1 . Skeet shooting is a type of target sport in which the shooter uses a special gun to hit moving clay target, which are sometimes referred to as “clay pigeons (陶土飞靶)”. This target sport is an important, competitive sport in the Olympic games.
Skeet shooting was invented by the bird hunter in the early nineteenth century under the original name of “clock shooting”. The game was changed slightly and reached a wider audience over the coming years. Once, a competition was held to determine a new name for this shooting game.
Today, skeet shooting is as American as apple pie and McDonald’s. At first, fans of the sport were male, but now, a fair number of women also love skeet shooting.
Like most skills, skeet shooting takes a lot of patience and practice.
| A．Why do people love skeet shooting? |
| B．At last, the game was called skeet shooting. |
| C．How can one participate in the sport at home? |
| D．Unfortunately, no recommended name was chosen. |
| E．Sure, some people might have a natural talent for it. |
| F．There are many clubs offering skeet shooting in America. |
| G．Therefore, many countries attach much importance to it. |
2 . There are three kinds of people in this world. Those who love Butter Chicken, those who think Butter Chicken is overrated and those who have never tasted Butter Chicken. Of all of these, I feel deep sorrow for the third kind. It is a loss of gigantic proportions, in my opinion.
Delhi, arguably the culinary (烹饪的) capital of India, owes a large part of its flavour heritage to the Mughals (印度贵族). Butter Chicken, however, has far more humble origins, and was born far closer to home. It only dates back a couple of decades to pre-partition India, and its story takes us to a sweet-shop, owned by an elderly gentleman called Mokha. It was here that young Gujral worked, where he helped invent the Tandoori Chicken that we all love today. Yes, you heard that right, this story also includes the invention of the famous Tandoori Chicken.
There came a time when Mokha’s health dropped and he eventually sold the shop to Gujral who renamed it as Moti Mahal. As a sharp businessman, Gujral realized that the Tandoori Chicken hanging above the tandoor (印度烤炉) all day would tend to dry out if unsold. He then came up with the genius idea of creating a basic sauces with tomatoes, butter, cream and some spices to immerse the Tandoori Chicken pieces in, helping them regain moisture and become tasty again. And thus, was born the Butter chicken.
When India was partitioned, Gujral moved to Delhi and so did Moti Mahal, with Butter Chicken and Tandoori Chicken in tow. The small outlet grew fast and now, almost 70 years later, it has a successful chain of restaurants with outlets far and wide, managed by his grandson, Monish. A few years back, when I was reviewing Masala Library in Mumbai, I was surprised to find Butter Chicken on the tasting menu. What started then, is now a full-fledged movement to take the humble dish and reinvent or present it in innovation. Today, you will find Butter Chicken tacos, pizzas, rolls, burgers, biryani and just about everything you can think of. I bet when Gujral invented Butter Chicken, little did he know that he was creating history, in a way.
1. What does the underlined word in paragraph 1 mean?| A．subtle | B．economic | C．dietary | D．enormous |
| A．He invented the Tandoori Chicken as well as Butter Chicken single-handedly. |
| B．His grandson, Monish, managed to move Moti Mahal and Butter Chicken to Delhi. |
| C．His inspiration of Butter chicken came from the unsold Tandoori Chicken. |
| D．He took over the shop from Mokha when India was partitioned. |
| A．explain his passion for Butter Chicken |
| B．show the popularity of Butter Chicken |
| C．indicate his satisfaction with the library |
| D．recommend a place to eat Butter chicken |
| A．The history of an Indian loved cuisine — Butter Chicken |
| B．The legend of a history-made hero — Gujral |
| C．The innovation of a humble Indian dish — Butter Chicken |
| D．The visit to the culinary capital — Delhi |
3 . Standing on a school stage, the master swings his arms and moves his body as he conducts an orchestra. The 70 young musicians keep a sharp focus on the master’s white baton (指挥棒) as it shoots upward, downward, and sideways.
Michael Morgan was six years old when his father moved a neighbor’s unwanted piano into their living room. He started piano lessons, but it was when he saw a conductor leading an orchestra on television that he realized what he really wanted to do. At age eight, he began reading The Joy of Music by conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and figured out how to direct with a baton. After graduating from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Michael worked under Bernstein. “Conducting is a thing you learn by apprenticing (当学徒). You do more watching than anything else,” Morgan says. Even after Morgan had graduated from Oberlin, Bernstein’s masterful teaching continued to influence him.
