Marco Polo came from a wealthy family and received a good education. He was only six years old when his father and uncle left for a journey to China or Cathay, as it was called at that time. At the age of 17, Marco followed his father and uncle on their second journey to Asia.
The Polos traveled through many countries, over mountains and along the Silk Road, the main travel route for traders. Marco would keep detailed journals and record his findings. The Polos also stopped for a year in the Mongol region. There they learnt about the lives and culture of the people. This was useful as Marco was able to share what he had learnt with the Emperor of China, Kublai Khab. The Emperor was impressed with him. The Polos traveled 9,000 kilometres in more than three and a half years before reaching China. There Marco was most surprised to find the stones that burnt like logs. The Chinese had found a source of fuel that nobody in Europe could have imagined. It was called coal.
In 1298, Marco wrote a book called The Travels of Marco Polo which was a record of his travels in Asia. The book enabled the Europeans to understand and carry out trading activities more easily with Asians.
1. What was China also called in the past? (1 word)2. What was the Silk Road mainly used as in ancient times? (no more than 10 words)
3. What did the Polos do during their stay in the Mongol region? (no more than 12 words)
4. Why was Marco impressed with the stones? (no more than 6 words)
5. What is the main idea of the last paragraph? (no more than 10 words)
2 . U. S. Open Championships
The US Open has been in existence for almost 140 years. The first tournament was held in 1881 at the Newport Casino. It was called the US National Singles Championship. Entry was limited to only those clubs which were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, and the competitors were all male, competing in both single and doubles. Richard Sears won the men’s championship and he went on to win the next six men’s singles championships.
The Wimbledon
In 1875, the All England Croquet Club was troubled financially due to declining membership. A new sport called lawn tennis was gaining fast in popularity and taking away the members. Two years later, a new roller was needed for maintaining its lawns so the club proposed to hold a tournament to raise money. Twenty-two players entered that first Wimbledon tournament which was won by Spencer Gore in straight sets over W. C. Marshall. Two hundred spectators each paid a shilling to watch the final game, enabling the club to buy the needed roller plus some extra cash.
The French Open
The very first French Championship was held way back in 1891, and the tournament has since grown into one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments we know today. The first competition was a one-day national championship which was won by a British. The competition was poorly attended by world class players. It took 24 years before it became fully international and an accepted tennis grand slam event. After the First World War, French tennis was achieving stature（重要性）. Suzanne Lenglen was the predominant（卓越的）French player, winning the championships six times between 1920 and 1926.
The Australian Open
The very first tennis tournament ever played in Australia was held in January 1880, on the courts of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1905, the Australian Open was established as the Australasian Tennis Championship and was played at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne. It became the Australian Championship in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969. Women’s events were added in 1922.
1. What do we know about the first U. S. Open?| A．It was sponsored and organized by a tennis club. |
| B．Only men were allowed to play in the game. |
| C．Richard Sears won six men’s championships. |
| D．It has remained the same through all these years. |
| A．raise some fund for a lawn roller |
| B．attract more people to play tennis |
| C．celebrate the renaming of the club |
| D．make the game more enjoyable |
| A．the tournament has been played in the same place all these years |
| B．twenty-two players played in the first tournament |
| C．few good tennis players took part in the first French Championship |
| D．the players played in singles and doubles in the tournament |
| A．they were all born in the same year |
| B．they have all experienced financial difficulties |
| C．they all had only male players at the beginning |
| D．they all have had a history of 130 years or more |
| A．how the four international tennis tournaments came into being |
| B．how long it took for women to play in the tennis tournaments |
| C．what the international tennis tournaments brought to the world |
| D．why the tennis tournaments are held in these four countries |
3 . A perfectly preserved wreck (沉船) that has lain unnoticed in the icy Baltic Sea for over 500 years has finally been confirmed. The European ship was first observed in 2009, when a sonar(声呐) exploration by the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) indicated a large object in the area. However, it was not until early 2019 that researchers from Soton and MMT found evidence of the sunken ship using underwater robotic cameras.
When the team observed the pictures of the 60-foot-long shipwreck, they were surprised to discover it was 99 percent complete. The scientists considered that the wreck's good condition is due to its place in the Baltic Seabed, where the oxygen levels are low. Oxygen is key to most ocean life's survival. Therefore, such an environment where the shipwreck stays reduces or completely removes the creatures that feed on rotting wood.
