1 . Choice of Walks for Beginner and Experienced Walkers

The Carlow Autumn Walking Festival is a great opportunity for the beginner, experienced or advanced walker to enjoy the challenges of Carlow’s mountain hikes or the peace of its woodland walks.

Walk 1 — The Natural World

With environmentalist Éanna Lamhna as the guide, this walk promises to be an informative tour. Walkers are sure to learn lots about the habitats and natural world of the Blackstairs.

Date and Time: Saturday, 1st October, at 09:00

Start Point: Scratoes Bridge

Walk Duration: 6 hours

Walk 2 — Introduction to Hillwalking

Emmanuel Chappard, an experienced guide, has a passion for making the great outdoors accessible to all. This mountain walk provides an insight into the skills required for hillwalking to ensure you get the most from future walking trips.

Date and Time: Sunday, 2nd October, at 09:00

Start Point: Deerpark Car Park

Walk Duration: 5 hours

Walk 3 — Moonlight Under the Stars

Walking at night-time is a great way to step out of your comfort zone. Breathtaking views of the lowlands of Carlow can be enjoyed in the presence of welcoming guides from local walking clubs. A torch (手电筒) along with suitable clothing is essential for walking in the dark. Those who are dressed inappropriately will be refused permission to participate.

Date and Time: Saturday, 1st October, at 18:30

Start Point: The Town Hall

Walk Duration: 3 hours

Walk 4 — Photographic Walk in Kilbrannish Forest

This informative walk led by Richard Smyth introduces you to the basic principles of photography in the wild. Bring along your camera and enjoy the wonderful views along this well-surfaced forest path.

Date and Time: Sunday, 2nd October, at 11:45

Start Point: Kilbrannish Forest Recreation Area

Walk Duration: 1.5 hours

1. Which walk takes the shortest time?

A．The Natural World.	B．Introduction to Hillwalking.
C．Moonlight Under the Stars.	D．Photographic Walk in Kilbrannish Forest.

2. What are participants in Walk 3 required to do?

A．Wear proper clothes.	B．Join a walking club.
C．Get special permits.	D．Bring a survival guide.

3. What do the four walks have in common?

A．They involve difficult climbing.	B．They are for experienced walkers.
C．They share the same start point.	D．They are scheduled for the weekend.

2 . The teenage years are a transformative period marked by great physical, psychological, and emotional changes.     1     They refer to the feelings that arise during interactions with others, such as gratitude, shame, sympathy, guilt, and pride.

Understanding and managing social emotions can help develop teenagers’ identities. Teenagers experience a wide range of emotions from social interactions, which significantly influences their self-understanding and social awareness. In the process, they learn to understand, and appropriately respond to both their own emotions and those of others.     2    

In academic settings, social emotional competencies like self-regulation, motivation, and social awareness directly impact a teenager’s ability to learn, participate, and engage in school activities.     3     Teenagers with strong social emotional skills are better equipped to handle stress, resist peer pressure, and avoid risky behaviors, reducing the likelihood of developing mental health issues.

Learning social emotions involves a combination of personal experience, guidance, and formal education.     4     This environment influences teenagers’ earliest understanding of how to communicate and manage their emotions. They feel safe and supportive to express their emotions freely and learn to manage them without fear of judgment. Schools also play a significant role through social emotional learning programs that teach these skills in a structured environment. Community involvement, extracurricular activities, and peer (同伴) interactions offer additional opportunities for teenagers to practice and refine their social emotional skills.

    5     It contributes to a teenager’s ability to manage their own emotions, understand others’ emotions, and face social complexities. This learning is a cornerstone for shaping their identity, influencing their interpersonal relationships, academic success, mental health, and future life outcomes.

A．What exactly are social emotions?

B．The journey into mature emotion is quite easy.

C．Social emotion learning for teenagers is essential.

D．Central to this phase is the concept of social emotions.

E．This helps shape their own personal principles and beliefs.

F．Families play a crucial role in modeling and developing these skills.

G．Moreover, social emotional skills are closely linked to mental health.

3 . Pickleball, which combines elements of badminton, Ping-Pang, and tennis, has two characteristics that make it a good choice for older adults. It’s slower than other racket (球拍) sports, and it’s easier to learn.

With a play area about a quarter the size of a tennis court and a plastic ball that doesn’t bounce as high or as fast as a tennis ball, you don’t have to run as much or as quickly. The bats are lighter and shorter than tennis rackets, making them easier to swing and control. There are fewer rules than tennis.

Plus, pickleball is more social than many types of exercise and it’s fun. In one study, participants rated pickleball 150 percent higher for enjoyment than walking. “People are finding it’s not boring,” says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief science officer at the American Council on Exercise, who has played pickleball for more than 20 years. “It’s not something they’re doing just because they should, but because they enjoy it and want to do it.”

