英语时文

2024年中考英语新热点时文阅读-外国文学作品01（2023·江苏淮安·校考一模）Huck is my name, Huckleberry Finn. The story started when my best friend, Tom Sawyer and I found $12,000 in a cave. That money made us rich. We got $6,000 each. Judge Thatcher, an important man in St. Petersburg, put it in the bank, and now we get a dollar a day interest (利息).Then a kind old lady called Douglas invited me to live with her because I haven’t got a family or a home. My mother died a long time ago, then my dad, Pap, disappeared. He was a violent (暴力的) man especially when he drank a lot, which was most of the time, and he often beat me. I was scared of him. I didn’t go to school like the other boys of my age. I lived on the streets and in the woods.My life changed after I lived with Douglas. She gave me a bed to sleep in and bought new clothes for me. Sheread stories to me and taught me how to eat at a table. But then her sister Miss Watson arrived. She brought her black slave (奴隶) Jim with her. I liked Jim but I didn’t like Miss Watson very much. She often shouted at me.Douglas sent me to school every day. I didn’t like going there at first because learning was very difficult. But when I could read and write a bit, I didn’t mind going.The months passed and winter came. The weather got cold. One morning I woke up and there was snow on the ground. On my way to school I saw some footprints outside Douglas’s house. There was a cross on the heel (脚后跟) of the left one. My heart jumped. Only one person wore boots with a cross on the left heel! Pap!“He’s heard about my ________” I thought. “And he wants it!”That night I went to see Jim. Jim had a magic ball made of animal hair. There was a spirit inside the ball that could answer people’s questions about the future.—Adapted from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1．How did Huck get the money which was put in the bank?A．Huck’s father gave it to him.B．Huck’s mother left it to him before she died.C．Douglas gave it to him.D．He and Tom Sawyer found it in a cave.2．How did Huck feel about the life with Douglas?A．He hated his new life.B．He didn’t mind his new life.C．He felt satisfied with his new life.D．He wanted to get away from his new life.3．Which word can be put in the “__________”?A．life B．spirit C．secret D．money4．Which is the right order of what happened in the story?①Douglas sent Huck to school.②Huck’s mother died.③Douglas invited Huck to live with her.④Douglas read stories to Huck.A．③②④①B．②③④①C．③④②①D．②④③①02（2023·江苏镇江·统考中考真题）Katie was waiting for Gulliver’s calls. Instead, she just heard sparrows making noise in the bushes. “Maybe Gulliver missed the harbour.” Dad said. After breakfast, Katie took her camera to the harbour. All the colourful boats made pretty pictures, but not the one she wanted most.Katie waved to Ernest, her uncle’s neighbour, on the boathouse. The gull’s name, Gulliver, was given by him. The gull’s size and his single leg made the bird itself different. But Ernest told Katie what Gulliver did that first summer Katie and her dad came caught everyone’s attention. Young Katie lay in her stroller (婴儿车) on the floating dock (码头) when Uncle Ralph and Dad were repairing boats nearby. The waves from the passing boat made Katie’s stroller shake strongly. “Kee-aah! Kee-aah!” Gulliver made the loudest cry. Dad and uncle rushed to Katie and stopped the stroller from falling into the water. They kept a close eye at Katie after that. Another summer Katie was three years old, she liked to touch everything. But Dad didn’t watch her every minute when she tried to catch small ducks around or fish from water. “Kee-aah! Kee-aah!” The gull’s cry brought Dad back in time. He stopped Katie as she tried to follow the small ducks running towards water. Several summers passed, and Gulliver continued to call out as Katie tried new things.This summer Katie did the usual by-the-sea things she’d learned to do. One day, she rowed a boat out but was trapped on a rock by a storm. As she looked up and tried to catch the last warmth of the sunshine through dark clouds, she saw a single white feather. A gull feather? She searched the sky for an answer. Putting her arms around knees, she closed eyes to hold in the tears (眼泪). “Kee-aah! Kee-aah!” Katie sat up. “Katie! Katie!” Soon, Dad and Uncle Ralph appeared. “How lucky! We heard Gulliver as we came around the rocks,” Uncle Ralph said, “At least… it sounded like him. Strange, he was nowhere in sight.” Katie remembered the feather. “I thought I heard him, too.”—Adapted from the story by Gillian Richardson5．Katie took a camera to the harbour in order to take a picture of ________.A．Gulliver B．Ernest C．sparrows D．boats6．What’s the right order of the following events about Katie?①She was trapped on a rock by a storm.②She lay in her stroller on the floating dock.③She followed the small ducks running towards water.A．①②③B．①③②C．②③①D．②①③7．Which of the following can show the change of Katie’s feelings in Paragraph 3?A．sad—peaceful—excited B．sad—excited—nervousC．helpless—hopeful—thankful D．helpless—thankful—nervous8．What’s the best title for the story?A．Katie and Gulliver B．Katie’s HolidaysC．Katie and Dad D．Katie’s Tears03（2023·江苏宿迁·校联考一模）Marie didn’t like Eva’s friendship with Tom, so she told her husband that she didn’t want any smell of horses in the house. St Clare told Tom to stop working with the horses. Eva told her father she liked going for walks with Tom. So Tom had orders to leave what he was doing when Eva needed him. Eva and Tom spent a lot of time together.Tom noticed that St Clare didn’t look after his money and his house very well, and that he spent too much money on the wrong things. He started making some suggestions, and soon St Clare understood that Tom’s business advice was very good. After some time Tom started to look after the house expenses（费用）.Tom also noticed that his master didn’t take anything seriously and didn’t live well, and this worried him. One night St Clare went to a party where he drank too much. He came home very late, and Tom and another slave（奴隶）had to help him to get into bed. Tom went into his room and prayed（祈祷）for his master.The morning after, St Clare gave Tom some money to do some business for him. Tom took the money but he didn’t move.“Well, Tom, what are you waiting for?” said St Clare. “Is everything alright?”“I’m afraid not, Master,” said Tom.“What’s the problem? You look very serious.”“I feel very bad, Master. I thought that Master was always going to be good to everybody.”“Well, Tom, am I not? Do you need anything?”“No, Master is always good to me. But there is someone that Master isn’t good to.”“What do you mean?”“I thought about it last night. Master isn’t good to himself.”St Clare felt his face become red, then he laughed. “Oh, Tom!” said St Clare, with tears in his eyes. “Well, you’re right. Never again, Tom, I promise.”—Adapted from Uncle Tom’s Cabin9．Tom was asked to, leave what he was doing to ________A．work with horses B．go for walks with EvaC．spend some time with St Clare D．look after money for St Clare10．In Paragraph 3, the thing that worried Tom is ________.A．St Clare asked Tom to look after his moneyB．St Clare drank too much every dayC．St Clare didn’t look after himself well and didn’t live wellD．St Clare didn’t look after Tom well11．The underlined word “himself ” in Paragraph 12 is ________.A．Maria B．St Clare C．Eva D．Tom12．According to the passage, the correct order of the story is ________.a. Maria was unhappy with Eva’s friendship with Tom.b. St Clare felt moved and joyful when he laughed.c. St Clare gave Tom some money to do some business for him.d. Tom’s master spent too much money on the wrong things.A．adcb B．abcd C．badc D．dabc13．From the passage, we know that Tom was a ________ person.A．lazy but smart B．kind but stupid C．caring and brave D．lazy and stupid04（2023·湖南长沙·统考二模）The Adventures of Huckleberry Fine by Mark Twain is one of the first Great American Novels. It was also one of the first major American novels ever written by using Local Colorism（地方色彩主义）. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is famous for its colorful description of people and places along the Mississippi River.This book is about how a boy called Huck set the slave（奴隶）free and realized his dream of living an adventures life. In order to get out of his father’s control. Hook pretended that he was dead by Jim, who is practical and loyal to friends. Jim went together with Huck in the journey, and they became friends after experience. scenes of adventures. In their voyage, they met two frauds（骗子）. One called himself king, the other duke. Because of the king, Jim got caught by his master. By an expected chance, Huck and Tom, best friend of Hack. Got together, and they decided to set Jim free. At last, they made it.Although the book has been popular with young readers since it came out, the book immediately became controversial（有争论的）and has remained so today because the Southern society that it satirized（讽刺）had already been history.14．Where did the story happen in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? ________A．Along the Mississippi River.B．In the southern states.C．In Canada. 15．What is the plot（情节）of the story? ________①Huck met a run-away slave. Jim.②Huck met two frauds.③Huck pretended to be dead.④Jim was caught by his master and then set free.A．①②③④B．③①②④C．③②①④16．What does the underlined word “pretended” mean in Paragraph 2 ________.A．否定B．承认C．假装17．We can read the following in the passage EXCEPT ________.A．history of Local ColorismB．Huck’s life experienceC．popularity of the book18．What can we learn from the passage? ________A．It’s Buck’s dream to live a peaceful life.B．The book has gained a lot of attention.C．Huck succeeded in setting Jim free on his own.05（2023·吉林长春·统考一模）They left the busy streets and went to a part of the town Scrooge never visited. It was a terrible place. The streets were dirty, and the smell was very bad. The houses and shops were of the poorest kind. The people were all thin, dirty, and they looked very ill. Everything was ugly.They came to where an old man sat. He was selling dirty pieces of cloth, smelly old bones, and all kinds of old and useless things. As they watched, two old women and an old man, equally dirty, smelly, and ugly came into the shop. They carried large bags.“Come and sit by the fire,” the shopkeeper said. “Tell me what you have to sell me.”“Nothing a dead man will miss,” the first woman said with a nasty（让人讨厌的）laugh.“If he wanted to keep them after he was dead, why wasn’t he a good man when he was alive? If he had been, he would have had someone to look after him. He would not have died alone.”“That’s very true,” said the second woman, putting a few clothes on the floor. “He got the death he deserved.” She pointed at the clothes. “What will you give me for those, Joe?” She asked the shopkeeper, adding, “I did no wrong taking them from the dead man’s house.”The shopkeeper looked at everything the woman wanted to sell him and put a price on it. Then he added everything up. The final amount was very small.“That’s not much,” the woman said.“Take it or leave it,” the shopkeeper said. “I won’t pay a penny（便士）more.”—Taken from A Christmas Carol根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。

