1 . Warm weather gets thousands of people to gather outdoors and celebrate for various events. Here are a few fun festivals that you should travel to see this summer.
Naadam(Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
Naadam, also known as “the three games of men”, is the biggest traditional festival held in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital. Each July, men compete in Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery (射箭). Today, women also take part in the archery and girls in the horse racing.
Elvis Week(Memphis)
If moving your body to Blue Suede Shoes this summer sounds good to you, then head to Memphis for Elvis Week, usually held in August. Movies, special performances and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest are just a few activities to keep fans busy. The week of events is held to mark the anniversary (周年纪念日) of the death of Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll”.
Glastonbury Festival(Somerset, England)
Around 175, 000 people gather on a dairy farm in Somerset, England every year for the Glastonbury Festival. Famous bands and singers appear at the5-day music celebration. The ticket for the festival was £1 when the festival started in 1970, but today, full-weekend general tickets go for about£ 248.
World Bodypainting Festival(Klagenfurt, Austria)
During the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Austria, artists from as many as50 countries compete using a variety of techniques, including brushes, sponges and airbrushes. Alex Barendregt organized the first festival in 1998, when he was tasked with organizing a new summer event.
1. Where can we watch exciting competitions when attending the festival?| A．Memphis | B．Austria. | C．Mongolia. | D．England. |
| A．Elvis Week. | B．Naadam. |
| C．Glastonbury Festival. | D．World Bodypainting Festival. |
| A．Its setting is the downtown area. | B．It attracts dancers to perform there. |
| C．It is held to celebrate the farm’s harvest. | D．Its ticket price has greatly increased. |
2 . John Koh is one who finds joy in learning.
He graduated with a diploma (毕业文凭) in accounting in his youth, but after a decade in the industry, he decided to make a change. He took an undergraduate course in social work at the age of 33. He graduated in 2010 and went on to do a Master’s degree in social work in 2014.
His most recent educational attempt, which he took on last year, is a Master’s degree in gerontology.
Gerontology is the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of old people. As the population in the United States continues to age, earning a degree in gerontology could be a good investment in one’s future. “It became more in demand in 2017,” he described. “I’d always been interested in it, but what motivated me to take on the Master’s program was when my wife started studying again. Watching her enjoy her studies gave me the desire to go back to studies too.” As an adult learner, John said, “When I started to study social work, I really enjoyed it because I already had work experience, plus I had been serving in the Dialect Service looking after the elderly. Whatever I was taught in school, I applied it to my work; whatever I learned at work, I related back to my studies. Work experience really benefits the learning.” John also noticed that his grades were a lot better when he was doing his Master’s degree, compared to his undergraduate studies.
As a passionate lifelong learner, John Koh believes communication with family members is another important thing. “Support is very important,” said John. “I told my daughter that Papa was studying and that on certain days I would have to focus on my tasks. It’s actually a good example for the next generation — that’s why my daughter likes to read too!”
1. What did finally encourage John to study gerontology?| A．His work experience of social work. | B．His wife’s taking pleasure in her studies. |
| C．The demand to support his large family. | D．The great future of gerontology research. |
| A．Difficult. | B．Stressful. | C．Enjoyable. | D．Special. |
| A．It is influenced by her father. | B．She is required by her teacher. |
| C．It is her duty to read every day. | D．She gets rewards from her father. |
| A．What Is Gerontology? | B．A Story of Lifelong Learning |
| C．The Aging Problem in the US | D．Benefits of Lifelong Learning |
3 . In Denmark, bicycling is one of the primary forms of transportation. In sunshine, rain and snow, you will see cyclists on their way to work, to the grocery store, or to social events. The bike is a Dane’s best friend.
Danish cycling culture is as old as the bicycle itself. Bikes were first introduced to the country in the 1880s, and during the 1920s and 1930s, the bicycle became a widespread symbol of equality and freedom. People of all social classes began biking side by side — in the cities on their way to work and in the countryside on their days off.
