1 . Where do you expect to see graffiti (涂鸦)? Probably not in a museum. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, in the south-west of England, was the kind of place you went to see classical statues and stuffed animals in cases until the arrivals of the ‘Banksy Versus the Bristol Museum’ exhibition in 2009. The exhibition hosted more than 100 works by Banksy, one of the world’s most famous graffiti artists.
Banksy is a man of mystery (神秘). He hardly ever gives interviews and likes to be anonymous (匿名的). Nobody knows much about his life or his background but many people believe that his real name is either Robin Cunningham, Robert Banks or Robin Banks and that he was born in 1973 near Bristol.
Banksy’s questioned ‘street art’ includes paintings on live sheep and cows and graffiti on the huge wall put up to divide two areas. Brand Pitt spent over 82 million on a Bansky original. Banksy designed an album cover for the Britpop group Blur in 2003 but he has refused requests to do adverts for Nike. A year after the Bristol exhibition, Banksy made a film called Exit Through the Gift Shop. The film tells the story of a French street artist in America. Exit Through the Gift Shop received many positive reviews. Nobody knows if it was about a real artist or an invented character from Banksy’s imagination.
Bristol isn’t the only place in Britain to welcome graffiti. The DPM Park in Dundee, Scotland has the longest legal graffiti wall (almost 110m long) in the UK. Anyone can paint on the council-owned wall any time they like. Mike Crilley, the graffiti wall project organiser, promotes the positive side of graffiti and runs workshops for local children.
Is everyone doing graffiti? Can we do graffiti where we want these days? Not exactly. It’s illegal to paint on somebody else’s possessions, so make sure you find a legal graffiti wall like the one in Dundee if you want to have a go.
1. Why is Banksy a man of mystery?A.His works are mainly set in Bristol. | B.His works are not universally recognized. |
C.He’s likely to use a penname in his works | D.He comes from an area unfamilar to others. |
A.It was produced in the year 2010. | B.It was based on Banksy’s true story. |
C.It was directed and starred by Banksy. | D.It was filmed for the Bristol exhibition. |
A.On any wall in the UK. | B.On somebody’s outer wall. |
C.In Mike Crilley’s workshops. | D.In any nation-owned parks. |
A.Different opinions on graffiti. | B.Britain’s famous graffiti artist. |
C.Banksy’s most successful graffiti. | D.Graffiti in major cities in the world. |
2 . Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation (立法) that would require visitors to pay for a year-long license or pass to visit state parks. Josh Green is the state’s governor. He said, “We get between 9 and 10 million visitors a year, but we only have 1.4 million people living here.” He added, “Those 10 million travellers should be helping us sustain our environment.” Lawmakers still debating how much they would charge.
The governor campaigned in 2022 on the idea of having all tourists pay a $50 fee to enter the state. Legislators think this would violate US constitutional protections for free travel. They instead think visitors should pay to enter parks and trails. Either policy would be a first of its kind for any US state. Hawaii’s leaders are following the example of other popular tourist areas with similar fees or taxes. They include Venice, Italy, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Hawaii State Representative Sean Quinlan is the leader of the House Tourism Committee. He said changes in the activities of travellers are part of Hawaii’s push. He said golf rounds per visitor per day have dropped 30 percent over the past 10 years while hiking has increased50 percent. People are also seeking out isolated places they have seen on social media. The state does not have the money to oversee and protect all these places, he said.
Most state parks and trails are currently free. Some of the most popular ones already charge, like Diamond Head State Monument. That trail leads hikers from the floor of a 300,000-year-old volcano up to the top. It gets 1 million visitors each year and costs $5for each traveller.
A bill currently before the legislature would require visitors over the age of 15to buy a yearly pass to visit forests, parks, trails or “other natural area on state land”. People who live in Hawaii would not need to pay.
