Beer and fried chicken — Thanks to a South Korean drama currently on air, Man From the Stars, this new mix-and-match junk food trend has become popular among young audiences, despite its unhealthy nature. Indeed, South Korean TV dramas, or K-drama for short, have been a major force in the South Korean pop-culture wave that has captured the hearts of young Chinese audiences. According to iQiyi, a video website that features Man From the Stars, by Feb 15, the number of views for the TV drama hit 370 million in China.
“It is interesting to explore what elements of those dramas appeal to audiences. It’s obviously more than just pretty faces,” says Yan Feng, a professor of Chinese literature at Fudan University. Reflected by audiences, culture critics and insiders of the industry, youth fantasy, creative storylines, cultural proximity in East Asia, and well-organized production all add up to K-drama’s success, along with, of course, those handsome and cute faces dressed in the latest fashion trends.
“Everyone fancies a perfect partner, handsome or beautiful,” says Zhou Ying, a professor at Chongqing Technology and Business University. “The South Korean TV industry is feeding this need.” After Lee Min-ho appeared on CCTV’s annual Spring Festival gala, he became the most famous South Korean in China. Only weeks later, Kim Soo-hyun, lead actor in Man From the Stars, swept the country. Apart from pretty faces, fashion is another highlight of the series. Each time actors from the series wear a new set of outfits, similar clothes experience a sales boom online, according to Xiao Yi, a Taobao store owner.
As is known, with love triangles, incurable diseases, and Cinderella tales, storylines in South Korean dramas may seem a bit commonplace. While The Man From the Stars challenges this by putting aliens and time travel into these existing stories, Peng Sanyuan, a screenwriter, says a focus on detail is a key factor in the success of these dramas. “In order to accurately target audiences and find emotional reflections with them, more and more female writers are working in the industry,” says Peng about her experience of exchanging ideas with South Korean colleagues. According to the experts, South Korean writers somehow make sense of these plots, no matter how unlikely it seems. Why has beer and fried chicken become so popular among Chinese young people at present?
| A．Because the food tastes very great. |
| B．Because they want to change the trend. |
| C．Because the food is good for their health. |
| D．Because they are deeply affected by the Korean TV drama. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “proximity” in paragraph 2?
| A．similarity | B．difference |
| C．conflict | D．curiosity |
According to the whole passage, how many elements can lead to the appeal of Korean dramas?
| A．Two | B．Four | C．Six | D．Seven |
What makes Man From the Stars different from other K-dramas according to the last paragraph?
| A．Female writers | B．Creative stories |
| C．Pretty faces | D．Fashionable clothes |
Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe. Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear. Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter, forcing animals to migrate (迁徙) north.
Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases. Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense. If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100, many of today’s familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today’s world. It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these far-reaching consequences for the whole world. The planet itself has been showing signs of change. In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake. Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was devastated in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake.
Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought. At this point, it doesn’t matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it. What’s more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year. There is war and threat of war everywhere. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this. No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data.Which of the following would be the best title for the Passage?
| A．Ways to protect our planet. |
| B．Solutions to climate change. |
| C．Be prepared for climate change. |
| D．Climate change and its effects. |
What is the author’s purpose in using the examples of earthquakes?
| A．To show the damage earthquakes caused. |
| B．To remind people to prevent future earthquakes. |
| C．To show major changes are taking place on the planet. |
| D．To tell us more earthquakes will happen in the future. |
What does the underlined word “devastated” in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．Separated. | B．Destroyed. |
| C．Removed. | D．Affected. |
What can be inferred from the Passage?
| A．Animals and plants won’t die out as long as climate changes slowly. |
| B．There’s enough data for us to predict the future of climate change. |
| C．The world is getting more unstable because of animal migration. |
| D．The earth is not the only planet that is experiencing climate change. |
It’s a great sunny day, so it’s time to get out and enjoy the weather. Many of us would like to, but we have projects due, tasks that need to be done, people that we need to see and money that needs to be made.
What if your company gave you that time off as compensation for the great effort that you gave to the team to finish a project on time? See, when it comes to teamwork, the main focus is for the team to work together. In a ‘‘winning” team there is an equal balance of people who have unique strengths and weaknesses.
