1 . A heart-to-heart talk refers to an honest conversation between two people. When sharing a heart-to-heart talk, people will generally share innermost (内心最深处的) thoughts and feelings. This talk usually takes place without other people being present.
Share personal stories.
Listen to understand. Being an active listener is important during a heartto-heart talk. When you actively listen to what another person is saying, he is more likely to open up.
A.Raise questions actively. |
B.Avoid close-ended questions. |
C.Many times, you may listen to prepare an answer. |
D.So it’s considered that the talk will be kept secret. |
E.You should share what you feel comfortable sharing. |
F.Self-disclosure opens the door to a deep conversation. |
G.People find comfort in expressing unhappiness with others. |
2 . I played on the high school basketball team. I played the ball before the game started, and then sat on the bench (长凳) cheering for guys who were actually going to play in the game. When we won, I hugged (拥抱) my teammates.
I enjoyed that. But I didn’t know how my dad felt about my role. I imagined it was hard for him. Dad was a gifted athlete. And my older brothers were sports stars at college. I was not sure how he felt about going to games to watch his son SIT. Still, Dad was always there in his suit and tie. After the game, he’d come up to me, smile, shake my hand and say “Good game!”, even though I did nothing to make the game good. It changed until the last game of the season.
It was a great day for our team — we were up by about 20 with two minutes left. The coach suddenly looked towards me and said, “Walker! You’re in!” The next two minutes seemed not real to me. I remember running up and down the field a few times. When someone started counting down the last seconds, my teammate passed the ball to me. I heard guys on the bench shouting “Shoot (投篮)!” as I faced the basket and shot. We won. But then I didn’t know what to do. I was unprepared for a time when I had hit a last second shot. Naturally, I looked for Dad. He was there, smiling at me as he always did.
Whether good times or bad, Dad was always there to smile, to support and to love. Now I’m in my 50s with a teenage basketball player in my family. I keep trying to be there, no matter what, because I know what it can mean.
1. What was the author’s role?A.He was a green hand. | B.He gave players suggestions. |
C.He was a fan of the basketball team. | D.He replaced those who couldn’t play. |
A.Lost. | B.Tired. | C.Calm. | D.Encouraged. |
A.A Sports-Loving Family | B.A Successful Basketball Match |
C.Dad Always Being There | D.Dad Helping Me Succeed |
3 . Germany’s top court (法院) has ruled that parts of the country’s 2019 climate action law must be changed because they don’t do a good job of protecting young people. Nine young people aged 15 to 24 took the government to court over the law. They said that the government’s failure to plan carefully was putting their future lives in danger.
The judges (法官) of Germany’s highest court said climate change will influence young people far more than adults. That’s because climate change will become more serious over time. As young people become adults, they’ll be left to deal with any problems that today’s adults don’t deal with.
In 2019, Germany passed a new law, promising that the country would be producing no more CO2 than the forest can take in by 2050. The law made a plan of action until 2030. But the law didn’t have any plans for climate actions that would be taken between 2031 and 2050.
The court has asked the German government to fix the law by the end of 2022. The climate law will now need to have a plan for the actions that will be taken after 2030.
The German government has said that it will quickly begin working to make the needed changes. One important part of high court decisions like this is that they act as guides or examples for future decisions. This means that in the future, Germany’s lawmakers will be more likely to think about the climate future of young people as they create their laws.
1. Why did the judges make such a decision?A.They decided the new law made no sense. |
B.They wanted to give the young more rights. |
C.They focused more on the future of the young. |
D.They thought it’s hard to solve climate change. |
A.It failed to take action before 2030. |
B.It was producing more and more CO2. |
C.It refused to consider the young’s rights. |
D.It didn’t plan the climate actions after 2030. |
A.It will make more decisions on climate change. |
B.It will ask the young to help make climate laws. |
C.It will consider the young when making climate laws. |
D.It will encourage the young to protect the environment. |
A.They were brave and forward-looking enough. |
B.They couldn’t bear the present climate change. |
C.They wanted to take part in law-making. |
D.They planned to work in the government. |
4 . In July 2021, kids from around the world watched the first appearance of skateboarding at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The four medal events for men and women in park and street boarding showed the gifts of 80 athletes from all over the world.
Bryce Wettstein is one of the top competitors from the United States in park skateboarding, which requires athletes to show skills that combine (使结合) art and athleticism in a bowl that looks like an empty swimming pool. At 17, Bryce shows her skills in a way that celebrates the skateboarding community.
