1 . A One-woman Cinderella Show Is Coming to Fairfield
A one-woman show that reimagines the classic fairytale Cinderella is coming to the Fairfield Community Arts Center. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati will present Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots for one night only on Jan.26. The traveling show is for children ages 4 and up and promises “knee-slapping” comedic moments and heartwarming life lessons.
“I love children's theatre,” says Rosvic Siason, who plays Cinderella. “Kids are our future and we introduce them to these stories. We all have situations at one point in our life that look like this conversation. It just kind of helps you develop your brain and learn how to think as a developing person. It’s really important to expose kids to theatre and well-rounded actors they can talk to for guidance.”
These one-man, one-woman shows have so much beauty because it is very raw. People actually follow along much easier than you think. It’s easy to share a feeling. They will be expected to interact, deliver lines and repeat after Cinderella throughout the production. Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots will deliver a funny, meaningful twist on the classic fairytale that encourages audiences to expand their imagination.
“Using imagination helps kids to think of things in more ways than one,” Siason says. “It opens them up and makes them think, ‘Hey, this is one way this could work.’ Or, ‘I could try this way,’ and then see what happens.”
Visit fairfield-city. org for tickets and more information.
1. What is Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots?| A．A book. | B．A theatre. | C．A performance. | D．A lesson. |
| A．offer temporary amusement | B．help deal with life’s challenges |
| C．allow individuals to avoid reality | D．provide opportunities to make friends |
| A．Stick to the rules. | B．Dare to dream big. |
| C．Always follow the crowd. | D．Think outside the box. |
2 . Many people love to listen to music while driving. Thanks to the world’s musical roads, drivers now don’t need to turn the radio on.
A musical road can create music when a car tires go over grooves (凹槽) on the road. To produce beautiful music, drivers must pass over the grooves at a certain speed. Signs often tell drivers the right speed.
In Hungary, there is a musical road in honor of one of the country’s most popular musical performers — Laszlo Bodi. Bodi was the lead singer for the band Republic.
| A．Musical roads are also keeping drivers safe. |
| B．There is not any music road in Eastern countries. |
| C．Musical roads help improve the road safety greatly. |
| D．But they can also enjoy music while taking road trips. |
| E．Formed in 1990, the group is one of Hungary’s biggest acts and is still active today. |
| F．The first musical road was created in Gylling, Denmark, in 1995. |
| G．For example, in Japan, there are many musical roads throughout the country. |
3 . When looking for some vacation ideas to spread out and get some time and space to yourself, check out these great resorts (度假胜地) options.
Hyatt Ziva Cap CanaLocated in Punta Cana, this family-friendly vacation at an all-inclusive resort offers something for everyone in your party. Parents can enjoy relaxing by one of the resort’s swim-up bars in an infinity pool or head out for some deep-sea fishing. Kids, meanwhile, can head over to the kids’ club for a number of activities. Plus, all of the drinks and food across the 14 restaurants and bars is included.
Beaches Turks & CaicosThis resort has become the Caribbean’s popular go-to when it comes to all-inclusive family vacations that provide great value since there’s so much to do for guests of all ages. There’s a 45,000-square-foot water park, 24 restaurants, unlimited PADI-certified scuba diving and water sports, a 12-mile beach, a spa, 10 pools—whew!
The Alisal Guest RanchIf you live in the city and want to get back to nature, this luxury farm over nearly 11,000 acres in California’s Santa Ynez Valley is a perfect fit for a family. All that wide-open space means activities like horseback riding, scenic cycling, hiking, fishing, kayaking and, for the body-and-spirit-minded traveler in your group, yoga.
Montage Palmetto BluffThe 20,000-acre community includes a nature preserve with walking trails, but the real stars of the show here are the over 300 species of birds. The resort’s resident naturalist takes families on walks to Bird Island, sharing a history of the area. Plus, kids will love the kayak tours that get up close to the dolphins that live there year-round.