时文阅读目录外刊话题：英国成首选留学目的地文本难度：★☆☆☆☆话题难度：★☆☆☆☆UK top destination for studyFor the first time, the UK has overtaken the US as the preferred overseas study destination for Chinese students, a report released Sunday showed.In the survey for the annual Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study, the UK was preferred by 42% of respondents, up by 1 percentage point from last year.Study in the US was preferred by 37% of respondents, down by 6 percentage points. Australia and Canada, both at 16%, tied as the third most popular destinations for overseas study, followed by Japan, Germany and Singapore.The report attributed the shift in students' preferences from the US to the UK to tense Sino-US(中美间的) relations in the past two years and the UK's advantages, such as the reopening of the Post Study Work Visa and quicker graduation requirements.重点单词1. destination [ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn] n.目的地，终点，景点2. overtake [ˌəʊvəˈteɪk] vt. 赶上3.release [rɪˈliːs] v.释放；公开4.survey [sə:'vei] v.调查5. percentage [pəˈsentɪdʒ] n.百分比6. respondent [rɪˈspɒndənt] n.调查对象7. attribute to 把……归因于8. shift [ʃift] n. 交换，变化 v. 更替，移外刊话题：威尔士的中学生要开始学汉语了文本难度：★★☆☆☆话题难度：★★☆☆☆Mandarin Taught in Welsh Secondary SchoolsMandarin could be taught in Welsh secondary schools to raise Wales' international profile.The Welsh Government wants to establish the country as a visitor destination for Chinese people as part of its new strategy to boost trade. It is also looking to have a "Wales in Germany" themed year in 2021, and have an increased presence in EU countries.International relations minister Eluned Morgan said she wanted to sell Wales to the world. After Brexit, ministers want "to ensure that the European Union remains our strongest partner" as well as developing markets elsewhere. Its goal is a 5% increase in exports.To make that happen, the Welsh Government has launched a new international strategy to focus on three areas —cyber-security, compound semi-conductors, and creative industries — chosen in part for their "resilience to Brexit" and because of their "global recognition as areas of excellence".重点单词1. profile [ˈprəʊfaɪl] n. 侧面；轮廓；形象2. establish [ɪˈstæblɪʃ] vt.建立，创立；确立3. strategy ['strætidʒi] n. 战略，策略4. boost [buːst] vt. 促进5. themed [θiːmd] adj. 以……为主题的6. presence [ˈprezns] n. 存在；出席7. Brexit 英国脱欧（该词是Britain exiting from the EU的戏谑说法）8. launch [lɔːntʃ] v. 发射（导弹、火箭等）；发起，发动9. cyber-security 网络安全10. compound semi-conductor 复合半导体11. resilience [rɪˈzɪliəns] n.适应力；恢复力12. global ['gləubəl] adj. 全球性的，全世界的，球状的，全局的13. excellence ['eksələns] n. 优秀，卓越，优点14.recognition [ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn] n. 认出，承认，感知，知识外刊话题：长时间的日晒会削弱脑力文本难度：★★☆☆☆话题难度：★★★☆☆Sunshine Could Diminish Brain PowerThose tempted to set up office in the garden as temperatures soar should think twice or put a hat on. New study shows that sunshine could diminish brain power, making it harder to make the right judgments.Working in hot temperatures is already known to cause hyperthermia – a rise in body temperature – which can cause physical exhaustion. But now scientists say prolonged exposure of the head to the sun also affects the brain's ability to function properly.A study by university teams in Denmark and Greece said workers could be damaging their brains by working in hot, sunny conditions.Eight healthy, active males aged between 27 and 41 took part in the research. The brain function test consisted of four different computer-based maths and logic tasks that relied on precise calculations. Four heat lamps were positioned to radiate either on the lower body or the back, side and top of their heads.Professor Lars Nybo, of the department of nutrition, exercise and sports at the University of Copenhagen, said: "This study provides evidence that direct exposure to sunlight – especially to the head –impairs motor and cognitive performance."The decline in motor and cognitive performance was observed at 38.5 degrees. Researchers said those exposed to sunlight for long periods should cover their heads. Dips in mental performance caused by sunshine could also mean drivers were more likely to make mistakes on the road.重点单词1. tempt [tempt] vt. 诱惑；冒…的风险2. diminish [dɪˈmɪnɪʃ] vt. 减少3. judgement ['dʒʌdʒmənt] n. 判断4. exhaustion [ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən] n.枯竭；耗尽5. prolonged [prəˈlɒŋd] adj. 延长的6. exposure [ɪkˈspəʊʒə(r)] n. 暴露；曝光7. function [ˈfʌŋkʃn] vi. 运行8. consist of 由…组成；由…构成9. precise [prɪˈsaɪs] adj.精确的；明确的10. radiate [ˈreɪdieɪt] vt. 发射11. impair [ɪmˈpeə(r)] vt. 损害外刊话题：不要戴着口罩做运动!文本难度：★★★☆☆话题难度：★★★☆☆Don’t Exercise With A MaskThe coronavirus began to affect sporting events as early as January 30, when the Chinese Football Association announced it was delaying the start of the football season. Two months later it was revealed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would be postponed until the summer of 2021 – the first postponement in modern Olympic history.Sporting administrators are only now exploring ways to enable a return to training and competition at both professional and amateur levels. In the absence of a vaccine, though, there are several challenges. One of them is around breathing.When playing sport, breathing is faster and harder than at rest, which increases the risk of passing the disease on. As a result, premier league football is considering introducing face masks. Others may follow suit.Yet a mask makes it harder to inhale the quantity of air needed to perform at the highest levels. We know that wearing a surgical mask can increase the resistance to airflow. Exercise invariably leads to faster and harder breaths, so wearing a mask during exercise places a further strain on airflow.When we do heavy exercise, our muscles produce lactic acid, which causes that burning sensation. It is then converted to carbon dioxide and exhaled. But what happens if the carbon dioxide is trapped by the mask? As you move from moderate to heavy exercise, you may be re-breathing carbon dioxide, which can reduce cognitive function and increase breathing rate.There may also be less oxygen in the recycled air, which could imitate exercising at higher altitudes. So it is important we gain a better understanding of the limitations of heavy exercise with a face mask.重点单词1.reveal [rɪˈviːl] vt. 显示；透露；揭露2.postpone [pəˈspəʊn] vt.延期3.professional [prəˈfeʃənl] adj.职业的4.amateur [ˈæmətə(r)] adj. 业余的5.vaccine [ˈvæksiːn] n.疫苗6.premier [ˈpremiə(r)] adj. 首要的7.inhale [ɪnˈheɪl] vt. 吸入8.surgical [ˈsɜːdʒɪkl] adj. 外科的9.resistance [rɪˈzɪstəns] n. 阻力；抵抗10. altitude [ˈæltɪtjuːd] n. 高地；海拔Day 5外刊话题：抖音从迪士尼挖高管来做CEO了文本难度：★★★☆☆话题难度：★★★☆☆Mayer Became CEO of TikTokTeenagers may not know the name Kevin Mayer, but he's about to play an outsize role in their lives.The longtime veteran of the Walt Disney Company just became the CEO of TikTok（抖音）. In doing so, Mayer will take the reins of an app whose bedazzling hold over Gen Z has made it one of the most influential, albeit controversial, platforms of the COVID-19 era.Mayer has been with Disney since the early 1990s—minus a stint as the CEO of (花花公子) and other ventures—and he's helped shepherd along the acquisition of some of its most consequential brands, including Pixar（皮克斯）, Marvel（漫威）, and Lucasfilm（卢卡斯影业）.Mayer's departure from Disney may not be a surprise, but his move to TikTok is unexpected. The app, owned by China-based ByteDance, is at a crucial moment in its short history—seeing enormous growth during the pandemic lockdowns but facing increasing criticism over its data-collection practices, particularly as they relate to its young users. As it rises in influence, the company will surely face a growing drumbeat of intense media and regulatory scrutiny.In contrast, Disney has never been more vulnerable, with the coronavirus pandemic having ravaged nearly all of its core business units, from the shuttering of theme parks and movie theaters to ongoing interruptions to its production schedules. Mayer, whatever else is motivating the move, is jumping ship at an opportune time.According to The New York Times, Mayer will be replaced by Rebecca Campbell, a rising star at the company who most recently served as president of Disneyland.重点单词1.veteran [ˈvetərən] n. 老手；有经验的人2.rein [reɪn] n.缰绳；驾驭；统治3.influential [ˌɪnfluˈenʃl] adj. 有影响4.controversial [ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃl] adj. 有争议的5.venture [ˈventʃə(r)] n. 企业6.departure [dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)] n. 离开7.pandemic [pænˈdemɪk] adj.（疾病）流行的8.scrutiny [ˈskruːtəni] n. 详细审查；监视9.ravage [ˈrævɪdʒ] vt.毁坏；破坏10.interruptio n [ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃn] n. 中断；干扰11.opportune [ˈɒpətjuːn] adj. 适当的；恰好的Day 6外刊话题：狗也和人一样有青春期烦恼文本难度：★★★☆☆话题难度：★★★☆☆Dogs Have Adolescence TooPerhaps you've had to put up with a moody, uncooperative teenager. You may well have been one yourself. A new study suggests that dogs go through a similar phase of stubbornness and disobedience when they hit puberty at about eight months old.Looking at the behaviour of a total of 378 canines, researchers found that the animals were more obedient and more responsive either side of that eight-month mark –but only when it came to their owners, not to less familiar trainers.So not only do dogs appear to have a difficult adolescence just like we do, they also share the frustration that we often feel towards our parents or caregivers when we hit our teenage years. That has big implications for long-term canine care and sheltering."This is a very important time in a dog's life," says animal behaviour researcher Lucy Asher, from Newcastle University in the UK. "This is when dogs are often rehomed because they are no longer a cute little puppy and suddenly, their owners find they are more challenging and they can no longer control them or train them." "But as with human teenage children, owners need to be aware that their dog is going through a phase and it will pass."In one experiment with 93 Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and their cross breeds, the pooches at eight months old were found to take longer and be more reluctant to respond to a 'sit' command given by their caregiver than they were when just five months old. The eight-month-olds didn't show the same obstinancy when the command was given by a stranger, though.重点单词1.puberty [ˈpjuːbəti] n. 青春期2.behaviour [bɪˈheɪvjə(r)] n. 行为；习性（=behavior）3.obedient [ə'bi:djənt] adj.服从的，顺从的4.frustration [frʌˈstreɪʃn] n.挫折5.implication [ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn] n. 含义；暗示; 影响6.challenging ['tʃælindʒiŋ] adj. 挑战的7.reluctant [rɪˈlʌktənt] adj. 不情愿的；勉强的mand [kə'mɑ:nd] n. 命令，指挥，控制Day 7外刊话题：5G来了，自动驾驶汽车的时代还会远吗?文本难度：★★★★☆话题难度：★★★★☆5G Ushering Self-driving VehiclesCars could soon be communicating with each other using 5G to make drivers aware of upcoming hazards, scientists claim.The ultra-fast mobile internet would allow for rapid information transmission and could make drivers aware of black ice, pot holes or other dangers up ahead.Several car manufacturers are already integrating 5G into their vehicles, including as a tool to help usher in the generation of self-driving vehicles.Experts at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) believe the high-speed connection will also improve the reliability and capability of automated vehicles to the point where they will be safer than the manual cars being driven today.They predict the number of road traffic accidents —which according to the World Health Organisation account for more than 1.3 million deaths and up to 50 million people injured worldwide every year — will drop drastically as a result.Dr Dimitrios Liarokapis, a member of the research group, said: 'To have a better idea of what the future will look like, think of having Tesla-like cars that not only use sensors to scan what's around them, they can also talk to each other and exchange safety-related information about their surroundings over an area that covers several square miles.重点单词municate [kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt] v.交流，沟通2.hazard [ˈhæzəd] n. 危险3.claim [kleim] v. 声称4.transmission [trænzˈmɪʃn] n. 传递；传送5.manufacturer [ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərə(r)] n. 制造商6.vehicle [ˈviːəkl] n.车辆；交通工具her [ˈʌʃə(r)] vt. 引导8.automated [ˈɔːtəˌmeɪtɪd] adj. 自动化的9.manual [ˈmænjuəl] adj.手控的10.sensor [ˈsensə(r)] n. 传感器11.square [skweə(r)] adj. 平方的；正方形的Day 8外刊话题：春天提早到来了,但这并不是个好消息文本难度：★★★☆☆话题难度：★★★☆☆Early Arrival of Springtime Warmth,Good or Bad?Across much of the United States, a warming climate has advanced the arrival of spring. This year is no exception. In parts of the Southeast, spring has arrived weeks earlier than normal and may turn out to be the warmest spring on record.Apple blossoms in March and an earlier start to picnic season may seem harmless and even welcome. But the early arrival of springtime warmth has many downsides for the natural world and for humans.Rising temperatures in the springtime signal plants and animals to come alive. Across the United States and worldwide, climate change is steadily disrupting the arrival and interactions of leaf buds, cherry blossoms, insects and more.Records managed by the USA National Phenology Network and other organizations prove that spring has accelerated over the long term. For example, the common yellow trout lily blooms nearly a week earlier in the Appalachian Mountain region than it did 100 years ago.Blueberries in Massachusetts flower three to four weeks earlier than in the mid-1800s. And over a recent 12-year period, over half of 48 migratory bird species studied arrived at their breeding grounds up to nine daysearlier than previously.Warmer spring temperatures have also led beetles, moths and butterflies to emerge earlier than in recent years. Similarly, hibernating species like frogs and bears emerge from hibernation earlier in warm springs.All species don't respond to warming the same way. When species that depend on one another —such as pollinating insects and plants seeking pollination —don't respond similarly to changing conditions, populations suffer.重点单词1.advance [ədˈvɑːns] vt. 将……提前2.downside [ˈdaʊnsaɪd] n. 负面，缺点3.disrupt [dɪsˈrʌpt] v. 破坏；使中断4.accelerate [əkˈseləreɪt] v. 加快；增速5.region [ˈriːdʒən] n. 地区；范围6.migratory [ˈmaɪɡrətri] adj. 迁移7.previously [ˈpriːviəsli] adv. 以前8.hibernate [ˈhaɪbəneɪt] vi.（动物）冬眠Day 9外刊话题：神奇的新科技——用影子发电文本难度：★★★★★话题难度：★★★★★A Shadow-Effect Energy GeneratorIt sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but the newly revealed Shadow-Effect Energy Generator (SEG) is a real prototype device. The fascinating concept could help us to transform the way renewable energy is generated indoors.The SEG uses the contrast between darkness and light to produce electricity. It's made up of a series of thin strips of gold film on a silicon wafer (硅片), placed on top of a flexible plastic base.Whereas shadows are usually a problem for renewable solar energy production, here they're actually harnessed to keep on generating power. The technology — which is cheaper to produce than a typical solar cell, according to its developers —produces small amounts of power and could be used in mobile gadgets, for example."Shadows are omnipresent, and we often take them for granted," says materials scientist Tan SweeChing, from the National University of Singapore (NUS). "In conventional photovoltaic or optoelectronic applications where a steady source of light is used to power devices, the presence of shadows is undesirable, since it degrades the performance of devices."In this work, we capitalised on the illumination contrast caused by shadows as an indirect source of power. The contrast in illumination induces a voltage difference between the shadow and illuminated sections, resulting in an electric current. This novel concept of harvesting energy in the presence of shadows is unprecedented."重点词汇1.prototype [ˈprəʊtətaɪp] n. 原型；模型2.contrast [ˈkɒntrɑːst] n. 明显的差异，对比3.whereas [ˌweərˈæz] conj. 然而4.harness [ˈhɑːnɪs] v. 利用5.gadget [ˈɡædʒɪt] n. 小配件6.voltage [ˈvəʊltɪdʒ] n. [电] 电压7.illuminated [ɪˈluːmɪneɪtɪd] adj. 照亮的8.current [ˈkʌrənt] n.（水，气，电）流9.novel [ˈnɒvl] adj. 新奇的10.presence [ˈprezns] n. 存在11.unprecedented [ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd] adj. 空前的；无前例的Day 10外刊话题：做这4件事有助于提高自身免疫力文本难度：★★★★★话题难度：★★★★★Four Things to Improve Immune SystemThere is an exception to the general rule that supplements won't really help prevent illness, and that's vitamin D (in moderate doses). Research has shown that the immune system needs vitamin D to fight off viruses —while it won't protect you from getting the virus if you're exposed, it could reduce the severity of the illness and help make recovery easier.You can get vitamin D naturally through sunlight. It's also found in some foods, including fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, and in small amounts in beef liver, eggs, cheese, and mushrooms.One of the most evidence-supported ways to stay healthy also happens to be free —getting enough sleep. That means 7-9 hours each night for most people, according to Harvard Health. While you're asleep, your body uses that time to do critical recovery and repair of essentialfunctions, including your immune system. Just one night of poor sleep can reduce your immune cells by as much as 70%, research shows.Exercise can keep your body functioning well, since research shows that it reduces inflammation and supports infection-fighting cells. If you're working from home or staying out of the gym, there are plenty of ways to still get your sweat on —body movements like burpees, lunges, push-ups and more can give you a quick full-body workout with no equipment.As an added bonus, endorphins (内啡肽) from exercise also reduce stress. Stress can also make a big difference for your immune system, particularly when there are alarming or uncertain events happening in the world around you. Yes, this means managing fears —good strategies include taking breaks from social media and relying on trustworthy media sources for information, both of which can help you avoid panic and misinformation.How you choose to relax will vary from person to person, whether that's taking a walk outside, curling up with a favorite book, or taking time to meditate or practice yoga or another soothing habit each day.重点单词1.supplement [ˈsʌplɪmənt] n. 补品2.severity [sɪˈverəti] n.严重3.essential [ɪˈsenʃl] adj. 基本的；必要的4.inflammation [ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃn] n. 炎症; 发炎5.infection [ɪnˈfekʃn] n.感染；传染6.particularly [pəˈtɪkjələli] adv. 特别地7.trustworthy [ˈtrʌstwɜːði] adj. 可靠的8.vary [ˈveri] v. 变化。

2024中考英语热点时文阅读理解训练文章导读阅读理解A篇:新版ChatGPT能说会看！B篇：“小土豆”变“小金豆”：人才与科技助力湖北恩施乡村振兴.C篇：嫦娥六号：人类首次月背“挖土”有多难?D篇：参加模拟联合国，培养国际视野与多元技能。

