1 . England Tours
Rick Steves England tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. Browse Rick’s best England tours and vacation packages.
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour
$4,485 per person
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days delivers a colorful mix of must-see cities. Along the way, you will encounter some fascinating bits of art, history, and culture — as well as a couple of castles, a boat, plenty of hiking, and even a swimming pool or two. Our stress-free Europe vacation package provides great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing — and memories to last a lifetime. And on this tour, kids aged 8 —19 get a $200 discount!
Best of London in 7 Days Tour
$4,495 per person
London has just what you need for a quick escape: direct flights, the best live theater scene on the planet, and an inviting pub on every corner. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead to the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle.
Best of England in 14 Days Tour
$4,395 per person
Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and village charm. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. From there you’ll be guided to King Arthur’s Glastonbury, flower-boxed Cotswold villages, and Caernarfon Castle. You’ll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District.
Best of South England in 10 Days Tour
$4,595 per person
Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. Your Rick Steves guide will introduce you to locals who have talents to share and stories to tell. You’ll also learn about and taste the delicious seafood and traditional Cornish pasties.
1. Which tour is probably the cheapest for a teenager?| A．Family Europe: London to Florence. | B．Best of London. |
| C．Best of England. | D．Best of South England. |
| A．Sea bathing. | B．Local school visits. |
| C．Local stories. | D．North Ireland’s history. |
| A．Direct flight. | B．Guided tour. |
| C．Village walk. | D．Delicious seafood. |
2 . You’ve probably followed a few cute dogs and cats on social media. However, are you aware that Ai-generated pets are also gaining popularity nowadays? They are just as adorable as real dogs and cats but also exhibit human-like characteristics.
Chai Dada, 21, runs an AI-generated dog account called “Shizhuangzhuangya” on Xiaohongshu and has already got more than 10,000 followers. Her AI-generated pet Zhuangzhuang is a fluffy Shiba Inu with a big belly who likes to eat and work out. “Zhuangzhuang is actually a reflection of me,” Chai said. “Its life and mood basically reflect my own.”
To personify the character more, the young content maker places Zhuangzhuang in various daily life scenarios. For instance, responding to the recent increase of “hui nan tian”— the super humid (潮湿的) weather in southern China in spring — Chai posted images of Zhuangzhuangmopping a wet floor, with the caption. “It’s wet everywhere at home”; vividly capturing the mood. In the comments section, many have expressed sympathy (同情), for the poor dog.
“Many scenes may seem ordinary, but when a very lifelike and adorable human-like pet appears in these familiar scenes, it looks interesting,” Chai said. Since Zhuangzhuang closely resembles a human in a dog’s body, many followers have come to believe in its real existence. This has provided Chai with opportunities to monetize by partnering with brands for product advertisements. Aiming to expand her reach, Chai expressed a desire to dive deeper into AI to bring her AI pet to life not just in pictures but also in videos.
She also observed that more and more people like her are becoming AI pet bloggers, which has intensified competition in this industry. To attract more fans, bloggers are constantly learning more AI skills and brainstorming to create more interesting storylines. “I want to develop Zhuangzhuang into an intellectual property and create related cultural and creative products such as dolls and stickers,” said Chai.
1. What do we know about the AI pet Zhuangzhuang?| A．It is a digital recreation of Chai’s childhood pet. |
| B．It has gained over one million followers online. |
| C．It is a virtual representation of a real Shiba Inu. |
| D．It mirrors the life and personality of its creator. |
| A．To show the fun Zhuangzhuang brings Chai. |
| B．To illustrate how Chai humanizes Zhuangzhuang. |
| C．To describe Zhuangzhuang’s daily struggles. |
| D．To suggest Zhuangzhuang’s growing fan base. |
| A．Commercialize. | B．Promote. | C．Maximize. | D．Monitor. |
| A．Perfect Zhuangzhuang’s features. | B．Cooperate with other AI pet creators. |
| C．Create lifelike videos of Zhuangzhuang. | D．Write a book featuring Zhuangzhuang. |
3 . The standard public health threats are all-too familiar: smoking, high blood pressure, cancer. But a new government advisory made headlines in 2023 by adding an unexpected major to that list. Loneliness, stated the report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, is a widely under recognized U.S. health crisis. In recent years, about 50 percent of Americans have experienced loneliness, which results in adverse effects. Lonely people, as Murthy’s report warns, run the same mortality (死亡) risk as people who smoke 15 cigarettes a day.
