1 . 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 team of     1     (expert) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, working with a colleague from the National University of Mongolia, conducted a study of the 405-km wall in eastern Mongolia. They used     2     variety of ways in order to learn more about     3     (it) history and purpose. In their published paper, the group     4     (describe) the techniques and technology they used to study the wall.

They mapped the wall,     5     stretches (延伸) from the Dornod Province to the Sukhbaatar Province, roughly along the border (国界) between Mongolia and China. They found that it was unclear when the wall was built, estimated to be between the 11th and 13th centuries. The team referred     6     weather records to learn more about what the wall had experienced over the years and satellite imagery to learn more about connections between wall locations and terrain (地形).

The research team found some surprises. The     7     (big) of all surprises was that the wall had large gaps that suggested it was not made to keep out all invaders (侵略者)—it appeared that it was built     8     (quick) to deal with certain invaders. There was also evidence that suggested the wall was built as a means of     9     (control) the movement of people or animals. Though there were many discoveries, the researchers intended     10     (continue) their work, hoping to learn more.

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。

Many people must have read The Art Of War but how many have     1     (true) understood it? What does it have to teach us? This is too big     2     question to explore.

    3     (appreciate) The Art Of War fully, we must first understand who Sun Tzu was. The thing about Sun Tzu is that his whole existence remains     4     (hide) in mystery. Where did he live? Where was he born? How did he become so successful? How did he die? No one knows the exact answers     5     these questions.

Some people actually believe Sun Tzu did not live and that he     6     (be) just a myth, to begin with. This claim is strongly supported by many people     7     Sun Tzu does not appear in many important historical records, but then again, there could be an error.

But it could be possible that Sun Tzu was born under the name of Sun Wu around 544 BCE. Sun Tzu made the major     8     (appear) of his life as a military strategist for King Ho-Lu, in the state of Wu, also known for     9     (win) many great battles in history. According to researchers, he supposedly wrote the texts during the Warring States period. This was the time     10     China was divided into seven states that waged war against each other for supremacy (霸权).

3 . 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。

Chang’an Tower, also known as the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, is an architectural wonder     1     (locate) in Xi’an, China. With its rich historical significance and stunning beauty, this ancient tower stands as a masterpiece of China’s cultural heritage.

    2     (original) built during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, Chang’an Tower served as a Buddhist pagoda, housing Buddhist materials that the monk Xuanzang brought from India. Its construction     3    (order) by Emperor Gaozong to promote Buddhism and facilitate (使……便利) the translation of Buddhist scriptures (佛经)     4     Chinese.

Rising to a     5     (high) of 64 meters, the square-shaped, thirteen-storey tower showcases the splendid craftsmanship of ancient Chinese craftsmen, each storey of     6     exhibits unique architectural features,     7     (reflect) the cultural influences of the time. Visitors can go up the internal staircase to the top for magnificent     8     (view) of the city. Surrounding the pagoda, the serene gardens and the Da Ci’en Temple offer a peaceful retreat as well.

Whether it is for experiencing a piece of history     9     exploring cultural wonders, Chang’an Tower is     10     essential destination for those exploring China’s vast historical landscape.

4 . 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。

The Xuanyuan Mirror is a special ancient Chinese mirror made of bronze. It was created during the Han Dynasty,     1     lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. This mirror     2     (consider) one of China’s most important archaeological     3     (discovery) and can be seen at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The Xuanyuan Miror is big and round, about 51 cm in diameter. It has a curved surface that bulges (凸起) outwards     4     (slight), making it look unique. The mirror is decorated     5    many patterns and designs, such as dragons, phoenixes, and other imaginary creatures.

One thing that makes the Xuanyuan Mirror so interesting is its writing, called an inscription (铭文). It says “Xuanyuan” in ancient Chinese characters. People believe this refers to Emperor Wu of Han, who     6     (rule) from 141 BCE to 87 BCE. The mirror might have been made during his time     7     (show) his power and authority.