E篇：要警惕大数据算法制造的“信息茧房”F篇：历史电影需要还原历史吗？G篇：生活中“大算法”无处不在，我们如何抵制让我们单一化的趋势。

A 阅读理解ChatGPT now has an upgrade (升级) with its new AI model, GPT-4o.But why “o”? It stands for “omni”, which means it can do “all things” in “all ways”. It is stronger than any of the GPT models that came before it.GPT-4o can understand orders through voice, text or images . It can also give answers in all these types of media, said its maker OpenAI. When chatting with you, it can respond as fast as a person can. “Talking to a computer has never felt really natural for me; now it does,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a blog post.The new model may become your “new best friend” as it can help you with many things. It can teach you new languages, summarize a meeting and translate things really fast. But most helpful of all, GPT-4o can be your personal teacher.In a video on the OpenAI website, GPT-4o helped a boy named Imran Khan with a math problem. Instead of giving him the answer, it asked, “Do you remember the formula (公式)?” This helped Khan think step by step. When Khan made mistakes, GPT-4o gave hints (提示) and let him try again, instead of just telling him the answer. These abilities are making lots of people think and talk about the power of GPT-4o. “Teachers give classes to many students at the same time. Now with AI, each person’s learning experience is tailored (定制) to their requirements. It fits what a student needs,” a viewer of the video wrote online. But others also worry it might take away some teachers’ jobs.Still, many people see hope. If used right, GPT-4o can give more support to people like the blind or those feeling lonely, Emma Darcy, who works at Denbigh High School in the UK, told Forbes.1. You can communicate with GPT-4o through_____.a. textb. voicec. imaginationd. imagese. videosA. abcB. abdC. bcdD. cde2. Sam Altman’s words showed that _____.A. GPT-4o is as smart as a humanB. talking to AI is still impossibleC. GPT-4o can replace mediaD. GPT-4o made big progress3. How does GPT-4o help Imran Khan with his math problem in the video?A. By giving him the answer directly.B. By guiding him step by step.C. By telling him the key formula.D. By pointing out his mistakes.4. What is people’s worry about GPT-4o according to the story?A. It may make some teachers lose their jobs.B. It may help students cheat in exams.C. It may totally change our education.D. It helps students learn independently.5. What good side does Emma Darcy see in GPT-4o?A. It can create more jobs for society.B. It can help blind or lonely people.C. It can upgrade our school education.D. It can make people work faster.B 阅读理解Li Jing is from Maotianping village in Cuijiaba, a town in the Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture (自治州) of Hubei. She was one of the first in her community to go after higher education.Following the call of rural revitalization (乡村振兴), after graduation, Li decided to return to her village in 2022. The 29-year-old now serves as the director assistant to the village secretary of the Maotianping Village Committee. Her role focuses on improving the quality of life for her fellow villagers.Rural revitalization is a key part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), set as a national strategy to draw talent to rural areas.Enshi heavily depends on agriculture and most of its farmers grow potatoes. Li and her colleagues’ jobs include communicating with the villagers and making potatoes grow better. “We often hold meetings in the village square, where we share ideas on potato planting techniques , market trends and more,” Li said.To sell more potatoes to places outside their village, the young people there choose to do livestreaming. “Video-sharing platforms like Douyin have greatly broadened our reach, increasing the popularity and sales of our small potatoes,” Li said.Along with other methods, such as e-commerce (电商) platforms like Meituan, the money made from potato sales each year has risen from 1,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, according to Li.Emphasis has been placed on the quality of the potatoes. Li’s team created positions like potato managers, similar to marketing and sales specialists. There’s even a role as a potato appraiser (鉴定人), picking the best-looking potatoes for sale.In the near future, Li hopes to continue helping villagers raise their potato production and increase their income. She and her team’s long-term plan is to promote urban-rural integration (城乡融合).“I think it’s now called ecological tourism , ecological culture and green industries,” she said.1. What is Li Jing's current position in her village?A. Village SecretaryB. Director of the Village CommitteeC. Director Assistant to the Village SecretaryD. Potato Appraiser2.What does the underlined word “broadened” mean?A. 减少B. 拓展C. 增强D. 加深3. How has the use of video-sharing platforms impacted potato sales in Maotianping village?A. It has led to a decrease in potato sales.B. It has increased the popularity and sales of potatoes.C. It has no significant effect on potato sales.D. It has caused a shift in the types of potatoes grown.4. What is one of the roles created by Li's team to emphasize the quality of potatoes?A. Village SecretaryB. Potato ManagerC. Director AssistantD. Potato Appraiser5. What is the main idea of the passage?A. The importance of higher education in rural areas.B. The role of technology in rural revitalization.C. The economic impact of potato farming in Enshi.D. Li Jing's journey from education to village leadership.C篇：阅读理解What is the far side of the moon like? Dark, cold and empty. But it will soon have a visitor – China’s Chang’e 6 probe (探测器).The Chang’e 6 probe will be the first in the world to take stone and soil samples from the moon’s far side. The probe was launched successfully from Hainan on May 3.Humans have done 10 missions to the moon to bring back moon samples, including China’s Chang’e 5 mission in 2020. However, all these missions so far have visited the side of the moon that faces Earth.Because the moon turns at the same speed as it circles Earth, we can never see the far side of the moon. This makes it hard to stay in contact with any spacecraft that goes there.To help the Chang’e 6 space probe “talk” to Earth, China sent a new relay satellite (中继卫星) called Queqiao 2 into space to travel around the moon, helping send messages back.The Chang’e 6 probe also has new smart tools to help it collect samples better. “Even if the probe loses contact with Earth, it can do important work by itself,” Wang Qiong, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e 6 mission.The Chang’e 6 mission to the moon will take 53 days. During this time, the probe will go into orbit (轨道) around the moon and land in a place called the South Pole-Aitken Basin. It is a huge crater (撞击坑) on the far side of the moon. There, it will collect up to 2 kilograms of stone and soil to bring back to Earth. Scientists will study these samples to learn more about the moon.1. How is Chang’e 6’s mission different from other missions before it?A. People can see where the probe works from Earth.B. The mission will start from the moon’s near side.C. The probe will bring back stone and soil samples.D. The probe will work on the far side of the moon.2. What is the role of Queqiao 2?A. Sending the Chang’e 6 probe into orbit.B. Moving between Earth and the moon.C. Acting as a bridge between Earth and Chang’e 6.D. Helping people on Earth talk on the phone better.3. Why is it challenging to communicate with a spacecraft on the far side of the moon?A. The far side is always dark and cold.B. The far side is out of sight from Earth, making communication difficult.C. The Chang’e 6 probe does not have the necessary communication tools.D. The South Pole-Aitken Basin blocks communication signals.4. What can we learn from the passage?A. The Chang’e 6 mission will last over two months.B. Astronauts will collect 2 kilograms of moon samples.C. We can never see the South Pole-Aitken Basin on Earth.D. The probe completely depends on people’s control.5. What is the main idea of the passage?A. The Chang’e 6 probe is designed to study the moon's orbit.B. The Chang’e 6 mission marks a significant advancement in lunar exploration.C. The Queqiao 2 satellite is essential for space communication.D. The South Pole-Aitken Basin is the only place on the moon worth exploring.D篇：阅读理解From April 20 to 21, 21st Century and Beijing Language and Culture University co-hosted the Seminar on Gen Zer’s Role in Public Diplomacy (Z世代公共外交交流会) in Beijing. Over 100 teachers and students from across China gathered to discuss how students can have better public diplomacy skills by taking part in MUN activities.Wei Huacan, a 15-year-old from Qian Xuesen Middle School in Beijing, dreams of becoming a prosecutor (检察官). Having taken part in MUN and relevant activities for many times, he finds MUN super helpful for his future dream.“MUN activities cover lots of topics, not just diplomacy but also law and more. For example, the international court (法庭) in MUN really supports my law studies goals,” said Wei.MUN doesn’t just help students get closer to their big dreams; it also helps them do better in school.Eye-opening experience“MUN activities help students think more logically and quickly, making them better at speaking and debating in public,” said Zhang Lingyun, a teacher from Soochow Foreign Language School in Jiangsu. Her school has a special MUN class for students, with an MUN club for hands-on experience.Chen Wuyue, a student at Hangzhou Foreign Languages School in Zhejiang, has been taking part in MUN since grade 7.“When I represented other countries, I stand in their shoes to think and speak. This helps me form my own ideas, instead of just learning from books,” she said. Chen feels that MUN has opened her eyes to what’s happening all over the world, helping her look further than what’s just in the textbooks.Bridging the gapAs a fantastic way for young people to learn skills, MUN is growing fast in China. Take China Daily MUN (CDMUN) as an example. It covers over 200 schools across 26 provinces, autonomous regions and special administrative regions in China, according to Hu Linhui, director of the Training Department at 21st Century.CDMUN has helped schools in the east and west across China talk and learn more from each other. “Schools in the west are now using MUN to help mix different subjects together,just like schools in the east do,” said Hu.“This program has bridged the gap between schools and promoted educational fairness among different places.”１.What was the main topic of the Seminar on Gen Zer’s Role in Public Diplomacy?A. How to improve debate skills in students.B. How to improve students’ public diplomacy skills.C. How to increase logical thinking among students.D. The history and importance of public diplomacy.２.Why does Wei Huacan find MUN activities helpful for his future dream?A. Because he enjoys traveling to different countries.B. Because MUN activities cover topics related to law.C. Because he wants to become a teacher.D. Because he likes to read international court cases.３.What does Zhang Lingyun believe MUN activities can help students with?A. Improve their logical thinking and public speaking skills.B. Learn more about international diplomacy.C. Become better at writing essays.D. Gain more knowledge about different cultures.４.What does a underlined sentence express the Chen Wuyue 's meaning?A. We should speak and think properly.B. Standing and speaking are also correct.C. We also need to speak and think from the others’ viewsD. Book knowledge is important but social practice is more important.５.What is the main idea of the passage?A. MUN is a platform for students to learn about international relations.B. CDMUN is the largest MUN program in China.C. The Seminar on Gen Zer’s Role in Public Diplomacy was a huge success.D. MUN activities are beneficial for students' personal and academic development.E篇：阅读理解Have you ever felt like you’re in your own small world, where everything you hear or see just makes you more sure of what you already think? It’s like being in an “echo chamber (信息茧房)” – a place where your own ideas keep coming back to you, and you don’t hear any different ones. This isn’t something new, but with everyone on social media, it’s happening a lot more now.Echo chambers are like invisible (看不见的) rooms on the internet where everyone agrees with you. Think about how people used to sit around a fire, telling stories that made everyone else all nod and smile. Now, we have the internet – our modern-day fire – where platforms let people from all over the world share their thoughts. Social media platforms know exactly what we like. That’s thanks to very clever algorithms (算法) - sets of rules that computers follow to figure out what you enjoy based on what you click on, like, and share online. These algorithms watch what we do on the internet to show us more information that matches our interests and even what our friends like.But, being in echo chambers can be a bit tricky (棘手的). They make us feel good because we’re surrounded by views we agree with, but they also make us see the world in a very limited way. This can make our opinions very fixed and make it hard for us to understand people who think differently. It might even make us feel more separated and worried because everyone outside our “bubble ” seems so different.Luckily, there are ways to break free from echo chambers. One big step is to challenge ourselves by looking for information from different sources . This means exploring more diverse or different things on the internet, reading different kinds of stories, and talking to people with other views. Also, ask questions about where information comes from, double-check facts and be open-minded. In this way, we can make sure we understand the wider world a lot better.1.What does the term “echo chamber” refer to?A. A physical room where people share stories.B. A place on the internet where everyone agrees with you.C. A social media platform for sharing personal ideas.D. A modern-day tool for telling stories around a fire.2.What role do algorithms play in creating echo chambers?A. They connect people with different views.B. They encourage people to share more stories.C. They promote diverse discussions on the internet.D. They limit the type of information people see.3 What might be a reason someone feels separated and worried in an echo chamber?A. They are unable to share their own stories.B. They are unable to access social media platforms.C. They don't have enough diverse information.D. They feel that everyone outside their bubble is very different.4. What can be inferred about the author's view on echo chambers?A. The author thinks echo chambers are beneficial for forming opinions.B. The author sees echo chambers as a natural part of social media.C. The author believes echo chambers can be limiting and should be avoided.D. The author thinks echo chambers are necessary for sharing personal ideas.5.What is the main idea of the passage?A. The history and development of social media platforms.B. The concept and effects of echo chambers on social media.C. The importance of algorithms in shaping our online experience.D. Strategies for promoting diverse discussions on the internet.F篇：阅读理解History is a tricky puzzle. It's dug up, written down and argued over. People always say that only the winners ever really get a say, and it's quite hard for historians to uncover the complete truth without any errors or bias.So what happens when history meets films? Can a Hollywood film get the history right and make an entertaining piece of art?Oscar winner Oppenheimer (《奥本海默》) sets a good example. In the film, the conversation between Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein by the lake is not historically accurate, but it feels natural in the whole story, and it serves as the icing on the cake (锦上添花), according to The Paper.There are many other examples like Oppenheimer. Usually, in a two-hour film, it is impossible to show the main character's entire complicated life. To make the story fun and dramatic, film makers need to take essential elements (元素) of the original history and create a new fiction. It's an inevitable and necessary choice.Meanwhile , the film Napoleon (《拿破仑》) shows that not all changes can be helpful. Many people think that the fictional parts of the film make the whole story messy since the storylines of war and love are both done poorly.There are many other examples of successful historical fiction films. It's possible that the very lack of historical precision (准确性) in these films, apart from the historical setting and character names, contributes to their greatness. They can present an attractive story set in a period that continues to be widely discussed in today's world. Whether you're into history or not, it's difficult to deny the emotional power these films bring to the screen.According to The Guardian, historical fiction becomes successful when the film provides an enjoyable experience, instead of aiming for strict historical accuracy. A historical film should be regarded as a work of historical fiction rather than a strict history lesson. Also, it seems unfair to ask that filmmakers strictly follow historians' events when historians often disagree among themselves.1.What is the main challenge historians face when uncovering history?A. The lack of physical evidence.B. The complexity of historical events.C. The bias of the winners' accounts.D. The difficulty of finding written records.2. How does the film Oppenheimer handle historical inaccuracies?A. It avoids creating fictional elements.B. It blends a non-factual conversation seamlessly.C. It focuses on the main character's entire life.D. It prioritizes historical accuracy over entertainment.3.What can be inferred about the film Napoleon?A. It is an example of a successful historical fiction film.B. It is praised for its accurate historical portrayal.C. Its fictional parts are considered to be chaotic.D. It focuses on the main character's emotional journey.4.What does The Guardian suggest about historical fiction films?A. They should always be historically accurate.B. They should be entertaining rather than strictly accurate.C. They should not be considered as works of art.D. They should only be made by professional historians.5. What is the main idea of the passage?A. History is difficult to interpret accurately.B. Hollywood films cannot represent history correctly.C. Filmmakers should follow historians' accounts strictly.D. Historical fiction films should be entertaining and emotionally powerful.G篇：阅读理解Do you know that our lives are actually controlled by something called algorithms? But do we really get how they change the things we like and who we are?In a book called "Filterworld: How Algorithms Make Our Culture All the Same," a person named Kyle Chayka talks about how these smart computer rules, or algorithms, are on websites like Instagram and Spotify. They make our culture very same-y. What we like doesn't just come from us, but from these computer rules that want to keep us looking at our screens all the time. If what we like helps make us who we are, then this could be a bigger problem for how we think and feel than we think. Just mindlessly scrolling on Netflix or TikTok might not seem like a big deal, but after a while, we might forget what we really like.These taste-making computer rules are hard to escape. Chayka shows us this by talking about how they are in every part of life: like what we see on TikTok, where we eat when we use Google Maps, the music we listen to on Spotify, and even who we might want to go on a date with on Tinder. This world where computer rules make our decisions can change a lot of things about how we live and move around our towns and cities. It makes everything kind of flat and the same. No one can avoid this Filterworld completely.If you're lucky and don't have to use these computer rules for your work or school, you might be able to take a break from them sometimes. But what if your friend tells you about a movie they saw on the internet or you want to buy some shoes because everyone is wearing them after seeing them in an ad? It can feel like there's nothing you can do.But even though this Filterworld is hard to get away from, there is still hope. You can start by paying more attention to the things you choose to watch or listen to. This could mean learning more about a movie you saw or giving money to an artist you like. Even just telling a friend about a music album you think they might like is better than just mindlessly watching random stuff on TikTok. As Chayka says, to fight against these computer rules, "you have to really want to and choose to live your life in a different way."1. What does the term "algorithms" refer to in the context of the article?A. Rules that control our daily routines.B. Computer programs that decide what we see online.C. Games that we play on websites like Instagram.D. Ways to calculate our preferences in math.2. What is Kyle Chayka’s opinion on algorithms?A. They improve our tastes.B. They make our culture more alike.C. They help to identify our personality.D. They contribute to psychological problems.3. What might be a reason someone would feel helpless in the context of the article?A. They cannot understand how algorithms work.B. They are unable to stop using their favorite social media.C. They see a movie recommended by a friend on the internet.D. They want to buy shoes because of a social media advertisement.4. Which of the following is a way to resist the impact of algorithms?A. Limiting the use of social media platforms.B. Making choices based on friends’ suggestions.C. Getting more involved with the selected media.D. Disconnecting from social media advertisements.5. What is the best title for the text?A. Algorithms: Cultural TakeoverB. The Secret of AlgorithmsC. Social Media: Cultural MessengerD. The Rise of Digital Platforms— 11—。

