1 . Tea is currently the world’s most popular drink, only after water. However, there was a time when tea was known only to the Chinese. So, how did tea originate in China? And how did it get to conquer the world to the extent that people often describe something they really like as their “cup of tea”?
While we know that tea drink started in China, its true origin remains something unknown. Legend has it that about 5, 000 years ago, Shennong came across tea when dried leaves blew into a pot of boiling water. Following his discovery, tea was used as medicine, included in meals and later offered as a refreshing drink to officials and noblemen. Eventually, it became a common drink enjoyed by all Chinese people.
The love of tea inspired many people to write about it. Over the years, tea drinking became an important part of China’s rich culture. The great poet Du Fu described his tea-drinking experience in poetic language. Lu Yu, a tea master, wrote The Classic of Tea, which remains the earliest and most famous detailed study on tea in the world.
It is then not surprising that the beauty of tea was eventually spread to a wider world. Tang and Song Dynasties needed strong Tibetan horses, so the Tea Horse Road was born. Porters (脚夫) carrying back-breaking loads of tea bricks made their way through dangerous snow-covered mountain passes, to trade Sichuan and Yunnan tea for horses. Over time, the gift of tea was further delivered to Western Asia and Easten Africa. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Saicho, a Japanese monk came to study in China and took tea seeds and tea-making customs to Japan. Around the 1600s, tea was shipped to Europe from China by Portuguese and Dutch sea traders.
1. What was tea first used as in China?| A．Medicine. | B．Drink. | C．Food. | D．Goods. |
| A．Shennong. | B．Saicho. | C．Du Fu. | D．Lu Yu. |
| A．Taken by monks. | B．Carried by porters. |
| C．Shipped by traders. | D．Delivered by horses. |
| A．To study the customs of tea. | B．To introduce the history of tea. |
| C．To show the importance of tea. | D．To describe different uses of tea. |
2 . The kitchen, often referred to as the heart of the home, is a place where delicious meals are prepared, cherished memories are made, and families are united.
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Remember, an organized kitchen is not just pleasing but also crucial for safety. Avoid accidents by keeping countertops, stovetops, and floors clean. Always store knives out of children’s reach to prevent injuries. By maintaining organization in the kitchen, you create a safer environment for everyone in the household.
●Prevent burns
When handling hot cookers or touching any hot surfaces, always wear oven gloves to avoid burns. Moreover, heat oil slowly and monitor it closely to prevent it from splattering (泼洒), which can cause serious injuries.
●Handle food safely
● Watch children in the kitchen
It is important to educate children about kitchen safety and make them aware of the potential risks in the kitchen. Keep them away from hot surfaces, sharp tools, and electrical appliances to prevent accidents. Encourage them to engage in safe cooking activities under the eyes of an adult to develop their interest in cooking.
| A．Be careful with fire and heat |
| B．Keep the kitchen clean and organized |
| C．Hands must be washed to prevent cross-infection |
| D．Anyway, don’t leave the children alone in the kitchen |
| E．Be careful when opening hot containers to avoid steam burns |
| F．Always keep your body and fingers off the sharp edge of knives |
| G．However, it’s also a place where accidents can happen without safety awareness |
3 . Thanks to researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University, robot guide dogs that use an artificial intelligence language model may soon be accessible to 17 million people with visual problems in China. The AI guide dog, developed by the university, can assist with tasks like crossing streets, using elevators, and navigating (导航) indoor spaces without being connected to the Internet.
Robot guide dog is an intelligent machine with a physical form. It can interact with the environment in real-time using sensors to execute instructions or make decisions. “Though in recent years there have been some electronic navigation aids, such as electronic navigation helmets, and electronic guide dogs, they cannot engage in conversations with people or fully understand human instructions,” said Sun Zhe, an associate professor at the university.
“They can only carry out tasks according to pre-set programs. They are just cold machines. That’s not enough. The research makes it possible to provide better guidance services for people with visual problems, especially for emotional companionship, ” Sun said.
“People with visual problems face numerous challenges in daily life, including navigation difficulties and safety threats,” Sun said. “Smart guide dogs using the language model can offer them more convenient and safe navigation, effectively improving their quality of life.”