Skateboarding began in the late 1940s and early 1950s in small Southern California beach towns. Born into this community, Bryce has won a place at the center of the sport. “Skateboarding just seems like it can be everything and anything all washed together in some washing machine of color,” she said.
Bryce shares her California hometown with international skateboard pioneer Tony Hawk. He was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an ambassador (大使) in its “Stronger Together” competitive sport, which celebrates this year’s athletes. In an IOC video, Hawk summarized the unlikely rise of skateboarding. “We used to see ourselves as a family of misfits (不合群),” he said. “But now the world calls us Olympians.”
Skateboarders celebrate each other’s natural abilities and achievements, while working to help the sport develop. This is shown in the friendship between Bryce and top Australian competitor Poppy Starr Olsen. Both athletes have dreamed of acting for their own countries at the Olympic Games since they skateboarded together as kids.
“I think skateboarding is going to be really different from all the other sports,” Poppy said. “We’re all kind of like a family.” Bryce agreed. “That’s what makes skateboarding such a great sport,” she said.
1. Which of the following best describes Bryce Wettstein?A.A skateboarder who likes everything colourful. |
B.An excellent skateboarder easy to get on with. |
C.An excellent skateboarder from the birthplace of skateboarding. |
D.A skateboarder having a special understanding of skateboarding. |
A.He does much to celebrate the athletes. | B.He made skateboarding rise in the world. |
C.He is a skateboard pioneer all over the world. | D.He made an important speech in an IOC video. |
A.It gets family members together. | B.It is the dream of many children. |
C.It is a means to celebrate success. | D.It can bring people close together. |
A.Top athletes at the Olympics. | B.A new Olympic sports event. |
C.Some skateboarders’ success. | D.Opinions on an Olympic sports event. |
5 . Summer volunteer chances for students
Finding a summer volunteer chance is easier than you think. There are national programs all over the US that you can take part in. Check out these volunteer chances for students.
UN Volunteer ProgramIf you are an 18-year-old high school student, you might choose to volunteer in a UN organisation. The UN Volunteer Program (paid) is looking for excellent adults aged 18 to 55. Volunteer projects explore peace-building, climate change and disaster management (气候变化和灾害管理). Those looking for a summer program will also receive training before and after a short-term task.
National Park ServiceTeens aged 15-18 can take part in National Park Service and get paid. The volunteers work outdoors on several different projects including cleaning up campgrounds, improving wildlife habitat (栖息地), environmental education planning and teaching, and more! You’ll also take part in educational field trips where you’ll be able to see wildlife before your eyes.
Habitat for HumanityYou can find a lot of summer volunteer fun through Habitat for Humanity. Not only can you help build houses, but you can join in improving your community and helping out at the donation (捐赠) center. Youths aged 16 or older may take part in this program, and must have turned 16 by the first day of the project.
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is always looking for youth volunteers. Its Red Cross youth programs offer students and young adults meaningful chances of leadership training and community service. The chances are given to all junior and senior high school students.
1. What is special about the National Park Service?A.It allows its volunteers to camp. | B.It offers chances to see wild animals. |
C.It offers job-related training to volunteers. | D.It allows volunteers to explore new interests. |
A.Clean up houses. | B.Enjoy some fun games. |
C.Make money to help people in need. | D.Make their community better. |
A.UN Volunteer Program. | B.National Park Service. |
C.Habitat for Humanity. | D.American Red Cross. |
6 . When you throw cats and dogs in a scene where they are falling from the sky, it might be hard for an English learner to know exactly what it means. So English learners should know the meaning of English idioms (习语).
It’s important to not only teach the meaning of idioms, but also teach how to use them correctly and effectively (有效地). When a non-native speaker uses an idiom correctly, he or she will sound very fluent. But on the other hand, if they use the phrase wrongly, they will sound the exact opposite.
Learning idioms is appropriate for intermediate to advanced (中到高级的) students. If you teach an idiom lesson to beginners or low-intermediate learners, they are very likely to use it wrongly. So how should teachers teach English idioms correctly?
Provide idioms in context, so students can fully understand the meaning. Be sure to provide a conversation around it as an example.
Watching videos of native speakers talking is a great way to show your students how idioms are used in the real world. FluentU is a great resource that can help you highlight the usage and context of various idioms used. FluentU takes real-world videos — like music videos, news and inspiring (鼓舞人心的) talks — and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
Teach idioms in spoken form, not written, and explain to students how they are conversational, rather than formal. Have students practice the idioms in dialogue to help them understand how they’re used in spoken English.
