1 . Chinese food is well received by the world. Who doesn’t long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East — the ancient custom of “tonic (滋补) food”.
Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil (麻油) hot pot every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot”, while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.
The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry (枸杞), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.
So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of fish soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.
1. What is the present situation of tonic food?| A．It is catching less attention. | B．It is enjoyed by many young people. |
| C．It is well-known worldwide. | D．It is becoming increasingly popular. |
| A．Chinese cabbage. | B．Fruit tea. |
| C．Fish soup. | D．Sesame oil hot pot. |
| A．Medicine. | B．Restaurant. |
| C．Manufacture. | D．Agriculture. |
| A．The Charm of Chinese Cuisine |
| B．The Popularity of Tonic Food |
| C．An Introduction of Chinese Tonic Food |
| D．Differences Between Hot Food and Cold Food |
2 . Today, the world celebrates the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) under the theme “Resilience (复原力) of Older Persons in a Changing World”.
The number of older persons worldwide is projected to reach more than 1.5 billion in 2050. All regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2022 and 2050. Less developed countries excluding the least developed countries will be home to more than two-thirds of the world’s older population (1.1 billion) in 2050. Yet the fastest increase is projected to take place in the least developed countries, where the number of people aged 65 or over could rise from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050 (about 225%).
As to the “Silver Generation”, all countries have to bear increased pension (养老金) and healthcare costs as people live longer. But including the elderly in a productive way in the national economy has become a major problem for many countries. Many young families also struggle to care for their elderly parents or give it up altogether. Meanwhile, though older persons continue to meaningfully contribute to their political, economic, social and cultural lives, their contributions and experience are largely ignored.
The 2022 theme of UNIDOP serves as a fillip, something that jogs your memory and makes you think about the significant role older people play in taking up global challenges and contributing to their solutions. UNIDOP 2022 is also a call for action and opportunity to hear older persons’ voices and show their resilience and contributions in society.
Age is just a number and only a state of mind. Indeed, what matters is ageing elegantly, accompanied by good health. It is meaningless to live to 85 or 90 if one is limited to bed, unable to move around. But this could be a thing of the past in the light of rapid medical advances, which will give mobility and a new life to the elderly. I believe there will come a time when one’s actual age doesn’t really matter anymore in both a physical and mental sense.
1. Why are the figures used in paragraph 2?| A．To clarify the gap between rich and poor. |
| B．To show the growth in the older population. |
| C．To explain the correctness of the UN statistics. |
| D．To analyze the reasons for population ageing. |
| A．It is a double-edged sword. |
| B．It is a force to be treated seriously. |
| C．It is a huge burden to young families. |
| D．It is a by-product of the economic development. |
| A．Reference. | B．Guideline. | C．Reminder. | D．Platform. |
| A．Age affects both physical and mental health. |
| B．Age is not a number but a mental state. |
| C．Age does not matter in the medical field. |
| D．Age pales by comparison with health. |
3 . You can study a wide range of topics in an art and design school, from history to sculpting, theater to fashion. Due to the variety, learners remain interested, and a challenging curriculum encourages them to think outside the box. The top art schools in Hong Kong are listed below.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU)
The school benefits from its location as a link between the East and the West, enabling its students to improve their creative skills while also gaining a distinctively global cultural awareness. Practical skills are thought to be a crucial component of the problem-solving process, which students must practise through practical workshop activities. The workshop facilities give students the chance to become familiar with the techniques needed for perfect making.
The University of Hong Kong (UHK)
Study subjects that interest you and select from a large range of beginner arts courses to learn about new themes. You have the freedom to create a course of study that is ideal for you thanks to the program’s adaptable curriculum and inviting dual (双的) degree choices. You will choose your own combination of courses during your first year from a wide range of basic arts and humanities courses.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
The Faculty (系) of Arts at CUHK has always been essential to the university’s commitment to combining Chinese with Western traditions, with bilingual teaching, and with cutting-edge interdisciplinary (跨学科的) research.
Vocational Training Council (VTC)
The multidisciplinary program here exposes students to a wide range of modern visual arts mediums and actively involves them in the larger cultural sectors. And the program promotes a dynamic climate where interdisciplinary arts projects grow via cooperation and creativity within the arts sector. Graduates are also encouraged to pursue careers as professional artists.
1. Which school can you choose to learn to make things?| A．The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. | B．The University of Hong Kong. |
| C．The Chinese University of Hong Kong. | D．Vocational Training Council. |
| A．Obtain a global cultural awareness. | B．Choose courses suitable for them. |
| C．Perform cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. | D．Pursue careers as professional artists. |
| A．They all carry out bilingual teaching. |
| B．They all offer interdisciplinary courses. |
| C．They all aim to develop innovative talents. |
| D．They all provide a dynamic learning atmosphere for students. |
1. How old is the speaker’s brother?
| A．15. | B．19. | C．20. |
| A．A police officer. | B．A nurse. | C．A firefighter. |
| A．Her brother has been infected with COVID-19. |
| B．Her brother is in isolation because of COVID-19. |
| C．Her brother is busy helping fight against COVID-19. |
| A．Help more people like her brother. |
| B．Spend more time with family. |
| C．Study in a police training school. |
1. Where might Henry be when he smelled some smoke?
| A．In the yard. | B．In the kitchen. | C．In the living room. |
| A．Henry. | B．A bystander. | C．The guy in the burning house. |
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. |
| A．Brother and sister. | B．Colleagues. | C．Interviewer and interviewee. |
1. What can kids do through Bryan’s Facebook page?
| A．Listen to stories. | B．Chat with friends. | C．Enjoy nice photos. |
| A．His father. | B．His mother. | C．His grandmother. |
| A．Join him in reading stories. | B．Record kids’ daily life. | C．Spend more time with kids. |
1. What is the man’s plan for the weekend?
| A．Attending a wedding. | B．Going to a party. | C．Watching a film. |
| A．For house-warming. | B．For her birthday. | C．For a promotion. |
1. What did Jason think of Karen’s food?
| A．Delicious. | B．Unhealthy. | C．Terrible. |
| A．Observe the bees. | B．Have some ice cream. | C．Study English slang. |
| A．A TV show. | B．The man’s hobby. | C．Wildlife protection. |
| A．Warm. | B．Hot. | C．Wet. |
