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.

2. What can you do by taking the Cambrian Line?

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.

3. Which line was once in danger of being shut?

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.

2. Which can replace the underlined word “amassed” in paragraph 2?

A．Accumulated

B．Overlooked.

C．Evaluated.

D．Created.

3. Russia is mentioned in paragraph 3 to indicate ______.

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

4. What is cultural memory mainly expected to do?

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.

2. Why did the death rates drop?

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.

3. Which of the places might benefit most from drinking tea in history?

A．Tea growing areas.	B．Dirty communities.
C．Mountain areas.	D．Towns rich in water.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．An Unexpected Lifesaver	B．A Modern Trend in Tea Drinking
C．The Origins of Tea Addiction	D．The Impacts of Tea Export

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

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.

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On Friday, it was time for the fearful PE class, but this time, Kit was with her.

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5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Kunqu, also known as Kunju, is one of the oldest     1     (exist) forms of Chinese opera. It developed     2     (original) from the local music of Kunshan, part of the Wu cultural area, and later came     3     (show) its importance in Chinese theater from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Due to the extensive performance activities, Kunqu, ranking among the most influential operas now,     4     (introduce) to Beijing in the last years of Wanli. During the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu spread to Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangdong,     5     developed into a national drama. Having entered various places, Kunqu eventually formed a rich and colorful opera system in     6     (combine) with local dialects and folk music.     7     further development, the opera became more well-known and     8     representative art form of the whole nation.

In the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi loved Kunqu,     9     (lead) to its increasing popularity, but it was during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty     10     Kunqu entered its heyday (全盛时期) and began to influence the “pear garden” greatly.

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 ________ damage in Iskenderun. Fortunately, her beloved pet cat Leyla woke her up 15 minutes before the earthquake ________, enabling her to ________. When the quake hit, Gurbuz jumped out the window of her home, only ________ her legs.

“If I hadn’t woken up, I would have been in the ________, Gurbuz said in comments provided to Newsweek by animal welfare nonprofit Humane Society International (HSI). ”I ________ her a lot. We are alive, and there is ________.”

After being injured in the quake, Gurbuz was ________ to a hospital. But she posted an article on the Internet in a desperate attempt to ________ Leyla. HSI saw the ________ and began searching for the cat but finally was ________.

Kelly Donithan, HSI’s director of animal disaster response who was helping to ________ Leyla, asked Gurbuz to send her a voice message calling the pet’s name in an attempt to ________ the cat out. After a lot of ________, the trick worked and the ________ pet finally emerged from the ruins.

1.

A．potential

B．significant

C．some

D．possible

2.

A．struck

B．stopped

C．spread

D．accelerated

3.

A．help

B．shout

C．cry

D．escape

4.

A．protecting

B．cutting

C．injuring

D．losing

5.

A．shelter

B．ruins

C．house

D．square

6.

A．love

B．hurt

C．owe

D．cheat

7.

A．hope

B．time

C．family

D．home

8.

A．sent

B．returned

C．guided

D．released

9.

A．memorize

B．honor

C．find

D．miss

10.

A．notice

B．post

C．picture

D．letter

11.

A．unforgettable

B．shameful

C．satisfying

D．unsuccessful

12.

A．catch

B．await

C．expect

D．locate

13.

A．pull

B．attract

C．chase

D．frighten

14.

A．patience

B．advice

C．passion

D．warning

15.

A．happy

B．surprised

C．scared

D．sad

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

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.

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At 6: 00 pm, we completed the stunt filming, with my knee injured.

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8 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

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     1     three mountains — Chenresig, Chana Dorje, and Jampelyang — which     2     (regard) as holy by local people and represent sympathy, wisdom and power. These towering peaks, each being more than 6,000 meters, provide     3     dramatic setting for the attractive landscapes below.

One     4     (suggest) way to explore Yading is to hike along one path of the reserve. For example, the Kora around Chana Dorje offers a     5     (challenge) hike which takes you through dense forests and over snow-covered passes. For visitors     6     prefer a more leisurely pace, they can enjoy horseback rides, take a dip in the hot springs, or     7     (simple)sit back and admire the view while tasting locally brewed yak butter tea.

If you’re planning on visiting Yading, bear in mind that it’s a remote location     8     that accommodation options are limited. However, there are a few guesthouses available, as well as several restaurants serving local cuisine.

