1 . Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean
Choosing a Caribbean vacation that meets the needs of young children, preteens and adults might seem like a challenging task. The following introduction may provide you with some choices.
U. S. Virgin Islands
With three islands to choose from, U. S. Virgin Islands appeal to families who like to combine beach time with a bit of exploration. Virgin Islands National Park on St. John offers this combination — and more — with 20-plus trails and access to popular Trunk Bay beach. Kids will also enjoy Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas, where they can swim with dolphins and sea lions.
Bahamas
Beautiful beaches, magnificent reefs and opportunities for horseback riding and surfing lessons make the Bahamas a family favorite. Plus, this string of 700 islands boasts plenty of budget- and family-friendly resorts. One of the most famous resorts — Atlantis Paradise Island — even has its own 141-acre water park and the world’s largest open-air marine habitat for the young to enjoy. At the marine habitat, travelers can enjoy watching various aquatic animals swim by.
Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman, the largest and most popular of this three-island chain, offers families tons of ways to enjoy their time together. Adults and kids can sunbathe, build sandcastles and float in the Caribbean Sea at Seven Mile Beach, or swim with stingrays (刺魟) in the shallow water of Stingray City. To get up close and personal with more sea life, head to the Cayman Turtle Centre to interact with turtles of all shapes and sizes.
British Virgin Islands
Calm waters and pollution-free beaches attract travelers of all ages to the British Virgin Islands. While the destination can be pricey, families can save money by splashing around Smuggler’s Cove, a free beach known for its sea turtles and relaxing atmosphere. Visitors will also enjoy themselves in the Baths National Park.
1. What is special about the U. S. Virgin Islands?| A．The beaches are free of pollution. |
| B．Water sports courses can be taken. |
| C．Exploration lovers may be interested in it. |
| D．Kids can learn to communicate with dolphins. |
| A．By going to a free beach. |
| B．By exploring a national park together. |
| C．By swimming only in shallow water. |
| D．By getting close to the marine habitats. |
| A．They all have a special park. |
| B．Beautiful reefs can be appreciated. |
| C．Visitors have access to sea animals. |
| D．Places for building sandcastles are provided. |
2 . At three years old, I was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (神经纤维瘤), a condition that causes tumors (肿瘤) to form in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Although I struggled to play sport like my friends, I still had a(n)
In the years that followed, I had many more
But in 2020, an aggressive tumor was found in my brain and while doctors could remove some of it, they couldn’t take out the most aggressive part. After the surgery, I had to learn to get around with the
I hope by sharing my story, it
| A．sorrowful | B．great | C．anxious | D．average |
| A．remove | B．plant | C．replace | D．search |
| A．curiosity | B．stress | C．discomfort | D．convenience |
| A．surgeries | B．chances | C．friends | D．details |
| A．refusing | B．demanding | C．changing | D．following |
| A．out of mind | B．of my own | C．to my taste | D．on my own |
| A．low | B．strong | C．high | D．rare |
| A．satisfaction | B．burden | C．welfare | D．regret |
| A．challenging | B．rewarding | C．inspiring | D．depressing |
| A．development | B．addition | C．exception | D．assistance |
| A．tough | B．necessary | C．possible | D．hopeful |
| A．look forward to | B．join in | C．worry about | D．approve of |
| A．forced | B．welcomed | C．forbade | D．donated |
| A．betters | B．improves | C．differs | D．worsens |
| A．discourages | B．questions | C．reminds | D．impresses |
3 . The Beatles will release what is said to be their last ever song this week, pieced together from recordings spanning more than four decades and it would not have been possible without AI.
Now and Then has been edited together from a recording of the late John Lennon playing the piano and singing at his home in New York in 1979. Now, artificial intelligence has been used to extract usable sections from that noisy tape. These have been combined with guitar tracks from the late George Harrison, recorded in 1995 when efforts were made to finish the song. The endeavour was called off due to poor sound quality, which AI has now been able to solve.
Finally, new recordings made earlier this year from Paul McCartney and Ringo Start were added. McCartney has teased the existence of the song in interview s and said in a statement: “There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”
When creating Now and Then, AI is used to separate the dialogue from other noises to help editor s create a workable documentary. Ultimately, the engineers were able to develop bespoke AI powerful enough to remove all background noise and isolate not only speech but even the sound of each instrument played in a band.
