1 . In Singapore, it seems like art can be seen at every turn. Throughout the year, festivals, live performances, and concerts add to the vibrancy (活力) of the creative community. Here are some of the biggest art festivals.
SINGAPORE ART WEEK
When: January
Over the course of 10 days, this massive visual art celebration organizes more than 130 art events — at museums, galleries, independent art spaces, and public places across Singapore from the city center to the heartland neighborhoods. Visitors can have discussions with artists, and attend art exhibitions and workshops that explore art and culture in Asia. Whether you’re interested in Sudanese architecture or cute Japanese paintings, there’s an event for everyone,
ART SG
When: January
During the biggest art fair in Southeast Asia, more than 150 of the world’s best galleries will showcase their collection of more than 1,000 artists at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center. From 12-15 January, this large-scale art show highlights paintings, sculptures, and photography from galleries like the influential Gagosian and London’s White Cube.
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS
When: May
This annual performance art festival pushes the boundaries of physical and virtual spaces and explores The Anatomy of Performance through music, film, dance, musicals, and plays. The festival’s lineup includes a broad range of programs from local and international artists, ranging from orchestral performances to different styles of modern and traditional dances.
SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
When: August
For one week each August, the Bras Basah Bugis district lights up for this multi-dimensional art festival, with more than a dozen light installations (装置), stage shows, and theater performances. The National Museum of Singapore sponsors the event. It also acts as a major venue for various performances and demonstrations along with the Singapore Art Museum and the Peranakan Museum.
1. What can visitors do at SINGAPORE ART WEEK?| A．Watch orchestral performances. |
| B．Appreciate works of photography. |
| C．Discuss with artists. |
| D．Admire Sudanese paintings. |
| A．Three days. | B．Four days. | C．A week. | D．Ten days. |
| A．SINGAPORE ART WEEK |
| B．ART SG |
| C．SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS |
| D．SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL |
1. Why does the man come to the restaurant?
| A．It serves tasty meat. |
| B．He heard the food was healthy. |
| C．His friend recommended it. |
| A．It will use more natural food. |
| B．It will provide more snacks. |
| C．It will move closer to the farm. |
| A．Pay the bill. | B．Order his meal. | C．Praise the menu. |
Trains – Traveling by train has fallen out of favour with many travellers in North America, but trains are well worth considering when the location you are traveling to is well-served by trains. High speed train travel, when combined with rail passes, can also be a good way to get to different parts of a large country and avoid the stress of driving or flying. Be aware that long distance passenger train schedules are rarely accurate (especially in North America), so plan to give yourself a day or so before boarding and after leaving those trains.
Airlines – Airfares are usually cheaper when purchased in advance rather than at the last minute, so book your airline tickets first, then structure the rest of your trip around your arrival and departure times. Airfares vary on different days of the week and different times of the month and year, so if you’re flexible with your departure time, select that option on the booking website so cheaper fares can be found for you to consider.
Car rentals – If you are driving to a destination instead of flying, you will need to prepare for spending days on the road. It is also important to keep a close eye on car rental rates, since they can jump around based on demand, and even from location to location within a city or region.
Tours – Tours are great because everything is usually arranged for you. The downside is that you are part of a group, so no matter where you go, there is a crowd with you. You need to be flexible when traveling with a tour group because not all the arrangements (or possibly tour members) may suit you.
1. What do we know about traveling by train?| A．It’s North Americans’ favorite. | B．It is convenient in North America. |
| C．It might not guarantee your travel schedule. | D．It causes as much stress as driving. |
| A．The money charged varies. | B．Your flexibility is allowed. |
| C．Convenience is guaranteed. | D．No preparations are needed. |
| A．Trains. | B．Airlines. | C．Car rentals. | D．Tours. |
4 . You may not know a lot of people when you start senior high school. Maybe your friends from junior high school are going to a different senior high school. Even if you know other freshmen (一年级学生), you still feel jittery that you don’t know any upperclassmen. How are you going to make friends among this sea of unknown faces?
Most senior high schools hold the freshman orientation (迎新会) before school actually starts. It is helpful because you not only learn your way around the building but also get to meet some of your teachers and fellow freshmen. That way, when you show up on your first day of school, you may already recognize a few familiar faces.
When you talk to people at orientation, you’ll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They’re all new to the school and don’t know what to expect. Talking about a common concern with your classmates can help you develop friendships.
The work in senior high school is something freshmen are probably worried about. It builds on what you learned in junior high school, giving you a more advanced (高深的) knowledge of many subjects. So you may find you have more work to do or that it’s a bit more challenging. If you ever find your work too difficult, teachers can give you extra help.
Senior high school also has more after-school activities than junior high school, such as clubs, music and theater groups and sports teams. This is a good time to explore your interests and try new things.
Junior high school taught you the basics of time management and social skills while providing you with a little extra support and guidance. Senior high school gives you the chance to learn how to be more independent and responsible.
1. What does the underlined word “jittery” mean in Paragraph 1?| A．Proud. | B．Confident. | C．Anxious. | D．Bored. |
| A．The learning task. | B．The freshman orientation. |
| C．The ability to make friends. | D．The relationship with teachers. |
| A．Develop friendships. | B．Develop their interests. |
| C．Build up their strength. | D．Improve their learning ability. |
| A．What you learned in junior high school. |
| B．The importance of being more independent. |
| C．How to improve yourself in senior high school. |
| D．The difference between junior high school and senior high school. |
It’s my honor
First of all, she has great passion for her work. She teaches many different classes — Language Arts Enrichment, Writing for Publication and Reader’s Theater. Ms. Sullivan is also responsible
In addition, Ms. Sullivan always tries to make
In conclusion, I think Ms. Sullivan should be Educator of the Year. She deserves our respect and love.