The increased economy development of the late 1950s saw some Danes replacing bikes with motorcycles and automobiles. Just like their colleagues around the world, Danish urban planners believed the future belonged to cars, trucks, and ever-wider highways. In the early 1970s, however, the Mideast oil crisis terminated that development. “Car Free Sundays” were introduced in Copenhagen, and movements demanding Copenhagen to become car-free took place. Over time, concerns about air pollution, climate change, and the need for people to get enough exercise have helped bicycles make a big comeback. Denmark’s heavy taxes on petrol and automobiles are a factor, too.
Today, cycling is an inseparable part of Danish culture. Newcomers who do not know how to cycle are encouraged to learn as soon as they arrive. Danish children usually learn to bike before they begin school at the age of six — and often much earlier. In school, children learn about traffic rules, road safety, and the importance of wearing a helmet as well as good cycling habits. Another choice for families with children is the cargo bike — a sort of oversized tricycle with a large wooden box on the front. It’s estimated that a quarter of all Copenhagen families with two or more children own one of these cargo bikes for transporting kids, groceries, and other necessities. Danish cargo bikes have also won design awards and become a Danish export success.
Commuting by bike is the fastest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to get around the cities of Denmark. And the numbers speak for themselves: Residents who cycle in Copenhagen request 1.1 million fewer sick days. Cyclists reduce CO2 emissions by 20,000 tonnes a year on average.
1. What led to the popularity of bicycles in Denmark during the 1920s and 1930s?| A．The convenience of the bike. | B．The development of the economy. |
| C．The idea that the bike symbolizes. | D．The construction of wide highways. |
| A．Improved. | B．Permitted. | C．Ended. | D．restarted. |
| A．They are owned by about 25% families. |
| B．They are designed for practical use. |
| C．They are the national symbol of Denmark. |
| D．They are unpopular among local residents. |
| A．To prove the effectiveness of cycling. |
| B．To compare cycling with driving. |
| C．To show the popularity of cycling. |
| D．To conclude the financial benefits of cycling. |
4 . The idea that red means stop and green means go affects more than just traffic light colors in our lives. We have been taught from a young age that red means danger, while green means safety.
But why were those particular colors chosen for traffic lights? Before there were traffic lights for cars, there were traffic signals for trains. At first, railroad companies used red to mean stop, white to mean go and green to mean caution. But train conductors ran into a problem with the color white meaning go — bright white could easily be mistaken for stars at night. Railway companies eventually moved to the color green for go. It’s been that way ever since.
Red is the color with the longest wavelength (波长). That means that as it travels through the air, it gets diffused (分散) less than other colors, so it can be seen from a greater distance. For a real-world example, think about how the light turns red as the sun sets. Even though the human eye is most sensitive to a yellowish-green highlighter color, it can see red from further away. But this could happen by chance. It’s not clear whether that was chosen based on wavelength, contrast against green nature or natural connection of red with things like blood. It could be a mix of all three!
Yellow has a shorter wavelength than red but a longer wavelength than green. This means that red is noticeable the furthest away, yellow in the middle and green the least distance away — a helpful advanced warning for needing to slow or stop.
However, believe it or not, yellow was once used to mean stop. Back in the 1900s, some stop signs were yellow because it was too hard to see a red sign in a poorly lit area. Eventually, highly reflective (反光的) materials were developed, and red stop signs were born. Since yellow can be seen well at all times of the day, school areas, some traffic signs and school buses continue to be painted the color. Keep these safe driving tips in the back of your mind whenever you see a yellow light.
