1 . 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? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.
The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century, left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
1. What can help us find out the difference between some different names of the UK?| A．British languages. | B．British history. |
| C．British location. | D．British education. |
| A．Britain. | B．Scotland. | C．Wales. | D．Ireland. |
| A．The flag. | B．The currency. |
| C．The military defence. | D．The education system. |
| A．Building towns and roads. |
| B．Changing the way of building houses. |
| C．Leaving behind many new vocabulary. |
| D．Changing the legal system. |
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With its roots in Chinese culture and ancient history, the screen is more than just
Today, Chinese screens are treasured and employed for their multiple
The silk industry in Sichuan is one of the original points of Chinese silk culture. Sichuan brocade (蜀锦) originated from the Spring and Autumn period, and
Sichuan brocade is one of China’s four most famous branches of brocade, the others being Yun brocade in Nanjing, Song brocade in Suzhou and Zhuang brocade in Guangxi. With
Silk has been produced in Sichuan Province since ancient times and Chengdu was the starting point of the southern Silk Road. Sichuan brocade is made with local silk and colored silk threads, which are the raw
4 . From its origins in the California hills in the US to its acceptance on urban streets worldwide, the history of skateboarding spans (跨越) seven decades over which it has developed from an unwelcome sport to an Olympic event in 2020. Now, a London exhibition is to show the path from those humble homemade boards of the 1950s to today’s hi-tech professional models.
The exhibition will feature about 90 rare and unique boards along with more than 100 other related objects, including safety equipment and magazines. Half of the skateboards will be on loan from the Skateboarding Hall of Fame Museum in California. A highlight will be a 1967 Bilbo board produced by European Surfing Company, which was set up at Newquay in Cornwall in southwestern England in 1965 and marketed the first skateboards in the UK.
Also on display will be the famous skateboarder Tony Hawk’s first professional model, from 1982, with its adaptations for the vert style of skateboarding which uses vertical ramps (垂直坡面) rather than level ground; early homemade boards from 1950s California modeled on the design of roller-skates and surfboards; and the first two models to feature a kicktail —the raised tail enabling skaters to turn or balance the board on the back wheels.
It will also feature Laura Thornhill’s Logan Earth Ski from the 1970s, the first women’s professional model. Sky Brown, who at 13 won bronze for Team Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is represented through her first professional model, the Sky Brown & Skateistan Almost model.
“Skateboards, often misunderstood as being just toys, are now hi-tech products responding to constantly changing urban environments,” said Jonathan Olivares, the show’s director. “This exhibition is centred around a single question: how did the skateboard get to positioning the skateboard as a truly unique object.”
1. When were skateboard s invented?| A．In the 1950s. | B．In the 1960s. | C．In the 1970s. | D．In the 1980s. |
| A．It is a homemade board with a kicktail. |
| B．It is probably suitable for vertical camps. |
| C．It is designed to skate on the level ground. |
| D．It is modeled on the design of roller-skates. |
| A．Bilbo. | B．Newquay. | C．Sky. | D．Logan Earth Ski. |
| A．Skateboards are still low-tech products. |
| B．Skateboarding won its acceptance immediately. |
| C．Skateboarding will be very popular around the world. |
| D．Skateboarders were always admired by the public. |
5 . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is America’s fifth largest city. Once a major American colonial city, it is the home of America’s first library, its first hospital, and its first zoo. Now it is also the first US city to be named a World Heritage City. On November 6, 2015, Philadelphia joined more than 260 other cities that have been recognized for their influence on the world. These cities include Paris, France, Florence, Italy, and Cairo, Egypt.
The exciting news was announced by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger, responsible for economic development and business guidance, and the Global Philadelphia Association. “Today marks the start of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Philadelphia,” remarked Nutter when the announcement was made. “As a World Heritage City, Philadelphia is being officially recognized on the global stage for its wealth of contributions to the world.”
To be named a World Heritage City, a city must be home to a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO World Heritage sites are selected for their universal value and significance. For Philadelphia, the site is Independence Hall.
Independence Hall is where two of the most important documents in US history — the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution — were adopted. The Declaration of Independence, approved on July 4, 1776, united the 13 former British colonies and declared them independent from British rule. From then on, a democratic and free country was born, which changed the course of world history. The US Constitution, signed in 1787, established the American democratic system of government. A democracy is a system of government in which the people elect their leaders. The Constitution later spelled out the basic freedoms American citizens have.
