1 . In 2020, people around the world were impressed by the chess genius Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit. However, there’s a similar “queen of chess” in real life – 28-year-old Hou Yifan.

Hou started playing chess at 5 years old in 1999. At that time, her parents took Hou to try different brain games at a training center. “With the interesting shapes, I was attracted by the chess and decided to take it up,” said Hou.

After playing for two years as a hobby, Hou met her coach – grandmaster Tong Yuanming – and took up professional training.

“Chess is a mind game full of uncertainties. Even when there are only five or six pieces left on the board, you cannot calculate all the variations,” said Hou. “So instead of too much focus on theories, we should rely more on practice and strategy.”

Learning strategies from previous competitions and practicing chess quickly became her daily life.

Luckily, her efforts were soon rewarded. At 13, she became China’s youngest ever National Women’s Champion and then became the youngest chess champion in the world at 16.

Although a famous chess star known all over the globe, Hou always stayed vigilant. “I’m happy to win these titles, but I know this is a coin with two sides,” Hou added. “As you gain public attention, your faults are amplified (放大). So I should shrug (抛开) the honors off and stay motivated to keep improving.”

Having focused on international chess for a long time, Hou then decided to study in the college. In 2012, she studied international relations at Peking University and then went to the University of Oxford.

“I have to know more,” she said. “I have to open my eyes to see the whole world.”

Now, the 28-year-old has become a teacher at Shenzhen University. She wants to “integrate the methods she learned in China and the West and allow international chess to reach more young Chinese people”.

1. What inspired Hou to take up international chess?

A．Her parents’ encouragement.	B．The appearance of the pieces.
C．Her desire to test her brain.	D．Her admiration for Tong Yuanming.

2. What do we know about Hou from paragraphs 4-6?

A．She learned different theories to enhance her skills.

B．She managed to develop an original set of strategies.

C．She became a world chess champion at 16.

D．She enjoyed calculating the various plays.

3. What does the underlined word “vigilant” most probably mean in paragraph 7?

A．Reserved.	B．Diligent.
C．Ambitious.	D．Alert.

4. What can we learn from Hou’s story?

A．It is essential to dream big.

B．Learning is a never-ending process.

C．It’s important to set long-term goals.

D．Success doesn’t happen without failure.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于3个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

In English, the spelling of words does not always represent the sound and combinations of letters may     1     (pronounce) in a number of ways. But for Americans things are a little bit     2    (easy), which was due to webster’s work. When he was young, he fought     3     British and felt that     4    (write) English should have a distinctive look. So he suggested     5    (simplify) the spelling of English words.   

His first book, TheElementarySpellingBook, was so popular     6     it was enjoyed by a large number of American     7    (student). By the 1850s, it was selling one million copies a year,     8     (make) it one of the most popular schoolbooks ever. In 1828, his American Dictionary of the English Language appeared. Although British criticised the dictionary, it quickly became     9     standard reference book in the States.

Passionate and learned, Noah Webster is an     10     (extreme) remarkable man.

3 . Gilliam was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1933 as the seventh child of eight to a father who worked on the railroad and a homemaking mother. He attended the University of Louisville for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but in 1962 moved to Washington, D.C., where he lived and had his studio (工作室) for the rest of his life. He became one of the leading artists of the Washington Color School—a 1950s movement that attached great importance to large fields of color.

He was very interested in freeing his paintings from the limit of canvases (画布) and frames. Instead, in his Drape works of the 1960s, he took unstretched canvases and hung them from ceilings or pinned them in great waterfalls to walls. Each time his work—part painting, part sculpture-was shown in an exhibition, it hung differently, never the same way twice.

In a 2018Morning Edition profile, Gilliam explained that the intention behind his Drape work was “to develop the idea of movement into shapes”—and that he was inspired by laundry (洗衣店) hanging from a clothesline.

His work is represented in the collections of some of the world’s most celebrated museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Tate Modern in London; and the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris. In 2015, he was awarded the U.S. State Department’s Medal of Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the 2018 Morning Edition profile, the then 84-year-old Gilliam said that he felt that he was in his prime, despite health challenges. “I’ve never felt better in my life. I stopped drinking, I stopped smoking. I live for this period of being in the studio and actually working.”

