2 . A lot of people in England have a very strong obsession (痴迷) with football. You might even say they are fanatics! When I was growing up, everyone would rush out to the playground during the break times, desperate to play a game of football.

Whenever there is a big match, all the flags for local football teams are hung outside every window, or even spread proudly on T-shirts or scarves. There is an atmosphere of excitement in the air. Groups of young men crowd into dark, packed bars, peering at tiny television screens in the corners. They shout and scream in frustration when their team loses a goal, or with joy when there is a moment of success.  

Football has never been something I have been particularly interested in. For years, I have had to feign (装作) excitement, and pick a team or risk ridicule (嘲笑). You cannot say you don’t like or do not follow football in England, as often this would lead to a long dialogue in which someone would begin telling you why you should support their team. Growing up in north London, I quickly learned everyone around me supported Arsenal, and so I blindly did the same, for fear of having the same conversation more than fifty times.

You do not have to be a fan of football to get caught up in the excitement. Often, I feel annoyed when everyone around me is full of excitement over two groups of people kicking a ball in a field. However, I understand the culture, and I enjoy the excitement. While I may not ultimately desire to play the sport or take part in supporting the teams, I will nevertheless defend people's obsession with the sport. It is their history and obsession.

1. What does the writer intend to tell us by writing paragraph 2?

A．The crazy act of British young people.

B．The ways people watch football match.

C．The bar culture in England.

D．The obsession with football of people in England.

2. Why did the writer choose Arsenal to support?

A．Because it’s his favourite.

B．Because he knows it well.

C．Because he doesn’t want to be bothered.

D．Because it’s the team of his hometown.

3. Which word can best describe the author’s attitude towards British’s obsession with football?

A．Critical.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

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

A．Football: A game for the world

B．My idea about football

C．British: crazy love for football

D．My love for Britain

3 . 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。

The winter solstice(also called Dongzhi) occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt(倾斜) away from the Sun. Although the winter solstice    1    (it) lasts only a moment, the term sometimes refers to the day on     2    it happens. The date of the winter solstice    3    (vary) from year to year, and can fall anywhere    4    December 20 and December 23. It was very important because the people were economically dependent on monitoring the progress of the seasons. It’s when the sun reaches its    5    (far) southward point for the year. At this solstice, the Northern Hemisphere(半球) has its longest night of the year.

Since the 18th century, the term “midwinter” has sometimes been used with the winter solstice, although it carries other meanings as well.    6    (tradition), in many regions, the winter solstice    7    (see) as the middle of winter, but in some countries and calendars, it marks the    8    (begin) of winter.

As most are aware, daylight hours grow shorter as the winter solstice approaches, and begin to slowly    9    (length)afterward. For people living in the southern hemisphere, the South Pole is pointing towards the Sun,    10    (make) it summertime “Down Under”. And regardless of where you live, the solstice happens at the same moment for everyone on the planet.

4 . 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。

Tai Chi Chuan,     1     is famous as a kind of martial art, has been practiced China for centuries. It combines slow movements, deep breathing and thinking. Every movement in Tai Chi represents     2     important part of old Chinese philosophy—harmony.

Tai Chi is a term in the Chinese     3     (tradition)philosophy. It comes from The Book of Changes(《周易》). In the time of Song Dynasty, Zhou Dunyi     4     (write) the book Theory of the Tai Chi Pictures. The inventors of Tai Chi     5     (inspire)by this book and invented Tai Chi Chuan with the continuous movements of drawing circles in the air by     6     (guide) the breath with the willpower. They also absorbed the thoughts of the Taoist, such as the concept of Yin and Yang. Tai Chi provides the mental relaxation and physical     7     (fit).

Tai Chi is an unusual form of martial arts where we believe     8     building mental and physical strength. It is     9     (particular) different from western types of sports such as football where the harder and quicker are the better.

Today, Tai Chi is so popular in the west. Some health professionals have regarded Tai Chi as one of the     10     (benefit) forms of exercise.

5 . Singapore’s tradition of eating out in places called hawker centers is now recognized by the United Nations for its cultural importance.

A hawker is a person who sells food or goods and advertises by shouting at people walking by on the street. Hawkers are an important part of Singaporean culture. Open-air eating areas where hawkers sell their goods are very popular. Famous chefs, such as Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay have praised them.

On Wednesday, the United Nations, cultural agency, UNESCO, added the city’s “hawker culture,” to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Singapore sought to have hawker culture added to the list about two years ago. Now that it has been recognized, Singapore must provide a report every six years to UNESCO. The report must show efforts the city-state has made to save and support its hawker culture.

“These centers serve as ‘community dining rooms’, where people from diverse backgrounds gather and share the experience of dining over breakfast, lunch and dinner,” UNESCO said.

In the 1970s, Singapore cleaned up its streets so the city moved street hawkers to new eating centers. These areas were part of an effort to improve the island. Now, the centers offer many different low-cost meals for local people and provide a pleasing social setting. The 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians showed its stars enjoying meals at a famous night market. Some sellers even received Michelin stars from a famous restaurant rating system for their meals costing only a few dollars.

But, now the average age of a hawker in Singapore is 60 years old. Younger Singaporeans now want to work in offices. They are less interested in working in small restaurants. The COVID-19 health crisis also hurt sales, preventing foreign visitors and locals from eating out.

1. What do we know about hawkers from paragraph 2?

A．They sell goods in the open-air area.

B．They are famous chefs.

C．They are Singapore natives.

D．They are popular all over the world.

2. Why is hawker culture added to UNESCO’s list?

A．For the efforts Singapore has made.

B．For its importance in showing Singapore’s culture.

