阅读理解

Let's play games from different countries and learn about different cultures.

Otedama (Japan)

It is played alone with five small sandbags. The player kneels down behind the sandbags, throws one in the air, then uses the same hand to quickly pick up another bag and catch the first. Keep going until you're holding all five. Too easy? Throw up all the bags and catch them on the back of your hand.

Fengzheng (China)

Fengzhengs or kites are believed to have been invented in China during the fifth century BC by Mozi and Lu Ban. By the fifth century AD, paper kites were being used for military purposes such as signaling and measuring distances. These days, locals commonly fly handmade kites to mark the arrival of spring. In Beijing, the kite string is traditionally cut to allow bad luck to be blown away by the wind.

Topfschlagen (Germany)

Germany is the world's top exporter of chocolate, so no wonder this game is based on the sweet reward. Put some chocolate under an overturned cooking pot. Kids take turns crawling on the ground blindfolded and lightly strike whatever's in their path with a wooden spoon. When the spoon hits the pot, the chocolate hunter gathers up the treasure.

EL Gato y EL Raton (Costa Rica)

It is a favorite group circle game for kids. One plays el gato (the cat); another is el raton (the mouse). The rest hold hands, forming a circle around the mouse. As the group skips and sings "the cat wants to get the mouse", the cat runs outside the circle trying to touch the mouse. The players forming the circle raise and lower their arms to block the cat, and the mouse runs around to avoid being touched. When the cat "gets" the mouse, start over with a new cat and mouse.

1. （1） Which game was once used for wars?

   A . Otedama. B . Fengzheng. C . Topfschlagen. D . EL Gato y EL Raton.
3. （2） What is the reward for the Topfschlagen players?

   A . Kites. B . Beans. C . Meat. D . Chocolate.
5. （3） What is special about EL Gato y EL Raton?

   A . It requires at least four players in each round. B . It is related with a country's top exported goods. C . It must be played by children and adults together. D . It started in the East and spread all around the world.

阅读理解

Industrial agriculture is often held up as the solution to feeding the world's growing population. But small farms of about 25 acres or less produce over 70 percent of the world's food. To raise awareness of the contribution of these farmers, a global photo exhibition, We Feed the World, is to open on October 12 in London.

"Industrial agriculture, which mainly focuses on a few types of crops, is not the only answer," says art director Francesca Price. "We want these images to empower people to support their local food system."

By growing traditional and non-commercial varieties, small farms support biodiversity and increase food security. With only 12 plants and five animal species making up 75 percent of what the world eats, food systems will be easily hurt by natural disasters and disease outbreaks. However, traditional farming communities are working to preserve their ancient seed diversity.

Keeping variety alive is very important in the face of climate change. In the future, researchers might need to get particular genes from one variety to help another to adapt to warmer, stormier, or drier weather, or to save a prized variety from disease.

Contrary to the false impression held by the public, small farms that practise traditional agriculture can be highly productive. Studies show that the output of crops rises when there's a wider diversity of crops being grown on a farm, and money is saved since the need for harmful fertilizer and other chemicals is reduced.

"The photographs of family farmers may tell just a few local stories, but the message is universal," says photographer Cheryl Newman. "I hope that the images will leave viewers thinking deeply about where their food comes from and the impact it has on the world around us."

1. （1） What is the purpose of the photo exhibition?

   A . To help small farmers to sell their produce. B . To show the challenges faced by small farmers. C . To draw attention to small farmers' contribution. D . To help farmers to fight against industrial agriculture.
3. （2） What can we say about the industrial agriculture?

   A . It produces more food than small farms in total. B . It harms biodiversity and decreases food security. C . It has been competing unfairly with small farms. D . It is the only way to feed the world's population.
5. （3） Why is it important to preserve the traditional and non-commercial crops?

   A . Their genes are much better. B . Their output is much higher. C . They don't need chemical fertilizers at all. D . They may help improve the other crops.
7. （4） What is the text mainly about?

   A . The importance of traditional small farms. B . The problems with the industrial agriculture. C . The consequences of fast-growing population. D . The impact of climate change on agriculture.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been a frequent topic of conversation for most of us over the past year. As we dreamt of indoor dining, vacations, and hugging our friends again, my friend Ana texted that her mother, living in Brazil, had been infected by the coronavirus. I won't go into details here, but the disruption to life in Brazil have been especially upsetting considering their social and cultural norms (规范).

Ana is Brazilian, and I'm from the US. While living in New York City, we became fast friends despite the few awkward cultural differences I learned to deal with. She was comfortable with intimacy (亲密)；I preferred to keep my distance. She liked the company of many; I liked the friendship of few. It was awkward for me to lean in for a quick hug, only to be embraced then kissed on the cheeks. To this day, I'm not an excellent cheek kisser, but I try. She is one of many people over the years who have educated me, in a way, about delighting in cultural difference.

