1 . The debate over whether video games should be considered a sport has been ongoing for decades. While some argue that e-sports require skill, there is disagreement over whether they meet the criteria of a traditional sport. According to the dictionary, a sport is a physical activity engaged in for pleasure. While playing video games requires skill and coordination, it lacks the physicality associated with traditional sports. Strategy is also present in board games like chess or card games like solitaire, but these activities are not classified as sports. Similarly, playing a musical instrument requires practice and training, yet it is not considered a sport.

Sports require full-body movements and coordination while video games primarily involve finger and hand movements. Although it is possible to include physical movement while playing, it is not a requirement for success. Many e-sports enthusiasts sit in front of their screens, filling themselves with snacks while controlling the game. This lack of physicality not only sets video games apart from sports but can also have negative effects on health. Unlike traditional sports, which have been shown to improve well-being, excessive video gaming can lead to headaches and anger.

While e-sports and competitive gaming may be comparable to activities like chess in terms of competition, they do not possess the physical effort and health benefits associated with traditional sports. However, as the industry continues to develop, the idea of e-sports is evolving. Studies have highlighted the demanding motor skills and reaction times required in e-sports. Professor Ingo Frobose conducted a study that demonstrated the impressive motor skills of e-sports “athletes”, with up to 400 movements per minute on the keyboard and mouse. The strategic aspect of e-sports, including team planning and analysis, is also often ignored. Games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Honor of Kings have attracted large audiences and showed the strategic skills of players.

While some argue against the classification of e-sports as real sports, evidence suggests that they possess unique skills and abilities. As the industry grows, the understanding and recognition of e-sports as a reasonable competitive activity are gradually changing.

1. Why do some people think of video games not as a sport?

A．They lack total physical activity.	B．They merely highlight cooperation.
C．They have little effects on health.	D．They require no strategy or training.

2. What is a common behavior of e-sports enthusiasts while playing?

A．Suffering from bodily pain.

B．Performing physical exercises.

C．Snacking and playing at the same time.

D．Experiencing positive effects on well-being.

3. Which supports the argument for e-sports as a reasonable competitive activity?

A．The benefits on health brought by video gaming.

B．The comparison of e-sports to chess and card games.

C．The strategic aspect and motor skills involved in e-sports.

D．The physical labor and health benefits of playing e-sports.

4. In which section of a newspaper can this text most probably be found?

A．Health.	B．Entertainment.
C．Education.	D．Science.

2 . Paul Durietz is a 76-year-old social studies teacher from Illinois. On September 1, he set a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest teaching career. Mr. Durietz has been teaching for 53 years—since he was 23 years old.

Mr. Durietz has known since he was young that he wanted to be a social studies teacher. Social studies is the study of history, and how people, countries, and cultures are connected. He became interested in history after hearing stories from his father, who fought in World War Ⅱ.

In 1970 Mr. Durietz got his first teaching job at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. Ever since then, he’s been teaching social studies at the same school. He says he loves sharing his knowledge of history with students. “Teaching is never boring,” he says. “Every day is different.”

Things have changed a lot since he began all those years ago. When he started, the only way to make copies was with a “ditto machine”, which used a purple ink. Mr. Durietz wrote on a blackboard with chalk, and the students used paper textbooks. These days, he and the students use computers and digital whiteboards.

With or without technology, Mr. Durietz has used creative activities to help his students learn. For example, he has organized virtual field trips, geography contests, and special days about the US Civil War. He has even organized fake elections at school to help his students learn about politics. He says these activities are the ones that he and his students enjoyed most.

Mr. Durietz isn’t really trying to set a record. He is just doing what he loved. Mr. Durietz has no plans to retire any time soon. Mr. Durietz says people who want to be teachers should make sure they are patient with their students. He also encourages them to choose subjects they care deeply about. “Keep working on what you love to do in life,” he says.

1. What inspired Mr. Durietz to be a social studies teacher as a boy?

A．His love of history.	B．His dream to set a record.
C．His father’s encouragement.	D．His responsibility to help others.

