1 . Tracks Through Time: Four Stunning UK Train Journeys
The United Kingdom is rightly celebrated as the birthplace of the railway. And there’s no better way to see it than sitting by the window in a train.
Glasgow to Mallaig
Considered by some to be the most scenic railway line in the world, this line takes passengers from the bustling city of Glasgow through Scotland’s wild western highlands to the remote port of Mallaig. Immerse yourself in unforgettable scenery on this journey, and don’t forget to look out for Ben Nevis!
The Caledonian Sleeper
Passengers can enjoy falling asleep to the rhythm of the train on leaving London, then waking up to the serene beauty of the Highlands at dawn right outside your window. Take a trip back in time with all the modern amenities you could want with this iconic train journey!
The Cambrian Line
Wales, with its dramatic landscapes, historic sites and inspiring vistas, offers some magical train journeys to be found in the UK. And perhaps the jewel in the Welsh crown is the Cambrian Line, which weaves its way through Mid Wales to the coast. The route begins in Shrewsbury in England and is famed for its scenery.
The Settle-Carlisle Line
No article on iconic United Kingdom train journeys would be complete without this incredible train line. Opened in 1876, the 73-mile long route takes the traveller from Settle Junction in North Yorkshire to Carlisle in Cumbria. Threatened with closure in the 1980s, the line was saved thanks to the efforts of rail lovers, and passenger numbers have gone from strength to strength.
1. Which place should you go to if you want to visit a harbor?A.Glasgow. | B.Mallaig. |
C.Western highlands. | D.Ben Nevis. |
A.Pick up some precious jewels. |
B.Weave magic to enjoy the route. |
C.Have a sound and comfortable sleep. |
D.Appreciate fantastic views in Wales. |
A.Glasgow to Mallaig. | B.The Caledonian Sleeper. |
C.The Cambrian Line. | D.The Settle Carlisle Line. |
2 . People may typically think of memory as the recollection of the past. Memory enables people to learn from past experiences and apply that knowledge in present circumstances. It is a vital part of our identity. So is culture, the way of life specific to a group of people.
Cultural memory is the constructed understanding of the past that is passed from one generation to the next through text, oral traditions, monument s and other symbols. Cultural memory is often amassed in objects, such as museums or historical monuments. To understand culture, humans access masses of cultural symbols, such as books. Artifacts (历史文物) of the past provide insights into where we came from. Libraries and the Internet keep a seemingly boundless amount of data on what it means to be part of a culture. Cultural memory is the longest-lasting form of memory.
Like all forms of memory, cultural memory has important functions. For example, it makes the experiences a nation owns clear. It provides us with an understanding of the past and the values of the group to which we belong. Besides, it creates a form of shared identity and a means for communicating this identity to new members. The most powerful forms of cultural memory may involve memories of past disastrous experiences undergone by groups of victims. For example, in Russia, their role in Word War Ⅱ- in which tens of millions of Russians were killed — is still an important part of modern Russian identity. Because all groups have cultural memory, it can bring about a spirit of resistance or survival among threatened groups.
The main function of cultural memory is not to recall the past, whether it be good or bad. Rather, it is to use knowledge of past experiences to avoid making the same mistakes again and again. Cultural memory enables people to adapt to their culture; it enables cultures to adapt to new circumstances by keeping traces of what worked in the past.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?A.Reporting a discovery of cultural memory. |
B.Leading to the concept of cultural memory. |
C.Introducing the importance of memory in identity. |
D.Making a connection between memory and culture. |
A.Accumulated | B.Overlooked. | C.Evaluated. | D.Created. |
A.the features of cultural memory |
B.the formation of cultural memory |
C.the role of big events in Russian identity |
D.the impact of cultural memory on identity |
A.Pass previous wisdom down. | B.Keep traces of history. |
C.Get people to know about the past. | D.Remind people of their identity. |
3 . I have a tea problem, drinking far too much since my teens. The addiction is bad, though cheap as addictions go. My excuse is that there are so many problems to which a cup of tea is the answer. Who doesn’t think it’s a lifesaver right now, as the dark falls and the cold follows?
Luckily, I needn’t be ashamed of my dependence on tea any longer — in fact, I should be proud. Because a new study by Professor Francisca Antman, an economist at the University of Colorado Boulder, shows widespread adoption of tea-drinking in late 18th-century England wasn’t just central to the development of our national culture, it actually saved lives.
In 1784, the Commutation Act dramatically cut the tea tax from 119% to 12.5%. Soon even peasants were drinking two cups of tea a day, with tea imports increasing six times between 1761 and 1834. What does a cup of tea need apart from tea leaves? Boiled water —which meant much healthier water in an era when people didn’t know dirty water spread disease. Plus, at the time tea was cheaper than beer, the other source of disease-free drink.
Death rates fell from 28 to 23 per 1,000 people over that same period. The role of tea imports was confirmed by drops in deaths from diseases carried by water. Improvements were greatest in areas of lower water quality. And there was economic development, allowing the gathering together of people in the factory towns of the Industrial Revolution.
