1 . Zandra Cunningham is the founder of a skincare brand. She has been recognized by the media as one of the youngest and most successful business owners in America.

When she was a kid, Zandra always loved lip balms (护唇膏) and bought a lot of them. But she found they eventually hurt her lips instead of relieving the dryness because of all the chemicals in them. She then started experimenting with different ingredients (成分) together with her mom. They tried a lot of times until they found the natural and healthy combinations they liked. Slowly, Zandra began selling her products at local farmers’ markets and trade events. Before her 10th birthday, she launched her brand and hoped it would empower other young girls.

Soon, it became a challenge for Zandra to separate her personal interests from what her customers actually wanted. “There are a lot of ideas that I feel are excellent but wouldn’t fit into the market,” she said. Being part of the younger market herself, Zandra recognized the issue and improved her products after truly listening to customers. “There are so many brands doing similar things, but there’s still so much room to grow. Your customers are out there, and you just have to reach out to them. That’s what will set you apart,” the 23-year-old shared.

When asked about her experience as a promising young businesswoman, Zandra said, “It wasn’t frightening. When you’re young, fear doesn’t have a strong hold on your mindset. ‘Maybe it’s not going to work’ never really crossed my mind.”

Characterized by encouraging statements and featuring a playful color combination, the packaging (包装) is a big part of why Zandra’s business has been so impressive. “There are a lot of products on the market that seem natural, but they actually aren’t,” she said. “I make sure my packaging can help people understand what each term means, and how to read and check ingredients.”

1. What pushed Zandra to get into the skincare business?

A．Her desire to create skin-friendly products.

B．Her interest in doing chemical experiments.

C．Her wish to set an example for other young girls.

D．Her goal of providing local people with cheap skin products.

2. How did Zandra deal with the trouble in her business?

A．She cooperated with powerful brands.

B．She stood by her own business decisions.

C．She made an effort to meet real market needs.

D．She took inspiration from successful businesswomen.

3. What plays a role in her business success according to Zandra?

A．Her work experience.	B．Her parents’ support.
C．Her creative thinking.	D．Her youthful positivity.

4. What does Zandra expect to achieve with her packaging?

A．To catch customers’ attention.

B．To collect customers’ opinions on skincare.

C．To educate customers about product knowledge.

D．To encourage environmental awareness in customers.

2 . While the classic sandwich will always have its place, there are plenty of exciting lunchbox ideas that will satisfy both kids and parents alike. When kids join in planning and packing their lunches, they’re more likely to enjoy and finish their meals. So, why not give these ideas a try?

Bento Box Bliss

Bento box lunches are gaining popularity. These containers allow you to make a meal with a variety of foods. Fill one section with colorful fruit slices, another with bite-sized vegetables, and the remaining ones with proteins (蛋白质) like chicken and eggs. Finish with a small treat like a handful of berries. The possibilities are endless, and kids will love these different kinds of food.

DIY Lunchables

Homemade Lunchables offers a healthier choice than store-bought food. Pack a selection of whole-grain biscuits, slices of cheese, and a handful of cherry tomatoes. Kids can make their own sandwiches by adding their favorite food to round out the meal. It makes lunchtime an enjoyable experience.

Wrap (包) it Up

Try using wraps instead of regular sandwiches. It is advised to use the flatbread (扁面包) instead of bread. It can be filled with lots of different things. You can make a turkey wrap with cream cheese, or a vegetable wrap if you prefer a plant-based option. Wraps are not only easy to get ready but also easy for little hands to hold.

Mini Pancake Stacks

Who says pancakes are just for breakfast? Mini pancakes can be a pleasant lunchbox surprise. Make small pancakes and sandwich them with cocoa butter and sliced bananas. Add a little honey for more sweetness. With just a few steps, you can complete them. These cute stacks are not only tasty but also fun to eat.

