1 . Welcome to Musée Rodin

The Musée Rodin, a hidden jewel in Paris, is actually the former residence of famed 19th-century sculptor Auguste Rodin. Here you can enjoy Rodin’s emotive sculptures, including The Walking Man, The Kiss and The Thinker, among many more. In addition to the sculptures, the museum houses 8,000 of the artist’s drawings in its collection — some of those are on display. Visitors will also get to view pieces from Rodin’s personal art collection, including paintings by Van Gogh.

Another big favorite for visitors, as much of a highlight as the art, is the beautiful on-site gardens. To travelers, the gardens create a peaceful atmosphere not found at other top Parisian museums.

Transport

The Musée Rodin is just a short walk from the Varenne stop and Saint-Francois-Xavier stop, both of which lie on Metro Line 13.

Opening times

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.

Admission charges

Admission to the museum (including the gardens and permanent and temporary exhibits) costs 13 euros (around $14) per adult and is free for kids who are 17 and younger; audio guides cost an extra 6 euros (about $6). The museum is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month from October to March.

1. What makes Musée Rodin different from other top Parisian museums?

A．On-site gardens.	B．Many sculptures.
C．Personal art collections.	D．Famous artists’ drawings.

2. When can you visit Musée Rodin?

A．At 9:00 am on Monday.	B．At 3:00 pm on Thursday.
C．At 7:00 pm on Friday.	D．At 8:00 am on Sunday.

3. How much should a couple with a kid aged 5 pay to enter the museum on Tuesday?

A．€39.

B．€32.

C．€26.

D．€13.

2 . Ways To Improve Concentration

It’s often said our attention span is shorter than ever, and a survey from energy supplements brand ProPlus found that 41 per cent thought it was worse since the pandemic. But there are steps you can take to help you focus better.

    1    . Having a daily routine, including breaks, will minimize the brain fatigue (疲劳) which goes with having to make endless quick decisions without giving them your full attention and allow you to focus on the really important stuff.

Minimize distraction. Removing yourself from people and devices will allow you to concentrate better. Work in a different room if you can.     2    , turn off notifications and train yourself to check them at set intervals. Set a timer.

Find the right sound. Whether it’s music, white noise or even silence, you might find there’s a particular sound that helps you maintain your attention.     3    . They promote relaxation and are thought to play a role in cognition and, according to a small 2015 American study, make you more creative.

Focus on the right foods.     4    . These include fish, nuts, blueberries and dark chocolate (in moderation, of course!). One of the best ways to keep your brain in trim is to eat a healthy diet.

Sleep well.     5    . Everyone needs different amounts of shut-eye but aiming for seven to nine hours is considered the ideal.

A．Get up at the same time daily

B．Structure your daily life scientifically

C．This enhances alpha waves-brain waves

D．If you find yourself distracted by digital devices

E．Once you find your phone offer much information

F．Almost everyone suffers from brain fog after a bad night

G．You might get a boost from certain so-called “brain foods”

3 . Considered the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author, Isabel Allende is known for her many novels including “Eva Luna”, “Of Love and Shadows” and “A Long Petal of the Sea”. With “The Wind Knows My Name”, Allende has added a new dimension to her already varied works.

She skillfully creates and twists the unfortunate stories of two apocryphal children in her newest novel. They are fictionally named Samuel Adler and Anita Diaz, aged 5 and 7 respectively. Both of them are left alone, torn from their families by war or immigration as we witness the dramatic sacrifices parents sometimes must make to protect their sons and daughters and give them the best lives possible.

Early on in this work, a Nazi mob (暴徒) attacks the Jewish (犹太的) neighborhood where Samuel lives with his parents. Afterwards the father turns up in a hospital, but then is taken to a concentration camp and the mother sends the boy to safety in England. Samuel never sees his parents again. Decades later on the U.S.-Mexico border, Anita Diaz, 7, is separated by her mother under the U.S. government’s previous no tolerance policy that tore child migrants from their parents. The little girl is sent to live in a group home for children while her mother keeps missing. Through a series of circumstances, Samuel and Anita eventually meet through Leticia, a woman who migrated to the U.S. as a child herself after losing most of her family in El Salvador.

