③阅读表达 -【一战成名新中考】2025年中考英语中考必考知识点专题特训

Passage 1 Hotpot is popular in China today. Did ancient Chinese people have hotpot? Ancient Chinese people had hotpot as early as the Shang Dynasty. At that time, people boiled (煮) foods and soups in bronze cauldrons (青铜鼎). The cauldron had two parts - one was the pot to cook foods in soup, the other part was a layer (层) or a space inside the cauldron to hold firewood. But at that time, the cauldron was only for a single person to cat from. During the Han Dynasty, people divided a pot into several parts to enjoy different flavors (风味). During the Tang Dynasty, having hotpot was a trendy (时髦的) thing. When people held family feasts (宴), they would prepare hotpot. People of the Song Dynasty had hotpot to welcome winter. Huoguo, the Chinese name for hotpot, was mentioned by Yuan Mei, poet and foodie (美食家) in the Qing Dynasty, He mentioned it in a book about all kinds of food. At that time, hotpot was very popular. People put all kinds of meat and vegetables into pots made of different materials, such as copper and iron, Hotpot also became a famous royal dish. It's said that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty loved hopot very much. He had it for almost every meal. He once held a big hotpot feast and invited more than 5,000 people to enjoy about 1,550 hotpots. 1. When did ancient Chinese people begin to eat hotpot? In the Shang Dynasty. 2. Was having hotpo a trendy thing during the Tang Dyasy? Yes./Yes, it was. 3. Why did people divide a pot into several part? To enjoy different flavors. 4. Who mentioned the Chinese name huoguo? Yuan Mei. 5. How often did Emperor Qianlong have the hotpot? For almost every meal. Passage 2 How much do you know about Kunqu Opera? This Chinese opera first appeared in Kunshan, Jiangsu. It has a history of more than 600 years. But can you imagine performing this traditional art form with some Western instruments? Zhang Jun is a famous artist. The 48-year-old is the headmaster of the Shanghai Opera School. On April 15 and 16, Zhang invited his musician friends to give a special performance (表演) in Shanghai. His friends played the guitar, the violin and more. A Pingtan artist and a rapper also took part in the show. Pingtan is another traditional Chinese art form. Kunqu Opera is known for its beautiful songs and style. Traditionally, it takes the board and drum to control the speed of the singing. Other main instruments in Kunqu include the flute, the three strings and more. Zhang started studying Kunqu when he was twelve years old. “For the past few years, I’ve been mixing Kunqu with other music types,” he said. He hopes to breathe new life into this traditional opera. In this way, it can attract more young audiences (观众). 1. Where did Kunqu Opera first appear? In Kunshan, Jiangsu. / In Kunshan. 2. On April 15 and 16, who gave a special performance with Zhang? His (musician) friends. 3. What is Kunqu Opera famous for? Its beautiful songs and style. 4. How old was Zhang Jun when he began studying Kunqu Opera? (He was) 12/ twelve years old. / 12. /Twelve. 5. What do you think of Kunqu Opera? It’s traditional. / It’s interesting. / It’s great... (言之有理即可) Passage 3 These days, the word “taikonaut” is hot in the world. It is a special name for Chinese astronauts. Today, let’s meet one of them - Deng Qingming. In 1998, China started a program - a group of 14 people trained to go into space one day. Deng was one of them. For the next 25 years, he was always ready to fly. He waited and waited. At the age of 56, Deng’s dream finally came true. Not long ago, he joined Shenzhou-15’s team and went into space. Shenzhou-15’s team planned to spend six months in space. After they met with Shenzhou-14’s team, they took over their job. They were to help complete the Tiangong Space Station, do some science experiments and go on spacewalks. The journey to his dream took a very long time. Deng once felt sad and hurt, but he never gave up. He worked hard all the time and finally his dream came true. The trip to space was not only exciting for Deng, but also for his family and friends. His daughter said with pride, “My father is a hero!” 1. According to the text, what is the special name for Chinese astronauts? Taikonaut. 2. When did Deng Qingming realize his dream? At the age of 56./ At 56. 3. How long did Shenzhou-15’s team plan to spend in space? Six months. 4. In your opinion, what is Deng Qingming like? (He is) hard-working. / (He is) brave... (言之有理即可) 5.List one of the things that Deng Qingming’s team are going to do in space. Complete the Tiangong Space Station. / Do some science experiments./ Go on spacewalks ... (言之有理即可) Passage 4 In the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Wu and the State of Yue didn’t get along well. They had been fighting against each other for years. People in each country also didn’t have a good relationship (关系). One day, the people of Wu and the people of Yue happened to be on the same boat to cross a river. At the beginning, they didn’t say a word with each other. When the boat sailed to the center of the river, a strong wind came. In no time , huge waves (波浪) hit people’s faces. It seemed that the boat would sink (沉) at any time. Just then, they forgot all the hatred between two countries and began to help each other just like they were family. ▲ , they safely got to the river bank under everyone’s effort. 1. In which dynasty did the story happen? In the Spring and Autumn period 2. Why didn’t the people say a word with each other in the same boat at the beginning? They didn’t get along well./ They didn’t have a good relationship/ They had been fighting for years./ Because of a bad relationship/ Because they have a bad relationship. 3. What would probably happen if the people from different states didn’t help each other? The boat would sink./ They would drown./ They would die.… 4. Please fill in the blank in the last paragraph. In (At) the end/ At last / Finally/ As a result/Lastly/ Eventually…. 5. What can we learn from this story? 凡合理的答案均可得分，如：People should help each other. / We should unite. / People should get along well/ Unity can overcome difficulties/ Countries’ hatred shouldn’t influence people./ Life matters the most./ Many hands make light work/... Passage 5 China's “Four Great Folktales" Lady Meng Jiang During the Qin Dynasty, Lady Meng Jiang s husband was forced to leave home to help build the Great Wall. After not hearing from him for a long time, Lady Meng Jiang set out to bring him some winter clothes. Unluckily, by the time she reached the Great Wall, her husband had already died. After hearing the bad news, she cried so sadly that part of the Great Wall collapsed(崩塌), revealing (露出) her husband's bones. Legend of the White Snake A white snake spirit dreamed of becoming a goddess. She took human form, called herself Bai Suzhen, and traveled to the human world. She fell in love with a young man named Xu Xian and they got married. But spirits and humans weren't supposed to marry, so a monk named Fahai tried to kill Bai. Bai was finally trapped in Leifeng Pagoda (塔) forever by Fahai. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl Zhinyu, a weaver girl, was a fairy who fell in love with Niulang, a cowherd. However, their love was not allowed. They were separated on opposite sides of the night sky by a silver river. But once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, many magpies (喜鹊) form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day. The Butterfly Lovers A young woman named Zhu Yingtai disguised(乔装)herself as a man so she could study in school. She got along well with a schoolmate named Liang Shanbo. Later, Liang discovered Zhu was a woman and wanted to marry her. But Zhu had already been arranged to marry another man by her parents. Heartbroken, Liang died on Zhu's wedding day. Zhu ran to Liang's tomb(坟墓), which suddenly opened: Zhu jumped inside to join Liang. A pair of butterflies then came out of the tomb and flew away. 1. Why did Lady Meng Jiang go to the Great Wall? To bring her husband some winter clothes. 2. Where was Bai Suzhen trapped in the end? In Leifeng Pagoda. 3. How often do Zhinyu and Niulang meet each other? Once a year. 4. How did Zhu feel when Liang died on her wedding day? Sad./ Heartbroken. 5. What do the four folktales have in common? They are all sad love stories. Passage 6 China was divided int three kingdoms historically: Wei in the north, Shu in the southwest and Wu in the southeast. Once Cao Cao fom Wei led a 2000 strong army down to the south to wipe out(消灭) the kingdoms of Wu and Shu. Therefore, Wu and Shu joined together to protect against his attack. Cao ordered his men to connect up the boats by iron chains to form a bridge for the Cao's passing from the north bank of Yangtze River to the south bank. The General Officer of the alield army(联军) was Zhou Yu. He considered the situation carefully. Then he got a good idea. He decided to attack the enemy with fire. A So he began to prepare for the coming battle( 战斗). Suddenly he thought of the direction of wind. He needed the east wind to blow strongly in order to carry out his project. However, the wind did not come for days. B Thus Zhou Yu was worried about it.. C At that time, he got a note from Zhuge Liang, the army adviser of the Kingdom of Shu, which reads: “To fight Cao Cao, Fire will help you win. Everything is ready, Except the east wind." Quickly he turned to Zhuge Liang for help. Zhuge told him not to worry and there would be an east wind in a couple of days. D At last, the allied army won the war. Later, people use it to say“All is ready except what is crucial”. 