1 . As Alexandria Country Day School’s sixth-graders created miniature 3D printed villages to address homelessness, they learned lessons far beyond technology.
“It Takes a Village” began as a project for a science class, inspired by life-size 3D-printed homes built by Austin, Texas-based technology company Icon.
No strangers to classroom 3D projects, the students were fascinated by Icon’s use of a similar process to create homes made of inexpensive concrete-like material. Unlike standard construction methods, the process of building these durable homes takes just a few days.
While creating their mini 3D buildings, the students explored how such technology allows design freedom and quick changes. Mathematical conversions helped get the relations right. For example, a real 25-foot-by-20-foot one-bedroom house would be printed as 40-millimeter-by-32-millimeter (about 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/4 inch) for their mini village. Salwa Seman, 11, said that getting the dimensions and settings correct before construction began was challenging as she created a curved-wall amphitheater (圆形剧场).
The tech-focused project quickly evolved into “an exercise in empathy (共情), innovation and cooperation designed to bring about lasting change”. “When most people think of helping the homeless, they think of food and clothing drives,” said Juliet Galicia, 11. “While necessary, those are temporary fixes. Even housing by itself is not a complete solution.”
In designing their leave-homelessness-behind neighborhoods, priorities were shelter, food stores, schools, and health centers. But to build a sense of belonging and purpose, the miniature communities also emphasized areas for frequent interaction among residents. “We wanted to make it feel more like a real community,” said Luke Wazorko, 11. A community garden, a place to raise chickens, an amphitheater for shared events, bus stops for access to jobs, and infrastructure for Wi-Fi and cellphones to help in job searches were important features to offer formerly unhoused residents.
Amber Fogarty, president of a nonprofit organization tackling homelessness in Austin, said, “Housing alone will never solve homelessness, but community will. People need a place where they are known, cared for and loved.”
1. Which can be used to describe homes created by Icon?| A．Hard-sided. |
| B．Long-lasting. |
| C．Rough-edged. |
| D．Strong-minded. |
| A．Juliet Galicia has participated in food and clothing drives in the past. |
| B．Temporary solutions have proved to be of little help to unhoused people. |
| C．Providing unhoused people with a place to live will solve all of their problems. |
| D．A comprehensive approach is required to fully address the issue of homelessness. |
| A．a team of people can use 3D printing to build homes |
| B．builders can adapt a 3D-printed design to fit a person’s preferences |
| C．the students faced challenges in building their miniature communities |
| D．places for personal interactions are an important aspect of a community |
| A．To emphasize community gardens as the most important part of neighborhoods. |
| B．To illustrate technology has nothing to do with helping unhoused people. |
| C．To show specific ways the students focused on more than just housing. |
| D．To promote the project as a profitable design to Austin. |
2 . For many, traveling is a primary way of relaxing and disconnecting from the daily grind. For others, it's a way to connect with loved ones who live on opposite sides of the country or globe. The good news is that it's never too early to start vacation planning.
◎ Take advantage of flexible new airline policies
Many major airlines are offering significant flexibility with bookings, including no fees for flight changes and cancellations.
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When considering your dream vacation, think back on the trips you've genuinely enjoyed in the past. If you've been procrastinating putting together physical photo albums or sharing digital albums with loved ones, now is a great time to cross those tasks off your to-do list. You'll get to relive treasured memories.
◎ Find inventive ways to make travel inspiration at home
Even if your trip isn't until next year, you can start getting excited about it by infusing（灌输）your destination's culture into evenings or weekends at home. Consider experimenting with recipes, downloading playlists of music by local artists, TV shows or movies that take place in a dreamy location you're planning to visit.
| A．Look to past trips for future ideas |
| B．Not only will you get a temporary escape |
| C．Here are some tips for would-be travelers |
| D．Part of the fun of going on vacation is the expectation |
| E．Travel is a deep and fulfilling part of many people's lives |
| F．And recalling will make you more thoughtful about how you want to treat your next trip |
| G．This means that there's less financial risk than before in booking your flights ahead of time |
3 . With Heavenly Lake as the center, the Heavenly Lake and Tianshan Mountains Scenic Area consists of four mountain landscape belts, which covers a total area of 380.69 square kilometers. In the mountains by Heavenly Lake, there live many precious plants and animals, such as snow cocks and roe deer. The tops of the mountains are even home to contemporary glaciers and rich in resources such as copper, iron and mica.
