3 . “Is this making us old or keeping us young?” my husband asked as he lifted the three heavy backpacks from the canoe.

“I don’t know,” I replied. The heat and mosquitoes were getting to me, and I was wondering whether we were crazy to have started a canoe trip during the hottest week of the summer. But even in fall, our canoe trips—while certainly cooler—are no easier.

I’ve always loved getting away from civilization to enjoy the peace of nature, to be on a news blackout (封锁) and to reflect on the past year and the year to come, which is why we’ve been doing this regularly for most of the 38 years we’ve been together.

Now as we’re getting older, it’s getting harder—aching knees, aching feet and aching backs. So, we’re changing our habits. Instead of extreme white-water trips in the far north, we’re going on lake trips closer by. Instead of pulling on the heavy pack myself and rising from a sitting position, my husband lifts it up while I thread my arms through the belts. Along the way, I might stop to admire the green plants beside the path or feel the soft surfaces of the moss, and my husband is usually waiting at the other end, wondering why it’s taken me so long. During the night, we no longer stay up late to see the stars. Instead, we now get into the tent by 9 p.m.—exhausted after one day’s hard work—and drift into sleep listening to birds’ sorrowful call.

Over the years, my canoe-tripping experience has evolved to focus less on the physical and more on the abstract things. Like a solar battery, I store up the energy I absorb from the forest, rocks and waters to help me through the rest of the year. The rhythm of paddling becomes a process of deep thinking rather than an endurance test.

“How long can we continue doing this?” asked my husband at the end of the last trip.

“I don’t know,” I answered, but inside, I thought, “As long as our bodies and minds hold out, I hope forever.”

1. According to the passage, the author and her husband’s canoe trips ______.

A．were difficult to complete

B．made the couple crazy

C．made the couple look younger than their age

D．became dangerous because of the summer heat

2. By writing “we no longer stay up late to see the stars” in Paragraph 4, the author wishes to show that ______.

A．the stars are not beautiful any more

B．birds’ night call is more attractive now

C．their habits have changed over the years

D．they are too tired to do the same things

3. What habit do the couple now have?

A．Do extreme white-water trips.	B．Go on a trip to a nearby lake.
C．Bring the heavy pack themselves.	D．Catch birds in the darkness.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An Unforgettable Trip	B．My Trip with My Husband
C．Life Is a Hard Trip	D．Love for Canoe Trips

4 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.

My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!

However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.

As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.

1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?

A．A family trip should not last for too long.

B．A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles.

C．It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips.

D．It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave.

2. What can we learn about the first author’s family?

A．It was a pleasant experience.	B．It was ruined by bad weather.
C．They didn’t prepare well for it.	D．They lost many things during it.

3. How did the authors family benefit from RV trips according to Paragraph 3?

A．They learnt how to solve problems.	B．They built a closer family relationship.
C．They developed a great love for nature.	D．They fell in love with adventure travels.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To show how to make RV trips interesting.

B．To encourage kids to take part in RV trips.

C．To advise families to take RV trips together.

D．To share an unforgettable traveling experience.

5 . Liam Gamer was just 17 years old when he started out on his big adventure — a 32,000-­kilometer bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. In early January, 2023, he finally finished his trip, 17 months after he started.

Liam, an experienced cyclist, had previously ridden from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He made short videos of that trip, and shared them on the social media app TikTok, some of which became quite popular. After reading a book by adventurer Jedidiah Jenkins, who biked from Oregon to Argentina, Liam decided to cycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States accessible by road, to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost point of South America.

Liam set out on August 1, 2021. At first Liam’s parents weren’t too happy about him taking such a long bike trip by himself though it wouldn’t take that much money. But as he carried on, his parents became his strongest supporters.

After about three months, Liam had crossed the US, going south along the West Coast. By early December, he had reached Mexico, from which his parents came to the US many years ago. “So crossing the entire country on a bike and reconnecting with my culture and learning the language in the place my family is from is so deeply important to me,” Liam explained emotionally. But Liam also faced challenges in Mexico.

He was robbed in Mexico, and at one point, he considered quitting because the incredible heat made biking extremely difficult. In all, he was robbed five times on the trip. He got very sick more than once. In Colombia, he had a bike accident that left him injured and required surgery. In spite of it all, he kept going through rain, sun, heat, cold, deserts and mountains.

Liam finally arrived in his destination on January 10, 2023 — 527 days after he started. He had travelled through 14 countries along the way.

1. What contributed to Liam’s decision to bike through 14 countries?

A．His previous related experiences.

B．His parents’ encouragement.

