1 . Here are some pet-friendly universities in the UK and US.

University of Illinois

Students are allowed up to two pets in each apartment, as well as a fish tank of no more than 50 gallons.

To keep a pet, you will need to get approval from the Family & Graduate housing department at the University of Illinois. You will have to provide proof that your pet is up to date with its vaccinations(疫苗), and pay a monthly US$30 pet fee, which is non-refundable(不可退款的).

Your pet can’t be left for extended periods of time, and if there’s evidence that you’ve left it alone due to vacation or illness, the university may remove it.

Harvard University

With as many as 12 pet-friendly apartments, Harvard is a very pet-friendly university. It allows students to have fish in a tank of no more than 50 gallons, except for Harvard’s Cronkhite Graduate Center.

In Harvard’s pet-friendly apartments, you’re allowed: one cat or one dog, which can’t be over 40 pounds when fully grown. At most, two pet birds.

University of British Columbia Students can take advantage of the university’s B. A. R. K program, which uses the calming power of therapy dogs to help them.

B. A. R. K started at the University of British Columbia, after an assistant professor called Dr. John-Tyler Binfet noticed that he couldn’t walk across campus without students running over to play with his dog, Frances. The students told him they were homesick and missed their pets, which encouraged Binfet to establish B. A. R. K as a way of fighting their loneliness.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is famous for its resident pets, who happily wander around college grounds. Many Oxford colleges have their own tortoise and take part in the annual Corpus Christi tortoise race.

Although you are not allowed to keep your own pet as a student, several Oxford colleges hold dog petting and walking therapy sessions.

1. What is one of the rules for keeping pets at the University of Illinois?

A．Pet keepers should pay a monthly US$ 30 pet fee which will be returned.

B．Pets can’t be left alone in the apartments due to vacation or illness.

C．Students have to keep fish in a fish tank of no more than 20 gallons.

D．The cat or dog can’t be over 40 pounds when fully grown.

2. Why did Dr. John-Tyler Binfet start B. A. R. K?

A．To help students to fight against homesickness.

B．To do research on dogs and train them to be pets.

C．To help more professors to do exercise on campus.

D．To give assistance to the pet dogs by offering them foods.

3. Which university doesn’t allow students to keep pets?

A．Harvard University.

B．University of Oxford.

C．University of Illinois.

D．University of British Columbia.

2 . Sluhan, a preschool art teacher, will help her students debut (首次亮相) their artworks in her final art show with the school.

The preschoolers hold a ________ each year, allowing the parents an ________ into what they have been doing in the classroom.

On Thursday, the school will be closed for Sluhan to ________ the classroom into an art gallery ________hundreds of the students’ pieces.

“Before, we would just put pictures up in classrooms or ________ them to the walls,” director Seely said. “Now, the school will be ________ changed. You won’t even know it’s a ________.”

It is important to Sluhan for the children to ________ several different methods of art. The preschoolers ________with different materials and colors to learn what they like and also to ________ art.

Seely says there has been an increase in the students’ ________   in art since Sluhan joined the preschool six years ago. Many of the young students have started to list “________” when asked what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids receive one hour of art each week from Sluhan and she tries to ________ each hour with enriching material to create a base for their ________. The lessons help the children become more appreciative of art. They are better able to ________ that art is not one particular thing.

The art show is a(n) ________ way for parents to understand what their kids have learned. It’s also a way for the kids to ________.

For the past six years, Sluhan has put in a lot of work to create the art program and the art show as they are now. With her ________ to care for a family member, the school has found a new art teacher, who will ________ with the art shows and the curriculum Sluhan has ________.

1.

A．competition

B．display

C．broadcast

D．mission

2.

A．exposure

B．access

C．insight

D．entrance

3.

A．change

B．join

C．introduce

D．link

4.

A．featuring

B．qualifying

C．justifying

D．examining

5.

A．launch

B．devote

C．compare

D．tape

6.

