1 . Glass marble playing, dating psychology, Harry Potter and genetics, life and death ... Chinese universities have started setting up innovative new courses. In these classes, students are able to learn knowledge through vivid examples and group work, making learning fun.

For example, at Tianjin University, the most popular elective course is dating psychology, which is in high demand all the time. Jin Yangbo, 18, enrolled in the course this school year. “This course is very scientific,” said Jin. “It doesn’t straight away start with techniques on how to date, but instead guide s us to learn more about ourselves, our family and our attachment styles.”

What made Jin impressive was the group discussion on the differences between how men and women think. “I hadn’t realized that there were that many differences between men and women in emotional expression,” Jin said.

Wang Xiaoling, the professor of the course, applied to make dating psychology an elective course in 2019. “I do psychological counseling on campus and have noticed a rising need among students to have professional relationship guidance,” said Wang. “I think theoretical knowledge and practice are both essential in relationships,” Wang said. “Many university students haven’t developed a healthy view toward relationships. When they encounter problems, many of them don’t have a good system for handling consequences.”

In the course, Wang has covered topics like “why some people tend to please others in relationships”, “how to handle conflicts” and “how to get over a person after breaking up”. “I also asked them to do group presentations and papers on these topics, so that they can explore themselves in an active way.”

In the future, Wang and the university want to start a video channel on social media so they can help more young people all over China. “We will design the course based on current situations so that the knowledge is more up-to-date,” Wang said.

1. Which of the following best describes the elective courses?

A．Easy and fun.	B．Creative and hands-on.
C．Serious and complicated.	D．Scientific and interesting.

2. What impressed Jin most about the course?

A．Techniques on how to date.	B．Its emphasis on self-awareness.
C．The lesson on attachment.	D．A discussion on gender differences.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Wang’s views on relationships.

B．The origin of the dating psychology course.

C．The purpose of the dating psychology course.

D．Problems with how students deal with relationships.

4. What does Wang plan to do?

A．Make the course more accessible.	B．Do counseling on social media.
C．Include difficult topics in the course.	D．Adapt content for different age groups.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。材料和问题读两遍。
1. Question 1:

A．Ballet.

B．Modern dance.

C．Tango.

2. Question 2:

A．Tom.

B．Shelley.

C．Mary.

3. Question 3:

A．To improve her dance skill.

B．To teach others to dance.

C．To enjoy the free lessons.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When will this course begin?

A．Today.

B．Next week.

C．Next month.

2. What kind of students has the speaker taught?

A．Businessmen.

B．actors.

C．College students.

3. What will all students do first?

A．Write about their interests.

B．Debate some topics.

C．Write down their objectives.

4. What topic interests the speaker most?

A．Music.

B．Sports.

C．Art.

4 . What is a GPA?

A GPA, or Grade Point Average, typically ranging from one to four, is a number reflecting your course performance on average. It’s used by universities to determine whether students meet academic standards and by students to enhance job prospects or secure admission into post-graduate programs.

How to calculate a GPA?

● Determine the letter grade and the number of credit hours for each course you take in a term;

● Translate the letter grade to grade points using your school’s grading system;

● Multiply the grade points by the credit hours for that course;

● Add up all the credit hours for the courses;

● Divide the total number of grade points by the total credit hours and you get the GPA.

Example: Academic Transcript of Jane Smith                    Winter 2023
Courses	Letter Grade	Grade points	Credit hours	Total points	GPA
Creative Writing	A+	4.0	3	12	-
Psychology	A-	3.7	3	11.1	-
History	B+	3.3	3	9.9	-
Computer Science	F	0.0	2	0	-
Total	-	-	11	33

What are the consequences of failing college courses?

● Every failing grade (F) significantly impacts your GPA for that academic year, limiting clubs, organizations and program choices, as competitive programs require top GPAs.

● Most financial aid programs require a specific GPA. A sharp drop in GPA due to several course failures may lead to withdrawal from financial aid programs, unless you retake the courses and pass.