1. Why did the kingdoms of Wu and Shu join together ? To protect against Cao Cao's attack. 2. How did Zhou Yu plan to beat back their enemy? He decided to attack them with fire. 3. Compared to the alied army, was Cao's army probably located in the east or west? In the west. 4. What did Zhuge Liang's note mean? 答案合理即得分，如: He knew what Zhou Yu needed./He wanted to help Zhou Yu. 5. The sentence "Two days later, the east wind helped Zhou complete his plan."is missing. Where should we putit, A, B, C or D? D Passage 7 Have you ever heard of netball? It is a team sport which is similar to both basketball and handball. Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg's College. In the first half of the 20th century, netball's popularity continued to grow, with the game being played in many countries. It was particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand. In 1995 netball became a “recognized” sport of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) and one of the International Netball Federation's goals is to encourage the IOC to include netball in the Olympic Games Programme in the future. There are seven players on each team and they each wear a bib(号码布) which shows the name of the position they play. Players must throw the ball to one another and the aim of the game is to pass the ball to the “Goal Shooter” or “Goal Attack” who can shoot the ball into the net to score a goal. However, the key rules of netball are that you cannot bounce(拍) the ball and you cannot move your feet when you have the ball. This is called the footwork rule and it can be quite difficult to grasp(掌握) for young children playing the game! A full match lasts for one hour and in a single match often about 100 goals are scored which shows what a fast-paced and exciting game netball is! Netball is typically played by women and girls. However, at many universities, there are mixed netball leagues(联赛) in which teams must have both male and female players. In the UK, there are many different ways to try to attract women to play netball. One such plan is called “Back to Netball”, which encourages women who have not played netball since they were at school to rediscover their love for the sport and get back on the court! Walking Netball is another variation(变化形式) of the sport aimed at older women and those who want to exercise in a gentler way. So, why not watch a video of netball online and then have a go for yourself? 1. What is netball similar to? It is similar to both basketball and handball. 2. When was netball first played? In 1895. 3. How long does a full netball match last? For one hour. 4. What is Walking Netball? It is another variation of the sport aimed at older women and those who want to exercise in a gentler way. 5. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about? It mainly talks about the rules of netball. Passage 8 People who have visited the Forbidden City would be impressed (给……留下深刻印象) by the wisdom of the ancient Chinese. The Forbidden City lies in the center of Beijing, north of Tian'anmen Square. It has 9,999 buildings, which are surrounded by a six-meter-deep moat(护城河) and a ten-meter-high wall. The wall has a gate on each side: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate to the north, the Xihua Gate to the west, and the Donghua Gate to the east. The Forbidden City got its name by forbidding(禁止) common people to enter unless they were allowed. The city is divided into two parts. The southern part, or the Outer Court was where the emperor(皇帝) exercised his power over the nation. The Outer Court covers a large space between the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Heavenly Purity. The northern part, or the Inner Court, was where the emperor lived with his family members. Everything in the emperor's personal rooms was yellow, including his clothing and bedding. The building of the palace began in 1407, the 5th year of the Yongle rule. It was not completed until 1420. It was said that a million people, including one hundred thousand skilled workers were driven into long-term hard work. It was said that a well was dug every fifty meters along the road in order to pour water onto the road in winter to move huge stones on the ice into the city. Ancient Chinese people showed their great skills in building the Forbidden City. Until the last emperor of China was driven from the Inner Court in 1924, fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty had ruled there. The Forbidden City had been the imperial(帝国的) palace for five centuries. It was home to a large number of people, as many as 9,000 in the high point of the Qing Dynasty, including the royal family members, servants, and guards. And now it is the world's largest palace museum. In 1987, it was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural legacy. Now it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions worldwide. 1. Where does the Forbidden City lie? It lies in the center of Beijing, north of Tian'anmen Square. 2. How did the Forbidden City get its name? By forbidding common people to enter. 3. What does the writer think of ancient Chinese people in building the Forbidden City? They showed their great skills. 4. How long had the Forbidden City been the imperial palace? For five centuries. 5. What does the writer mainly talk about in Paragraphs 3 and 4? The Forbidden City's history./The history of the Forbidden City. Passage 9 When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter E. Have you ever thought about why that is so? In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are typically considered passing grades. The F in this system simply stands for “fail”. The word “fail” happens to start with the letter F, which seems to leave out the letter E. The fact of the matter is that any letter can mean “not-passing” or “fail”. Some schools have U grade for “unsatisfactory”, or I grade for “incomplete”. Even with all this said, we should also point out that E grade actually has been used pretty commonly throughout the history of letter grades in the US. The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale: A: 95-100%(excellent) B: 85-94%(good) C: 76-84%(fair) D: 75%(barely passed) E: below 75%(failed) We can see the inclusion of E instead of F. Gradually, the letter grading system became more popular throughout the US. However, many schools decided to drop the E grade and go straight to F. There is no evidence(证据) to really support this, but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”. Why do we have letter grades? Well, part of the reason is that they made grading simpler during a time of great change for schools. As the 20th century began, growing cities and an increase in immigration led to larger school class-rooms. Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students. Today, more and more people argue that letter grades don't fully reflect(反映) students' learning. However，as teachers try to improve grading methods, many parents continue to favor the letter grades they got as kids. They are familiar(熟悉) and easy for parents to understand. So although they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren't going away any time soon. 1. What does the F stand for in the A,B,C,D and F grading system? It stands for “fail”. 2. When was the letter grading system first used in the US college? In 1897. 3. What is one possible explanation for dropping the E grade? Teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”. 4. What did most teachers think of the letter grading system in the 20th century? They thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students. 5. Why do many parents still prefer the letter grades today? Because the letter grades are familiar and easy for parents to understand. Passage 10 British people are famous for saying sorry in almost every situation. They say “Sorry” for asking a question, for their bad weather or because they sneezed(打喷嚏). British people pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. As a result, they use the word “sorry” quite a lot—even when they don't really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they would start by saying, “Sorry to bother(打扰) you. Do you know what time it is?” If they are five minutes late for a date, they would generally greet the person by saying, “Sorry, I'm late!” That they say sorry does not only mean they feel sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck. In the dictionary, “sorry” also means feeling regret because they have done something wrong. And now, think about this. Normally, when they want to ask a stranger a question, they start with “Sorry to bother you.” In this situation, they aren't saying sorry because they feel sad for that person or because they feel regret. In the British culture, saying sorry, in general, is a way to be polite, especially to people who they don't know very well. Besides, it can also bring them other benefits in their daily life. In a recent experiment, an actor asked different strangers on a rainy day if he could use their mobile phones to make a call. When he asked one group of strangers and asked them without saying sorry first, he was only 9% successful in borrowing their phones. However, when he said sorry to another group of strangers about the bad weather before asking if he could use their mobile phones, he was 47% successful. 