1 . Argentina lies in the South America. There are many festivals in Argentina during the year. Therefore, you can enjoy the different interesting festivals when traveling there.
First of all, we should talk about the Tango (探戈) Festival inArgentina, which is held in the capital of this country — Buenos Aires, from February to March. You ought to know that Argentina is the home of tango, so Argentinians admire this dance very much. Even if you cannot dance perfectly, you should join the people and try to perform this dance.
The next festival in Argentina is Open Polo (马球) Tournament. You should go to Palermo to see this festival in Argentina. This festival is held every year and is the most important polo tournament in Argentina.This kind of sport is considered the most important in Argentina.
Attending this festival in Argentina, you will be able to communicate with different people and admire the fascinating competition between the teams of different countries, such as Argentina, England, Australia, as well as the US. This festival in Argentina is usually held between November and December every year. So don’t miss the opportunity if you travel to Argentina at this time.
The other festival in Argentina is the Semana Musical Liao Liao. This is a festival of classical music. The festival was created in 1993 and is held at the Liao Liao Hotel, near Bariloche. The festival is held yearly in October. So if you admire this kind of music, you should travel toArgentina in October.
There are also many carnivals in Argentina in summer. Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about festivals in Argentina into just one article. We hope that you have found this article interesting and eye-catching.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．Entertainments in Argentina | B．Festivals in Argentina |
| C．Travel to Argentina | D．A brief introduction to Argentina |
| A．is organized by the government |
| B．welcomes everyone to take part in it |
| C．is held in summer |
| D．holds parties for different dances |
| A．Open Polo Tournament. | B．Every carnival in Argentina. |
| C．The Tango Festival. | D．The Semana Musical Liao Liao. |
| A．Buenos Aires in spring | B．Palermo in April |
| C．Palermo in winter | D．Bariloche in October |
2 . Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer. In his twenties, he had been very famous for his skills on the piano, but then he began to lose his hearing. Beethoven thought about giving up, but in the end he continued to write music. Inspired by his struggles with deafness, the composer produced some amazing pieces! He proceeded with the composition until his death in 1827.
One day in February 1824, at his little house in Vienna, Austria, Ludwig van Beethoven sat back in his chair and smiled. The famous German composer’s ninth symphony was finally completed. Before the performance, the backstage atmosphere at a very famous theatre in Vienna was tense. Beethoven was afraid that the performance would be a disaster. After all, what use is a conductor who could not hear his orchestra — even if he is a musical genius?
The audience did not hesitate to applaud loudly as the famous composer walked out onto the stage. The theatre’s musical director, Michael Umlauf, joined him and together the two men took charge of the orchestra. For more than an hour, Beethoven jumped about in front of the orchestra, waving his arms wildly in the air, and madly turning the pages of his score.
As the final, joyous note signal led the end of the symphony, the audience jumped to their feet, clapping, cheering and waving their hats. But Beethoven continued conducting, his head buried in the score. It was not until Caroline Unger, one of the singers, took his arm and turned him to face the audience that the great man realised his symphony was a success.
1. What was the theatre’s musical director Michael Umlauf’s attitude towards Beethoven?| A．Negative. | B．Supportive. | C．Unfriendly. | D．Indifferent (漠不关心的). |
| A．Michael Umlauf performed better than Beethoven. |
| B．The audience didn’t understand Beethoven’s music. |
| C．The audience liked and admired Beethoven very much. |
| D．Beethoven performed on the stage for less than an hour. |
| A．Beethoven felt a little shy. | B．Beethoven didn’t look at the audience. |
| C．Beethoven was lost in his performance. | D．Beethoven forgot his score. |
| A．Selfish and cold-hearted. | B．Talented and strong-minded. |
| C．Weak but helpful. | D．Talented but lazy. |
3 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.
She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9yearold daughter Bailey.
He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.
Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”
After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.
