1 . History has been characterized differently. It’s hard to define such a monumental thing without dealing with the tensions between what is fact and what is fiction, as well as what was included and what was left out. So it’s only fitting that those tensions are wrapped up in the history of the word itself.
The short version is that the term history has evolved from an ancient Greek verb that means “to know”. The Greek word historia originally meant inquiry, the act of seeking knowledge, as well as the knowledge that results from inquiry. And from there it’s a short jump to the accounts of events that a person might put together from making inquiries-what we might call stories.
The words story and history share much of their ancestry, and in previous eras, the overlap between them was much messier than it is today. The working out of distinction has taken centuries. Today, we might think of the dividing line as the one between fact and fiction. Stories are fanciful tales woven at bedtime. That word can even be used to describe an outright lie. Histories, on the other hand, are records of events. That word refers to all time before this very moment and everything that really happened up to now.
The distinction is still messier than that, of course. Plenty of stories like the story of a person’s life or a "true story" on which a less-true film is based -are supposed to be factual. And plenty of stories go against easy categorization one way or the other. Take the notion of someone telling their side of a story. To them, that account might be perfectly correct. To someone else, that account might be totally incorrect.
As the linguistic divide has evolved since the Middle Ages, we have come to expect more from history -that it be free from the imperfections of viewpoint and selective memory that stories so often contain. Yet it isn’t, humans being the imperfect creatures and history being something that is made rather than handed down from some all-knowing writer.
That is why feminists, for example, rejected the word history and championed the notion of herstory during the 1970s to point out the fact that history has mostly come from a male perspective. The “his” in history has nothing, linguistically, to do with the pronoun referring to a male person. And some critics pointed that out back in the 1970s, saying that the invention of herstory showed ignorance about where the word comes from. But there’s evidence that the feminists knew as much at the time. And more importantly, the fact that it sounds possible that there would be a link can still tell us something. It can suggest a lot the about gender and whether a female viewpoint is included in the tales passed down in textbooks. That’s why, even if the origins of the word “history” are clear, the question of who gets to decide which version of the past is the right one remains a controversial debate centuries after the term came to be.
1. The word “overlap” in Paragraph 3 probably indicates ____.| A．the knowledge people put together from different inquiries |
| B．the distinction between the ancestry of “story” and “history” |
| C．the meaning and use both “story” and “history” shared |
| D．the dividing line between tales and records of events |
| A．people often feel reluctant to tell a true story in a factual way |
| B．different sides of stories fall into different categories too easily |
| C．people have to tell correct or incorrect stories against their will |
| D．sometimes it is very hard to distinguish between fact and fiction |
| A．history can be plainly interpreted as “his story” |
| B．feminists didn’t know about the origins of “history” |
| C．women should decide what to be written in history |
| D．history is something made as a one-sided story |
| A．These Are the Characteristics of the Word “History” |
| B．This Is Where the Word “History” Comes From |
| C．How do “History”, “Story” and “Herstory” Differ? |
| D．History Doesn’t Always Tell All the Truth to Us |
| A．discuss the origin and meaning of the word “history” |
| B．point out the problems with the way history is taught |
| C．show that history is often influenced by personal biases |
| D．emphasize the importance of knowing the true meaning of words |
2 . Across the world, language and history are connected. As society and tradition change, new words or phrases are created to show the present cultural understanding. Some old phrases and words simply turn into the accepted usages with their backgrounds forgotten.
One such phrase “grandfathered in” has become a common one now. Although it often makes people think of the image of a gray-haired, older gentleman, who gets out of trouble because of his age, it actually means that one person or a business has the right to refuse the new rules.
A deeper look into the first use of the phrase shows an interesting story in history. It happened in a town in the 1980s, a new law was passed there not to allow illiterates (文盲) to participate in the making of rules as they couldn’t read or write and might not help in the process. The limit was potent because except for the old and children, there were close to 30 percent of young adults in the town who had little or no education. Being strong and energetic, they made up an important part of the town’s development.
Considering that, some officers in the town didn’t readily accept the rule. Instead, they carefully gave their advice to the head of the town. At the same time, they encouraged these young adults to pass the literacy (读写能力) tests. Thus a “grandfather clause (条款)” was added to allow illiterates to participate as long as they or their grandfathers had once been participants. The clause no doubt helped remove the unfairness and benefited all.
The phrase “grandfathered in” is of course still widely used today without being limited to a certain field. But even as culture and tradition change, whether we’re aware of it or not, language has the power to hold our history.
