1 . The woman bringing Mandarin to Uganda
Wang Lihong Sooma, who moved to East Africa from China more than two decades ago, is determined to teach Ugandans how to speak Mandarin (普通话).
Forty more teachers are now enrolled (入学) and classes start at 8:00 and finish at 22:00 from Monday to Friday.
Wang’s goal is to have 100 teachers trained up and teaching Mandarin in 60 Ugandan schools by 2023. She sees it as a win-win situation, giving the example of how Chinese have benefited from learning English. “
| A．They learn our language. |
| B．I just think in the same way. |
| C．We learnt their language and we understood them. |
| D．When I came here, it changed my fixed ideas about African people. |
| E．It is not just Ugandans who see this course as a life-changing opportunity. |
| F．She and her husband are organising nine-month courses for teachers to learn Mandarin. |
| G．To become fluent and be able to teach a language within nine months is a huge undertaking. |
2 . Have you ever looked at a seal (海豹) and thought, “Is that the same seal I saw yesterday?” Well, there could soon be an app for that. Known as SealNet, this app was developed by a team of undergraduate students from Colgate University in New York.
Taking inspiration from the technology adapted for recognizing bears, Krista Ingram, a biologist at Colgate University, led her students to develop software that is tailored to identify the harbor seal, a species with a special liking for posing on coasts.
The team had to train their software to identify seal faces. “I give it a photograph. It finds the face, and makes it a standard size,” says Ingram. And then she and her students would identify the nose, the mouth, and the center of the eyes by themselves.
As with all technology, however, SealNet is not always unerring. The software saw seal faces on other body parts, plants, and even rocks. In one case, Ingram and her students did a double take at the similarity between a rock and a seal face. “The rock did look like a seal face,” Ingram says. “The darker parts were about the same distance as the eyes, so you can understand why the software found a face.” Consequently, she says it’s always best to check that seal faces identified by the software belong to a real seal.
Of the world’s pinnipeds — a group that includes seals and sea lions — harbor seals are considered the most widely spread. Yet knowledge gaps do exist. Other techniques to track seals, such as tagging and aerial monitoring, have their limitations and can be highly invasive (侵入的) or expensive. Ingram believes SealNet could be a useful, noninvasive tool for researchers.
Ingram points to an aspect of seal behavior that SealNet could cast more light on. The team’s trials indicated that seals return to the same sites on coasts year after year. Increasing scientists’ understanding of how seals move around could strengthen arguments for protecting specific areas, says Anders Galatius, an ecologist at Aarhus University in Denmark.
1. What can we learn about SealNet?| A．It is a seal face-finding system. | B．It can help recognize bears as well. |
| C．It was developed by some graduates. | D．It can take photos of seals automatically. |
| A．Available. | B．Complicated. | C．Accurate. | D．Essential. |
| A．Stay on round rocks. | B．Move around to keep fit. |
| C．Stick with sea lions. | D．Visit certain spots regularly. |
| A．To call for the protection of seals. | B．To introduce seal-friendly technology. |
| C．To display new ways of tracking seals. | D．To explain why seals always move around. |
3 . There is something to be said for being a generalist, even if you are a specialist. Knowing a little about a lot of things that interest you can add to the rich ness of a whole, well-lived life.
Society pushes us to specialize, to become experts. This requires commitment to a particular occupation, branch of study or research. The drawback to being specialists is that we often come to know more and more about less and less. There is a great deal of pressure to master one’s field. You may pursue training, degrees, or increasing levels of responsibility at work. Then you discover the pressure of having to keep up.
Some people seem willing to work around the clock in their narrow specialty. But such commitment can also weaken their sense of freedom. These specialists could work at the office until ten each night, then look back and realize they would have loved to have gone home and enjoyed the sweetness of their family and friends, or traveled to exciting places, meeting interesting people. Mastering one thing to the exclusion of others can hold back your true spirit.
Generalists, on the other hand, know a lot about a wide range of subjects and view the whole with all its connections. They are people of ability, talent, and enthusiasm who can bring their broad perspective (视角) into specific fields of expertise (专长). The doctor who is also a poet and Philosopher, is a superior doctor, one who can give so much more to his patients than just good medical skills.
Things are connected. Let your expertise in one field fuel your passions in all related areas. Some of your interests may not appear to be connected but, once you explore their depths, you discover that they are. My editor Toni, who is also a writer, has edited several history books. She has decided to study Chinese history. Fascinated by the structural beauty of the Forbidden City as a painter, she is equally interested to learn more about Chinese philosophy. “I don’t know where it will lead, but I’m excited I’m on this pursuit.”
These expansions into new worlds help us by giving us new perspectives. We begin to see the interconnectedness of one thing to another in all aspects of our life, of ourselves and the universe. Develop broad, general knowledge and experience. The universe is all yours to explore and enjoy.