Greenberger says the city’s selection as a World Heritage City also reflects its educational, cultural, and economic achievements. The city is home to dozens of colleges and universities, and many museums, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “Philadelphia has rightfully earned its place as one of the greatest cities in the world. As we celebrate this milestone, we will focus even more on improving Philadelphia’s status as a World Heritage City to attract more guests to visit, invest, work, study and live here.” Greenberger says.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that Philadelphia ________.| A．has the best American hospitals |
| B．contributed a lot to the global economy |
| C．is known for many America’s firsts |
| D．has been famous as a World Heritage City |
| A．the economic development of the city |
| B．the history of Philadelphia |
| C．the contributions of the city |
| D．the significance of the city’s selection |
| A．The city really deserves the honor. |
| B．It’s easy for the city to win the honor. |
| C．It won’t be long before the city takes off. |
| D．The honor will bring the city a better future. |
| A．Philadelphia Makes a Difference | B．Philadelphia Makes History |
| C．Philadelphia Develops a Lot | D．America Wins Global Respect |
6 . What killed King Tut? Historians and scientists have long believed that ancient Egypt’s most famous king was probably murdered. But a recent scientific study claims to have found a different answer to this more than 3,300-year-old mystery. A team of researchers now say that King Tut, the boy ruler, died of complications (并发症) from a broken leg.
Tut’s full name was Tutankhamun. He was just 9 years old when he became the ruler of Egypt. His treasure-filled tomb was discovered almost a century ago. It was filled with royal riches, including a solid-gold coffin, a gold mask, and piles of jewelry.
Unfortunately Tut died at the age of 19. Many experts have thought that Tut was killed by one of his advisers, named Ay, who wanted to be king. But thanks to a major modern science project, it seems Ay is innocent.
Researchers set out to solve the mystery of King Tut’s death by using the tools of science, including DNA tests and electronic scans of his mummy (木乃伊). Scientist Carsten Pusch conducted the tests on Tut for the new study. He thinks a broken leg contributed to the young king’s death.
More than 100 walking sticks were found in King Tut’s tomb. This supports the team’s findings. But how could a person die from a simple broken leg?
Pusch also found DNA evidence in Tut’s body that indicates he had malaria (疟疾), a disease carried by mosquitoes. Malaria severely weakens the immune system.
Pusch and his fellow researchers believe the malaria and the bone disease together caused the king’s fracture (骨折) to become deadly. Finally, the young king was just too weak to recover. So effects of the disease combined with the bad luck of a broken bone — not a jealous adviser — are likely the real causes of King Tut’s death.
1. It has long been believed by historians and scientists that _____.| A．King Tut was the youngest ruler in the world history |
| B．King Tut was the richest ruler in the history of Egypt |
| C．King Tut was murdered by one of his advisers |
| D．King Tut was poisoned by one of his servants |
| A．the king had been dead for 3,300 years |
| B．the king was buried grandly |
| C．the king was born with a bad immune system |
| D．the king’s body was well kept in the tomb |
| A．testing the king’s immune system |
| B．studying the walking sticks found in the tomb |
| C．performing experiments on mosquitoes |
| D．applying DNA tests and electronic scan technology |
| A．a different answer to King Tut’s death |
| B．a famous boy king in ancient Egypt |
| C．a treasure-filled tomb discovered in Egypt |
| D．a team of researchers studying ancient tombs |
7 . To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains, but actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a shade against the sun! Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese.
We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honour. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was commonly used in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.
During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it was considered as a symbol of power. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in France and later in England.
By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe. Umbrellas did not change much in style during all this time, though they became much lighter in weight. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made in a whole variety of colours.
1. According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first used in ancient________.| A．China | B．Egypt | C．Greece | D．Rome |
| A．during the Middle Ages |
| B．by the eighteenth century |
| C．in ancient Rome |
| D．in ancient Greece |
| A．when and how the umbrella was invented |
| B．why the umbrella was so popular in Europe |
| C．the development of the umbrella |
| D．the history and use of the umbrella |
8 . Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed a Sphinx statue (狮身人面像) with a smiley face near the Hathor Temple, one of the country’s best preserved ancient sites. The smiling Sphinx is much smaller than the famous Sphinx in Giza, which is 20 metres high. The stone work of art, believed to be a stylized representation of an ancient Roman emperor, was found inside a two-level tomb near the temple in southern Egypt.
Next to the beautifully and accurately carved Sphinx, researchers had found a Roman stone written in hieroglyph (象形文字). Once fully translated, the stone may unveil the identity of the sculpted ruler, who could be Emperor Claudius.
The smiling Sphinx is among a series of discoveries announced over the past few months. The country has uncovered major archaeological discoveries in recent months, primarily in the Saqqara cemetery (墓地) south of Cairo as well as in Giza, home to the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Recently, Egypt announced the discovery of a hidden nine-metre passage inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, which may lead to the actual burial room of pharaoh (法老) Khufu, or Cheops. Further south, in Luxor, archaeologists had discovered a 1,800-year-old complete residential city from the Roman times.
Hathor Temple, about 500 kilometres south of the capital Cairo, was home to the Dendera Zodiac, a heavenly map which has been displayed at the Louvre in Paris for more than a century. Since Frenchman Sebastien Louis Saulnier took it out of the temple in 1922, Egypt has been attempting to get it back.
Some experts see such announcements as having more political and economic weight than scientific, as Egypt is counting on tourism to revive its vital tourism industry in a severe economic crisis. The government aims to draw in 30 million tourists a year by 2028.
