1 . Thousands of years before Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, tiny beads helped humans make social connections. A decade-long study of more than 1,500 beads made from bird eggshells and found across Africa has revealed a 50,000-year-old social network, archaeologists say.
“People made them to communicate symbolic messages, the way that today we might wear a wedding ring, to indicate something about social status, wealth or position in society,” said Jennifer Miller, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Archaeology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, in Jena, Germany.
They studied 1,516 beads(1,238 of which were described for the first time)that originated from 31 different sites across southern and eastern Africa and spanned (跨越)the last 50,000 years. Comparing the different characteristics of the beads—the size and thickness, they found that between 33,000 and 50,000 years ago, people at sites across southern and eastern Africa—spanning a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers(about 1,864 miles)—were using almost identical beads.
“We know that genetically these groups had some sort of contact, but there so far has been no cultural evidence,” said Miller, who was an author of the study, which was published on Monday in the journal Nature. The oldest beads come from East Africa, the study found, and likely spread south across the continent from there. The authors described it as the oldest social network ever identified and the furthest Old Stone Age “stylistic connection” ever documented.
While it’s possible the beads could have been directly exchanged in some way, Miller thought more likely it was the knowledge of how to make them that was exchanged. “Possibly people would have seen this new thing that people were wearing or making and thought, ‘Oh, that’s so cool.’ And then copied it,” Miller said. “And so in that way, rather than obtaining these beads directly, it might have been more of copying the cool new thing.”
1. Why did people in Africa make tiny beads 50,000 years ago?| A．To use them as presents. |
| B．To show their social status. |
| C．To exchange things with others. |
| D．To tell others they were married. |
| A．They were almost the same. |
| B．They had different sizes and thicknesses. |
| C．They originated from 31 different sites in Germany. |
| D．They were made in the New Stone Age. |
| A．They were directly exchanged. |
| B．Ancient people had to move frequently. |
| C．There was a demand for communication. |
| D．The knowledge of making them spread. |
| A．The history of tiny beads in Africa |
| B．The cultural significance of beads |
| C．A stone-age social network in Africa |
| D．A newfound function of bird eggshells |
2 . Musicians want to be heard. Making that happen involves time and effort that could be spent making music, however. Fortunately, Richmonders Elijah Hedrick and designer Rian Moses-Hedrick have started a platform to help. HearRVA shines a spotlight on Richmond musicians. “We’re basically trying to play matchmaker with music fans here in Richmond,” Rian says.
The promotion platform was created in July last year by the designer and her husband, Elijah. HearRVA’s website offers videos of local performances, a list of live music spots and playlists of songs from Richmond-based musicians. Musicians submit links to their work to be considered for promotion at no cost. The site is a passion project for the married couple and is supported by money donations from the natives.
One of the next steps is an interview series, “Liner Notes,” which highlights local musicians and the motivations behind their music. The series was launched in November with local singer Devonne Harris, who plays recorded popular music on the local radio. “It’s a great way for listeners to get a close look into what’s going on behind some of the creative forces in the city,” Harris says. “Sometimes having extra insight adds more of a connection, so people can really go back to listen to your music and be grateful for what you do and listen to it from a different angle.”
Rian and Elijah are looking ahead to season two of “Liner Notes”, which they plan to release next year. For them, everything ties back to providing exposure to local musicians. “People always want to go to LA or New York because they think they have a better shot there, and the market’s bigger,” Rian says, “but why don’t we grow the market here?”
1. What is the main purpose of HearRVA?| A．To bring local artists close together. |
| B．To build a useful source for musicians. |
| C．To show how to appreciate local music. |
| D．To connect local musicians with music lovers. |
| A．The great local demand for it. |
| B．Local musicians’ desire for fame. |
| C．Local people’s financial support. |
| D．The married couple’s gift for music. |
| A．The comparisons between different musicians. |
| B．Effective ways of composing or playing music. |
| C．Different opinions on a certain kind of music. |
| D．Reasons why local musicians create their music. |
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Uncertain. | D．Indifferent. |
3 . Four Shows to See
Falcons: The Art of the Hunt, National Museum of Asian Art
The trained accuracy of hunting falcons (猎鹰) has long been attractive to humans. As long ago as early 8th-century Syria, falcons were being trained to become skillful hunters for the royal courts. The fashion spread across the globe. A new show collects paintings and objects from ancient Egypt to China celebrating the hunting power of the birds. (Jan.15-July 17).
