1 . The year 2023 saw a wide variety of TV and internet variety shows in China, offering amazing entertainment to audiences. Here are some popular variety shows of the year.

Infinity and Beyond 2023

Broadcast on Hunan Television and streamed on Mango TV, the music cultural program Infinity and Beyond 2023 achieved tremendous success in the first half of this year, generating massive online attention with 8.6 billion views on the popular social platform Sina Weibo.

Become a Farmer

The farming-themed reality show took Chinese social media by storm in the first half of the year, shining a spotlight on agriculture-a crucial part of Chinese culture. The show invited 10 young men from various fields to experience farmland life. It offers insights into farming practices and modern agricultural production.

Divas Hit The Road-Silk Road

The fifth season of the reality show, Divas Hit the Road—Silk Road, featuring popular celebrities traveling to various destinations, has been airing on Hunan Satellite TV and the online video-sharing platform Mango TV since October 2023. This season saw Chinese actresses take a journey to Saudi Arabia, Croatia and Iceland. They explored the beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures of these countries.

The Big Band 3

Produced and broadcast by iQIYI, The Big Band 3 showcased various musical types, bringing together 27 bands from across China. Each week, bands competed in different groups, and via votes cast by the audience and six celebrity judges, five earned the title of the “Hot 5” by the end of the season.

1. Which show can help people know some agricultural knowledge?

A．Infinity and Beyond 2023.	B．The Big Band 3.
C．Divas Hit The Road—Silk Road.	D．Become a Farmer.

2. What do we know about Divas Hit The Road—Silk Road?

A．It introduces people to foreign cultures.

B．It can be seen on the online platform iQIYI.

C．It has already been released five seasons before it.

D．Its main participants are only some famous male actors.

3. What do Infinity and Beyond 2023 and The Big Band 3 have in common?

A．They are both in the first half of 2023.

B．They are both popular musical programs.

C．They are broadcast on the same platform.

D．The participants in both programs are bands.

2 . Each year, our education team works to create a brand-new STEM curriculum. In our 2023 program—Wonder, campers build confidence and work together to take on four exciting challenges, exploring innovation, creative problem solving and design thinking, all while developing persistence and having fun!

Catching Air

In a high-energy adventure combining physics and creativity, kids design and build a mini skate park! They will have to pick out their own mini skateboard. Then, they’ll practice persistence by constructing an awesome skate park complete with ramps, rails, ledges and other features that will put their wheels to the test.

Invention Celebration

In this festive experience, kids take on the role of event planners as they learn about the importance of celebrating. They’ll investigate the science of sights, sounds and circuitry (线路) as they plan their party with light-up party hats, colorful bubbles, art banners and musical instruments. They will also learn about the efficiency of machines.

MimicBot (模拟机器人)

Exploring nature, genetics and adaptive innovation, kids will turn a MimicBot into an animatronic (电子动物) stuffie. After receiving their bot, they take it apart to investigate its inner mechanics and what makes it move. Once they put it back together, they will personalize their stuffies and use problem-solving skills and intellectual property to protect it from the idea-stealing Copy Cat!

Pop-Up Venture

The sky is the limit as kids discover what it takes to develop and run a business of their dreams! In this creative challenge, they’ll build their own pop-up shop, making decisions and using original strategies to attract customers. Children will communicate through marketing and advertising, learning how to launch and operate their own venture.

1. What can kids learn at Catching Air?

A．Plan a celebration.	B．Design and build a skate park.
C．Set up and run a business.	D．Look into the inner side of machines.

2. What do the four activities all have in common?

A．They are only designed to amuse kids.

B．They need adults to provide guidance.

C．They call for the same ability to finish.

D．They teach kids something while having fun.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To educate.

B．To advise.

C．To introduce.

D．To advertise.

3 . Mobile phone photography is not just a casual snap（抓拍） but an art. This article will recommend some apps for photography enthusiast to shoot various landscapes, portraits, or foods.

◆B612

B612 is a photo-taking app that comes with a variety of artistic features, cute stickers, and effects that can add creativity and style to your photos. You can see the different effects before taking the photo, so you can get the best possible images. This helps you make informed decisions.