Allende moves the story back and forth between Europe and the United States, switches between the past and present, as two very different children in very different places and circumstances search for the safety of home and family. It’s a very different kind of book for Allende, who often places her stories in her native Latin America.

1. What can be learned about Allende?

A．She has traveled around the world.	B．She is a productive writer.
C．She reads works written in Spanish.	D．She creates novels of the same style.

2. What does the underlined word “apocryphal” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Not real.

B．Not happy.

C．Not perfect.

D．Not lucky.

3. What does Allende tells us about the two children in her newest work?

A．They grow up together in the US.	B．They make sacrifices for their parents.
C．They meet each other through a women.	D．They live unhappily with their families.

4. How does Allende develop her newest novel?

A．By placing background in Latin America.	B．By setting in different times and places.
C．By following hero and heroine’s search.	D．By discussing children’s circumstances.

4 . Four Cool Languages

Chinese

Around 1.4 billion people speak Chinese. Chinese is a tonal (声调的) language, meaning that changing the tone of just one syllable (音节) can affect a word’s meaning. Chinese writing has ancient roots, which is thought to have developed starting around 2000 B. C.

Arabic

Over 370 million people speak Arabic. Written Arabic uses a cursive-style font (连笔) that looks more like artworks than writing. Arabic is written from right to left rather than left to right, making it different from many other languages.

English

Around 379 million people speak English as a native language. It’s an official language in a huge number of other countries.

English is the most widely spoken second language, with over a billion people speaking it as a non-native language. That means around twice as many people speak English as a second language than people who speak it as a first language.

Italian

Nearly 68 million people speak Italian. If you play music or sing, chances are that you already know a lot of Italian because many familiar musical terms are actually Italian.

Not only will learning Italian help you pick up vocabulary, but it will also help you understand the meanings of musical terms in greater depth.

1. What is a feature of Arabic?

A．It doesn’t have cursive-style fonts.	B．It helps artists with their artworks.
C．It is written from right to left.	D．It is closely related to music.

2. Which language is the most widely used as a second language in the world?

A．Arabic.

B．English.

C．Chinese.

D．Italian.

3. What’s the number of people who speak Italian?

A．Nearly 68 million.	B．Around 370 million.
C．Over 379 million.	D．Around 1.4 billion.

5 . Tawnya Ford and Larry Sumpter are always ready to make their kids feel awkward. When their 15-year-old daughter Madelynn Sumpter broke the rules by going to a sleepover party secretly, they gave her a choice between ________ her phone for a month, or giving them access to her social media for two weeks. She chose the latter and the netizens are so ________ of it.

Madelynn Sumpter’s social media ________ by her parents began early in November with an Instagram post that ________ she had chosen to abandon her social media for two weeks. So her ________ could expect “some amazing Instagram posts, snapchats and tiktoks from her parents”. On November 11, Madelynn’s dad had already begun his ________ exploration to embarrass his teen daughter, by ________ one of his photos, saying “Felt cute. Might delete later”. But that was ________ the beginning. From posing in a tight top and ________ a blonde wig (假发), to dancing around in a pair of shorts and a tank-top (背心), it seemed like there was nothing the 43-year-old wouldn’t do to ________.

Over the course of two weeks, Madelynn Sumpter’s Instagram following ________ from around 2,700 to 12,700, at the time of this writing, so she should probably ________ her parents for their ________ punishment. The only question is “Can she ________ dad Larry’s creativity?”. She’ll have to give it a(n) ________ as many of her social media fans are already ________ her to “bring dad back”.

“We always ________ our kids!” Tawnya Ford said, adding that her husband routinely ________ their kids from school dressed as a mascot (吉祥物). From this ________, the girl finally understood her parents’ ________ are another kind of love.

1.

A．setting aside

B．taking away

C．handing over

D．bringing along

2.