2022届中考英语时文阅读共和国勋章和国家荣誉称号01 National medals and honorary titles (荣誉称号) are usually awarded (颁奖) to those who have got great achievements for our country every five years. As a part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping awarded 42 people the Medal of the Republic, the Friendship Medal and National Honorary Titles. They come from different backgrounds, including scientists, lawmakers, educators, artists, model workers and 6 non-Chinese people. All have made big contributions(贡献) to the nation’s construction and development. Here are some of the people we’ll know.Chinese scientist Tu Youyou is one of the eight who were awarded the Medal of the Republic. Tu, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for her discovery of the malaria drug artemisinin (抗疟药物青蒿素), is the first Chinese citizen to win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. She has saved millions of lives worldwide. She has also made important scientific innovations (创新) in traditional Chinese medicine.Tu is not the only one who has given her life to the country’s development. Nan Rendong, before his death in 2017, led the research and development of China’s FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope 500米口径球面斑电望远镜), the largest radio telescope on the earth, which is ready to receive radio waves in space like alien signals. He worked on the project for more than 20 years. His contributions to Chinese astronomy earned him the title, “the people’s scientist”.1．________ Chinese people were rewarded by Xi jinping according to the passage.A．48 B．6 C．36 D．422．People of different backgrounds below are mentioned in the article except ________.A．pilots B．artists C．scientists D．foreigners 3．The underlined word in the third paragraph “astronomy” means ________.A．气象学B．天文学C．地质学D．军事学4．What do we know about Tu Youyou?A．She won a Nobel Prize 2017.B．She has saved millions of people around the world.C．She is the only woman for the Medal of the Republic .D．She has made traditional Chinese medicine enter all the countries.5．The main purpose of the passage is ________.A．to express thanks to national heroesB．to describe how to get the national honorary titlesC．to tell readers what makes a good role modelD．to introduce some of the people who won national awards02 Here are four great doctors who got 2020 the Medal of the Republic(共和国勋章) and the national honorary title(国家荣誉称号), “the People’s Hero”(人民英雄) .Picture ①Name: Zhong NanshanAge:85From: Xiamen, FujianLook: wide mouth, short and white hair, strong Picture ②Name: Zhang BoliAge:73From: Ningjin, HebeiLook: big nose and ears, short and white hairPicture ③Name: Zhang Dingyu Picture ④Name: Chen Wei1．Who got 2020 The Medal of the Republic?A．Zhong Nanshan. B．Zhang Boli.C．Zhang Dingyu. D．Chen Wei.2．Where does Zhang Boli come from?A．Fujian. B．Hebei. C．Henan. D．Zhejiang.3．What does Zhang Dingyu look like?A．He has a wide mouth. B．He has a big nose.C．He has little hair. D．He has short black hair.4．Among them, who has short and white hair?A．①②B．②④C．①④D．②③03 Yuan Longping a Chinese scientist and educator, died at the age of 91 in Hunan last month. He was called the “Father of Hybrid Rice（杂交水稻）”and he helped ___1__ people around the world.Yuan Longping was the first person to develop a kind of hybrid rice which helped fight___2__ in China. Food was a big problem in China in the past. This was because China had 22 percent of the world’s population, but only 7 percent of its ___3___. In the 1960s, Chinese people had a difficult time. Millions of people died because they had no food. As an agronomy teacher, Yuan was very ___4__ to see this. “How can I help them have enough food?” he thought. He decided to work on a kind of hybrid rice. It has a high output（产量）.At that time, other scientists didn’t think hybrid rice was worth ___5__. But Yuan and his team worked on it every day. They took very good care of their rice seeds.At last, in 1973, they grew a new kind of hybrid rice. This rice is ___6___. Farmers can grow it in many different kinds of farmland and in bad ___7___. It can also fight disease. Its output was much ___8__ than common kinds of rice. With the new kind, about 70,000,000 people could have food every year!Yuan solved the food problem in China. But he was ___9__ working on rice when he was very old. Before he retired, he hoped to grow rice in the sea!Yuan once said he had two dreams—to “enjoy the ___10__ under the rice crops（庄稼）tallerthan men” and that hybrid rice could be grown all over the wor ld to help solve the global food problem.1．A．support B．guard C．feed D．educate 2．A．flood B．hunger C．earthquake D．nature 3．A．farmland B．mountains C．grassland D．forests 4．A．angry B．interested C．hopeful D．sad 5．A．discussing B．studying C．eating D．reporting 6．A．expensive B．new C．healthy D．strong 7．A．sea B．villages C．weather D．gardens 8．A．greater B．smaller C．less D．slower 9．A．still B．again C．hardly D．even 10．A．heat B．cool C．wealth D．fame04 阅读下面几位共和国勋章获得者的材料，为五位少年寻找他们的偶像。

Village BA basketball tournament held in Southwest China “村BA”决出总冠军今年的奖品让网友流下了口水......英文新闻：Village BA basketball tournament held in Southwest China In March 2023, Guizhou province hosted the first edition of the local league game under the title "Beautiful Countryside". Consisting of only amateurs, the competitions were held to celebrate the Miao ethnic harvest festival that falls on the sixth day of the sixth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.Four teams contested this year's finals. Team Tongren overcame Team Bijie 57-50 to finish third. A torrential downpour forced the championship game to be rescheduled. The team Qiandongnan won the championship by beating the team from Zunyi City, 68-65.For this year's prizes, the winner received a national intangible cultural heritage Miao silver hat and local agricultural products. The first runner-up won a Taijiang sturgeon and a wooden dragon boat. The second runner-up won local agricultural products such as "Sansui sesame duck" and embroidery pieces.There were no superstar players, no advertising, and no tickets. But a single match among ordinary villagers could attract over 10,000 people to watch from the stands. The cumulative number of views on live-streaming platforms reached hundreds of millions. Taipan Village has gone through a major renovation to boost tourism. Apart from free entrance for the games, the village has also set up more parking lots and snack streets in surrounding areas.中文新闻：“村BA”决出总冠军今年的奖品让网友流下了口水......2023年3月，贵州省举办了第一届以“美丽乡村”为主题的地方联赛，参赛者都是业余选手，为了庆祝中国农历六月初六的苗族丰收节。

1宇航员芭比娃娃首亮相鼓励女性从事科学职业中等说明文新闻报道Samantha Cristoforetti turns 42 this year. She is one of the world’s few active female astronauts. She has been in space for 199 days and 16 hours. But sadly, she is the only Italian female member of the European Space Agency now.To set a good example for young girls, the ESA is working with Barbie. Two new Barbie dolls have been made based on Cristoforetti’s looks. One of them wears a NASA’s spacewalking suit. The other is dressed in a blue flight suit with ESA patches.The Cristoforetti Barbie is part of the Barbie Dream Gap Project which started in 2018. It aims to encourage more girls to explore careers in STEM-related fields. STEM means in science, technology, engineering, and maths. The Italian astronaut will also make a video program to show young audiences around the ESA. Cristoforetti hopes to help them dream about their future without limits. After all, anything boys can do, girls can do better.“We know how important it is for girls to have role models and this new ESA collaboration helps us to take this to an astronomical new level,” an official from Barbie said.1 . How many female Italian astronauts are there in ESA?A 0.B 1.C 2.D 3.2 . Why does the ESA work with Barbie?A To encourage girls to study STEM.B To encourage girls to have their dreams.C To train more female astronauts.D To set a good example for young girls.3 . What is the color of the Barbie’s flight suit?A Orange.B White.C Blue.D Red.4 . What does the underlined word “collaboration” mean in Chinese?A 工作.B 合作.C 接洽.D 模型.5 . What is the best title for this passage?A Two astronaut Barbie dolls have been made.B The only Italian female astronaut in ESA.C To encourage more girls to dream with no limit.D Barbie models based on Italian female astronaut.2纳达尔4夺美网冠军，大满贯19冠直追费德勒中等记叙文文娱体育The match was finally over. A tired Rafael Nadal from Spain flopped down on the ground. The crowd in the stadium all stood up to cheer.The 33-year-old man had just beaten Daniil Medvedev who is ten years younger than him. He had won his fourth U.S. Open title. It was also his 19th grand slam title. The match was a hard one. It lasted nearly five hours — the second-longest final in Nadal’s career.Emotions were already running high. After a video of Nadal’s career was shown in the stadium, the cheers became louder. Nadal, at last, could not hold back his tears. “The emotions are sometimes hard to control,” he said. “All those cheers make this night unforgettable for me.”When he reflected on his latest win, Nadal still appeared humble. He said his family and team had helped him a lot.Now, Nadal is just one grand slam title away from Roger Federer, who hold the first position in tennis. Is he thinking about overtaking the Swiss star? The answer is “No”. “I cannot always think about getting more and more. I just try to do it my way. I’m happy about the career I have,” Nadal said.1 . How old is Daniil Medvedev?A 10 years old.B 23 years old.C 33 years old.D 43 yearsold.2 . What does the underlined word “humble” mean in Chinese?A 骄傲的.B 高兴的.C 悲伤的.D 谦虚的.3 . How many grand slam titles has Roger Federer won?A 4.B 18.C 19.D 20.4 . What can we learn from this passage?A Nadal knew he would win the game before it started.B Nadal is one of the best tennis player in the world.C Nadal will try to get more slams.D Nadal will retire after the game.5 . What is the main idea of this passage?A A new super star in tennis.B The modest tennis super star.C An unforgettable match for Nadal.D Nadal won the 19th grand slam.3法国“飞人”扎帕塔成功飞越英吉利海峡容易记叙文逸闻趣事Do you dream of flying? French inventor Franky Zapata did so. Last month, he made history as the first person to “fly” across the English Channel by a hoverboard.Zapata took off from Sangatte on France’s northern coast and touched down near Dover, England. His hoverboard was powered by a backpack full of fuel. It kept him in the air for ten minutes. Then Zapata stopped halfway on a boat to fill his backpack with fuel again. It took him just 22 minutes to complete the 35-kilometer journey. The crowd clapped loudly as they saw him reach Britain safely. Zapata said that it was the most amazing moment in his life.The French inventor has been working on his hoverboard for three years. He did not think of giving up even after losing two of his fingers in an accident. Zapata is now considering creating a flying car. Do you look forward to it?1 . Where did Zapata fly across?A The English Channel.B France’s northern coast.C Dover, England.D Paris, France.2 . How long did it take Zapata to complete the journey?A Half an hour.B 35 minutes.C Ten minutes.D 22 minutes.3 . What happened to Zapata according to Paragraph Three?A He gave up creating a flying car.B He lost two of his fingers.C A traffic accident happened to him.D He lost his two feet.4 . What’s the Chinese meaning of the underlined word “halfway”?A 又一次.B 在中间.C 中途.D 大致上.5 . Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?A Zapata is a French.B Zapata’s hoverboard was powered by a backpack.C Zapata reached Britain safely.D Zapata is creating a flying car now.42022北京冬奥会和冬残奥会吉祥物“冰墩墩”和“雪容融”正式亮相容易说明文热点话题1 . When will the 2022 Winter Paralympics start?A On 4th March, 2022.B On 4th January, 2022.C On 4th February, 2022.D On 4th February, 2023.2 . What does Bing Dwen Dwen look like?A A child.B A lantern.C An astronaut.D A sports track.3 . Where is the red heart?A It’s on Shuey Rhon Rhon’s face.B It’s on Bing Dwen Dwen’s neck.C It’s on Shuey Rhon Rhon’s lantern.D It’s on Bing Dwen Dwen’s left palm.4 . What’s on Shuey Rhon Rhon’s head?A Paper cuttings of doves.B Paper cuttings of pandas.C Bright colours of the circles.D Chinese characters of Olympics.5 . What is the main idea of this passage?A The 2022 Winter Olympic games are coming.B The 2022 Winter Olympic games will be held in Beijing.C Let’s see mascots of the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.D Chinese culture will be used in 2022 Winter Olympic games.5飞行奇遇记：乘客顶替机长把飞机开走了！中等记叙文逸闻趣事An off-duty pilot was honoured as a “legend” after stepping in to fly a plane himself to stop the flight being cancelled.Michael Bradley, a qualified EasyJet pilot, had a busman’s holiday when he ended up flying a plane that was delayed by two hours. He told passengers on board the Manchester Airport flight to Alicante that he was offering his services as there was no pilot available.The pilot said, “My wife is on row 15 with my little boy — hopefully he’s asleep by now. And I was told our flight’s delayed by two hours because there was no captain for the flight. So just before we went through security, I wondered if this is worth a phone call, I think it is because I’d like to go on holiday. I phoned up EasyJet and said ‘Hiya, I’m standing in the terminal doing nothing. I have got my licence with me and I’d very much like to go on holiday and if you need a favour, I’m standing here ready to go.’”Mr Bradley said his bosses called him back in less than a minute to give him the go-ahead, saying, “Please, please, can you fly the plane to Alicante?” He added, “So if you’re OK for one of your pilots to look like this without uniform today, we’ll go to Alicante.” There was cheers from the passengers.Ms Potts posted a video of the pilot’s announcement on Facebook, saying “The plane probably would have been cancelled if it wasn’t for him! Legend”.1 . How many families are there on the trip with Bradley?A 1.B 2.C 3.D 4.2 . Why did Michael Bradley make the call?A Because the flight would be cancelled.B Because he loved to serve people.C Because he wanted to be a legend.D Because he wanted to take a holiday.3 . What does the underlined word “go-ahead” mean in Chinese?A 接受.B 命令.C 准许.D 承诺.4 . How did the passengers feel about Michael Bradley’s act?A They loved it.B They ignored it.C They missed it.D They criticized it.5 . What is the main idea of this passage?A Spending a holiday with a pilot can make sure the flight never being cancelled.B Michael Bradley became a legend after becoming a pilot.C Michael Bradley had a bad holiday with his wife and son.D A passenger flied the plane to the destination when the captain couldn’t arrive.6一战创历史！加拿大19岁安德莱斯库勇夺2019美网大满贯中等记叙文文娱体育Andreescu, the 19-year-old Canadian girl won the 2019 US Open. She beat Serena Williams. Williams won her first US Open in 1999. Andreescu wasn’t even born then.Her rise has been quick. A year ago, she couldn’t even qualify for the US Open. But she always dreamt of winning it. When she was 16, she wrote herself a fake US Open winner’s cheque. The amount of the prize money rose in real life. She kept updating it on the cheque. On the night of her win, she really got the cheque! Before Andreescu, no player had won the US Open in their first appearance. It was also the first win by a Canadian.“Being able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend in this sport, is amazing,” said Andreescu, who was appearing in her first major final, while Williams was in her 33rd. “Oh, man, it wasn’t easy at all.” Andreescu keeps dreaming big. “I’ve really tried to be like Serena. Who knows? Maybe I can be better,” she said.1 . When was Bianca Andreescu born?A In 1999.B In 2000.C In 2001.D In 2002.2 . What does the underlined word “qualify” mean?A 能战胜.B 能学习.C 有能力.D 有资格.3 . Which of the following statements is TRUE？A Andreescu won her first cheque at the age of 16.B Serena won her first US Open at the age of 19.C Andreescu is not the only Canadian winning the US Open.D Serena Williams is an excellent tennis player.4 . What can we learn from what Andreescu said?A Serena may become a better tennis player than Serena.B Serena is the best tennis player in the world.C Andreescu is another Serena.D Andreescu is a better tennis player than Serena.5 . What is the best title of this passage?A The first tennis US Open winner.B A rising tennis star Andreescu.C The 2019 US Open final.D The tennis legend Serena failed.7“飞的”时代来了！空中出租车在新加坡试飞成功最快2021年投入使用中等新闻报道科普知识Those dreams of having flying cars when we were younger may finally come true as flying taxis have made their debut on 22 October in Singapore and may be a permanent thing in 2 years.According to TODAY, an R&D version of the air taxi, the V olocopter 2X, flew for 3 minutes at noon around Marina Bay on 22 October. This debut is part of the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress that is running from 21 to 25 October at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. V olocopter’s spokesperson, Ms Helena Treeck, told TODAY that the company hopes to make flying taxis a thing in Singapore by 2021.The V olocopter is a 2-seater passenger drone that consists of 18 rotors. It can fly up to 30km in one charge. That’s roughly the distance between Jurong East & Punggol. The copter can go up to speeds of 110km/h. And since there are no obstacles or traffic lights in the air, it’s like taking a highway from pickup to destination. The flying taxi can fly unmanned because of an “intelligent operation system”.V olocopter has been engaging with the Transport Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority Of Singapore and the Economic Development Board to discuss the project of having air taxis in Singapore.1 . The passage introduces the first use of ________ in Singapore.A flying carsB flying taxisC flying enginesD flying motorbikes2 . The Volocopter 2X is _________ according to the passage.A a transport system used in SingaporeB a new type of transport in the air in SingaporeC a future model of going sightseeing in SingaporeD an industry robot made by a company in Singapore3 . What can we learn about the Volocopter 2X?A It can carry three passengers during a trip.B Its speed reaches up to 120 kilometres per hour.C It can keep flying along the highway with gas.D The farthest flight distance in one charge can reach 30 kilometres.4 . How long will it take you to go to school by Volocopter 2X if your home is about 11km away from your school?A 2 minutes.B 5 minutes.C 6 minutes.D 10 minutes.5 . What’s the main idea of this passage?A What the Volocopter 2X is.B The dreams of having flying cars have come true.C A flying car may be opened to public in Singapore in 2021.D The project of having air taxis has been discussed in Singapore.8印尼科莫多岛继续对游客开放较难记叙文旅游交通This spring, we reported on how Indonesia's government was planning to close Komodo Island in 2020. That report came out after several people were arrested in March and accused of smuggling Komodo dragons off the island. As many as 41 of the lizards were sold in other countries for $35,000 each.Now, the Indonesian government says it plans to keep Komodo Island open. However, it will put limits on the number of tourists.Last year, 180,000 people made that trip. We don't know what the new limit will be or how much it will cost to go there. But the Indonesian government is trying to balance calls for more wildlife protection with concerns that banning tourism will hurt the residents who depend on it for their income.Komodo dragons are considered a vulnerable species. It means that they could become endangered unless they're protected. There are more than 1,700 of these creatures on Komodo Island, and if you plan to go there, Komo — don't feed the wildlife. While they don't often attack people, the lizards are venomous and capable of killing someone. They can become as long as 10 feet and weigh 150 pounds.1 . Why did Indonesia's government plan to close Komodo Island in 2020?A There were too many tourists.B The weather was changeable on the island.C Several people smuggled Komodo dragons off the island.D The animals on the island were very famous.2 . What's the Chinese meaning of the underlined word “vulnerable” in Paragraph 4?A 易受伤害的.B 易狂躁的.C 具有攻击性的.D 温顺的.3 . How many people traveled to Komodo Island last year?A 35000.B 100000.C 150000.D 180000.4 . Which of the following is TRUE about Komodo dragons?A Komodo dragons are small animals and only eat grass.B Komodo dragons can become very huge.C Komodo dragons live in many countries around the world.D Komodo dragons can never be bad for people.5 . What's the main idea of this passage?A Indonesia is rich in animal resources.B An introduction of Komodo Island.C Reopening of Komodo Island to tourists.D The living habits of Komodo dragons.9国际足联：2021年世俱杯落户中国较难新闻报道文娱体育The expanded tournament will be held in the Far East in two years' time. China will host the newly-revised version of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021, which is set to be played between the summer months of June and July.The revamped competition will now take place once every four years and is expected to feature eight teams from Europe. The current version of the tournament only includes seven teams, but FIFA's expansion will see that number rise to 24. The Club World Cup will now replace the Confederations Cup, which has served as a warm-up event for countries hosting the World Cup since 1992. FIFA has released an official statement w hich reads: “FIFA Council unanimously appoints China PR as hosts of new Club World Cup in 2021.”Speaking at a council meeting in Shanghai on Thursday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated: “This is a historic decision for football because the FIFA council decided unanimously to appoint China as the host for the new FIFA World Cup for clubs.” “The new FIFA World Cup for clubs will be a competition which every person who loves football looks forward to. It is the first real and true world cup for the best teams and clubs in the world.”1 . China was chosen to be the host of ________ in 2021.A the Asian CupB the World CupC the Club World CupD the Confederations Cup2 . How many football teams in the world will take part in the new competition in 2021?A 7.B 8.C 15.D 24.3 . What can we learn from the passage?A The expanded competition will be held every two years.B Summer is the most suitable season for football matches.C The World Cup is more powerful than the Confederations Cup.D More football teams from Europe will be invited to the football match.4 . The underlined words “a historic decision” in Paragraph 3 mean that _______.A the World Cup has been revisedB the FIFA members have expandedC the competition time has been increasedD China was appointed as the host of the Club World Cup。

