1 . How to Apply China Visa (签证)

How to apply China visa is the most concerned question for international tourists who plan to travel to China. Here you will find the useful information about China visa requirements and instructions.

China Visa Requirements

▶The valid (有效的) passport

Original passport valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages, and a photocopy of data page (with your photo on it)

▶China visa application form and photo

The applicants must fill in a complete visa application form and attach it with a recent-taken colour passport photo.

So what is the requirement of the photo? The photo you submit must be passport-type (bare-head, full face) and standard with the correct dimension and background colour.

▶Effective proof of legal stay or resident status (it applies to those who do not apply for China visa in their countries of citizenship).

Supporting Application Documents

For C-Visa, a letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant authority from China side shall be provided.

For D-Visa, the original and a photocopy of foreign permanent residence identification form issued by China’s Ministry of Public Security shall be provided.

For F-Visa, an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from China side shall be provided.

For G-Visa, an onward air (train, bus, ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the third country or region shall be provided.

For L-Visa, the tour itinerary (行程) and documents with round trip flight tickets and accommodation reservations, or an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from Chinese side shall be provided.

For M-Visa, documents of business activity, trade fair invitation letter or other invitation letter issued by trade partners in China shall be provided.

Further reading: click the link China visa knowledge and types.

1. In what situation do people have to prove the legal stay for the application?

A．Not being in his country of nationality.

B．Without documents of business activity.

C．Without photos that match the requirements.

D．Not being invited by trade partners in China.

2. Which visas need the trip ticket?

A．C-Visa and M-Visa.	B．L-Visa and D-Visa.
C．G-Visa and L-Visa.	D．F-Visa and M-Visa.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A hotel poster.	D．A web page.

2 . Advances in AI and machine learning have sparked interest from governments that would like to use these tools for patrolling (巡查) purposefully before hand to prevent crime. However, early efforts at crime prediction have been controversial, because they do not allow for systematic biases (偏见) in police enforcement and its complex relationship with crime and society.

University of Chicago (UC) data and social scientists have developed a new algorithm (算法) that forecasts crime by learning patterns in time and geographic locations from public data on violent and property crimes. It has demonstrated success at predicting future crimes one week in advance with approximately 90% accuracy.

The new tool was tested and validated using historical data from the City of Chicago around two broad categories of reported events: violent crimes and property crimes.

The new model isolates crime by looking at the time and spatial coordinates (坐标) of separate events and detecting patterns to predict future events. It divides the city into spatial sections roughly 1,000 feet across and predicts crime within these areas instead of relying on traditional neighborhood or political boundaries, which are also subject to bias. The model performed just as well with data from seven other US cities.

Ishanu Chattopadhyay, senior author of the study, is careful to note that the tool’s accuracy does not mean that it should be used to direct law enforcement, with police departments using it to flock to neighborhoods ahead of time to stop crime. Instead, it should be added to a toolbox of urban policies and policing strategies to address crime.

“We created a digital twin of urban environments. If you feed it data from what happened in the past, it will tell you what’s going to happen in future. It’s not magical; there are limitations, but we tested it and it works well,” Chattopadhyay said. “Now you can use this as a model tool to see what happens if crime goes up in one area, or there is increased enforcement in another area. If you apply all these different data, you can see how the system evolves in response.”

1. What information would data and social scientists in UC collect?

A．Periods of traffic jams.	B．Items of lost and found.
C．Thefts and robberies on the street.	D．Casualty (伤亡) in traffic accidents.

2. What does the underlined word “validated” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Confirmed.

B．Modified.

C．Classified.

D．Abandoned.

3. What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The advantages and disadvantages of this new tool.

B．The principles and good performances of this new tool.

C．Positive feedback from some other experts in this field.

D．The hard process of Chattopadhyay’s developing this tool.

4. What can we know from Chattopadhyay’s opinion on the tool’s use?

A．He does not think it’s accurate enough to put into use.

B．The limitations are to be removed for a better performance.

C．The police department can wholly rely on it to prevent criminals.

D．It can be of help when the authority make policies concerning crimes.

