1 . In Denmark, bicycling is one of the primary forms of transportation. In sunshine, rain and snow, you will see cyclists on their way to work, to the grocery store, or to social events. The bike is a Dane’s best friend.

Danish cycling culture is as old as the bicycle itself. Bikes were first introduced to the country in the 1880s, and during the 1920s and 1930s, the bicycle became a widespread symbol of equality and freedom. People of all social classes began biking side by side — in the cities on their way to work and in the countryside on their days off.

The increased prosperity of the late 1950s saw some Danes replacing bikes with motorcycles and automobiles. Just like their colleagues around the world, Danish urban planners believed the future belonged to cars, trucks, and ever-wider highways. In the early 1970s, however, the Mideast oil crisis terminated that development. “Car Free Sundays” were introduced in Copenhagen, and protests demanding Copenhagen to become car-free took place. Over time, concerns about air pollution, climate change, and the need for people to get enough exercise have helped bicycles make a big comeback. Denmark’s heavy taxes on petrol and automobiles are a factor, too.

Today, cycling is an inseparable part of Danish culture. Newcomers who do not know how to cycle are encouraged to learn as soon as they arrive. Danish children usually learn to bike before they begin school at the age of six — and often much earlier. In school, children learn about traffic rules, road safety, and the importance of wearing a helmet as well as good cycling habits. Another alternative for families with children is the cargo bike — a sort of oversized tricycle with a large wooden box on the front. It’s estimated that a quarter of all Copenhagen families with two or more children own one of these cargo bikes for transporting kids, groceries, and other necessities. Danish cargo bikes have also won design awards and become a Danish export success.

Commuting by bike is the fastest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to get around the cities of Denmark. And the numbers speak for themselves: Residents who cycle in Copenhagen request 1.1 million fewer sick days. Cyclists reduce CO2 emissions by 20, 000 tonnes a year on average.

1. What led to the popularity of bicycles in Denmark during the 1920s and 1930s?

A．The convenience of the bike.	B．The prosperity of the economy.
C．The construction of wide highways.	D．The idea that the bike represents.

2. What does the underlined word “terminated”mean in para.3?

A．promoted

B．ended.

C．permitted.

D．funded.

3. What do we know about cargo bikes from para.4?

A．They are primarily used by families with one child.

B．They are unpopular among local residents.

C．They are designed for practical use.

D．They are the national symbol of Denmark.

4. Why does the author mention the data in the last paragraph?

A．To highlight the popularity of cycling.	B．To compare cycling with driving.
C．To show the benefits of cycling.	D．To demonstrate the effectiveness of cycling.

2 . Many people will never forget their campus life, for it gave them something important for their career. Even though it is very difficult nowadays to attend a college or university after graduating from high school, there are still a large number of reasons to go to college.

In general, college graduates make more money than people who only have a high school degree. Besides higher pay, college graduates also experience better jobs than those who haven’t graduated from college. Many employers expect their employees to have a college degree. College programs provide students with peculiar training that only higher education can offer, giving them popular and valuable qualifications (资格证书).

To deal with heavy college study, you have to be organized. Finishing several different classes is not an easy task, considering that each class covers plenty of materials. If you’re unable to stay organized, there are teachers, advisers and professors there to help you. The organization skills you’ll learn in college will help you succeed in future jobs. Whether you’re solving a math-based problem or make out the main idea of a novel, college classes train your brain to solve difficult problems and will prepare you for problems in the workplace.

Whether you grew up in a small town or in New York City, being admitted into a college or university means that you will meet a great number of new people. Your social skills will improve by communicating with them, which could help you when you enter into the job market. When you take part in classroom activities, study groups and school clubs, you are introduced to intelligent people with whom you could one day start a company or form a life-long friendship.

Study-abroad programs are offered by most colleges and universities and are seen as one of the most meaningful experiences offered during four years of college life. In addition to learning more about a foreign culture, students are required to complete their studies.

1. What does the underlined word “peculiar” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Special.	B．Common.
C．Limited.	D．Traditional.

2. What can we learn about the college degree?

A．It is more important to rural students than urban students.

B．It makes you become employers in different fields.

C．It helps increase your earning power.

D．It is a must to become rich.

3. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The functions of organization and problem-solving skills in college.

B．The difficult problems and different organizations in college.

C．Heavy college study and work.

D．College classes and professors.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．It is no use going to college or university.

B．College helps students improve their human relationship.

C．The aim of study-abroad is to help end students’ college classes.

D．Work experience is less important than a qualification in the job interview.

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。

Nanjing, the capital city of China’s Jiangsu Province and located ( 位于) along the Yangtze River Delta (三角洲),     1     (be) once the capital of the Ming Dynasty and is recognized as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China alongside Beijing, Xi’an     2     Luoyang.

