2 . Starting a daily running routine needs determination. Looking back on my old running routine, it wasn’t so much the passion that affected my sticking to a regular schedule — but it was the environment. There had to be no rain pouring down, there had to be not many people on the basketball court and the ambient (周围的) temperature had to be just right. Or maybe I was just making an excuse for myself not to get up at 5 in the morning?

I was quite successful at doing so when I was 15 and when it was summer. When I was overweight, I ate more snacks than the actual full meals in a day, and I hardly got off the sofa. One summer day, I decided that it was time to put a stop to the idea that I was just the fat kid. I didn’t want to put in that box anymore. There was a tipping point (临界点) where inspiration happened, and discipline (自律) just took over from there. I needed to make sure that I ran 10 laps of the park a day — this was the contract (契约) I made with myself that summer. And if I achieved that, I knew I’d be closer to my goal of being just a kid with normal weight.

Ten laps, six days a week — sometimes no breakfast, hardly a bite at dinner, one snack a day—this lasted two months. I’d lost over 30 pounds that summer, which was roughly a quarter of my body weight. Some days, I didn’t have the motivation. But the contract I made with myself kept reminding me — if I’d break it, would I even bother making future self-contracts anymore? There were sleepy days, and there were days when I should have rested my trembling knees, but discipline won over them all.

1. What do we know about the author’s past running routine?

A．It was made by the author’s parents.	B．It mainly depended on the environment.
C．It referred to many people at site.	D．It failed in the end.

2. What can we infer from the fact that the author was overweight?

A．The author didn’t live a healthy lifestyle.

B．Summer is a season for people to be fat.

C．Good eating habits could make one put on weight.

D．Getting up late made him a fat kid.

3. Why did the author keep the contract that made with himself?

A．He felt looked down upon when he was fat.

B．He couldn’t find a right word to describe his size.

C．He made up his mind to achieve his goal of losing weight.

D．He was too fat to find the right size of clothes or shoes.

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．My Running Routine Was Affected by the Environment.

B．It Was Unpleasant to Be Overweight.

C．I Made a Contract on Running.

D．Discipline Helps Achieve My Goal.

3 . Competing for a Trip to Soma Bay, Egypt

Soma Bay is a perfect place for sunny relaxation. If you take a trip there, you can also take part in the competition we organize.

The Destination

Lapped by the Red Sea on three sides and with views of sandy beaches and desert mountains, Soma Bay can attract nature lovers most, Spreading across almost 2,500 acres, the Egyptian tourist attraction has an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a golfing enthusiast, as well as the largest Thalasso spa in Africa. Kiteboarding, diving and horse riding are all on offer, too.

Of Soma Bay’s five accommodation options, a five-star hotel enjoys a fantastic location on the highest point of the Soma Bay peninsula. It has a number of guest rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as four on-site restaurants, You can enjoy beach-side pizza, take afternoon tea, or stop for a drink by the 18th hole. They are all offered by the hotel.

The Prize

With the official permission of Soma Bay, the winner can enjoy a four-night stay in a classic room at the five-star hotel on a half-price basis. The prize includes return economy class flight tickets with overhead cabin luggage from the UK to Hurghada International Airport up to the value of £650 per person, with direct routes available from cities including London, Manchester and Bristol, plus return airport transfers to Soma Bay (UK transfers aren’t included).

To Enter

Answer the following question online at natgeotv,com/uk/competitions:

ON WHICH SEA IS SOMA BAY LOCATED?

Competition closes on 31 October 2023.

The winner must be a UK adult resident, aged 18 or over.

1. What does the five-star hotel offer?

A．Games on a golf course.	B．Tickets for kiteboarding.
C．Something to eat and drink.	D．Accommodation on the beach.

2. What can the winner get?

A．A free stay in the perfect hotel.	B．A return airport transfer to the UK.
C．A possible direct flight ticket from Bristol.	D．A first class flight from the UK to Hurghada

3. What do we know about the competition?

A．It welcomes children.	B．It covers multiple questions.
C．It targets at Egyptian citizens.	D．It ends on the last day of October.

4 .

Enter to become a BBC young reporter Young people aged from 11—18 are invited to send stories about “Me and My World” as part of the BBC Young Reporter Competition. Here’s some information about it. ●  The thing needed To take part, you don’t need to send us a finished report. Just provide your story idea. You can either write it down or record it as a video. ●  The prize for winners With the help of BBC programme makers, winners will produce and share their reports on the BBC’s TV and radio channels and online. ●  More information Visit our website at tinyurl.com/TWJ-BBCYoungreporter and send your story idea before June 30.

