1 . Air Travel Guidelines for Children

We’re here to help you prepare to fly with your children. Here’s how it works.

Booking a child’s ticket

You’ll need to buy a separate ticket if:

· You book an international flight.

· Your child is 2 years old or older at takeoff.

· Your child is a baby sitting in his or her own seat.

In some cases, children can fly for free. If everything below is true, you won’t need to buy your child a separate ticket:

· You book a domestic(国内) flight.

· Your child is a baby(less than 2 years old), at takeoff.

· Your baby sits on the legs of a traveler over the age of 12.

· No more than 1 baby is seated on the legs of a traveler.

Now for the rules, each traveler over the age of 12 may accompany(陪伴) up to 2 babies, each seated in their own seat.

Documents a child will need

The airlines determine what documents you’ll need to travel. In short, if you’re flying domestically, each child might need a photo ID. If you’re flying intemationally, each child will need a passport. Additionally, children under 18 traveling to Mexico need to provide proved documentation and letters of permission. For more information, please visit the US Embassy(大使馆) website.

Unaccompanied children on flights

· Some airlines may charge a fee for unaccompanied child service.

· Children under 5 and over 17 might be unfit for unaccompanied child service.

· Both the adult dropping the child off at the airport and the adult picking the child up are required to show identification.

Contact your airline to ask about more information.

1. Under which condition do you have to buy a ticket for your baby girl?

A．She sits on your legs.	B．She needs a domestic flight.
C．She requires a separate seat.	D．She is under the age of 2 at takeoff.

2. What document might a child need to fly within the USA?

A．A photo ID.	B．A passport.
C．Proved documentation.	D．A letter of permission.

3. Who can use unaccompanied child service?

A．A 4-year-old boy.	B．A 10-year-old boy.
C．An 18-year-old boy.	D．A 19-year-old boy.

2 . Staying alone can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. It offers a unique opportunity for self-reflection, personal growth, and independence. When we are alone, we can connect with our inner selves and discover our strengths and weaknesses.

In the quietness of being alone, we can escape the noise and distractions of the outside world. It allows us to slow down, be present, and appreciate the simple moments in life.     1     For example, we can read a book, listen to music, or pursue a hobby. Without the pressures of social interactions, we can focus on our own thoughts and feelings, gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Being alone also encourages independence and problem-solving skills.     2     It teaches us adaptability as we go through challenges and uncertainties. We become more self-dependent and capable of handling various situations on our own.

    3     Taking time away from the constant demands of others allows us to focus on our own needs and refuel our energy reserves. It’s important to recognize that taking time for ourselves is not selfish, but rather a necessary part of self-care. By recharging our batteries, we ultimately become more productive and fulfilled in our personal and professional lives.

    4     While staying alone can be beneficial, humans are social beings by nature. We desire companionship, support, and shared experiences. It is important to reach out to loved ones, build meaningful relationships, and engage in social activities that bring us happiness and fulfillment.

In conclusion, staying alone can be a trans formative experience.     5     Embracing the state of being alone can lead to personal growth, inner peace, and a deeper understanding of ourselves. So, let us not fear being alone but embrace it as an opportunity for self-reflection and self-empowerment.

A．Being alone can increase your sense of connection to other people.

B．In fact, there are many disadvantages to being alone.

C．We can take the time to engage in activities that bring us joy.

D．When there is no one else around to rely on, we learn to make decisions independently.

E．It enables self-entertainment, independence, and refreshment in our own company.

F．However, it is essential to strike a balance between staying alone and social connection.

G．Moreover, staying alone allows us to recharge and refresh.

3 . Whether we are sitting down or standing up, still or moving, body posture influences our mood. Several studies have shown this link between physical posture and mood. Others have shown a relationship between our mood and our cognitive (认知的) performance, including memory, reasoning, learning, and the speed of reaction and processing of information.

So a logical question arises. Can body posture influence our cognitive performance?

Previously, a New Zealand team (University of Auckland) carried out an experiment on posture when we walk, especially in the street. The team had found a very clear influence of our posture on our mood and confidence. It appears that walking with a hunched back, bowed head and motionless arms have a negative influence on our mental state.

Indeed, the researchers found that the simple act of straightening up, standing up straight, with your head held high, and gazing forward gives us a serious boost of confidence. Not only does our spontaneous posture have a psychological effect, but by correcting it, it is possible to bring about improvement in the long term.

In this other study, this time carried out by an Austrian team (Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg), researchers observed the same phenomenon, this time in a sitting position. Young adults were invited to participate in tests presented as intended to assess their ability to concentrate. In fact, the researchers had them sit in different postures — from upright to very slumped (消沉) — in order to note their influences on mood and cognition.

