“Are personal sad stories a must to win talent shows?” “Shouldn’t talent be judged on the basis of itself without needing a sad story of struggle to win?” These are questions Sanya Malhotra posed on a recent Facebook post.
This morning I came across this interesting post by Sanya Malhotra. She revealed that she loved dancing and dreamt of becoming an actress, but got defeated in “Dance India Dance” because her background story wasn’t sad and inspiring enough. That’s when she started doubting her artistic gift.
This really set me thinking. Why are people attracted to sob stories? Why do we always appreciate only those people who have achieved something after going through a lot of hardships? Why does the headline of a newspaper “Taxi-driver’s Son Stands First In UPSC Exam” find more readers? I think it is because most people, who are in a similar situation, find it comforting that someone has succeeded with so many hardships. I know it is really very difficult for people with financial, health, or family problems to overcome obstacles and succeed. I really feel proud of them and I am often touched and inspired by their stories.
Now come back to what Sanya has said. I think this is a talent show rather than a story-telling competition. When it comes to a competition of singing or dancing or any fine arts, all the competitors should be judged without any bias (偏见). No one should lose because they don’t have a sad story of struggle to tell. It’s very unfair. They can be given opportunities otherwise, but should not be judged because of their stories.
Maybe, the TV channels do it to attract more viewers, because the most important element of any reality show is these touching stories. But as Sanya has said, it’s unfair to those who haven't such a story and are equally talented.
1.What do we know about Sanya Malhotra?
A.She entered a talent show. B.She won “Dance India Dance”.
C.She had a sad story to tell. D.She was rejected in a film.
2.From the second paragraph, we can infer that Sanya Malhotra________.
A.experienced many hardships B.is a famous actress in Indian
C.has a great gift for gymnastics D.used to be confident in her artistic talent
3.Which of the following headlines appeals to the readers most according to the passage?
A.A Millionaire Donated Money To Harvard University.
B.A Gifted Indian Teenager Won “Dance India Dance”.
C.An Armless Girl Was Admitted To Harvard University.
D.A Freshman Paid Off Loans By Getting A Part-time Job.
4.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Winners Should Be Determined By Public Judges
B.Sanya Malhotra Displayed A Great Artistic Gift
C.Competitors Should Not Be Judged By Sob Stories
D.Talent Shows Competitors Can Tell Their Stories
California’s Yosemite National Park is home to many stunning waterfalls. However, from mid-to-late February each year, the unlikely star of the preserve is Horsetail Fall-a small waterfall that forms over the eastern edge of the park’s famous vertical rock formation, El Capitan, every winter. That’s because, during the two-week-period, the temporary1,000-foot fall frequently transforms into a red “firefall” for about ten minutes a day during sunset.
For the phenomenon to occur, several conditions need to coincide. There must be enough snow and snow must be melted to form the waterfall. During drought years, Horsetail Fall is reduced to a trickle flowing slowly in drops or does not appear at all. Additionally, the skies have to be entirely clear. Even a slight mist is enough to ruin the illusion (错觉) of fire falling down the cliffs. Finally, the sun has to strike the water from the right angle to set the waterfall “burning” brightly.
The “firefall” has been popular with professional and amateur photographers since the 1940s.However, in recent years, thanks to social media, its fame has risen to new heights, with thousands of people flocking to the national park each February. In 2019, over 2,200 people crowded into the small viewing areas on February 22, the best day to see the light show last year. However, the visitors not only stepped on sensitive vegetation but also left behind large amounts of rubbish.
To prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incident, in 2020, the park service closed two of the ideal viewing areas. The only one open required a 1.5-mile-long hike. However, the 3-mile round-trip, as well as a warning by the officials that a dry spell turned the fall into a trickle, leaving the possibility of a “firefall” in doubt, didn’t not seem to have deterred fans. Hundreds of people made their way to Horsetail Fall to catch a glimpse of the light show. Hopefully, Horsetail Fall enthusiasts would be more respectful of the natural environment this time.
1.When can the “firefall” be seen?
A.About at dawn.
B.Exactly at noon.
C.Just before dusk.
D.Late at night.
2.Which of the following conditions must be met for the “firefall” to be visible?
A.The temperatures have to be warm enough.
B.Horsetail Fall must be reduced to a trickle.
C.There has to be enough slight fog in the sky.
D.The waterfall must be frozen down the cliff.
3.What do we know from Paragraph 3?
A.The “firefall” was discovered by a photographer.
B.The viewing areas were equipped with telescopes.
C.Social media offer new tools to view the “firefall”.
D.The tourists caused the environmental pollution.
4.What does the underlined word “deterred” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Disapproved. B.Discouraged.
C.Disturbed. D.Distinguished.
