1 . Lamar Giles is the author of several praised novels and short stories for young adults. His most recent novel is called The Getaway (Scholastic Press, 2022).
I recently spoke with Giles via video. Born and raised in Virginia, he has had a passion for writing, he told me, since he was a child. “It was just amusing to me,” he said.
Growing up in Hopewell, Giles experienced poverty and racism. He recalled a frightening moment when he and his friends were stopped by police officers. “They were pulling out really big, scary weapons,” Giles recalled, “threatening us for no reason, other than the fact that we were young, Black children.”
When Giles was in his early 20s, he met professional authors who showed him that he could make a living doing what he loved. At age 21, he saw one of his stories published in a little-known magazine. It took another decade for Giles to write and publish his first novel.
The challenges Giles met with when growing up proved to be a catalyst (催化剂) for his writing. “When something scares me, I’ll write about it,” he said. “If I write a story around it, it makes me feel better about the fear and anxiety.”
The author’s thriller (惊险小说) for young adults, Fake ID (Amistad Books for Young Readers, 2015), tells the story of Nick Pearson. The character, who is Black, faces racial profiling in his hometown, as Giles did. Nick is suspected of committing a crime because of his race and his “shady” neighborhood. In one scene, he is held at the county jail after being falsely accused by a governor of a state.
Giles is also a co-founder of We Need Diverse Books. The nonprofit organization promotes diversity initiatives in the publishing industry, supporting authors whose stories are often ignored. The goal, Giles said, is to enable all kids to see themselves in the books they read.
1. What does the underlined word “It” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Video. | B．Novel. | C．Passion. | D．Writing. |
| A．He tried his best to write books. | B．He lived in poverty and horror. |
| C．He lived under police protection. | D．He got along well with his friends. |
| A．They inspired him to write. | B．They changed his attitude to life. |
| C．They prevented him turning a writer. | D．They made him become strong-willed. |
| A．He was Giles’ best friend. | B．He devoted himself to writing. |
| C．He was wrongly imprisoned. | D．He founded a nonprofit organization. |
2 . Londoners love a market. It’s the combination of eating, chatting and browsing. Lovely stuff. Locals and tourists continue to rush to the capital’s best stalls and these days there’s a huge range of markets across London. Below you’ll find the very best markets in London.
Broadway Market
Since being reopened in 2004, this Hackney Street market has become attractive to fashion lovers. It is packed every Saturday from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. with arty students and East End creative types filling their large handbags with organic groceries, vintage clothes, fresh flowers, coffee, books and unusual handmade gifts.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is really five markets in one, with different sections dedicated to second-hand goods, clothing and fashion, household essentials. You’ll find the greatest range of antiques stalls on Saturdays.
Borough Market
Next to London Bridge, this food market has existed in some form since at least 1014. It’s now best known as a foodie’s paradise where Londoners come to buy top-quality meats, fish, fruit and veg, fresh-baked bread, cakes and sweet treats, oils and vinegar, and pretty much anything else they desire. Borough Market is open Monday to Saturday, with Saturday the busiest day.
Brick Lane Market
The streets of East London’s Brick Lane are lined with stalls selling anything and everything on Sundays. You can find bargain fruit and veg, and electrical products, but this market’s Unique Selling Point is its unpredictability (不可预测): You could bag a second-hand bargain, or spend hours selecting through inexpensive goods.
1. Who would most likely enjoy Broadway Market?| A．Poor people. | B．Art lovers. |
| C．Those who like used items. | D．Those who have no time. |
| A．They show cultural relics. | B．They sell the cheapest goods. |
| C．They sell second-hand goods. | D．They are busy on the same day. |
| A．Borough Market. | B．Brick Lane Market. |
| C．Broadway Market. | D．Portobello Road Market. |
3 . The Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation (PPIE) was started in 1987 to raise money by organizing running events for local schools. Based in Pleasanton, California, a suburb of San Francisco, the nonprofit recently hosted a family-focused fitness event for the community.
“Our event helps to bring the community together,” said Mindy Louie, events and outreach manager for PPIE. “We have more than 3,000 participants, hard-working volunteers, and viewers.”
This year’s fitness event took place on April 30 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. It featured races of two miles, five kilometers, and 10 kilometers. A new Kids Challenge consisted of a quarter-mile run to encourage younger children to participate.