1. Do British people say sorry for asking a question? Yes./Yes, they do. 2. Why do British people often use the word “sorry” quite a lot? Because they pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. 3. What do British people say if they are five minutes late for a date? Sorry, I'm late! 4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph? Not only saying sorry is a way to be polite, it can also bring other benefits in British people's daily life. 5. What does saying sorry mean to British people? It's a culture for the British. Passage 11 An American boy named Mickey was born to be a football player, everyone believed he would be a star player until a bad day came—he got ill. At the very beginning, he didn’t seem serious. So his parents thought he just came across one of the small problems that could happen to every child. Yet, after Mickey took some medicine, he got worse. Finally, the doctors found that they had to take away Mickey’s two hands and legs if they wanted to save him. There was a hard time in his life when he had to leave his field and teammates. To everyone’s surprise, Mickey was so positive (积极的). Though in a bad situation, he never thought about giving up, not even for once. Instead, he practiced hard with the artificial hands and legs It took him only two years to successfully find his way back into sports. He even won prizes in the world-famous competitions. It encouraged him to perform better.  Later on Mickey decided to start a website：mickeysrun.com. Since then, they have raised money to help people with similar experiences like him. One day, he was interviewed on TV about his story, He said, “Life may be hard for us sometimes, but believe that we have the ability to make our own life meaningful. Keep smiling! Sunshine will show up in life after the hard part is gone.” 1. Where does Mickey come from? America. 2. How long did it take Mickey to find his way back into sports? Two years. 3. What achievements did he get after he got through the hard time in life? He won prizes in the world-famous competitions. 4. Do you think it’s necessary for Mickey to come back to the team? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Yes. Because he is talented in football and he shouldn’t give up. Besides football can bring him happiness and make his life meaningful, and it can also improve his ability to overcome difficulties.（言之有理，言之有物即得分） Passage 12 The Longtaitou Festival, also known as the Eryue’er Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. It is on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. This year it falls on February 21st. As an old saying goes, “Er yue er, long tai tou.” It means on the second day of the second month, the dragon lifts his head. Ancient people believed that after this day, the rain would increase because the rain-bringing Dragon King woke up from his winter sleep. So it marks the start of spring and farming. There are many ways to celebrate the festival. The most famous tradition is to have a haircut. It is said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the mother’s brothers. So many people have their hair cut on the Longtaitou Festival. Also people eat special food on that day. People in Fujian Province eat tofu balls during the festival. They often make tofu and vegetable balls to pray for family and business. Eating chengyao cakes on this day is a tradition in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is said that if you eat chengyao cakes on Longtaitou, your waist (腰) won’t hurt the whole year. People in parts of Shandong Province eat fried beans to celebrate the festival. Other foods, like noodles, dumplings, spring rolls and popcorn, are all named after dragon. Noodles are called dragons’ beard (long xu), dumplings are dragons’ears (long er), spring rolls are dragons scales (long lin), and popcorn is called dragon seeds (long zi). It’s said that eating these foods on this day can bring good luck. 1. When is the Longtaitou Festival? It’s on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. 2. What is the famous tradition of the Longtaitou Festival? Having a haircut. 3. Do Fujian people eat chengyao cakes during the festival? No, they don’t.They eat tofu balls. 4. How do you like the traditions of the Longtaitou Festival? Write 30 words or more. They’re interesting and amazing. And they are also a part of traditional Chinese cultures,we should respect the traditions of different places and spread it and pass it on.（言之有理，言之有物即得分） Passage 13 What will you do if a doctor tells you that you have a serious illness and just have a few years to live? Will you give up all your hopes and wait to die? All those were the difficulties Stephen Hawking had in 1963. Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. He began his university education at University College, Oxford in 1959 at the age of 17. In 1963, he was diagnosed(诊断) with ALS (肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症), and told that he might only have two more years to live. He suddenly realized that he might not even live long enough, so he poured himself into hard work day and night. “I felt it was very unfair—why should this happen to me,” he wrote in his 2013 book, “At the time, I thought my life was over. But now, 50 years later, I am pretty thankful for what I get in my life.” The illness left Hawking in a wheelchair and unable to speak. He had to depend on technology. Luckily, a computer programmer developed a speaking program, which allowed Hawking to choose words on a computer screen. And then these words were passed through a speech synthesizer(合成器). With the help of this program, Stephen Hawking could continue working. Over the years, he wrote fifteen books, such as A Brief History of Time, The Universe in a Nutshell and The Grand Design. On March 14, 2018, Hawking died at his home peacefully in Cambridge, England. The news touched people around the world. We have lost a great mind and a wonderful spirit, but his work will live on forever. As he once said, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.” 1. Where was Stephen Hawking born? In Oxford, England. 2. How long did Hawking live? Seventy-six years. 3. How could Hawking go on working after he got the bad illness? With the help of a speaking program. 4. Are you afraid of difficulties in life? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. No, I’m not. It’s common for us to meet some difficulties in our life and these difficulties can help me to be a better person if I try my best to overcome it.（开放性试题，答案不唯一，言之有理即可） Passage 14 Your three years in junior high school will finish soon. Do you want to say something like the following three? Lin Yijian, 14, Xiamen, Fujian I went through a hard time in the second year in junior high because my grades suddenly dropped a lot. I was under great pressure. In the following summer vacation, I worked really hard by studying from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day. It was crazy. But when I caught up with my classmates, I felt everything was worthwhile（值得的）. Zhang Wanying, 15, Dalian, Liaoning In 2022, I had a trip to the US with some students and teachers. When we arrived there, the other students and I didn't want to eat the local food. The teachers were worried and tried to make us eat. When we finally finished the meal, the guide scolded（责备） us, saying that the world see how spoiled（被宠坏的） Chinese kids were. I felt really sorry. Zhao Shu, 14, Hangzhou, Zhejiang I live in a dorm（寝室） during junior high school. In the beginning, it was a great challenge since I had never left my parents before that. I had to do everything by myself. I learned to tidy my bed and get along with my roommates. I also learned to plan my time. Now, I feel comfortable living here and I feel proud of myself. 1. How did Lin catch up with his classmates? By studying hard every day. 2. Where did Zhang go on a trip in 2022? To the US. 3. What are the three students talking about? School life. 4. Do you think it good for junior high students to live in a school dorm? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Yes, I think so. Because it can help build up students' independence. Through all kinds of things, they can learn different skills. And all these can help them take good care of themselves. Besides, they can get to know how to communicate with others well.