1 . The Biggest Stadiums in the World

People have been pouring into stadiums since the days of ancient Greece. In around 80 A.D., the Romans built the Colosseum, which remains the world’s best known stadium and continues to inform contemporary design. Rome’s Colosseum was 157 feet tall and had 80 entrances, seating 50,000 people. However, that was small fry compared with the city’s Circus Maximus, which accommodated around 250,000 people.

These days, safety regulations-not to mention the modern sports fan’s desire for a good view and comfortable seat — tend to keep stadium capacities (容量) slightly lower. Even soccer fans tend to have a seat each; gone are the days of thousands standing to watch the match.

For the biggest stadiums in the world, we have used data supplied by the World Atlas list so far, which ranks them by their stated permanent capacity, as well as updated information from official stadium websites.

All these stadiums are still functional, still open and still hosting the biggest events in world sport.

·Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang D.P.R. Korea. Capacity: 150,000. Opened: May 1,1989.

·Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U. S. Capacity: 107,601. Opened: October 1, 1927.

·Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania, U. S. Capacity: 106,572. Opened: September 17, 1960.

·Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, U. S. Capacity: 104,944. Opened: October 7,1922.

·Kyle Field, College Station, Texas, U. S. Capacity: 102,512. Opened: September 24, 1927.

1. How many people could the Circus Maximus hold?

A．104,944.

B．107,601.

C．About 150,000.

D．About 250,000.

2. Of the following stadiums, which is the oldest?

A．Michigan Stadium.

B．Beaver Stadium.

C．Ohio Stadium.

D．Kyle Field.

3. What do the listed stadiums have in common?

A．They host big games.	B．They have become tourist attractions.
C．They were built by Americans.	D．They are favored by architects.

2 . Two years ago, I lost my wallet. I made the poor decision of keeping my identity card, my credit card, a large amount of money and other various things inside my_________. I worried about anyone who got my wallet would take_________from my bank account, and I was also _________that my identity card would be used to do something___________

About a week ___________, a police officer knocked on my door and_________my wallet. Someone handed it into_________! Much to my _________, they didn’t touch the money inside or anything. I felt so lucky that such a kind person___________my wallet and took time out of their day to try and give__________back to me.

After that, I decided that I wanted to do __________things for other people, hoping that they also could feel that way. I started to do small things to __________ people. They were small simple things, like holding the door open for others. When you make others feel __________, you will have a great day.

That’s why I__________everyone to do small nice things for others. Helping others is to help____________

1.

A．handbag

B．wallet

C．pocket

D．car

2.

A．money

B．food

C．gold

D．card

3.

A．satisfied

B．excited

C．worried

D．puzzled

4.

A．bad

B．good

C．beautiful

D．wonderful

5.

A．ahead

B．earlier

C．long

D．later

6.

A．threw

B．searched

C．returned

D．suggested

7.

A．the people

B．the police

C．the students

D．the children

8.

A．sadness

B．surprise

C．regret

D．disappointment

9.

A．got up

B．looked up

C．gave up

D．picked up

10.

A．it

B．her

C．him

D．them

11.

A．kind

B．funny

C．stupid

D．serious

12.

A．protect

B．respect

C．help

D．recognize

13.

A．bad

B．good

C．free

D．sick

14.

A．allow

B．force

C．choose

D．encourage

15.

A．herself

B．himself

C．itself

D．yourself

3 . Recently I was very busy and I needed a timeout. So I decided to drive to the supermarket and pick up dinner instead of doing my usual ______.

In the supermarket, I took fat and juicy chicken and some warm cornbread. As the cashier began processing my items, I______my bag for my credit card. However, I realized my wallet was not there. In______, I told the cashier I had left my money at home and apologized sincerely, offering to______my items to where I______them. Just at that moment the supermarket owner appeared, saying “Please, take everything home and______the dinner. It’s on the house tonight!” I tried to______the lovely offer but he______a dark chocolate bar near the counter and said, “Here! Take this, too!” His act of______lifted everybody present. I thanked him______for making my day.