But if you’ll only be visiting for 72 hours, there are a few     3     (experience) that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Any trip to Nanjing, no matter     4     short it is, wouldn’t be complete without some excellent food. Nanjing cuisine is a part of Jiangsu cuisine and often shows the area’s     5     (local) grown produce and fresh seafood.

The city is also considered the birthplace of Peking Duck, but it also prepares a local favorite: Nanjing salted duck,     6     is served cold after being cooked in very salty water.

The area’s close     7     (connect) to the river delta ensures that travelers will have a taste of seafood, such as hairy crab.

Nanjing is known for     8     (it) cultural and political importance. Today, travelers can visit numerous temples (寺庙) within the city and walk along Stone City, the remains of the city’s ancient fortifications (防御工事), at a local park.

Nanjing is also home     9     one UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, located in the Zhongshan Mountain National Park, where many other    10     (importance) sites, such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, are also located.

4 . I opened my car window and called out “Ma’am! Ma’am!” The only lady in the parking lot looked around until she saw me. “I just wanted to tell how nice you look today,” I said. “The colors you have on are beautiful on you.” Her face registered surprise for a second, and then she smiled. “Thank you!” she called back. Her final steps to her car seemed lighter, and I smiled to myself.

I grew up with very few cheerleaders in my own life. When I was in the middle of fighting a battle for my life, I had been confirmed depression, along with anxiety. It has taken many years and more effort and determination than I thought I was capable of recovering from this illness. With no cheerleaders in my court, I fought this battle alone. I am proud of the progress I have made thus far. There are times when I thought, if only I had had someone to hold me and say, “Susan, I believe in you. You can do this, and I’ll be there every step of the way.” I wonder how much sooner I would have recovered. I’ll never know.

So I have made it a point in recent years to praise people, especially women and girls. Instead of just thinking that someone looks nice or did a great job, I say it out loud. It doesn’t take long, and it’s easy. So, I wonder, why don’t more people do this? As women, we have learned from our role models to be quiet. We downplay (淡化) our own achievements even when we do receive a rare compliment (恭维). Now, when I compliment someone and she denies, I say to her, “Just say thank you.” Most women are relieved that they don’t have to deny the compliment; they can accept the praise without guilt.

Cheerleading doesn’t require any skills. It only takes a few seconds, although you do have to remind yourself to do it. Eventually, it becomes a habit.

1. How did the lady feel after hearing the author’s praise?

A．Delighted.	B．Anxious.
C．Relaxed.	D．Worried.

2. What made the author become a cheerleader?

A．Her experiences.

B．Her habit.

C．Her personality.

D．Her ambition.

3. What does the author hope when she praises someone?

A．She can be rewarded.

B．She can be appreciated.

C．They can accept the praise.

D．They should say something.

4. Which of the following best describes the author?

A．Caring.	B．Brave.
C．Outgoing.	D．Honest.

5 . Of all the Chinese 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright (清明) is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, the Qingming Festival. The words “clear” and “bright” describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it an important time for growing crops in the spring. As is known, it is a time to worship ancestors, however, here are several things you may not know about Clear and Bright.

Spring Outings

Not only is it a period to honor the dead, but it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature. As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Flying Kites

Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kites. And when the kites are flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars at night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly freely. It is said that this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this.

Cuju

Cuju is an interesting game played during this period. Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cuju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.

Feasting on Qingtuan

In the lower parts of the Yangtze River region, qingtuan is very popular on Tomb-Sweeping Day. Qingtuan is a kind of round green cake. In order to make the cakes, people mash (捣碎) barnyard grass (艾草) to squeeze juice from it and mix the flour and juice to a paste. Then they put fillings into the paste and steam them. Pretty and delicate, qingtuan has a special flavor.

1. What is special about flying kites during Clear and Bright?

A．Flying kites with lanterns in the evening.

B．Flying kites to bring good luck.

C．Cutting the kite string to let it fly freely.

D．Flying kites both in the daytime and at night.

2. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Clear and Bright is an important period for farming.

B．Qingtuan is traditionally eaten during the period of Clear and Bright all over China.

C．Cuju was invented by the Yellow Emperor to play in the Qingming Festival.

D．Clear and Bright is one of the 24 solar terms whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival.

3. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．How to celebrate the Qingming Festival.

B．Flying kites in a special way.

C．Ways to have fun during Clear and Bright.

D．Some unknown customs about Clear and Bright.

6 . “Where should I eat?” We hope to answer that age-old question. This simple list provides a view into Montreal’s good restaurants.