◆Manboker

Manboker, known as Magic Camera, is the first app to create comic-style images directly without editing. The app offers a range of effects, and tools to give your photos a comic-like appearance. You can apply speech bubbles （气泡）, texts, and stickers to enhance the story-telling aspect.

◆Snapseed

Snapseed is mainly used for photo editing rather than photo taking. The app offers a comprehensive set of editing tools, including adjustments for exposure, contrast and more. With its non-destructive editing, you can easily compare different edits and undo or adjust them as needed.

◆Foodie

Foodie is an app specially designed for taking pictures of food. It allows you to capture delicious food moments with ease. Whether they are fancy cuisines or home-cooked meals, Foodie helps you showcase the colors, textures, and details of the food in the most appealing way.

Experiment with different apps, explore their features and start capturing the world around you in a whole new way!

1. If you want your photos to have a cute and creative style, which app would you choose?

A．Manboker.

B．Snapseed.

C．Foodie.

D．B612.

2. What can we learn about the four apps?

A．Manboker is designed to take comic-style photos.

B．Snapseed comes with artistic features and cute stickers.

C．Foodie is mainly used for photo-editing.

D．B612 features non-destructive photo shooting.

3. Who are the target audience of this article probably?

A．Mobile phone users.	B．Photography beginners.
C．Professional photographers.	D．Photography enthusiasts.

4 . What makes a good reader? You can find the answer in Readers Club. Today, we have some books for you. Come and join the fun!

The Old Man and the Sea won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953. A year later, Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Old Man and the Sea is generally considered by many to be his greatest achievement. The leading character in this book is a person who can face difficulties and never give up.
Hardback ￥21.70   Paperback ￥16.00
Heart, written by Edmondo De Amicis from Italy, is a diary of an Italian boy Eric. In his diary, he writes about the greatest love in the world: love for the nation, for the society, and also teachers’ love, classmates’ love, parents’ love, children’s love.
Hardback ￥27.20   Paperback ￥16.40
Peter Pan, created by Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie. Peter Pan is a young boy who can fly and never grows up. He spends his never-ending childhood having adventures (冒险) on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, playing happily with children both inside and outside Neverland.
Hardback ￥22.70   Paperback ￥14.60
Club members will get a discount (折扣) of 10% for hardback books and 20% for paperback books.

If you buy any of the two hardback books, e-books will be free for you.

1. Who won the Nobel Prize for literature?

A．Hemingway.

B．Leo Tolstoy.

C．Edmondo De Amicis.

D．Eric

2. Which word can be used to describe the topic of the book Heart?

A．Love.

B．Success.

C．Adventure.

D．loss.

3. What is the book Peter Pan about?

A．A boy who likes keeping diaries.

B．A boy who always misses his family.

C．A boy who enjoys his never-ending childhood.

D．A boy who loves his teachers and classmates.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man doing?

A．Attending a course.

B．Conducting an interview.

C．Hosting a talent show.

2. Why does Kate gather close friends when setting goals?

A．To compete with them.

B．To lose weight together.

C．To share her problems with them.

3. What does Kate believe is the benefit of involving others in goal-setting?

A．It helps keep one honest.

B．It allows for friendly competition.

C．It ensures complete secrecy of goals.

4. Why do most people struggle to reach their goals?

A．They lack determination.

B．They set unrealistic goals.

C．They lose focus due to busy lives.

6 . Successful wildlife conservation goes hand in hand with community education and engagement. Volunteers work with community leaders and schools to share their passion for conservation and the environment.

Rhino Conservation in Zimbabwe

The project is home to an internationally renowned Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme which has supported Zimbabwe’s rhino population since the mid 1980s. To date, 20 rhinos have been born at the conservancy, with 12 rhinos successfully released back into the wild. Volunteers play a role in securing the future of this once-again endangered animal, working alongside anti-poaching rangers (反偷猎护林员), working on rhino research projects and getting involved in the daily care of both black and white rhino.

Our Rhino Conservation Programme is a unique hands-on opportunity to get behind the scenes and experience day-to-day life on a private conservancy, and be involved with the protection and conservation of Zimbabwe’s endangered black rhino.

The aim of the programme is to assist the reserve’s established Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme, collect meaningful data and information relating to rhino and wildlife conservation and animal behaviour, and engage with the local community about wildlife conservation.

