1 . What is PayQuick?
PayQuick is a fast payment service for shopping in the biggest supermarket in UK — Tesco. It allows you to add your credit or debit card details to the app so you can use your smartphone to pay for your shopping with just one scan, which means you can go wallet-free in all UK Tesco stores.
What are the benefits?
●Collect your Tesco points automatically
●Pay for your weekly shopping up to £250
●Use PayQuick offline, even with no signal
●Track your spending in Tesco
However, only one qualifying deal per week will collect the extra Tesco points. Additional payments in the same week won’t receive extra points. Tesco points will be added to your future Tesco points statement.
How to get your PayQuick?
Available to new customers who sign up by 3rd March 2024, the PayQuick app can be downloaded from the App Store or our official website. Once you have the app on your phone, register your personal details on the app to get an account. Note that for each customer, only one account is allowed and a family shared account will not be acknowledged. Finally, with all the preparation work done, you’ll be ready to shop using just your phone.
Plus, there’s no need to worry about your bank details being stored on your phone — they’re all securely protected in our data centers. So not only is it quicker and easier, it’s safer than going shopping with your wallet as well.
1. If customers use PayQuick in UK Tesco stores, they can ______.| A．purchase things only offline |
| B．get their Tesco points automatically |
| C．keep track of their daily spending |
| D．pay for their shopping without limit |
| A．To register by 3rd March 2024. |
| B．To download the PayQuick app. |
| C．To bring their phones with them. |
| D．To share the account with their family. |
| A．To ensure the safety of PayQuick. |
| B．To stress the importance of PayQuick. |
| C．To popularize the use of PayQuick. |
| D．To illustrate the application of PayQuick. |
2 . Tonight, our family was going out to play under the full moon.
My husband Todd and I first started going on full moon walks for ourselves, as we needed these little doses of moonlight to stay happy, though sometimes we had to hike through the forest to find a perfect spot. But after we became parents, we did this for our children. We wanted to show Sierra and Bryce that it was not necessary to travel far from home to have an adventure and learn something new, and that there was much magic in the natural world, available to all.
Once we arrived at our location, Sierra and I stood holding hands, waiting to cheer the full moon in its rising—a thin sliver of the appealing moon emerged above the ridge of the mountain afar. Soon, more of the moon came out until it turned into a brilliant orange sphere. Todd explained to Sierra and Bryce that the moon generates no light, but simply acts like a mirror, reflecting the sunlight back to us. “Does the moon’s face change?” Bryce asked. I told him that the moon rotates (旋转) around the earth, but does not spin by itself, so the same side of the moon is always facing the earth. Sierra remarked that the moon looked larger and closer when it was rising. I explained that it is a visual illusion (错觉) because it is so close to the horizon that the moon magically tricks our eyes into comparing it with nearby objects, thus creating the impression of the increased size.
Much of the knowledge that I shared with the kids was learned from my parents. During my childhood, they would take me on educational adventures out in the woods, and as I later found, so did their parents. So every time I go for a full moon walk with my beloved family, I thank those wise educators who came before me.
To educate, sometimes all it takes is going outdoors and gazing up at the heavens.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Going on a hike through the forest. |
| B．Taking a walk under the full moon. |
| C．Watching magic shows every month. |
| D．Traveling far from home for adventure. |
| A．The kids were reluctant to participate. |
| B．Todd mentioned the mirror to explain sunlight. |
| C．The kids exhibited a spirit of exploration about the moon. |
| D．The author used a magic trick to explain the larger moon. |
| A．Creative and faithful. | B．Selfless and brave. |
| C．Inspiring and generous. | D．Insightful and patient. |
| A．Life is what you make it. |
| B．Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| C．Nature is the best teacher. |
| D．God helps those who help themselves. |
What might your hometown look like in someone else’s eyes?
Since childhood, she
Liuba’s fresh perspective allowed her to arrive in the city with fresh eyes and an eager heart, offering
“I wanted to share my personal experiences and observations of Beijing and Chinese culture in a fun and
4 . Hibernation (冬眠) is a classic topic of science fiction. In movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, or Passengers, crew members are put into a state of sleep to take year-long journeys to space. Now a new study from Washington University has shown that human hibernation may soon become a reality.
The research team carried out tests on rats — animals that do not naturally hibernate. They first identified a group of neurons (神经元) in a deep brain region, which were found to be involved in controlling body temperature during hibernation. They showed that, in mice, these neurons could be stimulated using ultrasound (超声波), which was delivered through a helmet without causing an injury.
When receiving the ultrasound, the mice showed a drop in body temperature of about3°C, and their heart rates fell by about 47%. When the ultrasound system was switched off, they woke up again. The result was “surprising and fascinating”, said Hong Chen, a professor who led the work.
Researchers are also trying to determine how to harness the power of hibernation to help humans. They believe that it could be key to addressing health conditions like heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, hibernation’s ability to slow aging, which was observed in bats, could benefit space exploration, enabling longer missions with less food requirements. Research in animals also suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose less bone and muscle, making them fit and ready to start challenging exploration soon after they wake up.