2024年中考英语新热点时文阅读-传统节日题型主要内容1短文选词介绍了中国传统新年的英伦范儿。

填空2短文选词讲述了春联的文化。

填空3短文选词介绍了在龙抬头这一天的风俗习惯。

填空4语法选择重阳节的习俗和传统。

5阅读理解介绍了中国的传统节日——元宵节。

6短文填空介绍了重阳节的那些习俗的背后故事。

7短文填空介绍了中国的传统节日——元宵节。

01（23·24上·佛山·期中）请从方框内选择适当的词并用其正确形式填空，使文章完整连贯。

注意每空一词，每词仅用一次，有两词为多余项。

请将答案写在答题卡对应题目的答题位置上。

luck sure thousand traditional popular big join book so with kind orFor Chinese in London, Chinese New Year is a huge event. Before Chinese New Year, people make 1 their houses are clean and tidy. What’s more, they buy new clothes and have their hair cut to bring good 2 for the new year. London has the 3 celebration outside of Asia. 4 of people go to watch the parade from the West End to Trafalgar Square, which includes Chinese acrobats (杂技) and lion and dragon dances.In central London, there are fireworks and performances with all 5 of acts and special guests. Chinatown is filled 6 excitement. The streets are decorated with red lanterns. If you’re considering eating in one of Chinatown’s excellent Chinese restaurants, 7 a table early because you won’t find one on the night. Listen out for people saying “San Nin Faai Lok”, 8 saying “Happy New Year”!For young Chinese people studying or working in the UK, chatting online is a good way to 9 in big family celebrations. Those missing home might also cook 10 Chinese dumplings for friends in Britain or sing songs together.02（23·24上·晋中·期中）请阅读下面短文，根据语篇内容，用方框中所给词的正确形式填空，使短文通顺、连贯，并将答案写到答题卡相应的位置上。

The Power of English Essays in a GlobalContextIn the interconnected world of today, the importance of English has become increasingly apparent. As a lingua franca, English serves as a bridge between cultures, facilitating communication and understanding among people from diverse backgrounds. Among the various applications of English, the art of essay writing stands out as a particularly potent tool for expressing ideas, analyzing complex issues, and developing critical thinking skills. This essay explores the significance of English essays in a global context, discussing their role in education, cross-cultural communication, and personal development.In the realm of education, English essays serve as a vital component of the academic curriculum. They provide students with an opportunity to hone their writing skills, learn to organize their thoughts, and develop arguments supported by evidence. Through essay writing, students are able to delve into subjects matter deeply, analyzing and synthesizing information from various sources. This process not only enhances their understanding of the subject matterbut also cultivates their ability to think critically and independently.Beyond the classroom, English essays play a crucialrole in cross-cultural communication. In a globalized world, people from different cultures often find themselves interacting and collaborating. English essays, beingwritten in a universally understood language, can serve asa common ground for communication, enabling parties from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives and ideas effectively. This is particularly important ininternational forums and conferences, where English essays can act as a bridge between diverse perspectives,facilitating understanding and cooperation.Personal development is another area where the power of English essays is evident. Writing essays requires self-reflection, critical thinking, and a willingness to challenge one's own beliefs and assumptions. This process not only helps individuals grow intellectually but also emotionally and spiritually. Through essay writing, people are able to gain a deeper understanding of themselves,their values, and their place in the world.In conclusion, English essays are a powerful tool in today's globalized world. They play a vital role in education, enabling students to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. They also serve as a bridge in cross-cultural communication, facilitating understanding and cooperation among people from diverse backgrounds. Finally, English essays promote personal development, helping individuals grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. As we move forward in an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of English essays will continue to grow, serving as a powerful medium for expressing ideas, sharing perspectives, and fostering mutual understanding.**英语时文作文的力量**在现今高度互联的世界，英语的重要性变得愈发明显。

2023年中考英语最新热点时文阅读-神舟十四号01阅读回答问题（2022·湖南·长沙市长郡双语实验中学八年级期末）阅读下面短文，根据短文内容回答问题。

On June 5th, China launched (发射) the three-person Shenzhou XIV, which is the third crew (乘组) for the country’s space station project. The astronauts will work with the ground team to finish the building of the Tiangong Space Station. The crew arrived at Tiangong on Sunday afternoon.Liu Yang, the first Chinese woman in outer space, said on Saturday in Jiuquan, that she and two other astronauts—Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe—would be very busy during their stay, and they were going to do their job while Tiangong Space Station was changing its shape. With the help of the ground team, it would change itself nine times.At the same time, the astronauts would also need to prepare for the arrival of the Shenzhou XV crew and Tianzhou 5 ship near the end of their journey, Liu added.“In addition, we will use a new hatch (舱门) and a new small robotic arm to do spacewalks. We will perform a large number of scientific experiments and also offer educational activities for pupils online,” she said. “This is also the first time that Chinese astronauts will celebrate our National Day in space.”In an interview with China Central Television before they flew to the space, Liu said she had talked to her daughter and son about her six-month trip.“I explained why their mom needed to take part in this great project and why I would be away fromhome for half a year. I also told them what, they needed to do during this period of time. At first, they were not so happy about my leaving, but they finally said later that they understood,” she said.“They told me that they wanted me to take as many pictures as possible so they could share the beauty of space with their classmates.”1．When did the three-person Shenzhou XIV reach Tiangong Space Station?__________________________________________________________________2．How many times will the space station change its shape in six months?__________________________________________________________________3．How is the crew going to do spacewalks?__________________________________________________________________4．Were Liu’s children happy about her space trip at first?__________________________________________________________________5．Why did the daughter and the son want their mother to take photos?__________________________________________________________________02（2022·湖南永州·七年级期末）At 10:44 a.m. on June 5th, 2022, China sent its astronaut (宇航员), Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, into space (太空). They joined in the latest Shenzhou XIV mission (任务). Do you want to become astronauts like them? How can they become astronauts?●Be healthyTo be an astronaut, you need to be very healthy. It is important for them to have a healthy body. You can’t have other small problems. For example, you can’t have scars . They may split (裂开) in space.●Become stronger with hard training (训练)For example, you need to be strong like sports players. You will also wear a 200-kilogram uniform and do missions underwater for six or seven hours without eating or going to the WC．It is useful for theseastronauts to face the space.●Learn scienceLearning is important, too. Astronauts take 60 classes to get ready for a mission, like math, English, spacecraft design, physics and many more. So they will know what to do when something bad happens (发生) during the mission.6．Who doesn’t join in the Shenzhou XIV mission?A．Yang Liwei.B．Liu Yang.C．Cai Xuzhe.7．The underlined (划线的) word “scars” probably means _______.A．感冒B．伤疤C．头痛8．What special cloth should an astronaut wear?A．A beautiful uniform.B．A 200-kilogram uniform.C．A 200-kilogram coat.9．Which of the following is NOT true ?A．Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe are very healthy.B．They need to do missions underwater for six or seven hours.C．They don’t take classes to learn things like math and English.10．What is this passage mainly about?A．What it takes to become an astronaut.B．How astronauts are training in China.C．Why it’s difficult to become an astronaut.03（2022·河南·模拟预测）The Shenzhou XIV mission(任务)—China’s ninth manned spaceflight—launched(发射) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 5, 2022.The three astronauts—Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe—are being sent to the Tiangong space station. They will stay there for half a year. This is the second time Chen and Liu have gone into space. The flight of three astronauts is also expected to mark the beginning of a period of ten years. During this period, there will be Chinese people in outer space every day.As of the spacecraft’s arrival on that day, the Tiangong station consists of three parts—the Tianhe core module(核心舱), the Tianzhou 3 and the Tianzhou 4 cargo(货运) ships.The three astronauts will work with ground controllers to connect the Wentian and Mengtian space labswith the Tianhe module. And then they use a robotic arm to move the labs to their permanent position. Wentian, the station’s first lab part, will be lifted in July by a Long March 5B rocket from Hainan province, while the second lab Mengtian will be launched by the same rocket model in October. After they are connected with Tiangong, the station will form a T-shaped structure.During their stay, the astronauts will finish two to three spacewalks and give science classes to students. In the second half of their mission period, the Tianzhou 5 cargo craft and the Shenzhou XV astronauts will arrive at the station. The Shenzhou XIV and XV astronauts will meet inside the Tiangong and work together for a short time before Chen’s team flies back to Earth in December.China has been making one achievement after another with its space missions that reflects the rapid development of its aerospace area. The surprising achievements China has made in space exploration are expected to attract more young people to devote their talents to the meaningful thing that benefits humankind as a whole.根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

英语时文的句子特点
英语时文的句子特点：
1、英语时文的句子非常简短，大多数句子不超过七个单词，这有助于读者快速理解文章的中心思想。

2、英语时文的句子通常包含押韵的意思，有助于读者的理解和记忆。

句子的押韵有助于读者把文章里的关键意思突出。

3、英语时文的句子结构也简单有序，通常主谓宾结构。

由主谓宾结构组成的句子有助于文章的清晰表达，因为它不会引入多余的信息，从而使文章更易于理解。

4、英语时文的句子较少使用长难句，读者可以快速阅读以节省时间，增强文章的意义。

5、英语时文的句子通常有辞藻，有助于让文章更生动。

辞藻也有助于吸引读者，使文章更加生动而有趣。

6、英语时文的句子不仅富有表达力，而且能够简洁明了地传达文章的主要信息。

这也避免了读者误解文章的本意。

7、英语时文的句子之间有着天衣无缝的联系，其语言表达特别有力，能够表达出文章的思想构思及其中心理念。

8、英语时文的句子还可以建立一些启发性的关联，从而使读者从中思考并推窥文章的价值观以及背后的信息内容。

一般来说，英语时文的句子结构设计完美，特点是短小精悍，句子之间有着天衣无缝的联系，由于具有这些特点，不仅可以清晰传达文章的主要信息，而且能够简洁明了地让读者读者理解。