● For college athletes on sports scholarships, failing courses repeatedly can lead to losing scholarships and team spots.

● Failing multiple courses can result in school removal and affect future applications.

1. What is Jane Smith’s GPA this term?

A．3.3.

B．3.0.

C．2.8.

D．1.0.

2. What would be a result if you get one F in college?

A．School removal.	B．Loss of financial aid.
C．Choice limitation.	D．Disqualification in sports.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．An academic course guide.	B．A campus job fair poster.
C．A graduate application form       .	D．An athletic team schedule.

5 . Alia found herself disappointed in the drawing studio after missing out on picking her classes due to illness. She had hoped for Biology, but it was ___________ by the time she got to choose. She loved everything about science, from the way it used facts to how it revealed the basic nature of things. But ___________ was so... un-scientific.

The first class project was self-portraits (肖像). Some students were drawing self-portraits using___________. Others were working from photographs. Alia___________the incomplete outlines, feeling like a cat in a dog show.

The teacher ___________ her. “Every portrait begins with a circle,” he said. “Then you create a series of lines.” To ___________, he drew a group of small, quick portraits. He began each one with a ___________ , some straight lines, and a triangle (三角形) to determine ___________ the eyes, nose, and chin (下巴) should go.

___________, Alia began her own self-portrait. She ____________ the basic form of a head, the way she had been shown. From there, she used lines to plot the ____________ of her face. The process took patience and ____________ . She had to take note of each detail. One wrong measurement could throw off the whole ____________.

Alia was surprised by the structure and discipline involved in drawing a portrait. Measuring, studying details and ____________ the basic nature of something ______________ her of what she loved about science.

1.

A．full

B．changeable

C．busy

D．tough

2.

A．biology

B．art

C．physics

D．medicine

3.

A．artbooks

B．glass

C．brushes

D．mirrors

4.

A．cared for

B．searched for

C．glanced at

D．get rid of

5.

A．punished

B．approached

C．blamed

D．requested

6.

A．introduce

B．demonstrate

C．complete

D．promote

7.

A．letter

B．square

C．circle

D．dot

8.

A．why

B．when

C．how

D．where

9.

A．Surprisingly

B．Excitedly

C．Hesitantly

D．Disappointedly

10.

A．drew

B．wrote

C．printed

D．typed

11.

A．features

B．sizes

C．colors

D．lengths

12.

A．accuracy

B．love

C．courage

D．humor

13.

A．design

B．paper

C．portrait

D．book

14.

A．changing

B．revealing

C．distinguishing

D．understanding

15.

A．warned

B．informed

C．suspect

D．reminded

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many levels of courses does the English Training Programme offer?

A．Twelve.

B．Eight.

C．Seven.

2. What is the advantage of the programme?

A．It can meet personal needs.

B．It is available throughout the year.

C．It provides courses on US culture.

3. What can students get if they perform well in an end-of-session test?

A．A course for free.

B．As even-week break.

C．A promotion to a higher level.

4. What does the students centre offer?

A．Extra practice hours.

B．Trips abroad.

C．Social activities.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does the man want to learn writing?

A．On the Internet.

B．Face to face.

C．Self-learning.

2. Why does the man want to take writing courses?

A．To publish his works.

B．To enjoy the fun of writing.

C．To earn more money.

3. What kind of brochure will the man receive?

A．Fiction writing.

B．Business writing.

C．Creative writing.

8 . I was a rising high school junior in the summer of 2021, when I took Philosophy 101 at Lehmon College, a   ____that allows New York City public school students to earn credits. Why philosophy?________, I chose it on impulse (一时冲动). I expected this course to be interesting. I didn’t expect this class, which________me to the words and works of Socrates, Plato and other moral philosophers, to change my________to college education.

But that’s what________. During the second week of class, when we________the work of Socrates, I read Socrates’ words, “The unexamined life is no life for a human being to live”. My eyes________in surprise and my posture was fixed. I read these words over and over until my professor broke my trance (出神、发呆), “Could anyone in the class interpret the_______ of Socrates’ words?”