Peter and Cheryl Pitzer met in 1999. After training together, they fell in love and finally married in 2011. The Pitzers have been using their professional aviation skills to help people around the world regain sight. They are both volunteers for Orbis, a non-profit organization that turns airplanes into teaching hospitals and brings eye care and ophthalmology (眼科学) training to places around the world. The organization’s Flying Eye Hospital that the Pitzers fly together is an ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft.
The Pitzers flew their first flight together with Orbis in November, a journey that took them from Dubai to Saudi Arabia and finally to Ghana, a country in West Africa. The couple stayed an extra week after landing the plane in order to be on the ground to help other Orbis volunteers treat people in need, and to train medical staff in the community. “There was a woman named Mary. When we met her on Monday she was almost completely blind and when we left she could see,” recalled Peter.
“They also did surgeries in the local hospitals with the local doctors and their equipment, and they provide continuing education afterwards,” Cheryl said of the team’s work in Ghana.“The idea is to leave the knowledge behind so that people will have access to proper eye care after the plane is gone.”
The couple say they are grateful to share an occupation that they love-one they can do together and that allows them to give back. “It's awesome to see so many people in poverty regain sight. Our work is worth it,” said Peter. “Cheryl and I have a great personal and working relationship. It's just an interesting and incredible way to give back.”
Cheryl noted the intense (紧张的) planning and coordination it takes to fly a major plane carrying a teaching hospital to remote locations. She said she and her husband have an advantage with that complex task because they “understand each other.”
1.What are Peter and Cheryl Pitzer by trade?
A.They are doctors. B.They are pilots.
C.They are physicians. D.They are teachers.
2.What do we know about Flying Eye Hospital?
A.It is a mobile teaching hospital.
B.It is a modern general hospital.
C.It is a private hospital in Dubai.
D.It is a famous hospital in Africa.
3.Flying Eye Hospital is intended for__________.
A.the wealthy B.the poor
C.the disabled D.the wounded
4.What does Peter think of his volunteer work?
A.It is tiring. B.It is boring.
C.It is rewarding. D.It is upsetting.
WISCONSIN WINTER WELCOME EVENTS
The spring semester is here, and we’re excited to welcome both returning and new students to campus. The start of a new semester is an exciting time of the year. It’s the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and create memorable new experiences.
During the first four weeks of the semester, Wisconsin Welcome offers events for students to meet new friends and find community. We've highlighted just a few of the events offered below:
MSC Comeback Carnival — Thursday, January 23
Ready to get involved in a multicultural student organization? Want to catch up with friends over some free food and fun activities? Stop by the MSC to meet with over 45 multicultural student organizations, have fun, and connect with new and old friends! -6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, MSC Lounge on the 2nd Floor of the Red Gym.
Public Service Fair — Wednesday, January 29
The Morgridge Center for Public Service hosts two Public Service Fairs per year. The fairs draw hundreds of students eager to learn about work and internship (实习) opportunities with local and national organizations. -3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Gordon Dining &Event Center.
Winter Carnival — Tuesday, February 4 to Sunday, February 9
The Wisconsin Union's Winter Carnival is a long-standing tradition. It challenges you to embrace the cold, snow and play crazily! When you need to warm up a bit, head indoors for hot chocolate and food specials! -Memorial Union.
Spring Student Organization Fair — Tuesday, February 11
The Student Organization Fair is a great opportunity to explore your hobbies and meet different student organizations on campus. Stop by, meet new people, and maybe join a new student organization! - 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Kohl Center.
These are just a few of the many events you can check out during Wisconsin Welcome. Go to www.go.wisc.edu/welcome for more events and information, and use WiWelcome on social to stay connected.
We hope you have a great semester!
1.If you want to improve your foreign languages, which event are you expected to join in?
A.MSC Comeback Carnival.
B.Public Service Fair.
C.Winter Carnival.
D.Spring Student Organization Fair.
2.Public Service Fairs will help students ___________.
A.make friends B.develop hobbies
C.find jobs D.purchase textbooks
3.Which of the following is true of the Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival?
A.It has a quite short history.
B.It will be held in the open air.
C.It will take place on Monday.
D.It will offer free hot chocolate.
假如你是李华，你的英国朋友Mike发来邮件，说因为新冠肺炎(COVID-19) 居家自我隔离(self-isolation)，情绪低落。为此，他向你寻求建议。请用英语给他回一封邮件，内容包括：
1. 表示理解；
2. 你的看法和建议；
3. 表达信心。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mike,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Hello, everyone! I’m delighted to recommend my favorite book: Journey to the West to you, what is one of the four greatest Chinese classical novel. It was very popular with us Chinese people. The novel, wrote by Wu Cheng’en, is based Xuan Zangs journey to India. The story focuses on Monkey King called Sun Wukong, who helps her master Xuan Zang get over various difficulties on the journey. Because foreigners like you may find it difficulty to read the original classic, so I advise that you read some simplified versions. Some versions coming with many pictures and they are easy for you to understand. Hopefully you will fall in love with a great work.