1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?| A．She guided him how to write a good story. |
| B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble. |
| C．Her books helped him through times of confusion. |
| D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter. |
| A．He has found it interesting to read the series. | B．He was too old to understand the series better. |
| C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series. | D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future. |
| A．Useless. | B．Normal. | C．Valuable. | D．Boring. |
| A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health. |
| B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father. |
| C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth. |
| D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series. |
4 . Would you take a trip if you couldn’t use your cellphone? A new tour company called Off the Grid is asking travellers to put their cellphones away and not even use them for photos. The company founder, Zach Beattie, is developing his business, using money he saved from a tech job at a mapping company. He’s hired guides for every trip but will help lead the first few himself.
The first trip is to Lisbon, Portugal, in July. It takes 7 to 10 days, with small groups of up to 16 people. Prices range from $1,500 to $1,650, including accommodations, meals and ground transportation. The plan includes at least three excursions (远足) and two social events, with an emphasis on unique experiences over bucket-list sightseeing. The tour also includes surfing lessons, yoga on the beach, a day of sailing and dinner with a local family.
“When you’re somewhere new, there’s a lot to see and a lot of cool and interesting people to meet,” Beattie said. “Your phone can distract (使分心) you.” The phone ban won’t be enforced quite as strictly as it seems at first glance. “We want it to be voluntary,” he said. “We’re not collecting phones and throwing them in a locked trunk. It’s held by you, but put in your pocket, and you state your intentions for the week, whether that’s checking your social media once or twice a day or a total blackout.”
Tour-goers also get a “dumbphone” without Internet access that’s loaded with numbers for group leaders and other participants, both for emergencies and to promote socializing. Participants may bring regular cameras, but Beattie is hiring a photographer for each tour so there will be plenty of photos to remember the trip. Once the trip is over, participants will have access to those photos for use in social media posts.
1. What can be learned about Zach Beattie?| A．He set up his business at his own expense. |
| B．He is always guiding every trip personally. |
| C．He forbids tourists to take along cellphones. |
| D．He used to earn his living in a tour company. |
| A．The trip features sightseeing. |
| B．Participants live in homestays. |
| C．Air ticket is covered in the cost. |
| D．Tourists experience water sports. |
| A．Lock their phones in a trunk. |
| B．Post their photos on social media. |
| C．Free themselves from their phones. |
| D．Shift their focus onto dumbphones. |
| A．Take photos. | B．Access the Internet. |
| C．Record the trip. | D．Contact group members. |
5 . A tree planting initiative in Kenya has seen over 30,000 trees being planted. The Green Generation Initiative is a Kenyan charity that has been planting trees to counter climate change and the reduction in forest in the East African nation since 2016.
Founded by climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti, the initiative's primary focus is on developing young climate activists through environmental education in schools and addressing food insecurity in the region through planting fruit trees. Since its foundation, over 30,000 trees have been planted in Kenya, while thousands of school children have not just planted trees but adopted them to ensure that young people learn the importance of acting as a guardian of the health of the environment. The trees have recorded a survival rate of over 98 percent, as they continue growing from young trees to maturity.
Speaking to world leaders at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26)，Elizabeth issued a serious warning about the threat of climate change: “Over two million of Kenyans are facing climaterelated starvation. In 2025, half of the world's population will be facing water shortage. By the time I'm 50, the climate crisis will displace over 80 million people in subSaharan Africa alone.”
Elizabeth said, “I have been doing what I can.Inspired by the great Wangari Maathai, I founded a tree growing initiative that enhances food security for young Kenyans. So far, we have grown 30，000 fruit trees, providing desperately needed nutrition for thousands of children.” “Every day we see that when we look after the trees, they look after us. We are the adults on this Earth right now, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the children have food and water, ”she added.
1. What is the initiative intended for?| A．Making policies. |
| B．Raising money. |
| C．Educating adults. |
| D．Fighting climate change. |
| A．Hunger. | B．Sickness. |
| C．Water shortage. | D．Economic risks. |
| A．Over 3,000 trees have been planted. |
| B．Green awareness has been raised. |
| C．Over 80 million people have been saved. |
| D．School education has been guaranteed. |
| A．Friendly and talented. |
| B．Caring and responsible. |
| C．Honest and determined. |
| D．Ambitious and humorous. |
6 . “Is this making us old or keeping us young?” my husband asked as he lifted the three heavy backpacks from the canoe.