On its face, Murthy’s warning sounds awfully alarmist. It’s hard to understand how a lack of companionship could be as threatening as an addiction or global pandemic. But humans are so biologically wired to be social that isolation damages our systems. People who lack social support have a 29 percent higher risk of heart disease, a 32 percent higher risk of stroke, and a 26 to 29 percent higher risk of premature death, according to the report. What’s more, such health effects in isolated older adults have led to about $6.7 billion in Medicare spending each year.
Scientists now know that loneliness can cause lots of health problems. That may be because our ancestors thrived (繁荣) in supportive communities. “Our brains function more efficiently when we are with others.” Says Julianne Holt Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University.
Since loneliness can feel so much like personal failure, it’s easy to assume people should just try to handle it on their own. But in reality, many of the factors that promote social isolation are structural ones. “It could be workplace policies that don’t allow flexibility to support personal relationships.” Holt Lunstad says. “It might be busy or unsafe streets that are barriers to getting to know your neighbors.”
1. What does the underlined word “adverse” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Slight. | B．Negative. | C．Indirect. | D．Immediate. |
| A．Loneliness is a great health threat to people. | B．Loneliness does more harm than a pandemic. |
| C．Lonely people run the same risk as the smokers. | D．Loneliness is a well-recognized health problem. |
| A．Social isolation can be solved on one’s own. |
| B．Social anxiety holds back personal interactions. |
| C．The absence of social support worsens loneliness. |
| D．Tight working schedules lead to tense relationships. |
| A．The causes of loneliness. | B．The effects of loneliness. |
| C．The definition of loneliness. | D．The solutions to the loneliness. |
4 . Glass marble playing, dating psychology, Harry Potter and genetics, life and death ... Chinese universities have started setting up innovative new courses. In these classes, students are able to learn knowledge through vivid examples and group work, making learning fun.
For example, at Tianjin University, the most popular elective course is dating psychology, which is in high demand all the time. Jin Yangbo, 18, enrolled in the course this school year. “This course is very scientific,” said Jin. “It doesn’t straight away start with techniques on how to date, but instead guide s us to learn more about ourselves, our family and our attachment styles.”
What made Jin impressive was the group discussion on the differences between how men and women think. “I hadn’t realized that there were that many differences between men and women in emotional expression,” Jin said.
Wang Xiaoling, the professor of the course, applied to make dating psychology an elective course in 2019. “I do psychological counseling on campus and have noticed a rising need among students to have professional relationship guidance,” said Wang. “I think theoretical knowledge and practice are both essential in relationships,” Wang said. “Many university students haven’t developed a healthy view toward relationships. When they encounter problems, many of them don’t have a good system for handling consequences.”
In the course, Wang has covered topics like “why some people tend to please others in relationships”, “how to handle conflicts” and “how to get over a person after breaking up”. “I also asked them to do group presentations and papers on these topics, so that they can explore themselves in an active way.”
In the future, Wang and the university want to start a video channel on social media so they can help more young people all over China. “We will design the course based on current situations so that the knowledge is more up-to-date,” Wang said.
1. Which of the following best describes the elective courses?| A．Easy and fun. | B．Creative and hands-on. |
| C．Serious and complicated. | D．Scientific and interesting. |
| A．Techniques on how to date. | B．Its emphasis on self-awareness. |
| C．The lesson on attachment. | D．A discussion on gender differences. |
| A．Wang’s views on relationships. |
| B．The origin of the dating psychology course. |
| C．The purpose of the dating psychology course. |
| D．Problems with how students deal with relationships. |
| A．Make the course more accessible. | B．Do counseling on social media. |
| C．Include difficult topics in the course. | D．Adapt content for different age groups. |
5 . I had always looked forward to the day when I would finally apply as a delegate at a Model United Nations (MUN) conference. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement when I finally traveled to Belgium to participate in the 2023 MUN conference this March.
