1 . The European Union (EU) is an organization of European countries. The countries are independent and are governed in different ways. In the United Kingdom, for example, the head of state is a king or queen. In France, on the other hand, the head of state is a president. But each of them sends representatives to European Parliament, which has some control over what happens in each of the member countries.
The idea of the EU began in the 1950s. The first members were France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy. Little by little, the number increased during second half of the twentieth century. By the year 2000, there were 15 member countries. The new count res were Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In 2004 the EU increased to 25 members. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, plus the Mediterrranean island s of Cyprus and Malta all be a members.The expanded EU has a population of more than half a bin people twice as big as the population of the US.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?| A．The UK was not included in the first members. |
| B．The thought of the EU first came into being in the 1950s. |
| C．The member countries of the EU are independent. |
| D．Ireland became a member country of the EU later than Poland. |
| A．In both countries, the head of state is a king or queen. |
| B．In both countries, the head of state is a president. |
| C．In the United Kingdom, the head of state is a president while in France, a king or queen. |
| D．In the Unit d Kingdom, the head of state is a king or queen while in France, a president. |
| A．9 | B．10 | C．15 | D．25 |
| A．The UK | B．France |
| C．Germany | D．The passage doesn’t mention. |
2 . In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world. This group of four islands and five atolls (islands made of coral rock) is famous for its sandy beaches and turquoise (青绿色的) waters and has long been a popular tourist destination for nearby New Zealanders. However, the nation of Tuvalu is at the risk of soon no longer existing, not because of war or political change, but because it will be covered by the rising ocean.
Tuvalu is experiencing the harmful effects of global warming. As the global temperature rises, so does the ocean temperature. Due to the scientific law of “thermal expansion”, when water heats, it gets bigger.
Even before Tuvaluans began to suffer from the effects of climate change, the life in Tuvalu was tough.
More serious than Tuvalu’s lack of home-grown food has been its lack of drinking water.
Tuvalu’s problems have led some of its 11,000 inhabitants to consider migrating to Australia or New Zealand.
| A．It was a desperate situation and, but for emergency shipments from New Zealand and Australia, many Tuvaluans would have died. |
| B．This is largely due to the geological makeup of atolls. |
| C．Unlike normal islands, atolls have no rivers or streams, which means that most of Tuvalu has no groundwater to be used for drinking. |
| D．Tuvalu’s representatives demanded that nations should have a more responsible attitude towards emission controls. |
| E．Therefore, the sea level is rising and for low-lying Tuvalu, this spells disasters. |
| F．However, they are not willing to abandon the land of their forefathers so easily. |
| G．And as a member of the United Nations, they are doing just that. |
The global population is expected to have reached 8 billion by the end of 2022, and India is predicted to surpass (超越) China as the country
“This is an occasion to celebrate our
The world population
Countries with aging populations should take steps
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year address in Beijing at 19:30 on December 31, 2022. This is part of his New Year’s Day message:
Greetings to you all! The year 2023 is approaching! From Beijing, I send my best New Year wishes to all of you.
Since COVID-19 struck, we have put the people first and put life first all along. Following a science-based and targeted approach, we have adapted our COVID response in light of (按照) the evolving situation to protect the health of people to the greatest extent possible. Officials and the general public, particularly medical professionals and community workers, have bravely stuck to their posts through it all. With great efforts, we have prevailed over unprecedented difficulties and challenges, and it has not been an easy journey for anyone. We have now entered a new phase of COVID response where tough challenges remain. Everyone is holding on with great fortitude, and the light of hope is right in front of us.
To the many people who are still busy working at this very moment, I salute (致敬) you all! We are about to ring in the New Year. Let us welcome the first ray of sunshine of 2023 with the best wishes for a brighter future.
May our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in harmony.
Thank you!
| A．Today’s China is a country where dreams become reality. |
| B．None of these achievements would have been possible without the efforts of Chinese people. |
| C．In 2022, we successfully held the 20th National Congress of the CPC. |
| D．At this moment, I sincerely praise everyone’s fights and struggles. |
| E．These showed the great achievements and powerful appearance of China |
| F．May the world enjoy peace and people of all countries live in happiness. |
| G．Let’s make an extra effort to overcome the hardship, as solidarity (团结) means victory. |
Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you understand why the UK
In the 16th century, Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. In the 18th century, Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, Ireland
The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some
In the history of the UK, there are four important groups of people
London is a great place to study the history of the UK. If you keep your eyes open, you will be
6 . New York, 11 July — The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022, and India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to World Population Prospects 2022, released on World Population Day.
“This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we expect the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and get amazed at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates (孕妇及儿童死亡率),” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” he added.
World Population Prospects 2022 states that fertility (生育能力) has fallen markedly in recent decades for many countries. Today, two-thirds of the global population lives in a country or area where lifetime fertility is below 2.1 births per woman, roughly the level required for zero growth in the long run for a population with low mortality. The populations of 61 countries or areas are projected to decrease by 1 percent or more between 2022 and 2050, due to sustained low levels of fertility and, in some cases, increasing rates of emigration.
“The relationship between population growth and sustainable development is complex and multidimensional,” said Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “Rapid population growth makes removing poverty, combating hunger and malnutrition (营养不良), and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult. On the contrary, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, will contribute to reducing fertility levels and slowing global population growth.”
1. The underlined word “surpass” can be replaced by ______.| A．overtake | B．overlook | C．overcome | D．overwhelm |
| A．The concern for global problems is a shared responsibility. |
| B．The only factor that affects those 61 countries’ populations is fertility. |
| C．The fertility has been decreasing in recent decades around the world. |
| D．The annual World Population Day is a milestone for global inhabitants. |
| A．Critical and direct. | B．Difficult and apparent. |
| C．Urgent and ambiguous. | D．Significant and complicated. |
| A．The sharp decline of fertility. |
| B．The current world population situation. |
| C．The ways to achieve sustainable development goals. |
| D．The celebration of the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. |
7 .
