1 . In October 2023, 3-year-old Journey Castillo completed a quest to visit all 63 of America’s national parks. Her parents, Eric and Valerie Castillo, said she is likely the youngest person to reach that milestone.

The family, from San Antonio, Texas, ended their travels with a trip to Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. “Mission complete,” they wrote on Instagram. “After three years of adventure, countless logistics work and not giving up, we could not be more proud to share the conclusion of our quest.” Journey hasn’t been officially verified as the youngest traveler to visit all 63 parks. But more important than the title, her parents say, is the experience.

“Our thing was: ‘Let’s… inspire in Journey a passion for nature, inspire in her that she can handle the strenuous parts of the traveling: the environments, the weather changes, different cultures.” Valerie Castillo told The Guardian’s Ramon Antonio Vargas.

Before she could walk, Journey Castillo’s parents set out to visit every national park in the U.S. They hiked up Pikes Peak and explored Rocky Mountain National Park, all with an infant in tow. As far as they could tell, Journey seemed to enjoy herself.

“We could see her little eyes open and take it all in,” Valerie Castillo told the San Antonio Express-News last year. “She was so aware, even being a few days old. She’s adapted so well.”

They then ventured to Grand Canyon National Park — and decided to keep going. They set a goal of visiting 21 parks by Journey’s first birthday, then 42 parks by her second birthday. Eventually, they decided to go for all 63 parks. The family has been documenting every step of the way on Instagram and their website, Journey Go Explore.

Reaching the last few parks on their list — all in Alaska — required lots of logistical management, including renting flights, ferry rides, and even special permission from the National Park Service to visit a seasonally closed park. Though their visit was challenging at times, the Castillos say it helped their daughter develop confidence. Journey walks fearlessly through airports and happily greets park rangers. “When she’s out at these parks, she comes to life, and her personality brightens up,” Eric Castillo said.

1. Why did Journey Castillo’s parents take her to visit all America’s national parks?

A．To inspire others to be more active.

B．To document their travels on Instagram.

C．To inspire a passion for nature in Journey.

D．To break a record as the youngest traveler.

2. What does the underlined word “strenuous” probably mean in the third paragraph?

A．identical

B．appealing

C．mild

D．challenging

3. What did the parents perceive about Journey during their visits to national parks?

A．She was uninterested in the surroundings.

B．She adapted well and seemed to enjoy herself.

C．She preferred staying indoors with her parents.

D．She only enjoyed specific environments and attractions.

4. How did Eric Castillo describe Journey’s personality during those travels?

A．Shy and introverted.	B．Reliable and anxious.
C．Fearful and splendid.	D．Enthusiastic and confident.

3 . Lonely Planet’s best in travel destinations for 2024 revealed

To mark its 50th anniversary, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024 has expanded from the top 10 best cities, countries, and regions to include two new categories of best value and best sustainable destinations, recognising a total of 50 locations across the globe offering amazing experiences to enjoy in 2024.

Spain tops the sustainable travel list, having taken enormous strides to boost off-season travel, expand renewable energy, spread visitors across the year, and bring tourism to previously overlooked destinations.

Wales too has been recognised as one of those leading the way in sustainability, thanks to its rebuilt railways expanding the possibilities of exploring the nation’s wild, wonderful west.

And bouncing back strongly from the 2020 bushfires is Kangaroo Island, which remains one of South Australia’s great ecotourism destinations.

Slow Travel, a favourite topic with Lonely Planet readers, is celebrated by highlighting the Portuguese Way hiking trail and the continued rise of night trains in Europe.

Meanwhile the popular sun-kissed country of Croatia is now easier to explore with the opening of the Peljesac Bridge shining a spotlight on the previously overlooked Peljesac Peninsula and a new highway means it’s now possible to travel directly between Split and Dubrovnik.

Algeria, the USA’s Midwest, Greek island of Ikaria and Normandy are just a few of those great value and often overlooked destinations, ideal for the cost-conscious traveller.

For those seeking to enjoy the great outdoors, the new Western Balkans’ Cycle Route is set to open in 2024 and Far North Scotland is bidding for UNESCO status for its unsung boggy area and a coastline of heartbreaking beauty.

1. Lonely Planet’s has expanded Best in Travel 2024 mainly to ________.

A．Response to negative comments on previous lists.

B．Fill diversity in Travel Preferences.

C．Mark its 50th anniversary.

D．Respond to a decline in travel interest.

2. What transport development in Croatia makes it easier to explore?

A．Opening of the Peljesac Bridge.	B．Expansion of renewable energy.
C．Repair and rebuilding of railways.	D．Building a new highway in Ikaria.

3. For those who love cycling, which place is most appealing?

A．North Scotland.