Pickleball is an effective workout, and like walking, you can adjust the intensity to your preferences. A friendly doubles match can qualify as proper exercise. A competitive singles match is likely to be tighter.

And pickleball offers plenty of health pluses. After six weeks of playing an hour of pickleball three times a week, older adults improved their cardiorespiratory (心肺的) fitness and blood pressure, according to a study published in 2018 in the International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology. Another study found that the activity may keep you mentally sharp. “You’re making a lot of quick decisions while engaged in a physical task,” says study author David Bolton, PhD, assistant professor at Utah State University in Logan. “It is effectively training cognitive (认知的) ability.”

But it is not without risks of getting injured. Don’t just hit the court and go right into having a game. A warm-up is the best defense against injury, so take at least 5 minutes to prepare your body.

1. What is one of the reasons for the popularity of pickleball among older adults?

A．Its slow pace.	B．Its great intensity.
C．Its complex rules.	D．Its cheap equipment.

2. What does Cedric Bryant mainly want to tell us about pickleball?

A．It is demanding.	B．It is enjoyable.
C．It is beneficial.	D．It is practical.

3. What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Making quick decisions.

B．Training cognitive ability.

C．Brain activity during physical exercise.

D．The proper frequency to play pickleball.

4. What might the author talk about next?

A．Pre-workout preparations.	B．The rules of this exercise.
C．Comments on this game.	D．Disadvantages of pickleball.

4 . World-famous Botanical Gardens

From botanical history to scientific discovery, here are the top picks for people to explore.

Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London, England (1840)

Located in London, Royal-Botanic Gardens at Kew are home to the world’s biggest collection of living plants. As a global resource for plant and fungal knowledge, it has more than 50,000 species of native and exotic plants, trees, and flowers on site. It is a setting rich in history that spans from royal decorations to wartime bombing, and its mission is to protect plants for the future of all life on Earth.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden, Suzhou, China (1513)

The Humble Administrators Garden in Suzhou is a great masterpiece with its attractive design and careful arrangement of natural elements. It’s centered around water features, with beautiful fountains, complex rockwork, and historic buildings surrounded by thick vegetation. The combination of these elements creates a picturesque landscape. Because of its exceptional cultural and historical significance, the garden has become a world heritage.

Parque de Monserrate, Sintra, Portugal (1789)

Monserrate is a combination of wild landscape with old ruins, formal lawned areas and lovely gardens. The garden sits on the lower slopes of the Sintra Mountains, which have one of the mildest climates in Europe, so the garden is frost-free. At its very centre is a grand palace, which has a distinctive mixture of different architectural styles. It has been the site of various buildings and gardens for hundreds of years.

Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, USA (1859)

Established in 1859, Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in continuous use in North America. It is recognized internationally for its scientific research. With almost 50 themed gardens, Missouri Botanical Garden has been involved in the conservation of plants from native American regions and also from Madagascar, China and Central America.

1. Why are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew established?

A．To collect tropical plants.	B．To conserve various plants.
C．To record the history of British plants.	D．To provide a shelter for people in wartime.

2. What is special about the Humble Administrator’s Garden?

A．It highlights the waterscape.	B．It is surrounded by formal lawns.
C．It includes many themed gardens.	D．It shows different architectural ruins.

3. Where are science lovers most likely to go?

A．London.

B．Suzhou.

C．Sintra.

D．St Louis.

5 . At Reader’s Digest, we understand a holiday is never just a holiday. It’s visiting new and inspiring places, enabling you to experience different cultures, broaden minds and discover the unknown. It’s something exciting to look forward to and talk about when you get home. It’s making memories that will last a lifetime.

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1. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A magazine.	B．A web page.
C．A book guide.	D．A shopping list.

2. Who can get the promo codes for discounts on travel bookings?

A．Experienced authors.	B．Experts in group travel.
C．Reader’s Digest subscribers.	D．Publishers of Reader’s Digest.

3. How much can a couple save with promo codes for a holiday of 7 nights?

A．£60.

B．£100.

C．£120.

D．£200.

6 . The NCPA (国家大剧院) has accepted more than four million visitors with a series of 284 exhibitions covering oil paintings, music instruments, intangible cultural heritage and more. The NCPA provides you with performances and shows every day. Whenever you see a sunrise or sunset the curtain her never falls down.

Shape of Music

Shape of Music — A Cross-Sense Experience is an art exhibition jointly launched by the NCPA and the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Visual artists will create animated (动画的) works based on the feelings brought by different music pieces.

The Nutcracker

The ballet The Nutcracker is produced by the Harbin Ballet. Zhang Dandan, the famous ballet artist the head and artistic director of the Harbin Ballet, and the chief director, together with the international choreographer Peter Quanz and many other top domestic and foreign artists, create a large-scale ballet. The ballet has now had its first public performance at the Harbin Grand Theater and has achieved complete success.