（开放性试题，答案不唯一，言之有理即可） Passage 15 The ancient Chinese sport of cuju became a bridge for cultural exchanges. The word “cu” means to kick, and “ju” is a type of leather (皮革) ball in ancient China. Li Weipeng, a 7th-generation inheritor(传承人) of cuju, led Qatari young players to get a taste of the ancient Chinese game. The cuju activity attracted many Qatari soccer fans. They cheered and gave the thumbs-up when Li played out different cuju moves. Li Weipeng is from Zibo, Shandong, which is called “the home of soccer ball”. It's the birthplace of cuju. In 2004, cuju won the recognition(认可) of FIFA as the earliest form of soccer. Li has been practicing cuju skills for 18 years. Now it is a part of Li’s job to teach students cuju moves. Students at primary and middle schools in Zibo show great interest in cuju. Its moves have made their way into dances and morning exercises. Students in Zibo are not only playing cuju as a form of exercise but also learning how to make cuju balls. Yu Jian, a man in his 60s, is an inheritor of handmade cuju balls in Zibo. He has been making cuju balls for nearly twenty years. His cuju products have been sold to more than 130 countries. Yu provides courses for students. Every year, many students try their hands at making cuju balls with cotton and leather. 1. Where did cuju start? In Zibo, Shandong. 2. How long have Li been practicing cuju? For 18 years. 3. What do Li Weipeng and Yu Jian have in common? Both of them are inheritors of cuju. 4.What kind of Chinese traditional sports are you willing to have a try? Why? Write 30 words or more. I will try Chinese Wu shu. Because it can help me keep healthy and enjoy the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. It can also help me better understand the Chinese culture.（言之有理，言之有物即得分） Passage 16 Working Out through Online Videos Physical exercise is good for our mind, body and spirit. Today, working out through online videos is becoming very popular. That means we can work out anytime anywhere. One of my friends, Lin Fei ,followed short workout videos to do daily exercise. “With live programs, I feel like working out with my friends, which encourages me to hold on to the last minute.” she said. With his examples, I decided to give it a try. When I told my plan to my elder sister, a P.E. teacher, she reminded me that workout videos could be helpful but might still carry some problems. “Without being with someone in person, you will be less willing （愿意的）to work out to your best. Working out at the gym allows you to have advice in real time and get pushed harder.” my sister said to me. “Well, if you really want to have a try,first choose proper programs or videos. And then ask your friends for advice. Their experiences can give you a good sight into what you can expect. You should try different ways to work out to be healthy.” At her suggestions, I finally followed an online workout program that is held for three months. After the first period of training, I felt it very practical and helpful when I put in the right amount of work along with a strong will. Compared with going to the gym, using online videos to work out is a much cheaper and time-saving choice. But it can be difficult sometimes when I’m too lazy or too busy to stick to it. 1. Which way to work out is becoming very popular today? Working out through online videos. 2. What is the problem of working out without someone else in person? Without being with someone in person, you will be less willing to work out to your best. 3. How did the writer feel about his first period of training? It is very practical and helpful. 4. Would you like to follow online videos to work out? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Yes. Because I feel free and relaxed when I follow online videos to work out. It doesn’t cost money and saves my time. I can exercise at any time（言之有理，言之有物即得分） . Passage 17 Do you live in an area where there is snow winter? If you do, you may experience blizzards(暴风雪). A blizzard is a heavy snow with strong winds. Blizzards also make it hard for people to buy food and other daily needs. Well, it is really necessary to learn something about how to protect yourself in such terrible weather. What to do before the blizzards? Paying attention to the weather report can help you know the coming of blizzards earlier. Then you can get well prepared for blizzards. You can change the travel plan in time before the blizzards come. Prepare what you need to keep warm, and save enough food and water for your family, If your house is not strong, move to a safer place quickly In this way , you won't get hurt l your house is damaged(毁坏) by heavy snow. What to do when the blizzards come? If you are indoors, try not to go out. Don’t go to clean the snow so as not to lose temperature. Use heating tools in a right way when staying indoors. If the coal is used for heating, keep the windows open to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning (一氧化碳中毒). If you have to go out, you need to wear thick clothes to keep warm. And you'd better wear proper shoes to stop you from failing down. Besides, be careful of power lines, because they can be dangerous for people on foot. These are some basic knowledge about blizzards, and you need to keep these knowledge in your mind. Protect yourself during blizzards. 1. How can we know the coming of blizzards earlier? By paying attention to the weather report. 2. Why can't we go to clean the snow when the snowstorms come? Because we may lose temperature. 3. How can we we use the coal for heating correctly? Keeping the windows open. 4.What will you do if you meet someone suffering troubles in the winter? Write 30 words or more. I will keep calm at first and then call 119 at once. And I'll throw a rope or something used for floating to the person in water. Meanwhile I must be safe first.（言之有理，言之有物即得分） Passage 18 One day in July I was completely well again, I put some food and water in a bag and went exploring. I walked along the coast until I got to a small river. Then I followed it across the island. The land on both sides of the river was very pleasant. It was flat and green and many different plants were growing there. I looked for things to eat, but I didn’t find anything. The next day I decided to go further. I was curious to see more of the green valley. I walked for many hours and finally I arrived in a place with many trees. I could see oranges and lemons on them. I also saw grapes and melons too. “The north side of the island is better than the south,” I thought. “There are lots of thing to eat. The weather is better here too. I chose the bad side for my house.” I didn’t go home that night. I slept in a tree and continued exploring the next morning. Before I left that place, I filled my pockets with fruit. “I must come back with bags and get some more,” I thought. “But I must hurry because the wet season starts in August.” I made several more trips during the following weeks and took back as much fruit as I could. While I was there, I built a small tent to sleep in. Now I had a country house and a seaside house! It rained more or less every day between the middle of August and the middle of October and I had to stay inside. But when the weather changed, I often went to my country house. There were lots of small animals in the woods and turtles on the beach, so I was never without meat. I also discovered that turtle eggs were very good to eat too. I dried some of the meat in the sun and kept it for the wet season. I dried the grapes too. They were very good and I usually kept some in my pockets. One day when I was standing on the top of a hill, I saw land in the distance. Was it the mainland or an island I asked myself? Another day I caught a parrot and took it home with me. I called it Poll and I taught it to speak. The first word it learnt to say was its name. Then I taught it to say “Robinson”. It was strange to hear another voice after so many months. Poll was very good company and almost never left my side. —Taken from Robinson Crusoe 1. What could Robinson see on the trees? Oranges, lemons, grapes and melons. 2. Why must Robinson hurry? Because the wet season starts in August. 3. How did Robinson keep the meat for the wet season? Robinson dried some of the meat in the sun. 4. What did Robinson teach Poll to do? Robinson taught it to speak. 5. What’s Robinson like in your eyes? Why do you think so? Robinson is brave, because he never gives up. Passage 19 Portia gave the decision. “One pound of the merchant’s flesh is yours! It is what the contract (合同) says. You may take his flesh!” Shylock held his knife and told Antonio to get ready. “Wait!” said Portia. “You will not do anything that is not written in the contract. Is that right, Shylock?” “Yes, that’s right,” said Shylock. “Well,” said the young judge, “I have read the contract carefully, and it does not say anything about taking his blood. It says ‘a pound of flesh.’ You can take your pound of flesh, but you may not take one drop of his blood. If you take any of his blood, the duke will take everything you own!” Shylock didn’t want to give everything he owned to the duke. He decided not to take his pound of flesh. He said he would take the money. Bassanio was happy to give him the money because he thought he could save his friend Antonio in this way. Portia, however, had more to say. “Wait!” she said again. “He does not want the money. It is not written in the contract, and he said that he would not do anything that was not written in the contract. Shylock, you can take your pound of flesh, just as the contract says. Why are you waiting?” she asked. Shylock said he just wanted to have his money back. “Just give me the money I lent you. I won’t even demand interest,” he said. Bassanio was ready to give the money to him, but again Portia stopped him and said, “He said in front of us all that he did not want the money. He wanted only the penalty that is in the contract.” Shylock understood that he would not get his pound of flesh. He understood that he would not get his money. He decided to go home. —Taken from The Merchant of Venice 1. Whose flesh did Shylock want to take? Antonio’s. 2. What would happen if Shylock took Antonio’s blood? The duke would take everything Shylock owned. 