2. What does paragraph 4 mainly focus on?

A．Mr. Durietz’s teaching features.	B．The life in an eventful world.
C．Changes in Mr. Durietz’s teaching career.	D．The invention of teaching devices.

3. How are Mr. Durietz’s lessons?

A．Informal and flexible.	B．Interesting and effective.
C．Demanding and serious.	D．Surprising and unimaginable.

4. Which is probably Mr. Durietz’s advice to students?

A．Pursue your dream for a lifetime.	B．Discipline yourself all the time.
C．Broaden your eyesight by reading.	D．Set ambitious goals when young.

3 . Like working out or eating healthily, being happy is something you have to work on.     1    The good news is that a growing body of research shows there are simple things you can do to help you learn how to be happy at work, and they don’t require huge changes.

    2     It affects how you feel at work for the rest of the day. In one study, researchers analyzed the moods and performance of customer service representatives. Those who were in a good mood in the morning were more productive during the day and reported having more positive interactions with customers.     3     You can take a few minutes to enjoy your morning coffee and you can get some fresh air.

One of the hardest aspects of your job is perhaps making dozens of decisions daily, often with little or incomplete information. So how can you make fewer decisions? Put some parts of your day on autopilot. For example, have the same thing for lunch or breakfast for a week. Then you can change it up the following work.     4     Steve Jobs said that he wore the same clothes daily so that he wouldn’t have to spend energy deciding what to wear.

Helping others makes you happier. Helping your co-workers seems to create a virtuous cycle. Another study says happier workers are 33% more likely to help their colleagues than those who aren’t happy.     5     Grab your colleague’s favorite drink when you get your coffee. Ask if they need help on a project. Offer to do something simple, like type up notes after a meeting.

A．It’s a skill that takes practice.

B．How you feel in the morning really matters a lot.

C．You don’t have to do anything huge or heroic to help.

D．You’ve just removed a bunch of decisions from your day.

E．You can write down three small things you will get done.

F．So do something in the morning that makes you feel good.

G．One simple way to do this is to put a reminder on your calendar.

4 . No doubt one of China’s greatest resources is its diverse cuisine. One of the most popular foods to be found is no doubt the street snacks that make up a large part of everyday life. “Compared with A Bite of China, which showcases chefs’ cooking processes and demonstrates delicious cuisine on air, Chinese Barbecue is more down-to-earth in depicting the people,” commented a viewer.

The new documentary series, called Chinese Barbecue, tells the story of this popular food option that sizzles (咝咝作响) over hot coals on just about every street corner in cities and towns across the country. Barbecued meat shining over hot coal containers, while not as elegant as some of the fine dining options in China, is an essential part of people’s night life. The pleasant smell and atmosphere surrounding the grilled (烤的) street food is “something that could entice people to fly downstairs at night,” the documentary claims.

In many Chinese eyes, barbecue, regarded as the most ordinary and common night street snack, is different from homemade food by mothers which is a symbol of kinship (亲切感). Barbecue is where you become connected to people in society. And unlike official business lunches, during which people are rather reserved and polite, barbecue lets people cut loose and relax with old friends and newly made friends, leaving a lasting impression of friendship.

On the other side of the world, in the United States, BBQ, well received by all ages, demonstrates the even more enthusiastic personality of Americans, who grill large steaks on their outdoor stoves at home and enjoy competing to see who has the better cooking skills. It’s safe to say that the world, as a whole, holds deep-rooted good feelings toward barbecue, either for the taste or the warmth generated by fire.

1. Where is the text probably be taken from?

A．Life and health.	B．Food and culture.
C．Art and culture.	D．Sports and health.

2. What does the underlined word “entice” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Attract.

B．Influence.

C．Prevent.

D．Enrich.

3. What makes barbecue different from other food in Chinese’s view?

A．It’s rich in favors.

B．It is served with delicate dishes.

C．It helps keep people connected.

D．It requires a more reserved and polite atmosphere.