3 . It is quite true that nowadays more and more people have come to realize the importance of health. On the other hand, being healthier can be a huge challenge, especially if you don’t have the time or the energy.     1    That is because there are small changes you can make to your life where you can improve your health and still be lazy. Just start with eating well.

Eat your meals with your non-dominant hand.

Which is your non-dominant hand? For example, if you’re a right-hander, then your left hand is. Usually fork in your left hand, right? OK!     2     You’ll eat more slowly and probably consume less food.

Add in healthy food.

You can buy those Milano cookies, but also make an effort to buy frozen fruits for smoothies (奶昔) and snap pea crisps to snack on, too.     3    

Drink a glass of water before every meal.

Water will fill you up a little bit, so you won’t be hungry as a wolf at meal. Make it a habit to keep a water bottle nearby at all times, whether you’re in your house or on the go. That we should drink at least 8 cups of water every day makes sense.

Drink coffee.

Right!    4    More importantly, people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day are less likely to show early symptoms of heart disease. Don’t skip out of your morning cup of coffee or that afternoon pick-me-up.

    5    

People who eat on smaller plates end up eating less food. Buy a few inexpensive smaller plates and bowls if yours are large. You’ll think you’ve eaten more than you have.

Besides, just stretching your legs after meals every day will help a lot more.

A．Eat on smaller plates.

B．Never a coach potato!

C．A lucky dog you are now.

D．Caffeine truly refreshes you.

E．Stop eating when you feel full, never overeat.

F．Try using your right hand as your fork hand, rather than your left one.

G．Over time, fewer cookies and more healthy snacks you will have on hand.

4 . Solar power is one of the fastest growing sources of renewable power globally these years. Solar photothermal (光热) and solar photovoltaic (PV光伏)are both technical forms.

The thermal power station adopts the generation mode of “light--heat--electricity”. Thousands of heliostats (定日镜) reflect the sunlight to the surface of the heat absorber on the top of the solar tower. The concentrated sunlight is then used either directly as a source of heat, as in solar water heating, or to drive a heat cycle such as a Sterling Engine. PVs use semi-conductor technology to directly convert sunlight into electricity. The PV line is connected to the direct current (DC) distribution cabinet in parallel through the DC combiner box. After confluence (汇合), it is connected to the DC input end of the inverter to convert DC into alternating current (AC). The AC output end of the inverter is connected to the AC distribution cabinet and directly connected to the user side through the AC distribution cabinet.

Additionally, since solar thermal directly produces heat, it can store thermal energy into various media. Therefore, solar thermal can potentially generate power 24 hours a day. On the other hand, PVs only operate when the sun is shining, and must be coupled either with other power generation mechanisms to ensure a constant supply of electricity.

The scale of PV power generation can be large or small, ranging from thousands of watts to hundreds of megawatts, but photothermal power generation is typical economies of scale. With the increase of scale, the lower the power generation cost.

PV power generation is less limited by region, for the sun shines on the earth. Compared with other sources of renewable power, the PV system is safe and reliable as well as eco-friendly. Since it can be convenient for local power generation and power supply, you do not worry about consuming fuel or erecting transmission lines. A small PV power can be constructed in a short period with no noise or low pollution.

1. How does the author develop the text?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making assumptions.	D．By analyzing statistics.

2. What’s the last stop before the PV line is connected to the user side?

A．The DC distribution cabinet.	B．The DC input end of the inverter.
C．The AC distribution cabinet.	D．The AC output end of the inverter.

3. What aspect does the last paragraph focus on PV power generation?

A．Its popularity.

B．Its efficiency.

C．Its cost.

D．Its advantages.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Solar Thermal vs. Solar Photovoltaic

B．Some facts about Solar Photovoltaic

C．The development of solar power generation

D．The wide use and promising future of solar power

5 . Self drive Ireland tours are ideal for people who enjoy the freedom to go at their own pace and make their own plans. Go Irish Tours specializes in short Ireland self drive tours ranging from 5 to 8 days long-perfect for a mid-year getaway or a romantic honeymoon.

Short Break Away (5 nights). It takes you from Dublin through Cork, Kerry and the Midlands, providing a perfect taste of Irish culture and history. Drive around Ireland in style, guiding yourself through sprawling cityscapes and rolling green hills alike. Just start with Phoenix Park.