Yading is one of China’s best kept     9     (secret). Whether you’re a nature lover, a hiking enthusiast, or just longing     10     (escape) the hustle and bustle (喧嚣) of city life, Yading is undoubtedly worthy of a place on your travel bucket list.

9 . Have you ever paused to see clouds when you rush to your destination? There’s a group of passionate “treasure finders” dedicated to observing and capturing the beauty in the sky cloud spotters.

Cloud spotters take a more serious approach to make sense of the sky.     1    

Ji Yun, 36, is an expert in cloud spotting. He set up a WeChat group to gather together people with similar hobbies in 2013. As the number of group members continued to grow, Ji and several cloud enthusiasts created dozens of online groups for different regions in China, forming the Sky Enthusiasts Association in 2019.     2    

Power comes in numbers. Three years after the association was formed, cloud enthusiasts from all over China had collected every kind of cloud in the International Cloud Atlas, a reference by the World Meteorological Organization.

    3     Cloud spotting, in fact, is an invitation to be amazed by something so common every day that we’ve become blind to. “You’re not going to be worrying too much about what formation it is and why it looks the way it does.” Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, told Atlas Obscura.

Indeed, Jiang Xinwei in Jilin finds cloud spotting relaxing. Even though she is going through her toughest school year in grade 12, Jiang maintains this hobby as a short break from her heavy schoolwork. “Observing the clouds has become a habit for me,” the 17-year-old said. “    4    .”

“Clouds change in the blink of an eye.     5     ” said Jiang Na, a 25-year-old cloud spotter in Beijing.

A．Currently, there are thousands of people across different groups.

B．This often leads us to think about the relationship between humans and nature.

C．They take photos of the clouds and match them to cloud type names.

D．My worries and troubles seem to fade away as I look up.

E．But that is not to say all clouds spotters need to go to such great lengths.

F．Cloud spotting can also make some people feel blue.

G．When they roll over the sky, I feel the passage of time has a concrete shape.

10 . For many people, it is hard to imagine what it is like to lose their sense of smell. Known as “anosmia”, loss of smell can have a substantial effect on our overall wellbeing and quality of life. But while a sudden respiratory infection (呼吸道感染) might lead to a temporary loss of this important sense, your sense of smell may well have been gradually eroding away for years due to something else- air pollution.

Exposure to PM2. 5 has previously been linked with smell loss, but typically only in occupational or industrial settings. But new research is now starting to reveal the true scale and the potential damage caused by the pollution we breathe in every day. On the underside of our brains lies the olfactory bulb (嗅球). This sensitive bit of tissue is essential for the enormously varied picture of the world we get from our sense of smell. It’s also our first line of defense against viruses and pollutants entering the brain. But, with repeated exposure to PM2. 5, these defenses slowly get worn down.

“Our data show there’s a 1.6 to 1.7-fold increased risk of developing anosmia with sustained particulate pollution (粒状物污染),” says Murugappan Ramanathan, a rhinologist. One Mexican study in 2006, which used strong coffee and orange odors showed that residents of Mexico City which often struggles with air pollution — tended to have a poorer sense of smell on average than people living in rural areas of the country.

So, should we care that air pollution to which we are all exposed -is damaging our sense of smell and causing anosmia? Clearly, the answer is yes. Ramanathan says, “Air quality matters. I think we need tight regulations and control. Many people may not even realize the pollution they are exposed to. But even the everyday, low level air pollution we are exposed to should be taken more seriously.”

1. What do the underlined words “eroding away” mean in paragraph 1?

A．Evolving.	B．Becoming weak.
C．Becoming sharp.	D．Appearing.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 2?

A．Exposure to PM2. 5 has nothing to do with smell loss.

B．The pollution we breathe in on a daily basis may cause harm.

C．Our nose stops viruses and pollutants from entering the brain.

D．Our defenses will disappear quickly with air pollution exposure.

3. What does the study reveal about people in Mexico City?

A．They have developed anosmia with air pollution.

B．Their sense of smell is poorer than rural people’s.

C．They often consume strong coffee.

D．They tend to have a good sense of smell.

4. What will the author probably talk about next?

A．How we should react to air pollution.

B．What we should do to protect the environment.

C．What steps we can take to recover from anosmia.

D．How we can improve our life quality.