4. The last paragraph talks about __________.

A．BBQ is favored by Americans

B．the bond between Chinese and Westerners

C．the lifestyle of people in the United States

D．the difference between Chinese BBQ and American BBQ

5 . Summer Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Mini View Volunteer

Program Dates: June 14—July 6

Location: Valley View Kindergarten

Information: Help to assist with the supervision(监管) of children in a social occasion.

Summer Adventure Playground Program Volunteer

Program Dates: June 14—July 12

Location(s): Kelly, Poplar Bridge. Running, Smith. Sunrise and Westwood parks

Information: Help facilitate opportunities to play (in grades 2—6) in games, arts and crafts, and make new friendships.

Camp Kota Junior Counselor

Program Dates: June 14—July 9

Location: East Bush Lake

Information: Help campers (in grades 4—6) learn basic outdoor skills while meeting new friends, singing crazy songs and having tons of fun.

The View Volunteer

Program Dates: June 14—July 8

Location: Valley View Elementary School

Information: Help to assist with supervision of 2nd—5th graders in a social recreational setting.

To apply, fill out a Parks and Recreation 2024 Summer Teen Volunteer Application. Please be sure to answer all questions and indicate all program(s) of interest. Applicants will be contacted via email with next steps after May 20, 2024. Contact us by phone (952-563-8877) or e-mail at parksiec@BloomingtonMN.gov for more information.

1. How long does Mini View Volunteer last?

A．23 days.

B．24 days.

C．25 days.

D．28 days.

2. Which program helps campers learn basic outdoor activities?

A．The View Volunteer.

B．Mini View Volunteer.

C．Camp Kota Junior Counselor.

D．Summer Adventure Playground Program Volunteer.

3. How to get further information about the programs?

A．By answering questions online.	B．By making phone calls.
C．By filling out an application form.	D．By sending emails before May 20.

7 . I am a product of mixed cultures (dad is Arab, mom is American), and I have grown up with cultural differences all my life. This has made me very conscious of watching what people do in different cultures around the world. Cross cultural understanding is really necessary if you want to get along with people from other places.

It is very common, and not considered rude to ask a person’s age in Japan when you meet them for the first time. The Japanese language is a rich and complex language that has different words to use depending on the age or the person you are talking to. Therefore, it’s important for people to know your age range so as not to offend (冒犯) you by showing you less respect than you are due.

Hand gestures and signals are always better to use only in your home country where you understand what they mean. In Turkey, for example, allowing your thumb to protrude between your second and third finger in a fist is extremely rude. Also, don’t make an “OK” gesture, unless you mean to call someone a fool.

Don’t touch anyone’s head in Malaysia, especially babies. Pointing is also considered rude in Malaysia, where directions are normally given with an open hand.

Giving gifts in China can get you into trouble. Certain gifts in China can cause great offence, such as giving cut flowers, which is only done at funerals. Giving a clock is seen as bad luck since the words “giving a clock” sound just like the words “attending a funeral”. A gift of shoes would be interpreted as giving a gift of evil. Nothing is expected to be associated with the word “four” because it sounds like the word “death”.

1. Why do Japanese like to ask others’ ages?

A．To avoid being offensive.	B．To satisfy their curiosity.
C．To show their concerns.	D．To get further communication.

2. What does “pointing” mean in Malaysia?

A．An agreement.

B．A request.

C．Some help.

D．Rudeness.

3. What should you avoid doing in China according to the text?
a. Sending cut flowers to others. b. Buying a clock for your friend.
c. Giving a pair of shoes to others. d. Make an “OK” gesture.

A．a, b, c.

B．a, c, d.

C．a, b, d.

D．a, b, c, d.

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for this text?

A．Communication Makes A Difference

B．Cultural Communication in Western Countries

C．Cultural Differences Around the World

D．How to Deal With Culture Shock

8 . Joseph Frederick Engelberger, the Father of Robotics, was born on July 26, 1925. He received his degree in Electric Engineering in 1949 from Columbia University. He worked as an engineer in a company and then he met George Devol at a party in 1956, two years after Devol had designed and patented (获得专利权) an industrial robotic arm. However, the company where Engelberger worked was closed in the year he met Devol.