Xu Li’s Impressionistic Oil Paintings

It is the first exhibition of new oil paintings by Xu Li in recent years, which gives shape to natural mountains and rivers throughout the country. He continuously pours out his appreciation and perception of the beautiful China

Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition

About 100 traditional Chinese paintings and oil paintings are displayed under three themes — “Ancient Tone &New Tune”, “Cultural Inheritance” and “Review for More Knowledge” at the exhibition to introduce, present and spread the opera culture in the form of paintings, promoting the expression of the opera culture through the re-creation of painting art.

Booking tickets: please click here.
Working hours: 9:30AM-19:30PM (CST) on performance day

9:30AM-18:00PM (CST) for days without performances

1. If you are interested in dancing, which will you probably go for?

A．The Nutcracker.	B．Shape of Music.
C．Xu Li’s Impressionistic Oil Paintings.	D．Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition.

2. What do “Shape of Music” and “Pear Garden Culture-Themed ART Exhibition” have in common?

A．They are available for free.	B．They are exhibition of oil paintings.
C．They are re-creation of performing arts.	D．They are related to traditional Chinese culture.

3. Which is the text most likely to be taken from?

A．A website.

B．A brochure

C．A newspaper.

D．A magazine.

7 .

REF: 099085177/ 400093140 /4056F 18.05.2023 Mr. Wallace No.451 Ning Xia Road Graduate School Heping District, Tianjin, 201700 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences China	Graduate School Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Newcastle University 7th Floor, Daysh Building NE1 7RU
Dear. Mr. Wallace, Application for Postgraduate Study-Master in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (full time) I am pleased to confirm that your application to Newcastle University has been successful. I enclose details of your offer. This letter also contains information that you may find helpful at this stage. Acceptance of Offer The Terms and Conditions of your offer are given in the Annex (附录) of this letter. Please secure your place at the University by accepting your offer as soon as possible. There are two ways to accept your offer: ①Log on to the portal(官网) and accept your offer online. Go to the Application Status tab, select this program and click the Accept button. The portal is accessed http://www.nel.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/forms. ②Alternatively, sign and return the Annex, given at the end of this letter. If your offer is conditional, please ensure that you send any necessary documents to the Graduate School as soon as possible. Please note that international applicants will need to be issued with a visa at least one month in advance of the start of the course. Also, you should ensure that the visa covers the duration (持续时间), of the course, allowing extra time for possible: deadline extensions. See your expected end date in Annex. * Under normal circumstances you will not be permitted to start the course beyond this date. If you foresee any problem which may affect your arrival in Newcastle please notify the Graduate School immediately so we can make further arrangements. For queries contact: Graduate School, Newcastle University 7th Floor, Daysh Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom Email: hss.gradschool@ncl.ac.uk Phone: +44(0) 1912225503 Fax: +44(0)1912227001

1. According to the passage, Mr. Wallace is most probably _______.

A．a student selected for an overseas exchange program

B．a high school senior about to study in the UK

C．a college graduate wishing to further his study overseas

D．an international student applying for a travel visa

2. Which of the following is true about Mr. Wallace according to the passage?

A．He can by no means start the course after 17th September 2023.

B．He won’t be admitted unless he submits required documents.

C．He should make sure his visa is valid for at least 15 months.

D．He may accept his offer at Newcastle University via phone.

3. If the applicant’s offer is conditional, what should they do?

A．Sign and return the annex.	B．Log on to the portal and accept email.
C．Send required documents to School.	D．Pay total tuition fee in advance.

4. When shall an international applicant obtain a visa?

A．At least one month before the start of the course.	B．Before the expected completion date.
C．Two days after your offer confirmation.	D．As soon as you accept the offer letter.

5. What is the subject of this letter?

A．An application letter for a job.	B．An admission to postgraduate study.
C．A request for course information.	D．An advertisement for a Staff recruitment.

8 . Explore ART X Lagos on Artsy

31 October-3 November 2024

ART X Lagos was launched as an active platform to show and support the breadth of contemporary art from Africa and beyond. The fair, begun in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, has become a cornerstone of the African art every year. The first of its kind in West Africa, ART X Lagos is a special cultural event that goes beyond the traditional art fair. The fair, which hosted over 40 artists and galleries from Africa and worldwide, bridges the gap between continent-based and foreign artists.

ART X Lagos has become renowned for its ambitious program, which includes ART X Talks —a lively discussion series; ART X Live—a one-of-a-kind music show; ART X Cinema—a film theatre; and ART Books—a feast to the latest books on art.

