Learning Chinese calligraphy
As someone who paints, draws, and loves all
After taking the lesson, I now understand the difficulty of calligraphy and that it will take efforts and commitment
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(﹨)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Yesterday, I went to an amazing Chinese art festival. There were different stands artists could demonstrate their skills and teach the visitors! It was definite an exciting experience. What caught our attention first was a 18th-century qinghua bowl. It vividly illustrated two dragons’ playing with a ball, which were typical of Chinese porcelain. Then I try some paper cutting, namely, making images out of papers. It was difficult, but a lot of fun! With the help of an artist, and I managed to make one in the shape of a fish. Another man seating next to him showed me how seal cutting worked. He made one for me with my name on Chinese — pretty awesome!
1. 最感谢的人；
2. 感谢的事由；
3. 个人的感悟。
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4 . Roosters (公鸡) act differently when faced with another chicken rather than just their own reflection. This may mean that the birds can recognize themselves in a mirror, a key indicator of self-awareness. In the traditional mirror self-recognition test, which originated in1970, researchers place a mark on an animal’s body in a spot that it only see when seeing its reflection. They note if the animal touches the mark while examining its mirror image, which suggests it understands that what it sees represents its own body. Few non-human species have passed this test, but they include some great apes, dolphins, elephants.
However, results from the test are often variable.Sonja Hillemacher and her colleagues from the University of Bonn in Germany wondered if this was because there is little natural reason for many animals to find out such marks. So, they have tried to adapt the test to the natural behaviour of roosters. Roosters usually make loud noises to warn other chickens when they see predators (捕食者) but generally stay quiet when they are alone.
In the lab, they tested 68 roosters one by one in an arena divided by a wire net. They placed a bird on one side, and either left the other side empty or put another rooster in it. Then they added a mirror to the divider for some tests. The results showed that when a rooster was paired with another rooster, it raised the alarm more often than when it was alone, regardless of whether it could see its own reflection. When another rooster was present but hidden behind a mirror, few alarms were raised, showing that roosters can distinguish between reflection and reality through vision rather than smell or sound.
Since the birds acted similarly when alone and with a reflection, they may realize their reflection is of themselves, say the researchers. While the research suggests that roosters may recognize themselves in mirrors, it is too early to claim that chickens possess this ability.
1. What can we learn about the traditional mirror self-recognition test?| A．The test was improved in 1970. |
| B．Elephants failed to pass the test. |
| C．Most non-human species have passed the test. |
| D．Animals touching the mark show self-awareness. |
| A．Their sharp vision. |
| B．Their poor smell. |
| C．Their loud sound. |
| D．Their native behavior. |
| A．They sent fewer alarm before another rooster. |
| B．They showed more interest in their reflection. |
| C．They used vision to tell reality from reflection. |
| D．They were unable to recognize their reflection. |
| A．Roosters: Quiet Reflection-observers |
| B．Roosters: Possible Self-recognizers |
| C．Roosters: Clever Mark-checkers |
| D．Roosters: Brave Alarm-raisers |
Beautiful Birthmarks: The Power of Acceptance
Whenever you hear the word “birthmark (胎记)”, you probably think of one of those black or brown spots you have somewhere on your body. However, for me, it’s completely different — I have them both on my lips and inside my mouth, which make them quite visible and, to me, ugly. When
I was young, these birthmarks kept making me feel extremely awkward and self-conscious (难为情的). As these birthmarks always drew a lot of attention, people often asked me, “What are those black marks on your lips?” When I told people that they were birthmarks, they usually said, “How strange！”
In pictures, I used to hide my birthmarks by pursing (噘起) my lips, so I would not have to deal with people’s questions. As I was growing up, the situation didn’t get any better. In the school, my classmates would always tease me, making me feel hurt and helpless. In society, I often encountered individuals who would inquire about my birthmarks even before they knew my name.
Such experiences left me feeling disheartened. I felt like people judged me by my appearance without considering my personality.