当然，英语时文句子也有辞藻，它有助于让文章更加生动而有趣，更能吸引读者，使读者一看就记住文章中心理念。

中考英语时文阅读——AI（人工智能）群文阅读专题（含答案）八年级英语上册Unit7 话题阅读（人与社会：科学技术）AI with human touch（文章选自21st Century Teens 初二831期, 题目原创+改编）Imagine you can have phone calls with your favorite star. Is itexciting? AI humans might help with it. Today, AI humans are popular athome and abroad (国内外).As we all know, AI humans now can be like real people. They cando real people’s voices and moves and even copy their personalities (性格). But what else can they do? And what can only be done by humansbut not AI?Digital (数字) humans today appear in many ways. They can be idols (偶像), vloggers (视频博主), reporters, and more. For example, China Daily has its own digital reporter, Yuanxi. She can speak English and covers the wonderful world of Chinese culture. She can process (处理) data fast. This can help the newsroom work faster.In February 2022, Chinese tech company (科技公司) Baidu showed its first digital idol Xi Jiajia. She can change her makeup and how she dresses, and even do livestreams (直播)! During China Fashion Week in September 2022, Xi Jiajia became famous in an online virtual fashion show (虚拟时装秀).“Virtual idols could do something that people cannot do in the real world, such as time travel,” said Liu Qian from Baidu. Liu took the digital tour guides as an example. They can appear to be in different places and from different times in history.But AI humans have their disadvantages (劣势). Take Yuanxi as an example, she still doesn’t have much human touch and EQ. These are something that only a real human can have. What’s more, virtual people can’t team up and communicate with others in real time.As Yuanxi wrote, “Virtual employees (员工) [show] the power (力量) of [AI] but they are not a replacement for traditional human employees.”阅读表达：1.Why is it said that AI humans now can be like real people?2.Do digital humans appear only in one way today?3.Who are the digital humans mentioned in the text?4.When did Baidu show its first digital idol Xi Jiajia?5.What can Xi Jiajia do?6.According to the text, what can only be done by AI but not humans?7.What do you think of AI humans? Why do you think so?参考答案：1.Because they can do real people’s voices and moves and even copy their personalities.2.No.3.They are Yuanxi and Xi Jiajia.4.In February 2022.5. She can change her makeup and how she dresses, and even do livestreams.6.Time travel.7. I think AI humans are popular at home and abroad. Because they are widely used in every filed.（主观题，言之成理即可）阅读理解：1. What do we know about Y uanxi’s work?A. She teaches the cultures of different countries.B. She helps reporters work faster.C. She makes vlogs for China Daily.2. What made Xi Jiajia famous?A. Wearing real dresses for the fashion show.B. Teaching people how to do makeup online.C. Being in an online virtual fashion show.3. What problem do AI humans have?A. They can have scandals.B. They have a human touch.C. It is hard for them to team up.4. The word “replacement” in the last paragraph means _____?A. a tool for workers to shareB. one who takes another’s placeC. one who works together with others5.According to the text, what can only be done by humans but not AI?①Have much human touch①Have EQ.①Team up.①Communicate with others in real time.A.①①①B.①①①C.①①①①答案：BCCBC参考译文：人性化的人工智能想象一下，你可以和自己喜欢的明星通电话。

2023年中考英语新热点时文阅读-走近中国著名作家01（2022年广东省广州市广雅中学中考二模英语试题）He was a poet known for the nostalgia he describes in his poems. Now, it’s time for us to express our nostalgia for this great writer.On Dec 14, 2017, the famous Chinese poet Y u Guangzhong passed away in Taiwan.Born in 1928 in Nanjing, Jiangsu, Yu studied in Sichuan when he was young. At that time, he had showed great interest in Chinese poems and spent a lot of his free time trying writing poems himself. Then he managed to publish his first poem at the age of 20. A year later, Yu and his family moved to Taiwan. He lived and worked there until his death.Nostalgia is Yu’s masterpiece in which he expresses his homesickness for the Chinese mainland when he was in Taiwan.Published in 1971, the poem remains highly popular among Chinese speakers worldwide. Even those who know little about literature are familiar with lines from the poem. The poem is included in Chinese high school textbooks.Besides his achievements in poetry, Yu was also a successful essay writer, critic and translator.He once translated English poet Siegfried Sassoon’s poem In Me, Past, Present, Future Meet into Chinese. It is regarded as an accurate and powerful translation, in which the most famous line is“心有猛虎，细嗅蔷薇” for“In me the tiger sniffs the rose”.Yu spent his whole life writing: “The reason why I stick to writing till today comes down to my passion for the Chinese language,” he once said in a 2015 interview. He then added that this passion was strengthened by his love for his mother and his motherland.Now, let’s appreciate the poem Nostalgia.NostalgiaWhen I was young,Nostalgia was a tiny, tiny stamp.Me on this side,Mother was on the other side.When I grew up,Nostalgia was a narrow boat ticket,Me on this side,Bride on the other side.But later on,Nostalgia was a low grave,Me on the outside,Mother on the inside.And at present,Nostalgia becomes a shallow strait,Me on this side,Mainland on the other side.1．What is Yu Guangzhong?A．A poet reporter and critic.B．A translator and publisher C．A critic, poet and translator.D．A translator and song writer. 2．Which of the following statements is true?A．Yu lived with his family in Taiwan all his life.B．Many Chinese people know the poem Nostalgia.C．We can find Nostalgia in primary school textbooks.D．Yu translated Siegfried Sassoon’s poem into English.3．In what order did the events take place in Yu’s life?①Yu and his family moved to Taiwan.②Yu told the reason why he stuck to writing.③Yu’s poem Nostalgia was published.④Yu passed away in Taiwan.⑤Yu wrote and published his first poem.A．①⑤②④③B．⑤②①③④C．①⑤④②③D．⑤①③②④4．What can we learn from the Poem Nostalgia?A．He missed his family and homeland a lot.B．He didn’t want to come to his homeland.C．He lived with his mother on the riverside.D．His mother had died when he got married.02（2022·全国·九年级课时练习）Many people have read Louis Cha Leungyung’s novels. Unluckily, Louis Cha Leungyung, 94, an influential Chinese novelist, and better known under the pen name Jin Yong, died on October 30, 2018 in Hong Kong. Cha is well-known for his martial arts (武术) or wuxia novels.Over 300 million copies of his works have been sold in the Chinese-speaking world. While few of his books have been translated into English, Cha is one of the world-famous Chinese writers, with fans across China. His stories have been in television shows, films, comic books, and video games. The first part of his most popular series, Legends of the Condor Heroes,was published in English earlier in 2018. Born in Haining, Zhejiang Province, Cha graduated from the Law School of Soochow University in 1948.In 1955, Cha published his first wuxia novel The Book and the Sword under his pen name Jin Yong. He wrote 15 popular wuxia novels, and finished his last novel The Deer and the Cauldron in 1972.Cha also founded Hong Kong’s major Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao in 1959, and served as its editor-in-chief (总编辑) until 1989.Cha also served on the Basic Law Drafting Committee from 1985 to 1989. He made some of the greatest contributions to Chinese culture and Hong Kong’s media development.Hong Kong science fiction novelist Ni Kuang called Cha’s novels “the best in the world and of all time” and said Cha’s works would live on forever.Hong Kong Screenwriters’ (编剧) Guild President John Chong Ching said Cha was “China’s Shakespeare”.5．Louis Cha was born ________.A．in 1924B．in 1927C．in 1948D．in 19556．Louis Cha is most famous for ________.A．his films and comic books B．his films and TV showsC．his martial arts novels D．his Ming Pao7．According to the passage, Louis Cha’s books are ________.A．only enjoyed across China B．all translated into EnglishC．changed into different kinds of arts D．better than Shakespeare’s8．Which is the correct order for time about Cha’s life?①Cha published his first wuxia novel.②Cha graduated from Soochow University.③Cha finished The Deer and the Cauldron.④Cha served on the Basic Law Drafting Committee.⑤Cha founded the newspaper Ming Pao.A．①②③④⑤B．②①⑤③④C．⑤①②④③D．②①④③⑤9．Which of the following is true according to the passage?A．The first part of Legends of the Condor Heroes was published in English in 2018.B．Cha had worked for the newspaper Ming Pao for about thirteen years.C．More than 3,000 million copies of Cha’s books have been sold by now.D．Cha is the president of Hong Kong Screenwriters’ Guild.03（2022·湖北·鄂州市鄂城区教学研究室二模）This spring morning in bed I’m lying,Not to awake till birds are crying.After one night of wind and showers,How many are the fallen flowers?Sring Morning by Tang Dynasty(618-907) poet Meng HaoranThose classic lines was translated by Peking University professor Xu Yuanchong.Famous American poet Robert Frost once said,“Poetry is what gets lost in translation.” A well-known Chinese translator, Xu Yuanchong, has tried his best to pass on the beauty of ancient Chinese poetry all his life.Born in Nanchang,Jiangxi Province in 1921, he studied under Qian Zhongshu, Wu Mi and other Chinese masters at the National Southwest Associated University. He went to University of Paris for further study after graduating from Tsinghua University.On April 1, 2021, China Translation and Publishing House published a series of books about his life and career to pay respect to him.Since 1978, Xu has published more than 100 translated novels, anthologies(选集) and plays in Chinese, English and French. He translated Chinese poems into English and French. He is also awarded the “Aurora Borealis Prize” for Outstanding Translation of Fiction Liter ature.Xu is very strict in his work. He has given his mind to “translating beautifully”. For him, English is a “scientific” language that requires correctness, while Chinese is a language that includes a wider range of content. Following this, Xu keeps his translations correct and beautiful.Before he died, he had been working on The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James at the speed of 1,000 words a day.10．What is the Chinese name of the poem at the beginning of the passage?A．《春晓》B．《春雪》C．《早春》D．《绝句》11．Xu spent his life passing on __________.A．the culture of ChinaB．the long ancient history of ChinaC．the culture and history from foreign countriesD．the beauty of ancient Chinese poetry12．How many languages does Xu know at least?A．One.B．Two.C．Three.D．Four.13．What can we infer from the passage?A．Actions speak louder than words.B．A year’s plan starts with spring.C．Love once begun, will never end.D．A fox may grow gray, but never good. 14．According to the passage, which is the best title?A．The Skills of TranslatingB．A Great Translator-Xu Y uanchongC．The Beauty of Ancient Chinese PoetryD．A Beautiful Poem Written by Xu Yuanchong04（2022·全国·九年级课时练习）Lu Xun is one of the greatest Chinese writers of the 20th century. Besides his famous stories, he also wrote many influential articles about the living conditions of Chinese people.Born in 1881 to a wealthy family, Lu Xun had a happy childhood. In 1893, however, his grandfather, a senior government official, was put into prison for taking money. At the same time, his father became seriously ill. From that time on, his family were no longer accepted by their relatives and friends. These early experiences greatly influenced his writing.By the time Lu Xun arrived in Nanjing to study at university in 1899, he already believed that Chinese society had to change and become modern. In 1902 he went to study in Japan. There, he began writing articles for several Chinese student magazines. He showed a gift for writing and translating and he even wrote several books, although none was popular. He returned to China in 1909 because he was in need of money.After working for several years as a teacher in Beijing, Lu Xun again returned to writing. In 1918, he wrote his famous short story Diary of a Madman. It was the first Chinese novel published using the everyday language that people spoke, which helped make it a great success. This, together with his novel The True Story of Ah Q（1921）, made Lu Xun a leading Chinese writer.Although successful, Lu Xun still worried greatly about China’s future. In 1926, he moved to Shanghai and gave up writing stories in order to devote himself to what he called “pen warfare”. He then only wrote articles which called on the people to fight against the government. For this, the government stopped him from publishing any more books. He was forced to write his articles using false names.Since his death in 1936, Lu Xun’s importance and influence have grown. Today, many of his writings are included in school textbooks and his works are read by millions around the world.15．Which of the following greatly influenced Lu Xun’s writing according to the passage?A．The people he met in his later years.B．The experiences in his early life.C．Working as a teacher in Beijing.D．His father’s being put into prison.16．The following statements about Lu Xun are wrong EXCEPT _______.A．Lu Xun’s story Diary of a Madman was popularB．Lu Xun had an unfortunate childhoodC．Lu Xun studied at university in JapanD．Lu Xun is his real name17．The underlined word “influential” in Paragraph 1 means _______.A．powerful B．formal C．informal D．powerless18．After moving to Shanghai, Lu Xun mainly wrote _______.A．articles against the government B．articles about himselfC．funny stories D．stories about government officials19．Which can be the best title of the passage?A．Lu Xun’s Works B．Lu Xun’s LifeC．Lu Xun’s Story D．Lu Xun’s Death05（2022·重庆一中二模）Spring SceneThe state is destroyed, but the country remains.In the city in spring, grass, grows everywhere.Feeling sad about the times, even the flowers cry.Hating to par, hearing birds breaks our heart.This famous poem was written by Du Fu 712—770, Tang Dynasty. When he found himself alone in Chang’an now Xi’an, having no hope for his country. Du Fu was born in 712 in Gongyi, he loved to read. “When I was in my seventh year, my mind was already full of heroic things. When I was in my ninth year, I first began to red my poems in public.” he wrote.In Du Fu’s teens, his family was rich enough to allow him to go traveling. China then was at the height of wealth under the amazing emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Among all the places Du Fu visited, there was a special one—Qufu (孔子). The teachings of Confucius were Du Fu’s basic ideas all his life. For Du Fu, his main goal of life was to help the emperor realize social stability. There were no big or sudden changes and peoplelived happily and worked without fighting or disagreeing with one another. But however much he wanted to achieve the goal, he was completely helpless. His dream of using power and fame was broken into a thousand pieces.When Du Fu was about 30, came the meeting that changed his life with the poet Li Bai. Li Bai gave him a lot of inspiration in the art of poetry. But their poems were different. Li Bai’s poems were usually about nature, while Du Fu’s generally dealt with themes such as history and how people must live according to Confucianism.In mid—December 755, a huge rebellion (叛乱) led by An Lushan broke out. After that Du Fu’s life was made up of short stops at different places. Through ups and downs, pouring out his worries about the country and people as well as celebrating simple joys of life. In 77, he died on a riverboat between Danzhou now Changsha, Hunan province. But the cause of his death is still unknown.Du Fu lived through the fall of China’s fantastic Tang dynasty. He wrote many poems to express feelings of the ordinary people, especially for the poor. He is better than anyone else at reflecting history in his works. As Shakespeare (莎士比亚) is to literature (文学), so is the poet Du Fu to literature in Chinese.20．Du Fu was born in ________.A．Gongyi B．Qufu C．Danzhou D．Yueyang21．The underlined word “stability” in Paragraph 2 probably means _______.A．动荡B．萧条C．繁荣D．稳定22．According to the passage,we can infer that ________.A．Du Fu is the greatest poet in Chinese historyB．Li Bai gave Du Fu inspiration in the art of poetryC．Du Fu showed a gift for poems at a young ageD．An Lushan killed Du Fu secretly on a riverboat23．What would be the best title for the passage?A．The Fall of China’s Tang DynastyB．China’s Shakespeare: Du FuC．The Friendship between Two Great PoetsD．Chinese Literature Treasure: Du Fu’s Poems06（2022·广东深圳·八年级期末）根据句子意思, 用所给单词的适当形式填空, 或在横线上填入一个合适的词, 使短文语义通顺、语法完整。

