1 . Saying “thank you” when you receive an unexpected gift is all well and good, but how can you get a little creative with your appreciation? As it turns out, there are plenty of ways to express your gratitude to others while remaining gracious and sincere.
I appreciate this.
You’ve made my day! Show them that their gifts turned your day around. Telling someone that they made your day will make the giver feel that their gifts are much more meaningful and worthwhile.
It’s like you read my mind! Thank you. Compliment (恭维) their gift-giving skills.
| A．I’m extremely astonished |
| B．When someone gives you a gift |
| C．If people choose to spend time with you |
| D．It is impolite of you to say those words |
| E．You may receive gifts from others in daily life |
| F．Be specific about what you appreciate and why |
| G．They’ll be pleased that they were able to make you smile |
2 . Visiting Ireland? Here’s what the locals love to do.
Find legends on a mountain hike
Walking is one of the best ways to get to know Ireland. “I’ve been walking for about 30 years, but I’m still trotting off to find new routes, and all of the walks seem to have stories,” says John G. O’Dwyer, author of 50 Best Irish Walks.
Feast on Irish flavors at a food truck
“Ireland’s casual food has been elevated,” said food writer Ali Dunworth. These days, food trucks, pop-up stores, and shacks are fun places to taste soulful pub fresh seafood and toasties (toasted sandwiches) with farmhouse cheese.
Visit a castle by boat
Marnie Corscadden, owner of Ballyseede Castle in Tralee, is attracted by Cloughoughter Castle, in County Cavan. Cloughoughter Castle is a four-story stone tower castle consisting of a single circular tower with high walls and a moat (护城河) surrounding it. Each floor has a curved ceiling, and the staircase winds along the inner walls. Despite being heavily damaged, the castle remains a popular tourist attraction. "Nestled on a small island, this dreamy castle is like something from a fairytale,” she said. “The fact that it’s so remote and can only be accessed by boat adds to its mystery and appeal.”
Get lost on a bike ride
“In Ireland, there are thousands of miles of quiet country roads where everyone you encounter is more than willing to give directions and point out places to visit,” said Ciaran Cannon, an official in Galway East, who cycled through all 32 counties for charity. A growing network of greenways rebooting derelict railways, such as Royal Canal and Limerick, are great for taking in the countryside.
1. How can a visitor get to Cloughoughter Castle?| A．By car. | B．By air. | C．By water. | D．On foot. |
| A．Spreading Irish culture. | B．Enjoying world scenery. |
| C．Searching for a life goal. | D．Contributing to a good cause. |
| A．John G. O’Dwyer. | B．Ali Dunworth. |
| C．Marnie Corscadden. | D．Ciaran Cannon. |
3 . Winter is often quite cold, which often makes us stay indoors more instead of heading out to exercise. Worse still, there are many viruses(病毒) doing their best to make you sick. And sneezing, coughing and nose blowing make the rooms a habitat for viruses.
Wash your hands. You pick up viruses everywhere and they live on your hands, so wash your hands and do it often.
Get the flu shot(疫苗).
Avoid sick people.
| A．It is easy for viruses to spread from person to person |
| B．Take care of your face |
| C．It’s not absolutely safe |
| D．Keep your hands away from your face |
| E．If someone around you is sick, then keep your distance |
| F．The best way is to use regular soap and water |
| G．Because there are always some unexpected things in life |
4 . Have you ever struggled to understand how someone else feels? Building up your empathy (同理心) skills helps you connect with your friends.
What is empathy?
Empathy is a kind of capability that lets you step into someone else’s shoes and then figure out how they are feeling. For instance, if you can see your friend is upset after losing a football match and you support them by telling them some warm and motivating words, you are showing empathy. Miranda McKeamey set up an organization called EmpathyLab that builds empathy through reading.
Scientists say empathy isn’t something you are born with, it’s a skill you can acquire through learning. One way you can do this is by active listening. When someone is talking to you, listen closely and respond in a way that shows you understand their situations and emotions thoroughly. Reading, advocated by EmpathyLab, is also a great way to boost empathy, since stories can take you inside someone else’s mind and show you the world through their eves and emotions.
