1 . I like challenges, but this one was almost too difficult. I had begged Mom to take me on a completely new adventure for my sixteenth birthday. Now, here we were, just Mom and me with our guide, Milo, standing on the shore of Lake Arenal in Costa Rica.
Milo helped us onto our horses. Getting on the back of my horse was difficult, but controlling it was a little easier. We started on our ride. The guidebook said we would cross three rivers. As we tried to go through a gentle stream, I asked hopefully, “Is this the first river?” “I don't think so, Katie,” Mom said.
Soon enough, we came to a real river. I felt sick to my stomach when I saw that the far shore was half a football field away! The four-foot-deep river flowed over large rocks. So much for dry shoes or jeans.
After two more rivers, the path got steeper and muddier. The rainforest was splendid and absolutely beautiful. But I wondered whether my horse could keep its balance in knee-high mud. Three frightening hours later, we came to a corral (畜栏). I wondered whether we were stopping. To one side was a wonderful view of the lake and volcano, and to the other, a brightly painted restaurant. “OK,” I laughed nervously. “That was frightening, but I'm so glad we did it! ”
1. Why did the author want to have an adventure?| A．To take up a challenge. | B．To get close to nature. |
| C．To celebrate her birthday. | D．To explore the rainforest. |
| A．The horse always lost its balance. | B．The path became steeper and muddier. |
| C．There was more than one river to cross. | D．She found it difficult to cross the first river. |
| A．It was peaceful but tiring. | B．It was interesting and relaxing. |
| C．It was frightening and unpleasant. | D．It was was dangerous but worthwhile. |
| A．A travel blog | B．A science book. |
| C．A museum guide | D．A news report |
2 . Carillon Canal National Historic Site
The Carillon Canal, built on the Ottawa River for military purposes, was opened in 1833. Located 100 kilometres from Montreal and 130 kilometres from Ottawa, it is today a pleasure boating waterway.
Things to do
The Carillon Canal is fed by the water of the Ottawa River. The Canal opens a huge gate to enable boats to sail an impressive 20-metre drop in just 40 minutes!
Have a family picnic in beautiful scenery, then visit the old barracks (营房) which are now a museum. Curious to see a huge power station up close? Visits are free of charge.
Opening hours
The national historic site is open every day of the year from sun rise to 11 p. m.
Fees
Site access is free. Otherwise, there are fees for locking and overnight mooring(停泊).
When is the Canal the busiest?
From mid-June to the end of August, and especially during the following vacation periods and holidays:
·Fete Nationale du Quebec (June 24th).
·Canada Day (July 1st).
·Summer vacations.
·Labour Day(the first Monday of September).
·Thanksgiving.
What are the best times for sailing?
To avoid waiting lines, experience the Carillon Canal during the quieter periods, i. e. before June 24th, and later in early autumn, from Labour Day to mid-October. In this way, you’ll discover these wonderful places at your own pace, without pushing through the crowd that might have had the same idea as you, and you’ll gain the peace of mind to sail in complete relaxation!
1. What do we know about the Carillon Canal?| A．It was originally for educational purposes. |
| B．It is now visited by boaters for pleasure. |
| C．It enjoys a high reputation for its 20-metre drop. |
| D．It was formed naturally on the Ottawa River. |
| A．Mooring overnight. | B．Staying overnight in old barracks. |
| C．Exploring a power station. | D．Passing through locks. |
| A．July 1st to July 24th. | B．October 24th to October 31st. |
| C．June 1st to June 24th. | D．August 24th to June 30th. |
3 . Travel with us to the heart of Fiordland National Park and take in the beauty and vastness of remote Doubtful Sound on our Wilderness Cruise (乘船游览). It will take your breath away as you experience its deep wilderness.
There’s no direct road access, so you’ll start with a boat ride across the picturesque Lake Manapouri , followed by a coach (大巴) trip over the epic Wilmot Pass through Fiordland’s rain forest and into the Sound. Along the way, you’ll pause to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening below. The isolation makes this field a very special place. Only those in the know get to see it. In Doubtful Sound, you’ll board our spacious, purpose-built ship Patea Explorer for a 3-hour cruise.
Things you should know
●Check in 30 minutes prior to your Coach Transfer from Queenstown to Manapouri.
