1 . No matter how old you are, your mom will always remain as one of the most important people in your life. Maybe you don’t know how to express your appreciation and love to her on an ordinary day.
Give her flowers.
Cook for her. Mothers usually are the ones who cook for us. Your mom will absolutely love it if you surprise her by taking over the kitchen and cooking something for her. Just make sure you clean up afterwards.
Travel with her. Mothers work hard, so traveling can help her to relax and forget her problems. She will treasure the moment when t wherever you go, just your presence.
Take her to a spa. Massages or spas (按摩保健) are for moms of all ages, and she will enjoy breaking the boredom of staying indoors the whole day.
Mother’s Day is coming. It is a time to let Mom know she’s special to you.
| A．Write her a letter. |
| B．Remember her wedding anniversary. |
| C．A lot of us forget that the best gift to give her is ourselves. |
| D．Almost every girl appreciates flowers and so does your mother. |
| E．She remains the center of attention and respect for a child for a long time. |
| F．And this will offer your mom comfort and an increased sense of well-being. |
| G．However, Mother’s Day is the special time when you can let her know how important she is to you. |
2 . Beijing Opera (京剧) is our national opera. It came into being after 1790 and has a history of over 200 years. Its music and singing came from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei. There are four main roles in Beijing Opera; Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou. Beijing Opera is full of famous stories, beautiful facial paintings, wonderful gestures and fighting. Some of the stories are from history books, but most are from famous novels. The people in the stories usually can’t agree with each other. They become angry, unhappy, sad and lonely. Sometimes they are frightened and worried. Then they find a way to make peace with each other. Everyone is usually happy in the end.
Beijing Opera is an important part of Chinese culture. In China, it used to be popular with old people while young people didn’t like it very much. However, more young people are becoming interested in it nowadays. And more people around the world are learning about Beijing Opera’s special singing, acting and facial paintings.
1. How old is Beijing Opera in 2020?| A．207 years old. | B．217 years old. |
| C．227 years old. | D．230 years old. |
| A．music and singing | B．acting and fighting |
| C．music and acting | D．singing and fighting |
| A．Angry. | B．Sad. |
| C．Happy. | D．Frightened and worried. |
| A．Beijing Opera used to be popular with old people and young people. |
| B．More people at home and abroad are interested in Beijing Opera nowadays. |
| C．Beijing Opera isn’t a part of Chinese culture. |
| D．There are five main roles in Beijing Opera. |
| A．The History of Beijing Opera |
| B．Beijing Opera |
| C．The Roles of Beijing Opera |
| D．The Changes of Beijing Opera |
3 . Primary and secondary school learners, university students, and guests were invited on Wednesday and were treated to a colorful celebration at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, to mark the beginning of the year of the dragon which officially starts on Saturday. The place featured beautiful decorations with red and gold colors and lucky symbols.
Visitors got an opportunity to participate in cultural experiences including painting, papercutting and pot throwing as well as experiencing Chinese cuisines like spicy hotpot, steamed stuffed buns (包子) , Chinese hamburgers, dumplings and barbecue among others. They were also treated to heartwarming performances including face-changing, lion dance, dragon dance, drumming, Chinese opera, Chinese songs and a talent show featuring Chinese traditional clothes as well as a mixture of Chinese and Kenyan fashion.
Leah Muthoni, a student at the University of Nairobi lauded the Chinese cuisines served at the event, especially noodles and dumplings. She also appreciated the decorations, drawings, pictures and performances. Similar feelings were also shared by George Mwita, another student from the University of Nairobi who greatly enjoyed the pot throwing game.
In his welcoming speech, Professor Stephen Kiama, the vice headmaster of the University of Nairobi who doubles up as the Kenya director of the Confucius Institute, hoped this year will be a good year of development because the Chinese dragon horns represent power and strength, while the drums represent courage and energy.
Kiama said the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has achieved a lot since its establishment in 2005, including winning the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times and pioneering the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts in the Chinese language in Kenya. “Last year, with the joint efforts of the various parties and stakeholders we established the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya and we admitted the first group of students,” he said. Kiama hopes that this year the Confucius Institute will gain more force with the blessing of power, courage and vitality from the year of the Chinese dragon. He said the Confucius Institute offers a good platform for cultural exchange between China and Kenya through events like the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations. Kiama hoped that the relationship between China and Kenya would further be strengthened by the blessings of the year of the dragon.