“I don’t know,” I replied. The heat and mosquitoes were getting to me, and I was wondering whether we were crazy to have started a canoe trip during the hottest week of the summer. But even in fall, our canoe trips—while certainly cooler—are no easier.
I’ve always loved getting away from civilization to enjoy the peace of nature, to be on a news blackout (封锁) and to reflect on the past year and the year to come, which is why we’ve been doing this regularly for most of the 38 years we’ve been together.
Now as we’re getting older, it’s getting harder—aching knees, aching feet and aching backs. So, we’re changing our habits. Instead of extreme white-water trips in the far north, we’re going on lake trips closer by. Instead of pulling on the heavy pack myself and rising from a sitting position, my husband lifts it up while I thread my arms through the belts. Along the way, I might stop to admire the green plants beside the path or feel the soft surfaces of the moss, and my husband is usually waiting at the other end, wondering why it’s taken me so long. During the night, we no longer stay up late to see the stars. Instead, we now get into the tent by 9 p.m.—exhausted after one day’s hard work—and drift into sleep listening to birds’ sorrowful call.
Over the years, my canoe-tripping experience has evolved to focus less on the physical and more on the abstract things. Like a solar battery, I store up the energy I absorb from the forest, rocks and waters to help me through the rest of the year. The rhythm of paddling becomes a process of deep thinking rather than an endurance test.
“How long can we continue doing this?” asked my husband at the end of the last trip.
“I don’t know,” I answered, but inside, I thought, “As long as our bodies and minds hold out, I hope forever.”
1. According to the passage, the author and her husband’s canoe trips ______.| A．were difficult to complete |
| B．made the couple crazy |
| C．made the couple look younger than their age |
| D．became dangerous because of the summer heat |
| A．the stars are not beautiful any more |
| B．birds’ night call is more attractive now |
| C．their habits have changed over the years |
| D．they are too tired to do the same things |
| A．Do extreme white-water trips. | B．Go on a trip to a nearby lake. |
| C．Bring the heavy pack themselves. | D．Catch birds in the darkness. |
| A．An Unforgettable Trip | B．My Trip with My Husband |
| C．Life Is a Hard Trip | D．Love for Canoe Trips |
7 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.
My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!
However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.
As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.
1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?| A．A family trip should not last for too long. |
| B．A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles. |
| C．It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips. |
| D．It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave. |
| A．It was a pleasant experience. | B．It was ruined by bad weather. |
| C．They didn’t prepare well for it. | D．They lost many things during it. |
| A．They learnt how to solve problems. | B．They built a closer family relationship. |
| C．They developed a great love for nature. | D．They fell in love with adventure travels. |
| A．To show how to make RV trips interesting. |
| B．To encourage kids to take part in RV trips. |
| C．To advise families to take RV trips together. |
| D．To share an unforgettable traveling experience. |
8 . More excited than ever, Benjamin Giroux, a 10-year- old boy with autism (自闭症), came home from school on April 7. To celebrate National Poetry Month, his fifth-grade teacher asked her students to write a poem about themselves and every sentence should begin with an “I”.
Benjamin couldn’t wait to start writing his poem, so he sat down and didn’t look up until he finished it. He showed the poem to his parents, who immediately choked up.
“I am odd (奇怪的). I am new. ” Benjamin wrote in the poem. “I wonder if you are too. I hear voices in the air. I see you don’t and that’s not fair. I feel like a boy in outer space. I touch the stars and feel out of place.”
“At first, we feel hurt that he feels lonely, misunderstood and odd at school,” Mr Giroux said. “As the poem goes on, we realize that he understands that he’s odd and that so is everyone else in their own way. This is what Benjamin wants everyone to know.”
Benjamin was supposed to read his poem aloud to the class the following day, but upon waking up that morning, he refused to go to school and stayed at home. He didn’t think his poem was any good, so his dad posted it on the Internet in the hope of getting some encouraging comments from families and friends. When the National Autism Association saw the poem, they posted it on their page, where thousands of strangers shared how much the poem inspired them. The family has heard from hundreds of parents thanking Benjamin for showing how their own kids may be feeling at school.
