1 . The most hated day of the week is misunderstood. When the Boomtown Rats, an Irish band, released   “I Don’t Like Mondays” in 1979, the song became an instant hit.

What many do recognise all too well is the difficulty of gathering the energy to get out of bed on Monday mornings in order to face the week ahead. Many bosses argue that starting off the week in person in the office creates good energy. However, plenty of employees beg to differ.

A paper published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, found that people tend to be more ill-mannered on Mondays, and grow more polite as the week unfolds. The authors have diagnosed a new condition, Mondayitis, which is defined. as “a systemic illness with collections of symptoms including tiredness, light-headedness, dry mouth and headache”. These symptoms typically appear on the first working day after a period off work, which could be a weekend or a longer holiday. They can lead sufferers to call in sick, decide to work from home or, if they do show up in the office, come across as detached (冷漠的) and unavailable. Mondayitis appears to be infecting other days of the week.

However, the covid-19 pandemic has led many people to re-evaluate their work-life balance. A lawyer in London who spends weekends working on cases likes to ease into the formal workweek with an elegant breakfast in a fancy restaurant. A broader movement is promoting the idea of a four-day work week, one arrangement of which would make Monday part of the weekend. Less ambitiously, and more realistically, asocial-media campaign for   “bare-minimum Mondays” argues for a gentle start to the week.

You may have prepared or merely enjoyed a more elaborate meal than a sandwich. You may have gone for a walk in the park or simply lay in bed. Either way, you almost certainly cleared your head. When revived and spirited, you will have a fresh start.

1. What does the underlined part “beg to differ” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Approve.

B．Object.

C．Submit.

D．Complain.

2. What can we know about employees on Mondays in Paragraph 3?

A．They are ill-mannered but ready to help others.

B．They may suffer from tiredness or light-headedness.

C．They tend to infect others with their bad performance.

D．They want to come to the office rather than work from home.

3. What can we do to refresh ourselves on Mondays according to the author?

A．Start to work early.	B．Grab a quick meal.
C．Take a walk in the park.	D．Have a tight schedule.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the last two paragraphs?

A．To tell us ways to tackle Mondayitis.	B．To explain how to gain work-life balance.
C．To offer tips on how to keep fit on weekdays.	D．To persuade us not to work too hard on Mondays.

2 . Kristy Holmes, a mother from Australia, found a clever solution to power her son’s dialysis machine (透析机) when a massive storm caused a power failure in southeast Queensland on Christmas Day. This incident highlights the life-saving potential of electric vehicles (EVs) during emergencies.

Facing a dire situation with her 11-year-old son Levi, who is waiting for a kidney transplant, Kristy Holmes turned to her electric car, the Atto 3, made by Chinese EV company BYD. The cars’ “vehicle to load” feature, which allows it to use extra energy from its battery to power house hold appliances, played an important role in keeping Levi dialysis machine running, preventing potentially life-threatening results.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kristy Holmes expressed her appreciation, stating, “We powered the dialysis machine using the car. We only needed it for one night. We could have used it for at least four nights before needing to charge the car.” Highlighting the significant role the car played, she remarked, “It’s the most incredible car I’ve ever owned. After it saved my son during a storm, in no circumstance will I go back toa petrol car.”

The function of the Atto 3 extends beyond emergency situations; the Holmes family also use discharging capabilities for more leisurely activities, such as warming red wine for a movie night. This illustrates the diverse applications of electric vehicles, transcending their role as eco-friendly transportation to become in dispensable power sources for various everyday situations.

Kristy Holmes first hand experience in Australia mirrors a broader pattern witnessed during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on the Florida coast in 2022. Ford reported a notable 127% increase in the use of their F-150Lightning electric pickups as mobile power generators. In hurricane-affected regions, electric trucks emerged as vital resources for cooking meals and illuminating households, stressing the practical significance of EVs in disaster-stricken areas.

1. Why did Kristy Holmes use her electric car to power the dialysis machine?

A．She wanted to test her new electric car.

B．She had easy access to power source from her car.

C．She wanted to show the potential uses of electric vehicles.

D．The car provided a more reliable power source than others.

2. What’s Holmes’ attitude towards the petrol car?

A．Grateful.

B．Favorable.

C．Conservative.

D．Negative.

3. Why did the author mention other examples in the last paragraph?

A．To show the decreasing popularity of electric vehicles.

B．To criticize the dependence on electric vehicles in disasters.

C．To show the practicality of electric vehicles in emergencies.

D．To emphasize the environmental benefits of electric vehicles.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A personal diary.

B．An advertisement.

C．A book review.

D．A newspaper.

5 . It’s not easy to offer a short version of all that attracts travelers to Latin America, but there are a few must-see spots that we have narrowed down for you.

Machu Picchu

Perched in the high mountains above the town of Cusco, the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchuisa wonder of the world on par (齐名) with the pyramids of Egypt, and the Great Wall of China. The view from the top is beautiful whether it’s clear or shrouded in fog, although there are fewer crowds during the wet season between December and April.

La Candelaria

La Candelaria in Colombia is a jewel of the old world set on the edges of the modern metropolis of Bogota. La Candelaria has jealously guarded its unique charm against the winds of change. Home to museums, cathedrals, cafes and restaurants, La Candelaria is easy to love and hard to leave.

Lago de Atitlan

Created by an enormous volcanic eruption 84,000 years ago and still ringed by active volcanos, Lagode Atitlan in Guatemala is the deepest lake in Central America, and it’s almost too beautiful to believe: The crystal-blue waters below, volcanic backdrop beyond and stunning cloud formations above make for one truly unforgettable sight. Along the water’s edge, there are plenty of cozy lake towns where you can have fun.