Jess Aslan at University of London, says The Beatles’ track is an interesting experiment because it was done transparently with the blessing of the living members of the band, but adds that AI is a double-edged sword that also presents risks to artists. “One significant issue is that generative AI is squeezing the already extremely narrow creative job market,” she says. “Another is that of ownership, as these large-scale models are in fact bypassing copyright laws and using artists’ data without permission.”
1. Why did George Harrison stop finishing the song?| A．He was unable to play the piano. |
| B．The sound quality was not satisfying. |
| C．The surroundings were too noisy for recording. |
| D．He was not able to solve the problem of combination. |
| A．It was quite easy to conduct. |
| B．It depended on AI completely. |
| C．John’s voice was specially decorated. |
| D．Efforts from many aspects were paid. |
| A．Objective. | B．Favorable. | C．Indifferent. | D．Critical. |
| A．The Beatles is a long-lasting memory. |
| B．John Lennon’s voice is hard to be recorded. |
| C．AI contributed to the new release of the Beatles. |
| D．Various ways are tried to finish John Lennon’s work. |
4 . It was in 2019, when I first arrived at Donghua University in Shanghai, that I discovered a local park filled with elderly people dancing in the early morning. It quickly became my favorite spot. I’d bring my coffee, and relax while watching them enjoy the rhythm of the music. Occasionally, I’d also join them. There, no one judges you for a misstep or for not keeping up with the rhythm. You simply enjoy the moment. It’s fascinating to see experienced dancers leading, while newcomers observe, learn, and eventually join in, just like me.
However, I’m not exactly new when it comes to dancing. My love for dance began at a very young age in my hometown, Uzbekistan. My mother would fondly recall how, as a child, I’d effortlessly move to the rhythm of music. At around 3 or 4, I gave my first performance just a week after being sent to learn in a dancing studio. The large stage and the vast audience made me nervous, but it was a defining moment that light my passion for dancing. Throughout my school years and later in college, I actively participated in various performances, exploring a wide range of dances, including traditional Uzbek dances and various other cultural dances.
When I first arrived in China, I had the privilege of showing the traditional Uzbek dance at a cultural event, introducing my culture to others. Later, at Donghua University, we established a dance club where students from around the world taught various dance styles. There I learned new dance forms and participated in university events.
However, outside of campus, I often found myself wandering into the park, watching people dancing or even dancing along on the square. The dance transcends age and background, offering an antidote to the loneliness and physical inactivity that often accompanies aging.
These two worlds — the vibrant public dancing in China and the rich Uzbek dance tradition — have profoundly shaped my life and brought me boundless joy.
1. Where did the author first see the square dance in China?| A．In Donghua University. | B．In a local park in Shanghai. |
| C．In a dancing club. | D．In a grand performance. |
| A．She has been experienced in performances. |
| B．She felt uneasy when the author got on the stage. |
| C．She always recalls the typical moves of their dance. |
| D．She sent her daughter to learn dancing at a young age. |
| A．She takes every opportunity to enjoy dance. |
| B．She has simply danced her traditional dance. |
| C．The dance club teaches her the square dance. |
| D．The square dance enables her to regain the skills. |
| A．Her memory of her dancing journey. |
| B．Her determination to teach the Uzbek dance. |
| C．The joy brought by different dancing experiences. |
| D．The different styles of the traditional Uzbek dance. |
5 . Thousands of emperor penguin chicks across four colonies in Antarctica are believed to have died because of record-low sea ice levels that caused a catastrophic breeding (繁殖) failure in late 2022, according to new research.
Analysis of satellite images showed the break-up of the stable sea ice and the disappearance of the colonies at a time when chicks had not yet grow n their waterproof feathers. Scientists have said emperor penguins face an uncertain future under global heating because they are so dependent on sea ice.
The research said that the breeding failures in the Bellingshausen Sea never happened before, as it was the first time multiple colonies across a large region had all failed in a single season. “It’s a worrying story,” said Dr. Peter Fretwell, a researcher with the British Antarctic Survey and the lead author of the research. “The sea ice loss has been far quicker than we imagined.” Many parts of the region had near-total loss of sea ice. Fretwell estimated as many as 7,000 chicks may have perished. “In some cases it’s possible the sea broke up into smaller floes (浮冰) or under the feet of the penguins,” he said. “If immersed, the chicks will drown. If they get back on to the ice floes, they will freeze because of lack of their waterproof feathers.”
