1 . 
◆
The school day begins at 8: 30. Then students assemble in their homeroom classrooms for the day’s studies. Each homeroom class has an average of 40-45 students. Students stay in their homeroom classrooms for most of the school day. Only for physical education, laboratory classes,or other subjects requiring special facilities (设备) do students move to different parts of the school. Between classes and at lunchtime, classrooms can be noisy, lively places. Some schools may have a cafeteria, but most do not. In most schools, students bring a box lunch from home, prepared by the mother in the early morning hours.
Japanese high school students spend 240 days a year at school,60 days more than American students.Students in high schools take three years’ studying of each of the following subjects: maths, social studies, Japanese, science, and English. Other subjects include physical education, music, art, and moral studies. All the students in one grade level study the same subjects. Given the number of required subjects, electives (选修课) are few.
◆After school activities
Club activities take place after school every day. Students can join only one club, and they rarely change clubs from year to year, so the clubs are quite stable. Clubs are made up of sports clubs (baseball, soccer, judo, kendo, etc. ) and culture clubs (English, broadcasting, science, etc. ). New students usually are encouraged to select a club shortly after the school year begins in April. Clubs meet for two hours after school each day and many clubs continue to meet during school vacations.
1. Where do most Japanese high school students often have lunch?| A．In bedrooms. | B．In school cafeterias. |
| C．At home. | D．In homeroom classrooms. |
| A．Changeable. | B．Boring. | C．Fixed. | D．Useful. |
| A．There are fewer than 40 students in each homeroom class in Japanese high schools. |
| B．Students must stay in homeroom classrooms for physical education. |
| C．There are few subjects for students to choose except the required ones. |
| D．There will not be any club activity during school vacations. |
| A．At School. | B．In Class. | C．Subjects. | D．Homeroom Classes. |
2 . Five Ancient Chinese Poems about Spring
As the winter chill still lingers through early spring, longing for warm days has sprung up everywhere. Before the flowers are in full blossom, here is a collection of ancient Chinese poems picturing the revival of life during spring. The English translations used in this article are from Chinese translator Xu Yuanchong’s editions.
Spring Morning — by Meng Haoran (689-740) of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)This spring morning in bed I’m lying,
Not to awake till birds are crying.
After one night of wind and showers,
How many are the fallen flowers?
Written in a Village South of the Capital — by Cui Hu (772-846) of the Tang DynastyIn this house on this day last year, a pink face vied
In beauty with the pink peach blossoms side by side.
I do not know today where the pink face has gone;
In the vernal breeze still smile pink peach blossoms full-blown.
Happy Rain on a Spring Night (Excerpts) — by Du Fu (712-770) of the Tang DynastyGood rain knows its time right;
It will fall when comes spring.
With wind it steals in night;
Mute, it moistens each thing.
Dreaming of the Southern Shore — by Bai Juyi (772-846) of the Tang DynastyFair Southern shore,
With scenes I adore.
At sunrise riverside flowers redder than fire,
In spring green waves grow as blue as sapphire,
Which I can’t but admire.
Love Seeds — by Wang Wei (701-761) of the Tang DynastyRed berries grow in the southern land,
How many load in spring the trees?
Gather them till full is your hand;
They would revive fond memories.
1. What can we learn about the poets?| A．Meng Haoran lived longer than other poets. |
| B．Both Cui Hu and Bai Juyi died at the same age. |
| C．All of the poets were not from the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．Cui Hu wrote a poem highlighting the color green. |
| A．Love Seeds. | B．Happy Rain on a Spring Night. |
| C．Dreaming of the Southern Shore. | D．Written in a Village South of the Capital. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
3 . Din Tai Fung: Asia’s best-loved dumpling heads for Europe.
It takes just a few bites to see why Din Tai Fung, a Taiwan restaurant chain, has become the world’s most celebrated maker of “xiaolongbao” — pork soup dumplings. The small, ping-pong-ball-sized dumplings might not look much, but each is a tiny work of cooking art. Puncture (刺穿) the delicate skin with your chopsticks, allow the soup to rush out onto your spoon, sip (啜饮) the juices and then bite through the skin into a delicious pork filling.
Be warned it could lead to a life-long addiction. It did for me. I first encountered Din Tai Fung two decades ago as a student in Taipei when a friend introduced me to the chain’s very first restaurant in an unimpressive building on the city’s Xinyi Road. In Hong Kong, where I lived for a decade, Din Tai Fung has earned a Michelin star — a rare honour for a relatively inexpensive chain restaurant.
