1 . At most schools in the U. S., it’s customary to have a cheer squad (啦啦队) to support athletics. Cheerleaders drum up excitement before games, put on jaw—dropping routines at games, and provide support on the sidelines of most events. But students who participate in performing and visual arts seldom receive the same displays of support as athletes do. A group of students at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah, decided to change that fact by creating a cheer squad just for the arts.
Their school’s athletics cheer squad is called the Bruin Crazies, so they named their artistic cheer squad the Bruin Classies! This is a new brand with which they could create something for all of the arts, whether it is band, dance show, photography and art galleries—to give them some publicity and cheer them on.
Classies wear a “uniform” of bow ties to indicate the “sense of class”artistic efforts bring their school. They carry around signs to advertise the upcoming play, musical, or dance performance. Hoping to drum up ticket sales, they encourage their fellow students to come out to support the hard work of others. They also attend performances and displays at school to cheer their classmates on.
After years of discussion to make a cheer squad for the arts, this is the first time they’ve been able to pull it off. More than 90 students have already signed up to be a Bruin Classy! “The students have poured their time and energy into their arts, and it is worthy to be celebrated. ”Caleb Stay, the cheer squad leader, said, “If you worked really hard on something and no one showed up, it would be disappointing. We just want to make sure that no one feels that way. ”
This is such an amazing idea! We can’t believe no one has come up with it before, but hopefully these thoughtful teens have started a new trend to support the arts in other schools, too.
1. Why did the students in Mountain View high school set up the Bruin Classies?| A．To support the arts in their schoo1. | B．To compete with the Bruin Crazies. |
| C．To participate in the art performing. | D．To cheer the athletes on in the games. |
| A．By offering free tickets to students. |
| B．By popularizing the art performances. |
| C．By inviting students to attend performances. |
| D．By wearing a special uniform for art festivals. |
| A．More students will sign up the Bruin Classy. |
| B．Few students like to attend the art performance. |
| C．The artistic cheer squad will become a new trend. |
| D．The students’artistic efforts deserve to be admired. |
| A．Move over, “Crazies,” the “Classies” are here |
| B．“Crazies” keep up, never give in to “Classies” |
| C．The Bruin Crazies, a “uniform” of bow ties |
| D．The Bruin Crazies, a big hit in Orem, Utah |
2 . Most Famous Paintings in the World
Among the millions of paintings that are created and shown in galleries and museums all around the world, a very small number of them go beyond time and make history. Below are some examples.
The Persistence of Memory — Salvador Dali. Painted in 1931, The Persistence of Memory is one of the most recognizable pieces in art history. This work is known to make people reflect on their way of life and the way they spend their time, and it is also thought that Albert Einstein’s well-known Theory of Relativity gave Dali the idea for this wonderful painting.
Girl with a Pearl Earring — Johannes Vermeer. Considered by many to be “the Dutch Mona Lisa”, this beautiful painting features an unnamed young woman looking over her shoulder to stare directly at the viewer. It was completed in 1665 and is exhibited in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Guernica — Pablo Picasso. The famous painting by Picasso was completed in 1937. It was painted in Paris following the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The painting is on permanent display in the Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain.
Starry Night — Vincent van Gogh. Painted in 1889, Starry Night is one of the most famous paintings in modern culture, which is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is based on van Gogh’s direct observations as well as his imagination, memories, and emotions and was the inspiration for the song Vincent (also known as Starry, Starry Night).
1. What do we know about The Persistence of Memory?| A．It was finished in the 1920s. | B．It centers on people’s lifestyle. |
| C．It reflects the painter’s memories. | D．It may be inspired by a famous theory. |
| A．The Persistence of Memory. | B．Starry Night. |
| C．Girl with a Pearl Earring. | D．Guernica. |
| A．They are everlasting artworks. | B．They share the similar theme. |
| C．They are on permanent display. | D．They give ideas for music creation. |
3 . Are you annoyed with the sound of the alarm clock when you are too tired and sleepy to get up? The good news is that you can get up refreshed after a happy battle with the following creative alarm clocks!
Banclock (Price: $85 each, 20% off for more)
Have you been keeping a pocketful of change for some time without knowing what to do with it? Maybe you can deposit those coins in your alarm. This cube is both an alarm clock and a money-box. It only stops ringing if you put a coin in it.
Dmbbell Alarm Clock (Price: $25 each)
You have to shake the 5-kilogram alarm clock up and down 30 times to stop it. Of course you will be totally refreshed then. Don’t be lazy and build up your body in the morning!
Glo Pillow Alarm Clock (Price: $60 each)
This alarm is special because it is a pillow and it doesn’t ring loud. The pillow gradually glows (发光) from inside 40 minutes before the pre-set alarm time. It resembles the effect of sunlight. That’s a more pleasant way to get out of bed.