A．appreciative

B．proud

C．afraid

D．confident

3.

A．breakdown

B．takeover

C．comeback

D．makeup

4.

A．consulted

B．found

C．pretended

D．announced

5.

A．relatives

B．followers

C．classmates

D．teachers

6.

A．similar

B．amusing

C．safe

D．fearful

7.

A．sharing

B．downloading

C．exploring

D．preserving

8.

A．exactly

B．definitely

C．merely

D．vaguely

9.

A．leaving

B．putting

C．wearing

D．enjoying

10.

A．entertain

B．relax

C．exercise

D．compete

11.

A．jumped

B．dived

C．counted

D．doubled

12.

A．doubt

B．accept

C．demand

D．thank

13.

A．average

B．severe

C．original

D．constant

14.

A．live up to

B．get rid of

C．look down on

D．put up with

15.

A．right

B．end

C．topic

D．go

16.

A．warning

B．asking

C．allowing

D．forcing

17.

A．please

B．support

C．frighten

D．embarrass

18.

A．stares at

B．picks up

C．knocks on

D．comes across

19.

A．performance

B．failure

C．experience

D．conflict

20.

A．comparisons

B．guesses

C．expectations

D．actions

6 . Longmen Grottoes

As one of the three most notable Buddhist sculptures in China, the Longmen Grottoes have approximately 1,400 caves with over 100,000 statues. The grottoes were first dug and carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Representing the high point of Chinese stone-carving, the Longmen Grottoes are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Opening hours: 8:00 a, m. — 5:00 p. m.(Feb. 1st to Mar. 31st); 7:30 a. m. — 5:30 p. m.(Apr. 1st to Oct. 7th)

Entry: 100 yuan/adult 30% off each teen

White Horse Temple

Originally established under Emperor Ming during the Eastern Han Dynasty, White Horse Temple is the first officially-built temple in China after the introduction of Buddhism. As the cradle of Chinese Buddhism, it holds a vast collection of Buddhist statues and classic sutras. The temple is also famous for interior architecture inspired by the Buddhist styles of Thailand, India and Burma.

Opening hours: 7:30 a. m. — 7:00 p. m.

Entry: 50 yuan/person

Millennium City Park

The Millennium City Park in Kaifeng is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park which copies scenes from the famous ancient painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Visitors can watch folklore performances like those of the Song Dynasty and see reconstructions of grand imperial halls and gardens.

Opening hours: 8:30 a. m. — 6:00 p. m.(winter); 8:30 a. m. — 10:00 p.m.

Entry: 120 yuan/person(Mar. 1st to Nov. 30th); 90 yuan/person(Dec. 1st to Feb. 28/29th)

Kaifeng Prefecture

Kaifeng Prefecture was once the country’s political, economic and cultural center as well as one of the most booming cities in the world during the Northern Song Dynasty. Today, the rebuilt Kaifeng Prefecture is a scenic area built according to the architectural standards of the Song Dynasty. Visitors can read historical documents and watch performances.

Opening hours: 7:30 a. m. — 5:30 p. m.(winter); 7:00 a. m. — 7:00 p. m.

Entry: 60 yuan/person

1. How much will a parent with two teens have to pay to visit Longmen Grottoes?

A．100 yuan.

B．160 yuan.

C．240 yuan.

D．340 yuan.

2. Which has the longest opening hours in summer?

A．Longmen Grottoes.	B．White Horse Temple.
C．Millennium City Park.	D．Kaifeng Prefecture.

3. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are tours about Chinese civilization.	B．Visitors can see ancient paintings.
C．They can be visited all year round.	D．The United Nations speak highly of them.

7 . When I was a child, I was a devoted fan of Charles Schulz, the creator of the famous Peanuts comic strip. His creations deeply _________ with us as kids. I _________ his books and had illustrations of his _________ all over my bedroom wall. He was truly one of my _________!

I had always known that comics were _________ drawings. They’re a wonderful way of _________.Charles Schulz kept me _________ that. Somehow, he _________me through my life because no matter where I was, I could open a newspaper and find his work.