Put empathy into action.
| A．How can you have more empathy? |
| B．Who need empathy most in daily life? |
| C．Besides, it also spreads kindness and inspires them to do the same. |
| D．To find out more conducts you can do, log in EmpathyLab.UK.com. |
| E．Only by putting empathy into action can you relate to others’ bad lives. |
| F．She believes even small, supportive actions can have a positive impact. |
| G．Miranda recommends going into the thick of people’s lives to show empathy. |
5 . Rain or shine, Tsering Chopa treks (艰苦跋涉) for long hours to deliver mail. For 18 years, the Tibetan mailman has been an important link between a remote, high-altitude settlement and the rest of the world. At 5,373 meters above sea level, Pumachangthang in Nakarze county of the Tibet autonomous region is China’s highest township(乡镇). The oxygen level is less than 40 percent and the annual average temperature is –7℃ . However, these weren’t the biggest challenges for a postal service. The area of the township is about 1,500 square kilometers, but its population is less than 2,000. The distance from the county town is some 70 km and a single trip to all the six villages can be as long as 160 km. The dogged perseverance required to get the job done under such conditions needs no further explanation.
The busiest time for Tsering Chopa is between July and August each year, when students are waiting for their admission letters from various universities. He recalls once he had to deliver mail to one student whose family had already moved away. He had to quiz neighbors several times to find the new address. It was summer and the usual road to the village was blocked because of rain. He trekked for more than 20 km and grappled with shortness of breath all the way to finally deliver the letter. “I don’t mind the hardships because it is not easy for students from remote villages to get college admission. It was my duty to deliver the mail on time,” he says.
One night in February 2019, a local resident Nyima Tsering’s daughter had fainted and desperately needed help. Knowing that, the mailman arranged for a car right away and sent her to the county hospital. He also gave some cash to the family for the girl’s treatment. Nyima Tsering’s daughter recovered soon, and Tsering Chopa became an idol in the village. “I will never forget his compassion and kindness,” says the grateful father.
In 2019, Tsering Chopa received the China Youth May Fourth Medal. “It is an acknowledgment of what I do and a token of encouragement as well,” he says. “And I want to help more people living in remote areas. I want to bring the world closer to them and take them closer to the world.”
1. Which is the most challenging part of Tsering Chopa’s work?| A．Trekking for long distances. | B．Suffering from cold temperatures. |
| C．Standing extremely bad road conditions. | D．Adapting to the high-altitude environment. |
| A．Optimistic and cautious. | B．Generous and intelligent. |
| C．Courageous and ambitious. | D．Persistent and responsible. |
| A．Tsering Chopa fixed his car for free. |
| B．Tsering Chopa saved his daughter’s life. |
| C．Tsering Chopa delivered his admission letters quickly. |
| D．Tsering Chopa drove him to a hospital for treatment. |
| A．Hardship Makes a Good Postman | B．A Mailman Shows Kindness to Students |
| C．A Postman in Tiebet Bridges Huge Gap | D．Post Service Creates a Convenient Life |
6 . It’s been nearly two decades since the traditional clothing style Hanfu first started to reemerge in China. Since then it has gone from a small cultural movement celebrating an ancient fashion to a trend that is booming on social media, having been adopted by China’s Generation Z as a means of connecting with their past. Instead of following other cultures blindly, Generation Z now have different opinions about what trend is by promoting local culture while having an objective view of exotic cultural products.
The new tastes of Generation Z—young people born after 1995—are well represented on Bilibili. In the recent New Year’s Eve gala presented by Bilibili, it attracted more than 100 million views within 48 hours with a colourful set of programmes ranging from Peking Opera to classical Chinese cartoons. The same is also true of movie industry. Last year, for the first time, the top 10 most viewed films in China were all domestic films, while the ticket sales for imported films have dropped to only 16.28 percent.
”Generation Z grew up with the rapid development of China and under good economic conditions. With the development of the Chinese Internet industry, they have more access to diverse international information and culture, which bring them a much broader vision and makes them more open and confident in analyzing foreign culture. Apart from taking pride in China’s rapid development, this generation also pursues individuality and values devotion to the country,“ Professor Zhang Yiwu said.
