1 . Ever since humans began adventuring into space, 227 astronauts have performed activities outside the spaceship. While 14 of those have been women, the female astronauts have always been with a male partner. On October 18, 2019, US astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir became the first all-female team to carry out a spacewalk to replace a failed battery controller.
The historic event began at 7: 38 a. m. when Koch and Meir set their spacesuits to battery power. Live-broadcast by NASA, it was watched by thousands of space fans, particularly young girls dreaming to be astronauts. The scientists, who spent seven hours and 17 minutes fixing the controller and completing other tasks for the station, were able to observe the Earth passing under their feet. Koch and Meir returned to the International Space Station at 2: 55 p.m., where they were welcomed with cheers by their four male workmates.
When asked about the importance of this spacewalk, Koch said, “In the end, I do think it’s important because of the historical nature of what we’re doing. In the past, women haven’t always been at the table. It’s wonderful to be contributing to the space program at a time when all contributions are being accepted and everyone has a role. That can lead in turn to increased chance for success. There are a lot of people who get encouragement from people who look like them, and I think it’s an important story to tell.”
Meir added, “What we’re doing now shows all the work that went in many years ago, and all of the women that worked to get us where we are today.”
1. What was the task of Koch and Meir?| A．Change a controller | B．Walk in space |
| C．Carry out an experiment | D．Watch the earth |
| A．It was a very adventurous task. |
| B．It was carried out by 227 astronauts. |
| C．It was all done by women astronauts. |
| D．It was watched by many young girls. |
| A．Women are still looked down upon. |
| B．Women should fight for equal rights. |
| C．Women can contribute as much as men. |
| D．Women have a better chance to succeed. |
2 . Joseph Frederick Engelberger, the father of robotics, was born on July 26, 1925, in Brooklyn. He received his B. S. in physics in 1946, and M. S. in Electric Engineering in 1949 from Columbia University. He worked as an engineer with Manning, Maxwell and Moore, and then he met George Devol at a party in 1956, two years after Devol had designed and patented an industrial robotic arm. However, Manning, Maxwell and Moore was sold and Engelberger’s division was closed that year.
Finding himself jobless but with a business partner and an idea, Engelberger co-founded Unimation with Devol, creating the world’s first robotics company. And the introduction of robotics to the manufacturing process effectively transformed the automotive industry. Over the next two decades, the Japanese took the lead by investing heavily in robots to replace people performing certain tasks. In Japan, Engelberger was widely described as a key player in the post-war ascendancy (支配地位，优势) of Japanese manufacturing quality and efficiency.
After observing the help his aging parents needed, Engelberger saw the robotics automation could be used in the medical field. In 1984, Engelberger founded Transitions Research Corporation (TRC). He introduced the HelpMate and hoped to kick-start a new industry for in-home robots, but he started in 1988 by selling his first HelpMate to Danbury Hospital. The medical robot was successful enough that the hospital ended up purchasing another, and within a decade, well over 100 hospitals worldwide operated HelpMates.
After Engelberger was awarded the Japan Prize in 1997, Senator Joseph Lieberman delivered a speech in the U. S. Senate in praise and recognition of the inventor, calling the HelpMate an example that shows the federal investment in science and technology for patients can lead to new products that employ Americans and make for a better quality of life.
Engelberger liked working. So even after he got into his 80s, he remained active in the promotion and development of robots for use in elder care. He died on December 1, 2015, in Newtown, a little more than four months after celebrating his 90th birthday.
1. Which statement about Engelberger may the author agree with?| A．He was most popular among the Japanese. |
| B．He finished his higher education in his twenties. |
| C．He had great admiration for Devol as an inventor. |
| D．He and Devol invented the first robotic arm together. |
| A．His desire to gain wide acceptance. |
| B．The success of founding Unimation. |
| C．The challenge from other companies. |
| D．His parents’ demanding aid from others. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Opposed. |
| A．The home of robots — Unimation |
| B．The father of robotics — Engelberger |
| C．The strong personality Engelberger had |
| D．The great contribution Engelberger made to medicine |
3 . My story is about love and loss. I was lucky.
We had just released our finest creation--the Macintosh--a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. and then I got fired. I got fired from a company I started.
But something slowly began to dawn on me--I still love what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that.
I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired form Apple. It was awful-tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick.
| A．It hurts a lot. |
| B．Don’t lose faith. |
| C．It was really frustrating. |
| D．So I decided to start over. |
| E．You’ve got to find what you love. |
| F．I found what I loved to do early in life. |
| G．I successfully founded a company with a friend. |
4 . Some of the notebooks George Washington kept as a young man are still in existence. They show that he was learning Latin, was very interested in the basis of good behavior in society, and was reading English literature.