1. What does the underlined word “violate” mean in Paragraph 2?A.Break. | B.Establish. | C.Uphold. | D.Perfect. |
A.The decreasing number of tourists to Hawaii. |
B.Advantages of Hawaii’s tourism resources. |
C.The increasing financial burden of Hawaii. |
D.One reason for wanting to charge tourists. |
A.None of the attractions in Hawaii charge fees currently. |
B.The goal to charge fees is to limit the number of tourists. |
C.Lawmakers are arguing about whether charging fees is legal. |
D.Charging fees is beneficial for Hawaii’s natural environment. |
A.A news report. | B.A travel guide. |
C.A law textbook. | D.A promotional brochure. |
3 . All three of my children were subject-matter experts before they even left primary school. My eldest son memorized every statistic on every football trading card he got his hands on. His brother knew hundreds of car makes and models by heart. And I’m sure that my daughter — a huge One Direction fan — remembered more facts about the band than they did! The experience of becoming an expert can bring long-term benefits for learning — and it’s never too late. “Having a specialist subject helps you learn anything,” says our memory expert, Jonathan Hancock, “There are good reasons for all of us to do a spot of specialist learning.”
It schools our observation: a vital first step to remembering. Children are particularly good at seeing slight differences — like my younger son and his cars — then using them to organize information and inspire recall. But focused learning like this can push anyone to start noticing key details — ready to remember them.
It gives us a mental framework (框架), to which we can attach unrelated ideas. Even when his trading-card period was over, my son often linked new numbers with stored-away sports statistics. Your own area of interest might help you by suggesting soundalike words for people’s names, or letting you “map” travel directions.
It gets us learning in a variety of ways, often with the help of all our senses. My daughter’s pop knowledge was a rich mix of music, dances and colourful costumes, with precise facts. Burying yourself in a subject boosts your brain to work at its best.
It restores our confidence to remember. We get to see what a difference it makes to be interested in something, to build up information in layers (层次), and to keep refreshing, testing and showing off what we know. It can give all our learning a boost.
Why not pick a topic that interests you, find some books, take a course, join a club... and enjoy becoming at least an entry-level expert? Even a short spell of specialist study can reawaken learning skills that used to feel like child’s play.
1. What do the author’s children have in common?A.Having a variety of hobbies. | B.Dreaming of being a top-class expert. |
C.Learning school subjects well. | D.Showing exceptional talent in their areas. |
A.Recognizing a pair of twins. | B.Lecturing at an opening ceremony. |
C.Learning English by watching a film. | D.Planning a tour route in a strange city. |
A.To advocate. | B.To confirm. | C.To evaluate. | D.To explain. |
A.Raise Children’s Memory | B.Remember Like an Expert |
C.Reform Learning Methods | D.Reawaken Learning Skills |
4 . Health, as the old saying goes, is over wealth, so it’s of great significance to keep fit. You can take away our money, our house, or our clothes and we can survive.
Eating healthfully is important to maintain one’s health. I try to avoid foods high in fat like French fries or cookies. I also try to limit the amount of animal protein I consume.
Our muscles must continue to be strong to support our body as we age. Exercise helps the bones build density and helps us maintain our posture.
By eating properly and exercising regularly, I can keep my body at an appropriate weight and can maintain my health. By spending time with my friends, I can keep my mind as well as my body happy.
A.It can also strengthen our muscles. |
B.Take away our health and we will die. |
C.Friends are an important part of one’s health. |
D.These are my three secrets to keeping a healthy lifestyle. |
E.Besides, I always stay away from junk food which lacks nutrients. |
F.By joining in relaxing activities, I can refresh myself to study well. |
G.Instead, I eat lots of vegetables and fruit which are rich in fiber and vitamins. |
5 . Being a plastic-free gardener is an important step for having an eco-conscious garden. Here’s how to garden by using alternatives to plastic plant pots.
Lots of pots
Plastic-free plant pot alternatives
The great news is that, the choice of alternative plastic-free pots is fantastic.
Ceramic (陶瓷) pots
Though expensive, when it comes to plant pots, there is not much that compares to the appeal of hand-made ceramic pots. Ceramic pots are made from the firing of clay.
Wool pots
Made from raw washed wool pots, these cute little pots are a very attractive natural alternative to plastic.
Hemp (麻) pots
Hemp pots are a great alternative to the plastic pots used to grow tomato and potato plants.
A.They are durable |
B.Limit the use of plastic in the garden |
C.Wool pots can be used to start young plants |
D.They are a replacement for those with limited growing space |
E.Many gardeners have a collection of plastic plant pots over the years |
F.Many of the pots in which plants were sold at the time were recyclable |
G.In addition to fabric, there is also wood, cardboard, bamboo, rubber, and even wool |
6 . Going to the gym can take time and effort, it often hurts, and it can be extremely tiresome. Most weight-related exercises are a combination of sets and reps (组和次). In order to see any significant change from any exercise, it will probably need to be repeated six to eight times, fora minimum of three sets, for about three months. For some, there’s nothing more boring than endless miles spent running on a treadmill (跑步机).