When asked to describe the run, 11-year-old Jeremy Louie said, “Fun, exciting, and enjoyable.” Jeremy added that he was happy to help support his school.
The PPIE supports all 15 schools in the Pleasanton Unified School District, which includes more than 14,500 students and 800 teachers and staff. The nonprofit tries to fund education programs affected by budget cuts, while encouraging fitness and athleticism. Up to now, the PPIE has raised $1 million for the school district.
A local runners’ group called the BURN Youth Development (or B. Y. D.) participated in the fundraiser. The B.Y. D. has since grown to include more than 100 youth members, 30 of whom ran in April’s PPIE event. “The B.Y. D. was born in the darkest days of COVID-19 to keep kids running,” explained Jerry Wu, the group’s founder and lead coach. “Watching them running strong and happy makes me smile every time.”
Wu encourages teamwork and teaches the students valuable running techniques. Eighth grader Ollie Gu, a B.Y. D. member, was one of the top finishers in the 10K run. He completed the race in 40 minutes and 46 seconds and won first place in the 12-15-year-old age group.
“The race was extremely rewarding,” Ollie said. “I’m looking forward to it next year.”
1. Which race was newly created?| A．Two miles. | B．10 kilometers. | C．Five kilometers. | D．A quarter-mile. |
| A．To gather money for students. | B．To keep kids active in a hard time. |
| C．To train kids to attend competitions. | D．To help PPIE organize sports games. |
| A．He coaches them in running. | B．He teaches the lessons online. |
| C．He offers food and drinks to them. | D．He helps them fight against illness. |
| A．Benefits from Sports Activities | B．Popular Events Among Students |
| C．Running to Support Education. | D．Lending a Hand to Schools in Need |
4 . The glass armonica (玻璃琴), also known as a glass harmonica or simply armonica, is a musical instrument that produces sound by rubbing glass with wet fingers. It was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761.
The instrument consists of a series of glass bowls of varying sizes, fixed straight on a spindle (轴). The glass bowls are arranged in order of size, with the largest bowl on one end and the smallest on the other.
Franklin came up with the idea after attending a concert in Cambridge. The performer was rubbing wine glasses to produce musical notes. Franklin thought that was not efficient. He decided to invent a set of musical instruments made of glass.
So, he hired a London glassmaker to construct 36 bowls to specific thicknesses and sizes. He fixed the bowls horizontally on a spindle with the largest bowl on one end and the smallest on the other. In this way the musician can play the glass bowls like a keyboard.
The glass armonica became prevalent during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Mozart and Beethoven both composed chamber pieces for it.
But by the 1820s, it was nearly a forgotten instrument in fears that it had the power to drive the listener mad. Some armonica players became ill and had to stop playing the instrument. They complained of muscle spasms (痉挛), nervousness, cramps, and dizziness. A few listeners were also affected. The instrument was actually banned in a few towns. “The armonica too inspires the nerves, drives the player into a troublesome depression and later into a dark and sad mood that is a method for slow self-destroying.”
However, no explanation or proof was ever really given to any of these claims. Franklin himself ignored all of the argument and continued to play the instrument until the end of his life.
1. How are the glass bowls arranged to form this instrument?| A．By their thickness. | B．By their shapes. | C．By their weight. | D．By their sizes. |
| A．A failed performance. | B．An unsuccessful concert. |
| C．An unusual performer. | D．A couple glasses of wine. |
| A．Fearful. | B．Popular. | C．Strange. | D．Tiresome. |
| A．Bad remarks about the instrument. | B．Terrible sounds made by the instrument. |
| C．Bans on this instrument everywhere. | D．This instrument’s great appeal to people. |
5 . There is often a very special bond between children and pets.
Pets will love a safe place that is out of bounds to children.
