1 . The 14th National Games held in Xi’an has triggered great interest — not only in sports and fitness, but also in the host city itself. If you are planning a tour of Xi’an taking less than 3 days, you’ll want to hit all the following highlights.
The Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army is not just China’s premier historical attraction but one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, which was constructed by China’s First Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC). It is a collection of thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots (战车) in battle formation, showing the emperor’s armies in full splendor.
Ancient City Wall
Xi’an City Wall was built in the 14th century by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as a military defense system. Now it is one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls. The wall is now a landmark, dividing the city into inner and outer areas.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
One of China’s most famous Buddhist pagodas, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for the study of Buddhist scriptures. One of the main functions of the pagoda was to store sutras (经文) brought to China from India by the famous monk and traveler Xuan Zang. It was built with layers of bricks and has a grand structure and appearance. It is exemplary of traditional Chinese architecture.
Shaanxi History Museum
The Shaanxi History Museum is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the years. Its collections range from bronze wares to pottery figures, gold and silver wares and wall paintings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) tombs. Among its precious collections, 18 pieces have been listed as national treasures.
1. Which of the following has the longest history?| A．The Terracotta Army. | B．Ancient City Wall. |
| C．Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. | D．Shaanxi History Museum. |
| A．Chariots discovered in Xi’an. | B．Sutras brought from India to China. |
| C．Relics unearthed in Shaanxi. | D．Wall paintings from the Qing Dynasty tombs. |
| A．They hold collections of antiques. | B．They are of historical and cultural value. |
| C．They represent the modern spirit of Xi’an. | D．They are examples of traditional Chinese architecture. |
| A．Regardless of; moved on | B．In spite of; took off |
| C．Due to; settled down | D．Despite; cheered up |
3 . Green exercise is a term used to describe any type of physical exercise that takes place in a natural environment rather than in a health club or gym.
A slightly different approach to green exercise puts more stress on the fresh air, sunshine and involvement with the natural world, rather than the equipment or clothing used during the exercise.
Many consider green exercise helps to reconnect human beings with the natural world. The interaction with nature helps to lower people's blood pressure, refresh their mind, and actually improve their self-esteem.
Not everyone believes that the green exercise is more beneficial than working out in a health club or gym.
| A．A green gym uses as little equipment as possible |
| B．Spirits are also believed to be positively affected |
| C．Opinions on what truly green exercise means differ |
| D．Green exercise includes a range of activities exposed to nature |
| E．So riding a bicycle in the forest can be called a type of green exercise |
| F．It usually doesn't use fitness equipment that is normally found in a gym |
| G．Some point out that many health clubs are built to make full use of natural light |
4 . Back pain can make it difficult for many people to function in everyday life.
Our bodies need adequate movement throughout the day to avoid the stiffness that contributes to aches and pains. If the weather is good, don't hunt for the nearest parking spot; don't take the elevator when you have the option of one or two flights of stairs. When you need to sit for long periods, set a timer to get up every hour and be active for just a few minutes.
When we overuse our dominant side, we create muscle patterns of weakness and tension that increase pain, especially in our backs. Consider the actions you take repeatedly throughout the day that shift your weight to one side.
Psychological stress is a noted risk factor for back pain, according to research. Most mental stress is caused by focusing on the past or future.
| A．Switch sides when you carry things. |
| B．It affects how you move, feel and think. |
| C．You should learn more about the cause of your pain. |
| D．Approach the health of your back as a responsibility. |
| E．So actively being mindful of the present reduces stress. |
| F．You'd better take a quick break to check in with your breathing. |
| G．More minutes of movement add up to big health benefits over time. |
5 . In 1812, the year Charles Dickens was born, there were 66 novels published in Britain. People had been writing novels for a century—most experts date the first novel to Robinson Crusoe in 1719—
but nobody wanted to do it professionally. The steam-powered printing press was still in its early stages; the literacy（识字） rate in England was under 50%. Many works of fiction appeared without the names of the authors, often with something like “By a lady.”Novels, for the most part, were looked upon as silly, immoral, or just plain bad.