B．Croatia.

C．Greek.

D．Western Balkans.

5 . The two Greek words — “philo”, which means love and “Sophia”, which means wisdom, are the beginnings of the word we use today: Philosophy, the love of wisdom.

Most people have a philosophy on life. Everybody has an idea of what is right and what is wrong, and why things are the way they are, and who they are and who to trust. A lot of people believe somebody else’s philosophy. That person may be a religious or political leader, or anybody you look up to. Some people have their own philosophy on life which might be a mixture of theories. Others are philosophers: people who want to know the truth about life for themselves and spend their time studying, thinking and asking questions.

Today philosophers are still encouraging people to think. Schools in some countries teach philosophy to children. Reading books written by old philosophers can be difficult because the language is from the past. So stories are used to help schoolchildren make their own decisions about what is right and wrong and think about the best way to solve problems.

Why do we need philosophy? There are plenty of people who think that killing animals is cruel, but eating animals is fine. If you are one of these people, you should ask yourself why. Why is killing animals cruel? Why is it okay to eat animals? You might find that the answer to each question is very different and you could have an argument by yourself using your own ideas! Go on and argue — you will understand more about what you believe. You will begin to understand the subject more deeply. And this helps you to feel comfortable with it. And you might change something or you might not. When we ask ourselves questions, we start to understand ourselves and our lives, and it’s up to us to make changes or not. If the ideas in your head agree, this means you have integrity. What you say and what you do are the same. Everyone respects someone who has integrity!

By thinking and questioning, we can understand more and maybe prevent problems caused by misunderstanding. But philosophy can also cause problems and conflict when people don’t agree. When one group of people choose one philosophy to believe and another group of people choose a different philosophy, when they need to think or make a decision together, they start trying to change each other instead of working together on bigger ideas about life.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The main conflicts among philosophers.

B．The application of philosophical beliefs.

C．The definition and function of philosophy.

D．The pros and cons of philosophical discussions.

2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “integrity” in paragraph 4?

A．Honesty.

B．Connection.

C．Belief.

D．Unity.

3. Why do we need philosophy according to the passage?

A．To prove our own ideas.

B．To bring about disagreements.

C．To reduce cruel deeds in the world.

D．To inspire thinking and seek answers.

4. What can be inferred according to the last paragraph?

A．Misunderstanding helps prevent problems.

B．Different choices make different philosophy.

C．Philosophy can be both positive and negative.

D．Conflicts and disagreement result from philosophy.

6 . Katalin Karikó, a Nobel Prize Winner of this year, has had an unlikely journey. The daughter of a butcher in postwar communist Hungary, Karikó grew up in a home that lacked running water, and her family grew their own vegetables. She saw the wonders of nature all around her and was determined to become a scientist. That determination eventually brought her to the United States, where she arrived as a postdoctoral follow in 1985 with $1,200 sewn into her toddler’s teddy bear and a dream to remake medicine.

Karikó battled cockroaches (蟑螂) in a windowless lab, and faced being laughed at open and direct from her bosses and colleagues. She hesitated as prestigious research institutions increasingly combined science and money together. Despite setbacks, she never doubted her belief that an underappreciated molecule   (分子) called messenger RNA could change the world. She sacrificed nearly everything for this dream, and the obstacles she faced only motivated her, so eventually she succeeded.

Karikó’s three-decade-long investigation into mRNA would lead to a surprising achievement: vaccines that protected millions of people from the most serious consequences of COVID-19. These vaccines are just the beginning of mRNA’s potential. Today, the medical community eagerly awaits more mRNA vaccines — for the flu, HIV, and other emerging infectious diseases.

Breaking Through isn’t just the story of an extraordinary woman. It’s a charge of closed-minded thinking and a demonstration to one woman’s commitment to laboring intensely in obscurity — knowing she might never be recognized in a culture that is driven by prestige, power, and privilege — because she believed her work would save lives.

1. What do we know about Katalin Karikó?

A．She disliked her journey to the US.

B．She grew up in a go-green family.

C．She tried to get a doctor’s degree.

D．She chased her dream with $1,200.

2. What was a problem facing Karikó when she worked in the lab?

A．She had to do experiments on cockroaches.

B．She was not well received in the lab.

C．She couldn’t get along well with others.

D．She had to quit for lack of money.

3. What do the underlined words “in obscurity”   in the last paragraph mean?

A．Unknown to public.

B．Second to none.

C．In an emergency.

D．At a loss.

4. Where is text most probably taken from?

A．A speech at Nobel awards ceremony.

B．A scientist’s autobiography.

C．An essay on mRNA vaccines.

D．An introduction to a book.