A first observation indicates that “sitting upright” is associated with a better overall mood. It is also found to have a positive influence on the speed of processing information and completing tasks, although the test pass rate does not vary significantly with posture.

Finally, and surprisingly enough, blood pressure is a little more favorable in an upright position. To further complete the list of benefits of sitting upright, we will add that it is widely recommended for protecting the back in case of work that requires sitting for a long time.

1. Why does the writer mention the studies at the beginning?

A．To introduce what cognitive performance is.

B．To emphasize the importance of body posture.

C．To prove the results of those studies are wrong.

D．To raise a new question to be studied and solved.

2. What does the underlined word “hunched” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Straightened.

B．Bent.

C．Loose.

D．Solid.

3. What does the first study indicate?

A．Posture influences our mental state.	B．Straightening up has a negative effect.
C．Gazing upward builds up confidence.	D．Walking posture is especially important.

4. What can we learn about sitting upright?

A．It has mental and physical benefits.	B．It helps improve the test pass rate.
C．It requires sitting for a long time.	D．It increases the blood pressure.

4 . Bike Rental & Guided Tours

Welcome to Amsterdam, welcome to MacBike. You see much more from the seat of a bike! Cycling is the most economical, sustainable and fun way to explore the city, with its beautiful canals, parks, squares and countless lights. You can also bike along lovely landscapes outside of Amsterdam.

Why MacBike

MacBike has been around for almost 30 years and is the biggest bicycle rental company in Amsterdam. With over 2,500 bikes stored in our five rental shops at strategic locations, we make sure there is always a bike available for you. We offer the newest bicycles in a wide variety, including basic bikes with foot brake (刹车), bikes with hand brake and gears (排挡), bikes with child seats, and children’s bikes.

Prices

	Hand Brake, Three Gears	Foot Brake, No Gears
1 hour	€7.50	€5.00
3 hours	€11.00	€7.50
1 day (24 hours)	€14.75	€9.75
Each additional day	€8.00	€6.00

Guided City Tours

The 2.5-hour tour covers the Gooyer Windmill, the Skinny Bridge, the Rijksmuseum, Heineken Brewery and much more. The tour departs from Dam Square every hour on the hour, starting at 1:00 pm every day. You can buy your ticket in a MacBike shop or book online.

1. What is an advantage of MacBike?

A．It gives children a discount.	B．It offers many types of bikes.
C．It organizes free cycle tours.	D．It has over 2,500 rental shops.

2. How much do you pay for renting a bike with hand brake and three gears for two days?

A．€15.75.

B．€19.50.

C．€22.75.

D．€29.50.

3. Where does the guided city tour start?

A．The Gooyer, Windmill.	B．The Skinny Bridge.
C．Heineken Brewery.	D．Dam Square.

5 . Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of ranger programs throughout the park, and throughout the year. The following are descriptions of the ranger programs this summer.

Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone (May 26 to September 2)

Whether you’re hiking a backcountry trail (小径), camping, or just enjoying the park’s amazing wildlife from the road, this quick workshop is for you and your family. Learn where to look for animals and how to safely enjoy your wildlife watching experience. Meet at the Canyon Village Store.

Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics (June 5 to August 21)

Kids can test their skills and compare their abilities to the animals of Yellowstone. Stay for as little or as long as your plans allow. Meet in front of the Visitor Education Center.

Canyon Talks at Artist Point (June 9 to September 2)

From a classic viewpoint, enjoy Lower Falls, the Yellowstone River, and the breathtaking colors of the canyon (峡谷) while learning about the area’s natural and human history. Discover why artists and photographers continue to be drawn to this special place. Meet on the lower platform at Artist Point on the South Rim Drive for this short talk.

Photography Workshops (June 19 & July 10)

Enhance your photography skills — join Yellowstone’s park photographer for a hands-on program to inspire new and creative ways of enjoying the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone.

6/19 — Waterfalls &Wide Angles: meet at Artist Point.

7/10 — Wildflowers &White Balance: meet at Washburn Trailhead in Chittenden parking area.

1. Which of the four programs begins the earliest?

A．Photography Workshops.	B．Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics.
C．Canyon Talks at Artist Point.	D．Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone.

2. What is the short talk at Artist Point about?

A．Works of famous artists.	B．Protection of wild animals.
C．Basic photography skills.	D．History of the canyon area.

3. Where will the participants meet for the July 10 photography workshop?

A．Artist Point.	B．Washburn Trailhead.
C．Canyon Village Store.	D．Visitor Education Center.