Iké Udé—Nollywood Portraits, National Museum of African Art
The success of Nigerias film industry has also meant the rise of charm and celebrity in what is called Nollywood. Enter Iké Udé to photograph the leading stars. The result reflects the changing nature of African identity in the 21st century. (Feb.5)
We Are Made of Stories, Smithsonian American Art Museum
This exhibition highlights some of the 93 works of art in the collection of Margaret Z. Robson, featuring the works of 48 major self-taught artists. The collection was gifted, the largest of its kind in two decades, and it expanded the museum’s extensive holdings of what was once referred to as folk art. (July 1)
Baseball: America’s Home Run, National Postal Museum
This show features hundreds of US and international stamps in memory of baseball’s finest players. First organized to mark the 150th anniversary of professional baseball, “Baseball: America’s Home Run” will feature some historic objects that have never appeared on public display. (April 9-September 25)
1. What can you enjoy in National Museum of Asian Art?| A．Strength of falcons. | B．Western paintings. |
| C．Lifestyle of common Syrians. | D．Nollywood films. |
| A．National Postal Museum. | B．National Museum of Asian Art. |
| C．National Museum of African Art. | D．Smithsonian American Art Museum. |
| A．It presents rare stamps. | B．It combines basketball and art. |
| C．It first exhibits some historic items. | D．It’s sponsored by famous baseball players. |
A famous painting of Marilyn Monroe created by American artist Andy Warhol was sold for $195 million on Monday. That is
The sale took place at Christie’s auction (拍卖) house in New York. Many
When the auction
The earnings of the sale will go to the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation Zurich,
5 . A friend of mine called me at 2 am. I usually worked through the
I was
I felt happy. I know that sometimes what
I've ever been in situations where I've had to
I have had
I really hope that I was able to give my friend support. Even though we did not
| A．day | B．night | C．year | D．dusk |
| A．going through | B．backing up | C．lining in with | D．making up for |
| A．equipped | B．contrasted | C．provided | D．overloaded |
| A．Given | B．Including | C．Besides | D．Without |
| A．regretted | B．decided | C．hesitated | D．dedicated |
| A．on hold | B．out of control | C．at hand | D．within reach |
| A．program | B．situation | C．life | D．fortune |
| A．takes | B．determines | C．understands | D．matters |
| A．clear | B．fancy | C．severe. | D．equal |
| A．additional | B．fortunate | C．tough | D．great |
| A．gets | B．leaves | C．lets | D．cares |
| A．criticism | B．profit | C．presentation | D．encouragement |
| A．stress | B．complain | C．remove | D．remember |
| A．see | B．put | C．struggle | D．depart |
| A．independent | B．discouraging | C．admirable | D．reliable |
| A．result | B．advocate | C．ignorance | D．support |
| A．privately | B．unexpectedly | C．roughly | D．unfairly |
| A．proposal | B．similarity | C．difference | D．acknowledgement |
| A．solve | B．benefit | C．rule | D．keep |
| A．inform | B．relieve | C．convince | D．remind |
6 . One of the three astronauts who made up the historic Apollo 11 crew, NASA veteran Michael Collins passed away today, April 28, 2021, at the age of 90.
Collins was born on Oet. 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy. His father, a career officer in the US, Amy who’d go on to retire as a major general, was stationed there at the time. After his family returned stateside, Collins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the US. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the class of 1952. He then became an Air Force test pilot, which opened some interesting doors. In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenn’s achievement was an inspiration for Collins. “I certainly had no childhood dream of flying to the moon or anywhere else, but the idea was extremely appealing.” Collins wrote in his autobiography Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut’s Journeys. He was selected to join NASA’s third class of astronauts the following year. His first extraterrestrial (地球外的) adventure came in 1966, when Collins set about on a three-day spaceflight with fellow astronaut John Young. Known as Gemini X, their mission was one for the record books; the two men reached the then-unprecedented (前所未有的) altitude of 475 miles (764kilometers ).
Of course, Michael Collins is best remembered for his role in Apollo 11. On July 16, 1969, at 8:32 AM ( Eastern Standard Time ), Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were launched out of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They were the three explorers NASA had chosen for the first mission that would ever put a man on the moon. Four days into their adventure, on July 20, Collins parted ways with his crewmates. Seated in the Eagle landing craft, Armstrong and Aldrin made their landing onto the lunar surface. An American flag was planted; photos were taken; Armstrong said the immortal words, “ One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. ”
Meanwhile, Collins stayed behind in the crew’s command module (舱), orbiting the moon as his colleagues explored it.
1. What motivated Collins to dream of flying to the moon?| A．His father’s encouragement. | B．John Glenn’s achievement. |
| C．His childhood experiences. | D．His favorite book. |
| A．He became the first American to orbit Earth. |
| B．He dreamed of flying to the moon in his childhood. |
| C．His first space exploration was accomplished by himself. |
| D．He once wrote an autobiography. |
| A．He was praised by Armstrong. | B．He became an Air Force test pilot. |
| C．He participated in the work of Apollo 11. | D．He reached the then-unprecedented altitude of 475 miles. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Lucky. | C．Warmhearted. | D．Humorous. |
7 . For centuries people have wondered who was the model for Leonard do da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and what was the reason for her smile. But the Mona Lisa is just one of the many mysteries in the art world. Here are some other notable unsolved art mysteries that might be a little less familiar.
Mystery 1: Who Is the girl in Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring?
Around 1665, Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer painted a charming portrait of a young girl. People around the globe have long wondered who this fetching young lady was. Many say she must have been Vermeer’s daughter or girlfriend. Others think she wasn’t a real person, but rather an intentionally mysterious, timeless figure. The painting, referred to as the “ Mona Lisa of the North ” , has been part of The Hague’s permanent collection since 1903. But it draws record-breaking crowds whenever and wherever it tours around the world.