1. What do we know about the smiling Sphinx?| A．Its owner was confirmed as an ancient Roman ruler. |
| B．It has been the best-preserved Sphinx till now. |
| C．It is as high as 20 metres like the Sphinx of Giza. |
| D．It was discovered close to the Hathor Temple. |
| A．Reveal. |
| B．Seek. |
| C．Deny. |
| D．Maintain. |
| A．The diversity of cultural relics in Egypt. |
| B．The discoveries made recently in Egypt. |
| C．The status of the Great Pyramid of Giza. |
| D．The new discovery about pharaoh Khufu. |
| A．Scientific progress. |
| B．Political position. |
| C．Economic advance. |
| D．Cultural exchange. |
9 . My name is Arianna Traviglia and I’m a senior cultural and heritage researcher at the Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, Italy.
As head of the team, I encourage the development of new technologies to maintain and protect important archaeological (考古学的) findings. Right now, I am working in the field of Pompeii, an ancient Roman city which was destroyed and buried under 13 to 20 feet of ash and small rocks during a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. With the help of a robot, I try to carefully reconstruct (重建) the city’s 2,000-year-old broken frescoes (壁画). The project is called RePAIR.
There are thousands of fresco pieces in Pompeii, and it was nearly impossible for a human to reconstruct all the irregular pieces into big, meaningful paintings in the past. Technology now allows us to do it-the robot we use is running by artificial intelligence (AI). As it examines a piece, it searches a database for a match, and then sends the data back to its hands to fit matching pieces together, saving a lot of hours. Its soft human-like arms and hands allow it to hold and examine the easily broken pieces without damaging them. The technology is likely to allow many museums around the world to reconstruct large-scale broken frescoes or similar objects in the future.
In RePAIR, I’m studying the hyperspectral (高光谱的) images of the fresco pieces in storage and comparing them with the paintings on the walls of the House of the Painters at Work, part of a building in Pompeii. By comparing the resemblances in the images, we will be able to work out whether the broken pieces were from the same wall.
I studied history and archaeology in college. Archaeology helps us understand where we come from, and technology enriches that exploration. I’m glad I’m a translator of the two worlds. My mind runs wild when I think about the exciting Roman life that we are still missing because Pompeii’s frescoes were damaged and haven’t been reconstructed.
1. What is the author mainly responsible for now?| A．Repairing the damaged archaeological findings. | B．Designing robots used for archaeology. |
| C．Discovering ancient cities hidden beneath the ground. | D．Reporting on recent studies of historical ruins. |
| A．It may cause further damage to artworks. | B．It takes more time to the examine the artworks. |
| C．It doesn’t need human operators. | D．It has already been widely used in museums. |
| A．Mistakes. | B．Similarities. | C．Damages. | D．Documents. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Meaningful. | C．Relaxing. | D．Successful. |
10 . Steam trains paved the way for modern-day transportation, but just how much do you know about them?
The roots of steam trains can be traced back to the 18th century when the Scottish engineer James Watt improved steam engine technology. Watt’s improvements significantly enhanced the efficiency of steam engines. This breakthrough paved the way for the application of steam power in various industries, marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. As the 19th century started, George Stephenson used the power of steam to power locomotives (火车头), telling the age of steam-powered transportation.
Steam trains played a vital role in transforming the world into a connected network of nations. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the United States in 1869 marked a historic moment, as steam locomotives linked the East and West coasts, reducing travel time and expanding economic, opportunities.
Similarly, the Orient Express in Europe became a symbol of luxury and international travel, carrying passengers from Paris to Istanbul in a quick way. The rhythmic sound of wheels on rails echoed (回响) through diverse landscapes, from the dry deserts of Australia to the snowy expanses of Siberia, as steam trains formed paths of connectivity across continents. During times of war, the role of steam trains extended to soldier transportation.
While steam trains led the railway landscape for over a century, the mid-20th century witnessed the arrival of electric and diesel locomotives, claiming greater efficiency and lower operational costs, and signaling a transformative shift.
As steam trains were not mainstream transportation, enthusiasts worldwide have preserved and restored steam locomotives, ensuring that these classic engine s continue to attract new generations with their nostalgic (怀旧的) charm, and that their stories continue to be told for ages to come.
For Heritage railways, they dedicate to the restoration and operation of classic steam locomotives. From the Bluebell Railway in England to the Strasburg Rail Road in the United States, these living museums allow modern-day travelers to experience the magic of steam travel. Riding the polished carriages and hearing the distinctive whistle, visitors experience a sensory voyage, connecting with a time when steam trains were the heartbeat of progress and adventure.
1. What marks the beginning of the Industrial Revolution?| A．Rapid expansion of railways. | B．Advance of steam locomotives. |
| C．Great efficiency of transportation. | D．The use of steam power in industries. |
| A．Summarize the previous paragraphs. | B．Add more facts to the role of steam trains. |
| C．Share a historic moment. | D．Introduce the Orient Express. |
| A．They welcome the arrival of electric engines. | B．They insist on using steam trains. |
| C．They offer a journey back in time. | D．They prefer to improve steam engines. |
| A．A travel guide. | B．A book review. | C．A history paper. | D．A newspaper report. |