1. What’s an advantage of Bento box lunches?

A．Offering many sandwich options.	B．Using simple materials as food sources.
C．Helping strictly control how much kids eat.	D．Enabling kids to enjoy a well-balanced meal.

2. What do we know about homemade Lunchables?

A．It costs much time and effort.	B．It allows kids to show creative ideas.
C．It is much tastier than takeaway food.	D．It makes kids increase their food intake easily.

3. What do the last two lunchbox choices have in common?

A．Both are easy to prepare.	B．Both are popular with little kids.
C．Both suit kids enjoying sweet treats.	D．Both feature fast food with high calories.

3 . Here are some ways to introduce classical music to your children.

●When you read a story to your children, pick out a classical music piece that matches the emotion of the book.     1     After getting used to reading in time with the music, tell your children you have a special surprise for them. Read them the story in the new way, and they will surely be delighted!

●If your kids are always moving around, try introducing classical music to them by dancing. Instruct your children to listen to the music and dance however the music makes them feel. Parents dance with them!     2    

●Before your kids begin playtime, make a list of classical music pieces with the name of the person who wrote it.     3     Tell them something about the person they picked to listen to. Before long, your children will have a basic knowledge of the person who wrote the piece.

●    4     Make sure your children listen to the music and create their picture to however the music makes them feel. Once everyone is finished, listen to the music again and explain your creations.

●You can pick out three pieces of music to play during the week.     5     At the end of the week have a listening game to see who can remember the name of the piece when you play it. Games are always a fun way to introduce learning concepts.

A．Have your children pick one.

B．Practice reading the story out loud with the music.

C．Mix up the music and see how your children react.

D．Classical music can be fun, and not boring to listen to.

E．Tell your children the name of the piece every time you play it.

F．Make sure you tell your children what the piece is and who wrote it.

G．While you and your children paint, play different classical music pieces.

4 . Exploring China is not easy even for experienced travelers, but the history instructor Jessica Gerard from Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) knows from experience the trip is worth it. Since 2008, she’s led five groups of students across China to study its culture and history.

Gerard often reminds interested students that the trip is not a vacation—it’s an academic (学术的) course. “Anyone interested in the trip must take an online course about the history of China before they can go,” she said. “And, most importantly, students continue to learn while in China. They’re expected to listen to guides, keep a diary and write about their experiences afterward.”

OTC student Ross Weis believed his experiences in China easily transcended (超越) anything he could have learned in the classroom. In fact, it was his long-held interest in China that led him to ask about the trip after seeing a poster in the OTC library. “I’ve always been drawn to China and its rich culture and history,” Weis said. “My dad studied history in college, and I suppose that has some influence on me.”

Of all the cities and historical sites Weis visited, he said nothing could top his experience at the Great Wall. “I’d read about the Great Wall and seen it on TV, but it is so different to go there and actually experience it,” he said. “It wasn’t as worn as I had expected it to be. That was pretty cool.”

Every OTC group Gerard has taken to China has been led by her trusty tourist agent, Jim Lieu. Gerard plans her trips directly through Lieu, who keeps travel costs down for students. “Lieu and I have an excellent relationship with one another. He always knows what I want for my students, and I know what he can do,” said Gerard. “He sincerely believes that in order to build stronger communities and a better world, people around the world should get to know each other through travel.”

1. Why did Gerard organize travel to China for her students?

A．To help students relax after exams.	B．To get students interested in travel.
C．To teach history in a productive way.	D．To give an interesting life experience.

2. What should the students do before their trip to China?

A．Take a course online.	B．Consult a native guide.
C．Show their anxiety.	D．Share their preparation.

3. What made Ross Weis take the trip to China?

A．His passion for travel.	B．His interest in China.
C．His teacher’s invitation.	D．His father’s inspiration.

4. Which of the following best describes Jim Lieu?

A．Brave.

B．Patient.

C．Helpful.

D．Humorous.

5 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.

Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.

These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.

So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.

1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?