1. What was the problem with white meaning go?| A．It could not be seen at night. | B．It was a color showing danger. |
| C．It was not popular at that time. | D．It could mislead train conductors. |
| A．Human eyes are most sensitive to red. |
| B．Red travels through the air fastest. |
| C．The sun changes its color as it sets. |
| D．Red has the longest wavelength. |
| A．It was used in limited areas. |
| B．It had been used as a stop sign. |
| C．It is hard to see without enough light. |
| D．It requires highly reflective materials. |
| A．To explain the choice of traffic light colors. |
| B．To spread the knowledge of colors. |
| C．To introduce the invention of traffic lights. |
| D．To increase people’s traffic awareness. |
5 . We normally think of bacteria as our enemies. But they aren’t all bad. Our bodies are full of them and it turns out we can’t live without them. From the moment we’re born, we acquire, and develop an internal ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria and other microbes (微生物) — they are interdependent players in our body. In fact, there are roughly as many microbial cells in our bodies as human cells. This microbial world is called our microbiome (微生物组).
While some microbes can make us ill, we need our microbiome to survive. Combined, they are every bit as essential as our heart, our lungs, or our brain. Most of the microbiome is found in our gut (肠道). They are essential for digestion and help regulate hormones and boost our immune system.
A healthy collection of microbes seems to be vital for our well-being, protecting against some of the biggest health threats. On the other hand, having an unhealthy microbiome may be a contributing factor for many common diseases. Our modern lifestyles, western diets and overuse of antibiotics might all be having a harmful effect on our internal ecology.
So how do you develop a healthy microbiome in the gut? Well, it seems that the more diverse your microbial population is, the better. And the best way to increase your diversity is to eat a wide range of plant-based foods. Research shows that people who have at least 30 plant-based elements in their diet every week have a wider range of bacteria in their gut, and that’s linked to better weight management, better heart heath and better mental health. One easy way to boost your numbers is to add a teaspoon of mixed seeds to your breakfast.
The influence of your gut microbes goes a lot further than you might think. In the last 20 years, we’ve learned that they communicate constantly with the brain, perhaps even having control over your mood and emotions.
1. What is generally thought about bacteria according to the passage?| A．They do harm to our body and health. |
| B．They coexist with each other in our body. |
| C．They independently play a part in our body. |
| D．The microbial world is as important as our organs. |
| A．Plant-based diets make people healthier. |
| B．Microbiome is more important than our brain. |
| C．There’s some link between the diversity of bacteria and health. |
| D．The overuse of antibiotics leads to increase in microbiome. |
| A．Examples of gut microbes. |
| B．Gut microbes and mental welling-being. |
| C．Interactions of microbes in our body. |
| D．Ways to identify beneficial gut microbes. |
| A．Gut microbes: Fighters in the body |
| B．The microbiome: A cure of all diseases |
| C．Gut microbes: Protectors of mental health |
| D．The microbiome: A contributor to our health |
6 . Humans have sailed the oceans’ surfaces for millennia, but their depths remain effectively uncharted. Only about a quarter of the seafloor has been mapped at high performance. Maps of most regions display only approximate depths and often miss entire underwater mountains or valleys.
So a group of researchers has selected some deep-diving experts: Elephant Seals and Weddell Seals. Scientists have been placing trackers (跟踪装置) on these marine mammals around Antarctica compared these divers’ location and depth data with some of the less detailed seafloor maps. They for years, gathering data on ocean temperature and salinity. For a new study, the researchers spotted places where the seals (海豹) dove deeper than should have been possible according to the maps — meaning the existing depth estimates were inaccurate.
In eastern Antarctica’s Vincennes Bay, the diving seals helped the scientists find a large, hidden underwater valley. An Australian research ship called the RSV Nuyina later measured the valley’s exact depth using sonar (声呐). “The seals discovered the valley, and the ship confirmed it,” says Clive McMahon, a researcher at the Integrated Marine Observing System in Australia and a co-author of the new study.
But seals can’t map the entire ocean floor. The trackers used in the study could mark a seal’s geographical location only within about 1.5 miles, which allows for useful but not exactly high-resolution data. Plus, because the seals don’t always dive to the bottom of the ocean, they can show only where the bottom is deeper than in existing maps — not shallower. McMahon notes that scientists could improve on these data by means of more precise GPS trackers and analyzing the seals’ diving patterns to determine whether they have reached the seafloor or simply stopped going down.