In Chinese methodology (方法论) , the dragon has the power to control seasons, time and harvests, and it’s seen as a symbol of wealth. The Chinese consider dragons to be powerful. sympathetic, wise, kind and warm.
1. What is spoken of as one of the cultural experiences the visitors participated in?| A．Tasting Chinese cuisines. | B．Writing with brushes. |
| C．Reciting Chinese poems. | D．Guessing lantern riddles. |
| A．Mixed. | B．Praised. | C．Delivered. | D．Sold. |
| A．It has the biggest number of students in Africa. |
| B．George Mwita is one of the Chinese teachers there. |
| C．It has won the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times. |
| D．They set up the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya in 2005. |
| A．Kiama considers dragons to be powerful and sympathetic |
| B．Confucius Institute offers good platform for cultural exchange |
| C．Kiama wishes year of dragon good for development of Confucius Institute |
| D．Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi marks year of dragon celebrations |
4 . Living and studying abroad can be a rewarding and enriching experience. And living with a host family is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in its culture. However, living with a foreign family can be difficult and adjusting to it can take some effort.
Involve yourself in family activities. If you spend all your time in your room, it’s going to be hard to feel like you belong. Getting involved in everyday activities with your host family will help you create a family bond. For example, some families like having dinner together on weekends.
Be patient with yourself. Keep in mind that you’ve just left everything you’ve known for years behind to start a new life. It’s okay to be confused.
Communication is key. If you are unsure about something, ask! It’s normal to know few customs and habits at first.
Remember, a grateful heart is a happy heart, and a happy heart will lead you to further success and fulfillment in your life abroad.
| A．Be open and respectful. |
| B．Make time for those moments. |
| C．The language barrier can also be a struggle. |
| D．So instead of doing things blindly, just ask! |
| E．Showing your gratitude will take you a long way. |
| F．You may well recall the memorable moments with friends back home. |
| G．Here are some tips on making the most of your host family experience. |
5 . New research paints a lifestyle picture of the beloved pandas in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve, and the new study indicates pandas are around others more than previously thought. They use scent (气味) marking to keep track of both family members and friends, leave updates about life events, and check out the dating scene.
Thomas Connor, lead author of the study, spent months watching for signs of pandas. “Once you’ve gotten an eye for it, you can see on hill tops and different trails the scent-marking trees, and the pandas seem to be doing this a lot,” Connor says. “It is pretty evident that they are exchanging information through scent marking behavior.”
To link the marked trees with an understanding of panda’s social structure, the researchers needed to document nearby panda communities. Connor teamed up with coauthor Ken Frank who said, “I told him that once he has data on which pandas are close to each other, we can use the techniques and theories that apply to humans to understand their social networks. And these scent trees are a social media. Like Facebook, you don’t have to be in the same place at the same time. It allows one to broadcast to many, and it’s a record.
Connor dug into a wealth of data he had collected in the form of fresh panda waste, which is the gold standard of panda watching. Information from the waste allowed them to identify specific pandas in the area around the scent-marking trees, and showed if these pandas were related to each other.
The discoveries in this study show that pandas are a part of coupled human and natural systems where humans share their habitat. Anything about how they live and what they need can ultimately help inform good conservation policies and maybe understand our own behavior a little more.
1. Who tend to go around the pandas’ scent-marking trees?| A．Their family. | B．Some strange pandas. |
| C．Their keepers. | D．Meat-sourced animals. |
| A．Because they need to extend their domain. |
| B．Because they use them to exchange information. |
| C．Because they want to expose themselves to others. |
| D．Because they tend to keep away from humans. |
| A．The purpose of the study. | B．The research strategy of the study. |
| C．The further finding of the study. | D．The influence of the discoveries. |
| A．To introduce a new research on pandas. |
| B．To explain the pandas’ scent marking behavior. |
| C．To emphasize the significance of knowing pandas. |
| D．To call for action to protect pandas. |
6 . A Virginia family whose home was destroyed by a fire last week recently received the gift of some old-fashioned Christmas cheer from “Santa Claus” (圣诞老人).