On moving to London this summer I was thrilled to discover that Din Tai Fung was launching its first European restaurant in the British capital, which opened in Covent Garden in December. Although the restaurant looks different from the Din Tai Fungs in Asia, the dumplings tasted comfortingly familiar: Key materials such as rice, flour and so ya sauce are imported from Taiwan to maintain the exact flavor. But will Din Tai Fung win over London, a city increasingly spoiled for choice when it comes to truly original and good quality Asian cuisine?
“London is a big destination for food,” says Bingyi Yang, founder of Din Tai Fung. “Here, people are rather picky about restaurants. But they can be die-hard fans of their favorite ones. They will soon know about us.”
Din Tai Fung operates more than 150 restaurants around the world, mainly in Asia, but also on the US West Coast and in Dubai. The company’s international success story is now a case study taught at business schools including Harvard.
1. Where did the writer first know about Din Tai Fung?| A．In Taipei. | B．In Hong Kong. | C．In London. | D．In the US. |
| A．It has a history of only about 20 years. |
| B．It’s facing risks to run business in London. |
| C．It’s one of the very few Asian restaurants in Europe. |
| D．It adjusts its food taste according to different local cultures. |
| A．Diners are not easy to attend to. | B．Food materials are in short supply. |
| C．It’s hard for Asian restaurants to survive. | D．There are few choices of Asian food. |
| A．Frustrated. | B．Confident. | C．Satisfied. | D．Unsure. |
4 . Books to take with you on vacation
You can either travel or read, but either your body or soul must be on the way. The popular saying has inspired many people to read or go sightseeing. Traveling, just like reading, is a refreshing journey, a temporary retreat from the bustling (热闹的) world. Here are some books we recommend that you take on your trip.
1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, 2013, by Rachel Joyce
The novel tells a story of a 60-year-old man who lives a boring and unhappy life, until one day, he received his old friend’s letter who got cancer. In deep shock and sorrow, he went out to send his reply letter. By thinking of his life, he walked past one mailbox after another, and finally walked from the Southwest end to the Northeast end of England. 627 miles in 87 days, he walks depending on one belief that “his friend can survive as long as he walks”.
2. On the Road, 1957, by Jack Kerouac
The book is a globally popular spiritual guide book about youth. The hero drives across the US continent with several young people and finally reaches Mexico. After the exhausting and exciting trip, the characters in the book start to believe in Oriental (东方的) Zen Buddhism.
3. The Stories of the Sahara, 1976, by Sanmao
The book describes the author’s simple but adventurous life in the Sahara Desert. The exotic natural scenery and life there, along with the author’s love story with her beloved husband will inspire you to explore the mysterious land and think about your own life. Reading the book is like engaging in a dialogue with the author, who is frank, sincere and humorous.
4. Lotus, 2006, by Annbaby
This novel set in Tibet, tells three people’s stories, each with their unique characteristics and carrying the hidden burden of hardship. It reveals modern people’s emotions and inner life, their confusion about love, and exploration of belief and the life essence (真谛).
1. Which word can best describe the personality of the hero in Rachel Joyce’s book?| A．Trust-worthy. | B．Sincere. | C．Determined. | D．Patient. |
| A．Rachel Joyce. | B．Sanmao. | C．Annbaby. | D．Jack Kerouac. |
| A．Natural scenery is focused. |
| B．Romantic love story is mentioned. |
| C．The importance of friendship is stressed. |
| D．Spiritual influence is highlighted (强调的). |
5 . Art Classes about Pets & Wildlife
All Creatures, Large and SmallAnimals bring something special to our life and give us inspiration for paintings that we will treasure. This workshop will focus on how to bring animals to life through color, lighting and good composition (构图). We will be working from photographs, so you will need to bring several good photos of your pets or wildlife animals.
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Phil Beck
Pet Portraiture (肖像画法) with Christine FiferNothing teaches us to live in the moment more than our furry and feathered friends, and this workshop emphasizes the technical aspects of drawing and painting animals. Fifer is a long-time painter whose realistic style is simple and clear. No live models allowed (only a favorite picture or two)!
Location: Key West, FL
Instructor: Christine Fifer
Live Subjects PaintingLimited to 12 students. Have a guided walk through a nature reserve and explore Charlotte’s wilderness with an experienced naturalist and bird painter, while learning about the region’s wildlife and habitats, and learning to paint from live subjects. Galvez emphasizes process rather than product.