1. According to Paragraph 1, what has happened to some old phrase with time going?| A．They have got lost in history. |
| B．Few people can use them correctly. |
| C．They are rarely used in popular culture. |
| D．Few people know much about their history. |
| A．an old man dislikes new rules |
| B．a person is free from new rules |
| C．a business has a long history and culture |
| D．a businessman fails to follow the market rules |
| A．annoying. | B．powerful. | C．depressing. | D．reasonable. |
| A．Funny. | B．Incorrect. | C．Positive. | D．Disappointing. |
| A．Language and history are always connected. |
| B．The birth of some phrases can be interesting. |
| C．History plays an important role in communication. |
| D．Some phrases are created to show the present culture. |
3 . We use both words and body language to express our thoughts and opinions in our interactions with other people. We can learn a lot about what people are thinking by watching their body language. Words are important, but the way people stand, hold their arms, and move their hands can also give us information about their feelings.
Just like spoken language, body language varies from culture to culture. The crucial thing is using body language in a way that is appropriate to the culture you are in. For example, making eye contact—looking into someone’s eyes—in some countries is a way to display interest. In other countries, by contrast, eye contact is not always approved of. For example, in many Middle Eastern countries, men and women are not socially permitted to make eye contact. In Japan, it may demonstrate respect to look down when talking to an older person.
The gesture for “OK” has different meanings in different cultures. In Japan, someone who witnesses another person employing the gesture might think it means money. In France, a person encountering an identical gesture may interpret it as meaning zero. However, you should avoid making this gesture in Brazil and Germany, as it is not considered polite.
Even the gestures we use for “yes” and “no” differ around the world. In many countries, shaking one’s head means “no”, and nodding means “yes”. By comparison, in Bulgaria and southern Albania, the gestures have the opposite meaning. There are also differences in how we touch each other, how close we stand to someone we are talking to, and how we act when we meet or part. In countries like France and Russia, people may kiss their friends on the cheek when they meet. Elsewhere, people favour shaking hands, bowing from the waist, or nodding the head when they meet someone else.
Some gestures seem to have the same meaning everywhere. Placing your hands together and resting them on the side of your head while closing your eyes means “sleep”. A good way of saying “I am full” is moving your hand in circles over your stomach after a meal.
Some body language has many different uses. Perhaps the best example is smiling. A smile can help us get through difficult situations and find friends in a world of strangers. A smile can break down barriers. We can use a smile to apologise, to greet someone, to ask for help, or to start a conversation. Experts suggest smiling at yourself in the mirror to make yourself feel happier and stronger. And if we are feeling down or lonely, there is nothing better than seeing the smiling face of a good friend.
1. What could be inferred from Paragraph 1?| A．Body language is as important as spoken language. |
| B．Body language alone cannot express what we are thinking |
| C．Body language is not more important than spoken language |
| D．We can’t communicate with others without spoken language. |
| A．you needn’t use it everywhere |
| B．you ought to make eye contact |
| C．you should respect the local culture |
| D．it should be consistent with your own culture |
| A．the Japanese value money more |
| B．people from different countries can’t communicate |
| C．in Brazil and Germany, people never use the gesture “OK” |
| D．the same gesture may mean different things in different places |
| A．In Bulgaria, nodding means “yes”. |
| B．In southern Albania, shaking your head means “yes”. |
| C．The “yes” and “no” gestures seem to have the same meaning everywhere |
| D．The “yes” and “no” gestures in Bulgaria and southern Albania are completely opposite. |
| A．a smile is the key to success |
| B．smiling can make you feel happier and stronger |
| C．smiling can help you break down the barriers in your way |
| D．a smile is a powerful tool for building and strengthening social connections |
4 . Culture can affect not just language and customs, but also how people experience the world on surprisingly basic levels.
Researchers, with the help of brain scans, have uncovered shocking differences in perception (感知) between Westerners and Asians, what they see when they look at a city street, for example, or even how they perceive a simple line in a square, according to findings published in a leading science journal.
In western countries, culture makes people think of themselves as highly independent individuals. When looking at scenes, Westerners tend to focus more on central objects than on their surroundings. East Asian cultures, however, emphasize inter-dependence. When Easterners look at a scene, they tend to focus on surroundings as well as the object.
Using an experiment involving two tasks, Dr Hedden asked subjects to look at a line simply to estimate its length, a task that is played to American strengths. In another, they estimated the line’s length relative to the size of a square, an easier task for the Asians. The level of brain activity, by tracking blood flow, was then measured by Brain Scanners. The experiment found that although there was no difference in performance, and the tasks were very easy, the levels of activity in the subjects’ brains were different. For the Americans, areas linked to attention lit up more, when they worked on the task they tended to find more difficult — estimating the line’s length relative to the square. For the Asians, the attention areas lit up more during the harder task also — estimating the line’s length without comparing it to the square. The findings are a reflection of more than ten years of previous experimental research into east-west differences.