When I approached home, as I______into my driveway, I saw my next-door neighbor had just mowed my lawn (草坪). He was putting on the finishing touches, clearing the cut grass. Feeling______, I jumped out of my car and asked him how much he wanted for his ______, to which he replied,“Nothing at all. The lawn needed doing.” He______me off summarily as he returned to his home. A second scoop of good______had landed in my lap, which again reminded me kindness is everywhere in the world.

1.

A．walking

B．cooking

C．shopping

D．teaching

2.

A．reached into

B．stared at

C．put aside

D．watched over

3.

A．anger

B．amazement

C．satisfaction

D．embarrassment

4.

A．clear

B．show

C．pack

D．return

5.

A．bought

B．put

C．took

D．ate

6.

A．enjoy

B．prepare

C．donate

D．deliver

7.

A．appreciate

B．withdraw

C．decline

D．ensure

8.

A．looked at

B．picked up

C．showed off

D．put away

9.

A．courage

B．generosity

C．faith

D．bravery

10.

A．hurriedly

B．curiously

C．hesitantly

D．sincerely

11.

A．searched

B．dug

C．crashed

D．pulled

12.

A．regretful

B．excited

C．nervous

D．energetic

13.

A．efforts

B．talent

C．guidance

D．goods

14.

A．sent

B．drove

C．waved

D．turned

15.

A．appetite

B．deal

C．fortune

D．reputation

4 . GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE WORLD’S MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATHERED ANIMALS WITH THESE BOOKS

Flamingo (火烈鸟)

Biologist and photographer Claudio Contreras Koob spent 20 years travelling deep into the wet lands and forests of his native Mexico—and beyond—to feed his flamingo attraction. This book offers a unique window into the behavior and life of red-feathered birds, with more than 120 show-stopping shots displaying their beauty. teNeues, £35.

Around the World in 80 Birds

Inspiring secrets, national pride or scientific discoveries, every bird has a story to tell, from the weaver bird building multi-nest “apartment blocks” in Namibia to the bar-headed goose taking on a twice-yearly trans-Himalayan journey at an extreme altitude. Mike Unwin’s tour is accompanied by beautiful illustrations from Ryuto Miyake. Laurence King Publishing, £22.

A World on the Wing

Pulitzer-shortlisted Weidensaul, who’s at the forefront of research into bird migration, here tracks some of nature’s most remarkable journeys. He sails through the stormy Bering Sea, encounters trappers in the Mediterranean and visits former headhunters in northeast India, where a bird migration crisis has become a conservation success story. Pan Macmillan, £9.99.

Galapagos Crusoes: A Year Alone with the Birds

Explore this updated version of the 1968 title, Galapagos: Islands of Birds, by late bird expert Bryan Nelson, with previously unpublished material from his wife, June. The couple spent a year living on two Galapagos islands, studying birds, including the Galapagos albatross (信天翁). This is their clever and amusing account. Bradt Guides, £11.99.

1. By whom is the second costliest book illustrated?

A．Claudio Contreras Koob.	B．Mike Unwin.
C．Ryuto Miyake.	D．Weidensaul.

2. Which book best suits those concerned about the survival of migratory birds?

A．Flamingo.	B．Around the World in 80 Birds.
C．A World on the Wing.	D．Galapagos: Island of Birds.

3. What feature may Galapagos Crusoes: A Year Alone with the Birds have?

A．Its humorous description.	B．Its romantic style.
C．Its vivid imagination.	D．Its moving plot.

5 . 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。

Chinese calligraphy (书法) is an art form that    1    (involve) the skilled and deliberate use of brush and ink to create beautiful and expressive characters.

The origins of Chinese calligraphy can be traced back thousands of years to the Shang Dynasty, making it one of the     2     (old) continuous artistic traditions in the world. Its evolution is accompanied with the development of the Chinese writing system,     3     consists of thousands of characters, each with its own artistic structure and stroke order (笔顺).

Calligraphy in China    4    (regard) as one of the highest forms of artistic expression. It is not only a means of communication     5     a way to develop one’s character, discipline, and spirituality. The practice of calligraphy requires     6    (patient), concentration, and a deep understanding of the balance between empty space and solid forms.

Different styles of calligraphy have emerged throughout history, each with its own distinct characteristics and artistic conventions. The most famous    7    (style) include regular script (kaishu), running script (xingshu), cursive script (caoshu), and seal script (zhuanshu).