Romantic Love Tour (6 nights). This idyllic driving tour is short but sweet, perfect for newlyweds with a passion for adventure. You’ll fall in love with Ireland over the course of six nights, cosying up in castles and driving through the most romantic scenery on Earth. This tour is the perfect way to treat yourselves after the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding.

Haunted Ireland Tour (7 nights). This ghosty self drive tour is bursting with Irish culture, mythology and legend. Explore haunted castles and twisted woods, learning of our fantastic folklore (民俗学) and its origins. This tour is a truly unique way to explore Ireland on your own. Leep Castle is one you can’t miss.

Southern Loop Tour (8 nights). This is a fantastic introductory trip to Éire. This week-long escape draws a ring from Dublin through the south half of the island and back again, stopping in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and the Midlands. Enjoy getting to grips with Ireland’s roads as you explore hills, valleys, mountains and villages behind the wheel of your personal rented car. This self-driving tour of Ireland will leave you dying to visit again!

1. What does Go Irish Tours possibly do?

A．A local expert travel agent.	B．A local government branch.
C．An international trade company.	D．A popular travel magazine.

2. Which tour is best suitable for you and your bride?

A．Short Break Away.	B．Romantic Love Tour.
C．Southern Loop Tour.	D．Haunted Ireland Tour.

3. Which probable event will you join in if you are on the Southern Loop Tour?

A．Go on a bike tour of the Phoenix Park.

B．Buy your bride one classic ladies gold ring.

C．Brave enough to visit the notorious Leep Castle alone.

D．Experience different road conditions when driving around.

6 . Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 创伤后应激障碍) is a mental disorder that develops among people who have experienced or observed traumatic things such as wars, disasters or other violent events. At the heart of PTSD is a memory that cannot be controlled. It can affect the everyday lives of its sufferers in forms such as flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety.

A new study done by researchers from Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City suggests that patients with PTSD process their traumatic memories differently than regular memories.

The researchers did brain scans of 28 PTSD patients. I hey asked the patients to listen to recorded narrations of their own memories. Some of the recorded memories were neutral, some were simply “sad”, and some were traumatic.

They found that when the patients listened to the sad memories, the hippocampus (海马体), which is responsible for forming memories, was activatea. But when they listened to the traumatic memories, a different area, called the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC. 后扣带回皮质), was engaged. The PCC is not a memory region. Instead, it regulates internal experiences, such as daydreaming.

The more severe PTSD symptoms are, the more active the PCC is. “The brain doesn’t look like it’s in a state of memory; it looks like it is a state of present experience.” Daniela Schiller, one of the authors of the study, told The New York Times. “That means people with PTSD feel as though they’re experiencing the traumatic event again in the present moment, rather than thinking back on it like atypical memory.”

The new finding might hold hope for new PTSD therapies (治疗). Future therapies are expected to focus on helping PTSD patients return their traumatic memories to the hippocampus so that they can treat them as regular and non-disruptive (非破坏性的) memories. Changing the ways of thinking could help the brain reduce the feeling of immediate threat caused by trauma, according to Ilan HarRaz-Rotem, one of the paper’s authors.

1. What is the core issue regarding PTSD according to the text?

A．An uncontrollable memory.	B．Brain damage.
C．Anxiety disorders.	D．Nightmares.

2. What happened when PTSD patients listened to their traumatic memories, according to the study?

A．Their hippocampus was closed.

B．Their internal experiences were blocked.

C．Their PCC area became active.

D．Their regular memory function improved.

3. According to Schiller when individuals with severe PTSD listen to traumatic memories, their brains will be in a state of ________.

A．memory recall	B．daydreaming
C．current experience	D．boredom

4. What could be a possible future therapy for PTSD patients based on the study’s findings?

A．Controlling the hippocampus.

B．Removing the feeling of threat.

C．Normalizing their traumatic memories.

D．Changing their brain structure.

7 . When you have to cancel your Thanksgiving plans due to the spread of the COVID-19, you may find yourself craving companionship as much as that pumpkin pie. That’s because parts of the brain respond to loneliness much like they react to hunger, according to a study in Nature Neuroscience.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scanned the brains of 40 healthy, social young adults after 10 hours of either fasting (禁食) or social isolation (隔离). They found that after being alone, participants’ neurological responses to social signals were similar to hungry people reacting to food — that is, certain areas of the brain linked to desire were turned on to start working.