Morgan is committed to offering kids a chance to explore classical music. In his hometown, he started to volunteer in local schools, conducting student orchestras and talking with kids about music. Morgan is also the music director and conductor of the Oakland Symphony. He works with teachers in after-school programs to reach students who can’t afford lessons.
Morgan is focused and works very hard. “He’s mastermind behind all of these programs,” says Elizabeth, Oakland Symphony Education Coordinator. “He is in an amazing harmony with students. He is really serious in getting down to his business.”
Morgan says his work is mostly about providing young people with an entrance into music. “Instruments give kids a way of emotional expression, a source of pride, and an interest they can carry with them through life. Young musicians come from many different cultures and communities. But with instruments in hand, their hearts sing as one,” he says.
1. What inspired Morgan to begin his career as a conductor?| A．A gift from his neighbor. | B．The piano lessons he took. |
| C．The guidance of his teacher. | D．A TV program in his childhood. |
| A．Passionate and honest. | B．Generous and demanding. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Warmhearted and devoted. |
| A．To show recognition on Morgan. | B．To share her cooperation with Morgan. |
| C．To encourage kids to learn from Morgan. | D．To express people’s expectations for Morgan. |
| A．Playing music is the best way to relieve people’s tension. |
| B．Morgan opens a door to music teaching for young musicians. |
| C．Music has the power to bridge cultural gap and unite people. |
| D．Young musicians tend to play the same song whole-heartedly. |
4 . Xiaomi, best known for its popular smartphones and domestic appliances, launched its SU7 model on March 28 in China. The tech company began accepting orders in China via an app. Xiaomi said that it received 50,000 orders for the SU7 in the first 27 minutes after sales opened.
“Entering the car-making business will be the last big start-up project of my life. This is to perform our agreement made three years ago,” Chief Executive Lei Jun wrote. He added that he was confident about entering the EV (electric vehicle) market.
Xiaomi introduced the SU7 at its technology conference in December 2023, saying it was capable of accelerating speeds faster than Tesla cars and Porsche EVs, with one version capable of hitting 100 kilometers per hour in 2.78 seconds. One version has a driving range of up to 800 kilometers, it added.
The SU7’s release comes when EV makers battle for sales in the world’s largest auto market. Xiaomi will enter the competition as leading brands like BYD and Tesla are cutting prices sharply to attract consumers to buy their EVs in an oversupplied market.
Analysts said the SU7’s release will likely cut into Xiaomi’s bottom line as marketing and other expenses rise. Xiaomi posted a net profit of 4.87 billion yuan ($677.9 million) in the third quarter, up 52% from the preceding quarter on the back of improved margins. The key thing to watch for the launch will be the price, specifically if it’s below or above ¥ 200,000, Huatai Securities equity analyst Leping Huang said. The level serves as a classification benchmark for EVs in the same class as the SU7.
Xiaomi may have some advantages over competitors since it is “already a very well-known brand and may be able to take advantage of existing distribution channels,” Morningstar equity analyst Dan Baker said, “but recent profit forecasts could well be negative.”
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．The SU7 is well received by consumers in China. |
| B．Lei Jun raised his concern about the future of EV market. |
| C．Xiaomi regards developing SU7 models as its last project. |
| D．Orders of the SU7 can be placed in the shops worldwide now. |
| A．Higher costs of production than other EVs. |
| B．Lack of advantages in acceleration speeds. |
| C．Fierce competition in oversupplied market. |
| D．Technical issues with an ideal driving range. |
| A．Symbol. | B．Background. | C．Standard. | D．Management. |
| A．Xiaomi released its first EV | B．Xiaomi hits the big time overnight |
| C．Xiaomi has changed the EV market | D．Xiaomi will take the lead in the world |
5 . Millions of people have conditions that make walking difficult. Millions more regularly perform tough movement as part of their jobs. Wearable robotic devices called exoskeletons that help the legs move could benefit both of these groups. In laboratory settings, such devices have helped people walk faster while using less energy. But various obstacles have kept these devices from being practical for everyday use.
A research team at Stanford University led by Dr. Steven Collins has developed an exoskeleton that can rapidly adapt to the user during normal walking. The team tested how well an exoskeleton based on their model could adapt to a user. They then compared it to one based on lab measurements. Both methods wound up applying similar forces at different speeds and reduced effort similarly across a range of conditions. But the model-based adaptation took only one-quarter as long as the measurement-based adaptation.