Chinese calligraphy has a profound influence     8     other art forms, such as     9    (paint), poetry, and seal carving. It is often considered as an important part of the Chinese traditional culture, where scholars and artists would gather in a     10    (culture) salon to appreciate and discuss calligraphic works.

6 . Accents are an important part of our identity. An accent gives clues about who we are, and the community we belong to or wish to belong to.     1    

What is the difference between accents and pronunciation?

Accents are about localized ways of speaking a language. A French person may speak English flawlessly (完美无瑕地), just with a French accent.     2     However, pronunciation is something that — as a learner— you can get right or wrong. If your pronunciation is correct, you can communicate effectively with others whatever your accent is.

    3    

If you think back historically people were much more localized with generation after generation of families living in the same small villages and few people traveled out of that area during their lifetimes. So over many generations differences in accent emerged and became very distinct to particular areas. Mountainous villages that are not easily accessible often develop very strong and distinctive accents.

How important is it to get an accent right?

If you’re moving to a certain part of a country, you might want to integrate better with your new community.     4     That’s because it shows a sense of belonging to the community you are trying to fit in with.

How to improve your accent?

    5     And then learners should consider which sounds exist in the language you’re learning and then spend some time in front of the mirror practicing moving your tongue and mouth to get those new and different sounds. And learners should be aware of stress and tone, which can sometimes even change the meaning of words.

A．Where do accents and pronunciation emerge?

B．They’re also important for those learning a new language.

C．Try to adapt your speech to sound more like the locals’ speech.

D．The best way is to learn the specific accent of that region.

E．Where do different types of accents come from?

F．That’s fine because there is no wrong or right with an accent.

G．Learners should first think about which sounds don’t exist in your native language.

7 . Four years ago, Rome Leykin was on his way to work when he accidentally fell onto the tracks of Brooklyn's train as a subway was approaching. The incident resulted in the loss of both of his legs.

But surprisingly, with the loss of his legs, Leykin gained a new passion for racing. Before his accident, he wasn't really that athletic. He would just occasionally play basketball. But that all changed after he was introduced to hand cycling. “When I saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. You don't even need legs to use it. This is perfect.’” he said. “So, I got on it, I rode and fell in love with it right away.”

Within a few months, he completed the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a 40-mile ride through New York City. After that, he did his first marathon in 2021. He fished that race in 2 hours and 11 minutes, placing 12th out of 38.

“I'm going to attend this year's marathon and take on challenges. My hands are on the wheel, my eyes are focused, and I think my time is going to speak for itself.” he said. He's made a significant commitment to training. He hand cycles at least 13.1 miles a couple times a week and spends a lot of time in the gym.

And he plans to keep pursuing his athlete goals. He wants to complete the Abbott Six-the world's six largest marathons. One day, he said, he'll maybe even make the Paralympics.

For those who might be following his journey, he hopes they will take some lessons from his story. “There will be ups and downs but the trend is what's important. Focus on the good,” he said. “And also, take your big problems and split them into small solutions. And then all of a sudden, your big problems turn into many small wins.”

1. What can we learn about Rome Leykin from paragraph 2?

A．He once was an excellent basketball player.

B．He considered hand cycling difficult in the beginning.

C．He made hand cycling more popular among the disabled.

D．He showed an interest in hand cycling the moment he saw it.

2. How did Rome Leykin feel about the coming marathon?

A．Worried.

B．Curious.

C．Confident.

D．Nervous.

3. Which of the following can best describe Rome Leykin?

A．Easy-going and reliable.	B．Kind-hearted and helpful.
C．Open-minded and creative.	D．Strong-willed and ambitious.

4. What message does Rome Leykin convey in the last paragraph?

A．Stick to your dreams.	B．Break down your goals.
C．Focus on your strengths.	D．Achieve success at all costs.

8 . 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。

A 50-minute drive northwest of downtown, Beijing, a village pops up. It    1    (house) a shadow puppetry troupe (皮影戏剧团) and Beijing Long zaitian Shadow Puppet Theater.