Training a traditional guide dog can cost as much as 200,000 yuan ($ 28,000), and there are fewer than 200 guide dogs in China. Therefore, the research team began developing the smart guide dog based on the AI model, which is much more affordable for people with visual problems. Its findings have been published in the Communications of the Chinese Computer Society.
“The current results prove the possibility of this approach, but there is still some wayto go before it can be put into practical application,” Sun said. “We will put more effort into it and make it available for those in need as soon as possible.”
1. What can the AI guide dog do?| A．Send out all instructions. | B．Navigate without Internet. |
| C．Improve the AI technology. | D．Imitate human conversations. |
| A．Change. | B．Guide. | C．Conduct. | D．Explain. |
| A．To analyze AI guide dogs. | B．To use sensors to carry out tasks. |
| C．To compare different AI guide dogs. | D．To offer better guidance for those in need. |
| A．AI Guide Dogs May Offer Visual Aid | B．AI Guide Dogs Will Reduce the Cost |
| C．AI Guide Dogs May Navigate Indoor Spaces | D．AI Guide Dogs Will Replace Traditional Dogs |
4 . Do you know how to cycle? It is a skill that, once learned, is never forgotten. For the majority of us, the art of balancing on two wheels was mastered during our childhood. Many still wear helmets, put feet on the pedals, and take a ride around the streets. And in recent years, cycling has become more and more popular. What attracts people to ride their bikes once again?
Cycling offers a lot of advantages that affect both our physical and mental health. For example, regular cycling can improve the function of our cardiovascular (心血管的)system, assist in the burning of extra body fat and strengthen our leg muscles. A long ride in the countryside helps us to clear our mind easily.
Riding a bike is a smart choice for getting to work, shopping, or sightseeing. You can save money that you would otherwise spend on fuels and fares. Unlike cars that struggle with parking, bikes can be easily locked up. Then, on the train, there are chances at stations and other people speaking loudly on their phones. Cyclists face neither of these problems. And if we’re worried about safety, there are cycle lanes in many cities, or we can wear light-colored clothes to improve our safety when cycling on the roads.
Cycling can also be good for the environment. It cuts our carbon footprint, which means we make less pollution. It’s great for our planet and keeps the air clean around us. When we ride bikes, we don’t use fuel like cars do, and that’s really good for our environment.
Therefore, more and more people choose to ride for many benefits such as improving their health, easily going to work, saving money, protecting the environment, or a combination of these factors.
1. When do most people learn to ride?| A．In their free time. | B．After their retirement. |
| C．At their young ages. | D．During their adulthood. |
| A．It is a good way to save money. |
| B．It is a great idea to relax cyclists. |
| C．It is dangerous to cycle on the roads. |
| D．It is difficult to find a place park the bike. |
| A．Consumes more fuels. | B．Increases air pollution. |
| C．Causes fewer accidents. | D．Reduces carbon footprint. |
| A．Sports & Health. | B．Travel & Culture. |
| C．Science & Technology. | D．Animals & Environment. |
5 . Since living in China, I’d always heard that Sichuan province had the spiciest cuisine. I finally made my way to Chengdu to satisfy my eagerness.
With 45% of its local people aged between 14 and 45, making it one of China’s most youthful places, it boasted an energetic atmosphere dotted with trendy shops, cafes, and live music. People wandered leisurely along the streets, enjoying the free time with those who don’t work overtime.
As the sun sets, Chengdu truly comes alive. The city buzzes (充斥着) with countless bars and music venues. I chose a bar to hear myself think. My waiter brought me a cocktail with Sichuan peppers and I asked where I could taste the most special hotpot. She suggested Long Sen Yuan Hotpot. I made a reservation. Afterwards, I took a walk along the amazing Jinjiang River. I’m not a person for solo walks typically, but I was curious about the Jiuyan Bridge, the highlight of the area, which bears the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The next day, I went to Long Sen Yuan. Having ordered some food, I asked for the spicy broth(火锅锅底) and learned I could choose from three levels of spiciness. I ordered the spiciest broth available. The waiter made eye contact to warn about how spicy it was. “Bring it on,” I challenged. The hotpot lived up to its reputation. I found the first bite bearable. However, any experienced spicy food expert will tell you that spice builds as you eat, and I had a lot of broth to get through. By the end of the meal, I was sweating all over. The experience was perfect, and I would highly recommend it, I even shot a selfie with the waiter as a memory of my spicy adventure.