A．gradually

B．completely

C．independently

D．typically

7.

A．gallery

B．museum

C．wall

D．preschool

8.

A．respect

B．predict

C．explore

D．sense

9.

A．experiment

B．charge

C．communicate

D．agree

10.

A．affect

B．obtain

C．appreciate

D．select

11.

A．talent

B．potential

C．faith

D．interest

12.

A．teacher

B．artist

C．lawyer

D．scientist

13.

A．fill

B．kill

C．spare

D．supply

14.

A．energy

B．education

C．defence

D．argument

15.

A．admit

B．achieve

C．declare

D．recognize

16.

A．expensive

B．emotional

C．easy

D．traditional

17.

A．show up

B．show off

C．put up

D．put off

18.

A．exit

B．excuse

C．determination

D．order

19.

A．connect

B．combine

C．compete

D．continue

20.

A．learned

B．released

C．established

D．published

3 . As a PhD student, I went through many difficulties in my research. When I graduated, I wasn’t willing to _________so many hours away from my young children with so _________ to show for it. Instead, I accepted my love of teaching by working as a _________.

A decade later and with my kids in school, my scientific _________ came out of hibernation (冬眠) and I _________ a position at a new arts college. In my undergraduate classes, I asked my students to complete controlled experiments that were _________ guaranteed to produce reasonable data. But after a few years, I grew _________ with the gap between those _________ experiments and my own research projects.

I decided to _________ a new course that would give our students experience performing __________ experiments, ones that had the __________ to fail. Then after a solid hour of __________ and some leading questions on my part, one student finally __________, “It doesn’t make __________.” Hallelujah! One of them had stepped back from seeing what they __________ to see and described what the data __________ showed. The breakthrough helped the classmates start to look at the results with more __________ eyes. Within minutes, they were overflowing with questions and __________ about what could have gone wrong. My students were thinking like scientists.

Research is __________ and full of failed attempts. Trying to protect students from that reality does harm to them. I hope my students will bring an __________ with them that success doesn’t always come easy.

1.

A．hide

B．sacrifice

C．hold

D．knock

2.

A．little

B．much

C．deep

D．far

3.

A．volunteer

B．programmer

C．librarian

D．lecturer

4.

A．major

B．achievement

C．curiosity

D．evidence

5.

A．created

B．left

C．secured

D．shared

6.

A．hardly

B．sometimes

C．lately

D．almost

7.

A．popular

B．uncomfortable

C．satisfied

D．unconcerned

8.

A．useful

B．meaningful

C．perfect

D．impressive

9.

A．develop

B．cancel

C．follow

D．take

10.

A．difficult

B．unique

C．diverse

D．uncontrolled

11.

A．significance

B．potential

C．goal

D．sign

12.

A．decoration

B．struggle

C．description

D．improvement

13.

A．held on

B．handed over

C．spoke up

D．gave in

14.

A．room

B．sense

C．space

D．art

15.

A．expected

B．promised

C．refused

D．decided

16.

A．frequently

B．generally

C．previously

D．actually

17.

A．serious

B．innocent

C．objective

D．respectful

18.

A．jokes

B．regrets

C．memories

D．ideas

19.

A．complicated

B．logical

C．limited

D．conventional

20.

A．advantage

B．ambition

C．awareness

D．aim

4 . Ecards are becoming a popular way to send greetings to others, on major holidays, birthdays, and just whenever the mood strikes. A trend occurring in the 2000s was to send cards through email that featured animation on the card and also had music.     1     But now there’s much more range to choose from.   

Early musical ecards tended to feature songs that usually weren’t that recognizable.     2     People can find sites that offer cards featuring popular modern songs or they may pick from styles like county and western, rhythm and blues, rock, and many others.   

There are some very special musical ecards that feature different kinds of music that isn’t particularly well-known.     3     Alternately, people choosing cards could send other tunes from across the world that are inspired by regional music traditions.

