1 . The UK is home to 26 world-ranked universities of the top 200 globally. At the heart of each university is the library, a space for students to access resources, absorb knowledge and gather thoughts. Here are some of our must-visit libraries across the UK.

The British Library, London

Located in London, the British Library is home to over 170 million items. The collections offer a glimpse into literary heritage over the ages, from books to maps to manuscripts. Visitors can browse treasures including Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook. Students with a reading pass are known to spend hours at a time in the reading rooms.

Bodleian Old Library, Oxford

Dating back to 1488, the Bodleian Old Library has three notable reading rooms. It is celebrated for its late Gothic architecture. You may recognize the elaborately carved ceiling from scenes in Harry Potter. Students at the university automatically get access to the library.

John Rylands Library, Manchester

Opened in 1900, this library is part of the University of Manchester, one of the top five universities in the UK. This library offers limitless research potential for students. Whether you want to make use of the rich collections available, or simply explore the site, this library should be on everyone’s must-see list.

The Mitchell Library, Glasgow

The Mitchell Library is one of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks. On the top of the copper dome (圆屋顶) is a bronze statue of the Roman goddess, Minerva. Visitors can climb the dome for the city’s most distinctive rooftop views.

1. Which library requires a reading pass to enter the reading room?

A．The British Library.	B．The Mitchell Library.
C．John Rylands Library.	D．Bodleian Old Library.

2. At the Mitchell Library, tourists can        .

A．join research groups

B．admire Gothic architecture

C．enjoy Glasgow’s rooftop views

D．refer to Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook

3. In which column of a newspaper can the passage be found?

A．Culture.

B．Fashion.

C．Science.

D．Entertainment.

3 . 语法填空

The Chengdu Sports Center, a giant stadium at the heart of the provincial capital of southwest China’s Sichuan, once     1     (house) many international group matches, where numerous stars including Mariah Carey and Avril Lavigne performed for their Chinese fans here.

Back to 2013, a renovation revealed relics dating back to the Han Dynasty right underneath the middle of the venue. It created a     2     (complete) unforgettable view. Surrounded by the     3     (seat) now still in good condition, the middle of the former field has become a grand excavation site     4     (expose) ancient city walls, streets and canals, houses and gardens.

After nine years of excavation, the Donghuamen historical site opened to a     5     (give) group of local residents on Sunday. The site has been through 21 dynasties,     6     relics dating back 2,000 years,” said Shan Jixiang,     7     established historian. Spanning (横跨) 50,000 square meters, the site proves Chengdu’s city site has remained in the same place for over 3,000 years,     8     is rare in the world. “Donghuamen has the potential     9     (fill) a blank of core cities of China on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List,” said Shan.

An archaeological park is under construction at the site. The first stage will be finished in two weeks and will be made public two months     10     the Universiade (大学生运动会) is held in Chengdu in July, 2023.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where does. the speaker come from?

A．America.

B．Australia.

C．England

2. What do English people think of Americans?

A．Friends.

B．Quiet.

C．Humorous.

3. What did the speaker like to do in the afternoon in England?

A．Play with his friends.

B．Watch comedy shows.

C．Have a cup of tea.

4. What did the speaker find amazing in England?

A．The TV programs.

B．The old buildings.

C．The tea shops.

6 . Borneo is home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife. Several years ago, I decided to go there for a visit. A local person offered to be my guide, which was a great bonus for me.

One day, my guide turned off the smooth road and took me across a ________ hillside instead. We picked our way carefully when ________, a Rafflesia (大王花) popped into my view among those stones. Oh, dear! More than ________, I bent down and put my nose practically inside the flower’s core.

________, to my surprise, it was only one of the ________ during the trip.

As I ________ the end of my trip, there was still something I had yet to see. We planned to ________ most feared creature there, the saltwater crocodile, which can grow to a ________ of 6 meters or more. When we shone a flashlight towards the muddy shore, little sounds ________ in the darkness as if something unseen underwater had broken the ________ Taking a second look, we spotted two greedy ________ just above the water line. As we drew near, it ________ and we saw clearly it was a crocodile. With great caution, we neared it and finally could ________ its true dimensions. It was a baby-no more than 0. 6 meter long. Aha, whatever, I could now report to the ________ back home, who had never been to Borneo, that I had ________ a hungry crocodile in the wild and lived to tell the tale.

The world out there is so fascinating. Don’t let work run your life. Why not step outdoors and enjoy the wonders nature offers to you?

1.

A．rolling

B．spectacular

C．rough

D．breathtaking

2.

A．suddenly

B．literally

C．definitely

D．ultimately

3.

A．alarmed

B．pleased

C．concerned

D．upset

4.

A．Nevertheless

B．Besides

C．Instead

D．Therefore

5.

A．desires

B．motivations

C．destinations

D．highlights

6.

A．suspended

B．suspected

C．approached

D．valued

7.

A．hold onto

B．pick up

C．reflect on

D．hunt for

8.

A．width

B．length

C．height

D．size

9.