7 . I am neither Jewish nor Palestinian, and none of my six regular jobs have anything to do with foreign policy, but the other day I opened Twitter (now called X) after some time offline, only to find people I don’t know demanding that I make a public statement about what’s happening in the Middle East. It seemed that most of the people on social media had made a statement, including various well-known brands, celebrities and lifestyle influencers.

I saw lots of random citizens being told that if they didn’t speak out, they, too, would have blood on their hands. Taking a stand on social media instantly will win wild applause but reduces complex issues to a simple yes or no.

Those social media posts without serious thinking are not what bother me most, though. Instead, it’s the idea that not posting is wrong — that everyone needs to speak, all the time. It discourages shutting up and listening and letting the voices that matter the most be heard over the noise. It implies it’s not OK to have any uncertainty about what’s going on. It does not leave time or space for people to process disturbing events in their own minds or to gather more information before pronouncing a judgment. It pressures people who don’t have an opinion yet or are working out what they think to produce one opinion immediately and present it to an audience of total strangers on the Internet who will quickly judge whether it’s appropriate or not.

“Nothing pays off like self-control of tongue and pen,” writes A.A.’s co-founder Bill Wilson. “We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and extreme anger,” which he calls “emotional idiot got trapped by pride and revenge.” While I’ve regretted posting half-formed thoughts too quickly, I’ve never regretted waiting until I was less angry or not posting at all.

1. Why does the author mention his/her race and jobs in the first paragraph?

A．To reflect the author’s professional research background.

B．To introduce the topic of the widespread use of social media.

C．To discuss the impact of social media violating personal privacy.

D．To express dissatisfaction with commenting on something without personal ties.

2. What bothered the author most about social media posts?

A．Pressure to take a stand.

B．Shutting up and listening.

C．Lack of diversity in opinions.

D．Complex issues reduced to yes or no.

3. What can we infer based on what Bill Wilson said?

A．Avoiding creating argument is a virtue.

B．Quick-tempered criticism is rewarding.

C．Producing immediate opinion is an ability.

D．Control of what you say and write is beneficial.

4. Which would be the best title for this text?

A．“Speak Out for the Disadvantages in a Social Media Age”

B．“I Don’t Have To Post About My Anger, Neither Do You”

C．“Silence Is Golden: A Guide to Ignoring World Issues Like a Pro”

D．“Keep Angry, Keep Reasonable: Avoiding the Mess on Social Media”

8 . Is it time to put the brakes on the development of artificial intelligence? If you've quietly asked yourself that question, you're not alone. In late March, a group of AI experts signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on the development of more powerful models than GPT-4; European researchers called for tighter AI   regulations; and long-time AI researcher Yudkowsky demanded a complete shutdown of AI development.

Meanwhile, the industry shows no sign of slowing down. In March, a senior AI executive at Microsoft spoke of “very, very high”   pressure from chief executive to get GPT-4 and other new models to the public   “at a very high speed ”. GPT-4 is much larger and has been trained on significantly more data. Like other large language models, GPT-4 works by guessing the next word in response to prompts(提示). In tests, it passed legal and medical exams, and can write software better than professionals in many cases. And its full range of abilities is yet to be discovered.

GPT-4 and models like it are likely to have huge effects across many layers of society. They could facilitate personalized phishing(网络钓鱼) attacks, produce disinformation at scale, and be used to hack through the net -work security around computer systems. Open   AI's own research suggests models like GPT-4 are   “general-purpose technologies” which will influence 80 percent of the US workforce.   Professions such as customer services, primary translations and editing, and security guard will be greatly impacted. Moreover, technology is accelerating much faster than our ability to understand and regulate it. If we're not careful, it will also drive changes that are too fast for safety. The US sociologist E. O. Wilson described the dangers of change like so:   “The real problem of humanity is the following: we have   Paleolithic(旧石器时代的) emotions, medieval(中世纪的) institutions and god-like technology.”

I believe a wise course of action is to slow down and think about where we want to take these technologies. It is not about stopping, but rather moving at a sustainable pace of progress. We can choose to steer this technology, rather than assume it has a life of its own we can't control.

1. How is the first paragraph mainly developed?

A．By listing reasons.

B．By giving examples.

C．By making comparisons.

D．By analyzing cause and effect.

2. What do we know about GPT-4?

A．It has no match in software writing.

B．AI experts have stopped its development.

C．We don't have a clear picture of what it can do.

D．It works by creating the next word with no need for prompts.

3. Which of the following does E .O. Wilson probably agree with?

A．We manage to keep up with AI Technology.

B．We can be taken back to ancient times by AI Technology.

C．AI Technology is developing too fast and beyond our control.

D．AI Technology has a minor impact on different fields of society.