Finding himself jobless but with a business partner and an idea, Engelberger co-founded Unimation with Devol, creating the world’s first robotics company. Over the next two decades, the Japanese took the lead by investing (投资) heavily in robots to replace people performing certain tasks. In Japan, Engelberger was widely recognized as a key player in Japanese manufacturing quality and efficiency.

After observing his aging parents, Engelberger saw the robotics automation could be used in the medical field. In 1984, Engelberger introduced HelpMate and hoped to start a new industry for in-home robots. He sold his first HelpMate to Danbury Hospital in 1988. The medical robot was so successful that the hospital ended up purchasing another, and within a decade, well over 100 hospitals worldwide operated HelpMates.

Senator Joseph Lieberman delivered a speech in the U. S. Senate in praise and recognition of the inventor, calling HelpMate an example that shows the federal investment in science and technology for patients can lead to new products that create jobs for Americans and make for a better quality of life.

Engelberger liked working. So even after he got into his 80s, he remained active in the promotion and development of robots for use in elder care.

1. What can be learned about Engelberger?

A．He lost his job in 1956.

B．He invented a robotic arm in 1958.

C．He got his college degree in 1925.

D．His company had been shut down before he met Devol.

2. Why did Engelberger invent HelpMate?

A．To satisfy the need of hospitals.

B．To better help his parents out.

C．To start a new industry for in-home robots.

D．To take the place of people in medical field.

3. How did Lieberman like HelpMate?

A．Uncaring.

B．Disagreeable.

C．Approval.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Engelberger?

A．Sincere and kind.	B．Persistent and innovative.
C．Ambitious and selfless.	D．Inspiring and peace-loving.

9 . Depending on your view, the recorder is an instrument of “incredible functions” or a tool of annoyance that has bothered primary schools for too many generations. But now, it faces extinction, with one of the UK’s top music schools reporting an 80% decline in the number of young people playing it in the last 10 years.

The instrument’s future is so imperiled that the European Recorder Teachers Association is trying to bring it back to life again so it does not leave the stage. The ERTA argues that if the recorder was good enough for the Beatles, it has a place in modern music today.

Tom Redmond, the principal of Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, said only three of its pupils practised the recorder, compared with 15 a decade ago. “More pupils were taking up the piano or other instruments,” said Redmond. “The ones that became really popular are the ones students spend more time playing alone. With the instruments being more socially based, there has been a decline, just like the recorder.”

Redmond also said that this problem extended “beyond the recorder itself” and was a mirror of the future of music. “Like removing any plant or animal from an ecosystem, removing the recorder has a huge chain effect beyond just the instrument. You need these instruments to create the inspiration for music, and without that, there is less excitement to learn music,” he said.

Chris Orton, a recorder tutor and chair of the ERTA, is leading the fight against the instrument’s extinction. He said, “The recorder is increasingly overlooked by students, and yet it has a rich history and incredible attractions. As well as making beautiful sounds, it’s an accessible instrument in that it is low-cost compared to other woodwind instruments, and it’s light and easy to carry.”

1. What does the underlined word “imperiled” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．In danger.

B．Full of hope.

C．Out of memory.

D．Beyond recognition.

2. What may result in a decrease of playing the recorder according to paragraph 3?

A．Students are less excited to learn it.

B．Its disadvantages outweigh its advantages.

C．It requires more cooperation with other instruments.

D．Students are more likely to play high-end instruments.

3. What can we infer from Redmond’s words?

A．Music education is essential for students.

B．The recorder shapes the future of music.

C．The recorder plays an important role in music.

D．Nature is a rich source of inspiration for musicians.

4. What does Orton think of the recorder?

A．It needs to be improved.	B．It is inconvenient to play.
C．It is a priority for students.	D．It deserves more attention.