So although this ship is contemporary to the times of Christopher Columbus, it shows a remarkable level of preservation after 500 years at the bottom of the sea. Dr. Pacheco-Ruiz, who led the MMT effort, said,“It's almost like it sank yesterday. It's a truly astonishing sight."
The scientists are unsure what let the ship sink. However, the ship's guns, which are in their"ready to fire" positions, indicate it may have been the victim of a naval battle. Since the ship dates back to the early 16th century, historians predict it may have sunk during Sweden's three year independence war with its Danish rulers between 1521 and 1523. Alternatively, it could also have been involved in the border dispute (争端) between Russia and Sweden from 1554 to 1557.
The ship is by far the best-preserved shipwreck ever found from the Age of Exploration, when Europeans explored the world by sea.
What's more exciting is that the ship is similar to the Pinta and La Nina, which Comlubus famously sailed toward North America. The scientists, who continue to observe the shipwreck hope the boat's design will expose some of the technologies available to the Italian explorer during his 1492 voyage of discovery.
1. What scientific achievement did Soton 's and MMT' s researchers make?| A．Discovering a wreck using sonar. |
| B．Getting the wreck out or icy water. |
| C．Identifying the object found by SMA. |
| D．Making the ancient wreck well preserved. |
| A．It is generally unfit for creatures to live in. | B．It is tough for scientists to do research. |
| C．It contains too many harmful gases. | D．It is filled with rotting wood. |
| A．his curiosity about the time when the ship sank |
| B．his amazement at the ship's previous grandness |
| C．his surprise at the wreck's well-preserved condition |
| D．his shock at the sinking of the great European ship |
| A．The damage to the ship. | B．The causes of the ship's sinking. |
| C．The construction of the ship. | D．The possible function of the ship. |
| A．Recovering the ancient ships, the Pinta and La Nina. |
| B．Finding every aspect of life in the Age of Exploration. |
| C．Exploring the role the ship played in Columbus' exploration. |
| D．Leaning about Columbus' voyage according to the ship's design. |
Windsor Castle is surrounded by a lot of green gardens in the English countryside. It looks out onto the River Thames and sits next
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest castle
Kings were born and
Today, Windsor Castle is the private home of Queen Elizabeth II. When she doesn’t meet guests at Buckingham Palace, she goes to Windsor Castle.
5 . Bicycles are very popular around the world nowadays. People ride their bicycles for exercise and enjoyment. In some places, people use bicycles to get to work. In other places, bicycle riding is a very popular exercise to people who live in cities. But who invented the first bicycle?
In 1791, a Frenchman named Comte de Sivrac invented and owned the first bicycle. Mrs. Sivrac rode the bicycle in Paris. The handles and the seat were wooden. This bicycle was very difficult to move. A rider even had to pick up the front wheel to change direction. What's worse, the bicycle had no brakes for stopping or pedals for the feet! Riding a bicycle took great risk.
In 1817, a German named Baron von Drais de Sauerbrun made the first bicycle better. The seat became more comfortable. The wheel could now change direction. His ride in the forest took only one hour instead of three hours on foot, which surprised people at that time.
Sauerbrun brought this kind of bicycle from Germany to France. Then Denis Johnson, an Englishman, made a bicycle for women. It had space for their dresses to hang down. But these bicycles still had no brakes or pedals, and riders often got hurt. These bicycles and the people who rode them were not very popular.
It took another forty-five years for the bicycle to become popular. More than 100 years later, bicycle riding is more popular than ever. In fact, in India and China, there are still many more bicycles than cars.
1. According to the passage, people ride bicycles in order to ______.| A．find good jobs | B．take exercise |
| C．be liked by others | D．live in cities |
| A．difficult to move | B．popular with women |
| C．comfortable to ride | D．easy to change direction |
| A．It had brakes. | B．It had pedals. |
| C．It was made for women. | D．It was very popular. |
| A．1817 | B．1836 |
| C．1862 | D．1962 |
| A．The reasons for riding a bike. | B．The inventor of the bicycle. |
| C．A very popular exercise. | D．The history of the bicycle. |
6 . From early times, man has been interested in art. People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures.
Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre (卢浮宫) in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries. It is the biggest art museum in the world.
The Louvre has not always been a museum. The first building was a fort (堡垒). In 1190, it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat (护城河) to keep out the enemies.
Over the years, the number of buildings around the fort grew. By 1350, the fort was no longer needed and became a palace home for French kings and queens.During times of peace, new treasures were brought in. During days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged.
When Francis Ⅰ became King of France in 1515, he brought in many artists from many countries. One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy. He worked in Paris. Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the best-known painting in the museum today.
