1 . Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, every trip needs a little planning. Travel planning doesn’t have to be stressful, though. Here are some simple steps for you.
Start planning in advance.
Before you do anything, you need to know how much money you will have for this travel. It is easy to overspend when you are travelling if you don’t plan ahead. So start your planning by working out how much you want to spend on transportation, food, sightseeing and hotels.
Make reservations.
Booking transportation and accommodations in advance is quite necessary. Things like flights, trains and even car rentals can be quite different depending on when and where you book them. It’s worth considering booking accommodations online. There are many reliable websites for booking hotels.
Make a tour routine.
Make your routine simple and clear. You don’t need to plan out every minute of every day.
Pack your essentials.
| A．Get ready to go. |
| B．Set a travel budget. |
| C．See your doctor for health concerns before your trip. |
| D．The longer you wait, the more expensive these will get. |
| E．The further away you want to go, the earlier you need to plan. |
| F．But schedule time for the things you really want to see and do. |
| G．No matter where you’re going, there are some necessities to take. |
2 . After years of writing papers and cramming for tests, many young travelers look forward to their cap toss and the celebratory trip, which serves the purpose of celebrating the completion of this phase of schooling.
Danube River, Europe
Experience Europe by booking your family on a Danube River Cruise to have a great trip with your college-age kids. You can visit eight cities in four different countries as you cruise from Germany to Hungary, having a peep into European history and culture.
New York City, New York
If your college-going kids are into theater, a visit to New York City’s Broadway will be the perfect family vacation destination you can gift them. There is some new show that’s happening there always and could even be on the bucket list of the young adults in your family!
London, England
If your young ones have been bitten by the Harry Potter bug, a visit to the Wizarding World in London will be irresistible for them. See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in his West End home, and then proceed to the Palace Theatre.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
South Africa’s Kruger National Park covers nearly two million hectares of land with a wide diversity of life forms along with historical and archaeological sights. The Cape buffalo, African elephant, leopard, the fish eagle and Marula trees are within sight.
For more information, please refer to the chart below:
Ratings | Danube River, Europe | New York City, New York | London, England | Kruger National Park, South Africa |
| Activities Attractions | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Safety | 4/5 | 3. 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Accessibility | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Accommodation Options | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| A．Danube River, Europe. | B．New York City, New York. |
| C．London, England. | D．Kruger National Park, South Africa. |
| A．Accommodation choices. | B．Financial costs. |
| C．Personal security. | D．Transport system. |
| A．Graduates. | B．Parents. | C．Travel bloggers. | D．Tour guides. |
3 . A fisherman from Portland, Maine, the US, caught a very rare bright blue lobster (龙虾) off the coast of Maine but chose to set it free back into the ocean. The photo of the blue lobster was shared by tech enterpriser Lars-Johan Larsson. “This blue lobster was caught off the coast of Portland yesterday and returned to the water to continue to grow. Blue lobsters are one in two million,” he wrote.
While the shells of lobsters are generally red or brown in color, the blue shell is a result of gene mutation (基因突变), which causes the lobster to produce more of a particular protein than other lobsters, leading to the rare blue color, as reported by the Toronto Sun.
Yellow, orange and crystal-colored lobsters are considered even rarer than bright blue ones. According to the Lobster Institute, yellow lobsters account for about one in 30 million of the total population. Two fishermen in Dorset caught a crystal-colored lobster in 2011.
“Whatever the odds of catching different-colored lobsters, there’s no denying that bright blue ones are truly beautiful creatures,” said Rob Bayer, executive director of the University of Maine Lobster Institute. “They might not be the most unusual, but they’re undoubtedly the best to look at.”
It’s become something of a trend for restaurants to spare blue lobsters. Austin Hopley, a chef at “The Hare” in Rochdale, the UK, made the news for sparing a bright blue lobster. He gave it to Sea Life in Manchester, as reported by the BBC.
“Now it’s there for people to enjoy,” said Hopley. “I felt responsible. Something so rare didn’t require a place on the menu. Every species deserves a fair chance at survival.”
Expert Brendan Malone from Sea Life said, “It is certainly an extraordinary find and worth saving to try to educate the public about these amazing creatures in the ecosystem.”
1. What is the root cause for the color of blue lobsters?| A．Gene variation. | B．Adaptation failure. |
| C．A specific protein. | D．A mix of red and brown. |
| A．They are the rarest. | B．They are easy to catch. |
| C．They are delicious to eat. | D．They are most beautiful. |
| A．It wouldn’t make a good dish. |
| B．He wanted to follow the trend. |
| C．He took on responsibility to save it. |
| D．It would bring him fame and profits. |
| A．Blue Lobsters Rebound Suddenly |
| B．Chefs Take Action to Protect Lobsters |
| C．Gene Mutation Has an Effect on Lobsters |
| D．Man Catches a “One in Two Million” Blue Lobster |
4 . Monarch butterflies (帝王蝶) are edging dangerously close to extinction despite a decision late last year to remove the orange-and-black insects from the endangered species list, a new study has found.