I called Ana to check on her mother and I was primarily curious about how social and cultural norms have been affected. It's difficult, said Ana, because the necessary health regulations are opposite to "what we believe and everything we know about living in a community and displaying feelings of love", but she hasn't given up hope. I asked if the shifts made during the pandemic will change cultural norms. "Absolutely not," said Ana. This is who Brazilians are in nature and change doesn't happen overnight. They spend a lot of time and energy investing in relationships, and the deeply rooted social conventions won't change quickly.

Over the years, Ana has shared many stories that emphasize the differences in our upbringing. I delight in our differences, even if kissing on the cheek makes me uncomfortable. We find our commonalities, like talking with our hands, being expressive, and valuing community. And we learn from our differences. COVID disrupted many things, but through all of this, Ana said, we must constantly be adjusting, understanding, and doing what's best for our communities and the people we love.

1. （1） Which of the following words can best replace the underlined word in Paragraph 1?

   A . Adjustment. B . Disturbance. C . Commitment. D . Preference.
3. （2） What can we learn about Ann from Paragraph 2?

   A . She is good at educating other people. B . She prefers to stay alone in her own comfort zone. C . She enjoys the close contact with others. D . It took a long time for her to make friends with me.
5. （3） Why doesn't Ana think the pandemic will change social and cultural norms?

   A . The Brazilians are born to be sociable. B . The social conventions are easy to change. C . The health regulations consist with her beliefs. D . Brazilians rarely value investment in relationships.
7. （4） What would be the best title for the text?

   A . My Attitude towards Friendship B . Social and Cultural Norms in the Pandemic C . The Influence of COVID-19 on Life D . My Acceptance of Cultural Differences

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As new year approaches, crowds around the world may be expecting fireworks to light up the sky. But the fireworks could finally lose their appeal with the growing use of drones（无人机）for light shows. One obvious example was drone light show in the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics.

Ollie Howitt, a technician at SkyMagic, which used 300 drones to create a display for London's new year celebration, said demand had increased substantially. She added that drones were increasingly able to fly in greater density (密度)  and for longer. Howitt also said there were benefits of drones, "They give out no pollutants, they're reusable, and there's no fallout or that kind of thing. So in that sense they are a very sensible choice. "

Robert Neff, the general manager at Mercia Harbor, also said the decision to use a drone display at the harbor was down to a number of factors, including the impact of fireworks on animals-from wildlife to the pets of boat owners. "They've often commented on how much suffering is caused to their pets by the fireworks," he said.

But not everyone agrees. Hans Rosling, a spokesperson from the British Fireworks Association said drones could also pose environmental problems. "Suggestions are that drones have less of an impact on the environment, but we have concerns about electrical demand and use of lithium (锂) batteries which are known not to be all that 'green', "he said. "The impact of firework use on the environment has been shown to be minor and very short-lived and recent studies have suggested that there is likely to be more pollution from a couple of cars driving to an event than caused by fireworks at an event."

And there are issues with drone light displays, which need to receive specific safety approval from certain authorities. Some suggest the use of drones doesn't mean shutting off fireworks. The bangs of fireworks create a sound feeling that is hard to replace. Meanwhile, others prefer the chance to tell stories in the sky by using a series of image.

1. （1） Why does the author talk about the Tokyo Olympics in Paragraph 1?

   A . To attract readers' attention to the Olympics. B . To advocate setting off fireworks in the new year. C . To introduce the popular use of drones for light shows. D . To highlight people's celebration of this opening ceremony.
3. （2） What did Ollie Howitt think of drone displays?

   A . They bring environmental problems. B . They cause little suffering to the pets. C . They add color to the new year celebration. D . They are economical and environmentally-friendly.
5. （3） Which of the following did Hans Rosling agree with?

   A . Firework displays last shorter than drone displays. B . The pollution from fireworks isn't as much as people think. C . Drones have less impact on the environment than fireworks. D . People should abandon the drone displays because of lithium batteries.
7. （4） What are people's attitudes towards drone light displays?

   A . Controversial. B . Favorable. C . Cautious. D . Neutral.

阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Some individuals are born with a gift for public speaking. Do you want to be a good public speaker? Here are some principles you must master.

People want to listen to someone who is interesting, relaxed and comfortable. Too often when you stand up to give a speech, you focus on the "public" at the expense of the "speaking". Focus on the speaking. Talk directly to your audience, be yourself and make a connection.

Even the most successful public speaker will make mistakes. Yet, the only one who cares about any mistake is the one who is speaking. People's attention wanders constantly. In fact, most people only absorb about 20 percent of a speaker's message. So, don't stop speaking when you make a mistake unless it's a truly serious one.