Location: Charlotte, NC
Instructor: Rafael Galvez
Animal DrawingA rare opportunity to work with live animals in the PAFA studios! Work with a horse and a dog served as models, learn skills and develop techniques for the graphic depiction (图形描绘) of animals. Explore a variety of drawing materials and techniques.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Instructor: Peter van Dyck
1. How will Phil Beck teach students to paint animals?| A．By using live models. | B．With his own works. |
| C．From famous paintings. | D．By studying photos. |
| A．Phil Beck. | B．Christine Fifer. | C．Rafael Galvez. | D．Peter van Dyck. |
| A．Scottsdale, AZ. | B．Key West, FL. | C．Charlotte, NC. | D．Philadelphia, PA. |
6 . The Olympic Studies Center
Your Source of Reference for Olympic KnowledgeThe IOC Olympic Studies Center is the world source of reference for Olympic knowledge. Our mission is to share this knowledge with professionals and researchers through providing information, giving access to our unique collections, enabling research and encouraging intellectual exchange.
Here to HelpWhatever your interest in the Olympic Movement — academic or professional — we will help you find the information you need, quickly and easily. We’re here to:
● Answer your questions: share factual and historical information, Games results and statistics
● Lend you books and publications, even internationally
● Give you online access: to our electronic documents
● Connect you to our network: of academic experts in Olympic studies
Join the Academic Community Interested in Olympic StudiesOne of our key roles is to strengthen communication and cooperation between the IOC and the international academic community in order to promote research and encourage intellectual exchange.
This worldwide community is mainly made up of over 40 Olympic Studies Centers and hundreds of individual scholars and university students working on academic projects related to the field of Olympic studies.
Thanks to this regular exchange and the work conducted by the academics, we enrich the world’s Olympic knowledge, share new analysis on key topics related to the Olympic Movement and can provide guidance to universities wishing to launch programs on Olympic studies.
Find all Olympic Studies Centers in the world and discover Olympic-related programs organized by the academic community.
Visit UsYou’ll find us next door to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. We’re open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, except on public holidays and on Christmas. You don’t need an appointment to use the library and the study rooms. If you would like to see the historical documents or need personal guidance to find your way around our collections, please fill out our visitor request form.
1. What is the main aim of the Olympic Studies Center?| A．To give personalized guidance. |
| B．To provide resources on the Olympics. |
| C．To receive Olympic fans across the world. |
| D．To update information on the Olympics for officials. |
| A．Borrow a book. |
| B．Learn about Olympic history. |
| C．Buy tickets for the Olympic Games. |
| D．Read some online documents. |
| A．It includes university students. |
| B．It sponsors projects at universities. |
| C．It is organized by Olympic officials. |
| D．It works on electronic documents. |
| A．fill out a visitor request form |
| B．arrive on workdays |
| C．make an appointment |
| D．enter the Olympic Museum |
| A．https://www.olympic.org/news |
| B．https://www.olympic.org/athletes |
| C．https://www.olympic.org/museum |
| D．https://www.olympic.org/olympic-studies-center |
7 . Welcome to the world-famous house where William Shakespeare was born in l564 and where he grew up. The property (房产) remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until 1806. The House has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world, for over 250 years.
◆Enter through the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare’s World, a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.
◆Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up.
◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from Shakespeare’s period.
◆Enjoy the traditional English garden, planted with trees and flower mentioned in the poet’s works.
OPENING TIMES20 Mar to 19 Oct
Mon to Sat: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sun: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
20 Oct to 19 Mar
Mon to Sat: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map; nearest is Windsor Street (3 minutes’ Walk).
The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre, its exhibition, and the garden are accessible to wheelchair users.
The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace)
| ADMISSION Adult ￡4.90 Child ￡2.20 Family ￡12.00 (2 adults + up to 3 children) |
| A．￡9.80. | B．￡12.00. | C．￡14.20. | D．￡16.90. |
| A．8:30 am. | B．9:00 am. | C．9:30 am. | D．10:00 am. |
| A．At Windsor Street. | B．Near the Coffee House. |
| C．Behind the exhibition hall. | D．Opposite the Visiturs’ Centre. |
8 . Argentina lies in the South America. There are many festivals in Argentina during the year. Therefore, you can enjoy the different interesting festivals when traveling there.
First of all, we should talk about the Tango (探戈) Festival inArgentina, which is held in the capital of this country — Buenos Aires, from February to March. You ought to know that Argentina is the home of tango, so Argentinians admire this dance very much. Even if you cannot dance perfectly, you should join the people and try to perform this dance.
The next festival in Argentina is Open Polo (马球) Tournament. You should go to Palermo to see this festival in Argentina. This festival is held every year and is the most important polo tournament in Argentina.This kind of sport is considered the most important in Argentina.
Attending this festival in Argentina, you will be able to communicate with different people and admire the fascinating competition between the teams of different countries, such as Argentina, England, Australia, as well as the US. This festival in Argentina is usually held between November and December every year. So don’t miss the opportunity if you travel to Argentina at this time.