Then I did my best to explain that the wise philosopher was making a________on how we should live. To me, this meant getting________about all aspects of yourself, putting yourself in academic, social and cultural spaces that will_______ your world view, and being open to personal growth along the way.

After reflecting on the words even after the course was over, I realized Socrates was________meaningful life means a(n)________to exploration. Being immersed in ideas such as Socrates’________me to think about the person I am. I began to see college as a place to gain knowledge and explore my interests,________just fulfill classes.

1.

A．interview

B．survey

C．camp

D．course

2.

A．Generally

B．Honestly

C．Roughly

D．Briefly

3.

A．recommended

B．pushed

C．introduced

D．compared

4.

A．secret

B．solution

C．attitude

D．behavior

5.

A．happened

B．started

C．worked

D．ended

6.

A．made up

B．put forward

C．went through

D．turned down

7.

A．widened

B．clouded

C．narrowed

D．shut

8.

A．difference

B．source

C．meaning

D．feature

9.

A．defence

B．bet

C．story

D．claim

10.

A．scared

B．curious

C．confident

D．confused

11.

A．satisfy

B．challenge

C．block

D．expand

12.

A．right

B．positive

C．rigid

D．cautious

13.

A．dignity

B．commitment

C．failure

D．adjustment

14.

A．inspired

B．forced

C．forgave

D．seized

15.

A．but

B．simply

C．even

D．not

9 . The Great Courses—Best for Lifelong Learners

The Great Courses, one of the best online course providers, is an online platform that can meet the demands of individuals who love to learn simply for joy and choose from 1,345 courses in a range of topics.

The Great Courses Overview
Areas of study	13 subjects available
Course level	Beginner, advanced
Cost	$18.50—$469.95
Languages available	English only

What We Like

●While most other online course providers concentrate on upskilling and improving career and salary prospects, this platform is more about sharing knowledge for the purpose of satisfying intellectual curiosity. Popular courses focus on subjects like cooking, painting, dog training, language, culture, literature, music, science, history, geography and more.

●Lessons are video-based, available by streaming through The Great Courses’ website or mobile app or on DVDs. Many lectures are also available as streaming audio makes it even easier for students to learn anytime and anywhere.

●The price of courses can range from around $20 to a few hundred dollars, but The Great Courses regularly offers discounts. The Great Courses also partners with Wondrium, a subscribed online learning platform, which gives students unlimited access to a library of courses for $12.50 per month.

What We Don’t Like

Students who’re seeking online learning to gain marketable, career-focused skills may need help in finding what they’re looking for through The Great Courses. This platform has no grades or certificates of completion. Lecture-based video lessons may not appeal to all learners, especially those who prefer mastering new skills through experiential learning or reading assignments.

What Students Are Saying

Users give the platform 3.8 stars on Trustpilot. “I’ve been enjoying courses from this company for the last ten years. Its courses have broadened my outlook on life, educated me and entertained me,” writes one student.

1. What does The Great Courses focus more on?

A．Improving career skills.	B．Hands-on practice.
C．Tips on increasing incomes.	D．Sharing knowledge.

2. What can we know about The Great Courses?

A．Its partner provides courses for free.	B．Its course expenses are too high.
C．It has convenient video-based lessons.	D．It helps a lot for those job-seekers.

3. What is a disadvantage of The Great Courses?

A．It offers no completion certificates.	B．Its topic is relatively single.
C．It is only suitable for beginners.	D．Its subjects are very limited.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How long will the course run this year?

A．Eight weeks.

B．Six weeks.

C．Seven weeks.

2. What was the woman surprised at?

A．The lack of assistants.

B．The condition of weather.

C．The number of children.

3. What new activities can the children have this year?

A．Fun programs.

B．Adventure sports.

C．Creative classes.

4. What is expected about the course this year?

A．It will last longer.

B．It will run better.

C．It will start earlier.