Don’t just hand out a long list of idioms. Be sure to provide a small selection of 5-10 idioms and explain each one. If you provide too many examples, it’ll simply turn into an introduction of what an idiom is, rather than how to actually remember the meaning and use one effectively in dialogue.
1. Why does the author give the example in Paragraph 1?A.To explain why English is difficult to learn. |
B.To show English idioms are quite interesting. |
C.To show idioms can be difficult to understand. |
D.To tell us the meaning of an English idiom. |
A.Using English idioms correctly in conversation. |
B.Finding the meaning of idioms themselves. |
C.Sounding fluent by avoiding English idioms. |
D.Learning English idioms as low-intermediate learners. |
A.It has the latest music videos and movies. |
B.It is appropriate for low-intermediate learners. |
C.It provides various resource books for teachers. |
D.It provides real-world videos on the usage of idioms. |
A.How to teach English in a fun way. |
B.How to learn English idioms by yourself. |
C.How to teach English idioms correctly. |
D.How to use English idioms in dialogue. |
7 . I went to South Africa for the first time as a lone travelling female with a love for wildlife when I just graduated from high school.
During my six-month stay there, I spent the last 4 weeks at GVI Karongwe. The GVI members were so helpful and were so kind and lovely too when I was there. It was one of the easiest and best-organised programs I spent my time on.
Every day we collected information on a variety of animals for research. I have to say it changed my life in so many ways and actually guided me on my path to the job I am doing now.
The first week was pretty busy with training to prepare us for our job in the bush (灌木) and teach us about mammals (哺乳动物), birds and other animals, tracks and signs as well as how to use the equipment (设备), take care of the cars and clean and cook for a house of more than 20 people. The training made a world of difference to anyone who was nervous about being new to the South African wilderness and wanted to do the job well. I also made friends with people from all over the world and they were of all ages and backgrounds, united by the common goal to contribute to wildlife protection in South Africa, which was so amazing!
GVI programs provide a fantastic way to learn and contribute to the community and wildlife in a hands-on way. It has put me on the path of wildlife research for the rest of my life!
1. Why did the author go to South Africa at first?A.To do a voluntary job there. | B.To visit the wild animals there. |
C.To join in the GVI program there. | D.To carry out research there. |
A.It was necessary and important. | B.It was relaxing and creative. |
C.It was difficult. | D.It was too long. |
A.It offers free training and accommodation. | B.It helped the author choose her career. |
C.Its members all have rich knowledge of wildlife. | D.Its purpose is to encourage visits to South Africa. |
A.To give a positive review of the GVI program. | B.To tell us the importance of animal protection. |
C.To tell us what she learned in South Africa. | D.To share her experiences in South Africa. |
8 . When it comes to travel, sometimes wandering is one of the most exciting things you can do. In a time when travellers are both more adventurous and eco-conscious than ever, it’s no surprise that there’s a wealth of new vocabulary to describe how we travel, when we travel and how the experience makes us feel. Here are eight of our favourite travel words that you may not have heard before.
We’ve kicked off a blog with the staycation, “a holiday in one’s own country”. The term first became popular in the mid-2000s, when the global financial crisis meant people had less income to spend on flash holidays and instead searched for cheaper local choices. Since 2020, the staycation is experiencing a revival (复兴). Benefits of staycations include cheaper travel costs, no spending hours in the airport and, of course, no need to worry about whether your passport expired (过期) last year.
Once upon a time, if you wanted to meet new people on your travels, you could stay at a hostel or with a host on Airbnb. Now, you can couch surf. And not just in “the staying at various friends’ houses until you find a new place to rent” sense: couch surfing is quickly becoming a hot new travel trend. Travellers can now choose to couch surf all across the world via a website which treats travel as a cultural exchange, allowing people to connect with willing hosts and crash on their sofas.
Given that single-use and climate strike were selected as the Collins 2018 and 2019 Words of the Year respectively, it’s clear that the climate crisis is very much on everybody’s mind. This desire to make more sustainable choices is also affecting the way we spend our vacation days. Ecotourism is another popular travel trend, defined as tourism that is designed to contribute to the protection of the environment. Examples of ecotourism include ditching short-haul flights, staying at eco-friendly resorts, or booking a staycation.
