1 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.
Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.
Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.
Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.
1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?| A．He comes from a single-parent family. | B．He is humorous in speech. |
| C．His dream was inspired by his fans. | D．His mom used to be a singer. |
| A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing. | B．The judges’ attitudes to his son. |
| C．Bayoh’s performance on stage. | D．Some audiences’ initial responses. |
| A．Touched. | B．Annoyed. | C．Relieved. | D．Amused. |
| A．To uncover more musical geniuses. | B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well. |
| C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing. | D．To contradict some audiences’ comments. |
2 . A driverless train took its first trip around Hamburg, Germany in 2021 and may greatly improve transportation in the city. Acknowledged as the world’s first, the train created by Siemens Mobility and Deutsche Bahn (DB) officially went into service in December.
This is part of a large modernization project for the city’s S-Bahn urban rail. There were no changes to the tracks, as the autonomous (自动的) trains run on the same network as the current trains that have drivers operating them.
“The railroad has arrived in the digital future and Digital Rail Germany may become a reality. With automated rail operations, we can offer our passengers a significantly expanded and improved service,” said Dr. Richard Lutz, CEO of DB. “The new trains can transport up to 30 percent more passengers and operate on time, and they will be more energy-efficient. They are also encouraged for environmental protection reasons.”
The trains receive signals via radios. There will be drivers present when there are passengers on board but they will only supervise (监督) the run and the passengers. There are now plans to digitize Hamburg’s S-Bahn system entirely by the end of the decade and the government has already decided to put money into new trains and infrastructure improvements.
Autonomous transportation technology is being used in taxis by Waymo, which started as the Google self-driving project in 2009. Other companies that are working on driverless cars include Tesla,GM, Nissan, and Zoox. These cars have to find their ways on roads with the help of GPS technology but driving on a track is much simpler and safer. “The new technology has already been officially approved and, since it features open interfaces (接口), it can immediately be used by operators worldwide for all types of trains,” said Dr. Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens. Maybe it’s time for the new autonomous revolution.
1. What’s special about the new trains created by Siemens Mobility and DB?| A．They share tracks with traditional ones. |
| B．They use new driverless track systems. |
| C．They make long-distance trips much safer. |
| D．They still require human drivers’ operation. |
| A．The new trains greatly change the German lifestyle. |
| B．The digital railroad is spoken highly of by passengers. |
| C．The new trains benefit both people and the environment. |
| D．The digital railroad has promoted the development of tourism. |
| A．Worried. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Operators have responsibility for ensuring fully autonomous driving. |
| B．Germany’s design of trains needs to be further improved. |
| C．American companies see an increasing demand for self-driving taxis. |
| D．The digital technology has a big potential market. |
3 . Working with a stressed mind is like swimming with a jacket on, while a mind free from work stress is light like the wind and it can help you accomplish your daily tasks easily. To relieve (缓解) stress and lighten your mind, you must first understand the nature of stress and the reasons why it builds up. Then you can easily beat stress.
Talk it out
Talking to others helps relieve work stress especially when you and the person you talk to are in the same boat and under the same work stress. Your worries will be divided! If you are your own boss, you need some good advisers around you, who know your trouble and talk sense. If there is no such persons at your workplace, let there be one at home, who is a friend,a family member or a guide that you can talk to.
Let music calm your mind
Music has the power to take you into a new world, away from your worries. Taking a break to listen to some favorite music is also a great way to relieve stress.
Take a walk
If there is a park around, go and have a walk there. You can eat some snacks sitting on the grass. Move around, look at the world around you and forget your work for a while. Let your body get some exercise. A walk works as it also clears your thoughts. You can listen to music while going on a walk.
Have a life beyond the workplace
If you keep thinking about nothing other than work all the time, there is bound to be stress. So, throw away your thoughts about work after you leave your office and get a life beyond it. Have a life beyond the workplace, and you can relax after work.
1. We, can learn from the first paragraph that to relieve stress, we should ______.| A．know what causes stress first | B．swim a lot when we are free |
| C．find a good adviser to talk to | D．pay more attention to work |
| A．are free of job stress | B．have enough time to talk to you |
| C．have the same sufferings | D．can change your job |
| A．help you improve your taste of music | B．improve your relationship with others |
| C．make you feel more tired of your job | D．let you relax and forget work stress |
| A．a researcher who studies music | B．tired of working under pressure |
| C．a person who is trying to find a job | D．expert in dealing with work stress |
4 . “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish, by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”---Albert Einstein
If you have a kid with special needs in the school system, you’re likely to have come across that saying hanging on a classroom wall. My five-year-old daughter Syona has cerebral palsy (脑瘫) and it means, combined with her communication and sight problems, that normal standard isn’t always an accurate measure of her abilities.