3. How did Bassanio want to save his friend Antonio? By giving the money (to Shylock.) / By giving Shylock the money. 4. Why did Shylock decide to go home at last? Because he didn’t get Antonio’s flesh or his money / he got nothing / he failed / he was beaten. 5. What do you think of Portia in the passage? She is / was clever / careful / wise / brave / thoughtful / helpful / warm-hearted… Passage 20 China has many special forms of traditional art. They are usually used to represent things that are important in life such as love, beauty and family. It was said that sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Liang. He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. Sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations today. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes. Chinese paper-cutting has been around for more than 1,500 years. It may sound very easy but is difficult to practise. The paper, usually red, is folded (折叠) before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put up on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year. Chinese clay (泥塑) art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After drying, they are fired at a very high heat. Then they are painted after polishing (抛光). Finally, materials such as wood or paper are added as decorations (装饰). It takes several weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. 1．Who first used sky lanterns? Zhuge Liang. 2．What are sky lanterns seen as bright symbols of? Happiness and good wishes. 3．How long has Chinese paper-cutting been around? More than 1500 years. 4．Where are the most common pictures put up during the Spring Festival? Windows,doors and walls. 5．How are the clay pieces carefully shaped from a very special kind of clay? By hand. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ Passage 1 Hotpot is popular in China today. Did ancient Chinese people have hotpot? Ancient Chinese people had hotpot as early as the Shang Dynasty. At that time, people boiled (煮) foods and soups in bronze cauldrons (青铜鼎). The cauldron had two parts - one was the pot to cook foods in soup, the other part was a layer (层) or a space inside the cauldron to hold firewood. But at that time, the cauldron was only for a single person to cat from. During the Han Dynasty, people divided a pot into several parts to enjoy different flavors (风味). During the Tang Dynasty, having hotpot was a trendy (时髦的) thing. When people held family feasts (宴), they would prepare hotpot. People of the Song Dynasty had hotpot to welcome winter. Huoguo, the Chinese name for hotpot, was mentioned by Yuan Mei, poet and foodie (美食家) in the Qing Dynasty, He mentioned it in a book about all kinds of food. At that time, hotpot was very popular. People put all kinds of meat and vegetables into pots made of different materials, such as copper and iron, Hotpot also became a famous royal dish. It's said that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty loved hopot very much. He had it for almost every meal. He once held a big hotpot feast and invited more than 5,000 people to enjoy about 1,550 hotpots. 1. When did ancient Chinese people begin to eat hotpot? 2. Was having hotpo a trendy thing during the Tang Dyasy? 3. Why did people divide a pot into several part? 4. Who mentioned the Chinese name huoguo? 5. How often did Emperor Qianlong have the hotpot? Passage 2 How much do you know about Kunqu Opera? This Chinese opera first appeared in Kunshan, Jiangsu. It has a history of more than 600 years. But can you imagine performing this traditional art form with some Western instruments? Zhang Jun is a famous artist. The 48-year-old is the headmaster of the Shanghai Opera School. On April 15 and 16, Zhang invited his musician friends to give a special performance (表演) in Shanghai. His friends played the guitar, the violin and more. A Pingtan artist and a rapper also took part in the show. Pingtan is another traditional Chinese art form. Kunqu Opera is known for its beautiful songs and style. Traditionally, it takes the board and drum to control the speed of the singing. Other main instruments in Kunqu include the flute, the three strings and more. Zhang started studying Kunqu when he was twelve years old. “For the past few years, I’ve been mixing Kunqu with other music types,” he said. He hopes to breathe new life into this traditional opera. In this way, it can attract more young audiences (观众). 1. Where did Kunqu Opera first appear? 2. On April 15 and 16, who gave a special performance with Zhang? 3. What is Kunqu Opera famous for? 4. How old was Zhang Jun when he began studying Kunqu Opera? 5. What do you think of Kunqu Opera? Passage 3 These days, the word “taikonaut” is hot in the world. It is a special name for Chinese astronauts. Today, let’s meet one of them - Deng Qingming. In 1998, China started a program - a group of 14 people trained to go into space one day. Deng was one of them. For the next 25 years, he was always ready to fly. He waited and waited. At the age of 56, Deng’s dream finally came true. Not long ago, he joined Shenzhou-15’s team and went into space. Shenzhou-15’s team planned to spend six months in space. After they met with Shenzhou-14’s team, they took over their job. They were to help complete the Tiangong Space Station, do some science experiments and go on spacewalks. The journey to his dream took a very long time. Deng once felt sad and hurt, but he never gave up. He worked hard all the time and finally his dream came true. The trip to space was not only exciting for Deng, but also for his family and friends. His daughter said with pride, “My father is a hero!” 1. According to the text, what is the special name for Chinese astronauts? 2. When did Deng Qingming realize his dream? 3. How long did Shenzhou-15’s team plan to spend in space? 4. In your opinion, what is Deng Qingming like? 5.List one of the things that Deng Qingming’s team are going to do in space. Passage 4 In the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Wu and the State of Yue didn’t get along well. They had been fighting against each other for years. People in each country also didn’t have a good relationship (关系). One day, the people of Wu and the people of Yue happened to be on the same boat to cross a river. At the beginning, they didn’t say a word with each other. When the boat sailed to the center of the river, a strong wind came. In no time , huge waves (波浪) hit people’s faces. It seemed that the boat would sink (沉) at any time. Just then, they forgot all the hatred between two countries and began to help each other just like they were family. ▲ , they safely got to the river bank under everyone’s effort. 1. In which dynasty did the story happen? 2. Why didn’t the people say a word with each other in the same boat at the beginning? 3. What would probably happen if the people from different states didn’t help each other? 4. Please fill in the blank in the last paragraph. 5. What can we learn from this story? Passage 5 China's “Four Great Folktales" Lady Meng Jiang During the Qin Dynasty, Lady Meng Jiang s husband was forced to leave home to help build the Great Wall. After not hearing from him for a long time, Lady Meng Jiang set out to bring him some winter clothes. Unluckily, by the time she reached the Great Wall, her husband had already died. After hearing the bad news, she cried so sadly that part of the Great Wall collapsed(崩塌), revealing (露出) her husband's bones. Legend of the White Snake A white snake spirit dreamed of becoming a goddess. She took human form, called herself Bai Suzhen, and traveled to the human world. She fell in love with a young man named Xu Xian and they got married. But spirits and humans weren't supposed to marry, so a monk named Fahai tried to kill Bai. Bai was finally trapped in Leifeng Pagoda (塔) forever by Fahai. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl Zhinyu, a weaver girl, was a fairy who fell in love with Niulang, a cowherd. However, their love was not allowed. They were separated on opposite sides of the night sky by a silver river. But once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, many magpies (喜鹊) form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day. The Butterfly Lovers A young woman named Zhu Yingtai disguised(乔装)herself as a man so she could study in school. She got along well with a schoolmate named Liang Shanbo. Later, Liang discovered Zhu was a woman and wanted to marry her. But Zhu had already been arranged to marry another man by her parents. Heartbroken, Liang died on Zhu's wedding day. Zhu ran to Liang's tomb(坟墓), which suddenly opened: Zhu jumped inside to join Liang. A pair of butterflies then came out of the tomb and flew away. 1. Why did Lady Meng Jiang go to the Great Wall? 2. Where was Bai Suzhen trapped in the end? 3. How often do Zhinyu and Niulang meet each other? 