1. What do we know about Gilliam?

A．He leads a 1950s movement.

B．He stresses the large areas of color.

C．He has a deep interest in the canvas.

D．He likes to exhibit his paintings himself.

2. What causes Gilliam to hang his paintings unusually?

A．A detail in daily life.

B．His strange imagination.

C．His attention to paintings.

D．An idea of movement.

3. What can we infer about Gilliam in the last paragraph?

A．He feels bad in his life.

B．He loves painting deeply.

C．He makes a living by painting.

D．Smoking and drinking are his favorite.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Health.

C．History.

D．Culture.

4 . Of all the stories of Olympic medalists, the most touching one is that of weight-lifting champion Oscar Figueroa.

During his athletic _________, the 37-year-old man had the chance to _________ in the Olympic games four different times. But he met with plenty of heartbreak and _________ before he finally succeeded.

In the 2004 Olympic games, Figueroa made his first _________. Because he wasn’t satisfied with his result, he looked _________ to competing in the Beijing 2008 Olympic games to prove himself. _________, just two weeks before the event, his hand was _________, which set him back in his weightlifting and _________ him the chance. By the London Olympic games in 2012, Figueroa took home the silver medal.

In spite of all, he’d already _________, he still aimed higher. In 2016, he headed to Rio to __________ the highest prize and he did. After his final lift, he __________ his shoes and put them on the stage, indicating that he would __________ from the Olympics. Amazingly enough, he took home the gold that year!

No matter how hard he felt, he never gave up, serving as a __________ example of hope, perseverance, and determination. Oscar Figueroa is the __________ Colombian man to have even taken home the gold in his field. He said he was __________ for the whole country in the competition in an interview.

1.

A．work

B．job

C．career

D．story

2.

A．compete

B．win

C．join

D．call

3.

A．excitement

B．disappointment

C．shame

D．happiness

4.

A．promise

B．appearance

C．decision

D．plan

5.

A．down

B．up

C．back

D．forward

6.

A．Unbelievably

B．Thankfully

C．Hopefully

D．Unfortunately

7.

A．tested

B．shaken

C．injured

D．caught

8.

A．spent

B．cost

C．took

D．lost

9.

A．experienced

B．expected

C．prepared

D．checked

10.

A．imagine

B．refuse

C．give

D．claim

11.

A．put up

B．took off

C．took on

D．set aside

12.

A．retire

B．benefit

C．graduate

D．suffer

13.

A．special

B．powerful

C．fresh

D．different

14.

A．last

B．best

C．first

D．latest

15.

A．training

B．learning

C．lifting

D．playing

5 . Ash Barty, the world’s No.1 women’s tennis player, shocked the sports world by announcing that she would leave the tennis court forever. Barty made the announcement in a video she made public on the social media site, Instagram. In the video she discussed her thoughts about retiring with her good friend Casey Dellacqua. Dellacqua, who is also a retired tennis player, used to be Barty’s doubles partner.

“I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself as a professional tennis player,” she said. “It’s just I don’t have that in me anymore, 80 it’s times for me to put the bats down and go after other dreams.”

Even though she is only 25, Barty has been playing tennis for a long time. She started when she was four and turned professional when she was 14. For over two years, Barty has been ranked the world’s No.1 women’s tennis player. She has won 15 important women’s singles tournaments in the world in her career, not including some small-sized competitions. This includes three “Grand Slam” events—the biggest prizes in tennis. In 2019, Barty won the French Open. In 2021,she won Wimbledon. And this January, she won the Australian Open, becoming the first person born in Australia to win the Australian Open in 44 years.

Other tennis players retired when they were young. Some returned to the sport after a while. But very few players went out while they were No.1 While many other players support Barty’s decision, the majority of tennis fans see her move as a loss for tennis. Barty created a lot of interest in tennis and inspired many younger players to take up the sport. Barty said she knew some people wouldn’t understand her decision, but she’s okay with that. “I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis,” she said, “and I’m really happy with that.”

1. What was the shocking news to the sports world?

A．Barty’s excellence as a tennis player.	B．Barty’s intention to retire from tennis.
C．Barty’s great enthusiasm for social media.	D．Barty’s get-together with her former partner.