For an isolated person, a picture of people laughing together caused the same areas of the brain to light up as when a hungry person looked at a big plate of pasta.

“Just like hunger is an unpleasant sensation that motivates us to seek out food and thirst motivates us to seek out water, loneliness is a biological need that motivates us to reconnect to others,” Holt-Lunstad told Insider.

Researchers were surprised to find that people who were prevented from socializing became much more focused on that need, and less reactive to hunger. As their loneliness increased, they became less responsive to images of food.

These latest findings suggest that the relationship between food and loneliness might be more complicated than we thought, despite the popular opinion of stress-eating to cope with social isolation. More research is needed to understand the complex ways people deal with loneliness.

Studies like this can help scientists understand how the brain processes loneliness, and possibly reduce the negative consequences. However, although loneliness may be similar to hunger, fixing it isn’t as easy as serving someone a hearty dinner because people are unique and they need varying levels of social interactions to meet their needs.

1. The underlined word “craving” in the first paragraph can be replaced by          .

A．avoiding

B．desiring

C．preferring

D．ignoring

2. Researchers scanned the brains of the young adults                        .

A．to find their brain responses to both loneliness and hunger

B．to provide explanations for their feeling lonely and hungry

C．to find how loneliness can have a negative impact on health

D．after they have been hungry and socially isolated for 10 hours

3. What conclusion can be drawn from what Holt-Lunstad said in Paragraph 4?

A．Hunger is an unpleasant sensation.

B．Hunger and thirst motivate us to feed ourselves.

C．Socializing is supposed to be basic human need as it is.

D．The effects of loneliness on health are comparable to other factors.

4. What does the last paragraph imply?

A．Loneliness may be fixed just as hunger is satisfied.

B．Situations of loneliness are complicated and hard to cope with.

C．Scientists have understood how the brain processes loneliness.

D．Loneliness is such a common and serious problem that we all have to suffer.

8 . You probably consider calorie (卡路里) burning with training. You can get great calorie burning effects with the following exercises.

Running

Running is one of the best calorie burners out there. An average person can burn anywhere from 500 to 1,000 calories in one hour of running. Speed and pace are all factors that can affect calorie burning. But running uses every muscle group in the body, allowing you to burn more calories.

High Intensity Interval (高强度间歇运动) Training (HIIT)

If you want intensity, HIIT is right for you. This physical exercise involves working hard in intervals, then resting. Because your heart rate will stay at a high level, you’ll burn more calories in less time. On average, a person will burn 400 to 600 calories in 30 minutes.

Jumping rope

This childhood activity can actually do wonders for your health. Jumping rope is great for strengthening the lower and upper body while training your balance and coordination (协调能力), because your mind has to work while you jump. Jumping rope can burn 600 to 1,000 calories in an hour.

Swimming

Swimming is a low-intensity form of exercise that also uses muscle groups of your body. In just 30 minutes of swimming, an average person can burn 200 to 300 calories. Swimming also helps to shape body, control blood pressure, and increase strength—all great reasons for you to jump into the water.

1. Which kind of exercise burns the most calories in an hour?

A．Running.	B．Swimming.
C．Jumping rope.	D．High Intensity Interval Training.

2. Who may also be interested in the third exercise?

A．Those who want to train their mind.	B．Those who want to have good balance.
C．Those who want to control blood pressure.	D．Those who want to do low-intensity activities.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To encourage people to compete in sports.	B．To teach people how to do exercise.
C．To provide ways to burn calories.	D．To promote a healthy lifestyle.

9 . In an increasingly globalized business world, companies demand Human Resources (HR) leaders who can overcome cultural barriers to achieve key goals. This year, students in the Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MHRIR) Program will get hands-on experience leading multicultural teams as they work together with peers (同辈) from all corners of the globe.

“Our students get firsthand experience on global teams, which helps them understand the challenges and the opportunities they will face in the business world,” said MHRIR Program Director Stacy Hove.