Next, the researchers created a portable, ankle-worn exoskeleton that could be used in the real world. The exoskeleton was powered by a battery pack worn at the waist.
The team conducted tests of the device outdoors on public sidewalks. Compared with walking in normal shoes, the exoskeleton increased walking speed by 9% while expending 17% less energy on average. This is equal to the energy savings of removing a 20-pound backpack. When walking on a treadmill (跑步机) at a constant speed, users expended up to 23% less energy, equal to removing a 30-pound backpack.
“This exoskeleton personalize s assistance as people walk normally through the real world,” Collins says. “This opens the door to a much broader use of exoskeletons to assist individuals with physical impairments (损伤) and people who need to carry heavy loads,” adds co-author Dr. Scott Delp.
1. Who are exoskeletons designed for?| A．Sportsmen in a race. | B．Firefighters on a mission. |
| C．Patients with mental disabilities. | D．Doctors doing an operation. |
| A．Barriers. | B．Applications. | C．Models. | D．Backpacks. |
| A．To illustrate the advantage of exoskeletons. | B．To compare exoskeletons with normal shoes. |
| C．To give examples of different kinds of shoes. | D．To list the reasons for designing exoskeletons. |
| A．Conservative. | B．Negative. | C．Favourable. | D．Indifferent. |
6 . We’re often told that there’s no age limit when it comes to pursuing our goals, but it’s truly inspiring to see someone achieve them later in life-especially if they are 95 years old. Angela Alvarez is a Cuban-born singer and songwriter who, after putting aside her dream of pursuing a career in entertainment for decades, finally released her first album in 2021.
Once Alvarez graduated from school, she told her father she wanted to become a professional singer. However, he prevented her from doing so. Eventually, she got married and found happiness in raising her four children, though life wasn’t easy.
With time, her grandson, Carlos Jos é Alvarez, grew up to be a music producer. When he found out his grandma had written over 50 songs throughout her life, he asked if she would like to record her songs. Her answer was “yes”. And that was the beginning.
Alvarez’s story even caught the attention of actor Andy García, who produced a documentary about this amazing woman and the recording process of her 15-song album. “She represents a generation, perhaps our greatest generation of Cubans,” said the actor.
The dream reached new heights as she became nominated for a Latin Grammy. Once she took to the stage to accept her award, she gave an inspiring speech, “I want to dedicate this award to my beloved homeland, Cuba; also to those who have not achieved their dream. Although life is difficult, there is always a way out, and with faith and love they can achieve it. I promise, it’s never too late.”
1. What do we know about Alvarez?| A．She lived a miserable life bringing up her children. |
| B．She has released 15 albums since she returned to music. |
| C．She got nominated as the best musician of her generation. |
| D．She gave up her dream after graduation owing to her father’s prevention. |
| A．Her hard life after marriage. | B．Her grandson’s support. |
| C．Her desire to make more money. | D．Her enthusiasm for music. |
| A．Inspiring. | B．Interesting. | C．Amusing. | D．Moving. |
| A．To introduce a woman’s life-time story. |
| B．To call on others to learn from Alvarez. |
| C．To praise what Alvarez has done in music. |
| D．To tell us it’s never too late to achieve one’s dream. |
7 . How to win a creative writing competition
I’ve judged a lot of competitions for young writers, and the following advice may give you the chance of winning one.
●Cut your first paragraph.
It’s amazing how many stories are improved by simply covering up the first paragraph. You may just want to warm up.
●Keep it simple.
●
If you want to write about Harry Potter, or a footballer or celebrity, adjust it. Change the name. Change the situation. Make your own character and try exaggerating an aspect of the personality to make your point striking.
●Write an ending.
The great film director Alexander Mackendrick said, “If you’ve got a beginning, but you don’t yet have an end, then you’re wrong.” I suggest you come up with your ending first.
| A．It’s the story that matters. |
| B．Avoid characters that already exist. |
| C．I see a really odd trend in the stories. |
| D．Describe characters in your own words. |
| E．Plan that out, then plan how you’re going to get there. |
| F．Works handed in are usually divided into two categories. |
| G．Or you may just desire to tell me some crucial information in the first few lines. |
8 . Global Support assists you to organize and undertake activities outside of New York.