My birthmarks are caused by a genetic condition from my mom’s side of the family. My mom’s mom has birthmarks on her lips, and my mom’s uncle and my uncle have some on their bodies. I used to try to cover them up with makeup, but it never looked good. I even consulted a doctor, wanting to have surgery to remove them. But when imagining the process, I would get nervous and eventually give up.
Whenever I cried to my mom about them, she would always comfort me and say, “Learn to accept them and see them as beautiful birthmarks.” However, it wasn’t easy for me to accept my own birthmarks. Every time I showed my birthmarks, people would look at me with strange eyes. I began to regret why I had given up on the surgery and chosen to accept my birthmarks.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 词左右。2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
One day, I met my cousin, who also had a large birthmark on his arm._
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
From then on, when I met people, I began to change myself.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . On hearing the word vacation, most people react positively. Experienced travelers will argue that more important than where they go on vacation is who they go with.
Family travel is special and creates lasting memories, but it can also have some challenges. For one, the success of a trip often depends on the relationships that the family members have with one another. If two brothers do not get along at home, the chances are that they will fight during a vacation.
Finally, people can choose to travel alone. Solo travelers can be more flexible with transportation than those traveling in a large group.
| A．They can change plans more easily. |
| B．Each person tends to cover his or her individual expenses. |
| C．Another potential problem of family travel is transportation. |
| D．Sightseeing and scheduling are not a problem for solo travelers. |
| E．In fact, friendships are often strengthened with the travel memories. |
| F．Traveling with friends can be an unforgettable experience for several reasons. |
| G．Vacations can be classified on the basis of who vacationers choose to travel with. |
7 . Until a few years ago, I had what most people would probably call a good life, for I had a (an)
I wanted more. I wanted to live
So I
I spent more than five months in Vietnam, teaching, exploring and laughing. I’d learned to
| A．stable | B．temporary | C．informal | D．tiring |
| A．sacrifices | B．rewards | C．treats | D．fines |
| A．Thus | B．Instead | C．Otherwise | D．However |
| A．easily | B．brightly | C．peacefully | D．gracefully |
| A．sweet | B．unforgettable | C．ordinary | D．entertaining |
| A．addictive | B．innocent | C．outgoing | D．afraid |
| A．pride | B．confidence | C．enthusiasm | D．shame |
| A．stress | B．excitement | C．confusion | D．amazement |
| A．added to | B．talked about | C．got over | D．suffered from |
| A．continued | B．survived | C．failed | D．helped |
| A．decided | B．promised | C．predicted | D．imagined |
| A．equal | B．impossible | C．reasonable | D．occasional |
| A．ignored | B．impressed | C．annoyed | D．terrified |
| A．tasty | B．accessible | C．strange | D．various |
| A．adopt | B．handle | C．abandon | D．gain |
| A．point | B．throw | C．shout | D．aim |
| A．trust | B．accept | C．excuse | D．forgive |
| A．unconcerned | B．unsatisfied | C．unchangeable | D．unrecognizable |
| A．fear | B．respect | C．courage | D．exhaustion |
| A．picked up | B．held up | C．worn away | D．broken down |
8 . Begus is a linguist at the University of California, Berkeley. He got the chance, last summer, to observe sperm whales in their wild Caribbean habitat. With him were marine biologists and roboticists. There were also cryptographers and experts in other fields. All have been working together to listen to sperm whales and figure out what they might be saying. They call this Project CETI. Project CETI’s team is not the only group turning to AI for help deciphering animal talk. Researchers have trained AI models to sort through the sounds of prairie dogs, dolphins, naked mole rats and many other creatures.
Long before AI came into the picture, scientists and others have worked toward understanding animal communication. Some learned that vervet monkeys have different calls when warning of leopards, eagles or pythons. Others discovered that elephants communicate in rumbles too low for human ears to hear. Bats chatter in squeaks too high for our hearing. Still other groups have explored how bees communicate through dance.