This all happened by accident, in a period in which public health protection didn’t much exist. It is surprising how a social custom could have such a big impact on the course of history. Anyway, I’m off to put the k ettle on.
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward drınking tea?A.Critical. | B.Skeptical. | C.Positive. | D.Conservative. |
A.The government canceled the tea tax. | B.The tea was the cheapest drink. |
C.The boiled tea water was cleaner. | D.The British preferred to drink tea. |
A.Tea growing areas. | B.Dirty communities. |
C.Mountain areas. | D.Towns rich in water. |
A.An Unexpected Lifesaver | B.A Modern Trend in Tea Drinking |
C.The Origins of Tea Addiction | D.The Impacts of Tea Export |
People always say that with exercise, putting on your shoes is the hardest part. But for Emma, this was a lie. The real pain always started when all the students were gathered on the track, ready to run. It wasn’t the fatigue she minded, it was the looks others gave her. Emma was bigger than others of her age. Back in primary school, she remembers her classmates asking her why her thighs (大腿) were so big and her chest so wide. On the outside, she looked big, but on the inside, she felt as small as a pea. And PE class was when she felt at her smallest.
Not all her classmates made her feel uncomfortable, though. It was mainly a group of girls and boys—the loud, outspoken, popular kids. Although they could run faster than Emma, they preferred to jog a bit behind her, bursting out in laughter every now and then, commenting on how Emma jogged.
Just one more year, Emma kept telling herself. One more year and I’ll have graduated and won’t have to take this stupid PE class anymore. She just wanted to survive it.
But everything changed when a new girl called Kit joined the class. She had short, jet-black hair, bright eyes, and a long scar across the left side of her face. Her entrance into the classroom that day was met by dozens of curious eyes.
Although their teacher, Ms Hardy, didn’t ask Kit for a personal introduction, upon putting her bag down on her desk, Kit rose, saying, “Hi, everyone, nice to meet you, I’m Kit. I love boxing, animation and fashion. You might be wondering about my scar. I got it when I was young when I fell off my bike. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt more seriously. It’s now like a cool trademark of all the adventures I had as a kid.”
After Kit’s introduction, Emma simply sat there, her heart pounding and mouth wide open. How could someone be so confident? Even the popular kids were sitting there in shock.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
At lunchtime, Emma was sitting at her usual table with a few other classmates when Kit walked over to them.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On Friday, it was time for the fearful PE class, but this time, Kit was with her.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Kunqu, also known as Kunju, is one of the oldest
Due to the extensive performance activities, Kunqu, ranking among the most influential operas now,
In the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi loved Kunqu,
6 . Rumeysa Gurbuz was at home asleep on February 6 in the city of Iskenderun on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast when a magnitude 7. 8 earthquake attacked the region. The quake caused
“If I hadn’t woken up, I would have been in the
After being injured in the quake, Gurbuz was
Kelly Donithan, HSI’s director of animal disaster response who was helping to
A.potential | B.significant | C.some | D.possible |
A.struck | B.stopped | C.spread | D.accelerated |
A.help | B.shout | C.cry | D.escape |
A.protecting | B.cutting | C.injuring | D.losing |
A.shelter | B.ruins | C.house | D.square |
A.love | B.hurt | C.owe | D.cheat |
A.hope | B.time | C.family | D.home |
A.sent | B.returned | C.guided | D.released |
A.memorize | B.honor | C.find | D.miss |
A.notice | B.post | C.picture | D.letter |
A.unforgettable | B.shameful | C.satisfying | D.unsuccessful |
A.catch | B.await | C.expect | D.locate |
A.pull | B.attract | C.chase | D.frighten |
A.patience | B.advice | C.passion | D.warning |
A.happy | B.surprised | C.scared | D.sad |
Never in my wildest imagination did I picture myself standing on the back of a running horse. I’m not a cowgirl and don’t even ride horses for pleasure.
But I was doing a television fitness show, and someone in the group had the bright idea that we should go to the rodeo (牛仔竞技表演) grounds and ask the trick rider if they could teach me a stunt (特技表演) to do on camera. We could use this short video as the new opening to the show. I agreed the stunt would be eye-catching and prove how flexible a fit person can be.
That was how I ended up at the rodeo grounds with a camera group, watching the remarkable performances of three talented young cowgirls. Once their show was over, we approached them, detailing our ideas for the television show.
The cowgirls asked me which particular stunt I was interested in learning. I especially liked one stunt — one of the girls led a horse to continuously and slowly run around the grounds while one of the other girls ran across the grounds toward a small trampoline (蹦床). It was timed perfectly so that she jumped onto the trampoline, up into the air, and then onto the horse’s back. As she landed on its back, she stood up and stretched her arms outward as the horse continued slowly running. It looked impressive.