1. Which attracts those interested in horseback-riding?| A．Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. | B．Beaches Turks & Caicos. |
| C．Montage Palmetto Bluff. | D．The Alisal Guest Ranch. |
| A．They promise good food services. | B．They include various kids’ clubs. |
| C．They provide parent-child activities. | D．They have large historic buildings. |
| A．To organize some family parties. | B．To highlight some tourist resorts. |
| C．To introduce some nature reserves. | D．To stimulate some domestic needs. |
4 . Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions
It’s important to remember there are a diverse set of holidays available to explore. Below are a few books that help introduce children to different holiday cultures and traditions.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
While helping her mother with Christmas celebration, Maria is tempted to try on her mother’s diamond ring. After getting caught up in the joy of the holiday and playing with her cousins, Maria realizes the ring is missing! That’s when she and her cousins come up with a plan to eat all of the tamales, in hopes of finding the ring.
Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger
This is a story about a little girl named Kayla who wants to see her older brother Khari come home so they can celebrate Kwanzaa together as a family. Khari is stuck at college when a snowstorm hits and his car breaks down. Will he make it home in time for Kwanzaa?
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
This book is a funny, nostalgic tale of Christmas Eve afternoon through Christmas night in Wales, and is full of unique imagery and poetic prose. It will arouse a sense of familiarity for some young readers while introducing them to different aspects of Christmas traditions.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Cherokee history and traditions are also woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way.
1. What makes it difficult for Khari to return home in time for Kwanzaa?| A．A car crash. | B．Delayed flights. | C．Extreme weather. | D．Academic pressure. |
| A．Traci Sorell. | B．Ed Martinez. | C．Dylan Thomas. | D．Trina Schart Hyman. |
| A．how to find hidden treasures at home | B．how to strengthen bonds with friends |
| C．the lifestyles of different ethnic groups | D．different holiday celebrations and customs |
5 . Four Famous Educators
John Dewey
Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont, United States
A faithful advocate of progressive education and liberalism, the American philosopher was the founder of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. John Dewey’s famous writings included The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology and Human Nature and Conduct. According to him, passion for knowledge and intellectual curiosity were central to a teacher.
Savitribai Phule
Birthplace: Naigaon, India
Savitribai Phule was a revolutionary social reformer who devoted her life to educating girls and bringing about gender (性别) equality in the face of resistance from the conservative Indian society. Phule, who was illiterate (文盲) until her marriage, went on to become a teacher, an achievement accomplished first by an Indian woman. With her husband, she established schools for girls in Maharashtra.
Maria Montessori
Birthplace: Chiaravalle, Italy
Maria Montessori was an Italian educator and physician best known for developing the Montessori method of education, a student-friendly method, which is being used in several public and private schools around the world. In 2020, she was nominated (提名) by Time magazine as one of their Top 100 Women of the Year.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, composer, and writer. His political philosophy influenced aspects of the French Revolution. He also helped develop modern economic, political, and educational thought. His writing inspired a complete change in French drama and poetry. His works also influenced such writers around the world as Tolstoy.
1. What was John Dewey famous as?| A．A philosopher. | B．A social reformer. | C．A teacher. | D．A writer. |
| A．John Dewey. | B．Savitribai Phule. |
| C．Maria Montessori. | D．Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
| A．In the US. | B．In India. | C．In Italy. | D．In Switzerland. |
6 . The story of Oprah Winfrey’s life is one of overcoming incredible odds and achieving great success. Born into poverty in Mississippi, Winfrey faced numerous challenges throughout her childhood. She was raised by her grandmother, who installed in her a love of reading and a strong work ethic. However, Winfrey was also the victim of abuse and neglect, both at home and in her community.
Despite these obstacles, Winfrey showed great promise from a young age. At age 19 she became a news anchor(主播) for the local television station, and in 1976 she was made a reporter and co-anchor for the ABC news in Baltimore, Maryland. She found herself limited by the objectivity required of news reporting, and in 1977 she became co-host of the Baltimore morning show People Are Talking.
Winfrey excelled in the casual and personal talk-show format, and in 1984 she moved to Chicago to host the faltering(衰退的) talk show AM Chicago. Winfrey’s honest and engaging personality quickly turned the program into a success, and in 1985 it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey’s warmth, intelligence, and empathy made her a beloved figure to millions of viewers. She used her platform to address important social issues, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.
Despite her success, Winfrey faced many challenges along the way. She struggled with her weight, and was often criticized for her appearance. She also faced many personal and professional setbacks in her life and work. However, Winfrey refused to give up. She continued to work hard, launching her own production company, Harpo Productions, and starting her own cable network, OWN. She also became a philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charitable causes.