I certainly never _________ to meet him. So, when the phone rang one day, and I heard the __________ “Hi, this is Charles Schulz,” I was so __________ that I had to sit down. He called me simply to say, “I like your __________.”

About a year after that phone call, we __________, in Washington at the Reuben Awards. I was nominated (提名)and actually __________ that year for my own comic strip. Charles Schulz came up to me at the event and whispered in my ear, “I __________ for you!”

We __________ so well that he said, “If you’re ever in California, please __________ and visit.” How often do you get a (n) __________ like that from one of your heroes? When I did go to California, he invited me to stay at his home. It was a quiet place on a hillside. We went for a __________ around his property, and I had a great visit. He’s someone I’ll never ever __________.

1.

A．agreed

B．connected

C．contrasted

D．reasoned

2.

A．sought

B．wrapped

C．sold

D．collected

3.

A．family

B．adventures

C．characters

D．plays

4.

A．heroes

B．teachers

C．goals

D．friends

5.

A．other than

B．more than

C．nothing but

D．far from

6.

A．socializing

B．recording

C．communicating

D．finding

7.

A．eager for

B．caught in

C．anxious about

D．aware of

8.

A．encouraged

B．moved

C．fulfilled

D．accompanied

9.

A．expected

B．hesitated

C．decided

D．wished

10.

A．messages

B．sounds

C．words

D．texts

11.

A．astonished

B．frightened

C．motivated

D．satisfied

12.

A．advice

B．work

C．feedback

D．personality

13.

A．toured

B．arrived

C．stayed

D．met

14.

A．lost

B．ranked

C．won

D．accessed

15.

A．voted

B．changed

C．looked

D．stood

16.

A．hung out

B．caught up

C．reached out

D．got along

17.

A．set out

B．drop by

C．turn in

D．show off

18.

A．opportunity

B．request

C．invitation

D．demand

19.

A．trip

B．walk

C．picnic

D．workout

20.

A．forget

B．doubt

C．owe

D．overlook

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。

On May 2, 2023, the China Cultural Centre in Malta hosted a Traditional Chinese Medicine Workshop     1     (lecture) by Zhang Min, a specialist from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre at the University of Malta. The workshop,     2     provided insights (深刻见解) into the diverse range of traditional Chinese medicine treatments available and how they can benefit physical and mental health, was very informative.

Traditional Chinese medicine     3     (be) an important part of Chinese culture and has been practiced in China     4     over 2,000 years focusing on the balance and harmony of the body, mind and spirit. “Traditional Chinese medicine has low side effects, if used     5     (correct) it will provide immediate results,” Zhang said.

Besides, the audience     6     (invite) to taste rose tea, which is another form of traditional Chinese medicine    7     (solve) digestive (消化的) problems. “The     8     (believe) in the curing properties of certain foods and herbs (药草) is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and has been passed on from generation to generation. Traditional Chinese medicine is also enjoyed by even     9     (many) people outside of China,” said Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta.

“    10     is exciting to see the cultural exchanges between China and Malta in the field of traditional Chinese medicine,” Yuan said.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does Cyber Edit aim to do?

A．Supply funding for businessmen.

B．Offer students computer editing services.

C．Edit documents for Wired magazine.

2. How many employees did the speaker hire at first?

A．Four.

B．Five.

C．Ten.

3. Why did some investors invest money in Cyber Edit?

A．It got good publicity.

B．It promised big returns.

C．It employed 50 students.

4. When is the best time for people to develop a business?

A．When they have the idea.

B．After they graduate from college.

C．After they have rich social experience.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does Mårtin find the atmosphere of the art studio?

A．Friendly.

B．Inspiring.

C．Stressful.

2. What does Sarah need to do?

A．Meet new people.

B．Develop new skills.

C．Find a way to relax.

3. Who teaches the beginners’ class?

A．Ms. Thompson.

B．Ms. Brown.

C．Ms. Johnson.