1 . Gary McKee, a 53-year-old from England, completed a challenge that many might never dare to try—365 marathons in 365 days.

In 1997, McKee found his father had cancer—which was disastrous for his family. "One word sort of turned our world upside down,” McKee told Fox News Digital of the impact on his family. After losing his father in 2003, McKee wanted to do something in memory of him, which is why he took the challenge to run 365 marathons in 365 days. He became a fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support. His goal was to raise about $1.2 million by the end of that year.

On January 1st, 2022, the challenge officially began—and McKee was on his way to running 9, 563 miles. “There was always an air of excitement because you didn’t know who was going to be outside running with you,” McKee said. He would run his course each morning before going to work starting at 8 a. m. Then, halfway through the year, a previous injury started to bother him, so he had to change his start time to 6 a. m. to manage his pace. While the injury could have dampened his spirits, he said he saw the slower pace as a “blessing”, as it allowed more people to run alongside him.

“People will often challenge, ‘How are you going to do that?’ What they mean is they don’t believe that you can. My question then is, ‘How am I not going to do it? You tell me why you think I can’t.’ There is always more reason to do something than there is not to do it. “His entire community supported him for the full year by either joining him on the road or cheering him on from the sidelines. However, it was his family’s support that encouraged him the most and helped him “rest easy”.

By the time Gary McKee got to the end of his run, he had raised over $1 million.

1. Why did Gary McKee start the marathons?

A．To honour his father.	B．To raise money for the poor.
C．To keep a healthy body.	D．To found Macmillan Cancer Support.

2. Why did Gary McKee adjust his start time?

A．Because he wanted more people to join him.

B．Because he was influenced by his old injury.

C．Because he expected to run a longer distance.

D．Because he wanted to balance his work time and running.

3. What can we learn from the words of Gary McKee in paragraph 4?

A．He was always confident about himself.

B．He thought others’ question was reasonable.

C．He thought everyone could achieve their goals.

D．He wasn’t accustomed to following others’ advice.

4. Which word can best describe Gary McKee?

A．Independent.	B．Humorous.
C．Caring.	D．Determined.

2 . Skip the West End and discover some exciting, theatrical treasures—maybe in a pub or under a railway station—in one of London’s many alternative theatres. If you want to experience the glorious rush of discovering a five-star show in a 50-capacity auditorium, for a £ 10 ticket, off-West End is the way to go.

Theatre 503

Through the always-buzzing Latchmere Pub, up a very narrow staircase, and beyond a dinky foyer(门厅), you will find yourself at Theatre 503. It can hold 63 people at a time, which is a tight squeeze even then. But it’ s well worth the intimacy(亲密感) that you’ll necessarily share with your neighbour for the outstanding productions.

King’s Head Theatre

Perhaps the perfect example of London pub theatre, the King’s Head has been in business since the 1970s. The King’s Head is consistent only in its stubborn refusal to be pigeonholed or, indeed to be made into anything else. It feels like London theatre’s uncle who still wears ripped jeans and listens to cool music, refusing to give up its idealistic integrity for something perhaps more sensible but far less fun.

Soho Theatre

An institution that hardly needs introducing, Soho Theatre has been at the forefront for new writing and comedy for decades, producing some of the most exciting new talent on the scene today. As the name suggests, the theatre sits in the centre of Soho, and its bar has become a hub for artists and audiences alike.

Vaults Theatre

A truly unique place made up of eleven disused train tunnels below Waterloo station, with an atmosphere all of its own. Not only is Vaults Theatre home to some of the most thrilling immersive and alternative theatre, it’s also leading the way in accessibility, offering a pay-what-you-can ticket price on Wednesdays and Sundays as of Autumn 2022.

1. What is mentioned about Theatre 503?

A．Its creator.

B．Its history.

C．Its capacity.

D．Its popularity.

2. What does King’s Head Theatre feature?

A．Keeping itself.	B．Reasonable price.
C．Being more sensible.	D．Beauty in appearance.

