improve their video-making skills. | D．To meet the needs of different generations. |
| A．The video was produced to promote animation. |
| B．The video was watched by over 10 million people. |
| C．The video used animations to explain fundamental principles. |
| D．The video was produced by Wang Zhenxing alone. |
| A．These types of knowledge have become more fashionable. |
| B．These types of knowledge have been widely shared and understood. |
| C．These types of knowledge have attracted more experts’ attention. |
| D．These types of knowledge have been taught in more schools. |
3 . In this new digital era, farmers are finding ways to evolve with the times while still holding fast to their traditions.
In the quiet and excluded parts of rural China, Xiang Qing, a man born in 1990, leads a life quite unlike the bustling (熙熙攘攘的) urban existence that defines modernity. His home is Guzhang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, which is located deep in western Hunan province. Xiang Qing and his 23-year-old nephew, Xiang Hong, jointly operate a video channel called “Shan Bai”. Through their videos, they showcase handicrafts and rural life in China, captivating (迷住) many young urban viewers.
“Life here unfolds at its own pace. We cultivate crops and vegetables and occasionally purchase meat at the market,” Xiang Qing said. “I’ve come across numerous comments from people who watch our videos while lying in bed at night after a busy day of work, finding them truly relaxing and comforting. I think it’s fantastic, and it’s in line with our initial intentions.”
Five years ago, Xiang Qing resigned from his job as a customer service representative in Shanghai and returned to his hometown in Guzhang county, embarking on (开始) a new journey as a video blogger. “Back in 2012, when I was a college student, film-making aroused my passion, and it has continued to be a profound and enduring interest,” he said.
Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Xiang Hong made the same life-altering decision. Having graduated from college last year, he also returned to his hometown in April from Changde, a city in Hunan, and ventured into the world of video production alongside his uncle.
Now their video channel Shan Bai has attracted more than 59.8 million followers. Xiang Qing conceptualizes, films, and edits the videos himself. Xiang Hong serves as the video presenter. Long Lingling, Xiang Qing’s wife, manages the day-to-day operations of the video account, and other family members also contribute to the video production process in different ways.
1. Why do Xiang Qing and Xiang Hong take video bloggers as their career?| A．To pursue personal fame and wealth. |
| B．To financially support their whole family. |
| C．To continue their passion for film-making. |
| D．To promote the lifestyle in their hometown. |
| A．Xiang Qing inspires Xiang Hong in career-making. |
| B．They quit their first job and altered to video making. |
| C．They reached a decision of returning to hometown together. |
| D．They engage in each step of the video production process. |
| A．Devoted and creative. | B．Diligent and optimistic. |
| C．Modest and responsible. | D．Ambitious and demanding. |
| A．A personal diary. | B．A news interview. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A fashion magazine. |
4 . In the past decade, the use of social media has grown in a way that no one could have guessed. It has turned some teenagers into celebrities (名人) and turned the famous into the infamous, overnight.
A key feature of social media, however, is its volatility. Trends come and go, disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared. So, what were the key social media trends of 2019?
Short video apps such as TikTok and its Chinese equivalent Douyin, took the world by storm. The Telegraph reported that TikTok was ranked 8th on Apple’s App Store in April. And Douyin had more than 300 million domestic monthly active users in June, CNBC said.
Why are these short videos — which are rarely longer than a few minutes — so popular? Jiang Yige, Singapore-based analyst at FengHe Fund Management, has a theory. Short videos are “just right to fill in the little gaps in our busy schedules”, he told CNBC.
These videos — apart from being very convenient — are important to teenagers because they allow them to express themselves, according to Teen Vogue.
The sense of community that users of short video apps get is another appealing feature. Liza Koshy, a user of the US app Musically who has over 2 million followers, said that she was thrilled when anyone said that her video had “inspired” him. “It’s really cool...because I think that as short video creators that’s what we all expect,” she added.
Live streaming is another feature of our social media life that now seems as natural as sunrise. It’s a pretty neat idea: You can watch anyone, anywhere, live.
However, China has taken live streaming to a whole new level. In China, more than 100 million viewers monthly watch a live streaming video. Forbes thought that a number of factors had led to the popularity of live streams. Among them is viewers’ ability to interact while remaining anonymous.
However, the boom in social media may be having side effects too. Fake news is one serious problem it arguably causes. Material shared on these platforms is often not checked for accuracy. The most basic content can be false and can sway users one way or another. We use social media all the time; that doesn’t mean that we understand the influence it is having on us. We should be mindful of both the time we spend on it and its impact on our minds.
1. The underlined word “volatility” in Paragraph 2 possibly means “being ”.| A．changeable | B．steady |
| C．promising | D．violent |
| A．they are very convenient |
| B．they help people kill time |
| C．they provide a sense of community |
| D．they allow people to express themselves |
| A．The information from social media is highly reliable. |
| B．When it comes to social media, people know short videos the best. |
| C．People can’t communicate with each other without social media. |
| D．There is still much room for social media to make improvement. |
| A．Rapid Development of Social Media |
| B．Key Social Media Trends of 2019 |
| C．Short Videos Taking the World by Storm |
| D．Live Streaming — A New Feature of Social Media |
5 . In July, a two-minute-long video began spreading on the Internet. The video featured a
The
For now, the Leap of Dance Academy is housed at the home of its
“We have
Some netizens remarked: “This is a realistic portrayal from a poor boy to ballet prince. Anyone with a dream is great.”