2. What can be inferred from Barty’s words in paragraph 2?

A．She is not interested in tennis any longer.

B．Playing tennis stops her realizing her dreams.

C．Playing professional tennis is very demanding.

D．She has to say goodbye to tennis due to injuries.

3. What achievement did Barty make in her tennis career?

A．She brought home at least fifteen medals in all.

B．She turned professional after she had played tennis for 14 years.

C．She was the only Australian who won the Australian Open.

D．She was first ranked the best woman tennis player five years ago.

4. What do most tennis fans think of Barty’s announcement?

A．Shameful.

B．Predictable.

C．Irresponsible.

D．Regrettable.

6 . When speaking of Italian literature, many people come up with Dante. But there are many other classic Italian authors worth mentioning. Below are four recommended writers and their masterpieces.

Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533)

Recognized as a crucial figure in Italian Renaissance literature, Ariosto is best known for his epic poem Orlando Furioso. As an innovative poet, Ariosto invented the way of “singing” the poem to the audience. The poem presents a rich variety of characters and mixes romance with epic. It has been an inspiration for many paintings and musical works.

Italo Calvino (1923-1985)

Calvino was an Italian journalist and the author of the postmodern classic If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler published in 1979. The novel differs from others for its unique narrative of a frame story — a unifying story within which several tales are related. It has been included in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. And it has encouraged musicians like Sting to create their albums. At the time of his death in 1985, Calvino was one of the world’s most translated contemporary Italian writers.

Umberto Eco (1932-2016)

Eco wrote The Name of the Rose, a historical murder mystery novel published in 1980. In the story, he brilliantly combined his love for literature and semiotics, the study of signs and symbols. Eco studied semiotics and philosophy. A number of his books deal with themes of the meaning and interpretation of communication. He was also a famous literary critic and university professor.

Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873)

Manzoni is most celebrated for his novel The Betrothed published in 1827. The novel was regarded as a symbol of Risorgimento, the Italian unification movement in the 19th century. To some extent, without this great novelist and this masterpiece of world literature, Italy wouldn’t be Italy.

1. What do Orlando Furioso and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler have in common?

A．They both influence musicians.	B．They both enjoy sudden popularity.
C．They both involve various characters.	D．They are both translated into many languages

2. What can readers probably find in The Name of the Rose?

A．A unique narrative style.	B．A mix of romance and epic.
C．The use of signs and symbols.	D．The history of an Italian movement.

3. Whose work is related to the formation of a united country?

A．Ludovico Ariosto

B．Alessandro Manzoni.

C．Umberto Eco.

D．Italo Calvino.

7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Lang Lang is a Chinese piano superstar who has sold millions of albums worldwide. He has also used his fame and fortune to help schools     1     lack musical instruments and equipment. Now he     2     (bring) music to British state schools in an     3     (inspire) project that will set up “piano labs” across the nation.

Before this project, he has set up piano labs in 86 schools in the US, giving 70,000 kids access     4     keyboards. In China, he has put them in 104 schools,     5     (enable) 110,000 children to make music. This is     6     (chief) for pupils aged 7 to 12.

The first UK school to benefit is the Winns primary school, London’s 12th most disadvantaged town, where 53% of residents are from a minority ethnic background. It will receive 30 keyboards within the next few weeks. Every lab is accompanied by a course     7     (create) by the Toronto-based Royal Conservatory of Music and Lang Lang.

Lang Lang said: “When I visit our partner schools and see     8     joy on the students’ faces or hear from our teachers about the progress students are making, I     9    (remind) of why We created this programme — to give children an opportunity to discover     10     they are able to achieve and to lift up their voices through music.”

8 . Age is just a number. Is 80 the new 40?

Manfred Steiner

He didn’t really need another Ph. D. degree as he already had two. He was trained as a doctor, and had been a professor of medicine. But after he retired, he realized he finally had time to do something he’d always wanted to do-study physics. In September, 2021, at 89, he earned his physics Ph. D. He encourages young people who have a dream to “follow that dream” enthusiastically.

M. J. Eberhart

In early November, 2021, at 83, he became the oldest person to hike the full Appalachian Trail (AT). The 3, 530 kilometer hiking trail isn’t easy, even for younger people. For the last few miles of this hike, he was joined by Dale Sanders, who set the same record when he hiked the AT at 82.