Iguazu Falls

As the second-largest waterfall in the world, Iguazu Falls is incredible. The 269-foot drop at Iguazu Falls marks the border between Brazil and Argentina. Brazilians and Argentinians can’t help but make comparisons about who’s got the better end of the waterfall. Brazilians, of course, say their side is the most beautiful, while Argentineans hotly disagree. It’s up to you to decide, but you’ll need to get a visa to see things from Brazil’s point-of-view.

1. When can visitors go to Machu Picchu to avoid the crowds?

A．In February.

B．In May.

C．In July.

D．In November.

2. If you want to enjoy a lake tour, where should you go?

A．Machu Picchu.

B．La Candelaria.

C．Lago de Atitlan.

D．Iguazu Falls.

3. What can we learn about Iguazu Falls?

A．It is the largest waterfall in the world.

B．The part in Brazil is the best end of the waterfall.

C．It lies somewhere between Brazil and Argentina.

D．You don’t need a visa if you’re planning to see it in Brazil.

9 . Consider the following statement: “My husband bought me a pink Lamborghini...” The correct way to finish the sentence, according to some, is not showing appreciation or acting excited, but to complain about the pricy gift. If you say, “The color is so ugly, men have such bad taste!” Congratulations, you have mastered the “Versailles (凡尔赛) literature.”

The term has nothing to do with the French palace nor with literature. It came from the Japanese manga series “The Rose of Versailles” and was coined by a Chinese influencer earlier this year. This new kind of bragging (吹嘘) is called humblebragging, the psychology behind which is to be recognized for one's successes and be liked by others at the same time. “The humblebragger recognizes that it's hard to be liked and be a showoff at the same time,” said psychologist Dr. Susan KraussWhitbourne at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In an article titled “Why people hate humblebragging” published in Psychology Today, Whitbourne noted that the humblebrag is a “strategy in pursuit of respect” because it draws attention to one's accomplishments, but in a roundabout (迂回的) fashion.

However, studies on social media users show that humblebragging, as a self-promotion strategy does not work. In the essay, “Humblebragging: A distinct-and ineffective-self-presentation strategy,” researcher Ovul Sezer concluded from his research that humblebraggers are perceived more negatively than straight braggers due to the former's insincerity. “The critical factor telling these strategies was sincerity. People don't like braggers, but they at least see them as more sincere than humblebraggers.”

“So, next time if you hear ‘My husband bought me a pink Lamborghini. The color is so ugly, men have such bad taste!’. Just pretend you don’t get whatever it is they try to show off.” a Zhihu user advised others on how to respond to a “pretentious narcissist”, “Respond with genuine sympathy for their complaint.”

1. Which of the following can replace the example in Paragraph 1?

A．“I didn’t even have one look at my paper. I’m so over.”

B．“I have eaten nothing today, but I'm heavier than yesterday.”

C．“My husband bought me another Chanel purse. I love it so much.”

D．“I don’t even remember buying a house. My memory is really failing with age.”

2. Why do people humblebrag according to this article?

A．Because they're really successful.

B．Because they want to show their complaint.

C．Because they want to be liked while bragging.

D．Because they always want to be the center of the topic.

3. What can be inferred from the fourth paragraph?

A．Humblebraggers are dishonest

B．Straight braggers are popular with us.

C．Straight braggers are cleverer than humblebraggers.

D．Humblebraggers' insincerity accounts for their unpopularity.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．How to avoid humblebragging.	B．Who might be a humblebragger.
C．How to fight a humblebragger back.	D．What might hurt a humblebragger.

10 . More than one-third of the world’s food is wasted or thrown away, most of which ends up in landfills, producing very large amounts of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Now, many studies show that it is becoming harder to grow enough food to feed an increasing population due to climate change and soil degradation.

But one of the most promising and simplest solutions lies in the problem itself: this wasted food — if composted (堆肥) — could slow climate change and improve soil quality. Higher-quality soil also continues to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, helping to improve plants and contributing further to fighting climate change. Returning one ton of organic matter to each hectare of soil would increase the production of cereal crops each year in Africa, Asia and South America by millions of tons.

While it is true that people can compost in their yards, community gardens, or even on their kitchen counters, larger-scale efforts, including infrastructure (基础设施) and incentives (激励) for consumers, would take it to the next level. Imagine if consumers could just leave unwanted food in a roadside bin for pickup, or drop it off at a local store, earning a few cents a bucket, just like what has been offered for recycling bottles or newspapers.

Moreover, in the case of composting, the payment incentive system would be sustainable because the end-product of compost can be sold to farmers, making it an economically workable model, something that is often lacking in recycling, especially for certain materials, like many types of plastics.

Eventually, more widespread composting of food would pave the way for solutions to additional waste challenges, such as the disposal of packaging and clothing. This will have other positive effects as well; if more consumers compost, companies will be more inspired to make and use compostable packaging, clothing, and other products. While more compostable items are starting to emerge today, additional composting will further drive demand and innovation, and offer a game-changing solution for the planet.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The uneven distribution of food around the world.

B．The burden of population growth on the planet.

C．The urgency of properly dealing with wasted food.

D．The great impact of climate change on food.

2. What can be learned about the approach to composting wasted food?

A．A good system is needed to carry out it effectively.

B．It would take a long term to have an effect.

C．It is only workable on a small scale.

D．It may raise people’s awareness of reducing food waste.

3. What does the author think of the payment incentive system of composting food?

A．It is highly profitable.

B．It is easy to carry out.

C．It is a sustainable economic cycle pattern.

D．It is more effective than other recycling systems.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How Wasted Food Could Be Reduced

B．How Wasted Food Could Save the Planet

C．How Wasted Food Could Impact Humans

D．How Wasted Food Could Become a Business