Elishka Correa joined the program to explore how HR leaders can help businesses grow quickly in the global marketplace. “Companies appreciate diversity — not only in terms of products and markets, but the people they hire — so that they can expand their business and reach customers in different parts of the world,” she said. “When I go into an organization, I’m not only going to work with Indians or Americans, it’s going to be a mix of people. That trend is beginning to grow, so I think it’s very important to appreciate people from different backgrounds.”

As they progress through the program, the students are discovering unexpected challenges as they work on projects in diverse teams. Each contributor brings a different approach to solving problems, communicating, and challenging one another’s opinions.

Devin Roll, a student from North Dakota, appreciating the unique views his classmates share, said, “The benefits of having cross-cultural experiences go far beyond the classroom. Diverse teams and companies outperform their competitors, and HR leaders act as a vital partner in acquiring and maintaining diversity in the workforce.”

Many of the international students in the program said they would return to their home countries after graduation and bring along connections to their classmates, who would build careers (职业) in countries around the world. They hope to stay in touch, and share their expert knowledge.

1. What is the aim of the program?

A．To help students to set clear goals.

B．To provide jobs for foreign students.

C．To teach students to run their own business.

D．To train students to build multicultural teams.

2. Which statement about cultural diversity does Elishka Correa probably agree with?

A．It prevents social advance.	B．It makes it easy to hire people.
C．It can help business growth.	D．It can put an end to the conflict.

3. What does Devin Roll think of the effect of the program?

A．It is predictable.

B．It is short-lived.

C．It is unidentifiable.

D．It is far-reaching.

4. What do many students expect to do after graduation according to the text?

A．Work for the university.	B．Keep closely connected.
C．Stay in their home countries.	D．Reform teaching methods.

10 . Cultural heritage sites are a nonrenewable resource. Today architectural heritage sites are being destroyed at an alarming rate. They’re threatened by rising seas, pollution, overtourism, conflicts and so on. Recently, Notre Dame Cathedral has attracted international attention.

Since its main construction from 1163 to 1350, Notre Dame Cathedral repeatedly has been damaged and repaired. On April 15, 2019, the landmark’s roof caught fire, causing the collapse of its spire (尖顶) and upper walls severely damaged. Work on the site began quickly. Through the work of photographer Tomas van Houtryve, writer Robert Kunzig, and artist Fernando Baptista, people will see restoring scenes where ruins are cleared and statues saved. Even the COVID-19 pandemic caused only a two-month delay. Architects have said the expensive project is on track to be completed in 2024.

And thorny questions arise. What duty do we owe the creations of our ancestors? What lesson can we draw from their presence?

Humankind has answered that differently. In Dresden, Germany, the Frauenkirche, an 18th-century baroque church, was famous for its bell-shaped dome (穹顶). In February 1945, one of the most destructive bombing attacks of World War II reduced the city to ruins. After German reunion, the church was reconstructed using many of its original stones, as a symbol of peace and harmony. Berlin’s Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church also fell to bombing but had a different story. Its spire has been left a ruin on purpose to be a “warning monument” against war and destruction.

Like the Frauenkirche, Notre Dame is being rebuilt as close as possible to how it was before, including using the original, toxic metal — lead (铅) — for the roof, causing the debate about how to restore and maintain historic buildings. Actually, no one claims to have the “right” answers on preservation; there may not even be right answers. What people could do is to continuously monitor the global care of cultural heritage sites, as a matter of significance to humanity’s past, present, and future.

1. What do we know about Notre Dame Cathedral?

A．It was once threatened by conflicts.

B．It collapsed totally during a fire decade ago.

C．It has undergone repeated repairs since 1163.

D．It was not influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. What does the underlined word “thorny” mean?

A．Simple.

B．Tough.

C．Accurate.

D．Attractive.

3. Why are the Frauenkirche and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church mentioned in para.4?

A．To remind people the value of peace and harmony.

B．To warn people the influence of war and destruction.

C．To demonstrate different solutions to heritage site preservation.

D．To introduce reconstruction methods such as using original materials.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Cultural heritage sites are nonrenewable so that they are worth protecting.

B．Notre Dame Cathedral has been the most attractive heritage site globally.

C．The reconstruction of cultural heritage sites seldom causes disagreements.

D．The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral after fire has been completed.