In 1870, when Dickens died, the world mourned him as its first professional writer and publisher, famous and beloved, who had led an explosion in both the publication of novels and their readership and whose characters — from Oliver Twist to Tiny Tim— were held up as moral touchstones. Today Dickens’ greatness is unchallenged. Removing him from the pantheon（名人堂） of English literature would make about as much sense as the Louvre selling off the Mona Lisa.
How did Dickens get to the top? For all the feelings readers attach to stories, literature is a numbers game, and the test of time is extremely difficult to pass. Some 60,000 novels were published during the Victorian age, from 1837 to1901; today a casual reader might be able to name a half-dozen of them. It’s partly true that Dickens’ style of writing attracted audiences
from all walks of life. It’s partly that his writings rode a wave of social, political and scientific progress. But it’s also that he rewrote the culture of literature and put himself at the center. No one will ever know what mix of talent, ambition, energy and luck made Dickens such a singular writer. But as the 200th anniversary of his birth approaches, it is possible — and important for our own culture—to understand how he made himself a lasting one.
1. Which of the following best describes British novels in the 18th century?| A．They were difficult to understand. |
| B．They were popular among the rich. |
| C．They were seen as nearly worthless. |
| D．They were written mostly by women. |
| A．his reputation in France |
| B．his interest in modern art |
| C．his success in publication |
| D．his importance in literature |
| A．To remember a great writer. |
| B．To introduce an English novel. |
| C．To encourage studies on culture. |
| D．To promote values of the Victorian age. |
| A．serving; located | B．served; located | C．served; locating | D．serving; locating |
— Sure. Your resume should ________ your skills and achievements.
| A．favour | B．highlight | C．translate | D．handle |
Based on AR and VR, the metaverse aims to bring people closer together in an online setting, enabling them to be connected in ways they couldn’t be before. Imagine
9 . Sometimes a book comes along that isn’t just “interesting” or “well done”— it’s a book where it seems like the author looked into your brain and wrote a book specifically for you. A book like that for me was released this week. It’s called 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, written by editor Pamela Paul.
Paul lists 100 things we used to do that the Internet has either changed or taken over completely: writing letters, print newspapers, the joys of being bored, and not having all the knowledge in the world in your pocket.
As I’m a longtime accumulator of random knowledge, certain entries on the list—Being the Only One, Figuring Out Who That Actor is—hit me where live; remembering detailed facts is no longer nearly as impressive when everyone has the capability to find the answer in seconds.
On and on the list goes, with every minor shift adding to the pile. What this book does so well is illustrate the growth of that pile; while any individual item might be no big deal, the collected set is significant. It’s a list of ways in which the world now is different from the world then.
Obviously, Paul isn’t saying that everything back then was better. Time marches on, after all. and it’s tough to argue against the many benefits that the Internet has brought into our lives. But that isn’t really the point. It’s not about whether it used to be better. It’s that it used to be different.
100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet is a fun read for those of us who share some of Paul’s memories and experiences. We remember what it was like and we like to remember. The landscape has shifted, and no doubt it will shift again as technology’s advancement continues apace. This book serves as a reminder of the simple truth that when gains are made, sometimes something is lost.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To review and recommend a good read. |
| B．To comment on the effect of the Internet. |
| C．To argue for the viewpoint of a new book. |
| D．To urge the readers to value what they have. |
| A．Maps and Eye Contact. |
| B．E-pay and Compact Disks. |
| C．Postcards and Homeschooling |
| D．Bad Photos and Washing Machines. |
| A．Prove what I’m good at. |
| B．Introduce how I grew up. |
| C．Describe the place I live in. |
| D．Speak out what is on my mind. |
| A．Things in the past are better. |
| B．There’re no gains without pains. |
| C．The internet is a double-edged sword. |
| D．Technology is constantly changing the world. |
| A．to settle down | B．to settle for |
| C．settling down | D．settling for |