An annual survey led by the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)of the species wintering in central Mexico found the second-lowest number of monarch butterflies on record, meaning they took up just 2.2 acres of regional forests, 59% less than during the 2022 — 2023 winter season. The findings are troubling to scientists determined to protect the species.
Each year, monarch butterflies migrate (迁徙) thousands of miles from southern Canada and the northern and central US to the mountain forests of central Mexico. They require a large and healthy forest to protect them from winds, rain and low temperatures in the areas where they migrate for winter. Yet because of heat and drought brought on by climate change, scientists say, their natural habitat is quickly depleting. Scientists with the WWF considered this winter season’s findings serious and said they represented the second-smallest area taken up by monarch butterflies in Mexico since 1993.
What’s worse, in recent years, their breeding areas in Canada and the US have seen a reduction in milkweed leaves where female monarch butterflies lay their eggs. “Land-use changes in the United States, combined with the widespread use of chemicals, also contributed to the loss of milkweed and other plants that adult monarch butterflies feed on,” the WWF said.
Monarch butterflies play an important role in maintaining plant ecosystems and are also an important food source for birds, small animals and other insects, according to the National Park Service. It’s necessary that all governments, communities, scientists, and others continue to strengthen our protection efforts to support their unique migration.
1. Why do monarch butterflies fly to central Mexico each year?| A．To spend winter. | B．To lay eggs. |
| C．To search for shelter. | D．To escape from enemies. |
| A．Shifting. | B．Disappearing. | C．Recovering. | D．Increasing. |
| A．The loss of food sources. |
| B．The widespread use of chemicals. |
| C．The land-use changes in the United States. |
| D．The threat of being eaten by other animals. |
| A．To raise people’s awareness about climate change. |
| B．To call for more measures to protect monarch butterflies. |
| C．To inform people of the serious situation of monarch butterflies. |
| D．To prove monarch butterflies should be on the endangered species list. |
5 . Cute lion heads, loud gongs (锣) and drums, an excited crowd- these are all parts of the lion dances you often see during Chinese holidays or at the openings of new shops and restaurants. Ancient Chinese people thought the lion stood for (代表) braveness. It can drive away bad things and bring good luck. As one of the most well- known folk dances in China, the lion dance has been performed for more than 2,000 years. It was very popular during the Tang Dynasty(618﹣907).
Wang Rentao, 41, has been performing the lion dance for 28 years. Born in Zhongkeng village in Dongguan, Guangdong, Wang watched villagers perform it when he was young. “It’s a historical tradition here and the love for lion dance is in everyone’s blood,” Wang said.
Now the head of the village’s lion dance performers, Wang is proud of the group’s achievements. “We’ve won many prizes and taken part in many important events, including the celebration of the 70th birthday of New China at Tian’anmen Square, ” Wang said.
Wang’s group is famous for dancing on quincuncial pile (梅花桩), one of the most difficult lion dance skills. Performers jump from one pile to another at a height of about 2.5 meters. The distance between the piles can be as far as 1.8 meters.
“The training is really difficult. Performers need to have lots of good practice of kung fu skills first. Even with that, they can fall from the pile and get hurt,” Wang said. “But that’s also the amazing part of lion dance, the part that makes it valuable heritage.”
The lion dance is popular not just in China, but in overseas Chinese communities. Many overseas (海外的) Chinese see the lion as a symbol of China. The lion dance reminds them of the culture of their homeland.
1. What did the lion stand for in ancient China?| A．Bad things | B．Good luck | C．Kindness | D．Braveness |
| A．For more than 200 years. | B．For no more than 200 years. |
| C．For over 2,000 years. | D．For less than 2,000 years. |
| A．遗产 | B．资源 | C．友谊 | D．经历 |
| A．You can’t see lion dance at Tian’anmen Square |
| B．Not everyone in Zhongkeng village loves lion dance |
| C．The lion dance was very popular during the Han Dynasty. |
| D．In the eyes of many overseas Chinese, the lion is a symbol of China. |
6 . It was a very cold day and the wind was blowing. But Li Yungang didn’t feel it. He even felt hot. After all, this 14-year-old student from Beijing Jingshan School was cutting grass for three hours.
This was the first time this city boy had done any farm work. “It was not that easy. My legs and arms were sore,” he said.