In one study, for instance, researchers offered people a choice among five pens; four red and one green. Easterners were more likely to choose a red pen while Westerners were more likely’ to choose the green one.
Culture is not affecting how you see the world, but how you choose to understand and internalize it. But such habits can be changed. Some psychological studies suggest that when an Easterner goes to the West or vice versa, habits of thought and perception also begin to change. Such research gives us clues on how our brain works and is hopeful for us to develop programs to improve our memory, memory techniques and enhance and accelerate our learning skills.
1. According to the passage, Chinese people are most likely to ___.| A．more emphasize independent thinking |
| B．always focus more on their surroundings |
| C．think of Westerners as highly independent individuals |
| D．focus more on the context as well as the object |
| A．the task is much easier | B．the blood flow is tracked |
| C．the task is more difficult | D．people begin to choose colors |
| A．They indicate that culture has a great impact on the way people talk and behave. |
| B．They show that Easterners and Westerners have great differences in perceiving the world. |
| C．They suggest that people’s habits of thought and-perception can be changed in different cultures. |
| D．They make it clear that Easterners and Westerners lay emphasis on different things. |
| A．Easterners prefer collectivism to individualism |
| B．East Asian cultures lay more emphasis on independence |
| C．It took over ten years to find out how to improve our brainpower |
| D．Americans will change their habits of perception when they’re in Britain |
| A．Chinese culture: why it has an advantage over Western culture? |
| B．Western culture and Chinese culture: which will be more suitable for us? |
| C．Western culture and Chinese culture: why we should learn from both? |
| D．Western culture vs. Chinese culture |
5 . As a language learning enthusiast, I’ve come up with the best apps for learning English from the thousands of mobile apps out there.
Best for Pronunciation: ELSA Speak
ELSA Speak is probably the best mobile app around for helping you improve your English pronunciation. The app’s greatest strength is its intensive AI feedback, but ELSA also provides mini-training sessions to really perfect your pronunciation. The AI analyzes your recordings based on pronunciation, intonation and fluency then points out exactly which parts sound inaccurate.
Best for Immersing in English Videos: FluentU
FuentU is a language learning app that teaches you English through authentic videos like news reports, movie scenes and interviews, with learner tools for all levels. Each clip has interactive subtitles so if you’re not sure what a word means, you can hover over it and get in explanation. The app also gives video examples for each word so you can learn vocabulary in context.
Best for Practical Topics: Babbel
Babbel has you learn and practice English with realistic conversations that surround things that you’re personally interested in. Lessons are short and consist of written and audio versions of the grammar featured in the lessons. Then you are able to complete practice exercises to solidify your understanding.
Best for Fun Beginner Lessons: Lingodeer
Lingodeer uses games and short exercises to teach beginner and intermediate English learners. Lingodeer takes a gamified approach to language learning with a goal-oriented curriculum consisting of structured lessons and regular reviews. Lingodeer’s lessons are arranged according to themes, such as sports, weather, parts of the body and shopping.
In summary, whether you’re focusing on pronunciation, immersion, practical themes, or engaging beginner lessons, ELSA Speak, FluentU, Babbel, and Lingodeer have got you covered. Every language learner’s arsenal should include these apps as they pave the way for effective and enjoyable English language learning. Each is unique in its approach, but all aim to make your English learning journey as straightforward and motivating as possible.
1. What is the feature of ELSA Speak?| A．It analyzes learners’ recordings. |
| B．It provides guidance for learners. |
| C．It gives learners helpful feedback. |
| D．It improves learners’ communication skill. |
| A．ELSA Speak. |
| B．FluentU. |
| C．Babbel. |
| D．Lingodeer. |
| A．Learning through genuine dialogues. |
| B．Learning through songs and music. |
| C．Learning through flashcards only. |
| D．Learning through books and online lectures. |
| A．Design games. |
| B．Structure lessons. |
| C．Take advanced courses. |
| D．Study around a theme. |
| A．To criticize English learning apps. |
| B．To describe various features in mobile phones. |
| C．To recommend the best apps for English learning. |
| D．To discuss the role of technology in education. |
6 . I am a writer. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke (唤起) an emotion, a visual image, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.
Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” English. But feel embarrassed to say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it lacked a certain wholeness. I’ve heard other terms used, “limited English, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions(认识)”.