Take the example of the Chicago Bulls(芝加哥公牛队) of the 1990s. Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player to play the game, but did they win a championship every year when Michael had played? No. It took a (D-type) Michael Jordan to lead the team and control the outcome. It took a(n) (I-type) wild and energetic Dennis Rodman to keep the team fun and interesting. It took (S-types) Scottie Pippin, Bill Cartwright, and John Paxson to support the team. And it took the (C-type) analytical mind of Coach Phil Jackson to create a foundation for the players to play on. In the end they, the Chicago Bulls, were able to win six championships within eight years.
What is your team made up of? All Jordans? All Jacksons? All Rodmans? Or all Pippins, Cartwrights and Paxsons? It is you who can choose who’s on your team. Try finding the right people for the right job, and you will have a “winning” team every time!The underlined word “compensation” in the second paragraph means “”.
| A．reward | B．present | C．money | D．duty |
According to this passage, a winning team is made up of .
| A．a group of people who are tall and strong |
| B．a group of people who don’t have weaknesses |
| C．a group of people who don’t quarrel with each other |
| D．a group of people whose strengths and weaknesses can get to balance |
The Chicago Bulls were able to win six championships within eight years because .
| A．Michael Jordan was a good team leader |
| B．Coach Phil Jackson created a foundation |
| C．all the players and the coach worked together |
| D．Dennis Rodman kept the team fun and interesting |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Working Is Happy | B．The Story of the Chicago Bulls |
| C．Good Choice | D．Working Together for a Team |
There’s nothing like having a child to remind you that you are no longer the center of your own universe. But every now and then, I need to relax with some“me”time.
I booked an overnight trip to Dover, Delaware. We arrived in Delaware right after sunset. Mom and I settled into our hotel room and went downstairs to the restaurant, and then I ordered myself a drink. I had just taken two sips when my husband called me.
“I’m so sorry to bother you,”Craig said.“The baby is burning up and we are on the way to the hospital.”I didn’t know how to reply. I was so desperate to get away to take a break. My baby was sick but I couldn’t do a thing for him. The situation made me feel so helpless.“I don’t know what to do,”I told him.“I’m five hours from home!”“I know,”my husband said.“You can’t help that. I’ll call you when I know what’s wrong.”My husband and my father took the baby to the emergency room. Meanwhile, I searched the restaurant for my mom. Once I found her, we went to our hotel room and waited for a phone call.
Over an hour later, Craig called to tell me that the baby had bronchitis(支气管炎). He seemed to be feeling better. The next morning, when I returned home, the baby was already back to his happy self.
Ever since this incident, I have really struggled with the concept of“me”time. I try to figure out why I need a break from the child who I love very much. However, sometimes I need to feel like a person and not just a mommy machine. In recent months, I have taken some“me”time. My mom helped keep the baby so I could go shopping, take a nap, and clean my house. On a couple of occasions, Craig and I went to dinner with friends. And this summer, I even managed to read an entire novel while the baby rested.
Now I’ve decided not to leave the baby overnight again or travel a long distance without him. I remember when I first announced my pregnancy(怀孕), a friend told me there was no ‘me’ in mommy. Maybe there’s not. But for me, I’m taking“me”time when I can.After the author answered the first phone call, she .
| A．took a taxi to the hospital |
| B．didn’t want to go home |
| C．was too concerned to have dinner |
| D．telephoned her father immediately |
The author’s husband called her again to .
| A．tell her to look after his mother |
| B．inform her of the baby’s condition |
| C．advise her to buy some medicine |
| D．complain about their child’s bad behavior |
For the author, “me”time mainly refers to the time when she needn’t .
| A．focus on taking care of her baby |
| B．read interesting stories to her baby |
| C．travel a long distance with her baby |
| D．spend time doing housework by herself |
What’s the author’s attitude towards her friend’s words?
| A．Interested. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Doubtful. |
April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Britain. Started at first in the United States and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to broaden girls’ horizons and raise their self-confidence .
For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But actually, “girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a chief executive (主管).” says the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, an organization which supported the activity of the Day. “Now the girls have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help them to be more self-confident when they are faced with a choice of work.”
Schools and many companies support the activity too. Palmers Green High School for girls in north of London, has made the day a necessary part of careers education.