Ideal Sightseeing Season: August and September
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 19:30 in peak season, 10:00-18:00 in off season
Ticket Price:
● Admission fee: 95 yuan from April to October, 45 yuan from November to March.
● Temple of Queen Mother of the West: 10 yuan.
● Eco- museum of Heavenly Lake: 10 yuan.
● Cableway: 20 yuan/one-way, 35 yuan/round-trip.
● Other fees: sightseeing bus (60 yuan/round-trip), accumulator car (5 yuan/person each time), painted pleasure boat (50 yuan/person each time), speed boat (35 yuan/person each time), yacht (205yuan/person each time).
Note:
● There is an obvious difference in temperature from day and in night in Xinjiang and temperature in some scenic spots is probably lower due to the high elevation or weather change. Therefore, it is still necessary to take along a coat or woolen sweater to keep warm during the summer.
● Located in the northwest, Xinjiang has a lower average temperature than that in most areas of China, but ultraviolet irradiation in it is commonly higher. The highest temperature in some cities such as Turpan can reach above 40 degree Centigrade, so it is suggested to take along effective sun block and some medicine in case of sunburn and sunstroke prevention.
● Xinjiang is a region of an ethnic minority with a common belief of Islam. Pork is one of the biggest taboos for Muslims, so please do NOT bring porky food into a Muslim restaurant or talk about pork in public areas.
● Although most areas of Xinjiang are located in UTC+6, Beijing Time (UTC+8, national standard time of China) is officially used in Xinjiang. Due to the time difference of two hours later, sightseeing in Xinjiang is usually arranged between Beijing Time 09:00 and 20:00.
1. What can we know from the passage?| A．There are many common plants and contemporary glaciers on tops of the mountains. |
| B．In spring visitors can enjoy the most beautiful scenery there. |
| C．Visitors need to carry heavy clothes, sunglasses and some medicine during the visit in summer. |
| D．Pulled pork is available in Muslim restaurants in Xinjiang |
| A．165 yuan. | B．330 yuan. |
| C．70 yuan. | D．140 yuan. |
| A．A travel review. | B．A travel advertisement. |
| C．A travel news. | D．A travel guide. |
4 . “City Cycling USA: Los Angeles,” a pocket-sized tour guide to seeing Los Angeles on two wheels, is seemingly for visitors; for locals, its series of bike-friendly paths and itineraries (行程) are a road-map to becoming tourists in their own city again.
“City Cycling” explores five neighborhoods in the Westside and Eastside and generally north of the 10 and south of the 101. Itineraries fit the period of a day, beginning with spots for coffee, walking along museums and shops, and finishing off with recommendations of where to buy a well-deserved drink. Published by Thames and Hudson in association with London cycling brand Rapha Racing, the guidebook is among the first U.S. sections — alongside New York, Chicago and San Francisco — in a series launched in 2013 with biking tours of eight European cities.
Greatest hits such as the Bradbury Building and Echo Park Lake are included in the neighborhood tours, with plenty of fashionable places for where to eat — Eggslut, Pine & Crane and Gjusta. The guide is a reminder of how crowdedly packed each enclave (飞地) of L.A. is with unusual destinations, the large number of places to explore within a few square mile radius (半径), easily done once we step out of the car.
Los Angeles’ famously pleasant weather makes it an ideal city for exploring by bike; neighborhoods have different styles. While the car still plays an important role, cycling culture, like CicLAvia, already has full support, and is prepared to grow with the implementation (实施) of Mobility Plan 2035, which aims to make the city more bike friendly. “City Cycling USA: Los Angeles” is a start.
