1 . Everywhere I look, there are new buildings being built. The neighbourhoods that I knew as a boy, filled with beautiful old buildings, have mostly disappeared, and in their place, modern, high-rise buildings have appeared. If we continue in this way, nothing will remain of our heritage; soon I will no longer recognize my city. What is left of the city’s traditional buildings and neighbourhoods must be preserved and it is important to begin this process now.
Historic preservation has become popular all over the world in recent years, but many countries have chosen new construction over preservation. There is good reason for this. As the population has become larger, people want the usefulness of modern living. However, the built environment should be more than shiny new buildings with air conditioning and washing machines; it should also show the beauty of our culture and heritage. How can our children understand our culture if we erase so much of the physical evidence (物证) of it?
The reasons for preserving historic buildings are not simply about an emotional connection to the past. There are also good economic reasons in favour of preservation. The repair and preservation of historic sites can become an economic engine, drawing tourists and small businesses to the area. There are several good examples of this in the Middle East. In Dubai, the historic AI Bastikiya district draws thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. It also attracts local people, eager to learn about their city’s past.
Those who are against historic preservation think that it is too expensive. But many recent projects all over the world have told us that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, renovation (翻新) of an existing building can cost about $40 per square metre less than even the most basic new building, while preserving the beauty of the original building. What is more, environmental experts believe that the greenest building is the one that is already built. New building almost always has a more serious environmental influence because it requires the use of all-new materials that must be transported, often over long distances, instead of recycled materials that are already on site. We recycle so many other things. We can and should recycle buildings, too.
1. How does the author feel about his neighbourhood?| A．Unsafe. | B．Confused. | C．Bored. | D．Upset. |
| A．They prefer modern accommodation. |
| B．They get along well with local people. |
| C．They want to learn about culture and traditions. |
| D．They choose destinations based on local economy. |
| A．The advantages of historic preservation. |
| B．Recent progress in heritage preservation. |
| C．The challenges historic preservation faces. |
| D．People’s impression of preservation projects. |
2 . The USA is large in size, and each state has its own unique culture, people, landscape, and opportunities, making it one of the best places to volunteer—for both locals and foreigners. Here are the best volunteer programs for 2024.
 | It is designed for foreigners who love the great outdoors, and want to reconnect with nature. It is one of the best volunteer programs for animal lovers, with opportunities to work in forests, and learn about endangered animals and wildlife. Every volunteer trip is both picturesque and wildly adventurous. |
 | It combines outdoor adventure travel with volunteering, with opportunities in environmental and wildlife protection in some of the most beautiful landscapes. Volunteers from American can travel to Alaska where they’ll spend their free time hiking through tundra(苔原)and boating down rivers surrounded by snowy mountain peaks. |
 | All Hands and Hearts It is designed for disaster relief and community development, whether you’re helping with earthquake destruction in California, hurricane relief in Texas, or medical response everywhere in between. As the program relies on donations alone, you won’t be troubled by an expensive program fee. |
 | Bike &Build It combines volunteer work with travel, education, and most of all—biking! Volunteers can jump on three different routes to hit cities across Florida, Virginia, California, and more. In each destination, you’ll participate in hands-on building projects for affordable housing, making a huge impact in local communities. |
Pick your program, pack your bags, and get ready for a life-changing adventure volunteering in the US! Explore ALL programs on GAbroad. com.
1. If you want to help the survivors of natural disasters, you can volunteer in ______.| A．Volunteer World | B．Travel for Teens | C．All Hands and Hearts | D．Bike & Build |
| A．Ride a bicycle. | B．Go boating. |
| C．Work for the community. | D．Climb mountains. |
| A．To promote travelling plans. |
| B．To compare travelling groups. |
| C．To call for voluntary donation. |
| D．To introduce volunteer programs. |
Kieran Behan was just a boy, maybe 6 years old, when he fell in love with gymnastics, but that was before a series of injuries, two so severe that doctors told him he would never walk again.
Yet Behan, pushed on. “Doctors told me, ‘stop thinking about your crazy dreams and you must accept that it’s over for you,’” Behan said. “But I just kept saying: ‘No, no, no — this is not the rest of my life. This is not how it’s going to play out.’ And look at me now, an Olympian. They said it was impossible, but I did it.”
Kieran Behan started gymnastics when he was 8. But soon came the first of many blows: during a leg operation, a doctor’s mistake caused a severe nerve damage that left Behan with limited feeling in his left foot. Doctors told him to prepare himself for life in a wheelchair.
They were wrong.
Although it took 15 months, Behan went back to gymnastics. But eight months after he returned from his leg injury, disaster hit again. He hit the back of his head during training. The accident caused a brain injury which affected his balance so much that even the slightest movement could cause Behan to faint. Mearly two years after non-stop physical therapy, Kieran Behan did what he did best: he picked himself up again. He said he could not live without gymnastics and never doubted he would be back.
Finally, in 2012, his determination began to pay off. His excellent performance at the Olympic test event qualified him for the Games. “I felt like I was in a fairy tale,” he said of the London Games. “All I could think about was: ‘Is this a dream? Tell me this is really happening.’” Even though be did not enter any of the event finals, Behan never lost heart and persevered to make it for the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro.
Behan hopes his tale might inspire others to overcome hardship, whether it is in sports, at work or at home.
Still, he struggled to explain why he has been so unbeatable. “I think it’s probably just in my blood,” he said. “I was just born to do this.”
1. What happened during Behan’s leg operation?2. In what way did Behan’s brain injury influence him?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Because of Behan’s determination, he won at the finals in the London Games.