Some musical ecards do cost a small amount of money to send.     4     For instance, a few companies offer orchestral music from famous orchestras and donate money of card sales to charities benefiting local music programs for kids. Other sites simply profit from selling ecards, and there are many sites that offer free musical ecards.

    5     Since the early 2000s, ecards have occasionally been used to collect personal information or spread viruses. People receiving an ecard should type in the company website instead of clicking on links, which might take the user to a fake website instead. Besides, make certain not to give out personal information like address or phone number when receiving a card.

A．You don’t have to spend a fortune to send an ecard.

B．There are some cautions regarding using ecard sites.

C．Today’s choices of accompanying music are varied.

D．Ecards have become very popular over the past few years.

E．Such music included things like traditional birthday songs.

F．For example, a musical ecard could have samples of Native American music.

G．Depending upon the company creating the card, the money might be donated.

5 . At most universities, core (核心) curriculum or general education is required, whether that is two or more courses in core academic subjects. These core academics consist of mathematics, science, history and English, which are used to provide students with a broad range of academic knowledge and aid in their individual development.

However, are these courses more beneficial or harmful to students? Based on studies from across the district there is a gap between the necessities and burdens of general education courses. According to an article by Best Value Schools, students sometimes discover a hidden passion for a field of study while taking general education courses. Although this may be true, many students consider the program as “a collection of courses without connection, consistency or meaning”. The negative concept of these courses could possibly be connected to the fact that many students don’t actually obtain these skills.

Many schools have been working to improve their core curriculum program by developing the adoption of mission, goal and outcome statements. Some University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) professors have recently been requiring students to take self-assessments and complete assignments based on how to develop critical thinking, communication and cooperation skills, as well as apply them within and outside of the classroom. It is through these channels of self discovery that students can often find their passions, which can possibly lead to choosing a major.

Typically, one-third of first-time college students change their major within the first three years. Major changes can be for a variety of reasons. It can be associated with a dissatisfaction in coursework. It can also be due to the discovery of a major which simply fits a student better. General education classes can play an important role in helping to make this discovery. Though students’ opinions vary on the importance of core curriculum, the basis of the program should be taken into consideration. At the same time, institutions should continue to work towards developing more authentic ways to provide a sense of importance and pride in the program to aid in student learning and the development of real-world skills.

1. What is the function of core curriculum?

A．Laying foundation for students’ future.

B．Developing students’ good characteristics.

C．Determining students’ major in college.

D．Releasing students’ burden of study.

2. What is the author trying to argue about general education?

A．Why it is needed in careers.	B．Whether it is really important.
C．What advantages it brings about.	D．Who will benefit most from it.

3. What do some UNCG professors ask students to do?

A．Stick to their majors.

B．Focus on core curriculum.

C．Improve academic performance.

D．Assess themselves and develop skills.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The reasons for students’ changing majors.

B．The significant part core curriculum plays.

C．The necessity of reforming core curriculum.

D．Opinions students hold to general education.

6 . Monami Ohno uses a little tool to put very small pieces of hard paper, or cardboard, on the legs of her sculpture. The Japanese artist is creating a representation of Godzilla, the huge and terrifying animal of the famous Japanese movie.

Ohno has used cardboard to create artwork for about ten years. She says she first used the material to make what she called a “bike-like thing” for a college project. The 29-year-old makes many works of art based on popular culture, like anime robots, warplanes and fast food.

Ohno recently described her first experience with cardboard art to the Reuters news agency. She used the term “folding”, or turning one part of the cardboard over or against another part. “When I first tried folding the paper, gluing and putting them together, the people around me praised me, saying things like ‘Wow, you can make this,’” she said. “That made me so happy that I have continued doing this until now.”