Mastard

Chef Simon Mathys is celebrated as one of the best in the business. He owns and runs Mastard with his wife, Viki Brisson-Sylvestre. At Mastard, officially opened in January 2021, Mathys prepares five-course menus that are local-product driven, seasonal, inventive and delicious.

Vin Mon Lapin

When this restaurant said, mid-COVID, that it would be doubling its space, it may have sounded like a risky move — but it paid off. Mon Lapin has been one of the hottest tables around since it opened in March 2018. Its menu changes with the seasons, featuring fresh veggies and seafood.

Chez Ma Tante

Started in 1929, this Quebec-style restaurant first served steamed (蒸的) hot dogs out of a horse-drawn carriage (四轮马车). Later, it moved into a building on Fleury Street. Old-school in the best way, Chez Ma Tante remains one of the top hot dog suppliers (供应商) in the city. Open until 4 a.m. daily.

Dobe & Andy

Open since 1982, Dobe & Andy is Chinatown’s leading Hong Kong-style barbecue restaurant. It is now run by second-generation owners, the Ku brothers. Since taking over from their father, they have made some tasty additions, but the time-honoured char siu pork, crispy roast pork and roast duck remain headliners.

1. What do Mastard and Vin Mon Lapin have in common?

A．They both offer seasonal menus.	B．They both have five-course menus.
C．They both have world-famous chefs.	D．They both enlarged their restaurants in 2021.

2. What is special about Dobe & Andy?

A．It is run by a married couple.

B．It provides various Chinese dishes.

C．It remains one of the top hot dog makers in the city.

D．It is one of the most popular Quebec-style restaurants in the city.

3. Of the following restaurants, which is the oldest?

A．Mastard.

B．Vin Mon Lapin.

C．Chez Ma Tante.

D．Dobe & Andy.

7 . A group of fashion (时尚) design students have created 25 fidget blankets (毯子) to help senior patients keep busy while in the hospital — but what’s a fidget blanket?

The blankets offer sensory and tactile stimulators (感觉和触觉刺激物) for the restless hands of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia (a serious illness of the mind), according to Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) officials. The blankets have different things such as fur, pockets or buttons fixed on them and these things can stimulate activity.

The blankets help to kill boredom and calm the users down through repetitive movements.

“The students are trying to make the best use of the cloth given by the community,” St. Clair College fashion design program professor Elaine Chatwood said. “The blanket is a perfect example of green design, by using supplies that would have been thrown away.”

According to WRH officials, the college’s fashion design students have a long history of helping out patients. Students have created and given away things like sleepwear for young children, hospital gowns (罩衣) for patients and 640 cloth masks that were used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe this is the third project our fashion design students have carried out with Windsor Regional Hospital. In the past, they created gowns for those having MRI exams and cloth face masks for doctors and nurses during the pandemic,” St. Clair College president Patti France said. “These fidget blankets are just the latest example of this mutually (相互地) beneficial relationship between our local educational and healthcare organizations. I hope this serves as a message to the whole community that if you think any of the programs at St. Clair might be able to help your organization, get in touch with us.”

The fidget blankets will be given out to patients in need in the coming months.

1. What can we learn about the fidget blanket?

A．It was made by old people.

B．It is worth about 25 dollars.

C．It can help fight off boredom.

D．It was developed for a competition.

2. Which of the following can best describe the fidget blanket?

A．Single-use.	B．Youth-centered.
C．Electricity-driven.	D．Environment-friendly.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The good things done by fashion design students with their skills.

B．The work done by fashion design students during the pandemic.

C．The long history of St. Clair College fashion design program.

D．The needs of patients from Windsor Regional Hospital.

4. What does France want the community to do?

A．Pay more attention to local hospitals.

B．Give more support to St. Clair College.

C．Reach out to St. Clair College if need be.

D．Develop a lifelong interest in fashion design.

8 . I suffered a stroke (中风) in March 2013, then mostly recovered (康复) and realized I had been very ________. Six months after the stroke, I began to take piano lessons. Some people believe students can only learn music well when they’re ________. Money problems meant I never had that ________ as a child. But I had a dream, so this belief did not ________ the 52-year-old me.

I learned slowly with my first teacher. Then after two years, I started with a man. He seemed ________. In our first lesson, he asked me how my last teacher taught. I ________ how she would play each new song for me first and then help me work it out.

“I won’t be doing that,” he said. “I expect you to learn the ________ yourself and I expect you to practice. If not, you will have to find another ________.”

Our class lasted three months. However, in our last lesson before Christmas, he strongly criticized (批评) me, saying that I played with the ________ rhythm and tone (节奏和音调). I went home in a state of ________.

When I saw him again, I played the same ________ again and then said, “I practiced this piece about 500 times.”

There was silence. Then, surprisingly, he said he could see I had put ________ into it.