1. Who is City Cycling USA: Los Angeles really intended for?| A．Locals on bikes. | B．Visitors on bikes. |
| C．Tourist on bikes | D．Bicyclists |
| A．Where there is a café. |
| B．Where it is convenient for tourists on bikes. |
| C．Where drink can be bought easily. |
| D．Where there are museums and shops. |
| A．Destinations you can reach within a day. |
| B．Places where you can eat. |
| C．Guides to a enclave of L.A. crowded with unusual destinations. |
| D．Places where you can see the Bradbury Building and Echo Park Lake. |
| A．Because of its pleasant weather. | B．Because of cycling culture. |
| C．Because of Mobility Plan 2035. | D．Because it is bike friendly. |
We often carry a lot of things when we’re traveling.
| A．So you’ll know what to bring. |
| B．It’s a kind of vacation, but without your parents. |
| C．Spend money from this wallet till you get to your destination. |
| D．Firstly, distribute (分开) your money if you’re traveling alone. |
| E．You can hook the key chain to your jeans or your handbag. |
| F．On short trips we take things like money, jewelry (首饰), house keys, etc. |
| G．Don’t carry it in your purse, just in case somebody is quick in stealing your purse. |
6 . A warm car and a long journey means that staying hydrated(有水的)is essential for all the family, so keep your drinks within easy reach with a holder.
One of the keys to a successful road trip is having enough space to be comfortable.
Kids are messy and adults aren’t always much better.
Sunshades(遮阳蓬)are a must for long journeys with children.
If tiredness hits, help little passengers to catch 40 winks and wake up refreshed with a supportive travel pillow.
Make sure journeys aren’t any longer (or more stressful) than they need to be. It’ll get you where you want to go without any needless routes or arguing over directions.
| A．Try to be as light as possible during your travels. |
| B．That needn’t mean you have to save on what you pack. |
| C．Once all is calm, parents might even be able to sleep, too. |
| D．They keep them comfortable and protect them from harmful rays. |
| E．It’s always important to take care of your health when you’re traveling |
| F．So when you’re on a road trip your car becomes a temporary mobile home |
| G．Many products also have a handy holder for phones, wallets and other small things. |
7 . It’s not often you get information about a destination from a heavy metal band, but in Debrecen, Hungary’s second largest city, locals are used to having to make a noise to get heard.
Just off the historic center, Roncs bar is a pub that also hosts live music. It has the atmosphere of a student party in an old building that might soon be knocked down.
Roncs is owned by Hungary’s best-known heavy metal rock band, Tankcsapda. Sometimes referred to as the “Hungarian Metallica”, the band has taken a type of music that is famous worldwide and-through lyrics, album covers, and an annual New Year’s party and concert-made it all about their home city.
It’s perhaps fitting that Tankcsapda should be seen as ambassadors for Debrecen — the city sometimes needs loud heavy metal rock music to get noticed. “Foreigners think that Hungary is Budapest and there’s nothing else,” is a familiar saying on Debrecen’s streets.
Debrecen has, at times, been more important than the current seat of power, with locals claiming it takes over in times of trouble.
That doesn’t quite add up.
Debrecen survived an attack from the Mongols in the 13th century, the Black Death, 150 years of struggle against the Ottomans and numerous conflicts, and yet it has still only briefly been the country’s capital twice. This happened for the first time after a short-lived revolution in 1849, and for a second time at the end of World War II.
Today, Debrecen may not be well known to tourists, but that only adds to the charm of this relaxed city. It’s a small place; the historical center is sized for strolling (散步) and regular cafe stops. There’s also a view of Debrecen’s mix of architectural styles, a result of the frequent large fires that back in the 19th century led the city’s students to form one of Europe’s first-ever fire brigades (消防队).
You can also see traditional weathercocks from the rooftops, featuring Islamic star and crescent moon symbols that once advertised to Ottoman invaders that the city preferred trading to fighting.
Trade meant that Debrecen’s skilled people became very successful and the city became famous for-among other things-fine foods, hats and clay pipes. In the early 19th century, 10 million clay pipes were reportedly made a year, with thousands bought for Britain’s navy.
1. What do Debrecen citizens expect Tankcsapda to do?| A．Introduce heavy metal music to Hungary. |
| B．Hold parties featuring live heavy metal music shows. |
| C．Try to make Debrecen known with its music. |
| D．Create a unique type of heavy metal music. |
| A．Because they feel their city is too quiet and relaxed. |
| B．Because they dislike it that the world only knows Budapest in Hungary. |
| C．Because they think it helps create a powerful image of their city. |
| D．Because all kinds of music bars bring their city alive. |
| A．Styles. | B．Conditions. |
| C．Atmosphere. | D．Climate. |
| A．Debrecen actually is more important than Budapest. |
| B．Debrecen is a place which is worth visiting. |
| C．Debrecen citizens love music and create their unique culture. |
| D．Debrecen citizens are proud of their culture and history. |