3. Which of the following made use of abandoned railways?

A．Theatre 503.	B．King’s Head Theatre.
C．Soho Theatre.	D．Vaults Theatre.

4 . Inside а tiny shop in Manchester, Adam Birce carefully carves at а woodblock. He looks carefully at each piece to ensure they fit and match before gently setting them together. Adam Birce, the owner of Four Strings, restores stringed instruments like violins and his passion is in restoring and appreciating what has already been crafted and loved.

Birce started playing the violin in grade school and grew to truly appreciate it. He played semiprofessionally out of high school and later got his degree in music at Virginia Commonwealth University as a violinist. After graduating, he landed a job selling violins. “As fate would have it, I was asked by my employer to learn to fix violins 15 years ago,” he says. “I soon moved off on my own to do restoration.” Since 2014, he’s been on a mission with Four Strings to provide excellent fine-instrument restoration for the commonwealth.

Violin restoration isn’t a self-taught skill. Each summer for the past decade, Birce has traveled to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for up to two weeks to study under famous violin restoration expert Hans J. Nebel. Here, students learn everything from delicate edging repair to violin identification. “A lot of the work itself is learning as you go,” Birce says. “It’s a lot of problem-solving and critical thinking, like coming up with a woodworking context.”

How long а job takes varies. “Most are about 3-6 months for major work, unless a full top-to-bottom restoration is needed, which can take even longer,” Birce explains. “I leave that up to the client if they want to commit to that.” One of his longest jobs was working on a Scottish violin from the early 1800s that had been water-damaged. “I had to use every skill in my toolbox to fix it,” Birce laughingly recalls. “It was a very onerous job.”

If there’s one thing to be learned from Birce’s passion, it’s that each violin is unique in its own right. He compares the fine instruments market to the fine arts market. “A lot of these instruments are fine art,” he says. “I kind of say this is a Picasso I’m playing or a Degas. I’ve worked on a few, which is always a joy.”

1. What does the author think of violin restoration?

A．It’s effortless.	B．It’s self-taught.
C．It’s boring.	D．It’s highly professional.

2. What mainly determines the time spent on restoring a violin?

A．How powerful the tools are.	B．Its condition and the client’s needs.
C．What material it’s made of.	D．Its client’s pay for the restorer.

3. Which of the following best explains “onerous” underlined in paragraph 4?

A．Abnormal.

B．Enjoyable.

C．Encouraging.

D．Demanding.

4. What does the last paragraph intend to show?

A．Birce’s passion for art.	B．Birce’s impact on the market.
C．Birce’s feelings about the job.	D．Birce’s advice on violin restoration.

6 . A five-month-old bar tailed godwit recently broke the record for long-distance migration after flying 13,560 kilometers non-stop over a period of 11 days.

Every autumn, millions of migratory birds take to the ________ for a long and exhausting journey to ________ the coming cold, feed and breed for the next few months. Many of them ________ impressive distances of over 10,000 kilometers, but this year, one small bird was ________ all expectations regarding long-distance flying, traveling a big 13,560 kilometers without stopping. And it was all because of an unusual roundabout way that could have ________ the bird its life, considering that the non-stop journey pushed its ________ capacity to the limit.

Last month, the young bar-tailed godwit ________ from Alaska to New Zealand, but somehow, at one point during its ________ journey, the small bird took a little roundabout way that added an extra 500 kilometers to its original route. That seems like a small distance to cover, considering that the normal ________ would have seen it fly around 13,000 kilometers, but it’s actually a significant difference that could have had deadly ________.

Scientists were able to ________ the godwit’s record flight with the help of a tiny tracker that only weighed 5 grams. Technological advancements have allowed researchers to track such small species of birds without ________ them, as adding any kind of significant weight to a creature that weighs only between 300 and 400 grams could put its life in danger.

Dr. Woehler estimates that the bird lost “half or more of its body ________” during the 11-day continuous flight, but ________ it to dry land safely.

Interestingly, scientists haven’t yet understood ________ birds like the bar-tailed godwit are able to navigate such large distances without stopping and without getting lost.

1.