The current seal-dive data can still be valuable for an important task, says Anna Wahlin, an oceanographer at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The deep ocean around Antarctica is warmer than the icy waters at the surface, and seafloor valleys can allow that warmer water to flow to the ice along the continent’s coast, Wahlin explains. To predict how Antarctica’s ice will melt, scientists will need to know where those valleys are and how deep they go.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．Humans are at the mercy of the oceans. |
| B．The oceans are too vast to describe. |
| C．Humans have taken charge of the oceans. |
| D．The oceans call for further exploration. |
| A．By equipping the seals with advanced devices. |
| B．By following the seals to the deeper seafloor. |
| C．By using sonar to measure the sea directly. |
| D．By checking the previous seafloor maps. |
| A．Train the seals’ diving ability. |
| B．Update the existing ocean map. |
| C．Turn to more exact GPS trackers. |
| D．Seek cooperation opportunities. |
| A．It’s greatly creative. | B．It’s a little incredible. |
| C．It’s highly significant. | D．It’s a little impractical. |
7 . Three cute brown bear cubs who got lost after getting separated from their mother gripped the hearts of netizens.
The fuzzy cubs were spotted by Gelek Gyatso, an ecological protection officer, when he was patrolling a riverbed at an altitude of nearly 4,500 meters in Qumarleb county in Qinghai province’s Yushu.
The little cubs eagerly ran toward the ranger on the snow-covered riverbed, then stopped short at a safe distance to stare at him curiously. After realizing that the man was not their mother, the bear cubs turned around and ran along the river calling for mom.
This was Gelek Gyatso’s first encounter with bear cubs separated from their mother. With his knowledge of wild animals, he drove the cubs towards an area near their cave in the hope of a safe reunion. Thankfully, later that day, other patrol officers found that the mother bear had reunited with her cubs and that the family was happy and healthy.
This year marks Gelek Gyatso’s tenth year as an ecological protection officer. He patrols the area every day, diligently records the animals he sees, carefully checks on the vegetation, and helps clean up litter.
Over the decade, Gelek Gyatso has witnessed great changes in the ecological environment of his hometown. There has been an increase in the number of wild animals, and everyone is participating in the protection of these species, making coexistence between humans and animals more harmonious.
He also reminds people that if they encounter wild animals in the wild, they should keep their distance, not disturbing or feeding them. and that if they find an animal that needs to be rescued, they should call the fire or forest department in time.
1. What happened to the three bear cubs?| A．Losing track of the mother bear. | B．Following Gelek with curiosity. |
| C．Mistaking a man for their mother. | D．Being trapped in the cold riverbed. |
| A．Ambitious and considerate. | B．Romantic and hard-working. |
| C．Devoted and helpful. | D．Innovative and caring. |
| A．Changing their living surroundings. |
| B．Feeding and sheltering wild animals. |
| C．Getting involved in saving endangered species. |
| D．Seeking professional help to rescue those in need. |
| A．A project of wildlife conservation | B．An encounter leading to a safe reunion |
| C．A journey of friendship connection | D．A knowledgeable ecological officer |
8 . Li Jing, 29, currently serves as the director assistant to the village secretary of Maotianping Village Committee in Cuijiaba, a town in Hubei province. Li is a native of this village and was one of the first from her community to achieve higher education. She studied hotel management and tourism. After graduation, she started a career in the hotel industry in Wuhan. However, she made a decision last year to return to her village. She wants to be an essential part of her hometown’s development, realizing her own personal value.
When Li returned to her hometown, she received unconditional support from her family, despite some villagers’ questioning her decision. She resolved to prove herself through determination and action.
Her job involves extensive communication with the villagers, with over half of her workload about promoting potato production, the main business of the village. Li and the villagers regularly hold meetings in the village square, where they share insights on potato planting techniques, sales channels, market trends, and more. These gatherings provide her with opportunities to equip the villagers with planting tools and offer a window for them to voice their concerns and experiences.
In her spare time, Li remains closely connected with the villagers through regular conversations. She admits that it demands a considerable investment of time and energy, but it’s all worthwhile.