Today, Winfrey is one of the most successful and influential people in the world. She has won lots of awards for her work. She is also a best-selling author and a respected public speaker. Winfrey’s story provés the power of perseverance, hard work, and faith in oneself.
1. What did Oprah Winfrey start her career as?| A．A news anchor. | B．A talk show co-anchor. |
| C．A manager of a company. | D．A reporter of a TV station. |
| A．It was a TV program meant to help the local citizens. |
| B．Oprah Winfrey’s excellent qualities made it successful. |
| C．It called on viewers to fight against poverty and crimes. |
| D．It was a program designed only for Oprah Winfrey. |
| A．Winfrey faced many doubts about her hosting style. |
| B．Winfrey set up a company of her own. |
| C．Winfrey never gave up in face of difficulties. |
| D．Winfrey contributed lots of money to charities. |
| A．To tell us that our life has its ups and downs. |
| B．To share Winfrey’s life experience with us. |
| C．To encourage us to work hard in our careers. |
| D．To sing high praise for Winfrey’s success and qualities. |
7 . Seagulls are flying overhead. Not far away, a boat is making a big noise. The sounds of people talking and laughing are everywhere. The smell of popcorn is carried on the fresh and pleasant wind blowing off the lake. Duluth is a city full of sights, smells, and sounds. My family visits it often, but each time it is a new adventure.
Duluth, Minnesota, was founded in 1870. Located at the southeast corner of the St. Louis County, on Lake Superior, Duluth is the third largest city in Minnesota, with a population of 86, 918. It was named after Daniel Sieur Du Lhut, a French explorer.
Native American settlements were first found in the area by French explorers in the late 1600s. Soon after, Duluth became an important trade and shipping center for the timber (木材) industry. In 1865, iron was discovered, making Duluth a major ore (矿石) shipping point. When the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, it became one of the Great Lakes’ leading ports for exporting grain.
Tourism is very important to Duluth. People are attracted to its natural scenery, as well as the museums, zoos, and of course, the many gift shops downtown. Duluth is the home of the Great Lakes Aquarium, which is the only allfreshwater aquarium in the United States. However, the Aerial Lift Bridge is the thing that most people want to see when they visit. Standing nearly 400 feet tall, it is a spectacular feat (功绩) of engineering. The Lake Superior Maritime Museum, where you’ll find more about ore boats, the lift bridge, and other things, is just a short walk away from the bridge. If you visit Duluth in the winter, you can go to Spirit Mountain to ski or snowboard.
From bridges to museums, zoos to shops, Duluth has it all. No matter what your interests are, Duluth has something for everyone.
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By giving examples. |
| B．By giving a summary. |
| C．By giving a description. |
| D．By making comparisons. |
| A．The leader of Native Americans. |
| B．The founder of Duluth, Minnesota. |
| C．The person who gave a name to Duluth. |
| D．One of the first French explorers to Duluth. |
| A．It is near a famous museum. |
| B．It is a masterpiece of engineering. |
| C．People can overlook Duluth on it. |
| D．It is the highest building in Duluth. |
| A．a news report | B．a tourist guide |
| C．a history paper | D．an art show review |
8 . Satellites in space measure temperatures over large areas of the ocean. They are, however, less specific when it comes to measuring temperatures along the coast. However, there is a new solution.
Scientists want people who do water sports to help them gather coastal climate data. This includes surfers, divers and fishermen. The idea came from new data collected by scientists who are also surfers. The group was led by a scientist in England named Bob Brewin. The group designed a surfboard that could be their laboratory. The results show different water temperatures than what the satellites have shown.
Coastlines are important to the economy. Large amounts of people use them for business and fun. Coastlines are also important for the environment because they are home to many different plants and animals.
Brewin says satellite data alone cannot be trusted. So, his team wants volunteers to gather data during their water activities. The information the volunteers find will be used along with satellite readings. The scientists think this will result in more accurate information. “We can begin to understand how our coastal environment is responding to climate change,” Brewin said.
They want surfers to check water surfaces and divers to measure temperatures deeper in the water. The information would then go into the scientists’ database. Meanwhile, a group of scientists from Europe had another idea. The group is interested in boots that some fishermen use. These boots sense water temperatures. The scientists think the fishermen who wear those boots could be connected to a datacollection system.