He also noted that the popular rock and punk culture pursued by the 70s and 80s generation is more of a challenge against real life and local culture. Some people who were born in the 1970s and 1980s did not grow up in the Internet age—they experienced the transformation of China going from poor to rich first-hand. This kind of longing and admiration of the West came from a lack of confidence.
However, Generation Z now have the confidence to look at Western culture with equal status. This kind of cultural confidence will result in China being more active and creative in its development on the international stage in the future.
1. What does the underlined word ”exotic“ in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Foreign. | B．Fashionable. | C．Traditional. | D．Elegant. |
| A．To confirm the rise of new media. |
| B．To promote Chinese Internet industry. |
| C．To highlight the popularity of domestic art. |
| D．To show the popularity of New Year’s Eve gala. |
| A．They have a stronger cultural identity. |
| B．They are longing for cultural diversity. |
| C．They have made China develop rapidly. |
| D．They are more fond of foreign culture. |
| A．Confident China, Better Future |
| B．China’s Progress Results in Cultural Confidence |
| C．China’s New Generation Redefine Local Culture as Trendy |
| D．Hanfu Style, Connector of Ancient Fashion and Modern Trend |
7 . The sales advertisements tempt (诱惑): Blue-light-blocking glasses are supposed to protect eyes from the effects of short-wave length light emitting from our smartphones, computer screens and LED lights. Given how much time we spend on our devices, this sounds like a smart investment, right? After all, eye strain (疲劳) is a real issue and can lead to poor sleep and even eye diseases. The glasses can cost $15 all the way up to several hundred dollars. But do they work?
Elizabeth Esparaz, an ophthalmologist (眼科专家) based in Cleveland, Ohio, says the science that manufacturers share as they promote these glasses can be confusing. For starters, blue light is not just about tech devices, and it’s not always bad. “The sun emits a much higher intensity of blue light than human-made devices, which helps our mood, alertness and sleep-wake cycle,” says Dr. Esparaz.
The problem is blue light at night: It contains the release of melatonin. “Melatonin helps regulate our circadian rhythms (生理节奏) and makes us sleepy,” says Dr. Esparaz.
So, in theory, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses should help people who watch movies in bed or read from a tablet at night avoid sleeplessness. A review study from the University of Oklahoma that looked al 24 previous studies found that people affected by sleep disorders, jet lag and shift work fell asleep faster after using these glasses.
As for eye strain, a 2021 Australian study showed that those wearing the glasses did not experience less eye strain than those using clear glasses. And a 2018 review study, also by Australian researchers found insufficient evidence that they prevent certain eye diseases.
“These glasses aren’t going to be harmful,” says Dr. Esparaz, But, she adds, a lack of standardization in the industry means there’s no way to know if one pair is better than another. A more reliable solution: Turn on the blue-light-filtering function on your devices and limit screen time before bed. To help with eye strain, Dr. Esparaz suggests taking breaks and using lubricating eye drops.
1. What is Dr. Esparaz’s attitude toward business publicity?| A．Unclear. | B．Tolerant. | C．Approving. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．It can be beneficial. | B．It may improve sleep. |
| C．It actually causes health issues. | D．It merely comes from digital devices. |
| A．helps prevent eye disease | B．are not harmful to eyesight |
| C．contributes to no less eye strain | D．benefits those with sleep disorders |
| A．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Your Best Choice | B．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Good or Bad |
| C．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: A Good Business | D．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Smart and Cool |
8 . At the beginning of Grade Two, I joined the cross-country running team in our school.
When I came to the first practice, I was filled with optimism. But as the distance we ran in each practice gradually increased from three to four, to six miles, I realized with surprise that no matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t able to run as fast as others. In fact, I was one of the slowest on the team.
What was the point of putting myself through so much pain? After the first few weeks, I wanted to quit.
Then we had our first cross-country meet.
When we started the race, I felt the great pressure of expectations sink onto my shoulders. And after a while I stopped running and struggled to walk up the hill. But then I heard my coaches shouting my name from the top of the hill. I felt confused and embarrassed; why were they cheering for me? I was running terribly! As I tried my best to finish the race, I realized that my coaches didn’t care how fast I ran. Neither did my teammates. During the rest of the season, they were always on the sidelines of every race, cheering for me just as loudly as they’d cheered for the front runner.