Cheetah (猎豹) Conservation

In 2021, two captive-born male cheetah were introduced to the conservancy as part of an international rewilding programme. The cheetah are now free-wandering in the reserve, and volunteers play an important role in monitoring and observing their behaviour, tracking their movements and recording their hunting rate.

Volunteer Work

Volunteers contribute to a long-term conservation project and get involved with a variety of conservation activities:

·Work alongside rhinos, cheetah and elephants

·Conservancy management

·Wildlife monitoring

·Anti-poaching patrols and snare sweeps

·Educate school-children about conservation, wildlife and the environment

·Learn about what is involved in running a conservancy

1. What can we say about Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme?

A．Its work pays off.	B．It is limited to Zimbabwe.
C．It is home to two cheetah.	D．It has a history of 50 years.

2. What should be recorded about the cheetah?

A．Their birth rate.	B．Their hunting rate.
C．Their area of activity.	D．Their sleep schedule.

3. Who are likely to apply for the volunteer work?

A．Those who live outside Zimbabwe.

B．Those who prefer to work at home.

C．Those who like engaging with animals.

D．Those who would like to make a fortune.

7 . 4 Ice Rinks (溜冰场) In The UK

Winter Wonderland, Cardiff, Wales
Duration: 16 November 2023—2 January 2024

This r ink is see-through, allowing views of Cardiff Castle while being sheltered from the elements. For further fun on the ice, travel down the Ice Walk that extends through the grounds for 150 m with a breathtaking backdrop of the Norman Keep.

Somerset House, London, England
Duration: 15 November 2023—14 January 2024

The magical r ink is at Somerset House. This rink offers skate school classes and wheelchair sessions, so everybody has access to it. Treat yourself post-skating with the Skate Extras at the Chalet Suisse in the West Wing of Somerset House, including a hot chocolate and chocolate fondues(奶酪火锅).

Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, Brighton, England
Duration: 28 October 2023—7 January 2024

Those summer scorchers at the seaside might be a distant memory, but there’s still reason to head to the coast this Christmas. Set against the city’s Indo-Saracenic-style former royal residence, Brighton’s green-energy ice rink has special free sessions for under-5s, and warming offers at the rink side Bar &Kitchen include hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink, Edinburgh, Scotland
Duration: 17 November 2023—6 January 2024

When you’ve had enjoyed the delicious food at the Christmas Markets along Princes Street, make your way to George Street to enjoy a glide across the ice. Fixed between Castle Street and Charlotte Square, the covered r ink makes its mark with its scenic backdrop of the City Chambers.

1. What is special about Somerset House?

A．It provides free wheelchair sessions.	B．Foods are served before skating.
C．Anyone can skate there.	D．People can travel down the Ice Walk.

2. Which ice rink can offer visitors the longest open time?

A．Royal Pavilion Ice Rink.	B．Somerset House.
C．Winter Wonderland.	D．Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink.

3. Who are likely to visit these places?

A．Those who enjoy delicious foods.	B．Those who are fond of shopping.
C．Those who like to travel around.	D．Those who are keen on skating.

8 . Free Learning Tools for Self-learners

CCtalk

CCtalk is one of the most popular learning tools on your journey of self-growth and discovery. It offers over 4,000 free courses from various disciplines. One of the best things about the platform is that it is available in many other languages other than English. It also has a mobile app to keep your learning on the go.

Gaotu

Talking about learning on-the-go, Gaotu is also one of the most popular mobile learning apps. The app offers you the opportunity to learn a language in bite-sized units. Flashcards, multiple-choice questions and translation exercises help you pick up vocabulary and grammar.

Learning Communication

If you are the learner who likes text only, Learning Communication is a great resource. This site offers over 50 million e-books and textbooks on just about any subject you can think of. From an introduction to essay writing to the philosophy of artificial intelligence, Learning Communication offers you the full range of reading.

MOOC

MOOC offers self-learners more than 600 online courses, sets of teaching materials, and lecture series on its open education platform. This makes it one of the most valuable learning tools on the Internet. Unlike courses on other platforms, MOOC’s courses and lectures are not intended to introduce broad topics. Instead, learners can explore specific subjects in depth.