A．ground

B．forest

C．sky

D．mountain

2.

A．challenge

B．bear

C．escape

D．enjoy

3.

A．add

B．cover

C．measure

D．calculate

4.

A．within

B．under

C．for

D．beyond

5.

A．costed

B．saved

C．offered

D．changed

6.

A．recognition

B．flight

C．defense

D．management

7.

A．put off

B．turned off

C．showed off

D．took off

8.

A．tiring

B．exciting

C．smooth

D．short

9.

A．gesture

B．route

C．sight

D．dream

10.

A．thoughts

B．strengths

C．consequences

D．diseases

11.

A．track

B．create

C．break

D．bring

12.

A．decorating

B．endangering

C．protecting

D．preserving

13.

A．water

B．muscle

C．weight

D．size

14.

A．made

B．managed

C．took

D．appreciated

15.

A．when

B．where

C．whether

D．how

7 . Water pollution caused by the coal industry is a critical issue that requires urgent attention. According to a report by environmental and clean water groups, coal plants are the primary source of toxic (有毒的) water pollution in the United States. Nearly 70% of 274 coal plants have no limits on toxic materials, such as As₂O₃ and Pb, and they were dumped directly into waterways. Over one-third of these plants have no requirements to monitor or report discharges of these toxic materials to government agencies or the public.

Furthermore, the report reveals that 71 coal plants discharge toxic water pollution into waterways that have already been declared damaged due to poor water quality. Almost half of the 386 coal plants surveyed operate without Clean Water Act permits, and 53 of them have permits that went out of date five or more years ago. These results are due to the lack of any strict standards limiting toxic pollution from coal plants.

Coal-fired power plants are the main source of toxic water pollution in the United States, accounting for more than half of all toxic water pollution. The human health impacts from this pollution are serious. The EPA estimates that nearly 140,000 people per year experience increased cancer risk due to As₂O₃ in fish from coal plants. The report indicates that almost 13,000 children under the age of seven each year have reduced IQs because of Pb in fish they eat, and almost 2,000 children are born with lower IQs because of toxic fish their mothers have eaten.

Fortunately, the EPA proposed the first ever national standards to limit toxics dumped into waterways from coal plants in April 2013. According to the EPA, these standards should reduce pollution by more than 5 billion pounds a year. The report suggests that the EPA’s new coal plant water pollution standards will not only clean up our water but will also save lives.

Affordable wastewater treatment technologies exist to prevent toxic discharges and are already in use at some plants. It is time for the coal industry to be responsible for the damage it is causing, and for the government to set stricter standards to protect the environment and public health. With the proposed EPA standards, there is hope for a cleaner future. By holding the coal industry responsible, we can make significant steps in protecting our waterways and ensuring that future generations have access to clean and safe water.

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．Over 100 coal plants have limits on toxic materials.

B．Most coal plants operate with Clean Water Act permits.

C．About half of 274 coal plants monitor the toxic materials.

D．Strict standards limiting toxic pollution are urgently required.

2. Which is the main issue affecting human health according to the passage?

A．Outdated Clean Water Act permits.

B．Consumption of polluted fish by humans.

C．Air pollution caused by Coal-fired power plants.

D．Not advanced wastewater treatment technologies.

3. Which word can best describe the new water pollution standards in Paragraph 4?

A．Significant.	B．Ineffective.
C．Alternative.	D．Meaningless.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Lack of strict standards to limit toxic pollution.

B．Serious health problems affected by coal plants.

C．Urgent joint efforts to deal with water pollution caused by coal plants.

D．Importance of affordable wastewater treatment technologies in the United States.

8 . AI is everywhere these days, and the humble baby stroller (推车) industry is no exception. Canadian stroller maker Glüxkind is set to unveil the world’s most advanced AI-powered baby stroller.

The Glüxkind Ella is a technological wonder compared to most other baby strollers. Calling it a stroller sounds a bit unfair, considering that it’s more of a high-tech product that can independently rock your baby to sleep, assist the user on uphill and downhill slopes, and constantly monitor surroundings via a series of sensors and cameras, among many other impressive functions. It may look like a regular stroller at first sight, but Ella is actually a small battery- powered vehicle with artificial intelligence.