1.| A．young | B．professional | C．disabled | D．rich |
| A．fountains | B．pools | C．drops | D．rivers |
| A．walks | B．looks | C．turns | D．swims |
| A．image | B．book | C．photo | D．video |
| A．atmosphere | B．conclusion | C．existence | D．focus |
| A．transformed | B．considered | C．tackled | D．reduced |
| A．witness | B．shelter | C．dance | D．debate |
| A．volunteer | B．founder | C．sponsor | D．supporter |
| A．takes apart | B．pulls down | C．lays out | D．pushes aside |
| A．spreads | B．decorates | C．creates | D．purchases |
| A．essential | B．special | C．evident | D．strange |
| A．learnt | B．differed | C．heard | D．delivered |
| A．amused | B．saddened | C．inspired | D．frightened |
| A．dignity | B．misfortune | C．sorrow | D．joy |
| A．reminded | B．promised | C．warned | D．explained |
6 . In recent times, it has become common for people to “cancel”, “block”, “delete” or “unfollow” each other on social media. It’s especially common when people are discussing political or social issues.
For example, in the US, there has been a lot of debate (辩论) in recent weeks over police’s cruel behavior. I know many people who have “lost” friends and family members online because they disagree with each other’s opinions on these issues. While some people will still try to argue with others, some have found it easier to simply cut off connection with those they disagree with.
I can understand why some people feel this way. I myself have unfollowed many people on social media for different reasons. It’s usually because they have posted ignorant, offensive (冒犯的) or rude things online. When I delete that kind of content from my social media circle, I needn’t see them any more, which makes me feel relieved (安心的) and calm. Also it entirely makes my online experience far less stressful.
On the other hand, I think it’s important for us to hear different views sometimes. When I discuss complicated (复杂的) topics with my friends, I might ask them a question in which I disagree with them and see how they defend their opinion. This teaches me how to defend my own thinking—as well as remind myself that everyone can be wrong about things from time to time.
1. What issue is the author talking about?| A．Why it's easy to lose friends on social media. |
| B．Why people unfollow each other on social media. |
| C．Whether people should discuss political issues online. |
| D．Why people are more likely to argue with others online. |
| A．connect | B．inform | C．confirm | D．remove |
| A．he wants to have fewer friends | B．they don’t agree with his opinion |
| C．they post offensive things online | D．he doesn’t accept different viewpoints |
| A．sometimes we can learn from disagreements |
| B．everyone should have his or her own opinion |
| C．we can learn more about ourselves by arguing |
| D．we should learn how to win in different debates |
7 . LIANG TAO sold 80 pink Givenchy bags in 12minutes． Becky Fang sold 100 Mini Cooper cars in just five． Both are wanghong， literally "red﹣hot on the web"． Every day millions of Chinese search social media for wanghong posts or tune in to live﹣streams for wanghong's opinions on everything． The fans are helping this new Chinese Internet star to make money out of their popularity﹣and to shake up the country's e﹣commerce industry in the process．
A few of wanghong have been hired by luxury brands． Jaeger﹣LeCoultre， a Swiss watchmaker， hired Papi Jiang for a video ad targeting young urbanites （都市人）， including her 27m fans on Sina Weibo， a Twitter﹣like microblog． Zhang Yi of iiMedia Research， a consulting firm， estimates that up to 15% of sales on shopping sites like Taobao or social﹣media apps such as WeChat are influenced by wanghong's public support． The length of a dress might be decided by a survey of a wanghong's fans； its launch date might be based on the number of hits， shares or comments it collects， some of which can cause last﹣minute design changes．
This poses a new challenge for retailers （零售商）， whose supply chains must respond ever more quickly to wanghong's opinions． Whereas previously a company would look for a celebrity to match its image， wanghong and their admirers are shaping goods．
Another challenge comes directly from wanghong themselves． They increasingly make money not merely from online support or advice but by launching their own e﹣commerce stores． Sales of goods accounted for just under half of wanghong earnings of 53bn yuan （﹩8bn） in 2016， estimates Analysys， a Chinese market﹣research firm （the rest came mostly from live﹣show tips and adverts）．
Some wanghong are going a step further． In November Becky Fang launched her own clothing line． Part of her motivation， she says， was that the brands she supported did not always match the trends she was sharing with her followers． By creating her own brand， Becky's Fantasy， she have full control of the quality． She also gains a new income． For the time being only 3﹣5% of wanghong follow Becky Fang's example， iiMedia Research estimates． But t expects the model to become an industry in its own right， including entertainment and e﹣commerce， and driven by online data．
1. Why can wanghong use their popularity to make money？| A．Because they are Internet stars． |
| B．Because they use social media． |
| C．Because their opinions influence fans． |
| D．Because they can shake the e﹣commerce industry． |
| A．It is fans﹣based． |
| B．It is social﹣media﹣based． |
| C．It is design﹣shared． |
| D．It is youth﹣targeted． |
| A．Online support and advice． |
| B．Increasing sales of goods online． |
| C．Quick responses to the market changes． |
| D．Wanghong's opinions and e﹣commerce stores． |
| A．Because they want to attract more fans． |
| B．Because they want to share with their followers． |
| C．Because they want to set up a new industry model． |
| D．Because the brands they speak for can't satisfy their fans． |