1. Why did Benjamin feel excited on April 7?| A．He wrote a good poem. | B．He was praised at school. |
| C．He had a poem to finish. | D．He had good news to share. |
| A．Touched. | B．Worried. | C．Surprised. | D．Sad. |
| A．Everyone has odd hobbies. | B．Everyone is odd as they are. |
| C．Everyone is worth respecting. | D．Everyone has their own lifestyle. |
| A．It received many thanks. |
| B．It caused a heated debate. |
| C．It was read aloud in his class. |
| D．It changed parents’ ideas about raising kids. |
9 . While driving home after work, Jane Hodgson noticed a car pulled over at the side of the road and a crowd beginning to gather around someone who was lying on the ground.
Jane, who had completed a first-aid course at work, pulled over to see if she could offer any help — and the young injured girl turned out to be lucky to meet her.
Describing the scene she came across, Jane said, “Die onlookers were ashen-faced (脸色苍白的) and looked lost. They were so shocked that they hadn’t even thought to call for an ambulance yet.”
After speaking to the emergency services, Jane started finding out what had happened and what injuries the young girl called Jenny had. The girl had been hit by a car, which hurt her head and shoulder. Her shoulder and arm were twisted (扭曲) underneath her.
“She hadn’t been wearing a helmet when she got knocked down, and I thought that she should not be moved as I couldn’t be sure about a spinal injury (脊椎损伤), but after looking her over and checking the circulation in her injured arm I did feel fairly confident that she had escaped unhurt,” said Jane.
“As we were waiting for an ambulance, the girl was feeling more and more painful. To distract (分散注意力) her and minimize the risk of her going into shock I kept talking to her. She held my hand tightly when the pain got too much and this helped. I told her I could handle it— we laughed about that,” described Jane.
Later, a doctor from the local hospital’s ICU stopped at the scene too. The doctor decided that Jenny should lie on her back, making her much more comfortable until the emergency services arrived.
Thinking back, Jane said, “For me, knowing that in a way I helped that girl through a frightening experience is all the reward I need. I feel great to know I have made a difference and I will do it again.”
1. What can we learn from the text about Jane Hodgson?| A．She is an ICU doctor. | B．She is a first-aid trainer. |
| C．She works in a local hospital. | D．She learned some first aid knowledge. |
| A．Jenny refused to talk | B．Jenny went into shock |
| C．Jane was a little impatient | D．Jane tried to give Jenny confidence |
| A．Strict but caring. | B．Tough and generous. |
| C．Proud but determined. | D．Warm-hearted and helpful. |
| A．It is a story between two strangers. | B．It is about how to perform first aid. |
| C．It is about the importance of first aid. | D．It is an experience about performing first aid. |
10 . As I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his high school team, I was starting to feel sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment-it was the opponents’ home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters (节) of the game. As for me, I had been fired from my job earlier in the day.
During my drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time-I am confident in my experience and abilities. This is the same belief as I always try to teach my son.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face, as well as his teammates’ faces as they fought back to not only tie with the other team, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to tie the score again. With the game in a tie and few seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball. With skill and confidence, he proceeded to make a basket with a defender hanging his hands all over him. The defender was warned for a foul (犯规).As Nathan stood at the free-throw line preparing for a shot that would make his team one point ahead, I saw the determination on his face again. There was no room for self- doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill. It was as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride. It dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He would play in the finals, but it didn’t matter if he would win or lose. At this moment, we both won.
1. Why did the author feel sorry?| A．He had made a big mistake in his work. |
| B．He used to be too busy to accompany Nathan. |
| C．Nathan’s team was too weak to compete in the game. |
| D．He and Nathan were both going through a hard time. |
| A．Self-centred and pessimistic. | B．Self-confident and optimistic. |
| C．Hard-working and intelligent. | D．Easy-going and warm-hearted. |
| A．Ignore. | B．Focus. | C．Create. | D．Receive. |
| A．Father and Son in Life | B．A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
| C．It Matters Whether to Win or Lose | D．Life Goes Just like Playing Basketball |