Mystery 2: Where Is Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Man?
Portrait of a Young Man is considered one of the most important pieces of art to go missing during World War II. The painting was created around 1513 by Raphael, a famous Italian Renaissance artist, and stolen from Poland’s Princes Czartoryski Museum in 1939.
The portrait had traveled to Germany and Austria before it was gone in 1945.
Mystery 3: Was Van Gogh Murdered?
One of the main things people know about Vincent van Gogh is that he cut off his ear. That was likely because the Dutch post-impressionist painter suffered from mental illness, probably severe depression. The official cause is suicide from a gun shot at close range.
That certainly seems plausible (貌似有理的), given his poor mental health. However, no gun was found near his body, and locals reported two teenage boys bullying him shortly before his death.
1. What do Portrait of a Young Man and Girl with a Pearl Earring have in common?| A．They are both gone. | B．They are both portraits. |
| C．They were created at the same period. | D．They are both related to World War II. |
| A．Leonardo da Vinci. | B．Johannes Vermeer. | C．Vincent van Gogh. | D．Raphael. |
| A．Art lovers. | B．Book reviewers. | C．Tour guides. | D．Music composers. |
8 . The aftermath (后果) of an earthquake can be horrible, but it is important that you are attentive and focused after an earthquake happens. Fires, gas leaks, and injuries are all dangers you might face after an earthquake.
Check yourself for injuries.
Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes which follow the main shock of an earthquake.
Exit the building and go to a safer place once the shaking has stopped. The structure of the building you’re in may have been weakened by the main earthquake.
| A．Signal for help if you are trapped. |
| B．They can cause significant damage. |
| C．Remain calm as the earthquake occurs. |
| D．The more prepared you are, the safer you’ll be. |
| E．Make sure you’re not seriously hurt before you do anything. |
| F．After the earthquake, you must get medical treatment in time. |
| G．Therefore, you should leave as soon as possible in case of any aftershocks. |
9 . Have you ever gone to a museum or a show and been completely blown away by a piece? If you haven’t, go out and get cultured. I’m a student at the College of Visual and Performing Arts where we create all kinds of art every day.
First of all, we need to be inspired. You may think that’s easy. In fact, anything can serve as a concept of a work of art.
The process can take weeks, months, and even years to be fully realized. Once completed, we need to share it and find an audience and provide an environment to display our work.
Creating art is an art in itself. It is really not as easy as many people think.
| A．Outsiders think our jobs easy. |
| B．We should be quiet and creative. |
| C．We might choose other fields as well. |
| D．Resources are also a huge factor in making art. |
| E．The hard part comes when we put our ideas into reality. |
| F．And the negative thoughts love to overpower our minds. |
| G．It takes time, patience and space when things don’t go as expected. |
10 . The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and University of Central Lanca-shire (UCLan) share findings of a project to improve student engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
It’s long been acknowledged that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Now, research conducted by UCLan and funded by STFC shows the causes of this problem and points to innovative solutions. The Blackpool Physics; Inspire, Engage, Research (PIER) project found that primary school children from low socio-economic areas are just as interested in science but lack knowledge about possible science careers.
The PIER project is following a group of pupils as they progress from Grade 6 to Grade 9, using surveys, interviews and other assessments to measure interest in science. These initial findings suggest that attempts to increase science participation among young people should not simply promote the subject as “fun” or “interesting”. Instead, greater impact could be achieved by demonstrating clearly how science can open possible future career opportunities.
Many of the pupils taking part in the study understood that studying science could be useful but few could explain why, suggesting a need for greater education about STEM careers. As well as broadening our understanding of the issue, the PIER project is solving the problem head on. The team has carried out a variety of activities each year for the participants, including “meet the scientists” events, trips to UCLan’s Alston Observatory as well as family science events at school.
Lead Researcher and STFC Fellow in Public Engagement, Professor Robert Walsh, said, “Much government policy towards boosting science in higher education focuses on an assumed lack of interest and desire in low-socioeconomic groups.” However, the enthusiasm is already there and this “hidden science identity” needs to be revealed and translated into real-life prospects for these young people. We’re recommending that programs instead allow young people to explore their science identity more fully and provide innovative ways to discover the jobs that studying science may lead to.
1. What do people generally believe about poor students?| A．They have no interest in STEM careers. |
| B．They are not engaged enough in science. |
| C．They are more representative of science. |
| D．They have many character disadvantages. |
| A．Assessing pupils’ performance. |
| B．Increasing the surveys of pupils. |
| C．Demonstrating the potential value of science. |
| D．Promoting the subject as “fun” or “interesting”. |
| A．To boost science development. |
| B．To meet the pupils’ needs for school events. |
| C．To promote teaching related careers’ development. |
| D．To improve students’ understanding of STEM careers. |
| A．What Is the Definition of PIER? |
| B．Increase Pupils’ Learning Awareness |
| C．How Does the PIER Project Come into Being? |
| D．The PIER Project Helps Poor Pupils Engage in Science |