A．emerged

B．paused

C．continued

D．declined

10.

A．mud

B．surface

C．ground

D．shore

11.

A．crocodiles

B．mouths

C．eyes

D．teeth

12.

A．moved

B．sank

C．hid

D．escaped

13.

A．work out

B．let out

C．figure out

D．make out

14.

A．victims

B．opponents

C．folks

D．guides

15.

A．challenged

B．encountered

C．terrified

D．chased

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入一个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In recent years, various regions in China     1     (take) advantage of their unique resources and developed a diverse and dynamic rural tourism industry according to local conditions. They have created     2     (innovate) development models, giving rise to a number of desirable rural tourism destinations. They have paved the way for Chinese rural development     3     combines culture and tourism, promotes harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and fights     4     both material and cultural prosperity (繁荣).

With different types and rich forms, rural tourism is     5     (gradual) becoming a new hotspot in the Chinese tourism market. The annual reception and the tourism revenue (收入) have seen significant growth,     6     (boost) the world’s tourism development.

For foreign tourists, visiting rural areas in China is not just about sightseeing, but an opportunity     7     (get) a view of Chinese culture and customs. The beautiful countryside in China holds     8     strong appeal for foreign visitors.

Nowadays, some foreign tourists have shown a     9     (prefer) for immersive experiences in rural areas, such as enjoying tea and traditional opera performances in rural villages in Zhejiang, watching face-changing and fire-spiting shows of Sichuan Opera in rural parks in Sichuan,     10     listening to folk songs in ethnic villages of Guangxi.

8 . Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Yet the concrete that makes up much of our modern world has a lifespan of around 50 to 100 years. A growing number of scientists have been studying materials from long-ago eras, hoping to uncover how they’ve held up for millennia.

Many researchers have turned to the Romans for inspiration. Starting around 200 BCE, the architects of the Roman Empire were building impressive concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in harbors, where seawater has been battering structures for ages, you’ll find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago. Most modern concrete starts with Portland cement, a powder made by heating limestone and clay to super-high temperatures and crushing them. That cement is mixed with water to create a chemically reactive paste. Then, blocks of material like rock and gravel are added, and the cement paste mixes them into a concrete mass. According to records from ancient architects, the Roman process was similar. The ancient builders mixed materials like burnt limestone and volcanic sand with water and gravel, creating chemical reactions to stick everything together.

In a study published earlier this year, Admir Masic, a civil and environmental engineer, proposed that this power comes from blocks of lime that are scattered throughout the Roman material instead of being mixed in evenly. Researchers used to think these blocks were a sign that the Romans weren’t mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, after analyzing concrete samples from Privernum—an ancient city outside of Rome — the scientists found that the blocks could fuel the material’s “self-healing” abilities. When cracks form, water is able to flow into the concrete, Masic explained. That water activates the leftover lime, leading to new chemical reactions that can fill in the damaged sections.

The ancient architectures suggested using extracts from local chukum and jiote trees in the lime mix. When researchers tested out the recipe, they found the resulting plaster was especially durable against physical and chemical damage.

Studies have found all kinds of natural materials mixed into structures from long ago: fruit extracts, milk, cheese curd, beer, even dung and urine. The paste that holds together some of China’s most famous structures—including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City — includes traces of sticky rice.

“Some of these ancient builders might have just gotten lucky”, said Cecilia Pesce, a materials scientist at the University of Sheffield in England, “They’d throw just about anything into their mixes, as long as it was cheap and available.”

Today’s builders can’t just copy the ancient recipes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a longtime, it couldn’t hold up heavy loads: “You couldn’t build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete,” Cecilia said. “It would collapse.” Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient material’s specialties and add them into modern mixes.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Lime blocks in Roman concrete indicate poor mixing of materials.

B．Ancient Roman concrete structures have witnessed a long history.

C．Modern builders are confused about the Roman method of construction.

D．The concrete used in modern structures has a lifespan of over 200 years.

2. What is proposed as a possible explanation for the self-healing abilities of Roman concrete?

A．The uniform mixing of lime in the concrete.

B．The use of extracts from chukum and jiote trees.

C．The addition of whatever was within reach in the mix.

D．The scattering of blocks of lime throughout the material.

3. The passage mentions that today’s builders can’t simply copy ancient recipes because ______.

A．ancient recipes were not well-documented

B．ancient materials were too expensive

C．ancient materials couldn’t hold up heavy loads

D．ancient builders used materials that are no longer available

4. According to the passage, why do some researchers believe ancient builders included various natural materials in their mixes?

A．To enhance the beauty of the structures.

B．To make the construction process more cost-effective.

C．To create structures that were resistant to chemical damage.

D．To follow ancient traditions without considering effectiveness.

9 . Have you heard of these four monuments?

Carhenge. Floralis Genérica. Traffic Light Tree. Hand of the Desert — these are four unusual monuments from around the world you might like to visit.