1. Why is Chengdu one of China’s most youthful places?| A．Chengdu is a lively city in China. |
| B．People in Chengdu don’t work overtime. |
| C．The city has countless bars and music venues. |
| D．Nearly half of the people are between 15 and 45. |
| A．People lead a busy life. |
| B．People’s life there is diverse. |
| C．The highlight of the area is Jinjiang River. |
| D．The restaurant can make people hear themselves think. |
| A．The three levels of spiciness. | B．The process of ordering food. |
| C．The experience of trying hotpot. | D．The reason of recommending the city. |
| A．Admirable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uncertain. | D．Worried. |
6 . Four Brilliant Art and Craft Books
If you are into art and craft, there are four brilliant books for you to choose from. Practise your artistic skills, whether you want to draw comics or sew a cushion.
Make Art With Nature by Pippa PixleyThis book is packed with inspiring and exciting ideas for using nature in your artwork.
Discover how earth can be used to make paints and how flowers can create ink. You can also find out ways to add natural materials into your artistic creations using print-making. This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington.
Take inspiration from artistic masters like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Yayoi Kusama with this fun book, which introduces you to 25 different artistic techniques inspired by the work of world-famous artists. Full of information and ideas, it’s a great way to learn more about a wide range of different artists and their styles.
How to Draw a Graphic Novel by Balthazar PaganiIf you love comic books, then why not try creating one of your own? This guide to creating a vivid novel combines technical advice with creative inspiration. Plus you’ll find interview s with famous comic creators.
A Beginner’s Guide to Needlecraft by Jane BullTry your hand at simple sewing projects, such as felt flowers or a patchwork cushion. Step-by-step instructions and photographs make it easy to learn a whole range of different techniques, including crochet and embroidery (刺绣).
1. What can you find in Pippa Pixley’s book?| A．25 different artistic techniques. |
| B．Interviews with famous comic creators. |
| C．Step-by-step instructions and photographs. |
| D．Ways to add natural materials into artistic creations. |
| A．Make Art With Nature. | B．How to Draw a Graphic Novel. |
| C．This Book Will Make You an Artist. | D．A Beginner’s Guide to Needlecraft. |
| A．How to make paints. | B．How to draw comics. |
| C．How to sew a cushion. | D．How to become an artist. |
7 . Have you ever been hungry and sleepy and wished you could solve both problems at once? If you were a reindeer (驯鹿) , it would be easy. According to a new research, these talented deer can have a snooze while they eat their food.
Reindeer live in the Arctic and other northern regions where the winters are extremely dark and cold. Food can be rare in winter, so during the warmer months the deer must eat as much as they possibly can.
Like cows, reindeer use a process called rumination (反刍) to break down the tough plant they eat. This process involves passing the food back and forth between their mouth and the four “stomachs”, chewing it repeatedly until all the nutrients (营养) have been absorbed. In summer, all that chewing seems to leave very little time for sleep.
To find out their secret to getting enough rest, scientists fitted four reindeer with devices that monitored their brain waves. While the reindeer were ruminating, their brain waves were similar to the patterns shown during sleep. The animals sat or stood quietly with their eyes closed, and they were less likely than usual to react to. the movements of a neighbouring deer. “They were in a very relaxed state, ” researcher Melanie Furrer said.
The chewing movement made it hard for the researchers to tell whether, the animals’ brain waves were truly in sleep mode. But when they tested the deer again after rumination, the animals' brain activity showed that they felt rested.
If reindeer are kept awake for too long, they need extra “recovery sleep” to catch up. After ruminating, however, the deer did not need as much recovery sleep. Study co-author Gabriela Wagner said that ruminating serves two different purposes at the same time —eating and sleeping.
1. What does the underlined word “snooze” most probably mean?| A．Quick drink. | B．Short walk. | C．Light sleep. | D．Bad dream. |
| A．To keep awake. | B．To practice chewing. |
| C．To taste better plants. | D．To prepare for winter. |
| A．They sleep when drinking. | B．They sleep when ruminating. |
| C．They sleep when not moving. | D．They sleep when not thinking. |
| A．A health magazine. | B．A book review. |
| C．A science report. | D．A research plan. |
8 . In the calm and traditional world of classical music, composer Tan Dun is something of a rock star. Born in 1957 in a village near Changsha, Tan Dun worked as a rice planter in his early years. While music was strongly discouraged within the rice-planting communities, Tan learnt to play traditional Chinese stringed instruments with his friends and eventually joined a local band.