The conference was held on March 7-11. Despite the horrible weather throughout our stay, I still found the city extremely attractive due to its cobblestone streets, Gothic monuments and amazing lighting in the evenings. Meanwhile, the delegate’s fee covered lunches for four days, welcoming and closing receptions, a traditional Belgian dinner, a theme party and a gala night.
I was designated to represent Poland in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which turned out to be an unexpectedly unified and efficient committee. We managed to pass the communique to combat hybrid warfare and improve cooperation between NATO allies (盟友).
In the beginning, I felt intimidated by how passionate my fellow delegates were. As a first-timer, I was really confused and felt hesitant to speak up. I only started to enjoy acting my part as a diplomat on the second day. From there, things just got better and better. I got a bit ill at the end of the conference, however, so I couldn’t enjoy the conference to its fullest potential.
Even so, it is without a doubt that those days in Belgium definitely opened a new chapter in my MUN journey! It made me realize how fruitful MUN simulations are. Through the MUN conference, you will surely improve your public speaking skills massively and gain so many good friends, many of whom you will likely stay in touch with for the rest of your life. It is for these reasons that I have fallen in love with Leuven, that magical city.
1. What did the author like about Leuven?| A．The streetscape. | B．Delicious food. |
| C．Its rich history. | D．The friendly locals. |
| A．She helped pass several resolutions. | B．She spent most of her time socializing. |
| C．She found the committee productive. | D．She struggled to get her ideas across. |
| A．Inspired. | B．Frightened. | C．Touched. | D．Excited. |
| A．It is too challenging for first-timers. |
| B．It is a good way to improve negotiation skills. |
| C．It is a valuable experience for personal growth. |
| D．It offers a great chance to learn about other cultures. |
6 . Bryan was driving home one evening. It was starting to get dark and cold. Ever since the factory closed, he’d been unemployed. Suddenly, he saw an old lady
All she had was a
A few miles down the road, the lady saw a small cafe and went in. She
That night when she got home from work, she was thinking about the lady. With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how
| A．confusedly | B．anxiously | C．frightenedly | D．crazily |
| A．pulled up | B．broke down | C．dressed up | D．calmed down |
| A．crowded | B．spacious | C．warm | D．cold |
| A．flat | B．spare | C．new | D．swollen |
| A．charged | B．admired | C．appreciated | D．owed |
| A．price | B．money | C．cost | D．salary |
| A．assistance | B．guidance | C．opportunity | D．reward |
| A．discovered | B．recalled | C．hoped | D．noticed |
| A．menu | B．lunch | C．change | D．tip |
| A．Unwillingly | B．Unexpectedly | C．Unfortunately | D．Unlikely |
| A．sorrows | B．joys | C．regrets | D．tears |
| A．wrote | B．said | C．printed | D．showed |
| A．continue | B．begin | C．end | D．develop |
| A．terrified | B．relieved | C．excited | D．worried |
| A．whispered | B．screamed | C．laughed | D．shouted |
7 . An increase in a country’s working-age population is a blessing. Lots of workers support relatively few children and retired people. So long as the labor market can absorb an increasing number of job-seekers, output per head will rise. That can boost savings and investment, leading to higher economic growth, more productivity gains and developmental speed-up. Yet for countries that fail to seize this opportunity, the results can be tough.
Consider Thailand. It is rapidly aging. In 2021, the share of Thais aged 65 or over hit 14%, a figure that is often used to define an aged society Soon Thailand will, like Japan, South Korea and most Western countries, see a decreasing supply of workers and flagging productivity and growth without extraordinary measures. Yet unlike Japan and the rest. Thailand is not a developed country. It has got old before it has got rich.