• Carhenge

Carhenge is in Alliance, Nebraska (USA). As the name suggests, it has a lot in common with Stonehenge, the famous stone circle on Salisbury Plain. But while Stonehenge was built with stones, Carhenge was created with cars. The monument was made in 1987 by a local artist Jim Reinders and his family. He used old cars and even an ambulance. At first, the people of Alliance didn’t like it, but they soon changed their minds after it became popular with tourists, who brought lots of money to the town.

• Floralis Genérica

Floralis Genérica is a massive statue of a flower. It stands in a pool of water in front of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eduardo Catalano, a native of Argentina, gave the statue as a gift to the city in 2002. Every morning, the flower opens. Ask anyone who has seen it and they’ll tell you that watching it open is an unforgettable sight. In fact, many people believe it is one of the most beautiful statues in the world.

• Traffic Light Tree

The Traffic Light Tree is situated at Heron Quay, in one of London’s financial districts. The tree has 75 sets of traffic lights. It was created by French artist, Pierre Vivant, and was installed in 1998. A computer controls the lights, which are turned on and off randomly. The roundabout where the tree is was voted the most popular roundabout in the UK in a recent survey.

• Mano del Desierto (Hand of the Desert)

The Hand of the Desert is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The sculpture was designed by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal. From a distance, it looks as if there’s a giant in the sand who has stuck his hand out of the ground.

If you’re looking for something new to see, you know where to go!

1. Why did the people of Alliance change their attitude toward Carhenge?

A．It reminded them of Stonehenge.	B．It brought them financial benefits.
C．It added beauty to their community.	D．It displayed the creativity of the designer.

2. Which of the four monuments was designed by a foreign artist?

A．Carhenge.	B．Floralis Genérica.
C．Traffic Light Tree.	D．Mano del Desierto.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guide book.	B．A news report.
C．A science magazine.	D．An architecture advertisement.

10 .

Zion National Park in Utah has plenty of trails, but Angels Landing may be the most breathtaking. Picture this. You begin the hike on the wide and well-maintained West Rim Trail. It follows the river and then crosses the bottom of the canyon, surrounded by 270-million-year-old layers of rock. Relaxing, right? Just wait for it. The trail then starts to climb via a series of switchbacks (急转弯) leading up the side of the mountain. Then more switchbacks: 21 tighter turns, called “Walter’s Wiggles,” where elevation levels rapidly increase. Your heartbeat is probably rapidly increasing at this point, too.

On top of Walter’s Wiggles, you can stop for a stunning view (perhaps with a marriage proposal) and a restroom stop while you contemplate (仔细考虑) the final stretch of the hike. If you’re afraid of heights, it’s best to turn back now. The last stretch is the real test of bravery.

The last half mile of the hike is what really ranks it as one of the nation’s most dangerous. Angels Landing itself is a fin-like formation jutting (突出) 1,500 feet out of the canyon, and this is where you make the final 500-foot climb. Guardrails and chains bolted (拴住) into the cliff help you keep from tumbling over the extremely steep ledge. You’re literally living on the edge, and you don’t want to trust the “angels” down there to catch you. Once you reach the top, however, it’ll all be worth it: 360-degree views of the canyon make a great backdrop for kicking back and having a meal before you come back down the way you came.

Angels Landing might be dangerous, but thankfully, not too many people have had fatal falls. According to the park website, seven people have died in the 100 years the park has existed. Still, this is a very vigorous hike. If you’re out of shape, bringing young children along, feel ill or prone to fainting, or are just plain afraid of heights, opt for an easier trail.

Angel’s Landing is a great hike for most of the year, besides the cold winter months when the trails could become dangerously slippery. Summer is the most popular time of year — and therefore the most crowded — but it can also get extremely hot, so opt for an early morning hike while the temperatures are still mild.

Sure, it’s dangerous, but there’s a reason this is one of Zion ‘s most popular hikes. If you’re up for the challenge, Angels Landing will definitely deliver rewards.

This article first appeared on Curiosity.com.

1. What geological feature surrounds the hiker during the initial part of the hike?

A．Plenty of trails in the park.	B．Mountain Peaks.
C．270-million-year-old layers of rock.	D．Grass Meadows.

2. What is the main attraction and appeal of Angels Landing?

A．The challenging hike with switchbacks.

B．The 360-degree views of the canyon.

C．The well-maintained West Rim Trail.

D．The river crossing and rock formations.

3. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?

A．If a tourist is afraid of heights, it’s best to turn back onto Angels Landing.

B．Seven people have died so far due to slippery trails in winter.

C．Bringing young kids along to climb onto Angels Landing will be appreciated.

D．Taking a break with the views of the canyon as background is absolutely worth the trip.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Unveiling the Hidden Beauty: Exploring Zion National Park’s Trails

B．Zion’s Ultimate Thrill: The Adrenaline-Pumping Angels Landing Expedition

C．Chasing Heights: Angels Landing Adventure in Utah’s Zion National Park

D．Angels Landing: Conquering Utah’s Breathtaking and Daring Hike in Zion National Park