By unlocking the secrets of this remarkable process, researchers may uncover ways to improve human health, as well as gain new insights into the natural world. Therefore, the exploration of hibernation is an exciting area that is sure to yield numerous benefits in the years to come.
The scientists now plan to look at how lowered body temperature might affect the cognitive abilities of humans. “Our next experiments will test working memory in monkeys. This is important because while astronauts physically hibernate as they fly into deep space, their brain still needs to be working,” said Chen.
1. How did researchers put rats into hibernation?| A．By lowering their body temperature. |
| B．By activating specific brain neurons. |
| C．By putting a regular helmet on them. |
| D．By using ultrasound through an operation. |
| A．Employ. | B．Challenge. | C．Overlook. | D．Discover. |
| A．It improves people’s mental health. |
| B．It predicts a variety of heart diseases. |
| C．It helps astronauts keep physically fit. |
| D．It enables astronauts to build up muscle. |
| A．To point out the significance of the study. |
| B．To bring out the focus of follow-up studies. |
| C．To discuss other factors affecting hibernation. |
| D．To explain practical applications of the finding. |
I sat in my parents’ car. Mom had insisted I go with her to pick up Dad from work. Across from Dad’s office is a bike store. That was the day my eleven-year-old eyes first saw the purple BMX Mongoose bike. From that day on, all I could think about was that bike. I even drew pictures of the bike in class. Every evening afterward, at five thirty, I eagerly went along with Mom to get Dad.
And every day I told my parents, “I want that bike!” But they disagreed and replied that I had already had a perfectly good bike at home. I’d argue it was old and ugly, thinking that my happiness depended on that purple bike. Days later, I found the store had sold that bike. I knew I’d never be happy again.
A week later, returning home from school, I tripped over something. Lying in the weeds near a river and some wooded lots, was a bike — the exact bike from the store. “Hey, whose bike is this?” I shouted, scanning the area. No one replied, and there was no one in sight. Maybe its owner didn’t want it any longer. I couldn’t leave it lying in the weeds. So I took it home and hid it behind the garage. Every day after school, I sat there, admiring it. But I didn’t feel like riding and didn’t feel as happy as I had thought. Thinking about the bike made my stomach tighten and uncomfortable.
A few days later, during lunch at school, my friend said, “Did you hear about Tyler, in the other fifth-grade class? He lost his new purple BMX Mongoose bike he had just gotten for his birthday. He left it by a river while playing in the woods. It got dark, and he couldn’t find it.”
“I’d never go off and leave a new bike like that. He doesn’t deserve to have that bike,” I replied. My friend added, “Kids say he’s nice. And they say Tyler is upset because his dad worked overtime to buy the bike for him.” For the rest of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about Tyler.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
After school, I returned home and dragged to my room.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“I know Tyler’s house,” Mom said. “I’ll drive you there.”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
When I have free time I go a long walk. Some people read the books or watch television while others have sports.
Charles and Linda Mason do all of these things as well as climbed buildings. In the last five years that they have climbed churches, high buildings and television towers. They have climbed all over the world. Charles said, “as soon as I see a real tall building, I want to climb it. We climb everywhere, not only in America. They have been to Europe many time. ” Two months ago they were back in America. Last Sunday Police cars hurried to the taller building in New York, which a large crowd had gathered. Charles and Linda were seen near the top of the building. When they came down the police were angry to them. One police officer said to them. “Buildings have elevators (电梯), don’t they? Why don’t you use them?”
My heart sank when I received the news—no salary again. How would I manage the increasing bills, the groceries and my children’s needs? The future seemed hopeless. With a heavy heart, I hurried to pick up my two children, my mind racing wildly.
That’s when I saw it—a wallet, lying on the sidewalk. It was as if fate had thrown me a lifeline (救生索). Hope came to me as I approached it. The wallet was large, and when I opened it, my eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of a large amount of cash inside it. I hesitated for a moment, torn between the immediate relief that this money promised and the morality (道德) of keeping it.
Curiosity led me to search through the wallet. The things it contained were a photo and a couple of business cards. No matter how much I wanted to take the contents, my moral principles and inner voice told me not to do this. The decision became clear; I couldn’t keep this money. It wasn’t rightfully mine.
I picked out a business card. The name and number were there. With a deep breath, I dialed the number and explained my find to the voice on the other end. The voice came, completely emotionless, warning that they would come to me. He hung up without even saying “thank you”. I was angry with the impoliteness. I even regretted my decision, but my conscience (良知) did not allow me to go back on my choice. I had told the voice where I lived and went to get my children.
Shortly after we arrived home, a large black car suddenly pulled up to our house. The driver got out and knocked on the door. When I opened it, the driver told me that the owner of the wallet wanted me to personally hand over his wallet.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I didn’t want to do so, but I agreed to go with the driver at last.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________He wanted to reward me for my honesty and kind act.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . Being part of a community can help people feel less lonely in life. Oliver Johnson is only 7years old, but he sometimes feels lonely and abandoned.