A．About 9.6 hours.	B．About 12 hours.
C．About 15.9 hours.	D．About 21.2 hours.

2. What can we know from the new study?

A．Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids,

B．Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days.

C．Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education.

D．Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do.

3. How long did fathers with college education spend with kids a month before 1995?

A．About 4.5 hours.	B．Less than 9 hours.
C．About 13.5 hours.	D．About 18 hours.

4. What do kids care about according to the text?

A．They care about how much money their parents can make.

B．They care about how much time their parents spend with them.

C．They care if their parents are really with them.

D．They care if their parents can give them a better life.

6 . Ice cream is especially popular in the United States. In fact, Americans eat more ice cream than people in any other country. Ice cream is a frozen treat that comes in hundreds of flavors. What’s your favorite flavor? Is it vanilla? That is the most popular flavor by far. Chocolate ranks second in popularity.

Making ice cream is pretty simple. It’s usually made from milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings (调味品). Mix them all together as you freeze them and you get ice cream. As the mixture begins to freeze you can then add fruit, nuts, or chocolate. Soft ice cream is just the ice cream that isn’t fully frozen yet. Some people make ice cream at home in an ice cream mixer, a special kind of home freezer. But nearly all ice cream produced today is made by machines in ice cream factories.

There are many other popular frozen desserts that are similar to ice cream. Sherbet is made from fruit syrup (糖浆) that has milk or egg white added to it. Spumoni is an ice cream with fruits and nuts. Ice milk, also called low-fat ice cream, is a sweetened frozen food made of skimmed milk.

You can even get ice cream made without milk or cream. Soy ice cream and rice ice cream are made without dairy products. They’re made using soy bean milk or rice milk instead.

Ice cream comes in countless flavors. You’ve probably eaten vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Other favorites include strawberry, cherry, peach, butter pecan, and chocolate mint. But have you ever eaten ice cream flavored with garlic or green tea? Some people do. You can even buy ice cream flavored with rose petals.

1. The underlined word “That” in first paragraph refers to “___________”.

A．any ice cream

B．vanilla

C．flavor

D．frozen treat

2. What can we know from the second paragraph?

A．We should add nuts after we freeze the mixture.

B．Most Americans make their cream at home.

C．Soft ice cream isn’t fully frozen.

D．Making ice cream isn’t considered to be simple.

3. The main idea of the third paragraph is __________.

A．other frozen desserts	B．desserts in America
C．ice cream	D．ice cream with milk

4. What is made of skimmed milk?

A．Sherbet.

B．Spumoni.

C．Soft-serve ice cream.

D．Low-fat ice cream.

7 . Can the colors you choose for your home affect (影响) your feelings? Of course! Believe it or not, colors can have a great effect on how you feel, from your energy levels (精力水平) to happiness.     1    .

Red: The Color of Being Successful.

Red is a kind of color full of energy. It can raise your energy levels.     2    . It has a great effect on your whole nerve system (神经系统). That means it can make you feel angrier or more excited than before. So it’s very important for you to carefully choose where you use it.

Yellow: The Color of Happiness.

    3    . It’s the color that can make you happy and full of energy. It’s not like red. When it’s chosen in the room, it is both relaxing and exciting.     4    .

Blue: The Color of Rest and Beauty.

Blue is the color of the sea and the sky. It makes you comfortable and always slows you down.     5    . Maybe it is something we need most after a long day of hard work. It lowers (降低) your blood pressure. That means it has a good effect on your health.

A．It’s a color like fire.

B．I don’t like this color at all.

C．You’d better not choose this color.

D．It can be a perfect color for a room.

E．Blue can bring you the feeling of peace.

F．Yellow is known to be an exciting color.

G．There are three kinds of colors for your home.

8 . For many of us, it is not easy to feel inspired by the artworks that we see at museums. Here are some tips on how to create that meaningful connection.