6 . Sammie Welch was traveling with her three-year-old son Ryan from Birmingham to Plymouth last Thursday. She tried to keep him entertained on the three-and-a-half-hour journey. “He was eating his dinner! We were laughing at the fact that he kept calling his grapes strawberries,” Ms Welch said. “We were playing together and I was trying to keep him quiet. He normally gets quite bored and rowdy on the train. So I was doing my best to entertain him as much as I could.”

After finishing his dinner, the boy tell asleep on the seat next to her mother. When a man boarded the crowded train, the mother pulled her son onto her lap (大腿). So the man could sit down. Ms Welch, an unemployed IT technician, made her son move for another passenger. After a few minutes, an unknown stranger walked past and handed Ms Welch a note and money before getting off the train straight away. In the note, the passenger called himself “Man on the train at table with glasses and hat”.He praised the mother’s behaviour and left her £5 to buy herself a drink.

Ms Welch, 23, who comes from Crewe but now lives in Plymouth, said she didn’t find out the stranger’s name and created a Facebook page to find him. “I never had the chance to thank him as he got off. And I couldn’t move due to my son being asleep on me,” She wrote on the social networking site. “I don’t think what I have done is a big matter. I would love to have the opportunity to thank this man personally. So I hope this message could help me find him.”

1. What was the aim of Ms Welch’s playing with Ryan?

A．Teaching the right name of grapes.	B．Feeding him as much as possible.
C．Making him feel fun on the train.	D．Letting him learn something new.

2. The underlined word “rowdy” in the first paragraph may mean      .

A．upset	B．smart
C．lucky	D．noisy

3. Why did the stranger give Sammie Welch money?

A．Because he wanted her seat.	B．Because she gave her drink to strangers.
C．Because she made room for another passenger.	D．Because she pulled her son on the table.

7 . Callie Rogers says she is much happier now after her $1.87 million fortune has gone. And she has called for an increase in the age for playing the game.

    1    Then she gave up her $3.60-an-hour checkout job and bought her own home right away. Fifteen years later and the money has long-since gone and the mother-of-three says she is now so much happier. “    2    At 16 you are still just a child and overnight you’ve got to grow up and become an adult,which is very difficult.” Callie, now 31, said.

She said it was hard to know which relationships were real after her big win.     3    “There were people who came along after I won the lottery that weren’t in my life before and aren’t in my life now,” she said. “There were a lot of false people involved. At the time I didn’t realise because I wanted everyone to like me. The money brought problems with family and friends.”

Callie said that lottery organisers Camelot tried to help her after her win, but she didn’t listen.     4    She has said: “It was too much money for someone so young. Even if you say your life won’t change, it does — and often not for the better. It nearly broke me, but thankfully, I’m now stronger.     5    ”

Culture minister Tracey Crouch has already confirmed the Government is reviewing the age limit of 16, which may be raised.

A．I just wish I’d been older.

B．Callie was just 16 when she own the lottery.

C．She wanted to go back to having an exciting life.

D．She became so sad by being “used” by some people.

E．I try to forget what I’ve been through and just feel like a normal person.

F．Callie unfortunately didn’t take the independent financial and legal advice.

G．She was too young to comprehend how much her life would change.

8 . Travelling feels good. Seeing new places and gaining new experiences make us feel happy.     1     You must have taken a trip away and come back with new ideas in life. Why is this? When you’re travelling, a chemical called dopamine is produced in your brain. Dopamine causes feelings of relaxation, which in turn encourages creativity.

However, not many of us can afford the time or money required to travel often.     2     With these changes, you can get the travelling feeling even when you’re in your hometown.

Stimulate (刺激) your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch). To achieve this, you can try out any new restaurant that opens near you or cook at least one new dish every week.     3     Even if you have walked around your local area thousands of times before, there will be a few back roads you’ve never explored before.

    4     This will cause the creative feeling that comes with travelling. Sign up for an evening course or learn an instrument. Along with the intellectual (智力的) stimulation of the new activity, you’ll also get to meet new people, who in themselves can provide you with new ways of looking at the world.

Remember that travelling isn’t just about your physical position.     5     Follow the above tips and you can get that travelling feeling every day.

A．Try to learn a new skill.

B．It’s also a state of mind.

C．Go out of your way to experience new sights.

D．Actually you should learn to appreciate them.

E．Luckily, you can make some changes to your daily life.

F．Travelling also makes us come up with new ideas more easily.

G．When we get something new, we quickly get used to owning them.

9 . While some gossip can be annoying and unprofessional, other types of gossiping can be fun, normal, even healthy and productive. Experts say that talking about others behind their backs doesn’t have to be a guilty office pastime — it can be a useful tool to direct the workplace and learn important information. “I think, generally, gossip is a good thing,” says Elena Martinescu, a research associate who’s studied the psychology of gossiping. “According to evolutionary theory, humans have developed gossip in order to form cooperation on a group.”