At school he seems only to have been interested in mathematics. In fact, his formal education was surprisingly brief for a gentlemen, and incomplete. For unlike other young Virginian of that day, he did not go to the College of William and Mary in the Virginian capital of Williamsburg. In terms of formal training then, Washington contrasts sharply with some other early American President such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In later years, Washington probably regretted his lack of intellectual training. He never felt comfortable in a debate in Congress, or on any subject that had nor to do with everyday practical matters. And because he never learned French and could not speak directly to the French leaders, he did not visit the country he admired so much. Thus, unlike Jefferson and Adams, he never reached Europe.
1. Washington felt uncomfortable in Congress debates because he .| A．lacked practice in public speaking |
| B．felt his education was not good enough |
| C．didn’t like arguing and debating with people |
| D．felt that debating was like intellectual training |
| A．didn’t really care about going |
| B．didn’t know French leaders |
| C．couldn’t communicate directly with the French leaders |
| D．was too busy to travel |
| A．Washington’s lack of formal education placed him at a disadvantage in later life |
| B．Washington should have gone to France even though he could not speak French |
| C．Washington was not as good a president as Adams, Jefferson or Madison |
| D．Washington was a model for all Virginian gentlemen |
| A．was if great variety, covering many subjects |
| B．was probably equal to those of most young gentlemen of this time |
| C．may seem poor by modern standards but was goog enough for his time |
| D．was rather limited for a president |
“She was born for the camera,” said a photographer who shot Liu Yifei’s picture when she was only eight.
Over the past year, Liu, an 18-year-old Chinese American, has shot to fame while playing Wang Yuyan in Jin Yong’s “Eightfold Path of the Heavenly Dragon” (《天龙八部》). Millions of teenagers have been drawn in by her light smile and beautiful long hair. Many magazines have described her as one of the most charming young actresses of 2004. People say that Liu will be even bigger this year.
“She is so beautiful on TV. She has the special character to give flesh and blood to the fairylike and beautiful Wang Yuyan,” said Yang Mingwei, a Senior 2 boy and Liu’s fan from Wuyi High School in Fujian.
Currently Liu is filming the TV series “The Return of the Condor Heroes” (《神雕侠侣》), another Jin Yong novel. In the show to be aired this year, Liu plays the Little Dragon Girl.
Liu is now a grade three student at the Beijing Film Academy, the star factory of China. But some people say that her success is only down to her beauty. When she returned to China with her mother at the age of 14, she did originally work as a model. It was when a director saw her picture on an advertisement board on the street that her opportunity to work in TV arose.
“A pretty face does not last forever. To be a good actress you must work hard and have a professional attitude, ” Liu said. Every day she spends hours practising all the kungfu kicks and punches for the show.
“There have been times during filming when I have remained hanging in the air on wires for half a day as the director keeps trying to get the perfect take,” said Liu recently.
1. In the first paragraph, the photographer commented on Liu’s ________.| A．beauty | B．talent as an actress |
| C．promising future | D．special character |
| A．Flown. | B．Broadcast. | C．Published. | D．Recorded. |
| A．worked hard when playing Wang Yuyan | B．is more beautiful than Wang Yuyan |
| C．did a good job in playing Wang Yuyan | D．was very lucky to play Wang Yuyan |
| A．She thinks her beauty contributes to her success. |
| B．She has become a citizen of the US. |
| C．She graduated from the Beijing Film Academy months ago. |
| D．She failed to improve her English when studying in America. |
1. How did Jim feel about going to England?
| A．Surprised. | B．Nervous. | C．Sad. |
| A．In London. | B．In Cambridge. | C．In Stratford-upon-Avon. |
| A．He was a writer. | B．He was a tour guide. | C．He was a glove maker. |
| A．He got a free education. |
| B．He never went to university. |
| C．He traveled around the world. |
7 . You must have heard the name of Michael Jordan, the God of basketball. When he was young his father always told him that if one has a passion to do something, then nothing Is impossible in this world. He laughed and didn’t believe it. His father decided to do something.
One day, Michael’s father showed him an old dirty T-shirt that was worth $1, and asked him to sell this T-shirt for $2. Michael consented to do it. Michael cleaned that T-shirt, ironed it and made it like a new one. Then he took it to the railway station and sold it for $2.
The next day Michact’s father gave Michael a second T-shirt and said that T-shirt would be sold for $20. Michael took it and thought hard. He cleaned the T-shirt, put a sticker of a Mickey Mouse on it and came to the school where only the children from rich families studied. Finally, one child liked the sticker very much and his father bought the T-shirt for $20.
On the third day, Michael felt tired and wanted to go to the amusement park. Unexpectedly, his father gave Michael another T-shirt and asked him to sell it for $200. Michael refused.
It was a sky-high selling price in his eyes. He even doubted his father said that intentionally. But he had to agree because his father insisted he should try. After thinking, he went to a city where a famous actress Just came. Michael tried to approach that actress and finally got an autograph(亲笔签名) on that T-shirt. He took it to the crowd. When people knew the T-shirt contained that actress, autograph bidding (出价) started and finally a man who paid highest got that T-shirt for $2000. Michael told the whole incident to his father. His father hugged him and said, One day you’ll achieve a great place in your life .You can do any-thing with this spirit.