Teach kids that pets aren’t toys. Young children should not be allowed to pick up their pets, and older kids from seven years of age should only be allowed to pick up pets under supervision. When playing with pets, be sure children are always sitting on the floor, not wandering (漫步) around holding the pets.
| A．Always supervise young children and pets. |
| B．Teach kids to let go of pets instead of trying to force them to do something they don’t want to do. |
| C．Before bringing home a new pet, you should discuss basic rules the whole family agrees on. |
| D．Kids can help in everyday pet care. |
| E．Growing up with a family pet can be a wonderful experience for a child. |
| F．This also allows kids to understand the importance of regular check-ups. |
| G．For dogs, this could be a cage or playpen. |
6 . Letting kids learn more about science at an early age is easier than you think. It is happening all around us, and you can use daily things to arouse (激发) your children’s interest. Most parents believe it is difficult to help their children with science. But you don’t need a high scientific degree to teach your children science. All you need is that you’re willing to try, to see the world, and to take the time to encourage their natural curiosity. When they strongly want to know about something, they get the ticket to the unknown world.
You can help by having an active attitude (态度) towards science yourself. Then start simply by asking your children questions about the things you see every day. Next listen to their answers without judging (评判) them, which will improve their confidence (自信), and help you decide just what your children know or do not know.
Different kids have different interest, so they need different kinds of science projects. Collecting rocks may interest your young daughter, but your older son may need something more to deal with it. Knowing your children is the best way to find enjoyable learning activities. Here are some more pieces of advice: Choose activities that are the right level of difficulty. If you are not sure, pick something easier. Read the suggested ages on any projects, books, and then make sure that the activity is proper for your children. Let your children choose the project or activity themselves. It’s easy enough to ask rather than force them. Suggest choosing 2 or 3 things your children can do. When a child picks something he or she is interested in, he or she will enjoy it and learn more from it.
1. What does the underlined word “curiosity” mean in English?| A．The spirit of changing. | B．The feeling of wondering. |
| C．The ability of understanding. | D．The method of thinking. |
| A．By deciding what interests them. | B．By collecting their answers. |
| C．By judging them. | D．By asking them questions. |
| A．To have an active attitude. | B．To offer different kinds of projects. |
| C．To improve their confidence. | D．To know the children. |
| A．How to arouse children’s interest in science. | B．How to choose activities for children. |
| C．Why not force children to learn science. | D．Why to let children learn science earlier. |
7 . “On the very first day of 2024, I saw the snow of Kilimanjaro, not from the novel written by Ernest Hemingway, but from the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!” Xu Zhuoyuan, a 17-year-old mountaineer who’d stood on top of Mount Qomolangma last May, climbed onto the tallest peak in Africa, making herself the youngest Chinese girl that conquered it.
Xu’s passion for mountaineering was motivated by her father, who himself reached many peaks, including Mount Qomolangma. And her mountaineering journey began on a family trip to Xizang and Sichuan four years ago. For many years, Xu devoted herself to rigorous training. She went to the mountains in Yunnan and Sichuan every month, climbing peaks over 5,000 meters and doing daily physical exercises like running, swimming and rope skipping. All that hard work got her ready for the challenges she would face on Kilimanjaro.
Above 4000 meters on Mount Kilimanjaro, the climate is similar to a desert, with big temperature differences. The whole climb took 7 days, during which Xu faced unpredictable weather such as rain and strong winds. Staying warm and avoiding heat loss was the main challenge. Xu had to be very sensitive to any temperature changes and adjust her clothing accordingly. This climb was also a learning experience for Xu. She was climbing with Xia Boyu (aged 74), the first Chinese climber to summit Mount Qomolangma with an artificial leg, who’d inspired Xu a lot.
Mountaineering, Xu discovered, is not just about being strong physically; it is also a journey of self-discovery. “In climbing and life, it’s important to know when to let go of things that are weighing us down and how to re start when we feel ready,” she reflected.
1. What inspired Xu Zhuoyuan’s interest in climbing mountains?| A．A novel written by Ernest Hemingway. |
| B．A former trip to Mount Qomolangma. |
| C．Her father’s success in mountaineering. |
| D．Her family trip to Xizang and Sichuan. |
| A．Flexible. | B．Strict. | C．Casual. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．She was accompanied by a disabled climber. |
| B．There was a desert 4000 meters on Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| C．Weather condition was unstable above Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| D．Clothes adjustment was needed due to temperature changes. |
| A．Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro—A Chinese Girl’s Bravery. |
| B．Conquering New Heights —A Story of Passion. |
| C．Mountaineering—A Journey of Self-discovery. |
| D．Mount Kilimanjaro —A Destination of Inspiration. |
8 . A film, also called a movie, is a work used to communicate ideas, stories, feelings, beauty and much more through the use of moving images. This article therefore introduces some right movies or TV series which will benefit students in one way or the other.