4. How did Zhu feel when Liang died on her wedding day? 5. What do the four folktales have in common? Passage 6 China was divided int three kingdoms historically: Wei in the north, Shu in the southwest and Wu in the southeast. Once Cao Cao fom Wei led a 2000 strong army down to the south to wipe out(消灭) the kingdoms of Wu and Shu. Therefore, Wu and Shu joined together to protect against his attack. Cao ordered his men to connect up the boats by iron chains to form a bridge for the Cao's passing from the north bank of Yangtze River to the south bank. The General Officer of the alield army(联军) was Zhou Yu. He considered the situation carefully. Then he got a good idea. He decided to attack the enemy with fire. A So he began to prepare for the coming battle( 战斗). Suddenly he thought of the direction of wind. He needed the east wind to blow strongly in order to carry out his project. However, the wind did not come for days. B Thus Zhou Yu was worried about it.. C At that time, he got a note from Zhuge Liang, the army adviser of the Kingdom of Shu, which reads: “To fight Cao Cao, Fire will help you win. Everything is ready, Except the east wind." Quickly he turned to Zhuge Liang for help. Zhuge told him not to worry and there would be an east wind in a couple of days. D At last, the allied army won the war. Later, people use it to say“All is ready except what is crucial”. 1. Why did the kingdoms of Wu and Shu join together ? 2. How did Zhou Yu plan to beat back their enemy? 3. Compared to the alied army, was Cao's army probably located in the east or west? 4. What did Zhuge Liang's note mean? 5. The sentence "Two days later, the east wind helped Zhou complete his plan."is missing. Where should we putit, A, B, C or D? Passage 7 Have you ever heard of netball? It is a team sport which is similar to both basketball and handball. Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg's College. In the first half of the 20th century, netball's popularity continued to grow, with the game being played in many countries. It was particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand. In 1995 netball became a “recognized” sport of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) and one of the International Netball Federation's goals is to encourage the IOC to include netball in the Olympic Games Programme in the future. There are seven players on each team and they each wear a bib(号码布) which shows the name of the position they play. Players must throw the ball to one another and the aim of the game is to pass the ball to the “Goal Shooter” or “Goal Attack” who can shoot the ball into the net to score a goal. However, the key rules of netball are that you cannot bounce(拍) the ball and you cannot move your feet when you have the ball. This is called the footwork rule and it can be quite difficult to grasp(掌握) for young children playing the game! A full match lasts for one hour and in a single match often about 100 goals are scored which shows what a fast-paced and exciting game netball is! Netball is typically played by women and girls. However, at many universities, there are mixed netball leagues(联赛) in which teams must have both male and female players. In the UK, there are many different ways to try to attract women to play netball. One such plan is called “Back to Netball”, which encourages women who have not played netball since they were at school to rediscover their love for the sport and get back on the court! Walking Netball is another variation(变化形式) of the sport aimed at older women and those who want to exercise in a gentler way. So, why not watch a video of netball online and then have a go for yourself? 1. What is netball similar to? 2. When was netball first played? 3. How long does a full netball match last? 4. What is Walking Netball? 5. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about? Passage 8 People who have visited the Forbidden City would be impressed (给……留下深刻印象) by the wisdom of the ancient Chinese. The Forbidden City lies in the center of Beijing, north of Tian'anmen Square. It has 9,999 buildings, which are surrounded by a six-meter-deep moat(护城河) and a ten-meter-high wall. The wall has a gate on each side: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate to the north, the Xihua Gate to the west, and the Donghua Gate to the east. The Forbidden City got its name by forbidding(禁止) common people to enter unless they were allowed. The city is divided into two parts. The southern part, or the Outer Court was where the emperor(皇帝) exercised his power over the nation. The Outer Court covers a large space between the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Heavenly Purity. The northern part, or the Inner Court, was where the emperor lived with his family members. Everything in the emperor's personal rooms was yellow, including his clothing and bedding. The building of the palace began in 1407, the 5th year of the Yongle rule. It was not completed until 1420. It was said that a million people, including one hundred thousand skilled workers were driven into long-term hard work. It was said that a well was dug every fifty meters along the road in order to pour water onto the road in winter to move huge stones on the ice into the city. Ancient Chinese people showed their great skills in building the Forbidden City. Until the last emperor of China was driven from the Inner Court in 1924, fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty had ruled there. The Forbidden City had been the imperial(帝国的) palace for five centuries. It was home to a large number of people, as many as 9,000 in the high point of the Qing Dynasty, including the royal family members, servants, and guards. And now it is the world's largest palace museum. In 1987, it was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural legacy. Now it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions worldwide. 1. Where does the Forbidden City lie? 2. How did the Forbidden City get its name? 3. What does the writer think of ancient Chinese people in building the Forbidden City? 4. How long had the Forbidden City been the imperial palace? 5. What does the writer mainly talk about in Paragraphs 3 and 4? Passage 9 When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter E. Have you ever thought about why that is so? In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are typically considered passing grades. The F in this system simply stands for “fail”. The word “fail” happens to start with the letter F, which seems to leave out the letter E. The fact of the matter is that any letter can mean “not-passing” or “fail”. Some schools have U grade for “unsatisfactory”, or I grade for “incomplete”. Even with all this said, we should also point out that E grade actually has been used pretty commonly throughout the history of letter grades in the US. The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale: A: 95-100%(excellent) B: 85-94%(good) C: 76-84%(fair) D: 75%(barely passed) E: below 75%(failed) We can see the inclusion of E instead of F. Gradually, the letter grading system became more popular throughout the US. However, many schools decided to drop the E grade and go straight to F. There is no evidence(证据) to really support this, but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”. Why do we have letter grades? Well, part of the reason is that they made grading simpler during a time of great change for schools. As the 20th century began, growing cities and an increase in immigration led to larger school class-rooms. Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students. Today, more and more people argue that letter grades don't fully reflect(反映) students' learning. However，as teachers try to improve grading methods, many parents continue to favor the letter grades they got as kids. They are familiar(熟悉) and easy for parents to understand. So although they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren't going away any time soon. 1. What does the F stand for in the A,B,C,D and F grading system? 2. When was the letter grading system first used in the US college? 3. What is one possible explanation for dropping the E grade? 4. What did most teachers think of the letter grading system in the 20th century? 