By now you have probably heard about Chris Ulmer, the 26-year old teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, who starts his special education class by calling up each student to give them much admiration and a high-five. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Syona’s teacher and how she supports each kid in a very similar way. Ulmer recently shared a video of his teaching experience. “I have seen their confidence increase rapidly.” he said. All I could think was: how lucky these students are to have such good teachers.
Syona’s teacher has an attitude that can best be summarized in one word: wonderful. Her teacher doesn’t focus on what can’t be done---she focuses on what can be done. Over the past several months, my husband Dilip and I have seen Syona’s confidence increase greatly. She uses words she wouldn’t have thought of using before. She recently told me about her classmates trip to Ecuador and was very proud when I understood her on the first try.
I actually wonder what the influence would be if we did something similar to what Ulmer does with his students in our home. We’ve recently started our day by reminding each other of the good qualities we all have. If we are reminded of our strengths on a regular basis, we will become increasingly confident about progress and success.
1. What does the author think of Albert Einstein’s saying?| A．Funny. | B．True. | C．Strange. | D．Confusing. |
| A．She is Syona’s favorite teacher. |
| B．She puts Einstein’s quote on the wall |
| C．She uses videos to teach her students. |
| D．She helps increase her students’ confidence. |
| A．They’ve invited Ulmer’s students to their home. |
| B．They visit Ulmer’s classroom regularly. |
| C．They give each other praise every day. |
| D．They feel thankful to people in their lives. |
| A．Supportive | B．Opposed | C．Indifferent | D．Negative |
5 . China has set new rules limiting the amount of time children can play online games. The rules limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.
Li Zhanguo has two children aged 4 and 8. Even though they do not have smartphones, they enjoy playing online games. Like many other parents. Li is happy with new government rules. But experts say it is unclear if such policies can help prevent addiction to online games. Children might just get addicted to social media instead. In the end, experts say, parents should be the ones to set limits and support good practice.
There has been a growing concern in China about gaming addiction among children. Government reports in 2018 found that about one in ten Chinese children were addicted to the Internet. The new rules are part of an effort to prevent young people from spending too much time on unhealthy entertainment. That includes what officials call the “irrational fan culture”
Under the new rules, the responsibility for making sure children play only three hours a day as largely on Chinese gaming companies like Net Ease and Ten cent. Companies have set up real-name registration systems to prevent young users from going past game time limits. They have used facial recognition technology to check their identities. And they have also set up a program that permits people to report what is against the law. It is unclear what punishments gaming companies may face if they do not carry out the policies. And even if such policies are performed, it is also unclear whether they can prevent online addiction.
A specialist treating Internet addiction expects about 20 percent of children will find ways to break the rules by borrowing accounts of their older relatives and find a way around facial recognition. In his opinion, short-video alps such as Douyin and Kuaishou are also very popular in China. They are not under the same restrictions as games.
1. When can children play games according to the new rules?| A．Between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. On Friday. | B．Between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. On Tuesday. |
| C．Between 10 p. m. and 11 p. m. On Saturday. | D．Between 10 p. m. and all p. m. On Thursday. |
| A．the new rules can stop children’s addiction to social media |
| B．companies are more responsible for kids ‘ obeying the rules |
| C．the new rules will help prevent children playing online games |
| D．parents play a greater part in limiting the time of online games |
| A．Design an advanced program. | B．Use facial recognition systems. |
| C．Set up real-name registration systems. | D．Borrow accounts of their older relatives. |
| A．Rules Limiting Short-video alps | B．Rules Limiting Video Game Time |
| C．Rules Banning Irrational Fan Culture | D．Rules Breaking Addition to Social Media |
6 . Do you want to find some books to read? If so, here is a list of them.
Journeys of a LifetimeAdapted from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime crosses the globe to highlight the world’s most famous and little-known destinations. It presents lots of possibilities, from ocean voyage around Antarctica to horse riding in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.
Destinations of a LifetimeDestinations of a Lifetime takes you on a photographic tour of the world’s most impressive destinations. Hundreds of the most amazing locations—both natural and man-made—are illustrated with vivid images taken by the world-class photographers. Destinations of a Lifetime includes all the information: when to go, where to eat, where to stay, and what to do to ensure the most interesting experience.