But what if there were a way to relieve the tedium of exercise while still getting a good workout? Luckily for us, there’s virtual reality.
Many VR games are played while standing. In order to play properly, the player is forced to move around swinging their arms or using their legs. After an hour of this on a regular enough basis, it’s not surprising that many people unexpectedly find themselves a little fitter. There are already a number of virtual reality games which, intentionally or not, result in their player ‘getting a good sweat on’ if played for enough time. For example, there’s a first person shooter which forces the player to sidestep, duck and other sport actions. That’s cardio (有氧运动). Or there’s a music game which forces players to shadowbox in order to hit the notes—that’s an upper-body workout.
The potential for VR to help people get fit has been noticed by one company. They want to take the whole experience into the gym. They are making a resistance machine, designed to be used in combination with a VR headset. Players challenge a virtual opponent in a series of games, which results in a 30-minute full-body workout. However, the cost of the equipment is expensive and there are safety concerns to be worked out. So don’t hang up your gym shorts just yet.
Although it’s early days, for those of us who struggle to keep passionate about exercise, anew solution could be coming. And a world where a person can exercise and have fun at the same time might be something that many people would want—virtual or not.
1. In paragraph l, the author mainly conveys that going to the gym__________.A.cannot avoid being hurt | B.is hard to hold on |
C.makes sense in a short time | D.means three months of exercise |
A.Boredom. | B.Tiredness. | C.Expense. | D.Inconvenience. |
A.Several security problems have been solved. |
B.The relevant equipment has complex designs. |
C.It has turned out to be very effective and popular. |
D.It may be unavailable due to some disadvantages. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Positive. |
C.Tolerant. | D.Doubtful. |
7 . Teachers work hard to care equally about each of the students they teach. For most of us, however, some students stand out because they have greatly influenced our lives. Years ago, I had a young boy named Juan in my first-year class who I will never forget. Our experiences together impressed upon me the huge influence that just a few minutes of kindness can have on a young life.
Juan came from a very poor, single parent home. His mother showed little interest in his education and in his life in general. Throughout the year, I noticed that Juan had an unusual ability to solve questions and he picked up new ideas fast. I was surprised when he approached me to tell me that he did not think he was smart enough to attend college.
I explained to Juan that he was one of my best students. His face lit up with excitement, and he looked at me delightedly. I went on to explain to him that he could apply for scholarships (奖学金) to pay for college. I continued by telling Juan that it would be a waste of talent if he did not go to college. Juan looked as though he would need to re-think his whole life. It was not surprising that he was finally awarded enough scholarship that he was able to attend the local university.
My love for my students and for the subject I teach has continued to grow over the years. I consider myself lucky to be a teacher, and to have been a part of so many young lives, hopes, and dreams! I may not drive the nicest car on the block, but I am very rich in the things that count the most.
1. Why do some students stand out according to the author?A.They gain high scores. |
B.They are from poor families. |
C.They make a difference in teachers’ lives. |
D.They work hard to get the attention of the teachers. |
A.He does very well in studies. | B.He had a quarrel with his mother. |
C.He was abused (虐待) by his mother as a child. | D.He is not smart enough to catch up with others. |
A.My encouragement for Juan. | B.Juan’s response to my words. |
C.The relationship between Juan and me. | D.Juan’s puzzlement of life and stress from studies. |
A.It is well-paid. | B.It is energy-consuming. |
C.It saves many young lives. | D.It enriches the spiritual life. |
8 . Accents in English
Accents are fascinating and usually come with kinds of information.
Thanks to the development of technology, various handy accesses are available for people to share and pick up accents. English actor and accent coach Sarah Valentine is an expert in teaching the tones which can change the English language.
Valentine has been working in TV since the 1990s. She appears to have found success coaching other actors to speak in a variety of dialects.
“
Everyone has an accent. A dialect coach like Valentine can help one learn to speak differently, for an acting job or for fun.