During the wartime, military technologies developed quickly. Air raids (空袭) had an extremely destructive impact on wildlife populations as they contributed to the destruction of habitats. Apart from the bombs dropped during air raids, aircraft were also a significant source of air pollution. The most devastating environmental impact of the war was caused by the atomic bombs used by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombs destroyed the natural wildlife in the area in seconds. A significant number of fish and land animals died.
·The Vietnam War
·The Rwandan Genocide
One of the major impacts of the Rwandan Genocide was the massive loss of life. It has been estimated that more than 800,000 people died.
·The Gulf War
During the Gulf War, one of the main participants, the Iraqi military, used the scorched earth policy that dramatically affected the land in Kuwait.
| A．Famous Wars in History |
| B．Environmental Impact of War |
| C．The wildlife in the region was also affected to a great extent |
| D．The activity also resulted in the terrible destruction of forests |
| E．Apart from this, they also poured vast quantities of oil into the sea |
| F．The Vietnamese army played a great role in destroying the forests |
| G．The US employed several strategies that greatly affected the environment |
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England — many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any?
In the 16th century, the
The four countries that
9 . Canada, the second biggest country in the world, has an area of about ten million square kilometres, covering most of the northern part of the North American continent and with an area larger than that of the United States. Canada lies to the southwest of Greenland. To the south, it reaches to the same latitude (纬度) as southern France. The distance from the Pacific coast in the west to the Atlantic in the east is greater than that from North America to Europe. But in spite of its size, two thirds of the population of Canada live in a narrow belt of land no more than 200 kilometres from the US border. In the southeast are the Great Lakes that lie on the border with the United States. These huge inland seas empty into the St Lawrence River, which links them with the Atlantic Ocean. The centre of government and finance is in Ontario. So are many of Canada’s industries.
Canada is a country of ten provinces and three territories (地区). The first inhabitants (居民) of Canada were North American Indians and the Inuit. France and Britain each governed Canada in the past. At that time the population of Canada was almost entirely the French, but in the next few decades, thousands of British colonists emigrated (移民) to Canada from the British Isles and from the American colonies. In 1849 the right of Canada to self-government was recognised. Today, 18 percent of Canadians still speak only French.
Canada is often called “A Land of the Future”. The country’s rich oil and mineral resources have hardly been touched. It is among the ten leading industrial nations in the world. Its capital is Ottawa and the largest city is Toronto. Other important cities include Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Quebec.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The history of Canada. |
| B．The geography of Canada. |
| C．The industry of Canada. |
| D．All of the above. |
| A．Connects. | B．Starts. |
| C．Collects. | D．Begins. |
| A．Ottawa. | B．Toronto. |
| C．Vancouver. | D．Ontario. |
| A．It’s a developed country. |
| B．Its future is very wonderful. |
| C．Its rich resources haven’t been developed. |
| D．It’s not mentioned in the passage. |
10 . In 1917, when the country declared its independence from Russia, there was a strong desire to explore and clear what it was to be Finnish. Architects and designers became nation-builders, tasked with giving shape to the new homes and public spaces that the country needed, as the economy grew and the once agricultural society began to industrialize. Their ambitious plan was social, optimistic and forward-looking, and democratic design emerged as a significant characteristic of the new country.
Many people found great opportunity and creative stimulus in Finland’s transition into an independent modern nation, perhaps none more than the internationally famous architect Alvar Aalto. Over the course of his long career, he championed a revolutionary style of design that combined functionality with natural materials and organic forms. Aalto was a great ambassador (大使)for Finnish design at a time when Finns were thinking of how to present themselves to the rest of the world. When Aalto designed the Paimio Sanatorium in 1932, he applied his practical approach to the building and every piece of furniture within it to international approval. Soon after, he founded Artek, a design company that combines art and technology to bring about improvements in everyday urban life. Artek is a booming design brand today and the work of Aalto continues to be respected.
But while Aalto’s useful elegance represents a certain Finnish sensibility, Finland is a country of conflicts, and one of its greatest is the disconnect between a characteristically shy national character and the brave innovators it has produced.
One such innovator is Armi Ratia, the energetic founder of Marimekko. Ratia founded the textile (纺织品)and fashion brand in 1951. Her ambition was to bring color and energy into the homes of the depressed postwar nation. Today it is hard to imagine the Finnish lifestyle without the energy of Marimekko. The brand was also symbolic of the equal role women played in Finnish society. Here they were leaders and innovators, creatives and commercial successes. Fashion designs were purposefully free and practical. Such was the interaction between the values of the brand and the values of the nation that spotting a Marimekko print on the street could be compared to seeing the Finnish flag flying.
1. 100 years ago, architects and designers in Finland __________.| A．knew what the Finnish were interested in |
| B．promoted economic growth of the new country |
| C．explored the significant shape of public spaces |
| D．helped establish the new image of their motherland |
| A．It created business opportunities for new Finland. |
| B．It laid a solid foundation for the company “Artek”. |
| C．It fully presented Aalto’s design styles and methods. |
| D．It was a successful combination of art and technology. |
| A．internal disconnection | B．conflicting features |
| C．literary sensibility | D．useful elegance |
| A．it was compared to national flag |
| B．it energized the war-stricken Finland |
| C．it helped the country to realize sex equality |
| D．it reflected the value of the brand and the nation |