From now on, more Beijing middle school students will have a similar experience. 5,500 students from 13 city middle schools will take part in a one-week farm work program in the autumn and spring.
About 250 students from Beijing Jingshan School took part in it from Oct. 25 to 30. They dug peanuts (花生), cut grass, swept fallen leaves and did other farm work.
Lin Ruohan, 13, thought the work was hard, but she was very enjoyable. “When we dig peanuts out, we must be quick to pick them up. If not, they may be covered in the ground again. We must be patient and work as a team,” she said.
But when she tasted the fresh peanuts, she felt happy. “I had never eaten such sweet peanuts before,” she said.
Some of her classmates also learned what kind of fruits and peanuts grow in the ground. “We learned a lot about farming by seeding (播种) them rather than just reading about them in textbooks,” she said.
The farm not only gave them knowledge but also gave them a new view.
If you want to know more about farming knowledge, please click here WWW.>@farming.com
1. How old is Li Yungang from Beijing Jingshan School?| A．11 years old. | B．12 years old. | C．13 years old. | D．14 years old. |
| A．250. | B．5,500. | C．500. | D．1,000. |
| A．in a storybook | B．in a science fiction |
| C．in a website | D．in a travel magazine |
| A．It’s difficult but enjoyable. | B．It’s easy but boring. |
| C．It’s easy and interesting. | D．It’s difficult and boring. |
7 . Traditions are customs and beliefs that form a part of our culture. They are practiced to remind us of our history and are passed down from generation to generation. Some traditions are interesting and widespread, while others are quite strange and practiced only by a small group of people. Continue reading to dig more into some interesting traditions from around the world.
Smigus Dyngus in PolandAlso known as “Wet Monday”, Smigus Dyngus is a unique tradition practiced in Poland, where people throw water at each other. It is celebrated annually on Easter Monday. The traditional way to do it is for boys to throw water at girls, and it is believed that the girl who receives the most water has the greatest chance of getting married.
Hanging coffins (棺椁) in Sagada, the PhilippinesThere is an old tradition in Sagada where people hang their coffins in stone caves. It was carried out by the Igorot tribe (部落) of Mountain Province. The people there believe this custom prevents large animals from taking the dead bodies, and also purifies or blesses the departed soul.
The Polterabend custom in GermanyFamily members and friends of future married couples meet at dinner, and break a lot of porcelain (瓷器). The couple is then asked to clean up the entire mess. This is supposedly to teach them the importance of unity and hard work, and bring good luck. Germans think this tradition is essential in making marriages last a lifetime.
Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROKThe Boryeong Mud Festival in the ROK is a fascinating and unique celebration that draws crowds from around the world. It is a major cultural event, attracting over a million visitors annually. People participate in various mud-related activities, including mud baths, mud wrestling and even a mud marathon. The festival features live music, food stalls, and wonderful street performances.
1. Why are the coffins hung in caves in Sagada?| A．To pray for good luck. |
| B．To protect the dead bodies. |
| C．To ensure a future reunion. |
| D．To conserve more land resources. |
| A．Smigus Dyngus. |
| B．Hanging coffins in Sagada. |
| C．The Polterabend custom. |
| D．Boryeong Mud Festival. |
| A．Throw water at girls. |
| B．Learn about Igorot culture. |
| C．Meet famous people. |
| D．Enjoy mud baths. |
8 . A new study finds sales of sugary drinks obviously fell across several US cities, after they carried out soda taxes (汽水税) aiming those drinks — and those changes continued over time. Taxes ranged from 1 to 2 cents. For a 2-liter bottle of soda, that comes out to between 67 cents to $1.30 extra in taxes.
“While prior (先前的) studies have looked at the impact of soda taxes, they usually studied one city at a time. This new study looked at the overall effect of the taxes on several cities to get an idea of what might happen if these taxes were more widespread — or enlarged to the state or national level,” says Scott Kaplan, an economics professor and the study’s lead author.
Kaplan and his co-workers found that prices for sugary drinks went up by 33.1% and purchases (购买量) went down by basically the same amount. So when people had to pay more for sugary drinks, they reduced their purchases — the effect was large and continued.
As Kaplan notes, “Sugary drinks make up a quarter of all the added sugar we see in the average adult American diet. And that’s a really big amount.” Jennifer Pomeranz, a professor at the School of Public Health, says, “Taxes that aim sugary drinks are good public health policy because these drinks have no nutritional (营养的) value, but they are linked with diet-related diseases. Too much added sugar is linked to a host of poor health outcomes, including overweight and heart disease.” Last month, WHO called on countries to increase taxes on sugary drinks as a way to promote healthier diets.