If you are a student, please contact Office of Global Services about visa-related questions, the Student Health Center about health insurance abroad, Office of Global Programs about studying away at one of our university’s global sites, and Office of General Counsel about any travel to Cuba.
When Should I Contact Global Support?
Conducting a university activity outside of New York, whether it is research, short trips, exchange programs or study-away programs, may present obstacles as a result of U.S. or local legal requirements. Countries and local districts have their own set of rules and regulations, and it can be challenging to be knowledgeable and current on the rules and regulations of the many countries and districts where the university operates.
How Can Global Support Help?
We will help you identify important issues relating to your activity, obtain information about these issues, engage the appropriate administrative departments and function al experts, and address these issues.
Our university maintains functional experts in a range of administrative areas to provide you with technical advice and guidance. Because there are often changes to local country rules and regulations, these university experts have relationships with third party local country experts, from whom they at times seek advice and guidance. Allowing the university functional experts to remain current on the best local country experts ensures you get the best advice at the best price.
1. Where should you go to ask questions about travel to Cuba?| A．Office of Global Services. | B．The Student Health Center. |
| C．Office of Global Programs. | D．Office of General Counsel. |
| A．researches | B．laws | C．programs | D．cultures |
| A．Their constant adaptation to changes. | B．Their expertise in introducing regulations. |
| C．Their cooperation with local country experts. | D．Their diverse educational backgrounds. |
9 . The humble beaver could hold the key to saving our water, according to a new research that has found how their dam building skills protect the rivers threatened by climate change.
The research, done on rivers in Colorado, found the wooden barriers built by beavers raise water level upstream. As it builds up, the water flows into surrounding soils and secondary waterways. These acts separate out extra nutrients and pollutants before water reenters the main channel downstream.
Extreme weather events, such as severe storms, impact water quality in major river systems. Droughts and floods are becoming more frequent, and the scientists have also found they are contributing to an increase in the American be aver in the US, and consequently an explosion of dam building.
The team chose to monitor a 40-kilometer stretch of the East River. They reviewed data on water levels gathered hourly by sensors fixed in the river and the areas along the river.
They also collected water samples, including from below the ground’s surface to monitor nutrient and pollutant levels. The researchers compared water quality along the stretch during a historically dry year, to water quality the following year when water levels were unusually high. They also compared these year-long datasets to water quality during the nearly three- month period, starting in late July 2018, when the be aver dam blocked the river.
The study revealed the dams increased nitrate (硝酸盐) by nearly 50% by increasing the pressure of the water flow upstream 10 times over, which pushed more water out into the surrounding areas. This decrease in nitrates, which are absorbed and digested by tiny organisms in the soil, helped increase the oxygen content and quality in the rivers.
Beavers’ handiwork is responsible for the land they love.
1. What do the wooden barriers created by beavers act as?| A．Waterways. | B．Samples. | C．Dams. | D．Sensors. |
| A．More dams emerge on the river. |
| B．More American beavers appear in the US. |
| C．More pollutants are removed from the river. |
| D．More oxygen is created in the river. |
| A．To keep an eye on the water quality. | B．To compare water quality of the stretch. |
| C．To reveal the damage caused by floods. | D．To save the river from drying up. |
| A．Organisms help decrease nitrate. |
| B．Beavers contribute to climate change. |
| C．Extreme weather catches researcher’s eyes. |
| D．Beavers help protect rivers against climate change. |
10 . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 32% of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Experts there recommend at least seven hours of shut-eye per night for adults.
If you also wrestle with insomnia (失眠), you probably have been tempted to try anything that promises better sleep. One thing that might sound a little strange has been known to work:
Just as swaddling (紧裹) babies can send them to sleep, using an extra weighted blanket helps your heart and breathing slow and your body release feel-good hormones. The weight — usually between 5 and 30 pounds — sounds like a lot but is spread out by covering the quilt.
A 2020 review looked at eight studies and concluded that weighted blankets helped reduce anxiety but not necessarily insomnia. Other research tells a slightly different story. A study in Sweden in 2020 looked at 120 people with insomnia and depression.
| A．However, it is not for everyone |
| B．adding a weighted blanket to the quilts |
| C．using a weighted blanket instead of the quilts |
| D．The weight usually causes tension and discomfort |
| E．But as many as 35% of adults have trouble sleeping from time to time |
| F．The heaviness is like a touch treatment called deep pressure stimulation |
| G．Those who used a weighted blanket reported they had better sleep and were less depressed |