“It took us a long time to measure all these things,” says researcher Karen Bakker. AI, she notes, has the potential to greatly speed up this type of research. Perhaps one day we’ll be able to use AI to build a futuristic CHAT box that translates animal sounds into human language, or vice versa.
“AI could eventually get us to the point where we understand animals,” says Bakker. What’s interesting to her is what we can learn from how bats and other creatures talk among each other. We should listen to animals in order to better protect them, she argues. For example, a system set up to record whales or elephants can also track their locations. This can help us avoid whales with our boats or protect elephants from illegal hunters.
1. What is Project CETI aimed at?| A．Applying AI to animal research. |
| B．Improving the living conditions of sperm whales. |
| C．Preventing animals from being hunted. |
| D．Decoding animal talk. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By citing examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By analyzing causes. |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncaring. |
| C．Ambiguous. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．AI: A Potential Threat to Human Future |
| B．AI: The Cutting Edge Modern Science |
| C．AI: A Tool to Understand and Conserve Animals |
| D．AI: A Field of Fierce Major-country Competition |
9 . Must-see exhibitions of 2024
Cute at Somerset House, London
Explore the irresistible force of cuteness in contemporary culture. From emojis to Internet memes, video games to plush toys, cuteness has taken over our world, but how has something so charming and seemingly harmless gained such attraction? Somerset House brings together cultural ephemera and contemporary artworks, alongside a spotlight on Hello Kitty, to coincide with her 50th anniversary.
Tickets: £18.50 per person/Concessions (减价票) from £11 per person
25 Jan. 2024 — 14 Apr. 2024
Barbie at Design Museum, London
Running with 2023’s Barbie mania, and coinciding with Barbie’s 65th anniversary, London’s Design Museum will tell the icon’s story through a design lens in their major new show. The exhibition will trace the legacy that began in 1959 when Ruth Handler sought a new female narrative for her daughter, Barbara. It delves into Barbie’s evolution through fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicle design.
Tickets:TBC
05 Jul. 2024 — 23 Feb. 2025
Brâncuşi at Centre Pompidou, Paris
The Centre Pompidou presents an unprecedented Constantin Brancusi exhibition, featuring nearly 200 sculptures, photographs, drawings, films, archives, tools, and furniture from his workshop. This unique showcase, coinciding with the workshop’s relocation during renovation, offers a fresh perspective on the art of this immense 20th-century artist. The workshop, a jewel of the museum’s collection since 1957, forms the core of this retrospective, enriched by major loans from international museums.
Tickets: From €15 per person/Concession from €12 per person
27 Mar. 2024 — 01 Jul. 2024
Michelangelo: The last decades at The British Museum, London
In 1534, Michelangelo left Florence for Rome, never to return. This exhibition explores his final 30 years in Rome, showcasing new reunions with close friends, and his major works. It features numerous preparatory drawings for the Last Judgement fresco, the restored Epifania cartoon, and studies for St Peter’s Basilica’s reconstruction. Contrasting today’s youth-centric culture, the exhibition highlights lifelong practice, mastery, experience, wisdom, and experimentation, embodying Michelangelo’s enduring legacy.
Tickets:TBC
02 May 2024 — 28 Jul. 2024
1. How much will a couple pay for the first exhibition at least?| A．£37. | B．£11. | C．£22. | D．£18.5. |
| A．Cute at Somerset House, London. |
| B．Barbie at Design Museum, London. |
| C．Brâncuşi at Centre Pompidou, Paris. |
| D．Michelangelo: The last decades at The British Museum, London. |
| A．He passed away in Florence. |
| B．His works will be exhibited with objects from international museums. |
| C．He completed the Last Judgement fresco effortlessly. |
| D．His later years were spent in Rome. |
1.眼睛的重要性；
2.科学的用眼方法；
3.呼吁爱护眼睛。
注意：
1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
How to Protect Our Eyes
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