This is a big barrier to Thailand’s future development. To protect its aging citizens, many of whom are poor, Thailand’s government will have to spend more on health care and pensions (养老金). This will make it harder to invest in productivity-boosting skills and infrastructure (基础设施). And where Thailand goes, many developing countries will follow.
One conclusion is that countries with a working-age burst need seeking more economic growth out of it. India may never have a better chance than the present. It is widely accepted that privatization and looser foreign-investment rules could raise its growth rate.
Another conclusion is that developing countries need to start planning for old age earlier. They should reform their pension systems, including by raising retirement ages. They should encourage financial markets, providing options for long-term saving and health insurance. And they should try harder to increase female participation in the labor force. Getting more women into jobs would help deal with the fact that women live longer than men, but tend to have less savings and pensions, leaving them in difficult situations in old age.
1. What does “opportunity” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Providing more jobs for working-age laborers. |
| B．Reducing support for children and the elderly. |
| C．Encouraging investment for economic growth. |
| D．Increasing economic output and labor productivity. |
| A．It causes a shortage of young workers. |
| B．It forces the country to invest in infrastructure. |
| C．It leads to less investment in economic development. |
| D．It increases the burden on the working-age population. |
| A．To extend women’s retirement ages. |
| B．To encourage women to be included in health insurance. |
| C．To equalize the number of men and women in the workplace. |
| D．To settle the conflict between women’s long lifespan and small pension. |
| A．Aging Problems in Developing Countries. |
| B．Planning Ahead for Aging Societies. |
| C．Challenges and Opportunities of Aging Societies. |
| D．The Role of Female Labors in Addressing the Aging Issue. |
8 . In May 2019, a friend who had previously been involved in the Restless Development Sierra Leone Business Brains project encouraged me to apply for the “Saving Lives II” project. Seeing this as an opportunity to move closer to my ambition of working in the medical field in the near future, I eagerly seized the chance. Fortunately, my performance during the interview led to me being awarded the role.
Following the basic training, I was sent to volunteer in Kurubonla, a remote community located in the northem region of Sierra Leone. This assignment presented challenges such as limited road access and communication networks. At first, I felt concerned about being sent there, but with a determined mindset, I set out on the journey, driven by a passion to contribute to my country’s development and to push my personal boundaries.
As I got to know the community, I quickly realized that the challenges extended beyond language barriers and cultural differences; there was also a sense of isolation from my peers. However, I refused to allow these challenges to stop me. I threw myself in my duties, working together with local leaders and community members to identify the most pressing needs. Together, we carried out the projects aimed at improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure (基础设施). Additionally, I organized workshops and training courses to share my knowledge and skills with the locals.
Over time, I witnessed the positive impact of our collective efforts. Healthcare facilities improved, the number of students in schools increased, and the overall quality of life in the community showed signs of improvement. These achievements were not solely mine; they were a testament to the cooperative spirit and commitment of the entire community.
1. What do we learn about the author from the first two paragraphs?| A．He was unwilling to volunteer in Sierra Leonne. |
| B．He felt excited about the assignment in Kurubonla. |
| C．He applied for the “Saving Lives Ⅱ” project for his future promise. |
| D．He was immediately sent to Kurubonla after he was awarded the role. |
| A．He assisted in the projects led by the locals. |
| B．He met with only language and cultural barriers. |
| C．He overcame challenges to serve the community. |
| D．He attended the training courses organized by the local leaders. |
| A．Devoted but stubborn. | B．Determined and passionate. |
| C．Confident and cautious. | D．Motivated but moody. |
| A．The author’s growth through volunteering. |
| B．Language and culture in voluntary work. |
| C．Collective efforts in community development. |
| D．Volunteers’ challenges in remote communities. |
9 . AI-generated content has recently won big in the literary world. Japanese author Rie Kudan won one of Japan’s most famous literary awards, the Akutagawa Prize, with the help of ChatGPT in The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy.
The book is set in future Japan, where Al has become an important part of people’s lives. The story centers around an architect who creates a comfortable prison but struggles with a society that she sees as being overly sympathetic to criminals.