In the spirit of Christmas, the Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department delivered presents to the family who lost their home and belongings in a house fire on Thursday.
“It was a working structure fire and unfortunately the family lost everything. We as volunteers knew that we couldn’t let this mom and her three kids go through Christmas without anything,” the fire station wrote on Facebook. “Yes, they’re OK but it’s Christmas, right?”
The fire station officials delivered Christmas gifts to the mother and her three children the following day at the local church shelter they were staying at, and in photos posted on the site, the children appeared joyful.
“We brought gifts and more gifts! The kids were overjoyed and very grateful.” the station said on its post.
“They were very happy to see all the gifts and the fire trucks that we brought the gifts in,” the department told USA TODAY. The kids received Barbies, Pokémon, artworks, remote control cars, blankets, clothes and shoes. The mother also received a gift card.
The Facebook post was flooded with what seemed to be comments from community members touched by the generosity. “The best Christmas gifts are the ones you give! Thank you all for your wonderful service and your big hearts!” one user commented.
“So thankful they are alright! We are truly blessed to live in such a giving and helping community, and our fire department and rescue teams are amazing! Great job! So proud!” another user wrote.
1. What can we learn from the text?| A．The Fire Department provided the family with shelter. |
| B．The volunteers saved some belongings for the family. |
| C．The family went through Christmas in sorrow. |
| D．Receiving a Christmas gift is a traditional joy. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Appreciative. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By using quotation. |
| C．By making comments. | D．By analysing causes. |
| A．Firefighters or Santa Claus? | B．Firefighters Safeguarded Us |
| C．A Fire Brought Gifts | D．Love Can Cure |
7 . When floods completely destroyed Bangkok more than a decade ago, Thai landscape architect, Kotchakorn Voraakhom became determined to help her sinking hometown fight this deadly climate threat. “The floods changed my life,” said Voraakhom, who studied at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. “It was the turning point, when I started using the tools of landscape architecture to cope with climate change.”
Voraakhom’s fantastic projects in Bangkok include a park that can hold up to one million gallons of water, Asia’s largest rooftop farm, an elevated walkway installed on a bridge and a lush (草木繁茂的) canal park in the city center.
One of Voraakhom’s most innovative designs is Centenary Park in Chulalongkorn University. The park stores large amounts of rainwater and prevents the surrounding streets from flooding. Built on an incline (斜坡), it directs runoff water through inclined gardens and artificial wetlands. From there, water flows into a retention pond (澄清的) with a capacity of nearly 480,000 gallons. Beneath the soil is an additional water tank which can hold nearly 160,000 gallons. The entire park can store up to one million gallons of water.
Voraakhom also created Asia’s largest rooftop farm, Siam Green Sky, transforming 22,400 square meters (241,000 square feet) into a lush field. The farm, which recycles food waste from restaurants in the building below and uses it as plant fertilizer (肥料), also slows down, soaks up and stores large amounts of rainwater. It is then used to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit, as well as rice.
The architect said she integrates nature and water into her designs to create landscapes that help alleviate flooding and add greenery to densely populated cities. The central question sinking cities like Bangkok need to focus on is: “how are we going to live with the water, without fear?” said Voraakhom. This idea of “living with the water” lies at the heart of her design approach.
1. What did Kotchakorn focus on to cope with flooding?| A．Green coverage. | B．Soil conservation. |
| C．Architecture design. | D．Alternative resources. |
| A．Centenary Park. | B．Siam Green Sky. |
| C．An elevated walkway. | D．Chulalongkorn University. |
| A．Make less severe. | B．Get better. |
| C．Adapt itself to. | D．Take in. |
| A．Calming. | B．Disturbing. | C．Refreshing. | D．Challenging. |
8 . “Palace, Mountain, Moon?” has been selected by NASA as the Astronomical Picture of the Day for December 25, 2023.
The photo was taken by Valerio, a young photographer of Turin, Italy. It was shot on the evening of December 15, 2023. While he knew about NASA’s competition, he hadn’t considered participating until receiving much encouragement from his social media followers. Soon after, he received the message, “Your image has been chosen as the astronomical photo of the day.” It was incredible!
In a photo like this, nothing is left to luck. The concept came to him back in 2017. Walking on the hills north of Turin, he found several spots perfect for including both the Basilica of Superga Palace and Mountain Monviso. After numerous visits over several months, he identified four spots where Superga and Monviso line up just right.