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

A．Time to Adjust to AI	B．Time to Go Slow on AI
C．An Urgent Stop to AI	D．A Significant Progress of AI

9 . Microplastics, as the name implies, are tiny plastic particles found in the environment. Any plastic particle that has a diameter of less than 5 mm is considered to be microplastic. For a long time, a majority of people were unaware of the presence of microplastics and their effects on the environment. However, these particles have become a significant topic of debate in recent times after researchers noted their presence in almost every corner of the globe. from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench.

There are two categories of microplastics: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are tiny particles meant for external commercial use such as cosmetics, as well as microfibers to make other textiles, such as fishing nets. Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, such as water bottles.

There are various sources of microplastics. Wastewater treatment plants and sewage treatment plants are the major sources of primary microplastics, most of which are residues (残留物) of cosmetics, paint, household and industrial waste. Single-use plastics plastic items meant to be used just once and then discarded, such as a straw — are the main source of secondary plastics in the environment.

The problem with microplastics is that like plastic items of any size they do not readily break down into harmless molecules. Plastics can take hundreds or thousands of years to decompose (降解). That means once produced, we cannot get rid of them. Microplastics exist on beaches and deeper waters, and have been detected in marine organisms from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water. They are mistaken for food by marine animals and some plastics are so tiny that they end up in the animal tissues. They are passed across the food chain, and some find their way to humans.

Scientists are still unsure whether consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal health and if so, what specific dangers they may pose. Even so, many countries are taking action to reduce microplastics in the environment. The best approaches to controlling microplastics include proper handling of plastics and thorough treatment of wastewater.

1. According to the first two paragraphs, microplastics are_________

A．common in our daily life

B．used to make glass bottles

C．found in all the uninhabited areas

D．tiny plastic particles with a diameter of 5mm

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A．The use of straws should be forbidden.

B．Household waste contains microplastics.

C．Industrial waste is a source of secondary plastics

D．Wastewater and sewage treatment plants are useless.

3. Why do microplastics end up in the tissues of marine animals?

A．Because they’re consumed as food.

B．Because they exist on the beaches.

C．Because they easily break down.

D．Because they’re left out in the food chain.

4. What’s the purpose of the text?

A．To analyze the sources of microplastics.

B．To warn people of the danger of microplastics.

C．To give an overall introduction to microplastics.

D．To persuade people to give up the use of microplastics.

10 . Many guests have had the pleasure of observing the magnificent cheetahs (猎豹) that find shelter on the Tswalu Private Reserve, but they might not be aware of the work to make these wild cats feel comfortable in the presence of humans. As a conservation photographer, I spent a day with conservator Clement Motau to understand what it takes to habituate cheetahs.

Habituating wildlife is an on-going process —slowly getting wild animals used to the presence of vehicles and people. Animals like cheetahs receive regular visits from the wildlife conservation team. That way they learn that in this privately protected area, humans pose no threat to.

Clement, now 29 years old, spent his early childhood in Middelburg, but he would go to the rural area every chance he got, including most school holidays. “I enjoyed climbing mountains and being outdoors. I always knew I wanted to work with wild animals.” He decided to study nature conservation rather than become a tour guide because “dealing with people all the time is not my strongest point.” After three years of studies, he came to Tswalu in 2016 and was offered a position on the conservation team. Though one day rarely looks the same as another, with tasks ranging from collaring wild dogs to mending fences, the chance to spend time with cheetahs is an experience he particularly enjoys.

An hour after we first spotted Artemis, Clement's favorite cheetah, she is still on the move, clearly looking for a meal. She is a beautiful animal, and I am in no hurry to leave. Though she seems unbothered by our presence, we don't want to negatively impact her chances of feeding. Wildlife tourism is an essential conservation tool, both to raise awareness and to pay for all the costs. But the wellbeing of the animals always comes first. “She is very obliging with us today,” he says. “So relaxed. The guides and our guests will love her. She'll be a future star.”

1. What do we know about habituating wild animals?

A．It's a process to get wild animals used to humans.

B．It's done by paying random visits to wild animals.

C．Wild animals will benefit from this practice.

D．Such practice is limited to private reserves.

2. Why did Clement choose to become a nature conservator?

A．Because he liked a job with various tasks...

B．Because being a tour guide was not his dream.

C．Because he enjoyed spending time with wild animals.

D．Because working with animals was his strongest point.

3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Artemis is responding to our request.

B．Artemis is warning us to keep a distance.

C．Artemis is inviting us to enter her territory.

D．Artemis is feeling comfortable with our presence.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A remarkable cheetah conservator.	B．A reserve for cheetahs.
C．A cheetah conservation program.	D．A tour with a cheetah conservator.