But the transition from hobby to career came about through a tragic (不幸的) tum of events. After several members of a Peking Opera troupe (剧团) drowned in a boat accident, Tan was hired to work as an arranger and violinist. The time at the troupe proved successful and Tan got the attention of Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) where he was accepted as a student in 1977. Years later, he further studied at New York’s Columbia University.
Under the teaching of famous composers around the word, Tan launched his international career through a series of modern operas. With the knowledge of eastern and western classical music, he composed Marco Polo, an abstract retelling of the 13th-century Venetian explorer’s life through eastern and western instruments.
Tan has composed symphonies and operas that have been performed in some of the world’s most famous theaters. He has also contributed the scores (配乐) to six films, including 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as well as several experimental multimedia projects. Such achievements have brought him great rewards, including Oscar, Grammy and Bafta awards, as well as the honor of Composer of Year, presented by classical music magazine Musical America.
1. What was Tan Dun’s job in his early years?| A．Farmer. | B．Arranger. | C．Violinist. | D．Composer. |
| A．His study in New York. | B．His success in the troupe. |
| C．His achievement in scores. | D．His experience in Changsha. |
| A．By making comparison. | B．By making classification. |
| C．By following the order of space. | D．By following the order of time. |
| A．He contributed scores to four films. |
| B．He directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. |
| C．He combined Eastern and Western musical styles. |
| D．He launched his international career through symphonies. |
9 . Known for its beautiful natural environment, Guizhou contains a total of four World Heritage Sites, which is more than any other province in China.
The Fanjing Mountain, known as the “City of the Sky”, is famous for its Buddhist culture and the complex of temples. Compared with the world’s other mountains in the same latitude (纬度) zone, the Fanjing Mountain features the best-preserved animals and plants. It was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.
Libo Karst, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2007, is located in the southern borderland of Guizhou. Walking into Libo is a feast for the eyes. You would be amazed by one breathtaking sight after another, such as the Wolong Pond and the Laya Waterfall.
The Yuntai Mountain stands out like a piece of green agate (玛瑙) in its latitude zone. It is the oldest and best-preserved dolomite (白云石) karst landform in the world, which is extremely rare and highly valuable for scientific research. In 2014, the Yuntai Mountain was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its “uniqueness and typicality”.
Chishui Danxia is home to the largest Danxia landform area. The highlight of the tourist area, named Foguang Rock, is regarded as the greatest example of a Danxia landform in the world. When the afternoon sunlight hits it, it seems to glow like fire. There is a waterfall that is 42 meters wide and 269 meters high, which looks like a graceful white dragon. It was added to the UNESCO Wodd Heritage List in 2010.
1. What makes the Fanjing Mountain special in the same latitude?| A．Its high value for scientific research. | B．Its being called the “City of the Sky”. |
| C．Its rich Buddhist culture and temples. | D．Its best-preserved animals and plants. |
| A．Dolomite karst. | B．Danxia landform. |
| C．Laya Waterfall. | D．Foguang Rock. |
| A．The Fanjing Mountain. | B．Libo Karst. |
| C．The Yuntai Mountain. | D．Chishui Danxia |
10 . Who said that you can only use the Internet to socialize with your friends and family? You may actually put your Internet usage to good use by doing something productive.
Talk to people who live in other countries
Did you know you can also pickup languages if you actually talk-to people who live in the area where the languages are spoken fluently?
You can listen to English news for language beginners. They tend to simplify it so that you wouldn’t have a problem learning a new language. Another simple way that you can use is to stream a movie that is in another language and just be sure to have your English subtitles (字幕) on.
Use an app on your phone
One of the simplest methods that are also really fun is that you download an app on your phone that can effectively teach you a language. These apps usually allow you to learn more than one language.
Consider joining an online school
Another effective method is that you can join an online school where you can practice listening and speaking.
| A．Keep your ears open. |
| B．Stream online movies. |
| C．The more you practice, the better you will get. |
| D．This would have been difficult to do in the past. |
| E．For example, you can use the Internet to learn a new language. |
| F．You can also join other online schools to learn more language skills. |
| G．They make the process fun so that you don’t get bored along the way. |