The other festival in Argentina is the Semana Musical Liao Liao. This is a festival of classical music. The festival was created in 1993 and is held at the Liao Liao Hotel, near Bariloche. The festival is held yearly in October. So if you admire this kind of music, you should travel toArgentina in October.
There are also many carnivals in Argentina in summer. Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about festivals in Argentina into just one article. We hope that you have found this article interesting and eye-catching.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．Entertainments in Argentina | B．Festivals in Argentina |
| C．Travel to Argentina | D．A brief introduction to Argentina |
| A．is organized by the government |
| B．welcomes everyone to take part in it |
| C．is held in summer |
| D．holds parties for different dances |
| A．Open Polo Tournament. | B．Every carnival in Argentina. |
| C．The Tango Festival. | D．The Semana Musical Liao Liao. |
| A．Buenos Aires in spring | B．Palermo in April |
| C．Palermo in winter | D．Bariloche in October |
9 . As I walked into the primary school, I looked down at my new black Mary Jane shoes — I wanted to be anywhere in the world but Fountain Inn Elementary School.
I stood at Mrs. Blackstone’s door. Before I tried the great escape, the wooden door suddenly opened to the singsong voice of Mrs. Blackstone, my new fifth grade teacher.
“We’ve been waiting on you!” she said in an unusually high voice. With a smile my mom walked away and I was left standing in the center stage in front of a group of students.
Over the next few days, Mrs. Blackstone made it her job to find me a new best friend and help me join a choir. During history lessons, as I didn’t want to speak in front of the class she would not only call on me but have me stand up to address my classmates. She laughed at my nervousness when I wouldn’t get in line to sharpen my pencil for fear of being embarrassed. Her silliness made me smile and finally feel much more relaxed in the new environment.
One spring afternoon, Mrs. Blackstone asked me to stay after class.
“I’d like to speak with you, Amanda”
My mind raced. Had I made a bad grade? Had I hurt someone’s feelings?
“Are you enjoying your new school?” She sat comfortably behind her desk.
“I want to tell you something, between you and me, not to be shared with anyone else.”
“Okay.” My throat all of a sudden felt very dry.
With her eyebrows raised she said. “I see something special in you. The way you communicate with others, the kindness you show — I think you have great potential to be something very important.”
I listened attentively to every word.
“I’ve been a teacher for over twenty-five years; I can see it. But you must believe in yourself. That’s very important. Remember that and you will go far.”
She then hugged me and said, “See you tomorrow.”
Her singing voice was music to my ears that day. I walked out of her class, not staring at my Mary Jane shoes, but looking straight ahead with my head high. My teacher saw something special in me!
1. What can we know about the author from the first two paragraphs?| A．She went to school unwillingly. | B．She liked the new school very much. |
| C．She was afraid of her new teacher. | D．She liked her teacher’s singing. |
| A．To tell her about her grades. | B．To encourage her to be confident. |
| C．To help her realize her mistakes. | D．To make her feel cared and loved. |
| A．A Teacher for Every Child | B．An Unforgettable Lesson |
| C．Magical Words | D．Special Treatment |
“Where are you going to college?” “I’m going to my local community college.” My answer seemed to be the magic phrase that would wipe the smile right off many people’s faces. It’s clear that people have a lot of misconceptions (误解) about community colleges.
Many people think community colleges are only for people who couldn’t get into a four-year school. But it is not true. In high school, I always got A’s. But when it came to applying to colleges, I had no idea what I wanted to major in and couldn’t justify spending thousands of dollars at a 4-year school until I knew what I wanted to do. My parents were very supportive of my decision to attend the community college.
Some people will ask, “Since the community college is cheaper, will you get a good education?” I found that nearly all of my professors taught the same courses at 4-year colleges. My professors were knowledgeable and experienced, and I found many of the courses challenging.
Some people think if I attend the community college, I will miss out on the “college experience”. I must admit that this is something I worried about a great deal the summer before college. But I soon learned that the community college, just like any other college, is what you make of it. I strived to make the most of my time at the community college. I also made tons of friends by joining clubs and attending student government meetings.
I took a lot of different courses. I had an amazing professor who suggested I take her journalism class. Never having written for my high school newspapers, I dared not take it, but since she was so enthusiastic, I eventually decided to have a try. That one course was all it took for me to realize that I wanted to become a journalist.
I look forward to graduating this May to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. Community colleges may not be for everyone, but for me it is a life-changing experience that has helped me discover who I am and the person I hope to become.
1. What was the author’s parents’ attitude towards his/her decision about attending the community college?2. How did the author make friends at community college?
3. Why daren’t the author take the journalism class at first?
4. What do you plan to get from your future college education? (About 30 words)