Ohno’s complex sculptures have since become popular, with her work appearing at public showings in Japan and overseas. Ohno does not use an exact plan when she makes her art. She expresses her ideas briefly on the cardboard first. This provides general measurements of the design. She can then cut and shape her sculpture. In a room filled with her creations, including a Lego Batman artwork, Ohno said, “I make the things I really like to decorate my house.”

Ohno’s press agent said the artist’s pieces are selling for $900 to $13,000 a piece. Ohno said she is not making an environmental statement with her art, although it is made with used cardboard only. However, she added, “It would be nice if people can see my work, which is made out of cardboard and recycled materials rather than plastics, and realize that there are these kinds of people who are involved in recycling.”

1. What made Ohno continue her art?

A．Commercial value of her works.	B．People’s recognition.
C．Promotion of Japanese culture.	D．Demands of movie directors.

2. What does Ohno usually do with her favorite works?

A．She sells them at a high price.

B．She gives them to close friends.

C．She beautifies her home with them.

D．She donates them to advocate recycling.

3. Which of the following can best describe Ohno?

A．Creative and skilled.

B．Selfless and confident.

C．Hard-working and wealthy.

D．Easy-going and ambitious.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A novel.

B．A diary.

C．A guidebook.

D．A magazine.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Most people drink tea in the world. But tea does not mean    1    same thing to different people. In different countries, people have different ideas about    2    (drink) tea.

In China, for example, tea    3    (serve) usually when people get together. Chinese people drink it    4    home or in tea houses anytime of the day. They often use hot water to boil tea    5    (leaf).

Tea is also important in other    6    (Asia) countries. People in these countries have a special way of serving tea. They hold a tea ceremony in their houses when important guests come. It is very old and full of meaning. Everything must be done in a special way in the ceremony. There is even a special room for it in their houses.

In the United States, people usually drink tea at breakfast    7    they drink it after meals. Americans usually use tea bags    8    (make) tea. This way is faster and    9    (easy) than the way of making tea in teapots. In summer, most Americans drink    10    (ice)tea. They like to put some ice in their tea.

8 . Consumers who want to help the environment can do so most effectively by reducing consumption. Wrapping paper alternatives can reduce the need for various resources to be consumed.    1    No matter what the gift is, there is a wrapping paper alternative to make the gift-giving experience even more special.

One extremely low-cost wrapping paper alternative is to use the Sunday comics. These are bright, colorful, and fun, and will probably be passed around and read as the receiver opens the gift. Children and adults alike will appreciate this attractive wrapping paper alternative. Clear cellophane (玻璃纸) can also be used over the comics newspaper.    2    

Re-used gift wrap, if not damaged, is another free wrapping paper alternative. Torn edges can be cut off and high-quality ribbon will last through many uses. Newsprint roll ends are often given away by newspaper offices and can be decorated with markers, paints, rubber stamps, or stickers.    3    With their permission, you can use their artwork as a wrapping paper alternative.

Any wrapping paper alternative can be made unique by adding decorations that are readily available.    4    Flowers, or stems of a fragrant plant add a special touch to the wrapped gift.

    5    For people with a lack of time or creativity, there are also commercial and available alternatives to gift wrap such as wrapping paper with recycled content or environment-friendly wrapping paper. A thoughtful consumer can wrap gifts in a variety of attractive ways without harming the environment.

A．This will create a smooth, shiny look.

B．Children often like to see their artwork displayed.

C．Old calendars can be used as a wrapping paper alternative.

D．They can also offer a creative and unique presentation for gifts.

E．The gift bag will likely be passed on to wrap a gift for someone else.

F．Shapes, photos, or words cut from magazines can personalize the gift.

G．There are many other ideas for creating a unique wrapping paper alternative.

9 . Thousands of years before Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, tiny beads helped humans make social connections. A decade-long study of more than 1,500 beads made from bird eggshells and found across Africa has revealed a 50,000-year-old social network, archaeologists say.

“People made them to communicate symbolic messages, the way that today we might wear a wedding ring, to indicate something about social status, wealth or position in society,” said Jennifer Miller, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Archaeology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, in Jena, Germany.