2025年中考英语新热点时文阅读-社会热点题型主要内容1阅读理解介绍“city不city”这一网络流行语，引出了中国过境免签政策的影响。

2阅读理解讲述了中国首款AAA级游戏《黑神话：悟空》获巨大成功，改编自《西游记》，因出色画面、玩法等受玩家喜爱，还带动了年轻人对古建筑的兴趣，山西作为拍摄地之一，借此推广文化资源。

3阅读理解介绍了2024年巴黎奥运会精彩瞬间，主要有四个方面来展开：突破、惊讶、激情、友谊。

4阅读理解介绍自动驾驶汽车的发展。

5短文填空中国政府决定延迟退休年龄这一新闻事件。

6短文填空介绍了2024诺贝尔文学奖得主韩国作家韩江。

7短文填空介绍了神州十八号的航天员以及航天任务、行程等。

8语法选择国风电影《只此青绿》上映，讲述北宋画家《千里江山图》背后的故事，展现中国文化的魅力。

9阅读回答介绍了中国政府的144小时过境免签政策的目的及影响。

问题10选词填空介绍了张桂梅及电视剧《山花烂漫时》。

01（24-25九年级上·海南海口·期中）You must have heard of “city bu city” (meaning city or not city), an Internet buzzword (流行语) created by an American blogger (博主) Baobaoxiong. It’s used to ask if a place is like a big, modern city.Millions of foreigners like Baobaoxiong are visiting China and posting their travel videos. The visa-free transit policy (过境免签政策) plays an important role in it. Travelers from 54 countries can stay in China for up to six days without a visa (签证) as long as they have a travel document and a connecting ticket to leave.The visa-free transit policy started in 2013. At that time, travelers could only stay for 72 hours in seven big cities in China. Now, travelers can stay for 144 hours in 41 places across 19 provinces. It has attracted more and more travelers to China. In the first three months of this year, over 1.98 million foreigners came to China through visa-free policies.________ Through this policy, more and more people get to see the real China.“This is the whole reason why we decided to come to China—we wanted to see exactly what it’s like for ourselves,” said Irish YouTuber Luke in his online video. He thought Chengdu was “fantastic, beautiful and modern”, totally different from what he had heard about China from Western media.Yuyuantantian, a Chinese blogger, studied 100 China travel videos made by foreigners. It found foreigners used to visit famous places like the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. But now they prefer experiencing everyday activities like shopping at markets, riding shared bikes and joining square dancing in parks. These activities give foreigners a closer look at everyday life in China.1．What can we learn from Paragraph 1?A．A Chinese blogger created “city bu city” .B．“City bu city” is very popular on the Internet.C．A “city” place means the place is not modern.2．How does the writer develop his idea in Paragraph 3?A．By telling stories.B．By giving examples.C．By listing numbers.3．In Paragraph 4, which one is the best to fill in the blank of ________?A．Seeing is believing.B．Practice makes perfect.C．Where there is a will, there is a way.4．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?A．A smaller number of foreigners are visiting China now.B．Foreigners can stay in China longer without a document.C．Foreign travelers are becoming more interested in everyday life in China.5．What is the main idea of the passage?A．The development of Chinese cities.B．The experiences of foreign travelers in China.C．The influence (影响) of the visa-free transit policy.02（24-25九年级上·江苏南通·期中）①Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first AAA video game, has proved a big success. Within an hour of its first show on August 20, the game rose to the top of the global chart on Steam, a leading gaming platform. Over 2.2 million active players were recorded at its peak.②Adapted from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong reimagines the story of its most beloved character. What makes the game special is its amazing pictures, immersive (沉浸式的) gameplay and its deep connection with traditional culture.③Players not only enjoy the game for its fight and storyline but also for its fine recreation of historical sites. “The ancient buildings in the game are well mixed with the storyline. I’m planning to visit the filming places soon to experience the cultural heritage first-hand.” said a player from Beijing.④The game developers used 3D technology to recreate these ancient wonders. This makes people understand China’s architectural (建筑的) past.⑤The game’s influence reaches beyond the world on the Internet, though. An interest in ancient architecture has grown among young people. As a result, Shanxi Province, one of the game’s key filming places, is actively promoting its rich cultural resources to meet the growing need.④Known as the “treasure trove of ancient Chinese architecture.” Shanxi is home to 531 nationally protected cultural heritage sites. They make up 10.5 percent of China’s total, the highest in the nation. Among 36 filming places of Black Myth: Wukong, 27 are in Shanxi.⑦One such place is Xiaoxitian Temple in Xi County. Tourists have rushed there to visit the Daxiong Hall, which features amazing 400 year-old sculptures.⑧We’ve received around 1.500 visitors a day since July, a great increase year on year.” said Liu Xiaogang, the director of the area. “Most of the visitors are fans of the popular game who have travelled a long way to the place.” he added.⑨On the day of the game’s first show, tourism interest in Shanxi reportedly doubled as much as that of last month. Places in the game, like Yuhuang Temple and Tiefo Temple, all saw a big increase in travelers’ number. Because of this, Shanxi quickly started an ancient architecture tour on August 22. Besides the “Follow Wukong Through Shanxi” route map, it has also developed different kinds of cultural products.1．Why is Black Myth: Wukong popular among so many players?A．Because it is adapted from Journey to the West.B．Because it is China’s first AAA video game.C．Because of its fight, storyline and historical sites.D．Because of players’ love for the character Wukong.2．What is the underlined word “promoting” similar to?A．spreading B．searching C．connecting D．praising3．How does the writer support his idea in Para. 6?A．By telling stories.B．By describing the culture.C．By asking questions.D．By listing numbers.4．What is the best title for the passage?A．Wukong becomes popular around the country B．Treasure trove of ancient architectureC．Wukong brings new life to ancient architecture D．Tourist attractions in Shanxi province03（24-25九年级上·江苏南通·期中）Nineteen days. 10,500 athletes and 32 sports. Paris 2024 is now in the past. At the 33th Summer Olympic, some athletes broke records and others realized their dreams. But were the Games just about winning? Let’s take a look back on them.BreakthroughFor the first time. China won gold medals in the men’s 4×100m medley relay and team artistic swimming. The Chinese women’s rugby seventh (七人制橄榄球) team finished sixth—their best result ever.Sweden’s Armand Duplantis set a new world record of 6.25 meters in the men’s pole vault(撑杆跳). SurpriseBefore they went to Paris, they probably didn’t expect to gam so many fans. Photographer Jerome Brouillet took an amazing picture. Many people asked “How did the surfer ‘float’ above the ocean?Huan Xuemei from China became the fastest female runner in the Marathon for All (大众马拉松)Sydney Melaughlin-Levrone from the US ran the 400m hurdles in just 50.37 seconds. How fast and how high can humans go? Who knows?Surprisingly, she’s a programmer. And of course. the “cokd killer” from Turkey and“sleeping beauty” from Ukraine stood out in their own ways!PassionSome athletes had their dreams come true. Although she lost in the second round, 61-year-old Ni Xialian was all smiles as she waved to the crowd. The game itself was enjoyable enough. Novak Djokovie, 37, knelt on the court. The tennis superstar finally won his first Olympic gold medal.But for others, things didn’t go as planned. Chinese athletes Zhang Yufei and Shi Zhiyong felt sad for not winning a gold medal. Don’t cry! You gave it your best. We all saw it.▲ It was the table tennis mixed doubles awards ceremony. The young players from South Korea and North Korea came together for a selfie (自拍). The world saw a touching moment of peace.During a women’s handball match, the captain of Angola fell to the ground. Her competitor from Brazil ran over and carried her off the court.Success or failure. Smiles or tears. Friendship is always there. Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan showed us one of the finest examples.1．Which can be the best choice for “ ▲ ”?A．Expectation B．Friendship C．Accident D．Celebration2．What can we learn from the passage?A．Ni Xialian came second in the Paris Olympics.B．Jerome Brouillet did quite well in surfing.C．Zhang Yufei won no medals in the Paris Olympics.D．Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone set a new record.3．What does the writer mainly want to show us?A．What are the Olympics really about?B．Who are the winners of the Paris Olympics?C．What events are included in the Paris Olympics?D．What progress China has made in the Paris Olympics?04（24-25九年级上·福建厦门·期中）With the development of technology, our city life is becoming more andmore “smart”.In recent years, Chinese technology companies have worked hard to speed up the use of robotaxis (萝卜快跑). Robotaxis are driverless taxis, which make travel more convenient and comfortable. With sensors (传感器) and cameras all over the car, a computer controls the drive.In June 2019, the company started testing robotaxis in Changsha. In 2020, it officially began the test service in some areas in Changsha, Cangzhou and Beijing. As for now, manned (载人的) services are carried out in 11 cities. In the first three months of 2024, bookings (预定) for driverless taxis in Wuhan took up 55% of all taxi services. And it is expected to see a rapid growth in the future.People can book robotaxis at any time of day through apps like Apollo Go or Baidu Map. Taking a robotaxi is indeed cheaper than a traditional one. The taxi is clean and smart. “With no driver in the car, I can avoid communicating with others, making it easier to rest,” a rider in Wuhan shared his experience online.Every coin has two sides. Robotaxis also have some drawbacks. Besides the safety problems, the rising need for lower-priced robotaxi worries taxi drivers. What’s more, “The waiting time is long, taking 8~10 minutes from order to arrival, and the driving speed is slow, not a good choice for passengers in a hurry,” one rider complained.Even with many problems, there’s no doubt that driverless technology has gradually become part of our life, and it will change the world. This requires us to look at it correctly, think calmly, and openly welcome the arrival of each new technological change.1．What have China’s technology companies worked on according to the passage?A．Driverless taxis.B．Robotaxi sensors.C．Safety apps.D．Robotaxi Maps. 2．Paragraph 3 mainly talks about the ________ of robotaxis.A．risk B．future C．bookings D．development3．What’s the advantage (优势) of robotaxis?A．People can book the taxis on any apps.B．People can communicate with the driver freely.C．They can run faster than traditional taxis.D．They cost less than traditional taxis.4．How many drawbacks are mentioned in Paragraph 5?A．2.B．3.C．4.D．5.5．What is the author’s opinion towards the growth of robotaxis business?A．Doubtful B．Supportive.C．Unclear.D．Not interested.05（24-25九年级上·江苏盐城·期中）根据短文内容和首字母提示,填写所缺单词,使其意思完整。

2024年中考英语新热点时文阅读-中华文化题型主要内容1 阅读理解介绍了中医三种典型的治疗方法：拔火罐、按摩和针灸，并介绍了中医最著名的医学专著《黄帝内经》，以及中医在世界上的发展趋势。

2 阅读理解介绍了中国古代茶艺“茶百戏”，因一部电视剧走红。

3 阅读理解功夫的价值。

4 短文填空作者给意大利的老师和学生带扇子的故事。

5 语法选择讲述了中国毛笔的起源、流行和传播。

6 语法选择讲述了中国几种独特的传统艺术形式。

01（2023春·河北石家庄·八年级统考期末）During the 2016 Rio Olympics, people were surprised to see the round, purple marks on the body of the famous American swimmer Michael Phelps. What happened to him? In fact, he just visited a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and had “cupping” (拔火罐).Massage (按摩) and acupuncture (针灸) are two other important kinds of TCM. Chinese massage can make you relaxed and fresh. In acupuncture, doctors put long needles (针)into the patients’ heads, faces, arms... It takes away pain, though the look is funny.TCM is an important part of Chinese culture. The earliest medical classic in China, Huangdi’s Classic on Medicine (黄帝内经) came out more than 2,000 years ago. The book is about the relationship between man and nature. In Chinese culture, yin and yang are the two parts of nature. Nature keeps balanced (平衡) if yin and yang work well together. The human body needs such a balance, too. TCM helps to do that. Quit especially, for some health problems, a doctor of TCM will not give you medicine. Instead, he may give you just a food plan and right ways to eat.For example, it is common to eat on the way to school, at our desk, or in front of the TV. But TCM thinks it’s wrong. Here are the correct ways: Sit down to eat. While eating, turn off the TV and getaway from the work desk. Eat seasonal (当季) foods. Do not miss any of the three meals. Also, get your body moving often, just as the saying goes, “Running water is never stale.”Nowadays, traditional Chinese medicine is becoming more and more popular around the world.A government report says that people in 183 countries and areas are now using TCM.1．In the first paragraph, the writer mentioned Michael Phelps in order to ________.A．introduce a doctor of TCM B．give an example of using cuppingC．introduce the Rio Olympics D．give an example of a good swimmer2．About Huangdi’s Classic on Medicine, which of the following is NOT true?A．It is the earliest medical classic in China. B．It came out over 2,000 years ago.C．It is mainly about how to take medicine. D．It is an important book on TCM.3．Which is the best way to have lunch according to Paragraph 4?A．Eat in front of the TV, so you can relax yourself after a morning’s hard work.B．Eat on your work desk, so you can work at the same time.C．Eat on the way to somewhere if you have no time.D．While you are having lunch, turn off your TV though the program is funny.4．Which of the following is True according to the passage?A．There are two kinds of TCM mentioned (提及) in the passage.B．A doctor of TCM always gives you a lot of medicine when you are illC．TCM can’t solve health problems.D．The passage shows TCM’s influence (影响) in the world.5．The underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 means “________” in Chinese.A．水到渠成B．流水不腐C．滴水穿石D．细水长流02（2023·广东深圳·深圳中学校考三模）By drawing patterns on the surface of a cup of tea, Chabaixi, an ancient Chinese tea trick shown in a recent TV drama, has gone viral for it is similar to modern latte art（咖啡拉花艺术）. However, ten years ago, this special technique was close to disappearing completely. Zhang Zhifeng, a practitioner of Chabaixi, found scenes of Chabaixi in the drama aroused great interest among ordinary people, so he started to try his best to recover it.Chabaixi can create endless patterns such as bamboos and mountains or even calligraphy. There are over a dozen steps from grinding（碾碎）tea for fine powder to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth（泡沫）and finally drawing the patterns. It is different from making latte because people use clear water as the object to put into the cup instead of milk. But when the water touches the surface of whipped（搅打起泡沫的）tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before the drawing is known as the tea-making technique, diancha, the quality of which is important to whether patterns can be successfully produced later.Chabaixi is one of the countless forms of tea-making techniques in China. The importance of Chabaixi is that not only is this technique special in the world, but also gives us a window into people’s lifestyle in the Song Dynasty, a period of time when relaxation activities in some ways are like what we have now.” Zhang said.“This technique is key to the tea culture of the Song Dynasty and it would be a shame to let it disappear. This te chnique must be passed on to the next generations so they can understand its history.” Zhang said.6．What do the underlined words “gone viral” in paragraph 1 probably mean?A．received good protection B．become popular quicklyC．started to disappear D．had a good taste7．What do we know about Chabaixi?A．It is painted with whipped milk. B．It develops based on latte art.C．It mainly describes beautiful scenery. D．It includes complicated tea-making skills.8．When was the most popular time for Chabaixi?A．The Song Dynasty. B．The Tang Dynasty.C．In the year 2017. D．Nearly 30 years ago.9．What is the third paragraph mainly about?A．The beginning of Chabaixi. B．The special quality of Chabaixi.C．The importance of Chabaixi. D．The development of Chabaixi.10．What is true about Zhang Zhifeng?A．He teaches people the tea culture of the Song Dynasty.B．He makes the best Chabaixi in the whole nation.C．He encourages people to pass on the technique of Chabaixi.D．He wants to develop Chabaixi through media.03（2023·河南郑州·郑州外国语中学校考三模）What comes to your mind when you think of kung fu? Maybe the image of Shaolin monks（和尚）posing with a serious look in their eyes. But does it really present the meaning of kung fu?Laurence J. Brahm, a documentary filmmaker from the United States, explored this question inSearching for Kung Fu. In the movie, Brahm traveled to cities in China and the US in search of the value of kung fu.Brahm himself is a kung fu lover who has been practicing the art for more than 40 years. For him, it is more than a pastime. Ages ago, Brahm was unable to use one of his legs for two years and had to walk with a cane（拐杖）. But by practicing martial arts （武术）, he was able to recover step by step. Now, kung fu has become a daily activity for him and also the way he begins the day.Still, there are other deep meanings in the practice. Nonviolence is one value, which is shown both in the name and practice of kung fu. The Chinese character Wu has two parts—g e, meaning “to fight”, and zhi, meaning “to stop”. So, the meaning of kung fu in Chinese is the art of stopping fighting, the art of nonviolence. Kung fu artists always greet people with baoquan. This lets each person know that there are no hidden weapons（武器）and shows trust.“The traditional values of kung fu, actually, are in the minds of all Chinese people,” Brahm told Xinhua.根据文章内容选择正确答案：11．Why is the first paragraph written?A．T o show others’ opinions.B．To shock the readers.C．T o make the passage complete. D．To lead in the topic.12．What did Brahm want to find out about in the documentary?A．Shaolin monks’ daily lives.B．Modern styles of kung fu.C．Real kung fu stars in China. D．Meanings behind kung fu.13．What does Brahm think of kung fu?A．It’s j ust a way to kill time. B．It’s bad for the performer’s legs.C．It’s a way to stay healthy.D．It’s the best way to greet people.14．What does the word “nonviolence” in Paragraph 4 mean?A．T o fight bravely. B．To stop fighting.C．T o greet people actively. D．To use weapons secretly.15．What is the purpose of the story?A．T o introduce a documentary. B．To prove the popularity of kung fu.C．T o present the value of kung fu. D．To show the kindness of Chinese people.04（2023·广东江门·统考一模）请阅读下面短文，在所给的每个空格中填入一个形式正确、意义相符的单词。