5. Why do many parents still prefer the letter grades today? Passage 10 British people are famous for saying sorry in almost every situation. They say “Sorry” for asking a question, for their bad weather or because they sneezed(打喷嚏). British people pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. As a result, they use the word “sorry” quite a lot—even when they don't really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they would start by saying, “Sorry to bother(打扰) you. Do you know what time it is?” If they are five minutes late for a date, they would generally greet the person by saying, “Sorry, I'm late!” That they say sorry does not only mean they feel sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck. In the dictionary, “sorry” also means feeling regret because they have done something wrong. And now, think about this. Normally, when they want to ask a stranger a question, they start with “Sorry to bother you.” In this situation, they aren't saying sorry because they feel sad for that person or because they feel regret. In the British culture, saying sorry, in general, is a way to be polite, especially to people who they don't know very well. Besides, it can also bring them other benefits in their daily life. In a recent experiment, an actor asked different strangers on a rainy day if he could use their mobile phones to make a call. When he asked one group of strangers and asked them without saying sorry first, he was only 9% successful in borrowing their phones. However, when he said sorry to another group of strangers about the bad weather before asking if he could use their mobile phones, he was 47% successful. 1. Do British people say sorry for asking a question? 2. Why do British people often use the word “sorry” quite a lot? 3. What do British people say if they are five minutes late for a date? 4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph? 5. What does saying sorry mean to British people? Passage 11 An American boy named Mickey was born to be a football player, everyone believed he would be a star player until a bad day came—he got ill. At the very beginning, he didn’t seem serious. So his parents thought he just came across one of the small problems that could happen to every child. Yet, after Mickey took some medicine, he got worse. Finally, the doctors found that they had to take away Mickey’s two hands and legs if they wanted to save him. There was a hard time in his life when he had to leave his field and teammates. To everyone’s surprise, Mickey was so positive (积极的). Though in a bad situation, he never thought about giving up, not even for once. Instead, he practiced hard with the artificial hands and legs It took him only two years to successfully find his way back into sports. He even won prizes in the world-famous competitions. It encouraged him to perform better.  Later on Mickey decided to start a website：mickeysrun.com. Since then, they have raised money to help people with similar experiences like him. One day, he was interviewed on TV about his story, He said, “Life may be hard for us sometimes, but believe that we have the ability to make our own life meaningful. Keep smiling! Sunshine will show up in life after the hard part is gone.” 1. Where does Mickey come from? 2. How long did it take Mickey to find his way back into sports? 3. What achievements did he get after he got through the hard time in life? 4. Do you think it’s necessary for Mickey to come back to the team? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Passage 12 The Longtaitou Festival, also known as the Eryue’er Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. It is on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. This year it falls on February 21st. As an old saying goes, “Er yue er, long tai tou.” It means on the second day of the second month, the dragon lifts his head. Ancient people believed that after this day, the rain would increase because the rain-bringing Dragon King woke up from his winter sleep. So it marks the start of spring and farming. There are many ways to celebrate the festival. The most famous tradition is to have a haircut. It is said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the mother’s brothers. So many people have their hair cut on the Longtaitou Festival. Also people eat special food on that day. People in Fujian Province eat tofu balls during the festival. They often make tofu and vegetable balls to pray for family and business. Eating chengyao cakes on this day is a tradition in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is said that if you eat chengyao cakes on Longtaitou, your waist (腰) won’t hurt the whole year. People in parts of Shandong Province eat fried beans to celebrate the festival. Other foods, like noodles, dumplings, spring rolls and popcorn, are all named after dragon. Noodles are called dragons’ beard (long xu), dumplings are dragons’ears (long er), spring rolls are dragons scales (long lin), and popcorn is called dragon seeds (long zi). It’s said that eating these foods on this day can bring good luck. 1. When is the Longtaitou Festival? 2. What is the famous tradition of the Longtaitou Festival? 3. Do Fujian people eat chengyao cakes during the festival? 4. How do you like the traditions of the Longtaitou Festival? Write 30 words or more. Passage 13 What will you do if a doctor tells you that you have a serious illness and just have a few years to live? Will you give up all your hopes and wait to die? All those were the difficulties Stephen Hawking had in 1963. Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. He began his university education at University College, Oxford in 1959 at the age of 17. In 1963, he was diagnosed(诊断) with ALS (肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症), and told that he might only have two more years to live. He suddenly realized that he might not even live long enough, so he poured himself into hard work day and night. “I felt it was very unfair—why should this happen to me,” he wrote in his 2013 book, “At the time, I thought my life was over. But now, 50 years later, I am pretty thankful for what I get in my life.” The illness left Hawking in a wheelchair and unable to speak. He had to depend on technology. Luckily, a computer programmer developed a speaking program, which allowed Hawking to choose words on a computer screen. And then these words were passed through a speech synthesizer(合成器). With the help of this program, Stephen Hawking could continue working. Over the years, he wrote fifteen books, such as A Brief History of Time, The Universe in a Nutshell and The Grand Design. On March 14, 2018, Hawking died at his home peacefully in Cambridge, England. The news touched people around the world. We have lost a great mind and a wonderful spirit, but his work will live on forever. As he once said, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.” 1. Where was Stephen Hawking born? 2. How long did Hawking live? 3. How could Hawking go on working after he got the bad illness? 4. Are you afraid of difficulties in life? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Passage 14 Your three years in junior high school will finish soon. Do you want to say something like the following three? Lin Yijian, 14, Xiamen, Fujian I went through a hard time in the second year in junior high because my grades suddenly dropped a lot. I was under great pressure. In the following summer vacation, I worked really hard by studying from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day. It was crazy. But when I caught up with my classmates, I felt everything was worthwhile（值得的）. Zhang Wanying, 15, Dalian, Liaoning In 2022, I had a trip to the US with some students and teachers. When we arrived there, the other students and I didn't want to eat the local food. The teachers were worried and tried to make us eat. When we finally finished the meal, the guide scolded（责备） us, saying that the world see how spoiled（被宠坏的） Chinese kids were. I felt really sorry. Zhao Shu, 14, Hangzhou, Zhejiang I live in a dorm（寝室） during junior high school. In the beginning, it was a great challenge since I had never left my parents before that. I had to do everything by myself. I learned to tidy my bed and get along with my roommates. I also learned to plan my time. Now, I feel comfortable living here and I feel proud of myself. 1. How did Lin catch up with his classmates? 2. Where did Zhang go on a trip in 2022? 3. What are the three students talking about? 4. Do you think it good for junior high students to live in a school dorm? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Passage 15 The ancient Chinese sport of cuju became a bridge for cultural exchanges. The word “cu” means to kick, and “ju” is a type of leather (皮革) ball in ancient China. Li Weipeng, a 7th-generation inheritor(传承人) of cuju, led Qatari young players to get a taste of the ancient Chinese game. The cuju activity attracted many Qatari soccer fans. They cheered and gave the thumbs-up when Li played out different cuju moves. Li Weipeng is from Zibo, Shandong, which is called “the home of soccer ball”. It's the birthplace of cuju. In 2004, cuju won the recognition(认可) of FIFA as the earliest form of soccer. Li has been practicing cuju skills for 18 years. Now it is a part of Li’s job to teach students cuju moves. Students at primary and middle schools in Zibo show great interest in cuju. Its moves have made their way into dances and morning exercises. Students in Zibo are not only playing cuju as a form of exercise but also learning how to make cuju balls. Yu Jian, a man in his 60s, is an inheritor of handmade cuju balls in Zibo. He has been making cuju balls for nearly twenty years. His cuju products have been sold to more than 130 countries. Yu provides courses for students. Every year, many students try their hands at making cuju balls with cotton and leather. 1. Where did cuju start? 2. How long have Li been practicing cuju? 3. What do Li Weipeng and Yu Jian have in common? 