Today, the sugary drink industry’s strategy of offering consumers more choices with less sugar is working, and nearly 60% of drinks sold have zero sugar. The calories that people get from drinks have decreased to the lowest level in decades.
1. What’s the difference between the new study and the prior ones?| A．The range. | B．The challenge. | C．The expense. | D．The benefit. |
| A．They bought them in overseas markets. |
| B．They turned to the government for help. |
| C．They cut down the drinks’ consumption. |
| D．They added sugar to drinks by themselves. |
| A．To better protect people’s health. |
| B．To encourage research into drinks. |
| C．To improve the nutrition of drinks. |
| D．To make more money for the government. |
| A．It is a short-sighted decision. |
| B．It is a success story. |
| C．It benefits sugary drinks industry. |
| D．It upsets customers. |
9 . People who visit Huangsiyang village in Huizhou, Guangdong province, are shocked by the grand scale of its ancient residential buildings. Covering an area of 220,000 square meters, the village was named “Huangsiyang” to express gratitude for the emperor’s kindness. With a history of over 500 years, the village’s architecture dates back to the late Ming Dynasty.
As part of a Guangdong provincial project that targets the high-quality rural (乡村的) development, Huangsiyang has made great efforts to promote its heritage protection and cultural tourism, which have breathed new life into the village. Yang Shouqiang, a village official, explained that the ancient village has more than 20 historical sites, making it the most well-preserved and largest ancient residential group in Huidong county. Yang said the village has attached great importance to education and culture, having produced over 20 examinees who passed the provincial-level exams after being invited to sit for the imperial examinations — the ancient form of the gaokao, China’s college entrance exam.
From 2022 to last year, a total of 65million yuan was invested in the protection and development of Huangsiyang ancient village. Recent surveys have shown significant improvements in the village’s surroundings and internal environment after it took measures to restore architecture and rivers, and improve lighting and other basic facilities. At the same time, the village introduced high-quality homestay (民宿) projects. These homestays preserve the original architectural style of the ancient buildings.
The village has attracted many tourists from the Guangdong — Hong Kong — Macao Greater Bay Area, who take part in team building activities and enjoy unique experiences. The increasing number of visitors to the village is also increasing sales of local snacks and agricultural products. Online promotions of these products have also brought in more tourists to nearby villages.
1. What surprises visitors to Huangsiyang village?| A．Tasty local snacks. |
| B．A history of over 500 years. |
| C．The rural landscape. |
| D．A large number of ancient buildings. |
| A．Prepare for. | B．Go through. | C．Participate in. | D．Put off. |
| A．It benefits a lot from tourism. |
| B．Its education system develops fast. |
| C．It is famous for agricultural products. |
| D．Its environment is damaged due to tourists. |
| A．Old village comes to life |
| B．Old village draws visitors |
| C．Old village values education |
| D．Old village shows traditional culture |
10 . “The Worthington Christian defeated the Westerville North by 2—1 in an Ohio boys’ soccer game on Saturday.” That’s according to a story that appeared last month in The Columbus Dispatch. That lead was written not by a sportswriter, but by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool.
Many news organizations are now examining how AI might be used in their work. But if they begin their “experimenting” with high school sports because they are less momentous than war, peace, climate change and politics, they may miss something crucial. Nothing may be more important to the students who play high school sports, and to their families, neighborhoods, and sometimes, the whole town. That next game is what the students train for, work toward, and dream about. Someday, almost all student athletes will go on to have jobs in front of screens, in office parks, at schools, in hospitals or on construction sites. They may suffer blows and setbacks. But the high school games they played and watched, as well as their hopes and cheers, will stay vivid in their memories.
I have a small idea. If newspapers will no longer send staff reporters to cover high school games, why not hire high school student journalists? News organizations can pay students an hourly wage to cover high school games. The young reporters might learn how to be fair to all sides, write vividly, and attract readers. That’s what some celebrities in sports did, and do.
And think of the great writers who were inspired by sports: Hemingway on fishing, Bernard Malamud and Marianne Moore on baseball, Chen Zhongshi on football, and CLR James on cricket, who said, “There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable (不可避免的) ups and downs of only a game.” A good high school writer, unlike a robot, could tell readers not just the score, but the stories of the game.
1. Why is the lead mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To introduce an original idea. | B．To show AI’s wide application. |
| C．To bring in the opinion about AI. | D．To stress AI’s importance to news. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Eye-catching. | C．Competitive. | D．Far-reaching. |
| A．Rich in contents. | B．Fair in comments. |
| C．Centered on results. | D．Targeted on readers. |
| A．News Organizations Are Abusing AI | B．High Schoolers Can Do What AI Can’t |
| C．Great Writers Are Crazy About Sports | D．AI Ruins High School Students’ Memory |