For its 2024 edition, the fair’s theme “The Dialogue” will place an emphasis in this unique year, on conversation and community, and will see audiences raising their voices on these present challenging times, not just for Nigeria, but on the continent and globally.

“We decided to go ahead with this different format for ART X Lagos 2023 due to the current socioeconomic challenges Nigeria is facing, and to fulfill, at the same time, our desire to continue to support the ecosystem in a way that is responsible and sustainable,” said the fair’s founder, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, in an email exchange, “We want people to take time to talk to each other and this is why we have placed our talks at the center of the fair—— we are inviting our audiences to get deeply involved and encourage the act of dialogue, at this key time.”

1. Which is true about ART X Lagos?

A．It lasts about a month.	B．It is open only to African artists.
C．It was the first exhibition in Africa.	D．It’ll come to the ninth edition in 2024.

2. If a visitor intends to enjoy music performance, which can be recommended?

A．ART X Talks.

B．ART X Live.

C．ART X Cinema.

D．ART Books.

3. What will the ART X Lagos 2024 stress according to Tokini?

A．Conservation.

B．Economy.

C．Entertainment.

D．Communication.

9 . Each ARTS FIRST festival is a unique annual celebration of the Harvard community's artistic creativity. We invite you to join us for the coming ARTS FIRST. We look forward to welcoming you as we showcase the creativity of the Harvard arts community through performances, art exhibitions and art-making activities. The festival is a public event for Harvard and community members of all ages.

Light Awash in Watercolor

Learn about the materials and qualities of watercolor paint with experts from the Harvard Art Museums Materials Lab. Try your hand at some of the painting tricks used by artists whose works will be in the upcoming exhibition of American Watercolors 1880-1990: Into the Light.

Spineless Artists: Invertebrate Creativity

From webs to cocoons, invertebrates (无脊椎动物) create some of nature's most delicate and beautiful designs. Join Javier Marin from the Harvard Museum of Natural History to learn how insects and other invertebrates dance, inspire fashion and create art, while making your own spineless artists out of craft (手工艺) materials.

Wheel Throwing

Join instructors from the Ceramics Program and great potters from Quincy, Cabot and Mather Houses for demonstrations using the potter's wheel. Then create your own masterpiece!

Knitting and Pom-Pom Making

Join the Harvard Undergraduate Knitting Circle to make pom-poms and tassels out of thread, or pick up a pair of needles and learn to knit (编织).

1. What do we know about ARTS FIRST?

A．It is an exhibition of oil paintings.	B．It offers art courses for all ages.
C．It presents recreational activities.	D．It is a major tourist attraction.

2. Which program will you join if you're interested in drawing pictures?

A．Light Awash in Watercolor.	B．Spineless Artists: Invertebrate Creativity.
C．Wheel Throwing.	D．Knitting and Pom-Pom Making.

3. What can you do together with Javier Marin?

A．Practice a traditional dance.	B．Make handcrafts.
C．Visit a local museum.	D．Feed invertebrates.

10 . Three of the Best Small Breweries (啤酒厂) in the USA

If you’re tired of drinking the same old beer and would actually like to have a taste of true beer that’s been handcrafted with care and genuine passion by newbies (新手) in the market—then this blog is going to give you exactly that.

City Built Brewing Co.

This place has got something for everybody—whether you’re a “classic” person who just wants to have a glass of your favourite beer on a hot summer day or an adventurer who wants to be hit with flavours that you have never tried before-the City Built Brewing Company will meet all your needs since it provides a variety of drinks for a mixed crowd.

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Even though it’s not one of the biggest players in the market, its extremely innovative marketing strategies will convince you otherwise. The Firestone Walker Brewing Co. has quickly managed to gain a lot of visibility in 2022 simply by having a great social media presence, along with a killer webpage that invites beer lovers in. Its true specialty lies in creating seasonal beers made annually and available only for a limited period of time. Apart from this, it also has a variety of other kinds of beer that are brewed all year round.

Dovetail Brewery

Here’s a place that you should go to for both-the great beer and the fun experience. Started by two friends (Bill and Hagen) who met in beer school, the brewery is best known for how well they convert classic European beers to suit the American tastebuds (味蕾).

Not just that, but you’ll also get to experience a place of great architecture when you visit this brewery, along with the amazing food that’s to die for.

1. What is unique about Firestone Walker Brewing Co. ?

A．It brought in foreign flavours.	B．Its architecture style is appealing.
C．Some of its beer is offered for limited time.	D．It makes special flavour only for adventurers.

2. What do the three breweries have in common?

A．Their beer is of poor quality.	B．Their products are handmade.
C．They provide hands-on experience.	D．They don’t have webpages to advertise.

3. Where is probably the text from?

A．A guidebook.

B．A newspaper.

C．A textbook.

D．A website.