Zarina Bart, 15, from Palmers Green, went with her mother Gwen to her Lawyer’s office this year’s Take Our Daughters to Work Day. “I learned how to fill in a legal aid form and I read details of a case. Then I went to see the actual trial.” she said.
Zarina found it interesting to see her mother at work “It’s really strange seeing Mum at work--running around, getting serious and telling people what to do.” She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks it likely that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps. Having a chance to see how her mother works has given her more self-confidence.
Experts believe that girls with higher self-confidence aim higher and are more likely to be successful in life. Parents have important effect on the confidence of teenage girls. If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work as well as at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is surely a step in the right direction. The writer’s purpose in writing this text is to ______.
| A．broaden girls’ view and raise their confidence |
| B．introduce to us a special day for girls |
| C．tell how the special day for girls came into being |
| D．show us the girls can do as well as boys |
A particular mention of Zarina’s story ______.
| A．shows a successful parents’ effect on the daughter |
| B．serves as an example of how the Day works |
| C．tells what a woman lawyer’s daily work is like |
| D．explains why a girl should go to see mum’s office rather than dad’ |
After seeing her mum at work, Zarina Bart ______.
| A．started to work with her mum |
| B．felt more certain about her future |
| C．learned how to work as a lawyer |
| D．decided to become a lawyer |
In the text the writer especially suggests the importance of ______.
| A．support from society |
| B．understanding of the parents |
| C．parents ’job |
| D．girls’ self-confidence |
“The Lord of the Rings”, one of the best sellers in the new millennium（千禧年）, was made up of three parts——“The Fellowship of the Ring”, “Two Towers”, and “The Return of the King”. Millions upon millions of people have read it in over 25 different languages, but fewer know about the author and the history of the composition of the creative masterwork.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in South Africa in 1892. His parents died when he was a child. Living in England with his aunt, Tolkien and his cousins made up playing languages, a hobby that led to Tolkien’s becoming skilled in Welsh, Greek, Gothic, Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon.
After graduating from Oxford, Tolkien served in World War I. In 1917, while recovering from trench fever, he began composing(创作) the mythology（神话故事） for The Rings. As a professor of Anglo-Saxon in 1930s at Oxford, Tolkien was part of an informal discussion group called the Inklings, which included several writers. The group was soon listening to chapters of Tolkien’s imaginative work “The Hobbit”.
Hobbit was a name Tolkien created for a local people that could best be described as half-sized members of the English rural class. Hobbits live in hillside holes. One of them, Bilbo Baggins, looks for treasures with a group of dwarves（侏儒）. On the way, he meets the twisted（变形的）, pitiful creature Gollum, from whom he sees a golden ring that makes the holder invisible.
One of Tolkien’s students persuaded her employer, publisher Allen & Unwin, to look at a draft（草稿）. The chairman of the firm, Stanley Unwin, thought that the best judge for a children’s book would be his ten-year-old son. The boy earned a shilling for reporting back that the adventure was exciting, and “The Hobbit” was published in 1937.
It sold so well that Unwin asked for a continuation. Over a dozen years later, in 1954, Tolkien produced “The Lord of the Rings”, a series of books so creative that they hold readers—new and old —after their publication. What can we learn about “Hobbit” that Tolkien created in his works?
| A．Hobbit was a local people who were very tall and strong . |
| B．Hobbit was a race living in English downtown areas . |
| C．Hobbit was a group of people who were mostly dwarves. |
| D．Hobbit was a social group of people who lived in old castles. |
Which of the following helped most in making “The Hobbit” published?
| A．Stanley Unwin’s son . |
| B．One of Tolkien’s students . |
| C．Bilbo Baggins. |
| D．Allen & Unwin . |
What is mainly discussed in the text?
| A．a famous professor at Oxford University.. |
| B．A completely new masterwork in the new millennium. |
| C．“The Lord of the Rings” and its writer . |
| D．The power of the magic ring. |
Which of the following shows the right order of Mr J.R.R.Tolkien’s life experience?
a. He had his “The Hobbit” published.
b. He became a member of the lnklings.
c. He served in World WarⅠ
d. He became an undergraduate at Oxford.
e. His work “The Lord of the Rings” came to the world.
f. He moved to England to live with his aunt.
| A．f-c-d-b-e-a | B．d-f-c-a-b-e | C．f-d-b-c-a-e | D．f-d-c-b-a-e |