IQ Alarm Clock (Price: $100 each, 30% off for more)
What about a brain workout in the morning? IQ alarm will go off and ask you a set of IQ questions. Don’t even think about removing the battery, because it has a hard-to-open battery compartment (电池盒). The only way to shut it off is to answer all questions correctly.
1. Which alarm clock best suits people who like doing sports?| A．Banclock. | B．Dmbbell Alarm Clock. |
| C．Glo Pillow Alarm Clock. | D．IQ Alarm Clock. |
| A．High technology applied. | B．Excellent after-sale service. |
| C．Low price and high quality. | D．The gentle way to awaken people. |
| A．$60. | B．$100. | C．$140. | D．$200 |
As a teenager, I often heard people say, "High school is the best years of life!" So I looked forward to
Actually, there were really too many unforgettable moments in those years. Whether they were bad moments or
During those years, I liked to volunteer and took an active part in debate. I behaved
Other than voluntary work, I also liked sporting events, which
I really miss my high school life.
5 . It was the first time I had taught in a special needs classroom. I wasn't sure what to expect at our school sports meeting. All my students had some problems, from slight learning disabilities to physical disabilities.
Mark was one of the latter. He had to get around in a wheelchair. But he was always positive and greeted everyone with a huge smile. His classmates loved him, especially Lucas, the boy who was good at sports. I knew Mark wanted to be like him.
When track and field day came, Lucas did well in every event. Mark sat on the sideline, cheering him on. The final event of the day was the 400-meter race. Everyone was invited to either walk or run. But when Lucas reached the finish line, he stopped and turned to look behind him. At the back of the crowd was Mark. He was alone on the track, trying to catch up with others. Lucas made a decision quickly. He turned back toward his friend. He ran beside Mark, cheering him on as Mark had done for him before.
In the end, the two boys crossed the finish line together to the excited shout of their teachers and classmates. Seeing Mark's face, I came to understand what makes the Special Olympics so special. Everyone deserves their own time to shine.
1. Why was the class"special"?| A．It was taught at special times and in special places. |
| B．The students had some learning and physical problems. |
| C．Everyone could walk or run faster than common people. |
| D．All of the students cheered for each other in every event. |
| A．No students would take part in it. | B．It wouldn't be a challenging one. |
| C．The writer didn't expect too much. | D．Students shouldn't spend time on it. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Serious. |
| C．Noisy. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．He waited for Mark at the finish line. |
| B．He cheered the Mark on the sidelines. |
| C．He went back and ran with Mark together. |
| D．He shouted it and laughed at him excitedly. |
| A．Track and field is a fun event for everyone. |
| B．The Special Olympics are boring to watch. |
| C．Friendship comes from valuable competition. |
| D．Everyone deserves to have a special moment. |
6 . Black Valley, 63 kilometers from downtown Chongqing, is one of the best preserved natural wonders around the municipality. The national 5A-level scenic spot is a popular summer resort for sightseeing, forest adventures, outdoor camping, hunting and angling.
Located in Heishan town, Wansheng Economic Development Zone, the scenic spot spans over 103 square kilometers, 97 percent of which are covered by primitive forests. With over 110,000 negative oxygen ions in each cubic centimeter of air, it is dubbed as a natural oxygen bar and “the most beautiful healthcare-themed valley.”
Black Valley is also known as “the natural gene bank of Chongqing and Guizhou regions” for the diversity of its rare plants and wildlife, including Cathaya argyrophylla, Davidia involucrata, Trachypithecus francoisi and clouded leopards.
Scenic spot level: AAAAA
Address: Heishan town, Wansheng Economic Development Zone, 63 kilometers from downtown Chongqing Opening hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (peak season from November to February), 9:00 am-3:00 pm (off season from March to October)
Ideal sightseeing season: from May to September
Ticket price: 60 yuan ($8.72) during off season and 100 yuan during peak season, sightseeing bus and cable not included.
Notes:
1. It is recommended that tourists start from the higher southern area for a downward journey.
2. The average temperature is 18.1 degrees.
3. It’s a good idea to experience the local folk culture of the Miao ethnic group, especially when you choose to visit in May when the traditional Caishan Festival of Miao ethnic group is celebrated.
1. What can we know about Black Valley?| A．It lies in downtown Chongqing. |
| B．Plants and wildlife are rarely seen there. |
| C．A visit there costs at most 100 yuan. |
| D．The air is very high in negative oxygen ions there. |
| A．January. | B．March. | C．May. | D．July. |
| A．Culture. | B．Travel. | C．Nature. | D．Wildlife. |