World’s Best Travel ExperiencesPopular actor and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy writes the foreword (序言) to this great book, offering 400 excellent destinations chosen by National Geographic’s family. It will appeal to active travelers looking for the next great trip as well as to the many readers who simply love dreaming of visiting faraway and peaceful destinations.
Lonely Planet’s Ultimate TravelThis collection of the 500 most unmissable sights and attractions in the world has been ranked by Lonely Planet’s global community, so big sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal battle it out for a prized place in the top 10, making this the only list you’ll ever need.
1. Which book will offer readers the information about restaurants?| A．Journeys of a Lifetime. | B．Destinations of a Lifetime. |
| C．World’s Best Travel Experiences. | D．Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel. |
| A．They offer impressive tourist information. |
| B．They recommend faraway locations. |
| C．They are included in National Geographic. |
| D．They introduce the same destinations. |
| A．Fashion. | B．Society. | C．Economy. | D．Literature. |
7 . People who get a good workout almost daily can add nearly four years to their life spans, according to the first study to quantify the effect of physical activity this way.
The researchers looked at records of more than 5,000 middle-aged and elderly Americans and found that those who had moderate to high levels of activity lived1.3 to 3.7 years longer than those who got little exercise, with men and women benefiting about equally.
“This shows that physical activity really does make a difference — not only for how long you live but for how long you live a healthy life.” said Oscar H. Franco of the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam. “Being more physically active can give you more time.”
Previous studies have found that being physically active has a host of health benefits. It reduces the risk of being overweight and of developing many illnesses, improves overall quality of life, and lowers the death rate. But the new study is the first to directly calculate the effect on how long people live.
People who engaged in moderate activity — the equivalent of walking for 30minutes a day for five days a week — lived about 1.3 to 1.5 years longer than those who were less active. Those who took on more intense exercise—the equivalent of running half an hour a day five days every week—extended their lives by about3.5 to 3.7 years, the researchers found.
The findings show that even for people who are already middle-aged, exercising more can add years to their lives, Franco said.
Other experts said the study was consistent with the growing evidence that exercising on a regular basis is one of the most important things people can do for their health.
“At the end of the day, this is more evidence that the sitting lifestyle is the most damaging to health, longevity and chronic disease development,” said James O. Hill of the University of Colorado at Denver.
Hill and others said exercising regularly also enables people to live healthier lives, free from a host of chronic illnesses that can make it hard for people to enjoy their later years.
In addition, recent studies have also found that exercise has payoffs for the mind, too. It has been shown to improve overall well-being and reduce stress and depression.
“The benefits of physical activity extend well beyond the effects on longevity,” said Joann E. Manson of Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
1. What would be the best title for this text?| A．A Daily Workout Add More Years to Life. | B．How A Daily Workout Is Good to Health. |
| C．Men Benefit More from A Daily Workout. | D．Middle-aged People Benefit from Workout. |
| A．It finds that men and women benefited about equally. |
| B．Being physically active has a host of health benefits. |
| C．It’s the first to calculate the effect on how long people live. |
| D．Being more physically active can give you more time to live. |
| A．describing successful cases. | B．presenting findings of research. |
| C．offering professional comments. | D．explaining a certain phenomenon (现象) . |
8 . The Hard Truth
One day, Marissa noticed a spider web, shining in the sunlight. A spider was spinning
What came naturally to Marissa was
One night, halfway through her homework, Marissa fell
Then a dark thought crossed Marissa’s mind. If she
After a week of
Just as Marissa had
With tears in her eyes, Marissa admitted her
Marissa watched her mother’s face turn from anger to
Marissa thought again about the spider. She realized she had lost sight of her
| A．webs | B．clothes | C．balls | D．boxes |
| A．music | B．art | C．sport | D．dance |
| A．coach | B．fan | C．teacher | D．star |
| A．realized | B．wondered | C．insisted | D．remembered |
| A．ill | B．silent | C．asleep | D．apart |
| A．homework | B．research | C．housework | D．practice |
| A．health | B．life | C．grades | D．images |
| A．gave | B．took | C．attended | D．failed |
| A．completing | B．ignoring | C．preparing | D．copying |
| A．risen | B．meant | C．dropped | D．improved |
| A．ugly | B．perfect | C．simple | D．serious |
| A．doubted | B．suspected | C．acted | D．said |
| A．painting | B．clock | C．phone | D．letter |
| A．feeling | B．weakness | C．secret | D．excuse |
| A．and | B．so | C．or | D．but |
| A．surprise | B．scare | C．mess | D．joke |
| A．delight | B．concern | C．embarrassment | D．disappointment |
| A．speech | B．stop | C．jump | D．choice |
| A．balance | B．example | C．purpose | D．success |
| A．rebuild | B．break | C．find | D．review |
9 . A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. While you’re sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Although we all know the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, not all of us know the best way of getting it. A sleep expert, Phil Atherton, gave some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning.