Keep an open mind

Once you are in an art museum, try not to have any ideas about what you’re about to see.     1     . You can love it. You can hate it. Just tell yourself that it’s OK.

Draw personal connections to the art

When you see an artwork, just let your mind wander and follow your thought wherever it leads you.     2     . As a result, a deep connection will happen.

    3    

You can increase the chances of finding an art piece you connect with by going to a museum that interests you. If you’re interested in climate change, for example, you may pick a museum that’s showing artworks inspired by Earth conservation.

Really “look at” the art

After you have found an artwork you like, take time to observe it closely. You can take a finger to the air and follow the outline of the figure or the movement of the brushstrokes.     4     .

Keep your museum visit short and focused

Art museums can be huge. So be realistic about how long you can spend at the museum.     5     . After that, it’s hard to stay focused and understand what you’ve seen.

A．Reflect and appreciate

B．You don’t need more than an hour or two

C．Pick a museum that is related to your interests

D．Instead, allow yourself to feel how the art makes you feel

E．The free associations will help create emotional reactions in you

F．Such accompanying activities can help you more deeply appreciate the art

G．Study the subject of the art, which can affect on how you feel about the work

9 . The art of learning how to think

Learning how to think is really the whole point of going to university because it is one of the few periods in your life when you get time to do it.

Like any skill, successful thinking takes practice. The more time you spend thinking and the more ideas you come up with, the more likely it is that some of them will be good ones.     1     Your thinking will never improve if it consists entirely of thinking how much of a failure you are.

    2     Geniuses generally come up with their brilliant innovations by thinking about a subject in lots of different ways and establishing connections between apparently different ideas. On the other hand, there are times when you need to know what you are supposed to be thinking about and why, and to stay reasonably focused.

If you are having trouble thinking, it may be because you lack another skill that would make it easier. It could be that you don’t have a wide enough vocabulary to put your thoughts into words.     3     If you share a house with violinists and pianists, you may have trouble hearing yourself think.

One way to sharpen this skill is to think critically about what other people are thinking. Thinking is not always something that needs to be done alone.     4     So, if your housemates ever abandon their instruments, engage them in conversation, look for holes in their arguments,and explain your own.

If you get really good at thinking while at university, you may be able to think of a way to carry that on.     5    

A．Proper thinking is about creating an argument.

B．It enables us to become more independent thinkers.

C．If they’re all rubbish, try not to keep thinking about it.

D．And thus it saves you actually doing anything once you leave.

E．You may also be in the wrong environment for productive thought.

F．Having a one-track mind won’t improve your power of thinking anyway.

G．In fact, communicating your thoughts can help to develop and clarify them.

10 . The Joys of College

Often, we college students complain endlessly about all of the things we hate about college. And sure, college is really stressful and there are some aspects I don’t like.     1    

The first thing I truly enjoy about being a college student is that I get to take classes that actually interest me.     2     In college, learning doesn’t feel like a chore (苦差事) to me any more because I actually get to design my schedule to my interests.

The community at the university is also very important to me. We are all suffering here but we are all suffering together.     3     I know I can complain to any fellow college student about the stress my assignments are causing and they will always understand.

    4     The campus parties, holiday markets, and concerts give us something to look forward to as we struggle our way through our classes. And a variety of club activities—like the Campus Times—make college life all the more exciting.

The university presents us with so many unique opportunities as well.   We are encouraged to study abroad, which allows students to experience student life in another country and dive into other cultures in the process.     5     Students maybe even land a job prior to graduation.

So although there are a lot of negatives of college—and I mean a lot—there are also a lot of positives. I know that when I graduate, I’m going to miss being a college student.

A．After all, college can be very demanding.

B．The fun activities and clubs are also a plus.

C．But for once, I’d like to focus on the positives.

D．Here, there are so many different fields to study.

E．Additionally, being a trainee is a great way to get experience.

F．The college experience can get bearable due to this community.

G．It isn’t like high school where you’re required to take the same classes.