1 . Hand gestures are a very useful communication tool because they are easy to learn and simple to perform     1     . Many hand gestures have been around for a very long time, though their meanings may have changed over the years. Here are the histories of three of our most commonly used hand signs.

Thumbs-up

Is there a more well-known sign of approval than the thumbs-up?     2    . When one gladiator (角斗士) beat another, he would look to the crowd for their opinion: Should the loser be allowed to live? The crowd would respond by turning their thumbs up if they wanted the man to be saved or down if they wanted him to be killed —at least, that’s what people used to think.     3     What would an ancient Roman think if he saw the number of thumbs-up we give each other today?

V Sign

    4    . Captured English archers (弓箭手) would have their first two fingers cut off so they could no longer fight. Uncaptured archers would therefore raise these two fingers to the enemy to show them that they could— and would— still draw their bows. Centuries later, the sign was employed by those who were fighting against the Nazis to represent “V for Victory,” and later to mean “peace” by American activists in the 1960s. During this time, people in Japan also started using the V sign in photos.

High Five

On October 2, 1977, after Dusty Baker hit a home run, L.A Dodgers baseball player Glenn Burke raised his hand to greet his teammate.     5     From then on, they would often give high fives during their games, and the gesture caught on.

A．Not all hand gestures are about communication.

B．Without thinking, Baker struck Burke’s hand hard

C．In the 1400s, there was a war between Britain and France.

D．They allow us to express strong emotions without the need for words.

E．However, new studies have shown that a thumbs-up meant that the loser should die!

F．In French, V stands for victoire, “victory,” and in Dutch, it stands for vrijheid, “freedom.”

G．The origins of this popular gesture actually go back to the bloody games of ancient Rome

2 . 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。

A comprehensive exhibition on Su Shi, a Chinese culture symbol person    1     (live) in the 11th century, opened at China's Palace Museum on September 1st 2020.

A total of 78 pieces or sets of exquisite works were     2     display at the exhibition, covering calligraphy,     3     (painting), epigraphy rubbings, objects, documents and rare texts. In addition to extensive works by Sue     4     (he), some exhibits were by his mentors and close friends, and others     5     (create)   in later times by artists to pay tribute to him.

Also known as Su Dongpo, Su Shi has     6     (remark)   achievements in poetry, painting and calligraphy. He was also known for his optimism and open-mindedness in the face of setbacks in his political career,     7     informed his works of art and has become a great     8     (inspire) for the following generations in China.

Palace Museum reopened on May 1st after     9     3- month closure due to the COVID- 19. However, visitors still need to make online reservation, have their body temperatures     10     (check) before entering, wear face masks and practice social distancing in the exhibition halls, according to the museum.

3 . For more than two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the United States Presidency, the U.S. government, and the American people. In 1790, President George Washington declared that the federal government would reside in a district “not exceeding ten miles square … on the river Potomac.” As preparations began, a competition was held to find a builder of the “President’s House.” Nine proposals were submitted, and the Irish-born architect James Hoban won the gold medal for his practical and handsome design. Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw (监督) the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife Abigail, moved in.

American presidents can express their individual style in how they decorate the house and in how they receive the public. Thomas Jefferson held the first inaugural (就职典礼) open house in 1805; many of those who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol simply followed him home. President Jefferson also opened the house for public tours, and it has remained open, except during wartime, ever since. In addition, Jefferson welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. Abraham Lincoln did the same, but then the inaugural crowds became far too large for the White House to accommodate comfortably, and this also created a security issue. It was not until Grover Cleveland’s first presidency that some effective crowd control measures were implemented to address the problem caused by this practice.

At various times in history, the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.

1. What is this passage mainly about?

A．The design of the White House.	B．The location of the White House.
C．The importance of the White House.	D．The history of the White House.

2. What does “this practice” refer to in the second paragraph?

A．Holding an inaugural open house.

B．Accommodating the crowds comfortably.

C．Decorating the White House.

D．Joining in the swearing-in ceremony.

3. Who initiated the construction of the White House?

A．John Adams.	B．James Hoban.
C．George Washington.	D．Thomas Jefferson.

4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about the White House?

A．The White House has had several names.

B．The designer of the White House was an American president.

C．People were not allowed to visit the White House during wartime.

D．The White House is located in a district not larger than ten miles square.

4 . Brownrigg is a London tour guide and leads walks through the capital all summer long, whatever the weather. His dozen or so routes range in topics from Harry Potter to the London Underground, but all have something in common. “I often end up talking about the weather,” he says. “It’s a national obsession (痴迷). I realised how much it has shaped London’s existence and history.”

Brownrigg’s Discovering Britain walk takes in several of the city’s famous landmarks, from the Tower of London lo the Shard, each stop exploring some of London’s extraordinary weather events.

We begin at the Monument Christopher Wren’s elegy to the Great Fire of London. With its pale stone column topped by a golden orb. the Monument was designed to look like a giant candle. It stands 202ft high, exactly 202ft away from where the lire began in Pudding Lane. Despite its size, the structure is dwarfed by (相形见绌) today’s surrounding tower blocks. Similarly, the causes behind the fire are sometimes overlooked. The Great Fire was a significant event in the City of London’s history, one that was shaped by the capitals geography. The spark was the weather.

As we enjoy some autumn sun beside the Monument, Brownrigg explains: “The summer of 1666 was unusually warm. At that time London was crammed (塞满) with wooden buildings, many only a few feet apart. A long, hot summer left them bone dry. Add stores of flammable materials including gunpowder left over from the Civil War and the city was a giant tinderbox.” It caught a light on 2 September when a bakery oven wasn’t cleaned properly. The inferno (特大火) lasted three days thanks to a strong breeze. Besides fanning the flames, the wind caused more mess by changing direction.

1. What does “it” refer to in paragraph 1?

A．Introducing the celebrities in London.	B．Talking about the weather.
C．Explaining the public transport.	D．Exploring the culture of Britain.

2. What does Brownrigg do mainly in each stop?

A．Admiring the special architecture.

B．Warning tourists of the public safety.

C．Paying a visit to the famous museums.

D．Probing some historical matters with weather.

3. How does the third paragraph develop?

A．By making a comparison.	B．By analyzing the important figures.
C．By offering some examples.	D．By describing the features of the buildings.

4. What can be inferred mainly from Brownrigg’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Showing the materials of the buildings.	B．Expressing the cause of the Great Fire.
C．Predicting the change of the weather.	D．Describing the surroundings of the bakery.