Your goal is not to be a perfect public speaker. And like everything else in life, that takes practice. Remember, even world champion athletes practice their skills on a consistent basis.

It's rare to hear someone say, "I wish that speaker had spoken longer." On the other hand, you probably can't count the times that you've thought, "I'm glad that talk is over. It seemed to go on forever!" So surprise your audience. Always make your presentation just a bit shorter than anticipated. It's better to leave your listeners wishing for more than shifting restlessly in their seats waiting for your speech finally to end.

A. Do the opposite.

B. You want to be an effective public speaker.

C. You don't need to apologize for a minor slip.

D. When it comes to public speaking, less is usually more.

E. The objective of most speeches is to benefit the audience.

F. Take the fear out of public speaking by focusing on your listeners.

G. However, the majority of people are effective speakers because they train to be.

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

It's a sad reality that many of us find ourselves just too busy to contribute to our communities. For a long time, I, too, believed it cost too much in time, money and1to make a real difference. But all that changed when I2my good-deed-a-day project.

My daughter, Emily, was my primary3. I wanted to show her we could do little things to help others, and be happy.

The first week, I wasn't sure if I could 4it. I surfed the Internet for ideas. One day, I guided a5man in the subway station. He smiled as he thanked me. Another day, I brought flowers from my garden to a local nursing home……I could only hope I was arousing 6in others.

Luckily, after just a few days I found it easier than I'd expected. I knew I was making a(n)7.

Every evening at the dinner table, I8that day's good deed to Emily. Emily began copying what I'd started. On a walk home from school, she marched over to a neighbor's pot of geraniums (天竺葵), which had toppled (摇晃) in the wind，and set it9." That was my good deed for the day!" she yelled. Another day, she helped me collect10from our neighbors for the food bank. We11off the food and, as we drove away, Emily announced12that she wanted to work there one day.

By the last week, I knew I'd changed. At first, I hadn't been entirely13that I could do a good deed every day. Now it was practically second14. I felt a greater responsibility to take action when I saw a need,15looking the other way. I felt as though I'd awakened, somehow.

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。

One of the most popular American(singer) of 20th century was Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley made the music(call) rock 'n' roll popular around the world. He sold millions of records and made many successful films,he helped change the direction of popular music in the 1960s. Elvis Presley was born in 1935 in a small town in Mississippi in the southern United States; he came fromvery poor family. (he) parents were simply country people who often took Elvis to church. At church he learned to sing, and he never forgot the kind of songs that he used to sing in churcha child. When he was a school boy, Elvis moved to the town of Memphis in Tennessee. He(begin) to sing in the style that is popular in Tennessee, a style called country and western. The people at the (record) studio liked Elvis's singing and music. There was something(difference) about it. It was country and western music, but it also sounded a little like black people used to sing in the American South. It was called Blues.

假定你是李华，你校外教Daniel正为每周的"English Corner"征集自由讨论的话题，欢迎同学们畅所欲言。请你给他写一封建议信，内容包括：

1）你建议的话题（食物和电影）；2）你的理由；3）你的希望。

注意：

1）词数80左右；

2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Daniel,

I'm Li Hua, a student from Senior 2.

……

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

A Beautiful Brooch

In 1945, a 12-year-old boy saw a beautiful brooch (胸针) in a shop window that set his heart racing. But the price-five dollars-was too high for Reuben Earle. Five dollars would buy almost a week's food for his family.

Reuben couldn't ask his father for the money. Everything his father made through fishing went to his mother, Dora. Slim and beautiful, she was the center of the home, the glue that held it together. The housework was never-ending, and she struggled to support their five children but she was happy as her family and their well-being were all she cared about.

Nevertheless, he opened the shop's weathered (风化的) door and went inside. Standing proud and straight in his flour-sack (面粉袋改做的) shirt and washed-out trousers, he told the shopkeeper what he wanted, adding, "But I don't have the money right now. Can you please hold it for some time?"

"I'll try," the shopkeeper smiled. "People around here don't usually have that kind of money to spend on things. It should keep for a while. "

Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out.

He would raise the money and not tell anybody, for he thought Mum would get surprised when she saw that brooch. On hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, Reuben suddenly had an idea that he could raise money by selling the used nail bags (装钉子的麻袋). People built their own buildings in Bay Roberts, using nails bought in bags from a local factory. Sometimes the used nail bags were thrown away at the construction site, and Reuben knew he could sell them back to the factory for five cents a piece.

That day he sold two nail bags and hid the money in a rusty soda tin.

注意：

1）续写词数应为150左右；   2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Every day after school, Reuben started his plan.

……

Finally, the time came!