1. Why did Michael’s father ask him to sell T-shirts?| A．To develop his social skills. |
| B．To train him to learn to do business. |
| C．To make him believe the power of passion. |
| D．To show him the difficulty of earning money. |
| A．Agreed. | B．Hated. | C．Failed. | D．Pretended. |
| A．she was invited to a fan meeting. |
| B．He wanted to have a rest on that day. |
| C．He considered the task hard to finish. |
| D．He thought his father was causing trouble for others. |
| A．He was intelligent and creative. |
| B．He has great respect for his father. |
| C．He has good communication skills. |
| D．He was very interested in making money. |
1. How many Grammy Awards has John Legend won?
| A．One. | B．Six. | C．Nine. |
| A．At age four. | B．At age seven. | C．At age eight. |
| A．He met Lauryn Hill. |
| B．He graduated from college. |
| C．He released two albums of his own. |
| A．His college teacher. | B．A famous songwriter. | C．A poet named J. Ivy. |
9 . On September 8th, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in history, died aged 96. Buckingham Palace announced her death on Thursday, Her son, Prince Charles, has now become Britain’s new king.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” it added.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles said in a statement, “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Buckingham Palace said the monarch was under medical supervision due to doctors’ concerns over her health. The royal family members soon rushed to Scotland to be at her side following the announcement.
In the evening, royal staff hung obituaries(讣告)on railings in front of Buckingham Palace. Crowds braved the rain to pay their respects and many laid flowers outside Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II has significantly reduced her public engagements since the death of her husband Prince Philip in April last year, and canceled or postponed many official engagements after being hospitalized in October last year. She was diagnosed with the coronavirus in February.
Born on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth II was announced Queen after the death of her father, King George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952. She was formally crowned(加冕)the monarch of the United Kingdom on June 2, 1953.
1. How long was Elizabeth queen of Britain?| A．70 years. | B．96 years. | C．69 years. | D．68 years. |
| A．She is the greatest queen in the history of Britain. |
| B．She is a beloved mother. |
| C．She plays an important role in the modern history of Britain. |
| D．She is a popular queen respected by her people. |
| A．Because her husband died and her health was in bad condition. |
| B．Because she got tired of fame and wealth. |
| C．Because she wished a quieter life when she was old. |
| D．Because she would like Prince Charles to appear in public more. |
| A．Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II |
| B．Queen Elizabeth II: a Beloved Mother |
| C．The Wonderful Life of Queen Elizabeth II |
| D．A Highly Honored Queen |
10 . She has become the world’s longest-reigning monarch(在位时间最长的君主), following the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13.
Now a new TV series called The Crown, which started to air on Nov 4 in the US, is looking back at the time when Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ of the UK prepared to take the throne(王位)at a 25-year-old. She would face a series of challenges after she was crowned(加冕)following the unexpected death of her father, George VI, in 1952.
Ever since she took the throne, the queen has seen her country change dramatically. Yet she has remained a constant presence in British lives. How can a queen, a memory from long ago in most parts of the world, still be so popular in modern Britain.
One answer is that the royal(王室的)family knows how to move with the times. Once upon a time, kings, queens, princes and princesses were distant from everyone. Today, while they still have some of the old mystery, the royals are true celebrities(名人)like famous sports and pop stars. Indeed, they are upper-class celebrities. There are hundreds of Hollywood actors, but there is only one queen of the UK.
Because they are seen so much—in magazines, on TV and on the internet—the royals must now be careful. It is not enough to be famous; one must “deserve” this fame. That’s why the new, younger generations of royals are so important to the royals’ chances of surviving. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s commitment to many good causes has also given the royal family an image it highly needs.
In addition, old-fashioned British eccentricity(古怪)explains why the royals have stayed for so song. “The British monarchy is valued because it is the British monarchy,” the BBC noted. “We are an old and complicated society.”
1. What can we learn about Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ from the two paragraphs?| A．She was 25 years old when she became queen in 1952. |
| B．She was doomed to(注定)take the throne from birth. |
| C．The TV series The Crown is about Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ’s whole life. |
| D．She is the oldest monarch in the world after Bhumibol Adulyadej. |
| A．Try to become as famous as possible. |
| B．Shoot some films about the royal family. |
| C．Keep their distance from common people. |
| D．Devote themselves to good causes. |
| A．the UK is a strange nation |
| B．the British value their old traditions a lot |
| C．British society is too complex to understand |
| D．the British monarchy is unique in the world |
| A．describe the details of the TV series The Crown to readers |
| B．describe the daily routines of British royals |
| C．explore the secrets of the popularity of the British monarchy |
| D．explain the differences between the old and new generations of British royals |