Not only is the Xuanyuan Mirror important for history, but it is also     8     beautiful work of art. The detailed designs show how talented and     9     (create) ancient Chinese craftsmen were. Today, it remains one of the most popular exhibits at the Palace Museum,     10     (attract) visitors from all over the world who come to appreciate its beauty and learn about its exciting history.

5 . English history is vast, from its rule under the Romans to the rise, heights and decline of the British Empire. When choosing a book to recommend on my country’s history, I wanted something that could summarize this sweeping history but didn’t get stuck in the details of things that hold me back from thoroughly engaging with this truly rich history. Then, I found Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England. It had just what I was looking for and was a real joy to read.

The book is a whistle-stop tour through the whole of English history, from its earliest people to the movement of settlers from Europe. It looks at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Elizabeth I’s reign (统治) and the lasting impact of Shakespeare. Then it touches on the English Civil Wars and the shift of rule from kings and queens to the parliament (议会) running the country and the establishment of the political parties of the Whigs (辉格党) and Tories (托利党) still functioning today in some form as the currently ruling Conservative Party (保守党). It also covers the Napoleonic Wars and the world wars and even contemplates (思考) England’s post-Brexit (脱欧后的) present and future.

This really is quite the sweeping tome. However, it’s very short. This means it’s easy to navigate and get a hold of a huge amount of history, but it also means it’s very light on the details. At times, this can be frustrating, as there are parts where it feels like just another paragraph or page would really elevate this book. But for an introduction to English history or perhaps a reminder or refresher, it’s great and particularly useful as it is likely to fill in some gaps in your knowledge.

Furthermore, because of the pace of the book, there’s not a dull moment. It’s a real page-turner, covering the succession (交替) of kings and queens, wars, famines (饥荒) and changes in the social order of the country at home and the country’s influence across the world.

One reviewer on Amazon described the book as “a small masterpiece”, and said, “This is a great book for anyone who wants to get a crash course in English history or for those who want a quick reference to that subject.”

So, jump in, dear readers, and get a hold of what made England what it was, what it went on to be, and where it may stand in our global future.

1. What is the main focus of Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England?

A．Detailed exploration of England’s political parties.

B．An introduction to the British Empire’s rise and fall.

C．A brief overview of England’s historical shifts and events.

D．In-depth analysis of England’s post-Brexit policies.

2. What is a weakness mentioned by the reviewer regarding the book?

A．Its pace is slow and frustrating.

B．There’s a shortage of information on wars.

C．It dives too deeply into political complexities.

D．It lacks detailed information due to its shortness.

3. What does the underlined word “page-turner” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．A book that is exciting to read.	B．A book that has lots of pages to turn.
C．A book that is easy to understand.	D．A book that is complicated.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Jump into the UK’s past.	B．The ebb and flow of the UK.
C．The significance of studying the UK’s history.	D．The UK, you always live in people’s hearts.

6 . 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。

The earliest Chinese kites     1     were made of wood were called muyuan (wooden kites) They date as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) at least two thousand years ago. After the     2     (invent) of paper, kites began to be made of this new material, paper, and this paper kite is called zhiyuan.

The method of making a kite can be divided into three parts. Firstly, use thin bamboo strips (条)     3     (make) a kite frame (框架), and according to taste, kites can have     4     (attract) shapes like a dragonfly, a swallow, a centipede or a butterfly. Secondly, glue paper onto the framework. The paper     5     (require) to be thin. Finally, decorate the kites     6     colorful paintings and ribbons.

Although the basic method remains the same, styles of kite making are presented     7     (different) in every place. The kites in the “World Kite Capital” of Weifang in Shandong Province are well known for     8     (they) fine materials, painting, sculpture and flexible flying movement. One of these kites, which was over 300 meters long and in the shape of a centipede with a dragon’s head, won the     9     (one) place in the International Kite Festival held in Italy. This kite is now shown in the Weifang Kite Museum. Every year, the World Kite Festival will be held there and is expected to draw many fans with a love for     10     (fly) kites.

7 . 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。

Nanyin is a form of ancient Chinese music. It dates back to the Han Dynasty     1     people from Central Plains of ancient China brought their music to Quanzhou, Fujian province. Later it mixed     2     the local music.