1. When did the staycation become popular firstly?A.About in 2018. | B.About in 2019. | C.About in 2005. | D.About in 2010. |
A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Six. |
A.The eco-friendly travel ways. | B.The cheap ways to get around. |
C.The changing words of travel. | D.The spread of history and culture. |
A.The other new travel words. | B.Ways to protect environment. |
C.Other examples of ecotourism. | D.Experiences of reaching culture. |
9 . How to Apply China Visa (签证)
How to apply China visa is the most concerned question for international tourists who plan to travel to China. Here you will find the useful information about China visa requirements and instructions.
China Visa Requirements
▶The valid (有效的) passport
Original passport valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages, and a photocopy of data page (with your photo on it)
▶China visa application form and photo
The applicants must fill in a complete visa application form and attach it with a recent-taken colour passport photo.
So what is the requirement of the photo? The photo you submit must be passport-type (bare-head, full face) and standard with the correct dimension and background colour.
▶Effective proof of legal stay or resident status (it applies to those who do not apply for China visa in their countries of citizenship).
Supporting Application Documents
For C-Visa, a letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant authority from China side shall be provided.
For D-Visa, the original and a photocopy of foreign permanent residence identification form issued by China’s Ministry of Public Security shall be provided.
For F-Visa, an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from China side shall be provided.
For G-Visa, an onward air (train, bus, ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the third country or region shall be provided.
For L-Visa, the tour itinerary (行程) and documents with round trip flight tickets and accommodation reservations, or an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from Chinese side shall be provided.
For M-Visa, documents of business activity, trade fair invitation letter or other invitation letter issued by trade partners in China shall be provided.
Further reading: click the link China visa knowledge and types.
1. In what situation do people have to prove the legal stay for the application?A.Not being in his country of nationality. |
B.Without documents of business activity. |
C.Without photos that match the requirements. |
D.Not being invited by trade partners in China. |
A.C-Visa and M-Visa. | B.L-Visa and D-Visa. |
C.G-Visa and L-Visa. | D.F-Visa and M-Visa. |
A.A science magazine. | B.A travel brochure. |
C.A hotel poster. | D.A web page. |
10 . The green revolution in the 1960s was one of the greatest achievements in human history. By promoting more productive varieties of wheat and, especially, rice, scientists in India, Mexico, China and the Philippines doubled Asia’s rice yields from 1965 to 1995.
But the world has reached a crossroad again. By one estimate, the world will need to produce almost a third more rice by 2050. Yet rice production has increased by less than 1% a year over the past decade.
This has many explanations. Urbanization and industrialization have made labour and farmland scarcer (稀缺的). Overuse of chemicals and irrigation have poisoned soils and dried up groundwater. But the biggest reason may be global warming that often leads to extreme conditions. Heavy rains and droughts last year in India, the world’s biggest rice exporter, led to a reduced harvest and an export ban. Floods in Pakistan, the fourth-biggest exporter, wiped out 15% of its rice harvest. Rising sea-levels are causing salt to enter the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s “rice bowl”.
It is getting worse. Rice is not just a victim of climate change, but also a contributor to it. It is a bigger source of greenhouse gas than any foodstuff except beef. If you count the destruction of forestland for rice fields, that footprint is even bigger.
Therefore, governments need to attract producers and consumers away from rice. India and Indonesia are promoting millet, which is more nutritious and uses much less water. Canceling subsidies (补贴) that favour rice over other crops would make such efforts more effective. India, for example, purchases rice from farmers, often at above-market rates, then distributes it as food aid to the poor. It should make its interventions more rice-unfriendly, by replacing subsidies and free rice with income support for farmers and the poor. That would encourage farmers to choose the best crop for their local conditions — much of India’s agricultural north-west would switch from rice to wheat overnight. Poor Indians would be free to choose a more balanced diet. As a result, it would correct a market unfavorable to environment and health.
1. What can we know about the green revolution in Asia?A.It has remarkably reduced the use of water and chemicals. |
B.It once increased rice production by more than 3% a year. |
C.It has popularized more productive crops, especially wheat. |
D.It has been mainly led by scientists from America and Europe. |
A.Worsening global warming. | B.Unnecessary bans on rice export. |
C.Lowering prices for the crop. | D.Urbanization and industrialization. |
A.Expand the planting of rice. | B.Give rice farmers more subsidies. |
C.Replace rice with better local crops. | D.Distribute rice as food aid to the poor. |
A.Achievements of the Green Revolution | B.Efforts to Promote More Suitable Crops |
C.Consequences of the Green Revolution | D.Ideas to Fix the Current Global Rice Crisis |