●A highlight is the coach trip through Fiordland’s rainforest and over Wilmot Pass.
●During the cruise, our knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will point out landmarks and provide all the information about the native wildlife you come face to face with, including dolphins, fur seals, and occasionally penguins.
●The trip duration:8 hours.
Extra information
●Picnic lunches available for pre-purchase (预购) up to 7 pm the day before your cruise.
●Snacks and drinks available for purchase on board(cash only).
●Licensed bar on board(cash only).
What to bring
Non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jackets, warm sweaters, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent and cameras.
1. What can tourists do during the cruise on Patea Explorer?| A．Pick personal guides. | B．View local wildlife. |
| C．Admire Lake Manapouri. | D．Enjoy free drinks and lunches. |
| A．30 minutes. | B．3 hours. | C．7 hours. | D．8 hours. |
| A．A park guidebook. | B．A cruise journal. | C．A boarding notice. | D．A travel brochure. |
4 . For even the most city citizens, a quick escape into nature is always a welcome breath of fresh air. Try looking for an urban garden nearby — they often hide themselves just around the corner. Click here to know more of the coolest gardens in cities around the world.
Sky Garden
As London’s highest public garden, this social space offers splendid 360-degree views of the city. With a restaurant, observation decks and beautiful plant life, there is something for everyone in this city-center escape from urban life.
The BeltLine
In a massive, 22-mile loop (环线) around the city, the BeltLine connects many Atlanta neighborhoods with parks, trails, restaurants and art shows. Although it is still under construction, the sections that are open to the public act as alternative space to enjoy the outdoors.
Jardins de Rubió i Lluch
This walled, shady garden is in the courtyard of the historic Hospital de la Santa Creu. Decorated with lilac and mandarin trees — and string lights in the evenings — this small garden square is the perfect place to sip a coffee away from Barcelona’s crowded atmosphere.
Dumbarton Oaks
The garden at this historic estate in Georgetown was listed as one of the 10 best gardens in the world by National Geographic in 2014. It has both a formal, carefully manicured (修剪整齐的) garden as well as a naturalistic garden — allowing visitors the ability to choose what they want to see.
1. Where is the passage taken from?| A．A magazine. | B．A website. | C．A newspaper. | D．A book. |
| A．Sky Garden. | B．The BeltLine. |
| C．Jardins de Rubió i Lluch. | D．Dumbarton Oaks. |
| A．They are all mixtures of entertainment and art. |
| B．They are all mixtures of urban and rural gardens. |
| C．They are all good places for people to get close to nature. |
| D．They are all quiet places for people to enjoy a relaxed dinner. |
5 . A staycation is a vacation when you do not travel at all. Some people use a staycation to just stay at home, and others prefer to experience the attractions around them without travelling very far.
There are many choices for staycations. Any town or city has plenty of choices for things to do if you know where to look. If the weather is nice, you can visit the local gardens or forests for a hike. You can look online for several historic places and create your own history tours. Of course, you can also visit other attractions in the areas like museums, restaurants, parks, beaches and so on.
Others take the term “staycation” word for word and do not leave their houses at all. Some choices for this can include taking time off to cook a great meal and enjoy it together, or spending all day at a pool.
Just as a coin has two sides, staycation has both its advantages and risks. Since you are not travelling or staying in a hotel, a staycation can be unbelievably cheap. You are also saving by not driving very far and by not taking an airplane anywhere. Travel costs have become really expensive, so the farther you go, the more expensive it is. By staying close to home, you cut that cost by quite a bit. Finally, any stress that you feel with travel, whether that is from driving long distance or looking for an airport, will completely disappear.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To introduce the general information on staycations. |
| B．To compare staycations with other vacations. |
| C．To provide different ways of staycations. |
| D．To advise people to have staycations. |
| A．usually travel to cities far away |
| B．spend all day eating and sleeping |
| C．visit famous attractions of different cities |
| D．either relax at home or travel near their homes |
| A．How to have a staycation safely. | B．Why people prefer a staycation. |
| C．What risks a staycation has. | D．When to take a staycation. |
6 . More than half of the world’s oceans have changed greatly in color over the past 20 years, with human-caused climate change as the likely cause, according to the study published in the journal Nature. Oceans around the equator (赤道), in particular, have become greener, a trend that cannot be explained by natural, year-to-year variability (变化性) alone, reflecting changes in their ecosystems.