Shadow puppetry is seen    2    the prequel (先行篇) to film and animation in China. Besides performances    3     (create) by light and shadow, performers must master a    4    (vary) skill set as the plays combine painting, carving, opera and literature. But due to low revenue and a small market, young people are unwilling     5    (learn) shadow puppetry.

    6    , this particular troupe stands out from the crowd. Average performer age is only 25. Moreover, of the 300 performers    7    has trained over the years, many are under 1.4 m in    8    (high). In 2021, the team created Winter Olympics-themed shadow pupets. The troupe also staged different plays    9    (introduce) ice and snow sports through fairy tales.

“    10    (fortunate), we have these people. They have been devoted to the inheritance of shadow puppetry for over a decade,”said Wang Xi, inheritor of Beijing Western School Shadow Puppetry.

9 . As a child, Liu Wenwen didn’t like the suona, a “loud” traditional Chinese musical instrument, also an ancestral treasure of her family that was to become her career.

Liu says she felt ashamed. In the 1990s, people admired things that were modern and international. The suona was considered out of date. Her father’s family has performed with the suona for seven generations, while the tradition on her mother’s side of the family can be traced back to the early Qing Dynasty. Despite her unwillingness, she followed her parents to play the suona as early as 3 years old. Besides it, Liu has also learned traditional Chinese vocal music and dancing—skills that have improved her oral muscles and sense of rhyme, helping equip her to be a professional musician.

It wasn’t until 2008 that she first found suona music beautiful. That was when she entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to learn the instrument more systematically from Liu Ying, a professor and top player. “The music played by the professor is just amazing, and different from what I had heard before,” she says.

She loves exchanging ideas about suona playing techniques with her students. “It’s wonderful to see the younger generation carrying on this cultural tradition.” Liu Wenwen said she is pleased to see the suona regain popularity among young people, sometimes combined with jazz, opera and other art forms. This has stopped its decline in the 1990s. Her name, when mentioned on China’s social media platforms, often is followed by a video of her live performance at a concert in Sydney, Australia. Westerners were amazed by the loud, unfamiliar instrument and its colorful music. “I felt my hard work had paid off. I trained for over 20 years, probably just to win cheers and applause for traditional Chinese music on the international stage”.

1. What urged Liu Wenwen to learn to play the suona?

A．Family tradition.	B．Personal interest.
C．Her professor.	D．Her ambition.

2. Apart from daily training, what did Liu do to be a professional musician?

A．Follow her parents to play the suona.

B．Learn music history at an early age.

C．Play the suona with her parents on the stage.

D．Better her oral muscles and sense of rhyme.

3. How did Liu first find suona music beautiful?

A．By learning from the famous professor Liu.

B．By visiting Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

C．By performing the suona music in Sydney.

D．By hearing her family playing the suona.

4. What can we learn from Liu’s last words in the last paragraph?

A．She learned the value of her performance.

B．She earned a fortune after 20 years’ training.

C．She worked hard and became an international professor.

D．She surprised many westerners with a video of her performance.

10 . What if someone told you about a kind of grass as tall as the tallest trees? A grass as strong as steel? Would you believe that person? You should, for that grass is bamboo   (竹子), which has more than 1,000 uses. It is not just a material for making useful products. Young bamboo is eaten, often mixed with other vegetables.

Bamboo grows in many parts of the world. In the USA it grows in many states like Virginia and Florida. Most bamboo, however, is found in wet and warm climates, especially in Asia and on the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

In most Asian countries, bamboo is nearly as important as rice. This unusual material is used to not only build large buildings but also make water pipes, musical instruments and paper. There are over 1,000 kinds of bamboo. No wonder the lives of nearly half the people on earth would change greatly if there were no longer any bamboo.

1. According to the text, bamboo is actually a kind of         .

A．grass

B．steel

C．tree

D．vegetable

2. Where does most bamboo grow?

A．Only in Asia.	B．Only in the USA.
C．In wet and warm climates.	D．All over the world.

3. What is bamboo used to do in paragraph 3?

A．Build large buildings.	B．Make water pipes.
C．Make musical instruments and paper.	D．All of the above.

4. How many kinds of bamboo are there according to the text?

A．Over 1,000.

B．Over 800.

C．Over 600.

D．Over 400.