Kudan admitted at a news conference that “around 5 percent of the book’s text was taken directly from generative AI,” reported kyodo News. She added that there is a scene in the book where an AI chatbot answers the main character’s questions and she used AI-generated text in the responses given by AI in the story. The word-for-word content generated by Al was applauded by committee members as “practically flawless”, said CNN.
This is not the first time that AI-related works have won prizes. In October 2023, The Land of Machine Memories was awarded second prize at China’s fifth youth popular science and science fiction competition. The fiction was fully created by AI with the prompts (提示) given by Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University. Surprisingly, just one judge among the six of the competition realized that what they were reading was the product of a machine.
So will literature in the future be all about Al? Debates are still ongoing on the matter. Japanese literary critic Akira Okawada told Tyodo News that “it is difficult for AI to create work that addresses ethical themes in depth”. However, Chinese writer Luo Ping holds the positive view. “Improvements in technology will not cause human laziness in creating, but rather will only make them involved in more heated competition. With the help of technology, the starting point of human thinking will only grow higher,” Luo told Hongxing News.
“I think this is only the beginning for AI in creating literature,” Fu Changyi, a member of Jiangsu Popular Science Writers Association, told online news Guancha. “We will wait and see how the future goes,” he added.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To lead in the topic of the text. | B．To promote an AI-generated book. |
| C．To introduce a famous Japanese writer. | D．To show the advancement of ChatGPT. |
| A．It was fully created by AI. |
| B．It is the first AI-created book winning an award. |
| C．Six judges recognized that it was produced by AI. |
| D．The AI-created content in the book was highly spoken of. |
| A．AI will bring human thinking to a higher level. |
| B．Human authors will be replaced by AI in the future. |
| C．Human will lose the enthusiasm to create because of AI. |
| D．AI doesn’t have the capability to deal with ethical issues. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Negative. | C．Optimistic. | D．Indifferent. |
10 . My biggest regret of 2023 was the relationship to my smartphone. I spent the equal of January, February and March looking at that tiny screen. While some of that time was necessary for work, or staying connected with family, I became glued to it. This habit started to make me feel uneasy.
So, in December, I made a big change. I swapped my expensive iPhone for a basic flip phone (翻盖手机), which only cost $108. This decision was met with disbelief, especially from my seven-year-old daughter who couldn’t understand why I chose such a device. However, I was determined to reduce my screen time and take back control of my life.
Making the switch was neither easy nor fast. I had to adjust to its limited functions and learn to live without the convenience of having everything at my fingertips. There were moments when I felt frustrated, like when I couldn’t use a smartphone app to charge my electric car or navigate without Google Maps. Despite these challenges, I survived, and even progressed during the month.
It was a relief to disconnect my brain from the internet regularly and for hours at a time. I read four books. I even did a magic jigsaw puzzle. After two weeks, I noticed I’d lost my thumb twitch — physical desire to check my phone in the morning, at red lights, waiting for an elevator or at any other moment when my mind had a brief opportunity to wander.
“Our health is struggling against many of these services and companies that are competing for our time and our energy and our attention,” said Matthew Buman, a professor of movement sciences at Arizona State University. I told him about my own strategy — the flip phone. He said it probably made my mind feel more free and feel as if I had more time (both true), but that in our society, it’s hard to maintain that in the long term.
1. What made the author change her relationship with her smartphone?| A．Her intention to work harder. | B．Her desire to contact her family. |
| C．Her decision to try something new. | D．Her guilt about overuse of the phone. |
| A．Proud of the wise choice. | B．Astonished at the low price. |
| C．Confused by the unexpected switch. | D．Delighted at the new device. |
| A．Efficiency in navigating. | B．Control over her life. |
| C．Convenience to charge her car. | D．Desire to check her phone. |
| A．The author might find it hard to disconnect from the internet. |
| B．The author’s health might suffer due to the lack of connectivity. |
| C．The author might miss the convenience of having a smartphone. |
| D．The author might struggle to adapt to the limited functions of a flip phone. |