The ocean’s color changes based on what’s found in its upper layers. Bluer oceans tend to have little life, while greener oceans have more phytoplankton (浮游植物). Phytoplankton are the base of the ocean food web. In a balanced ecosystem, they serve as fuel for zooplankton and fish, which are eaten by larger fish, seabirds and marine mammals.
Nevertheless, the change in color has indicated a change in the ecosystem. While some areas are likely to have less phytoplankton, others will have more. These kinds of shifts could have ripple effects throughout the entire ocean ecosystem.
To determine whether this trend was related to climate change, researchers compared two ocean-color models which simulated how the oceans would respond under two conditions: one with added greenhouse gases and one without. The results predicted in the greenhouse gas model aligned (一致) almost exactly with what the researchers found from real-world data---within 20 years, about half of the oceans obviously shifted in color.
Dutkiewicz said she was not surprised at this finding. “But still I found the results overwhelmingly alarming; and there is another wake-up call that human-caused climate change has significantly impacted the earth system,” she said. “All changes are causing an imbalance in natural ecosystems. Such imbalances will only get worse over time if our oceans keep heating.” she added.
1. What does the new study mainly show?| A．The color of the oceans varies with the seasons. |
| B．Oceans are turning greener due to climate change. |
| C．Ocean ecosystems have become more and more fragile. |
| D．Human activities are the main cause of climate change. |
| A．Greener oceans are more beneficial to fish than blue ones. |
| B．Phytoplankton play a fundamental role in ocean ecosystems. |
| C．The number of phytoplankton is in decline in most oceans. |
| D．Phytoplankton are vital for fighting against climate change. |
| A．By exploring the waters covered by phytoplankton. |
| B．By referring to previous data about greenhouse gases. |
| C．By analyzing the source of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| D．By comparing ocean-color models in different conditions. |
| A．To offer solutions to ocean heating. |
| B．To show the changes in natural ecosystems. |
| C．To stress the urgency of dealing with climate change. |
| D．To state the importance of the ocean to human beings. |
7 . If you have to describe yourself to someone else, what will you say? It can be difficult to see yourself from the outside, but knowing who you are, namely self-awareness, can help you understand feelings and make friendships closer.
Self-awareness means having a good understanding of our own character, that is, having the ability to see ourselves clearly. If you’re self-aware, you may know that you love playing an instrument because you do well in it, and music makes you happy, or that you prefer watching TV on your own because it helps you relax.
Knowing what you like and dislike, what you do well in and what you find difficult allows you to make better decisions about friendships, schoolwork and so on. You learn to trust your own feelings more, which builds confidence (信心). The World Health Organization says self-awareness is one of ten important life skills that help young people live happier, healthier lives. Being self-aware doesn’t mean only thinking of yourself. By understanding your own feelings, you will better understand other people too.
How do you learn to be self-aware? It’s a good way to ask questions. But ask yourself questions that start with “What” instead of “Why”. So if you don’t understand why you keep arguing with a friend, ask yourself what you disagree on instead of why you’re arguing.
Learning to be more self-aware is a skill, which means you learn it as you grow. So be bold and try out new things, like playing a new sport or listening to different kinds of music. Don’t be afraid to dislike something - discovering what you find difficult is a key part of learning more about yourself.
1. The second paragraph mainly about ________.| A．what self-awareness is |
| B．what true happiness is |
| C．how to find true happiness |
| D．how to develop self-awareness |
| A．it’ll make you think more of yourself |
| B．it’ll make you perform better at school |
| C．it’ll help you learn how to ask proper questions |
| D．it’ll help you have a better understanding of others |
| A．努力的 | B．自豪的 | C．大胆的 | D．耐心的 |
| A．Being in high spirits. |
| B．Discovering your weak points. |
| C．Having a taste for pleasant music. |
| D．Learning to get along well with others. |
8 . Do you ever give up easily in difficult situations? If so, imagine yourself as someone with great abilities, like Batman(蝙蝠侠). It will help you feel strong. You will not give up easily and will probably do better. This is called the Batman Effect(效应).