Like Stars on Earth
This is a heart touching Indian movie that tells the story of a boy named Ishaan Awasthi. He is an 8-year-old boy with dyslexia (阅读障碍) and this greatly influences his performance in school. Ishaan has an amazing talent for art and painting, but no one would like to know him and be his friends until a new art teacher, Ram Nikumbh, arrives. He takes special interest in Ishaan and discovers Ishaan’s problem and his artistic talent.
The Social Network
It tells us the story of young Mark Zuckerberg who is an undergraduate at Harvard and also a computer genius (天才). He begins to work on an idea which grows into a globally recognized social network called Facebook. This makes Mark one of the youngest billionaires existing.
Grownish
Filled with real life situations and grown up people, this series takes us back to university-lifestyle. Grownish through four amazing seasons, teaches us how to navigate (驾驭) the university through the eyes of Zoey Johnson. Zoey is a talented fashion designer and stylist who seems to have the world all planned out for her.
King of Boys 2
If you haven’t already seen the first movie in this series, you should take two steps back so you don’t get lost in this political (政治的) forest. This movie is the type that has you sitting at the edge (边缘) of your seat from start to finish. King of Boys 2 takes us to the underworld of a truly dirty game called “politics”.
1. Why is the 8-year-old boy named Ishaan doing poorly in school?| A．He has difficulty reading. | B．His teachers dislike him. |
| C．He fails to make new friends. | D．He takes no interest in studies. |
| A．Ram Nikumbh. | B．Mark Zuckerberg. |
| C．Zoey Johnson. | D．Ishaan Awasthi. |
| A．An art teacher’s story. | B．A computer genius. |
| C．A fashion designer’s growth. | D．A political game. |
9 . The world is full of fascinating destinations. We are here for you, providing a private tour to suit your particular needs and help you enjoy a great travel around Austria.
Time
June to August is the busiest time of the year with crowds of tourists and lower room availability. If you want to avoid the crowded tourists, the best time to visit Austria lasts from April to May and from September to October. During these months, the weather is pleasant, better for enjoying outdoor activities such as sightseeing, biking, hiking and adventures. Winter is also a great time to visit since the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are held everywhere, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Cities
Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck are three must-see cities that shouldn’t be missed in your Austria tour packages. Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is famous for its lively art. Salzburg is also a great region where you can enjoy amazing views of the Eastern Alps. It’s also the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart and the film setting for the Sound of Music. Innsbruck, another significant place for sightseeing in Austria, is known for its mountainous backdrop and lots of natural beauty. There are also some. worthy medieval(中世纪的)towns to visit, such as Bad Ischl, Durnstein, Hallstatt, etc.
Transportation
Austria has a wide rail network, connecting all its domestic cities and neighboring countries. Riding on comfortable trains is the best way to travel through the green valleys, the historic towns and the scenic villages.
1. When is Austria the most crowded with tourists?| A．From April to May. | B．From June to August. |
| C．From September to October. | D．From November to December. |
| A．Its art. | B．Its mountains. |
| C．Its filming. | D．Its medieval towns. |
| A．Taking a bus. | B．Taking a bike. |
| C．Taking a train. | D．Taking a boat. |
10 . Awake? Here Is How to Return to Sleep
It is usual for people to wake up a few times during the night. Older people often get up to go to the bathroom. Waking at night usually is not a problem.
But what about some other people? If it happens a few times a week, there may be a troublesome reason.
What to do.
If you are awake 25 minutes or more,
Try to go back to sleep.
Napping lowers your drive to fall asleep in the evening. Avoid napping late in the day. Nap no later than early afternoon.
Try to keep to a routine schedule for sleep. There is a problem when you go to bed and wake up at different times. Studies have shown that irregular bedtimes may lead to insomnia.
If you get up during the night to go to the bathroom, limit how much water or liquids you drink a few hours before bedtime.
| A．Avoid coffee after 2 p. m. |
| B．Try to avoid naps |
| C．And do not nap anytime longer than 30 minutes |
| D．The problem has to do with the sleep cycle of your body |
| E．get out of bed and do something quiet |
| F．Stress and anxiety are some of the reasons people have sleep difficulties |
| G．Here are some reasons for the difficulties in your sleeping |