Dr. Barbara Wienecke, a senior research scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division, said“They still have their down y plumage (全身茸毛). If the ice breaks out before they can safely enter the water, the plumage becomes so wet that the chicks die of exposure. It’s extraordinarily upsetting to think of this happening.”
Both Wienecke and Fretwell said predictions of the future for the penguin species may have to be revised, with the risk potentially greater than previously feared. Fretwell said: “It’s only by changing our behaviour and the amounts of fossil fuels we use will we completely change the situation for these emperor penguins, and many other species. How bad it gets is still up to us.”
1. Which can describe the situation of the emperor penguin chicks?| A．Promising. | B．Alarming. | C．Hopeless. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．They are dying of food shortages. |
| B．They are finding new habitats for breeding. |
| C．They have learned how to swim in the ice water. |
| D．They don’t have the kind of feathers protecting them. |
| A．Appeared. | B．Adapted. | C．Escaped. | D．Died. |
| A．Fossil fuels are to blame for the destruction. |
| B．We should change our behaviour to save the penguins. |
| C．We should not fear the potential risk as it can be removed. |
| D．More research should be done to ensure the positive changes. |
6 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!
1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?| A．He got a baby brother. |
| B．He got a Christmas gift. |
| C．He became four years old. |
| D．He received a doll. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Boring. |
| C．Difficult. | D．Fearful. |
| A．Excitement. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Sadness. | D．Disappointment. |
| A．A sad Christmas day. |
| B．Life with a lovely baby. |
| C．A special Christmas gift. |
| D．Memories of a happy family. |
7 . Jack discovered a time machine in a hidden laboratory and couldn’t
Desperate to
With a heavy heart, Jack traveled back to that
| A．obtain | B．spot | C．assess | D．resist |
| A．presence | B．acknowledgement | C．remark | D．schedule |
| A．objective | B．appropriate | C．different | D．artificial |
| A．merely | B．respectively | C．completely | D．slightly |
| A．Determined | B．Preferred | C．Managed | D．Agreed |
| A．awareness | B．act | C．interest | D．information |
| A．acceptable | B．available | C．unchangeable | D．unpredictable |
| A．undo | B．accelerate | C．criticize | D．demonstrate |
| A．turned down | B．specialized in | C．escaped from | D．dreamed of |
| A．restore | B．inspect | C．skip | D．destroy |
| A．Temporarily | B．Occasionally | C．Initially | D．Eventually |
| A．building | B．moment | C．equipment | D．era |
| A．typical | B．alternative | C．fateful | D．miserable |
| A．In summary | B．In an instant | C．In general | D．In a hurry |
| A．deal | B．conclusion | C．bet | D．decision |
8 . Do you love food? Whether you’re a foodie or someone who just likes eating, there is so much to choose from. We know that too much of the wrong kind of food can be bad for our health, but for some people having a food allergy means eating certain things can actually be harmful—and now, it seems, this is affecting more and more of us.
An allergy is caused by the immune system (免疫系统) fighting substances in the environment, known as allergens (过敏原), that it should see as harmless. Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions, which means people have to spend their lives following strict dietary restrictions and worrying about the ingredients of everything they consume Allergy specialist Dr Adam Fox says, “If you look back over, say, 30 or 40 years... there are much more allergic problems around now than there were.”
Research has found that this problem is particularly affecting children. More and more of them are having allergic reactions to certain foodstuffs. Writing for the BBC website, Dr Alexandra Santos from King’s College London says “Food allergy now affects about 7% of children in the UK and 9% of those in Australia, for example. Across Europe 2% of adults have food allergies.”
So what might be the cause? Dr Santos says the increase in allergies is not simply the effect of society becoming more aware of them and better at diagnosing them; it seems to be more environmental. She says possible factors are pollution, dietary changes and less exposure to microbes (微生物), which change how our immune systems respond.
She points out that it’s very common for migrants who move to another country to develop asthma (哮喘) and food allergies in their new location.
A lot of work is being done to try and find a cure, but that’s not easy. So for now allergy sufferers must watch what they eat and they must rely on clear and accurate labelling.