By talking about other people, we can learn whom to cooperate with and whom to stay away from, something that helps a group work better together. “This fixed behavior translates to the modern workplace.” she says, “It is equally important to be aware of which colleagues one can trust and who one should be careful with.”

“Gossip confirms the value of our emotions and can help us figure out where other people stand on things,” she says, “and gossip can help us make sure if we’re perceiving the world in the same way as other colleagues and coworkers receive it.” It is really about information gathering. So, if someone at work says something like Ralph has been taking a lot of sick leave recently,” it could open the door for others to share their judgments and evaluations that maybe Ralph’s frequent sick leave could account for his poor job performance, for example. It can help you calculate how much sick leave is regarded as “appropriate” among your colleagues as well as who is empathetic or mean towards Ralph.

Sometimes, though, gossiping is just random talks about people or structures you dislike. Maybe it’s tyrannous boss, or the team that work slowly. Yet this gossip can still provide a network of observations and warnings that provide an informal instruction of support outside traditional workplace channels like HR.

1. What is Elena Martinescu’s attitude towards gossip?

A．Indifferent.

B．Negative.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

2. What can be learned from the example of Ralph’s frequent sick leave?

A．Whom Ralph works well with.	B．How Ralph’s health condition is.
C．Who is kind or unfriendly to Ralph.	D．Whether sick leave is regarded as appropriate.

3. What does the underlined word “tyrannous” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Unkind.

B．Wealthy.

C．Helpful.

D．Generous.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．The Impact of Judging Workers Behind Their Backs.

B．The Surprising Benefits of Gossiping in the Workplace.

C．How Gossiping Helps You Win Trust in the Workplace.

D．Why Gossip is Always a Productive Tool in the Workplace.

10 . A growing body of research suggests that the gut microbiome (消化道菌群) could play a major role in a rising chronic disease that makes us physically weaker. The illness, which is commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is characterized by intense fatigue, gastrointestinal (胃肠道的) issues, muscle pain, and cognitive challenges such as headaches and difficulty concentrating, among other symptoms. It often follows a viral infection which can lead to a “disruption” in a balanced gut ecosystem. Actually, an increasing number of Americans have been the sufferers since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Two recent studies published in Cell Host &Microbe point to changes in the microbiome as a possible cause of CFS. Research groups at Columbia University and the Jackson Laboratory performed detailed analyses of the microbes in stool (粪便) samples from patients with CFS and compared them to healthy controls.

The two groups found similar bacteria species were less present in CFS patients compared to control patients. They focused on bacteria that produce butyrate, a fatty acid involved in regulating metabolism and the immune system. “Butyrate plays several roles in directing the body’s response to infections, while also protecting the barrier between the intestine (肠) and the circulatory system, regulating genetic changes in cells, and more,” says Brent Williams, lead author on the Columbia study. Williams and his colleagues extensively analyzed the role of butyrate in CFS patients’ guts, even identifying a correlation between low levels of bacteria that produce this acid and more severe symptoms.

Parallel findings from the Jackson Laboratory team suggest the bacteria that produce butyrate could be used to diagnose CFS. Previous research has identified microbiome issues in CFS patients, but the new findings help clarify which microbes could be related to the illness.

More research on butyrate-producing bacteria and other species identified in the studies is necessary to investigate these potential biomarkers of CFS, the authors say. If the findings are replicated, specific gut bacteria could be used to diagnose the illness, which is currently identified based on symptoms alone.

The findings additionally point toward possible treatments, such as probiotics or microbiome-focused diet adjustments—though patients who have been sick for long periods may require drugs that alleviate the damage done to their metabolism or immune system.

1. What do we know about CFS?

A．It is caused by COVID-19 only.	B．It is an illness with systemic symptoms.
C．It breaks the balance of the gut ecosystem.	D．The number of the infected is on the decrease.

2. How did the researcher carry out the recent studies?

A．By controlling data.	B．By identifying genes.
C．By analyzing samples.	D．By comparing symptoms.

3. Which of the following is NOT the significance of the recent researches?

A．Butyrate’s multiple functions are promoted.

B．Targeted gut microbes may be used to diagnose CFS.

C．Certain microbes responsible for CFS are narrowed down.

D．Probiotics supplement with drugs can be a treatment for CFS.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Gut microbiome may be the key to CFS.	B．Microbes help digest food and aid absorption.
C．Man’s gut is a rich, diverse tropical rainforest.	D．New method for diagnosing CFS are provided.