From then on, I began to put my effort into supporting my teammates instead of focusing on my own performance. In that way, I celebrated my teammates’ victories as if they were my own; I felt their pain and exhaustion as if they were my own.
Cross-country running made me realize I don’t need to be the best to be successful in life. It taught me to value my relationships with people more than my relationship with my ego. It taught me to cheer for others even if I don’t know their names.
1. Why did the author want to give up after the first few weeks?| A．He had much pain in his knees. |
| B．He didn’t perform well in long-distance running. |
| C．He couldn’t get along well with others |
| D．He showed no interest in running. |
| A．Strict and hard-hearted. | B．Brave and adventurous. |
| C．Considerate and supportive. | D．Optimistic and humorous. |
| A．He lost himself in victories |
| B．He put more effort into his study |
| C．He received more support from his coaches |
| D．He started caring about his teammates |
| A．The importance of team spirit | B．The value of competition |
| C．The secret of winning a race | D．The benefits of doing sports |
9 . How to Encourage Your High School Students to De Their Best
Encouraging your high school students to do their best isn’t as hard as you may think. It should become part of a daily routine that both you and your teen can enjoy more than fear. The following tips may help you.
*Talk to your teen about school. Know what classes he/she is taking, what does your teen think of the teacher or ask if your teen feels he/she is learning anything.
*Set the expectations.
*
*Have what they need at home, or a way to get it. Resources are important for high school students. Your family should have library cards or a way to access the Internet for homework.
* Stay involved. Show support for your teen’s school by attending parents’ meetings and other activities.
| A．Help him/her establish goals. |
| B．This is an excellent dinner table conversation if you can keep it light and positive. |
| C．Set up a good dinner table conversation. |
| D．Sign up for the school’s online grade reports. |
| E．Teens need a clear map of what you want them to do. |
| F．Without these things, your teen could be at a disadvantage. |
| G．Parents should show concern about teen’s outdoor activities. |
10 . As a young girl growing up in France, Sarah Toumi dreamed of becoming a leader who could make the world a better place. Her passion to help others was awakened when, from the age of nine, she accompanied her Tunisian father to his birthplace in the east of the country during holidays. There she organized homework clubs and activities for children.
Toumi witnessed first-hand the destructive effect of desertification (沙漠化). “Within 10 years rich farmers became worse off, and in 10 years from now they will be poor. I wanted to stop the Sahara Desert in its tracks.” A decrease in average rainfall and an increase in the severity of droughts have led to an estimated 75 percent of Tunisia’s agricultural lands being threatened by desertification.
Toumi recognized that farming practices needed to change. She is confident that small land areas can bring large returns if farmers are able to adapt by planting sustainable crops, using new technologies for water treatment and focusing on natural products and fertilizers rather than chemicals.
In 2012, Toumi consolidated (巩固) her dream of fighting the desert. She moved to Tunisia, and set up a programme named Acacias for All to put her sustainable farming philosophy (理念) into action. “I want to show young people in rural areas that they can create opportunities where they are. Nobody is better able to understand the impact of desertification and climate change than somebody who is living with no access to water.”
By September 2016, more than 130, 000 acacia trees had been planted on 20 pilot farms, with farmers recording a 60 percent survival rate. Toumi estimates that some 3 million acacia trees are needed to protect Tunisia’s farmland. She expects to plant 1 million trees by 2018. In the next couple of years, Toumi hopes to extend the programme to Algeria and Morocco.
1. How did Toumi’s holiday trips to Tunisia influence her?| A．They made her decide to leave the country. |
| B．They helped her better understand her father. |
| C．They aroused her enthusiasm for helping others. |
| D．They destroyed her dream of being a teacher. |
| A．Low rainfall. | B．Soil pollution. | C．Cold weather. | D．Forest damage. |
| A．To create job opportunities for young people. |
| B．To help the children obtain a basic education. |
| C．To persuade the farmers not to use fertilizers. |
| D．To promote the protection of their farmland. |
| A．Saving Water in Tunisia | B．Holding back the Sahara |
| C．Planting Trees of Native Species | D．Fighting Poverty in North Africa |