6 . Everything to Know About Beijing
Beijing has much to offer: everything from culture, art and nature to night life, food and shopping.
When to Go
Beijing usually sees cold winters and hot summers. Spring and autumn, however, are quite comfortable and dry. April through May and September through October are considered the best months to visit, but try to avoid the first week of October, as it marks the national holiday celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic of China, causing famous sites to be overly crowded.
Souvenir (纪念品) to Take Home
To shop for something different, head over to Panjiayuan Flea Market, where shops sell kinds of second-hand paintings, statues, and souvenirs — some mass-produced (大批量生产的) and some perhaps of real value. The best time for a visit is on weekends during early morning.
Travel Tips
Avoid Beijing’s traffic jams and save your valuable time by taking the subway. The Beijing subway is cheap and easy to use even for foreigners, although rush hour can get much crowded. China is also advanced in bike sharing. As biking is one of the best and fastest ways of getting around in Beijing, most hotels do offer bikes to their guests.
Worthy(值得...的)View
For a special view of the Forbidden City, head over to Jingshan Park across the street from the north entrance (入口) to the Palace Museum. Climb to the top of the hill and you’ll find yourself on the highest point in central Beijing with an impressive view of the Forbidden City.
1. Which of the following is the best time to visit Beijing?| A．January to February and July to August. |
| B．April to May and September to October. |
| C．March to April and August to September. |
| D．May to June and October to November. |
| A．Most of the paintings sold at Panjiayuan Flea Market are of real value. |
| B．The best time to visit Panjiayuan Flea Market is on the morning of weekdays. |
| C．Both the subway and shared bikes are great ways to travel around Beijing. |
| D．The top of the Palace Museum is the highest point in central Beijing. |
| A．An encyclopedia. | B．A history magazine. |
| C．A news report. | D．A travel brochure. |
| A．Friends. | B．Mother and son. | C．Saleswoman and customer. |
| A．Rainy. | B．Sunny. | C．Windy. |
9 . The Mid-Autumn Day is a happy time for a family reunion (团聚). But it was a different
On that morning, I smiled seeing mooncakes on the table. But then I
At the Mid-Autumn Gala (联欢会), the scene (场景) of a family having dinner together made me
At midnight, I got lost in thought. The day is so important that I felt upset without a good
| A．story | B．time | C．show | D．symbol |
| A．decided | B．expected | C．realized | D．replied |
| A．awful | B．doubtful | C．surprised | D．tired |
| A．meal | B．party | C．festival | D．holiday |
| A．Moved | B．Excited | C．Relaxed | D．Confused |
| A．started | B．cooked | C．finished | D．tidied |
| A．papers | B．chopsticks | C．presents | D．books |
| A．imagining | B．confirming | C．explaining | D．thinking |
| A．stress | B．accept | C．miss | D．inspire |
| A．cry | B．chat | C．recover | D．understand |
| A．visited | B．met | C．called | D．welcomed |
| A．show up | B．hold on | C．look back | D．go back |
| A．celebration | B．tradition | C．connection | D．account |
| A．continued | B．disappeared | C．changed | D．returned |
| A．Hopefully | B．Generally | C．Naturally | D．Similarly |
10 . More and more people choose to manage their money online. While this offers more convenience, it also has the possible hazard. Some people use clever ways to try to steal people’s money online.
The most common scams include email, phone call and SMS scams that make someone believe scammers and hand over banking and other personal details. Scammers can also use malicious software to steal the people’s information on their computers.
Banks use the latest technology to help keep their customers’ information and money safe from scams. But people also need to play their part in protecting themselves from being cheated. Banks work hard to protect your money using the latest technology, and teams of experts work around the clock to keep an eye on accounts and protect them against theft. But what’s the most important is that you also take steps to stay up to date with the different types of scams commonly spreading.
These are unexpected calls where the callers say they are from famous organisations. They pretend to be an expert and request “remote access” to your computer and then attempt to get access to your personal accounts. Sometimes they ask for your information, such as banking details. If someone calls and asks to access your computer, hang up and never share your information.
Scam emails often look like they are from real organisations, such as banks and government departments. Email scams can be particularly well-designed and hard to identify. They come with a link that you are asked to click on. You might then be asked to enter your banking details into a fake site, known as “phishing”. Banks and famous businesses will not send emails or SMS messages with a link to access your online banking. Do not click on links from unknown or unexpected emails or texts.
1. What does the underlined word “hazard” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Convenience. | B．Choice. | C．Function. | D．Risk. |
| A．Experts’ effort. | B．Users’ knowledge. |
| C．Banks’ management. | D．Technological progress. |
| A．Scammers can create a fake identity. |
| B．Scammers can freely access your accounts. |
| C．Scammers can control your computer without your agreement. |
| D．Scammers from famous organisations can share your information. |
| A．To show the ways people manage money. |
| B．To show the popularity of online banking. |
| C．To show how to protect yourself from various scams. |
| D．To show how to deal with unexpected calls and emails. |