1. Why does the author quote Dr Alexandra Santos’ words in the 3rd paragraph?| A．To promote Dr. Santos’ research. |
| B．To provide statistics for evidence. |
| C．To compare different survey results. |
| D．To prove children are weaker than adults. |
| A．The causes of food allergies. |
| B．The functions of the immune system. |
| C．Children are weaker to allergens. |
| D．More work should be done to address food allergies. |
| A．Our immune system stays unchanged. |
| B．Allergens are usually harmful substances. |
| C．Foodies are more likely to be allergic to food. |
| D．Allergic problems are more common these days. |
| A．Food and Health. | B．Food and Cooking. |
| C．Children and Their Family. | D．Diseases and Their History. |
9 . For many, the idea of commuting (通勤) daily to a place of work might sound outdated. In the UK, at least, the shape of the working week is changing, and a new hybrid approach is becoming commonplace. This new look seem unavoidable; new technology means tasks traditionally done in the office can be done at home. And there’s the demand for a better work-life balance, too. All of this has been accelerated by the necessary changes brought on by the Covid pandemic.
One obvious change in the UK is that Friday has become the most popular day to work from home. One survey found it’s when just 13% of workers go into the office. It means employees can save on commuting costs and the price of lunches. Generally, employers thought the shift to hybrid working and home working had increased productivity rather than decreased it.
Monday is also becoming a “work from home” day: a recent study of mobile phone activity in the UK suggested a typical week in the office now runs from Tuesday to Thursday. This means companies have to think differently about the workspace they provide. There are going to be fewer people in offices for the longer term. A shorter office week isn’t great news for the city-centre shops, which depend on trade from workers. But suburban and small-town high streets are reporting an increase in footfall (客流量) as people work and shop locally.
There’s also an emerging trend for a shorter working week. Some companies are experimenting with a four-day working week—but with the same full-time pay. They have tried to make work time more efficient by cutting out unnecessary meetings and having shorter breaks, for example. They claim this has made workers more productive. All this makes you wonder if the act of going to work and doing the nine-to-five will become a thing of the past.
1. What is the driver for the changes mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．Covid pandemic | B．More work |
| C．New commuting approach | D．Novel technologies |
| A．City-centre | B．Downtown | C．Out-of-town | D．Metropolitan |
| A．It decreases productivity | B．It helps companies cut staff |
| C．It lowers employees’ wage | D．It promotes work-life balance |
| A．Workers Tired of Workplaces |
| B．Hybrid Working Trend in the UK |
| C．Home Working Makes Bosses Unhappy |
| D．Inefficient Nine-To-Five Working Mode |
10 . Often called “the Lady with the Lamp”, Florence Nightingale was a caring nurse and a leader. She is mostly known for making hospitals a cleaner and safer place to be.
Although her parents were from England, Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in Italy while they were traveling. Growing up in a wealthy family, Florence Nightingale was homeschooled by her father and expected to get married at a young age. However, Nightingale believed she received a “calling” from God to help the poor and the sick. Despite the initial disapproval, her father eventually allowed her to go to Germany and then Paris to study. By the time she was 33, Nightingale was already making a name for herself in the nursing community.
When the Crimean War began in 1854, the British, with the lack of medical supplies, overcrowding, and dirty conditions, were unprepared to deal with a large number of sick and injured soldiers. The Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert asked Nightingale to manage a group of nurses that would go to treat the wounded soldiers. When they got there, the doctors were unwelcoming because they did not want to work with female nurses. However, as the number of patients increased, the doctors needed their help. The nurses brought supplies, nutritious food and cleanliness to the military hospital. Nightingale was known for carrying a lamp and checking on the soldiers at night, so they gave her the nickname “the Lady with the Lamp”. Within six months, Nightingale and her team transformed the hospital, and the death rate went down significantly because of their work.
When Nightingale returned from the war, she continued to improve the conditions of hospitals. She wrote 150 books, pamphlets (小册子), and reports on health-related issues. In her later years, often bedridden from illness, she continued to advocate for safe nursing practices until her death. Although Florence Nightingale died on August 13th, 1910, at the age of 90, her legacy continues.
1. What did Nightingale’s parents expect her to do at a young age?| A．To get married. | B．To travel in Italy. |
| C．To study in Germany. | D．To help the poor and the sick. |
| A．Passionate. | B．Welcoming. | C．Uncooperative. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．She liked collecting lamps. |
| B．She often stayed up late for study. |
| C．She brought lamps for the military hospital to use. |
| D．She usually checked on the soldiers at night carrying a lamp. |
| A．The books Nightingale wrote. |
| B．The continued impact Nightingale has made. |
| C．The difficulties Nightingale encountered before. |
| D．The great things Nightingale did during her lifetime. |