Many water sports take place in areas that are important for sea life. These locations can be difficult to check, Brewin says. For example, ocean waves can ruin data-collection floats and boats. So,coastal sea surface temperature records are poor.
1. What’s the problem with satellites?| A．They can’t measure temperatures over the ocean. |
| B．They can’t locate coasts very accurately. |
| C．They might provide unreliable data. |
| D．They break down frequently. |
| A．They turned a surfboard into a lab. |
| B．They did research on water sports. |
| C．They made efforts to learn surfing. |
| D．They made friends with fishermen. |
| A．Analyze satellite readings. |
| B．Compare data from different sources. |
| C．Wear boots designed by Brewin’s group. |
| D．Go into waters of different depths to collect data. |
| A．Surfers face great danger. |
| B．Beaches cover huge areas. |
| C．Data-collection boats are too big. |
| D．Waves damage the measuring equipment. |
9 . Like most people, you’re probably social distancing to stop the epidemic (疫情). While you’re stuck at home, you may feel lonely and want some friends. Fortunately, it might be easier than you think to meet new people.
Since most socializing has gone digital, social media can be a great way to connect with others while stopping the spread of the virus. On Facebook, add people from the “people you may know” section or people who comment on mutual (共同的) friends’ posts. If someone approves your friend request or follows you back, they may be open to a friendship.
If you find someone you’re interested in friending, send them a brief, friendly message to say “hello”. For instance, if you’re messaging someone on social media, say, “Hey! I’m also a friend of Andy’s and have seen you commenting on his posts a lot. I’m trying to make some new friends to chat with now that we’re all social distancing. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
You likely have some extra time on your hands, so use it to get to know people. Message your new friends frequently to build a relationship. Ask them questions, tell them some facts about yourself, and send funny stories. You could also talk about a shared interest. When you both feel ready, set up a video chat so you can meet without being in the same room. Treat your video call like a real face-to-face meeting so it feels normal. If you’d normally go out for a drink, it’s suggested that you each enjoy a beer or glass of wine.
After you’ve been chatting with someone for a while, you might think you’re ready to meet them. However, it’s strongly recommended that you avoid meetups till the end of the epidemic.
1. Why are people being kept separate from others?| A．They feel very lonely and want to make friends. |
| B．They have been diagnosed with a deadly disease. |
| C．They are trying to block the spread of epidemic. |
| D．They are killing time indoors as a new way of life. |
| A．The ways to find new friends while staying at home. |
| B．The tips to keep track of acquaintances online. |
| C．Tips and warnings to have an outdoor date online. |
| D．The ways and skills to find and use social media. |
| A．To make both you and your newly-found friend relaxed. |
| B．To keep safe from any possibilities of infecting the disease. |
| C．To show that you are quite serious to prepare a video call. |
| D．To make your new friend learn more about your hobbies. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Agreeable. | C．Negative. | D．Doubtful. |
10 . Many pupils in school think of science as just another subject on the time-table containing more facts to be learned. This is wrong. Science does not mean believing and remembering what other people tell us. The real scientist examines facts in order to find out the truth for himself. This is called the scientific method.
Let us see how scientists work and what is meant by the scientific method. In these days we hear a lot about science, but scientists, the men and women, who do the work and make the discoveries, seem distant and strange to us. Science often appears to be very difficult, and sometimes even a kind of magic. Certainly we feel we shall never be able to understand how it works. It is difficult of course, but I think we are wrong if we believe that we can not understand it. The important thing about the scientific method is that we get answers to questions by making tests. We do not just guess the answer or believe what anybody tells us. In fact, in simple ways we all use the scientific method every day.
We can see from very simple examples that the scientific method is not only for the use of a few people called scientists, but something we can all use with advantage. But patience and hard, careful work are necessary to find out the truth.
1. What does the text mainly talk about?| A．The scientific method. | B．The science subject. |
| C．The scientific discoveries. | D．The real scientists. |
| A．We all understand how science works. |
| B．We are familiar with most scientists. |
| C．We sometimes feel science confusing. |
| D．We know answers by making guesses. |
| A．The scientists. | B．School pupils. | C．The Scholars. | D．Everyone. |
| A．The scientific method is too difficult to use. |
| B．We can find out the truth from very simple examples. |
| C．Care and diligence is important for the scientific method. |
| D．The scientific method is only for the use of a few people. |