4.What kind of Chinese traditional sports are you willing to have a try? Why? Write 30 words or more. Passage 16 Working Out through Online Videos Physical exercise is good for our mind, body and spirit. Today, working out through online videos is becoming very popular. That means we can work out anytime anywhere. One of my friends, Lin Fei ,followed short workout videos to do daily exercise. “With live programs, I feel like working out with my friends, which encourages me to hold on to the last minute.” she said. With his examples, I decided to give it a try. When I told my plan to my elder sister, a P.E. teacher, she reminded me that workout videos could be helpful but might still carry some problems. “Without being with someone in person, you will be less willing （愿意的）to work out to your best. Working out at the gym allows you to have advice in real time and get pushed harder.” my sister said to me. “Well, if you really want to have a try,first choose proper programs or videos. And then ask your friends for advice. Their experiences can give you a good sight into what you can expect. You should try different ways to work out to be healthy.” At her suggestions, I finally followed an online workout program that is held for three months. After the first period of training, I felt it very practical and helpful when I put in the right amount of work along with a strong will. Compared with going to the gym, using online videos to work out is a much cheaper and time-saving choice. But it can be difficult sometimes when I’m too lazy or too busy to stick to it. 1. Which way to work out is becoming very popular today? 2. What is the problem of working out without someone else in person? 3. How did the writer feel about his first period of training? 4. Would you like to follow online videos to work out? Why or why not? Write 30 words or more. Passage 17 Do you live in an area where there is snow winter? If you do, you may experience blizzards(暴风雪). A blizzard is a heavy snow with strong winds. Blizzards also make it hard for people to buy food and other daily needs. Well, it is really necessary to learn something about how to protect yourself in such terrible weather. What to do before the blizzards? Paying attention to the weather report can help you know the coming of blizzards earlier. Then you can get well prepared for blizzards. You can change the travel plan in time before the blizzards come. Prepare what you need to keep warm, and save enough food and water for your family, If your house is not strong, move to a safer place quickly In this way , you won't get hurt l your house is damaged(毁坏) by heavy snow. What to do when the blizzards come? If you are indoors, try not to go out. Don’t go to clean the snow so as not to lose temperature. Use heating tools in a right way when staying indoors. If the coal is used for heating, keep the windows open to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning (一氧化碳中毒). If you have to go out, you need to wear thick clothes to keep warm. And you'd better wear proper shoes to stop you from failing down. Besides, be careful of power lines, because they can be dangerous for people on foot. These are some basic knowledge about blizzards, and you need to keep these knowledge in your mind. Protect yourself during blizzards. 1. How can we know the coming of blizzards earlier? 2. Why can't we go to clean the snow when the snowstorms come? 3. How can we we use the coal for heating correctly? 4.What will you do if you meet someone suffering troubles in the winter? Write 30 words or more. Passage 18 One day in July I was completely well again, I put some food and water in a bag and went exploring. I walked along the coast until I got to a small river. Then I followed it across the island. The land on both sides of the river was very pleasant. It was flat and green and many different plants were growing there. I looked for things to eat, but I didn’t find anything. The next day I decided to go further. I was curious to see more of the green valley. I walked for many hours and finally I arrived in a place with many trees. I could see oranges and lemons on them. I also saw grapes and melons too. “The north side of the island is better than the south,” I thought. “There are lots of thing to eat. The weather is better here too. I chose the bad side for my house.” I didn’t go home that night. I slept in a tree and continued exploring the next morning. Before I left that place, I filled my pockets with fruit. “I must come back with bags and get some more,” I thought. “But I must hurry because the wet season starts in August.” I made several more trips during the following weeks and took back as much fruit as I could. While I was there, I built a small tent to sleep in. Now I had a country house and a seaside house! It rained more or less every day between the middle of August and the middle of October and I had to stay inside. But when the weather changed, I often went to my country house. There were lots of small animals in the woods and turtles on the beach, so I was never without meat. I also discovered that turtle eggs were very good to eat too. I dried some of the meat in the sun and kept it for the wet season. I dried the grapes too. They were very good and I usually kept some in my pockets. One day when I was standing on the top of a hill, I saw land in the distance. Was it the mainland or an island I asked myself? Another day I caught a parrot and took it home with me. I called it Poll and I taught it to speak. The first word it learnt to say was its name. Then I taught it to say “Robinson”. It was strange to hear another voice after so many months. Poll was very good company and almost never left my side. —Taken from Robinson Crusoe 1. What could Robinson see on the trees? 2. Why must Robinson hurry? 3. How did Robinson keep the meat for the wet season? 4. What did Robinson teach Poll to do? 5. What’s Robinson like in your eyes? Why do you think so? Passage 19 Portia gave the decision. “One pound of the merchant’s flesh is yours! It is what the contract (合同) says. You may take his flesh!” Shylock held his knife and told Antonio to get ready. “Wait!” said Portia. “You will not do anything that is not written in the contract. Is that right, Shylock?” “Yes, that’s right,” said Shylock. “Well,” said the young judge, “I have read the contract carefully, and it does not say anything about taking his blood. It says ‘a pound of flesh.’ You can take your pound of flesh, but you may not take one drop of his blood. If you take any of his blood, the duke will take everything you own!” Shylock didn’t want to give everything he owned to the duke. He decided not to take his pound of flesh. He said he would take the money. Bassanio was happy to give him the money because he thought he could save his friend Antonio in this way. Portia, however, had more to say. “Wait!” she said again. “He does not want the money. It is not written in the contract, and he said that he would not do anything that was not written in the contract. Shylock, you can take your pound of flesh, just as the contract says. Why are you waiting?” she asked. Shylock said he just wanted to have his money back. “Just give me the money I lent you. I won’t even demand interest,” he said. Bassanio was ready to give the money to him, but again Portia stopped him and said, “He said in front of us all that he did not want the money. He wanted only the penalty that is in the contract.” Shylock understood that he would not get his pound of flesh. He understood that he would not get his money. He decided to go home. —Taken from The Merchant of Venice 1. Whose flesh did Shylock want to take? 2. What would happen if Shylock took Antonio’s blood? 3. How did Bassanio want to save his friend Antonio? 4. Why did Shylock decide to go home at last? 5. What do you think of Portia in the passage? Passage 20 China has many special forms of traditional art. They are usually used to represent things that are important in life such as love, beauty and family. It was said that sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Liang. He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. Sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations today. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes. Chinese paper-cutting has been around for more than 1,500 years. It may sound very easy but is difficult to practise. The paper, usually red, is folded (折叠) before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put up on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year. Chinese clay (泥塑) art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After drying, they are fired at a very high heat. Then they are painted after polishing (抛光). Finally, materials such as wood or paper are added as decorations (装饰). It takes several weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. 1．Who first used sky lanterns? 2．What are sky lanterns seen as bright symbols of? 3．How long has Chinese paper-cutting been around? 4．Where are the most common pictures put up during the Spring Festival? 5．How are the clay pieces carefully shaped from a very special kind of clay? 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$