As Oliver’s birthday drew near, his mom Katherine Johnson
None of the truckers accepted a cent for their time or expenses. It’s an act full of
| A．refused | B．forgot | C．failed | D．wanted |
| A．included | B．changed | C．struggled | D．improved |
| A．films | B．lights | C．trucks | D．trains |
| A．recognizing | B．proving | C．asking | D．testing |
| A．hand | B．ride | C．treat | D．break |
| A．respond | B．discuss | C．blame | D．explain |
| A．respect | B．operation | C．concern | D．request |
| A．came up | B．looked up | C．signed up | D．went up |
| A．appeared | B．agreed | C．bothered | D．succeeded |
| A．strange | B．new | C．supportive | D．creative |
| A．similarly | B．completely | C．finally | D．frequently |
| A．embarrassed | B．tired | C．confused | D．delighted |
| A．imagined | B．founded | C．kept | D．adjusted |
| A．promise | B．cover | C．decide | D．fix |
| A．energy | B．knowledge | C．ambition | D．love |
9 . General Art Contests
THE SUNNY ART PRIZE
Prize A total cash fund of £6,000 plus an individual exhibition in London.
Entry Fee £25 for one artwork, up to £45 for four artworks.
Requirements Open to artists worldwide aged 18 and over.
Closing Date June 30, 2024
One of the most diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists.
BEAUTIFUL BIZARRE ART PRIZE
Prize Over $50,000 in cash and prizes to be won. Plus, global exposure through Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. Winners will also participate in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s group exhibition at Haven Gallery in New York later this year.
Entry Fee $40 per entry
Requirements Open to artists worldwide working in the representational visual arts.
Closing Date July 17, 2024
The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 5th year, is an annual international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts.
MADE IN CALIFORNIA COMPETITION
Prize $750 first prize, $500 second prize.
Entry Fee $20 per entry
Requirements Open to artists based in California.
Closing Date February 16, 2024
Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the Made in California Competition provides a promotional opportunity for all artists based in the state of California.
ARTISTS MAGAZINE ANNUAL ART COMPETITION
Prize Over $29,000 in cash prizes and publication in Artists Magazine.
Entry Fee $40 ($35 if submitted before April 3)
Requirements Open to artists over 18 worldwide working in a traditional medium.
Closing Date May 30, 2024
Artists Magazine’s Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, digital art, and much more. All winners’ works will be featured in the January/February 2025 issue of Artists Magazine.
1. Which art contest offers the opportunity for a group exhibition?| A．THE SUNNY ART PRIZE. |
| B．BEAUTIFUL BIZARRE ART PRIZE. |
| C．MADE IN CALIFORNIA COMPETITION. |
| D．ARTISTS MAGAZINE ANNUAL ART COMPETITION. |
| A．$20. | B．$25. | C．$35. | D．$40. |
| A．They are held every year. | B．They are open to emerging artists only. |
| C．They provide winners with added bonus. | D．They celebrate excellence in traditional arts. |
10 . Have you ever heard of the classic Marshmallow (棉花糖) Test? It’s a fun experiment where kids are given a marshmallow and told that they can eat it now or wait a bit and get two marshmallows later. Some kids eat the marshmallow right away, while others struggle to wait for the two marshmallows.
Interestingly, when the researchers followed up with those kids later in life, they found that those who waited longer for the two marshmallows would perform better in school, and even have better health. This made people think that waiting is a sign of self-control.
But a new study in 2022 by scientists raised an interesting question: is this behavior really about self-control, or is it about the culture we grow up in? In the United States, people usually don’t wait for everyone to be served before they start eating. In Japan, however, there is a tradition of waiting until everyone is served. This cultural difference led researchers to wonder if Japanese kids would wait longer in the marshmallow test compared to American kids. Surprisingly, the study found that Japanese kids did wait longer — about 15 minutes on average, while American kids waited for about 5 minutes.
Then, the researchers did another follow-up experiment. They looked at a different situation: opening gifts. In the United States, gifts are often saved for special events like birthdays and Christmas, when kids have to wait to open their gifts. In Japan, gifts are given more often, and kids usually open them right away. This is a powerful result because it shows the importance of culture and habit in shaping the way how children act.
So, whether you can wait for that second marshmallow might not just be about self-control — it could be about the culture you’re part of!
1. Why do some kids wait longer in the classic Marshmallow Test?| A．They live healthier lives. |
| B．They have better self-control. |
| C．They are afraid of being punished. |
| D．They have no interest in marshmallows |
| A．Eating habits. | B．Education systems. |
| C．Body Languages. | D．Family structures. |
| A．American children are better at opening gifts. |
| B．Self-control is important for children’s growth. |
| C．Gift-giving habits influence children’s conduct. |
| D．Japanese kids are more patient than American kids. |
| A．Gift-giving Traditions in Western Countries |
| B．Marshmallows and Kids: A Fun Experiment |
| C．Marshmallows, Patience and the World around Us |
| D．Cultural Influence on Children’s Willingness to Wait |