2024年中考英语新热点时文阅读-发明与创造题型主要内容1 阅读理解介绍了一个12岁的美国女孩Madison Checketts为了减少塑料垃圾而发明的可食用水瓶的故事。

2 阅读理解介绍出售回收物的不便引出了最新的微信小程序。

人们可以通过小程序来预约，增加了便利性，也保护了环境。

3 阅读理解介绍了OpenAI开发的ChatGPT是最强大的人工智能之一，它具有和真人一样的完整写作能力；但它也带来了一些问题4 短文填空介绍了一种新型的阅读方式——图书漂流。

5 短文填空介绍了智能窗户清洁机器人Ozmo。

6 短文填空许多孩子还没有养成正确的洗手习惯。

Issar和他的朋友决定用一种有趣的方法来解决这个问题。

他们尝试了很多次，创造了一种叫做Soppen的工具。

它把洗手变成了一项有趣的活动。

01（2023·广东佛山·统考三模）Across the world, humans buy around 1.3 billion single-use plastic bottles a day. However, only about 9% of them are recycled and most of them end up in landfills, the ocean or elsewhere in nature.When beach-loving Madison Checketts noticed that many plastic bottles polluted the sand during her family trip to California, the 12-year-old American girl realized that this needed to be changed. So for her school science project, she decided to focus on reducing plastic litter.During her research, Madison came across a special method of packing water within an eatable material—a gel membrane（凝胶膜）. At that time, the girl got her idea: She would design an eatable water bottle called the Eco-Hero.To carry out her idea, Madison developed the method by doing scientific tests with common food additives （添加剂）. She also learned from previous research on eatable water bottles. Based on thepast research, she improved the method and made her bottles bigger and able to last for a longer time. She found that water, lemon juice and other chemicals could be used together to make a gel bag that wouldn’t break. And the bag could hold up to 3/4 cup of water and could be kept in the fridge for three weeks.“My biggest goal with this project is to help the world,” says the young inventor. She hopes her invention can en courage others to take better care of the planet. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a big way,” she adds. “People can make a difference in the world, even if it’s just in a small way.”1．How many plastic bottles are recycled?A．Around 1.3 billion. B．About 91%. C．About 9%. D．3/4. 2．What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?A．The reason why Madison did the project. B．The results of Madison’s project.C．The influence of plastic bottles. D．The hobby of Madison.3．Madison got the idea of designing an eatable water bottle during ________.A．her family trip B．her research C．her scientific tests D．her talk with teachers 4．What does the underlined word “previous” in Paragraph 4 mean?A．Great. B．Past. C．Common. D．Interesting.5．Which can be the best title for the passage?A．Plastic Bottle Pollution B．A Cool InventionC．Ways to Solve Pollution D．Eatable Water Bottle02（2023年辽宁省铁岭市部分学校中考一模英语试题）A mini-program on WeChat has changed people’s lives at West Lake, as they can now make appointments(预约) to sell recyclables—things thatcan be recycled.For a long time, the problem of recyclable rubbish troubled restaurants and hotels around the lake. Lots of recyclables have low value and high recycling costs,so collectors don’t feel like recycling them door-to-door.In order to solve the problem, the Management Committee of West Lake Scenic Area worked with a company to develop the Jingling Recycle mini-program. Now, people can make an appointment on WeChat, and the next day collectors will come to pick up recyclables. The mini-program helps people to deal with plastic bottles, foam packing cases(泡沫包装箱), cardboard (硬纸板), newspapers and other low-value recyclables. People are paid to sell them.The local people speak highly of the mini-program. “No collector s came to my restaurant in the past. Thanks to the Jingling Recycle mini-program, it has changed. I can make a little money by selling recyclables. At the same time, it protects the environment,” said the owner of a restaurant.6．The mini-program is used for making appointments to ________.A．buy takeaway B．sell recyclables C．buy clothes D．sell desserts7．Collectors don’t want to pick up recyclables door-to-door because they have ________.A．high value and low recycling costs B．low value and high recycling costsC．high value and high recycling costs D．low value and low recycling costs8．The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means the local people ________.A．are against the mini-program B．don’t like the mini-programC．think the mini-program is useless D．think the mini-program is helpful9．Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?A．Recyclable rubbish troubled hotels around the lake for long.B．The mini-program can help to protect the environment.C．People can make a lot of money by selling recyclables.D．The mini-program has changed people’s lives at West Lake.10．What does the passage mainly talk about?A．A cool mini-program. B．How to sell recyclables.C．Things that can be recycled. D．How to make appointments.03（2023·江苏扬州·校考二模）Typ e in “A cat wants to go to space” and ask the robot to write a bedtime story. Just one second later, you’ll get the story of Max, who clawed his way past many difficulties to sing among the stars.This robot writer is real. It’s called ChatGPT. From writi ng Shakespeare-style poetry to making music, ChatGPT has amazed the world since its launch out in late 2022 by the US company OpenAI. It can translate languages, talk with people and write songs, poems and even jokes. It’s one of the most powerful AT of its kind, with the complete writing abilities of a real person!People around the world have tried ChatGPT and posted their results on social media. Some used it to write history reports, some asked it to take notes of presentations, and some even asked advice on how to communicate with people at a party, reported The Atlantic.The power of ChatGPT lies in its speed and understanding of complicated(复杂的) matters. We may spend hours researching, understanding and writing an article on the theory of evolution(进化论). Another good thing about it is that if you ask dark, harmful question, such as how to make weapons(武器), it will not give you an answer.ChatGPT comes along at a time when AI is becoming increasingly able to do creative tasks. Thereis no doubt that ChatGPT is a powerful tool. However, some schools in the US, Ausiralia and France have students and teachers from using ChatGPT on the local networks and computers, CNN reported. The move comes out of worries that the tool could make it easier for students to cheat on homework. Some also worry that ChatGPT could be used to spread improper information.“It does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills,” said Jenna Lyle from the New York City Department of Education. “The materials they create arc difficult to tell from those made by humans. This causes many problems, such as the issue of copyright(版权). Since the system is largely trained using words from the internet, it can also pick up on the Internet’s biases(偏见). These are all the things t hat depend on humans to solve.”11．The cat story was written to ______.A．show what creative work ChatGPT can doB．introduce a cat that wants to go to spaceC．introduce a series of bedtime booksD．show how robots create scientific research12．Paragraph 3 is mainly about ______.A．the disadvantages of ChatGPTB．the most popular report of ChatGPTC．what people think about ChatGPTD．how ChatGPT has helped people so far13．Which sentence should go in the empty box in the fourth paragraph?A．But ChatGPT can write almost anything humans can write.B．But ChatGPT is faster and safer compared with human writing.C．But ChatGPT can produce a well-written one in seconds.D．But ChatGPT is a powerful tool to spread information.14．What’s the main idea of the last paragr aph?A．How people feel about writing in the future.B．What problems A1 writing can cause.C．People’s wrong ideas about AT writing.D．Human efforts in developing A1 writing.04（2023·江苏徐州·校考三模）用括号中所给单词的正确形式填空，使短文完整、通顺。

2023届高考英语最新热点时文阅读：航天航空“It will be marvelous. It will be spiritual.” This is the ____1____ tagline that Virgin Galactic used in 2004 to attract potential customers to its planned space tourism services. It promised that, within five years, it would take a total of over 3,000 passengers on life-changing trips in its spaceships. On July 11, 2021, after a last 90-minute delay, Virgin Galactic finally began its fulfillment of that original ____2____. For four minutes, its six temporarily weightless passengers, including the firm’s British co-founder, Sir Richard Branson, saw the planet against the blackness of outer space.Back on the ground, Sir Richard called the experience “magical”. He may have ____3____ the fact that he was able to reach space earlier than Jeff Bezos, a fellow billionaire but much wealthier. On July 20, Bezos would go slightly higher, for slightly less time, in a vehicle that had been built by his own spacefaring company, Blue Origin.The two tycoons (大亨) are among a growing number of ____4____ who believe that space tourism’s time has come. Suborbital (亚轨道的) tourism is part of a broader space economy that has rapidly grown over the past decade ____5____ technological advances. However, it is highly____6____ that this will be true.For now, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic will offer ____7____ suborbital flights to paying customers. Blue Origin is focusing much more on the development of a large new rocket that will be used for the launching of satellites, on selling advanced rocket engines to other companies, and on bidding (投标) on NASA contracts such as the recently announced plan to send humans back to the moon. ____8____, Bezos doesn’t see Blue Origin as a provider of services to adventure-seekers.Even this 4-minute suborbital travels have a(n) ____9____, apparently. A major survey found that nearly two in five people with a net worth of over five million dollars would consider paying $250,000, Virgin Galactic’s current price, for a ticket. The business could be ____10____, once regular flights begin to offset (抵消)the rockets’ development costs. But how fast and by how much is ____11____. Without tourist-friendly destinations to visit (the capacity of the International Space Station is strictly limited), orbital tourism, with its far higher ticket prices, will not be a huge earner.Another challenge —and the industry’s biggest remaining uncertainty — relates to ____12____. History has shown that a disaster, ____13____ in the early stages of an industry, can set progress back by years. NASA ____14____ its plan to send the untrained to orbit in 1986 after a school teacher was killed along with the rest of the crew in the Challenger tragedy. It was another 15 years before the next untrained person would ____15____ the journey on a Russian craft.1．A．modest B．demanding C．motivational D．unclear 2．A．obligation B．commitment C．requirement D．survey 3．A．felt ashamed of B．kept an eye on C．felt content with D．got upset with 4．A．optimists B．opponents C．experts D．objectors 5．A．thanks to B．but for C．apart from D．in spite of 6．A．impossible B．undoubted C．probable D．favorable 7．A．long-lasting B．inexpensive C．automatic D．brief8．A．On the contrary B．What’s more C．In the long run D．Above all 9．A．shortcoming B．limitation C．advantage D．appeal 10．A．profitable B．uneconomic C．eco-friendly D．globalized11．A．predictable B．essential C．irrelevant D．uncertain 12．A．development B．security C．stability D．novelty 13．A．particularly B．critically C．precisely D．unforeseeably 14．A．initiated B．drafted C．modified D．suspended 15．A．brave B．abandon C．steer D．pause02After circling Earth for six months, the three crew members of China’s Shenzhou XIII mission have departed from the Tiangong space station and returned to the mother planet on Saturday morning, finishing the nation’s longest manned spaceflight.Zhai Zhigang, who was the mission commander, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu breathed fresh air for the first time after the half-year space journey as ground recovery staff opened the door of their reentry capsule (返回舱) at 10: 03 am.Medical service workers on the site told China Central Television that the astronauts are in good condition. Carrying the mission crew, the Shenzhou XIII spacecraft left from the Tiangong station at 12: 44 am. In the last hours of their stay inside the Tiangong, the astronauts worked with ground controllers to adjust the station, sending some experimental data back to Earth and sorting out materials.The crew has set a new record for China’s longest spaceflight, almost doubling the previous record of 92 days created by their colleagues in the Shenzhou XII mission who travelled with Tiangong from mid-June to mid-September last year.During the Shenzhou XIII mission, the astronauts carried out two spacewalks that totaled more than 12 hours. They tested components on the station’s robotic arm and used it to practice spacewalk. Wang took part in the first spacewalk on Nov 7, becoming the first female Chinese spacewalker.The crew members also carried out two science lectures from the space station for Chinese students. In one experiment, Wang used a Bing Dwen Dwen toy, the popular mascot (吉祥物) of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, to display how objects fly in weightless environment. The space-based lessons marked the start of the Tiangong Class series, China’s first space lectureseries that aims to popularize space science and inspire young sters to pursue their “science and space dreams”, according to the manned space agency.1．What mission did the crew members accomplish?A．Living in space for half a year.B．Controlling the space station on their own.C．Opening the door of the reentry capsule.D．Departing from the planet on Saturday morning.2．Which was the achievement of the astronauts?A．They completed a 12-hour spacewalk.B．They conducted two science experiments.C．They became the first Chinese spacewalkers.D．They checked parts on t he station’s robotic arm.3．What can we infer from the last paragraph?A．Teenagers will be sent into space station to explore.B．There will definitely be more space lectures in the future.C．“Science and space dreams” will be the top aim among teenagers.D．Astronauts will use more Bing Dwen Dwen toys to do experiments.4．Which is the best title of the text?A．Inspire Youngsters to Pursue Space DreamsB．The Mission Commander of Tiangong StationC．Space-based Lessons Marked the Start of the Tiangong ClassD．Crew Members of the Shenzhou XIII Mission Returned to Earth03阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

英语热点时文阅读 《The Hilarious Pet Show (1) I went to a pet show last weekend with my friend Tom. It was held in a big park near our town. When we got there, it was already crowded with people and all kinds of pets.

There was this one lady with a huge poodle. The poodle's hair was dyed pink! Tom couldn't stop laughing. "Look at that pink poodle," he said, nudging me. "It looks like a walking cotton candy."

We walked around and saw a little boy trying to make his turtle move faster in the race. The turtle was just taking its sweet time. The boy was yelling, "Come on, Speedy! You can do it!" But Speedy just stuck its head in its shell. The boy's dad was trying to be encouraging too. "Maybe he's just a bit shy," he said.

Then there was a cat that was so fat it could barely walk. Its owner was this old man who said, "Well, he just loves his food a bit too much." The cat was sitting there looking at everyone with this lazy expression.