They talked me through the necessary moves, stressing the timing since I would need to be in the air at the correct time when the horse ran past. I alone would judge the speed of the horse and my own speed to jump onto the horse on time.
It was clearly difficult. I was a little hesitant, afraid of being unable to do that well and slowing down the filming. But I knew the most important thing for me was to concentrate on the task at hand.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The first time out, I hit the horse’s back part and fell to the ground.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At 6: 00 pm, we completed the stunt filming, with my knee injured.
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8 . Crowded streets, noise, and unattractive grey buildings can be boring and stressful. A solution to such problems may lie in nature, which can have calming and renewing power.
Introducing vegetation or colorful designs may make cities more livable. However, growing plants or covering buildings in paint to test these approaches is expensive and inconvenient. Moreover, studying these phenomena outdoors can be tricky, as many factors can affect the final results. “Measuring pleasure and motivation in natural settings is extremely hard,” explained Prof. Yvonne Delevoye -Turrell of the University of Lille. “Human reactions are sensitive to environmental changes, such as weather or traffic. Consequently, we used virtual reality to measure reactions to these factors in a virtual urban space.”
Using virtual reality, the team created an immersive (沉浸式的) urban environment with either no vegetation or some green vegetation, as well as introduced colorful patterns onto a path. Then they invited students to participate in the study. Wearing a VR headset and walking on the spot, the students spent time exploring the virtual environment. To find out where the volunteers were looking and for how long, each headset included an eye tracker.
The researchers found that the students walked more slowly when there was green vegetation present in the experiment, and their heart rate increased. They would spend less time looking at the ground and more time observing their surroundings. These results indicate a pleasurable experience. Bright color patterns alone did not have quite the same uplifting effect as the green vegetation, but they inspired interest and passion of the students and attracted their stare while increasing their heart rate.
Virtual reality could be a valuable tool for urban planners, enabling them to virtually test the impact of various factors. In the future, the researchers hope to make the VR experience even more immersive to obtain the most accurate results.
1. What does Delevoye -Turrell think is difficult for the solution to boring city life?A.Sensing people’s reactions to pleasure. |
B.Having reasonable designs for buildings. |
C.Applying VR technology to city planning. |
D.Testing the effects in the real world. |
A.By creating an immersive virtual urban environment. |
B.By inviting students to walk in the street. |
C.By covering the path with colorful patterns. |
D.By creating virtual participants. |
A.They guided students to find greens in real life. |
B.They helped students control their strong emotions. |
C.They awakened students’ enthusiasm. |
D.They weakened the impact of vegetation. |
A.City buildings take pleasure away from people. |
B.Nature empowers people in special ways. |
C.VR helps test the effect of colors and greens in cities. |
D.Colors and greens in cities promote human health. |
Nestled deep within the Tibetan Plateau of China, Yading boasts some of the most impressive natural scenery in the world. Yading Nature Reserve is home
One
If you’re planning on visiting Yading, bear in mind that it’s a remote location
Yading is one of China’s best kept
10 . A few years ago, I walked into Panera and placed my order. As I sat down, I noticed that at the table next to me, there was an older man with a cap eating his soup alone. At the sight of this, a feeling of sadness began to wash over me. Why was he eating alone? Was he lonely? Did he want someone to keep him company?
This wasn’t the first time I’d felt sad when I noticed someone eating alone. I automatically assume they’re lonely and need someone to be there for them. For some reason, eating with other people is the norm. Modern society has evolved to the point where most people eat with others and do almost every activity together. If we need to get lunch before a class, we’d rather ask around to see if someone will come with us. But is it possible we just don’t want to appear lonely?
For me, it’s easy to get pressured to have to be around other people when I see everyone else around me accompanied by a friend almost all the time. So many people are always around someone else, and that may make people think we always need someone with us to feel better about ourselves.
But that’s not true. We can enjoy being alone not everyone needs to be constantly surrounded by friends to be happy. And we shouldn’t be afraid to eat alone if that’s what we want to do. We don’t have to do what everyone else does.
Ultimately, I don’t think I’ll ever not get sad if I see someone eating alone, but I’ll bear in mind that maybe they just want a break from the world, or maybe they prefer it that way. It’s important to realize seeing someone doing something alone doesn’t always mean they’re lonely.
1. Why does the author mention her experience at Panera a few years ago?A.To introduce the topic of caring for old people. |
B.To start the discussion about people eating alone. |
C.To describe a memorable encounter. |
D.To illustrate the benefits of eating alone outside. |
A.It is a good way to avoid awkwardness. |
B.It helps maintain social connections. |
C.It is common but deserves questioning. |
D.It is unreasonable and unacceptable. |
A.Uncomfortable. | B.Isolated. | C.Envious. | D.Relaxed. |
A.Social relationships are unnecessary. |
B.People need to be alone to recharge. |
C.Loneliness is unavoidable in our daily life. |
D.Being alone doesn’t equate to loneliness. |