C．A desire to shoot short videos.

D．A book by Jedidiah Jenkins.

2. Why did Liam feel special in Mexico?

A．He went there for the first time.

B．He found his family tree’s roots.

C．He biked there as scheduled.

D．He had to speak another language.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To inspire our love for nature.

B．To promote low­-carbon travel.

C．To encourage us to see our strengths.

D．To call on us to learn a kind of spirit.

6 . Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume(假设)that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not affect its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.

1. What does the author say about historical buildings in Paragraph 1?

A．Some of them are not attractive.

B．Most of them are too expensive to preserve.

C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

2. Which of the following is true according to the author?

A．We should reproduce the same old buildings.

B．In no way should buildings affect the surroundings.

C．Some old buildings have ruined the area they are in.

D．Nobody knows why people speak against new buildings.

3. By “move things forward” in the last paragraph, the author probably means ________.

A．destroy old buildings

B．put things in a different place

C．choose new architectural styles

D．respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To explain why people dislike change.

B．To warn that we could end up living in caves.

C．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

D．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

7 . Named “America’s Finest City” due to its hospitality, beauty and ideal climate, San Diego is located on the border with Mexico. The residents are so active outdoors that it is called “Sportstown, the U.S.A.”. San Diego’s 70 miles of beaches are a heaven for swimmers, surfers, divers, boaters and sunbathers. Another favourite outside activity is golf. With 100 courses (about 50 of them public), San Diego is a golfers’ paradise. Many San Diego residents came here first as tourists, who were attracted by San Diego’s sunny beaches, nearby mountains and deserts, plus the cultural delights of any big city. The world-famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld Adventure Park, Wild Animal Park, museums and other attractions attract visitors from around the world.

The zoo is home to some 4,000 animals, including the world’s largest group of parrots. Animals are displayed in natural settings, and there is a petting zoo for children. By contrast, the Wild Animal Park is a wildlife preserve with an area of over 2,000 acres and more than 3,000 free-roaming (自由漫步的) animals in natural habitats.

In addition to housing the zoo, Balboa Park is home to several museums and attractions, including an aerospace museum, an art and history museum, the Old Globe Theatre, science museums and even a railroad museum. Free concerts are offered frequently. Another popular attraction is the SeaWorld, a 190-acre marine park.

San Diego’s varied attractions, as well as its business climate, offer many opportunities for students to explore the local culture, meet people from around the world, and gain business experience. At San Diego State University, for example, students in the American Language Institute’s study tour program learn English both in the classroom and while sightseeing.

1. What do the residents of San Diego probably like to do?

A．Have sports outdoors.	B．Travel to other places.
C．Stay at home.	D．Stay outdoors all day.

2. Why do many San Diego residents come to settle down here?

A．Because it is more convenient to live here.

B．Because they are attracted by its beauty and culture.

C．Because they can make money from tourism here.

D．Because it is a quiet place to enjoy themselves.

3. Which of the following most attracts children?

A．The SeaWorld Adventure park.	B．The art and history museum.
C．The petting zoo.	D．The Old Globe Theatre.

10 . Travel Is Good for Your Health

Travel means lots of opportunities to force yourself to be active.     1     So you’re more likely to attempt a new extreme sport, a walk on sand, or a real hike to get the best views of your surroundings. So you see that travel is really good for your health.

    2     This one might not come as a big surprise to you, but it’s been scientifically proven that travel will increase your happiness, decrease your depression, and remove your pressure. A study found that after vacation,travelers felt well rested, less anxious, and in a better mood.

Travel improves your brain health. Travel expands your mind. You meet new people all over the world. You adapt to new cultures and situations.     3    This is all good for your mental health because new experiences increase cognitive flexibility, keeping your mind sharp.

Travel will decrease your risk of heart disease. That’s because people who wander away from their homes for a little vacation are generally less stressed and anxious, or at least they’re willing to take a break from their stressors (压力源).     4    

Travel will let you live longer. It’s true.     5    Whether local or global, all forms of travel improve our life and can actually increase our life expectancy. Research shows that travel reduces stress, keeps your body healthy inside and out,and improves brain health. This adds to the chance of living longer and having fun.

A．Travel can lower stress levels.

B．Pay attention to your health during your trip.

C．Those who travel often tend to increase the length of their lives.

D．As a result, you become more globally and culturally aware.

E．Don’t make more specific plans or you will feel stressed.

F．When you travel, you want to try a new form of exercise and see all worth seeing.

G．It’s proved that people who travel annually are less likely to suffer from a heart attack.