1. To become a specialist, you may have to ________.| A．narrow your range of knowledge | B．get pushed by the surroundings |
| C．know a lot more about society | D．broaden your perspective on life |
| A．is a pure specialist in medicine | B．is gifted in poetry and philosophy |
| C．is fully aware of his talent and ability | D．brings knowledge of other fields to work |
| A．Chinese culture is appealing to people worldwide. |
| B．One passion alone is not enough to ensure success. |
| C．In-depth exploration can make discoveries possible. |
| D．Seemingly unrelated interests are in a way connected. |
| A．Decide to be specialist or generalist | B．Be more of a generalist than a specialist |
| C．Find ways to become a specialist | D．Focus on mastering one field. |
4 . I was the only kid in college with a reason to go to the mail box, because my mother never believed in email, in Facebook, in texting or cell phones. I was literally waiting by the mailbox to get a letter with a warmest comfort from her.
So when I moved to New York and got depressed, I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote those same kinds of letters like my mother for strangers, and tucked them all over the city: in cafes, in libraries, and even in the subway. I blogged about those letters and promised if asked for a hand-written letter, I would write one.
Overnight, my inbox became this harbor of heartbreak — a single mother in Sacramento, a girl being bullied in Kansas, a 22-year-old immigrant, all asking me to write them and give them a reason to wait by the mailbox. And this is how I initiated the act The World Needs More Love Letters.
Today I run a global organization fueled by those trips to the mailbox. It is a miracle. But the thing about these letters is that most of them have been written by people brought up in a paperless world where some best conversations happen on a screen. We have learned to diary our pain onto Facebook, and we speak swiftly in twitter.
Therefore, I’ve been carrying this mail crate (大木箱) with me these days, which is a magical icebreaker. So I get to tell total strangers about a woman whose husband was traumatized (受精神创伤) from war, and how she left love letters throughout the house saying, “Come back to me.” And a man, who had decided to take his life, slept safely with a stack of letters just beneath his pillow, handwritten by strangers who were there for him.
These stories convince me that letter-writing will never need to be about efficiency, because it is an art now, all of it: the signing, the scripting, the mailing.
1. Why did the author share her experience in college?| A．To show her care for her family. | B．To prove her habit of writing letters. |
| C．To express her feelings attached to letters. | D．To present her love for writing letters. |
| A．She advocated the paperless lifestyle. |
| B．She intended to provide professional aid. |
| C．She tried to improve her communication skills. |
| D．She aimed to give emotional support with letters. |
| A．It has magic power to melt ice. | B．It inspires people to be brave. |
| C．It makes people’s mental diseases go away. | D．It serves as a conversation starter. |
| A．Family Letters Are Priceless | B．Love for Writing Never Lessens |
| C．World Needs More Love Letters | D．Hand-written Letters Improve Efficiency |
Among many changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought
Since more people decided to stay home when the coronavirus outbreak spread, they were spending
Unfortunately, a move to a cashless society could cause problems for some communities. About 8% of Americans don’t have a checking account. About 18% of Americans rely on alternative banking
“For those
While
1.比赛目的和时间；
2.作品要求；
3.邀请她参加比赛。
注意：写作词数应为80左右。
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7 . I've had many opportunities to experience living in a foreign culture, but my first experience came in an unexpected place — my own country. When I was 20, I got an internship (实习职位) in New York City. It was my first time to
With my move north came culture
My first reaction was fear. Fear I would
I learned quickly never to
By the end of my internship, I was a little older, a little wiser and sick of big city life. I
| A．study | B．live | C．travel | D．explore |
| A．heritage | B．reaction | C．shock | D．feast |
| A．packed | B．crazy | C．equipped | D．dramatic |
| A．quick | B．competitive | C．unique | D．relaxed |
| A．adjust | B．change | C．adopt | D．erupt |
| A．attempt | B．fail | C．sweat | D．recover |
| A．preference | B．respect | C．desire | D．patience |
| A．fear | B．relief | C．sadness | D．tiredness |
| A．ignored | B．faced | C．lost | D．inspired |
| A．propose | B．comment | C．assume | D．discover |
| A．reviewing | B．hiking | C．wandering | D．observing |
| A．European | B．African | C．American | D．Asian |
| A．admired | B．hated | C．afforded | D．rented |
| A．grown | B．won | C．struggled | D．practiced |
| A．celebration | B．emotion | C．preparation | D．contribution |
8 . In my early teens, I was once given a film camera as a gift . On receiving it, I jumped on my bike, headed to Wimbledon Common and took photos, just for me: photos of trees and wildlife. I was out all day. On my way home I spotted a tree lit up by street lighting and tried to capture its beauty. Rushing home, I put the spent film in a special little envelope and sent it off to a photography store, desperate to see how it would come out. I took many photos then and loved the fact that when you processed your film you got back colour photos which froze the precious moments, gently encouraging the hobby and the payments for processing.
As I grew into adulthood, that simple, deep happiness gradually faded away. One weekend when I was busy answering the work calls, my eyes caught a box in the corner of the room. I suddenly felt a sense of sadness. The stress growing over these years had pushed the camera from beside my pillow to the box in the corner. I thought I needed a change.