They studied 1,516 beads(1,238 of which were described for the first time)that originated from 31 different sites across southern and eastern Africa and spanned (跨越)the last 50,000 years. Comparing the different characteristics of the beads—the size and thickness, they found that between 33,000 and 50,000 years ago, people at sites across southern and eastern Africa—spanning a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers(about 1,864 miles)—were using almost identical beads.

“We know that genetically these groups had some sort of contact, but there so far has been no cultural evidence,” said Miller, who was an author of the study, which was published on Monday in the journal Nature. The oldest beads come from East Africa, the study found, and likely spread south across the continent from there. The authors described it as the oldest social network ever identified and the furthest Old Stone Age “stylistic connection” ever documented.

While it’s possible the beads could have been directly exchanged in some way, Miller thought more likely it was the knowledge of how to make them that was exchanged. “Possibly people would have seen this new thing that people were wearing or making and thought, ‘Oh, that’s so cool.’ And then copied it,” Miller said. “And so in that way, rather than obtaining these beads directly, it might have been more of copying the cool new thing.”

1. Why did people in Africa make tiny beads 50,000 years ago?

A．To use them as presents.

B．To show their social status.

C．To exchange things with others.

D．To tell others they were married.

2. What did the researchers find about the beads between 33,000 and 50,000 years ago?

A．They were almost the same.

B．They had different sizes and thicknesses.

C．They originated from 31 different sites in Germany.

D．They were made in the New Stone Age.

3. How did the beads most likely spread across the continent according to Miller?

A．They were directly exchanged.

B．Ancient people had to move frequently.

C．There was a demand for communication.

D．The knowledge of making them spread.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The history of tiny beads in Africa

B．The cultural significance of beads

C．A stone-age social network in Africa

D．A newfound function of bird eggshells

10 . Musicians want to be heard. Making that happen involves time and effort that could be spent making music, however. Fortunately, Richmonders Elijah Hedrick and designer Rian Moses-Hedrick have started a platform to help. HearRVA shines a spotlight on Richmond musicians. “We’re basically trying to play matchmaker with music fans here in Richmond,” Rian says.

The promotion platform was created in July last year by the designer and her husband, Elijah. HearRVA’s website offers videos of local performances, a list of live music spots and playlists of songs from Richmond-based musicians. Musicians submit links to their work to be considered for promotion at no cost. The site is a passion project for the married couple and is supported by money donations from the natives.

One of the next steps is an interview series, “Liner Notes,” which highlights local musicians and the motivations behind their music. The series was launched in November with local singer Devonne Harris, who plays recorded popular music on the local radio. “It’s a great way for listeners to get a close look into what’s going on behind some of the creative forces in the city,” Harris says. “Sometimes having extra insight adds more of a connection, so people can really go back to listen to your music and be grateful for what you do and listen to it from a different angle.”

Rian and Elijah are looking ahead to season two of “Liner Notes”, which they plan to release next year. For them, everything ties back to providing exposure to local musicians. “People always want to go to LA or New York because they think they have a better shot there, and the market’s bigger,” Rian says, “but why don’t we grow the market here?”

1. What is the main purpose of HearRVA?

A．To bring local artists close together.

B．To build a useful source for musicians.

C．To show how to appreciate local music.

D．To connect local musicians with music lovers.

2. What helps HearRVA’s website work well?

A．The great local demand for it.

B．Local musicians’ desire for fame.

C．Local people’s financial support.

D．The married couple’s gift for music.

3. What does the interview series focus on?

A．The comparisons between different musicians.

B．Effective ways of composing or playing music.

C．Different opinions on a certain kind of music.

D．Reasons why local musicians create their music.

4. What’s Rian’s attitude to the future of season two of “Liner Notes”?

A．Negative.

B．Positive.

C．Uncertain.

D．Indifferent.