I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985. And for reasons I won’t get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken”, her internal (内在的) language, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure: I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show her intention, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.
1. By saying “Language is the tool of my trade”, the author means that________.| A．she uses English in foreign trade | B．she is fascinated by languages |
| C．she works as a translator | D．she is a writer by profession |
| A．impolite | B．amusing | C．imperfect | D．practical |
| A．Americans do not understand broken English |
| B．The author’s mother was not respected sometimes. |
| C．The author’ mother had positive influence on her. |
| D．Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts. |
| A．well structured | B．in the old style | C．easy to translate | D．rich in meaning |
| A．The changes of the author’s attitude to her mother’s English. |
| B．The limitation of the author’s perception of her mother. |
| C．The author’s misunderstanding of ”limited“ English. |
| D．The author’s experiences of using broken English. |
7 . With a thirst for a new challenge, I decided to begin my language journey and my only regret is that I didn’t start earlier. Since starting to learn, I have made good progress. The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is a test of Chinese language for non-native speakers. In July 2020, I passed my HSK3 exam with a score of 100 percent. I am now almost ready to start HSK5.
Learning to speak Chinese isn’t as insurmountable as I once thought. When I speak to native speakers in Chinese, they almost always understand me. I also find it not too difficult to remember characters and I am now even able to write over 400 characters. I find studying the language relaxing and worthwhile, particularly writing the characters. The thing I find most challenging is listening since native speakers talk at such a speed. I can’t always understand what’s been said, but my weekly online language exchanges help with this greatly.
Despite my progress, it has still been the challenge I desire and has taken a lot of hard work. Furthermore, there is a long way to go before I reach my goal of fluency. The key to progress is to be patient and persistent (坚持不懈的). The satisfaction that comes from simple things like ordering food in Chinese, buying things on the Internet or communicating with a taxi driver makes all the hard work worth it.
My biggest takeaway from learning Chinese is that it’s not only doable but can also be enjoyable. Learning Chinese not only helped me in day-to-day life, but deepened my cultural understanding of such a colorful and beautiful country. Considering where I am now, compared to two years ago, as long as I keep studying hard, I can image a time when I’ll be able to read famous Chinese novels not in English but in the original text. So, to all my non-Chinese friends, I always say “Don’t give up. Embrace (拥抱) the challenge.”
1. What is the author’s regret?| A．He had a new challenge. | B．He decided to begin his language journey. |
| C．He didn’t start learning Chinese earlier | D．He passed his HSK3 exam. |
| A．Easy to upset. | B．Possible to change. |
| C．Comfortable to study. | D．Hard to overcome. |
| A．Writing characters. | B．Taking part in HSK exams. |
| C．Listening to the native speaking. | D．Speaking to a taxi driver. |
| A．It can make the author proud. | B．It makes the author know more Chinese. |
| C．It can be useful in daily life. | D．It makes the author more competitive. |
| A．Passing exams isn’t a piece of cake | B．Learning Chinese isn’t unbeatable |
| C．Explore the historical and cultural country | D．Deepen understanding of Chinese culture |
8 . Foreign visitors to the UK might be disappointed when they learn that not everyone there speaks like Harry Potter and his friends. Usually, there’s an assumption by many non-Brits that everyone in Britain speaks with what’s known as a Received Pronunciation (RP，标准发音) accent, also called “the Queen’s English”. However, while many people do talk this way, most Britons speak in their own regional accents (口音).
Scouse, Glaswegian and Black Country — from Liverpool, Glasgow and the West Midlands — are just three of the countless non-RP accents that British people speak with. There are even differences in accents between towns or cities just 30 kilometers apart. What is even more disappointing is that not speaking in a RP accent may mean a British person is judged and even treated differently in their everyday life.
In a 2015 study by The University of South Wales, videos of people reading a passage in three different UK accents were shown to a second group of people. The group then rated how intelligent they thought the readers sounded. The lowestrated accent was Brummie, native to people from Birmingham, a city whose accent is considered working class.
However, there is no need to be disappointed though you are not speaking in a RP accent. In fact, doing the opposite may even give you strength.
Kong Seongjae, 25, is an Internet celebrity from Seoul. After studying in the UK, he picked up several regional accents. He’s now famous for his online videos, where he shows off the various accents he’s learned. “British people usually get really excited when I use some of their local dialect words, and they become much friendlier. I think it makes a bit of bond between local people and foreigners to speak in their local accent,” he said.