The Glüxkind Ella offers adaptive push and brake assistance, which tackles uphill and downhill slopes easily, even when the stroller’s bottom drawer is full of groceries. The stroller’s self-driving capabilities allow it to travel without being driven, while the parent or caretaker interacts with the baby. It uses a suite of onboard 360-degree sensors to detect and follow the sidewalk and avoid obstacles while remaining within arm’s reach of the user by detecting the proximity of his smartphone.

A three-hour battery charge is reportedly enough for about six hours of use. The Glüxkind Ella can be paired with Android and Apple smartphones and can be monitored via GPS, so you can keep track of its whereabouts at all times. If the most advanced AI powered stroller sounds like a dream to come true, you’ll only have to wait a few more months to own one.

“With Glüxkind’s Ella, we aim to make parenting easier, starting with the key piece of parenting equipment, the baby stroller. At Glüxkind, we believe in empowering our families with safe, convenient, and seamless products,” Glüxkind CEO Kevin Huang said.

1. What does the underlined word “unveil” mean in paragraph 1?

A．Reserve

B．Reflect

C．Release

D．Recommend

2. What do you know about the humble baby stroller?

A．It is a regular stroller.	B．It is powered by batteries.
C．It can go uphill and downhill by itself.	D．It monitors the surroundings by smartphones.

3. What is the attitude of the author towards the humble baby stroller?

A．Objective

B．Positive

C．Disapproving

D．Indifferent

4. Why may the families be willing to own an Ella?

A．Safe and convenient	B．Gentle and quiet
C．Advanced and intelligent	D．Impressive and humble

9 . Early each morning, Liu Huangping carefully places beehives around his house, preparing to welcome his tiny guests with spaces to nest. “It’s about the time honeybees usually arrive, and we’ll harvest their honey in August,” said the 50-year-old from Gangbei village in Jiangxi province, who has been keeping bees for nearly 20 years. “Only about five households used to keep bees, but the sizable and stable income from beekeeping has drawn more villagers into the business,” he said.

In 2015, a group was set up to train villagers in beekeeping and help them sell honey. “We teach them modern beekeeping techniques to increase production and provide them with regular sales channels. Villagers have almost no trouble selling,” said Wu Zhulin, Party branch secretary of Gangbei. The sweet business of beekeeping has made villagers wealthy, and in 2017, Gangbei was officially lifted out of poverty.

In 2021, Liu was invited to join a local company specializing in cultural tourism. He was put in charge of promoting agricultural produce through tourism. With a keen understanding of their honey, Liu emphasizes branding and packaging, even creating a promotional video.

A State Council Executive meeting in March made efforts to advance rural vitalization (乡村振兴) across the board, foster rural industries with local characteristics, and create more channels for increasing rural incomes. To broaden the marketability of wild honey produced in this remote village, the government of Jing’an county invited e-commerce companies to Gangbei to promote honey products through online broadcasting.

The county’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau has also played an important role by providing training sessions and encouraging villagers to participate in local industries. The harmonious coexistence between human and nature is evident in the sweet transformation of Gangbei, where the hum of busy bees signifies a prosperous future.

1. When did Liu Huangping start keeping bees?

A．In his 20s.

B．In his 30s.

C．In his 40s.

D．In his 50s.

2. What caused the increase in beekeepers in Gangbei village?

A．Modern beekeeping techniques.	B．High-quality wild honey production.
C．Availability of regular sales channels.	D．Sizable and stable income from beekeeping.

3. What does Liu Huangping act as in the local company?

A．A chief beekeeper.	B．A tourism director.
C．A honey branding expert.	D．An agricultural produce promoter.

4. How does the e-commerce companies invited contribute to rural development?

A．By providing training sessions for villagers.

B．By expanding the marketability of wild honey.

C．By promoting cultural tourism in Gangbei village.

D．By encouraging villagers to engage in beekeeping.