Julia Hawkins

In 2021, at 105, she ran the 100-meter dash in just over 62 seconds. Before that year, there wasn’t even a category for female runners over the age of 104. But running isn’t her main sport — she’s been biking for most of her life. But she took up running a few years ago and set her first world record in 2017. Encouraging others to be active is a big part of what keeps her running.

Harriette Thompson

She ran her first marathon at 76. She’s completed her 15 marathon. At 91, she’s the oldest woman ever to compete in the Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon and the second-oldest marathon runner in U. S. history. She finished the race in 7 hours,7 minutes, and 42 seconds, breaking the U. S. record for the fastest time in her age group.

1. What was special about Steiner before his retirement?

A．He was occupied with work.	B．He didn’t like medicine at all.
C．He taught himself physics.	D．He received 3 doctor’s degrees.

2. Who set the world record twice?

A．Harriette Thompson.	B．Manfred Steiner.
C．M. J. Eberhart.	D．Julia Hawkins.

3. What do the listed people have in common?

A．They are all sports lovers.	B．They have been staying active.
C．They missed dreams when young.	D．They hope to inspire the young.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many books did Eric Carle create for children?

A．Less than 55.

B．Over 70.

C．Almost 90.

2. Which book is the most famous one?

A．The Grouchy Ladybug.

B．The Mixed-Up Chameleon.

C．The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

3. Why did Eric Carle write?

A．To make school a fun and welcoming place.

B．To help children get inspiration.

C．To offer materials to teachers.

10 . Elsa Desmond knows she is not going to win a medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics. But she is ________ as the first women's luge (无舵雪橇)Olympian from Ireland. She was the 26th to ________ the line in the first run of the women’s race on Monday night, ________ than none of the other athletes. That did not ________ to her. She celebrated with a large smile on her face.

Although she will not win in Beijing, she has already won some ________. She had been given many reasons why she could not compete: she is too short, she did not start ________ at a young age, and she could not balance a(n) ________ job with competing in a sport. The biggest difficulty simply might have been that Ireland did not have a luge organization. So, she ________ one herself; she had to ________.

And now, ________, she is a luge Olympian. “I’m a doctor in general surgery, I have all these really visible challenges, but I think everyone has worked as ________ as they can to be here. ” She has delayed parts of her job to compete in the Olympics, but her ________ gave her the time off. And her co-workers are becoming big luge fans, extremely proud of her.

Desmond has ________ two demanding jobs—sliding a few months out of the year and living a life in medicine. There was a(n) ________ last season when she had to take important medical examinations in hotels in Germany where other sliders were staying. “I had to ________ signs on my door saying 'Do not disturb, exam in ________, 'in about six different languages. ”

Desmond got the ________ of representing her country in Beijing, and being one of two people ________ Ireland’s flag during the opening ceremony on Friday. “I don’t think I can ________ words how excited I was to lead out the team. I really hope that I make my country ________. ”

1.

A．visiting

B．studying

C．leading

D．competing

2.

A．break

B．cross

C．follow

D．draw

3.

A．slower

B．more difficult

C．faster

D．easier

4.

A．matter

B．mean

C．fail

D．upset

5.

A．diseases

B．challenges

C．operations

D．companions

6.

A．swimming

B．sliding

C．sailing

D．running

7.

A．financial

B．athletic

C．medical

D．educational

8.

A．started

B．stopped

C．continued

D．joined

9.

A．self-respect

B．self-discipline

C．self-fund

D．self-save

10.

A．privately

B．traditionally

C．similarly

D．officially

11.

A．hard

B．apart

C．steadily

D．quietly

12.

A．family

B．country

C．team

D．hospital

13.

A．completed

B．escaped

C．balanced

D．refused

14.

A．injury

B．time

C．responsibility

D．chance

15.

A．stick

B．nail

C．translate

D．prepare

16.

A．peace

B．need

C．progress

D．public

17.

A．permission

B．passion

C．inspiration

D．honor

18.

A．holding

B．raising

C．preparing

D．storing

19.

A．put down

B．put into

C．get in

D．get through

20.

A．disappointed

B．sacred

C．ashamed

D．proud