Li has very fond memories of an incident from last year when one villager had a poor potato crop. Although her potatoes were unimpressive in terms of size and quality, she held faith in Li and worked tirelessly and enthusiastically. Li never forgets the smiles on the villagers’ faces at harvest time, which is the ultimate reward for her.
In the near future, Li hopes to continue helping her fellow villagers raise their potato production and increase their income. Her long-term vision is to promote urban-rural integration (整合).
1. Why did Li Jing come back to her hometown?| A．She desired a stable career. |
| B．She intended to live her dream. |
| C．She had a family to take care of. |
| D．She failed to start her own business. |
| A．Improving potato harvests. |
| B．Selling potatoes at the market. |
| C．Arranging daily square gatherings. |
| D．Teaching villagers to express themselves. |
| A．Li Jing should focus on quality control. |
| B．Li Jing has won the villagers’ trust. |
| C．It’s tough to make good communication. |
| D．It’s easy to meet the villagers’ needs. |
| A．East or West, Home Is Best | B．No Pain, No Gain |
| C．From the Village, for the Village | D．Graduates, Welcome Home |
9 . Thanks to artificial intelligence, education is more accessible and efficient than ever. To give you an overview of the industry, we round up some AI technology applied in education.
Duolingo
Duolingo provides listening, reading and speaking exercises in dozens of global languages, all the while providing aspects of gamification to keep users coming back. By applying AI, Duolingo’s lessons are paced and leveled specifically for each student according to their performance. It also uses data and machine learning to make course improvements, taking into consideration the differences of various languages.
Amira Learning
Amira Learning is a virtual learning application created to accelerate young students’ reading comprehension. Using AI technology, Amira has students read stories aloud and can assess oral reading fluency as well as identify areas for improvement. For teachers and parents, Amira also provides services such as student progress reports and dyslexia (阅读障碍) risk screening.
Blippar
Blippar’s products combine computer vision intelligence technology and augmented reality to enhance the way students learn in the classroom. The interactive materials bring subjects like geography, biology and physics to a visual space. For example, instead of reading about a volcanic eruption, the system shows students a virtual 3D model of the eruption process.
Nuance
Nuance makes speech-to-text software used by students and faculty to transcribe (转成) up to 160 words per minute. The technology is especially helpful for students who struggle with writing or have limited mobility. It also enhances spelling ability and word identification. Instructors use the software to dictate lectures for later use or quicken repetitive tasks like document and email creation.
1. Which platform uses gamification to engage users in language learning?| A．Amira Learning. | B．Blippar. |
| C．Nuance. | D．Duolingo. |
| A．Speech-to-text software. |
| B．Reading comprehension. |
| C．Computer vision intelligence technology. |
| D．Personalized language learning with gamification. |
| A．They focus on language learning. |
| B．They specialize in science subjects. |
| C．They use technology to aid learning. |
| D．They offer computer programming courses. |
10 . From canned tomatoes to frozen pizzas, processed foods have become a regular part of our diet. We’ve gained time and energy as a result of processed foods.
Processed foods are designed to make you overeat.
Processed foods often contain artificial ingredients. If you’re looking at the label on a box of your favorite junk food, there are probably a bunch of ingredients that you can barely pronounce.
Many processed foods are high in carbohydrates (碳水化合物) and low in nutrients and fiber. Not all carbohydrates are bad, but processed foods are often packed with refined carbohydrates. They can cause your blood sugar to increase very quickly. On top of that, processed foods are typically much lower in nutrients and the fiber is often removed.
| A．Processed foods may raise your health risk. |
| B．Some processed foods aren’t bad for you at all. |
| C．All processed foods are loaded with added sugar and fat. |
| D．At the same time, we have also gained a host of health issues. |
| E．In fact, your body just needs the two substances to digest food properly. |
| F．In this case, there are man-made colors, flavors, and additives in your food. |
| G．Studies show the “reward system” in our brain can allow us to consume more. |