After pinpointing these locations, he experimented with shooting them at different times. “I knew I needed something special to perfect the photo. The Sun was a no-go, so I turned to the Moon. Its various phases and position s reach an azimuth angle (方位角) of 230 degrees,” Valerio said. With this in mind, he researched the Moon’s phases, marked potential dates on the calendar, and planned the exact moments when the moon could join the queue.
It was very successful, especially because the Moon was in a waxing phase. This meant that in the photo, not only was its crescent (新月) lit up, but so was the left part, its shadowed side. That part is lit by reflected light, also known as Da Vinci’s glow, named after him because he was the one who theorized about why the Moon’s shadowed side is brightened. During the early days of the waxing Moon phases, the shadowed part is visible because the Sun’s light reflects off the Earth and hits the Moon’s shadowed side, giving it a greyish, silvery color. This allowed the light to outline Monviso on the left as well.
1. Why did Valerio send the photo to NASA?| A．He took an interest in astronomical advances. |
| B．He expected to create an impact on social media. |
| C．He received broad support from enthusiastic fans. |
| D．He wished to make his hometown a tourist hot spot. |
| A．shine light on each other | B．stand in a straight line |
| C．fit each other in size | D．vary from usual in color |
| A．Studying how the Moon phase changes. | B．Calculating the Superga-Monviso distance. |
| C．Analyzing when to adjust the camera angle. | D．Measuring the height of the observation point. |
| A．The outline of the crescent. | B．The outline of Superga. |
| C．The dark side of the Moon. | D．The shadowed side of the Earth. |
9 . What if our bodies had a new way — other than our eardrums — to hear the world around us? That’s what neuroscientist David Eagleman wondered five years ago. Then he looked at the body for answers and saw a huge sound jack (插孔). “We have this huge input channel called our skin,” he says, “and we aren’t using it.”
So Eagleman, along with Scott Novich, his student at Baylor College of Medicine, created the Versatile Extra-Sensory Transducer, or VEST. The VEST is worn like it sounds. Through 32 tiny motors, it translates sound waves into vibrations (振动) on your back.
First, a computer or smartphone picks up sounds from your surroundings and breaks down the sound sample into a set of specific frequencies. Each frequency band in the set sets off one of 32 motors in the VEST. With time and practice, your brain learns to unconsciously interpret the series of vibrations as sound — and individual sounds as words in a language.
“There is no theoretical reason why this can’t be almost as good as the ears,” says Eagleman. So far, he has trained deaf people to recognize single words through the VEST. He hopes to eventually help them understand sentences, and then full conversations. Just like with language, Eagleman discovered, children — whose brains are more shapable — learned to interpret the VEST more easily than adults did.
Eagleman says his device could one day be deployed in dozens of professions to better understand complex environments. A pilot could interpret a plane’s condition through the VEST’s vibrations. An astronaut could literally feel the health of the International Space Station. Eagleman and Novich’s startup, Neo Sensory, plans to develop the VEST for all kinds of uses, so someday we all can experience this sixth sense. “The possibilities are endless for the kind of information we could be streaming in,” says Eagleman.
1. What is the VEST?| A．A huge input channel on the body. | B．A computer-smartphone connector. |
| C．A processing program with tiny motors. | D．A wearable sound-vibration transformer. |
①motors to be activated ②sounds to be decomposed ③words to be interpreted
| A．①②③ | B．②③① | C．①③② | D．②①③ |
| A．Assessed. | B．Employed. | C．Detected. | D．Invented. |
| A．Listen with Your Skin | B．Hear Your Sixth Sense |
| C．To Listen or Not | D．Here to Hear. |
10 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).
“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.
Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.
Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.
“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.
“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”
1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?| A．She hoped to have a tailored limb. |
| B．She intended to design a cartoon figure. |
| C．She longed to expand the market for limbs. |
| D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas. |
| A．boost users’ confidence | B．sharpen users’ creativity |
| C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills | D．extend Sophie’s art business |
| A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list. | B．The balance of multi-needs comes first. |
| C．Fashion is the best policy. | D．Functionality is the key. |
| A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs. |
| B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs. |
| C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs. |
| D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs. |