From that day, he changed. He became kind and warm. He ________ explained difficult terms and took care to ________ my creativity. Through him, I fell deeply in love with ________.

It is the piano that helps me get over the stroke and find my confidence again.

1.

A．free

B．tired

C．lucky

D．cold

2.

A．young

B．clever

C．famous

D．healthy

3.

A．feeling

B．chance

C．worry

D．trouble

4.

A．surprise

B．attract

C．save

D．discourage

5.

A．strict

B．mad

C．satisfied

D．funny

6.

A．asked

B．described

C．learned

D．considered

7.

A．benefits

B．stories

C．notes

D．letters

8.

A．teacher

B．student

C．doctor

D．family

9.

A．strong

B．common

C．different

D．wrong

10.

A．fear

B．peace

C．sadness

D．excitement

11.

A．song

B．trick

C．match

D．sport

12.

A．interest

B．pressure

C．money

D．effort

13.

A．angrily

B．patiently

C．secretly

D．probably

14.

A．challenge

B．limit

C．develop

D．copy

15.

A．painting

B．literature

C．running

D．music

9 . It was 1984, and I heard that our typewriters were soon going to be replaced with computers. I had been happily typing on typewriters for many years. But computers? I knew nothing about computers. Perhaps it was time to learn. The college calendar had arrived in my mailbox a few days earlier and after quickly going through it, I found just what I was looking for. BASIC Computer course — the words jumped off the page at me.

The first night I found the classroom. I expected to see a room full of computers, but there were only long tables and chairs. The instructor began the class with the usual introductions. I kept looking around, wondering where the computers were. I hardly listened to anything the instructor was saying. The second session (节) was held in the same classroom. Still no computers. Again, my thoughts wandered (走神) and I listened half-heartedly to the instructor saying many strange words: “Binary code, greater than, less than, equal to.” What was this? I had not paid good money for this.

In the third session, I finally realized I hadn’t signed up to learn basic computer skills. I had signed up for a BASIC Computer Programming course. BASIC is one type of computer language. I was not interested in programming; so the next year I signed up for a beginner’s session to learn basic computer skills. When computers finally arrived at my workplace, I adapted quickly.

Nowadays I find that I am once again falling behind. I don’t have a smartphone, and I seldom visit any social media sites. Still, I consider myself somewhat skilled at using computers. While I can use the Internet and do various tasks, I avoid being always bombarded (轰炸) with information and refuse to allow the fast electronic world to take over my life. I liken it to a big pot of soup. When it’s done, give me a bowl of soup, not the whole pot. Just give me the basics.

1. Why did the author sign up for a computer course?

A．She wanted to experience campus life again.

B．She was at risk of being unable to do her job.

C．Her best friend invited her to do so.

D．Her boss asked her to do so.

2. How did the author feel during the first and second sessions?

A．Lonely and sad.	B．Excited and satisfied.
C．Confused and absent-minded.	D．Confident and well-prepared.

3. What did the author really want to learn?

A．Basic computer skills.	B．Computer repair skills.
C．The history of the computer.	D．Computer programming languages.

4. What do we know about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She has been improving her computer skills.

B．She has a great ability to process information.

C．She knows quite a lot about today’s social media sites.

D．She can focus on what matters to her in the fast electronic world.

10 . Low-maintenance (无须费神的) care is one of the biggest advantages of owning a cat. Cats are known for being independent. And unlike dogs, cats don’t require daily walks in order to get their exercise fix.     1     It’s necessary to make sure your cat has plenty of chances to move her body.

Why is Exercise Important for Cats?

Exercise is very important when it comes to keeping your cat healthy. Exercise, along with diet, is important for maintaining your cat’s weight.     2     Plus, that extra weight can put added pressure on the legs and feet, leading to mobility problems down the road.

Exercise is also good for mental health (精神健康).     3     As an added benefit, enough physical exercise can keep your cat from acting in destructive (破坏性的) ways.

How Much Exercise Does Your Cat Need?

The exact amount (数量) of recommended exercise differs from cat to cat.     4     This doesn’t necessarily mean running or walking for 30 minutes straight, though.

How to Help Your Cat Exercise

    5     Try playing together for at least 15 minutes or so per day with toys. With enough independent games, toys, and tools for your cat to use on her own terms, she will also get in more movement, like walking, climbing, and scratching (抓).

A．Cats are good at taking care of themselves.

B．Exercise helps to kill boredom and lower stress.

C．That doesn’t mean cat exercise isn’t important, though.

D．Taking your cat outside can inspire her interest in exercise.

E．For most adult cats, though, 30 minutes per day is recommended.

F．Fat cats may be cute, but being overweight can lead to health problems.

G．Playing with your cat every day is one of the best ways to help them exercise.