In a study, researchers gave three groups of six-year-old children a difficult task to complete on a computer. In Group One, the children were told-to repeat asking themselves, “Am I working hard?” In Group Two, the children were told to ask themselves the same question in the third person - as in “Is Sam working hard?” And in Group Three, the children were told to imagine themselves as Batman and ask themselves, “Is Batman working hard?” Researchers found that the children in Group Three did the best.
How can you make use of the Batman Effect? Imagine yourself as someone who is the best for the task you are doing. If you’re facing a personal difficulty, imagine yourself as a wise family member. If you’re running a race at school, imagine yourself as a top runner. In this way, you can become a little more like the person you wish to be.
1. Who took part in the study?| A．Sam’s family. |
| B．Difficult persons. |
| C．Computer makers. |
| D．Six-year-old children. |
| A．By joining a group. |
| B．By talking with a family member. |
| C．By answering questions. |
| D．By imagining himself as a top runner. |
| A．Go and do research! |
| B．Come and complete tasks! |
| C．I can do it! I’m Batman! |
| D．You can help! You’re a helper! |
9 . One afternoon in 2022, something on the Internet caught my eye：a tiny hedgehog (刺猬) held by a big hand. The post read: “HELP! My hedgehog abandoned (抛弃) her two babies, and I cannot raise both of them because I have to go to school fulltime. Good home with experience needed as soon as possible!”
I had no experience with baby hedgehogs. I was an animal person through and through and had raised cats, dogs, birds, and guinea pigs. But this tiny animal was new to me, and it touched me that he was abandoned, that maybe I could love him and be the best mom for him.
I wrote the most heartfelt email I could. That was how I found my Louie. True to my word, he was my baby. Louie didn’t know he was a hedgehog. He never curled (蜷缩) into a ball, and he liked my two cats, no fear. The cats, however, were afraid of him, as he often moved into the room, running after the cats and blocking my way.
By the time he reached old age, Louie had only three feet. However, he still managed to climb the stairs to visit other animals. He helped me realize my dream of hedgehog photography, a hobby that began during childhood with cats and dollhouses. I love showing off his modeling.
Life has meaning because of the purpose we have. Louie needed a good home and mom, and in return, I got to be a good mother and be needed. Hedgehogs require great amounts of patience, trust, and knowledge—but the payoff (回报) is pretty great.
1. The author got Louie from .| A．a pet shop | B．a family friend |
| C．a hedgehog owner | D．a hedgehog rescue center |
| A．Frightened. | B．Relaxed. | C．Lonely. | D．Tired. |
| A．He disliked climbing stairs. | B．He enjoyed being left alone. |
| C．He always refused to be in photos. | D．He was active despite his difficulty in moving. |
| A．It was easier than expected. | B．It gave her a sense of safety. |
| C．It made her lose her patience. | D．It was satisfying and meaningful. |
10 . Dublin is the capital of Ireland. Located on the island’s east coast, it is a paradise for tourists. Let’s take a look at some things to see and do in Dublin!
Visit Trinity College
Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592, is Ireland’s oldest university. The most famous part of this beautiful college is the Old Library. The library houses the Book of Kells, which is an ancient collection of art and stories about some famous people.
Enjoy Nature at Phoenix Park
When the weather is fine, there’s nothing better than a visit to Phoenix Park, Dublin. This large walled park has plenty to hold your interest. The Dublin Zoo is located within the park, but the zoo isn’t the only place to see animals. The park has been home to a herd of wild deer since the seventeenth century.
Take a Walk Across the Ha’penny Bridge
Another fun thing to do in Dublin is to simply walk around the historic city. A proper walk around Dublin should include the charming Ha’penny Bridge. It was built over the River Liffey in 1816, and its name came from the cost of walking across it—one halfpenny. Take a few pictures and then enjoy a meal at one of the nearby pubs and restaurants.
1. What can we know about Trinity College?| A．It enjoys a long history. | B．Its library is little-known. |
| C．It owns a large walled park. | D．It’s home to a herd of deer. |
| A．It was built half a century ago. | B．The nearby pubs sold food at half price. |
| C．People spent half a penny crossing it. | D．Tourists took pictures halfway across it. |
| A．A book review. | B．A news report. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A course plan. |