1. What do CCtalk and Gaotu have in common?

A．They both offer free courses.

B．They provide mobile learning.

C．They can provide various exercises.

D．They are only available in one language.

2. Which learning tool is suitable for those who enjoy reading text widely?

A．CCtalk.	B．Gaotu.
C．Learning Communication.	D．MOOC.

3. What does MOOC focus on?

A．Choosing online courses.	B．Processing teaching materials
C．Organizing broad-topic lectures.	D．Further studying concrete subjects.

9 . Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Vatican City is not only the smallest country in the world, but also a treasure house of art and history. You can admire the impressive fresco paintings (壁画) of the Sistine Chapel, and explore the Vatican Museums, which house a big collection of masterpieces from ancient to modern times.

Skip-the-line tickets:

The best-selling tickets for access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Skip (跳过) the line tickets with priority access.

Ticket	Type	Price	Reservation (预定)
Entrance	Full	€17.00/person	€4.00
Entrance	Reduced	€8.00/person	€4.00

Reduced tickets:

Reduced tickets are available to children from 6 to 18 years of age, as well as students between the ages of 18 and 25. It is necessary to present a formal document at the university for the current year. There are no reductions for the over 65s.

Free entry:

Admission is free for children under 6 years of age. It is also free for disabled visitors and their carers. As it is not possible to book in advance, they will have to go directly to the “Special Permits” and /or “Reception” counters located in the entrance hall of the Vatican Museums.

Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with audio guide

Ticket	Type	Price	Reservation
Entrance +audio guide	Full	€24.00/person	€4.00
Entrance +audio guide	Reduced	€15.00/person	€4.00
Entrance +audio guide	Children (under age 6)	€13.00/person	€4.00

1. What does the Sistine Chapel feature?

A．Fresco paintings.	B．Collected treasures.
C．The natural scenery.	D．The style of buildings.

2. Which group can get reduced tickets?

A．Kids under age 6.	B．Students aged 6—25.
C．Adults aged over 65.	D．People with disabilities.

3. How much will a couple with their 5-year-old pay for the tickets with audio guide?

A．€48.00.

B．€61.00.

C．€63.00.

D．€75.00.

10 . Wonka

Paddington 2 has been hailed as one of the all-time great family films. Now its director, Paul King, and his co-writer, Simon Farnaby, have turned their attention to another much-loved British children’s book character, Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In this musical prequel, the top-hatted Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) opens his first sweet shop, with the help of an Oompa-Loompa played by Hugh Grant.

Released from 6 December internationally

The Boy and the Heron

Hayao Miyazaki is the director of such landmark works as My Neighbour Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Now aged 82, he has said that his latest film, The Boy and the Heron, will be his last. Beginning with the bombing of Tokyo during World War Two, the story moves first to the countryside and then to a magical realm reminiscent of Spirited Away.

Released on 8 December in the US and Canada, and 26 December in the UK and Ireland

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Momoa is back as Arthur Curry, the king of Atlantis, alongside Patrick Wilson as his half-brother, Amber Heard as his girlfriend, Nicole Kidman as his mother, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as his arch-enemy, Manta. The film’s director, James Wan told Clark Collis at Entertainment Weekly, “The beauty of this movie, this Aquaman world, is that ... we are our own separate universe.”

Released from 20 December internationally

Leave the World Behind

A family is having a quiet holiday in a rented house when some uninvited visitors announce that the world is coming to an end. That was the premise of Leave the World Behind, another apocalyptic thriller adapted from a novel. It features Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke as the holidaying couple, and Mahershala Ali as the mystery man who turns up with his daughter, Myha’la Herrold. Can either family trust the other one? The film is “one of the year’s best and no doubt will spark massive amounts of conversation”, says Kristen Lopez in The Wrap.

Released on 8 December on Netflix internationally

1. Who is the director of Paddington 2?

A．Simon Farnaby

B．Hayao Miyazaki

C．Paul King

D．James Wan

2. When can you enjoy Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

A．from 8 December.	B．from 20 December.
C．from 6 December.	D．from 26 December.

3. What kind of passage is this?

A．News report

B．Argumentation

C．Exposition

D．Advertisement