C．For the report Singapore provided.

D．For the recommendation by UNESCO.

3. Why is the film Crazy Rich Asians mentioned?

A．To advertise the film.

B．To introduce the stars.

C．To show the popularity of hawker centers.

D．To help the sellers receive Michelin stars.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The difficulties hawker culture are facing.

B．The average age of hawkers.

C．The effect caused by COVID-19.

D．The future of the hawker culture.

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。

China is widely known for its ancient civilization     1     has continued all the way through into modern times. There are many reasons why this has been possible.

At the beginning, written Chinese was     2     picture-based language. Ancient Chinese people carved     3    （ symbol） on animal bones and shells. By the Shang Dynasty, a well-developed writing system had come into being. At that time, people lived in different places,    4     （ lead） to many varieties of dialects and characters.

Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states into one country where the Chinese writing system began to develop     5    one direction. The writing system was of great     6    （important） in uniting the Chinese people and culture. Even today, wherever Chinese people live or whatever dialect they speak, they can communicate    7     （free） in writing.

Written Chinese has also become an important means by which China's present is connected with    8    （it） past. People in modern times can read classic works that    9    （write） by Chinese in ancient times. The high regard for the Chinese writing system can be seen in the development of Chinese characters as an art form,    10    （ know） as Chinesecalligraphy, which has become an important part of Chinese culture. Today, the Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture.

7 . 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。

There are places on earth that     1    ( puzzle) scientists in the past centuries and have been the subject of much discussion around the world.

Two of the most fascinating places are Easter Island and Stonehenge. Lying in the South Pacific, Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on earth and is famous for the large stone monoliths (巨石)that line its coast. Shaped like human heads, these structures,     2     were carved by ancient people, range in     3    ( high) from about 3. 5 to 12 meters. Today, about 600 stones remain. On the opposite side of the world stands Stonehenge. This ancient English site is a collection of large stones arranged     4     two circles, one inside the other. Although only ruins of the original formation exist today, archaeologists believe that the inner circle of bluestones, each     5    ( weigh ) about 4 tons, was built first. The giant stones that form the outer circle,     6    ( know) as sarsen (砂岩)stones, each weigh as much as 50 tons!

Scientists     7    ( current) believe that early Polynesians residents carved     8     island's monoliths—believed to be religious symbols—from volcanic rock, then pulled them to their different     9    ( location ) . And the enormous stones at Stonehenge     10    ( transport) from places around the country—some up to 240 miles away. Scientists consider this a remarkable achievement, for heavy lifting equipment used in modern construction was not available at that time.

8 . Before the December holiday craze and celebrations start, November is an ideal time to visit the southeast states to enjoy mild temperatures and unique festivals and events.

South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence

Head to downtown Florence for this popular annual community event held the first Saturday of November. There are stages with live music, over 250 food and craft vendors, art exhibitions, amusement rides, antique tractor show, car show, and pecan cooking competition with celebrity judges.

Seagrove Pottery Festival in North Carolina

This yearly festival features hand-made pottery, colonial crafts, and pottery-making demonstrations. Pottery collectors can pick up some limited-edition pieces signed and dated by local potters. Always the weekend before Thanksgiving, the event starts on Friday, with a duration of three days.

Mule Day in Calvary, Georgia

Labeled as the largest one — day festival in southwest Georgia, this annual event, always held the first Saturday in November, features a sunrise breakfast, mule parade(骡子游行)，flea market with hundreds of booths, a barbecue and fish fry, regional entertainment, and more. Mule Day celebrates the mules’ significant contribution to the area’s agriculture.

Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, Alabama

Veterans Day, a federal and state holiday in the United States, is always celebrated on November 11th. There are events throughout the Southeast, including parades and ceremonies on or close to Veterans Day.

1. What can people do at Pecan Festival?

A．Appreciate art works.

B．Watch music shows on screen.

C．Drive modern tractors and cars.

D．Buy food cooked by celebrities.

2. Why is Mule Day celebrated?

A．To boost the local market.

B．To advocate cooking skills.

C．To enhance the importance of economy.

D．To honor mules for their role in agriculture.

3. Which festival falls on November 11th?

A．Pecan Festival.	B．Pottery Festival.
C．Mule Day.	D．Veterans Day.

9 . 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。

People send birthday wishes using cards and postcards in many cultures. It’s not known when and where the tradition of     1     (send) birthday cards began, however, it is believed     2     it was in England in the early nineteenth century. In those days people sent birthday cards because they couldn’t wish somebody     3     happy birthday in person.

In 1840, the first postage stamp was issued in Britain and sending birthday cards became     4     (cheap) and therefore more popular. The     5     (develop) of colour printing processes in the 1930s also helped to increase sales of cards.

Today usually cards     6     (give) with a present, even when people can send     7     (they) wishes in person. In recent times, e-cards have also become popular: many people are starting to use these instead of traditional cards as they are free, environmentally     8     (friend) and arrive more quickly. So will e-cards take the place     9     paper cards in ten or twenty years? Probably not. For young children and old people or for very formal occasions, e-cards are not proper and some people     10     (simple) don’t use the Internet.

10 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.

■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool

In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.

■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals

A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!

■Place a first aid kit in a proper place

Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.

1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?

A．They take up too much space.	B．The weather will be terrible.
C．They might hurt someone.	D．Travelers prefer raincoats,

2. What do most people do with tents after festivals?

A．Sell them.

B．Return them.

C．Pack them up.

D．Throw them away.

3. What is suggested about the first aid kit?

A．It should be put at hand.	B．It ought to be big enough.
C．It must contain all medicines.	D．It has to be placed in the car.