1. Which of the following students can take part in the competition?

A．Tom aged 6.	B．Lucy aged 10.
C．Ben aged 16.	D．Amy aged 20.

2. The winners will produce and share their reports with the help of ________.

A．the winners’ parents	B．BBC programme makers
C．the winners’ teachers	D．BBC interview directors

3. If you want to go for the competition, you need to ________.

A．write songs about “Me and My World”	B．prepare a finished report on your own
C．read news reports on the BBC website	D．provide your story idea before June 30

6 . If you hope to improve your health, exercise is obviously a good way. But do you know that it has great effects on the mind too? We often pay little attention to the great mental benefits that exercising regularly can have. It will allow you to stay active and healthy for a long time, allowing you to have both the physical and mental (身心的) benefits.    1    

Improve your mood (心情) . Exercise is just what you need if you’re looking for some positive feelings. It is possible that you have experienced a happy time after exercise. While you are exercising, “happiness hormones (荷尔蒙)” are released.     2    

Reduce stress. If you’re feeling stressed, this feeling will disappear after exercise.    3    Because it helps reduce the level of the “stress hormone” which leaves you feeling tired and stressed.

    4    If you take regular exercise, you’ll find the results last longer too. So over time, you’ll have a higher ability to stay focused while completing tasks if you exercise regularly.

Improve your memory. According to a study by the University of British Columbia, regular exercise increases the size of the hippocampus (a part of the brain).    5    

So, it is clear to see that there are many different benefits regular exercise can have. With these benefits for the mind, there now shouldn’t be any excuse not to start and lead an active, balanced life.

A．Increase your focus.

B．Increase your sense of self-worth.

C．Regular exercise keeps your mind calm.

D．They fill you with positive and happy feelings.

E．Exercise is a quite wonderful way to reduce stress.

F．Here’re several important mental benefits of exercise.

G．This is especially important for learning and memory.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

CHINA DAILY Oct. 20, 2022 Two giant pandas arrived in Doha,     1     capital of Qatar, on Wednesday, on a plane from China to fulfill a cooperation     2     (agree) on giant panda conservation and research between the two nations. They     3     (expect) to stay in Qatar for 15 years under the agreement.

According to the CCRC for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province, the two pandas—3-year-old female Si Hai and 4-year-old male Jing Jing—left the research center’s Ya’an base in Chengdu, Sichuan,     4     Qatar on Tuesday.

Mohamed, Qatar’s ambassador to China, said via video link during the farewell ceremony in Chengdu for the giant pandas that he appreciated the bilateral relations between Qatar and China, adding that the gift shows     5     deeply the relations have developed.

The ambassador said that the event was a milestone in cultural diplomacy,     6     (bring) the two sides’ relations to a     7     (high) level and a wider field. He also invited guests at the ceremony to visit Qatar and watch the 2022 Qatar World Cup,     8     (hold) on Nov. 20 in Doha.

“     9    is the first time that giant pandas have traveled to the Middle East,” the center said, adding that breeders and vet experts were sent to help the giant pandas adapt to the new environment. So far, the number of captive giant pandas worldwide     10    (increase) to 673, according to the center.

10 . “My Edinburgh” photography competition

Edinburgh Libraries invites you to take part in the “My Edinburgh” competition on Edinburgh Collected. Add a photo of your favourite place in Edinburgh to Edinburgh Collected and tell us what makes it special to you.

The photography competition is free to enter but all entries must be entered via the Edinburgh Collected website (www.edinburghcollected.org). The competition is open to all, students and professionals alike. Your photo might show the place that offers your favourite view of the city, your favourite park, street, or local pub. It doesn’t matter, so long as you tell us what makes that place special to you.

Entries will be judged by a group of experts from Edinburgh College of Art, Museums and Galleries Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University. Entries will be judged on their photographic qualities as well as descriptions.

The closing date for entries is 31 August and winners will be chosen in September.

We will give a canvas print (照片帆布油画) for1st, 2nd and 3rd place entries and the winner will also receive a voucher for a Jessops Academy Photography Course.

Entrants must create an account with Edinburgh Collected to upload your photo(s). There is no limit to the number of entries you can upload, but there will be only one winning entry per entrant.

1. What do we know about the photography competition?

A．It asks entrants to pay to enter.	B．It is held by Edinburgh College of Art.
C．It is only for professional photographers.	D．It accepts photos of a place in Edinburgh.

2. What will the third place winner receive?

A．Prize money.	B．A canvas print.
C．A voucher for photography courses.	D．A chance to visit Edinburgh Napier University.

3. What are entrants asked to do?

A．Enter only one photo.	B．Send the entry by email.
C．Upload the entry before 31 September.	D．Create an account with Edinburgh Collected.