A.In fact, all accents are worthy of pride |
B.One’s birthplace can affect his accent |
C.However, not all accents are worth learning |
D.While much work with actors is done in one-on-one coaching |
E.They can signal one’s living places, education and personality |
F.On TikTok, she gives examples of simple phrases repeated in over 20 accents |
G.A region’s location has a direct influence on the development of a local language |
9 . There is growing evidence to show that our past knowledge about Mars was not always the case. Now European researchers say they have discovered the first evidence of a huge groundwater system that once existed below the planet’s surface.
A new study was carried out by Francesco Salese and his team, who studied images of 24 deep craters (n.弹坑) in the northern half of the Red Planet. These pictures were captured by ESA’s Mars Express orbiter (n.宇宙飞船), which was launched in 2003. The study provides the first geological proof that Mars once had a “planet-wide groundwater system.”
According to Salese, scientific evidence already suggests Mars was once a watery world. His team says the images showed that large amounts of successive groundwater activity connected the areas they studied. Evidence of basins and coastlines was also found on the surface of Mars, supporting the idea that water was once present. He added that all the basins seemed to reach about the same height.
Scientists have yet to find out what happened to all that water. And the complex history of water on Mars has linked to whether or not life ever existed on it. During the latest study, researchers also discovered evidence of minerals within some of the identified (adj.被识别的) bodies of water.
The researchers say the findings adds weight to the idea that the water basins on Mars may have once held the materials required to support life. Some of this material could still be buried on Mars, providing possible evidence of life during future exploration. Francesco Salese believes the latest findings could also help us learn new things about our own planet.
1. What can we infer about our past knowledge of Mars?A.It had no water. |
B.It had no groundwater. |
C.It had a great groundwater system. |
D.It had water on the surface of the planet. |
A.In paragraph 3. | B.In paragraph 2. |
C.In paragraph 1. | D.In paragraph 4. |
A.complicated | B.brilliant | C.continuous | D.incredible |
A.Evidence of water on Mars enables us learn new things about the earth |
B.Our past knowledge about Mars was incorrect. |
C.Evidence of life could be revealed by the discovery of water on Mars. |
D.The ever existence of groundwater system on Mars was discovered. |
10 . The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas has issued a recent report in order to recommend ways to increase food donations, reduce food waste, and fight hunger, which may help Kenyan leaders meet 2030 food waste reduction goals.
Food donation can reroute eatable food — that would otherwise give off greenhouse gasses in a landfill — to those experiencing hunger. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 3.5 million Kenyans, roughly 37 percent of the population, face severe hunger. At the same time, the Policy Atlas reports roughly 40 percent of food produced within Kenya goes to waste. But Broad Leib, Deputy Director of Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), sees some promising changes. “While progress is not happening as quickly as needed, Kenya’s food loss index has been steadily reduced from 1,744 metric tons in 2017, to 1,531 in 2018, to 1,446 metric tons in 2019, indicating a steady improvement and national commitment to food loss reduction,” reports Broad Leib.
According to the Policy Atlas, motivating food donation with rewards is particularly important, which helps food donors and food recovery organizations make up for costs necessary for recovery, storing, processing, and transporting food for donation.
“A major driver of food waste is inconsistent or unclear date labels that cause confusion among all actors along the value chain and limit the ability of businesses to donate food. This increases the likelihood that much safe food will go to waste,” Broad Leib tells Food Tank. However, he acknowledges Kenya’s current dual (双的) date labeling laws. While food may lose its freshness over time, it is still edible before expiration (到期). Dual date labeling on packaged foods reduces confusion by defining dates for both safety and quality. This helps reduce considerable waste and responsibility for donors.
Broad Leib believes that the private sector can also play a significant role in decreasing food waste in Kenya. It is vital for consumer education campaigns. FLPC’s research shows that public-private initiatives can help raise awareness among consumers and donors around issues of food waste and food donation.
1. What changes does Broad Leib see?A.Kenya is not committed to reducing food loss. |
B.Progress in reducing food waste is happening quickly. |
C.People in Kenya no longer suffer hunger. |
D.Kenya has gradually reduced its food waste. |
A.Eatable. | B.Affordable. | C.Delicious. | D.Convenient. |
A.By reducing food produced within the country. |
B.By using double date labeling on packaged food. |
C.By increasing storehouses. |
D.By fighting hunger with rewards. |
A.Only the private sector is helpful in reducing food waste. |
B.Bro ad Leib doesn’t agree with FLPC on food waste reduction. |
C.Private and public joint efforts matter around food issues. |
D.Consumer education campaigns are the most important. |