So if you’re working on perfecting your British accent, try to speak like someone from Liverpool, Glasgow or Birmingham. You may not sound like Harry Potter, but you are likely to make more friends.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?| A．Non-Brits usually hold that all Britons speak in a RP accent. |
| B．Only “the Queen’s English” is accepted in the UK. |
| C．Foreign visitors are disappointed at their on spoken English. |
| D．Any Received Pronunciation around the world is also called “the Queen’s English”. |
| A．Favored by foreign visitors to the UK. | B．Closest to the RP accent. |
| C．Smart and easy to understand. | D．Spoken by people of lower class. |
| A．Speaking in a RP accent. | B．Speaking in regional accents. |
| C．Speaking the Brummie accent. | D．Speaking like Harry Potter. |
| A．A study about the most intelligent accent in Britain. |
| B．A comparison between different British accents. |
| C．How much British people value the RP accent. |
| D．The influence of regional accents on people’s lives. |
9 . As someone who’s been studying English for many years now, you might think you know the English language pretty well. But if you overheard a British person say, “A Billy left some bees and honey in my sherbet (冰冻果露) last night,” would you understand what they meant?
Probably not, but many native speakers may not know what this person was saying either.
The example above was a sentence that a London taxi driver might say to another member of his or her tribe. In plain English, the sentence would be, “A customer left some money in my cab last night.”
So, what exactly is meant by “tribe”?
A recent article on the BBC Culture website pointed out that nearly all of us are a part of a tribe. This is a group that defines (定义) who we are and even how we speak. And with each tribe comes its own “secret language”, as the BBC called it.
If you work in a certain industry—education, for example—you may use slang words (俚语) and acronyms (首字母缩略词) that only other people who work in that industry would understand. Or if you live in a certain city, you might use a slang word to describe a landmark in the city that only locals would understand.
These so-called secret languages each have their own fascinating history. In the US, for example, the underground “ballroom” (舞厅) tribe of 1970s and 80s New York City and its language were showcased in the 2018 FX show Pose.
These secret words don’t always stay within their tribes, however. Words from many tribes, especially musical cultures such as rap and hip-hop, often enter people’s everyday vocabulary. For example, the phrase “to have beef” — meaning “to be in a conflict” — was made popular by US rappers. Today, it’s widely used by native English speakers all over the world.
As BBC reporter Susie Dent wrote, “We are all surrounded by amazing secret languages, full of history and stories and in-jokes (内部笑话). And one thing is certain: our tribal conversations will never run out.”
1. The example at the beginning of the text is mainly used to _________.| A．explain the meaning of tribes |
| B．prove that English is hard to learn |
| C．teach readers how to communicate with London cab drivers |
| D．show how the languages of tribes are often difficult for outsiders to understand |
| A．They mostly came from musical cultures. |
| B．They first started in New York City in the 1980s. |
| C．They have failed to become popular among young people. |
| D．Some words from them are popular in everyday conversation. |
| A．It was showcased in the 2018 FX show Pose. |
| B．It was employed by US rappers in their works. |
| C．It was created by a specific musical culture. |
| D．It was featured in a recent article on the BBC Culture website. |
| A．The history and influence of secret languages in different tribes. |
| B．How slang and acronyms are used in different industries and cities. |
| C．The popularity of US rappers and their contribution to everyday vocabulary. |
| D．A showcase of the underground ball room tribe’s language in 2018 FX show Pose. |
| A．Uninterested. | B．Worried. | C．Confident. | D．Objective. |
10 . “Shuan Q” is a meme (网络流行语) which can be used as a popular way to say “I’m speechless” with a matching emoji (表情包) at ached behind. No one can deny the power of the Internet. Some believe it makes language weaker but some see a brighter side, believing it makes online communication easier between strangers.
An elementary school teacher in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, says that the evolution of Internet slang is not all fun and carefree. From his daily observations, he believes the “geographic boundary” between Internet slang and formal language is disappearing. On many occasions, the composition she has received from pupil have been flooded with abbreviated slangs (网络梗).
During last year’s Two Sessions, several representatives put forward proposals such as “regulating online language” and “banning vulgar (粗俗) words”, specifically to address this issue, expressing the need to reduce online language misuse and strengthen the protection of Chinese.
However, many experts and scholars of linguistics and communication including Feng Zhiwei disagree. Feng, believes that Internet language is a natural product of the dynamic development of language, and it is not necessary to ban it.
1. What can we learn about internet slangs from paragraph 2 and 3?| A．They are formal. | B．They are funny and carefree. |
| C．They are flooded among pupils. | D．They were supported by all people. |
| A．They are natural. | B．They are misused. |
| C．They should be banned. | D．They are disappearing. |
| A．Doubtful | B．Objective | C．Indifferent | D．Favorable |