In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasures are kept for everyone to enjoy. Every year millions of people from all over the world come to the Louvre to see the master-pieces.
1. How long has the Louvre been a museum?| A．For over 800 years. |
| B．Since 1350. |
| C．Since 1515. |
| D．For over 200 years. |
| A．by the French people |
| B．by Francis |
| C．by Leonardo da Vinci |
| D．by people of the world |
| A．Da Vinci once stayed in France. |
| B．Mona Lisa is kept in the louvre. |
| C．The Louvre was once a church. |
| D．The Louvre is a place of interest to different people from all over the world. |
| A．In public museums the works of art will not be stolen. |
| B．In public museums the works of art will not be damaged. |
| C．In public museums artists can study the works of art. |
| D．In public museums everyone has a chance to enjoy the works of art. |
| A．A famous painting—Mona Lisa |
| B．A famous art museum—Louvre |
| C．A famous artist—Da Vinci |
| D．The great King—Francis |
7 . Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, was elected 16th president of the United States in November 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Lincoln proved to be a smart military strategist and a competent leader: His Emancipation Proclamation (解放宣言) paved the way for slavery’s abolition, while his Gettysburg Address stands as one of the most famous speeches in American history. In April 1865, with the Union on the brink of victory, Abraham Lincoln was killed; his untimely death made him a hero to the cause of liberty, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history.
On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be killer, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.
At the end of his two terms in office, Ronald Reagan viewed with satisfaction the achievements of his innovative program known as the Reagan Revolution, which aimed to motivate the American people and reduce their reliance upon Government. He felt he had fulfilled his campaign pledge of 1980 to restore “the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism.”
When George W. Bush, at the age of 54, became the 43rd president of the United States, it was only the second time in American history that a president’s son went on to the White House. John Quincy Adams, elected the sixth president in 1824, was the son of John Adams, the second president. While John Adams had brought up his son to be president. George Bush, the 41st president, insisted he was surprised when the eldest of his six children became interested in politics, became governor of Texas, and then went on to the white House.
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States. His story is the American story—values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the belief that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.
With a father from Kenva and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton’s army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank.
| A．Abraham Lincoln. | B．Ronald Reagan. |
| C．George W. Bush. | D．Barack Obama. |
| A．he regretted having been elected President |
| B．he still had much to do for the country |
| C．he had kept his promise to the people |
| D．he was becoming more popular with the people |
| A．George W Bush. | B．John Adams. |
| C．John Quincy Adams. | D．George Bush. |
| A．Abraham Lincoln. | B．Ronald Reagan. |
| C．George W. Bush. | D．Barack Obama. |
| A．Abraham Lincoln. | B．Ronald Reagan. |
| C．George W. Bush. | D．Barack Obama. |
8 . A number of Cypriots gathered in order to hear three speakers share their experiences and thoughts on the damage of sites and monuments of Cypriot cultural heritage in the occupied north.
According to the latest reports, 575 churches have been desecrated(亵渎), 19 have been damaged and 41 have been used in unacceptable ways. But a group of devoted Cypriots have tried to actively show that they don’t stand such contempt(轻视)for a country’s history and tradition.
One of the speakers, Glafkos Kariolou, spoke about the need for the locals who have been forced to flee their home due to the Turkish attack on Cyprus to gradually “re-root” themselves to their homeland.
The audience was deeply moved by the personal report given by a woman described by the event organizers from the “Lobby for Cyprus” as “a legend”. Tasoula Hadjitofi, founder of the Netherlands based “Walk of Truth” non-governmental organization, almost single-handedly managed to make the whole world aware of the problem of artifacts’ trafficking.(文物走私)
Jim Karygiannis, another speaker, has long been interested and helping with the restoration of destroyed cultural monuments. Mending damage is important, but stopping the damage is more important. So his suggestion to apply pressure on international bodies over the occupied Cyprus cultural heritage protection had everyone in the audience nodding in agreement.
Although the current picture taken from occupied Cyprus regarding the respect towards the island’s cultural heritage makes the Cypriots’ hearts bleed, that hot evening left them with a hope that things could be fixed, at least to a degree. However, as the speakers suggested, wishful thinking does not achieve results.