Nanyin is     3    (traditional) played by a group of five people. The singer, who also plays the wooden clapper (拍板) to keep the beat, stands in the middle of the other four. Usually, on the left are two musicians who play a bamboo flute     4    (call) dongxiao and erxian while on the right are two musicians     5    (play) pipa and sanxian. As for the unique singing style, which is usually sung in the southern Fujian dialect (方言), every song tells a story.

However, Nanyin was nearly destroyed during     6     Mid-nineteenth century. Despite     7    (survive), the art lost a lot of its audience. It has taken the Quanzhou local government more than 38 million yuan     8    (preserve) and develop Nanyin since 2004. In order to pass down this cultural heritage, schools in Quanzhou have made Nanyin a course that students in kindergarten and primary schools can take. Now Four hundred Nanyin     9     (club) in Quanzhou have more than 7,000 players.

In 2009, Nanyin     10    (list) as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. “We sincerely hope that more teenagers can join us in breathing new life into this culture,” said Mr. Chen, chairman of Quanzhou Nanyin Artists Association.

8 . 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。

The Oxford English Dictionary, or OED for short, is one of the     1     (famous) dictionaries in the English-speaking world. Although it has no story or interesting characters, it keeps being printed and     2     (grow)! The Oxford English Dictionary     3    （begin）in 1857 just as an idea to show the history of English words. However, it wasn't until the late 1870s     4     James Murray joined the project that it began to grow. Murray and his team were buried     5     collecting millions of pieces of paper, each one with a word and an example sentence or phrase     6     (write) on it. Finally, in 1928, the dictionary was finished     7     published in 10 volumes (卷册). Between 1972 and 1986, four more volumes were added with new words from other English-speaking countries. So far it     8     (put)o nto CDs, with about 600,000 words and three million quotations (引语) from over 1,000 years of English. As a great     9     (refer) book, the OED not only is a record of where the English language has come from but has also become     10     important part of the history of English-speaking cultures around the world.

9 . 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。

Tang Sancai (唐三彩) is a type of beautiful Chinese pottery (陶器). It mainly has three colors, yellow, green,     1     white. As the treasure of ancient Chinese pottery arts, it is said that Tang Sancai was first discovered in the last century,     2     a railway was being built in Luoyang, Henan Province.

Tang Sancai was made     3     adding metallic oxides (金属氧化物) and firing the object     4     (create) different colors.     5     great variety of colors appeared in the mixture of different metals. The materials in it     6     (gradual) took on different colors when heated, producing an     7     (impress) effect with an artistic attraction.

With unique shapes, Tang Sancai pieces cover almost every field of life, from     8     (model) of buildings to articles of everyday use, from horses, plants to toys. Figures on Sancai pieces are mostly women in the palace,     9     (show) the colorful life and the splendid culture of the Tang Dynasty. Tang Sancai     10     (sell) to foreign countries in the early Tang dynasty and won great favor. It has always been famous for its bright colors and pleasing shapes.

10 . 阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法和上下文连贯的要求，在空格中填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的适当形式填空。

Although the modern picnic     1    (believe) to be a concept originating in Europe in the 1700s, China’s version of such excursions (短途旅行), commonly known     2    “spring outings” or “stepping on the green”, can be traced back to at     3    (little) the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420) when people went on excursions or held banquets (宴会) by the water     4    (celebrate) the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third lunar month. Scholars would drink and compose     5    (poem) by streams.

The activity became more common among women as well in the Tang dynasty (618-907). A special picnic for women, often daughters of officials and rich families,     6    (emerge). As recorded in the book A History of the Tang Under Emperor Xuanzong’s Reign, groups of ladies would compete on the value and beauty of the flowers they wrote     7    (normal) between the two spring solar terms “The Beginning of Spring” and “Rain Water”.

In the Song dynasty (960-1279), the Qingming Festival     8     Tomb Sweeping Festival included traditions of the Shangsi Festival and the Cold Food Festival,     9     cold food was eaten. At that time, people had a seven-day holiday for the festival, and would not only pay respect to     10     dead, but also enjoy scenery, food, and drinks on spring excursions.