According to Phil Atherton, not eating a large meal before bedtime is important for getting a good night’s sleep. The time difference between eating and sleeping should be at least three hours. So you’d better avoid eating any food three hours before bed, as it will lower your blood sugar during sleep and help minimize damage from too much sugar floating around.
It’s also important to find ways to prepare your body for sleep. You can follow a routine like trying not to expose yourself to too much artificial light within 1 hour before bed, as your brain uses light to help set internal “body clock”. Although it might seem unnatural to schedule your sleep, the purpose is to send a signal to your body and mind that it’s time to sleep.
Another way to prepare your body for sleep is to get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soft music. Both of them will help to take the mind off the daytime pressures.
Having a suitable bed, especially a suitable mattress (床垫), is necessary for a good night’s sleep. Sleep is a personalized activity, and we all adopt different sleeping positions. Finding the mattress that suits you will reduce back pains that can result from a poor sleeping position. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest user, allowing for space to move around.
The recent research is pretty clear that a good night’s sleep is a major component of good health. Since the start of the 21st century, studies have linked a lack of sleep to many diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you.
1. What does the author intend to tell us in the passage?| A．When to start a sound sleep. | B．How to get a good night’s sleep. |
| C．What to do with sleep problems. | D．Why to form a good habit of sleeping. |
| A．Not eating food. | B．Taking a meal. |
| C．Not sleeping well. | D．Having a good sleep. |
| A．record your biological clock. | B．check your blood sugar. |
| C．relieve your pain in the back. | D．free yourself from stress. |
10 . Nowadays, body language has played a more and more important part in daily communication among people. To avoid confusion and embarrassment in cross-cultural communication, it’s necessary to have fluency in some common body language worldwide.
In Australia, it is very rude to wink (眨眼) at women.
In Brazil, pulling down the lower lid (眼睑) of the right eye means that the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying. In India, holding your ear means either “honesty” or “I’m sorry”.
In Indonesia, hands on hips while talking means that you’re angry and it is also impolite.
In Japan, It’s unacceptable for two adults of the same sex to hold hands while walking together A smile can mean happiness, anger, or sadness. When someone praises you, respond by waving your hand back and forth in front of your face. Because it is considered impolite to show their teeth. women usually cover their mouths when they laugh. To make a promise, two people generally book their little fingers together.
In South Korea, when talking to someone, keep your hands in full view. It is rude to keep your hands behind your back or in your pockets.
In Spain, snapping the thumb and first finger together a few times is a form of applause. If you think the person you are talking about is mean, ta p your left elbow with your right hand. If you’ve heard the story that someone is telling before, put your right hand behind your head and pull your left ear.
In Sri Lanka, moving your head from side to side means “yes” and nodding your head up and down means “no”!
In Thailand, people point to an object with their chins, not their hands.
Have you learned the meanings of the above body languages in different countries? Keep these in mind and you’ll realize that they’re very helpful one day.
1. In which country do women cover their mouth while laughing?| A．In China. | B．In America. | C．In Africa. | D． In Japan. |
| A．Wave their hands back and forth in front of their face. |
| B．Put their hands on haps all the time. |
| C．Snap the thumb and first finger together several minutes. |
| D．Clap their hands together for a few minutes. |
| A．Moving your head from side to side to means “yes” in Thailand. |
| B．When talking to someone, make sure others can see your both hands in South Korea. |
| C．Adult women in Japan of ten hold their hands when walking together. |
| D．In Indonesia, pulling down the lower lid of the left eye means the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying. |
| A．Body language is of great importance in daily communication. |
| B．Understanding the meaning of some gestures in foreign countries is helpful. |
| C．The same movement may deliver different meanings in different cultures. |
| D．We should use body language in daily communication with others. |