Specific non-governmental plans have already been made. One of them involves regular visits to the occupied land by young second generation Cypriot refugees, guided by people that grew up in those areas. The other, aiming at a higher level of politics, runs along the lines of sending the information concerning the damage of occupied Cyprus’s cultural heritage to all nationally elected officials.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．Cypriots took over the cultural heritage in the occupied north in the end. |
| B．The meeting made no difference to the protection of Cypriot cultural heritage. |
| C．Cypriot cultural heritage in the occupied north has been completely destroyed. |
| D．In northern Cyprus, Cypriot history and tradition are treated in disrespectful ways. |
| A．is described as “a legend” |
| B．aims at protecting artifacts |
| C．is a branch of “Lobby for Cyprus” |
| D．is managed by the Netherlands government |
| A．repair | B．cleanup | C．replacement | D．analysis |
| A．Organizing a trip to the occupied Cyprus. |
| B．Driving the Turkish out of the occupied north. |
| C．Taking action is more effective than thinking. |
| D．Calling on the government to make new policies. |
| A．Cypriot cultural heritage suffers from serious damage. |
| B．Effective ways Cypriots have been used to protect cultural heritage. |
| C．Cypriots are determined to protect cultural heritage in the occupied north. |
| D．Cypriots are taking measures to regain cultural heritage occupied by Turkey. |
The next great invasion of Britain was done by Vikings about 1, 100 years ago. Many English words used today come from these ancient Vikings.
The next invasion of Britain took place more than 900 years ago, in 1066. History experts call this invasion the Norman Conquest. The Normans were a French-speaking people from Normandy in the north of France. These new rulers(统治者) spoke only French for several hundred years. It was the most important language in the world at that time. It was the language of educated people. But the common people of Britain still spoke old English.
Old English took many words from the Norman French. Some of these include “damage”, “prison”, and “marriage”. The French language used by the Norman rulers greatly changed the way English was spoken 800 years ago. English became what language experts call Middle English. Middle English sounds like Modern English. But it is difficult to understand now. The history of the English language continues as Middle English becomes Modern English, which is spoken today.
1. Who was the first invaders(入侵者) of Britain?
| A．The Angles. | B．The Saxons. |
| C．The Jutes. | D．The Normans. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. |
| C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．It sounds like Old English. |
| B．It’s quite different from Modern English. |
| C．Few people understand it now. |
| D．It stopped developing. |
| A．races (种族) | B．social positions |
| C．ability | D．names |
| A．The historical invasions of Britain. |
| B．Other languages that have influenced English. |
| C．The origin (起源) and development of English. |
| D．Old English and Modern English. |
Napoleon, as a character in Tolstoy’sWar and Peace, is more than once described as having “fat little hands.’’ Nor does he “sit well or firmly on the horse.’’ He is said to be “undersized.’’ with“short legs’’ and a “round stomach”. The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy’s description--it seems not that far off from historical accounts but his choice of facts：other things that could be said of the man are not said. We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander in the body of a fat little Frenchman. Tolstoy’s Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose—and that is the point.
It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character. And it turns out that, as Tolstoy has it, Napoleon is a crazy man. In a scene in Book Three ofWar and Peace, the wars having reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar(沙皇), who has come with peace terms. Napoleon is very angry：doesn’t he have more army? He, not the Tsar, is the one to make the terms. He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped. “That is what you will have gained by engaging me in the war!” he shouts. And then, Tolstoy writes, Napoleon “walked silently several times up and down the room, his fat shoulders moving quickly.’’
Still later, after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds, Napoleon invites the shaken Russian to dinner. “He raised his hand to the Russian’s…face,” Tolstoy writes, and “taking him by the ear pulled it gently….” To have one’s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered the greatest honor and mark of favor at the French court. “Well, well, why don’t you say anything?’’ said he, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to respect any one but himself, Napoleon.
Tolstoy did his research, but the composition is his own.
1. Tolstoy’s description of Napoleon in War and Peaceis _________.
| A．far from the historical facts | B．based on the Russian history |
| C．based on his selection of facts | D．not related to historical details |
| A．he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms |
| B．the Tsar's peace terms were hard to accept |
| C．the Russians stopped his military movement |
| D．he didn’t have any more army to fight with |
| A．To walk out of the room in anger. | B．To show agreement with him. |
| C．To say something about the Tsar. | D．To express his admiration. |
| A．ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests | B．fond of showing off his iron will |
| C．determined in destroying all of Europe | D．crazy for power and respect |
| A．A writer doesn’t have to be faithful to his findings. |
| B．A writer may write about a hero in his own way. |
| C．A writer may not be responsible for what he writes. |
| D．A writer has hardly any freedom to show his feelings. |