I took out the camera and dusted it down. It was a great joy that it still worked. I bought new film and took the camera everywhere I went. Now it is always on hand to accompany me on journeys, to allow me time to myself. Even if the day is full and busy, I can seize some moments for myself to take photos, to observe the world around me.
The wall of my room now holds all my camera equipment on display, along with photos I've taken. To me, the room represents how I’ve found happiness: by reconnecting to the younger part of myself I laid aside, by allowing room in my life for pleasure to exist, and by creating an environment that allows opportunities for delight.
1. What did the author think of taking photos as a young boy?| A．Inspiring and practical. | B．Tiring yet delightful. |
| C．Exciting and worthwhile. | D．Difficult yet engaging. |
| A．He wanted to focus on his work. | B．He was struck by sudden sorrow. |
| C．He attempted to behave like an adult. | D．He was faced with increasing pressure. |
| A．More fun in the daily routine. | B．New journeys in the wild. |
| C．Better skills of observation. | D．Different styles of photography. |
| A．Revisiting Lost Childhood Memories | B．Appreciating Beauty Behind the Lens |
| C．Escaping Teenage Sadness with Camera | D．Regaining Pleasure Through Photography |
9 . One autumn morning, I spotted a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by
The next morning, the geese were still my
As days passed, 1 started
I asked a biologist what to do. He explained that sometimes a
On the first day of November, I was working in the neighbourhood of the geese when I
The season’s first snowflakes fell the very next day. The birds must have
| A．accident | B．surprise | C．nature | D．fortune |
| A．increased | B．created | C．deserved | D．valued |
| A．guests | B．puzzles | C．pets | D．friends |
| A．approached | B．calmed | C．observed | D．protected |
| A．turning | B．leading | C．driving | D．talking |
| A．firmly | B．warmly | C．cautiously | D．proudly |
| A．concern | B．sympathy | C．rescue | D．pleasure |
| A．companion | B．visit | C．settlement | D．care |
| A．folded | B．weak | C．broken | D．feathery |
| A．held | B．caught | C．directed | D．lost |
| A．spreading | B．sweeping | C．shaking | D．beating |
| A．reach | B．sight | C．control | D．help |
| A．concluded | B．indicated | C．sensed | D．confirmed |
| A．unexpected | B．casual | C．short | D．regular |
| A．contribution | B．promise | C．treat | D．devotion |
10 . Feeling pressure from the Internet is nothing new for Lizzie Velasquez, an anti-bullying (霸凌) advocate, who found that browsing social media had a negative impact on her self-esteem.
In 2006, when she was just 17, a video calling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman” went viral on YouTube. It was a difficult period for her, who had been dealing with a lifetime of bullying due to a rare health condition. “I was diagnosed with neonatal progeroid syndrome (新生儿早衰症), which doesn’t allow me to gain weight and severely affects my eyes, my bones and my heart.”
Growing up, Velasquez says that she lived in two different worlds. At home, her family treated her just like everyone else. Her parents raised her to be optimistic and confident. Yet, things got hard when she started school. “I didn’t become aware of it until I entered this other world where I had to face the reality of, ‘I do not look like everybody else,’” says Velasquez.
As Velasquez transitioned into high school, she gained more understanding about her condition. This new level of self-acceptance inspired Velasquez to make new friends, join the cheerleading squad, and write for the school newspaper. She had started to feel gratitude for what she had accomplished, but then came the YouTube video, which threatened her already-shaky foundation. “To just see a video that says ‘the world’s ugliest woman,’ it felt like, within two seconds, everything that I had worked for up to that point was just sort of knocked over and done.” says Velasquez.
According to DoSomething. org, about 37 percent of teenagers have been bullied online. Among them, only one in 10 teen victims (受害者) will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse. But Velasquez did speak up. That moment of bullying inspired Velasquez to use her newfound platform for good. In 2013, she gave a TEDxAustin Women talk about her experiences, reaching millions with her uplifting messages about beauty and happiness.
“My mission is just to remind people that no matter how different you are, you are meant to be in this world. Your purpose in life is out there waiting for you,” says the motivational speaker.
1. What can we learn about Lizzie Velasquez?| A．She hasn’t received any support from her families. |
| B．She has been aware of her difference since she was born. |
| C．She has suffered from cyberbullying due to a rare disease. |
| D．She feels horrible every time she browses social media. |
| A．Velasquez’s efforts to establish confidence was destroyed by the video. |
| B．Velasquez’s status at school has been threatened because of the video. |
| C．Velasquez’s health- has been negatively affected after watching the video. |
| D．Velasquez’s achievement in high school became worthless due to the video. |
| A．To share her experience as a victim of online bullying. |
| B．To show people the importance of beauty and happiness. |
| C．To encourage people to enjoy life whatever their differences. |
| D．To gain fame through the newly established online platform. |
| A．The ugliest woman | B．A woman with a rare disease |
| C．The impact of cyberbullying | D．A fighter against cyberbullying |