4. Do you think Behan is a great athlete? Why or why not? (In about 40 words)
4 . Amish Country is one of Ohio’s most beautiful places. In addition to good food and shopping, you can also learn about Amish history and experience their culture through Amish home tours and buggy rides.
a buggy ride
Amish Heartland ToursIf you would like to learn about Amish life and culture while enjoying a tour of the beauty of Amish country, Amish Heartland Tours can make it happen, offering buggy rides, custom bus tours, and special “Backroad” experiences with meals in the homes of the Amish people. You will learn about the day-to-day life of the Amish from experienced tour guides and the local people themselves.
Tours last between 1 to 3 hours depending on your choice of destination and activities.
Yoder’s Amish HomeIf you or your school group would like to learn more about the life of the Amish, a trip to Yoder’s Amish Home might be perfect for you. With guided tours of the house, property, and so on, you’ll learn about the history and lifestyle of the Amish up close.
Pet the animals in the old barn, learn a little German and meet their Amish teacher in their one-room schoolhouse, take a ride in a real Amish buggy, and enjoy a sweet treat from their bakery! Tours are led by local guides and last about 40 minutes.
Troyer’s Amish ToursExperience the Amish Country with a personalized, and custom touch. Troyer’s Amish Tours offers several tours including 2 and 3-hour experiences, dinner in Amish homes, as well as special events. All of the tours are tailor-made with advance notice.
For the most memorable experience, use their online contact forms to plan your visit in advance.
Amish Heritage ToursAmish Heritage Tours offers seasonally themed tours including many of the best things to do in Amish Country, with one to multi-day experiences including pick-up from your hotel, dinner, shopping, area theatre, and museums.
Plan your visit online in advance. Their website offers sample itineraries for each tour to make your stay rewarding and unforgettable.
1. Which tour is intended for school children?| A．Amish Heartland Tours. | B．Yoder’s Amish Home. |
| C．Troyer’s Amish Tours. | D．Amish Heritage Tours. |
| A．It presents seasonally themed tours. | B．It features real Amish buggy rides. |
| C．It provides a museum experience. | D．It meets individualized needs. |
| A．To promote tours. | B．To introduce travel services. |
| C．To highlight a lifestyle. | D．To celebrate the local culture. |
5 . A baby giraffe, called a calf, can stand up and walk about an hour after it comes into the world. At least, it should be able to. That wasn’t the case with Msituni, a giraffe born at the Safari Park. The very day Msituni was born, her front legs were bending improperly, making it difficult for her to stand and walk.
Dr. Kinney, the wildlife care specialist at the park and his team recognized the problem and reacted quickly. They realized Msituni would need medical treatment. First of all, they decided to bottle raise Msituni because her injuries prevented her from staying with her mom. The care team aimed to reduce long-term joint damage, and do their best to ensure Msituni has a long, healthy life.
With the information from the detailed 3D imaging of Msituni’s legs, the care team determined that specialized orthotic braces(矫形器)should be able to fix the position of Msituni’s legs. However, her size made finding supports for her legs very challenging.
The solution came in partnership with Hanger Clinic, a nationwide provider of orthotic braces. While the company focuses on care for humans, the company’s experts asked Safari Park wildlife care staff for advice. Together, they made a pair of orthotic braces for the calf. They wanted to enable Msituni to lie down, stand, walk, and run like a healthy giraffe.
Finally, the treatments were a success. After about two months, with Msituni’s legs correctly positioned, caregivers were able to remove her leg braces. Today, Msituni can be found playing with the rest of giraffes in the Safari Park.
“It was worthwhile to use problem-solving skills to help wildlife,” said Dr. Kinney. “To address the challenges that wildlife faces, we need to work together.”
1. What was Msituni’s problem?| A．She got injured in the park. |
| B．She had trouble with her legs. |
| C．She found it difficult to breathe. |
| D．She was left alone by her mother. |
| A．developed a special medicine |
| B．were teamed up with other experts |
| C．trained Msituni how to live in the wild |
| D．guided the healthy giraffes to accept Msituni |
| A．Deal with. | B．Come across. |
| C．Concentrate on. | D．Be responsible for. |
6 . On a Monday morning, a bus full of bright-eyed kids was on the way to school along with Connor and his brother Seamus. The bus was being driven by a 60-year-old driver, McDougal.
“I didn’t see him fall. I heard him
After the bus driver fell down, Connor and Seamus
Meanwhile, Seamus tried to keep his fellow classmates
The bus didn’t veer off the road because of the
| A．Immediately | B．Actually | C．Suddenly | D．Obviously |
| A．kick | B．break | C．hit | D．cover |
| A．pain | B．sorrow | C．disappointment | D．fear |
| A．heard about | B．were aware of | C．related to | D．gave way to |
| A．lost | B．punished | C．burnt | D．hurt |
| A．looked up | B．got up | C．signed up | D．spoke up |
| A．fit | B．awake | C．calm | D．busy |
| A．hug | B．lesson | C．treat | D．warning |
| A．hard | B．quick | C．creative | D．serious |
| A．courageous | B．painstaking | C．energetic | D．limitless |
Coffee is a good drink for boosting the central nervous system of our body
Here are three reasons
Personally, I
For most 12-year-olds, any free time after school is spent hanging out with friends, competing in sports, or playing video games. But Alejandro Buxton has another dream: making all-natural candles that he sells online and at a local mall.
The idea was inspired by his mother, who had to give up many of the scented candles she’d filled their home with after realizing the chemicals within them were worsening her allergies (过敏), causing her frequent headaches.
So, in 2019, at just 9 years old, the boy started experimenting with making his own, mixing ingredients like soy and coconut waxes with essential oils. He called his first work “Jurassic Orange,” for its color and pleasant smell. Though his mother was a big fan, and the scent didn’t cause her head to ache, Buxton wanted to improve upon his work.
Within the next few months, he’d developed a line of six uniquely scented candles. By the following year, during the worldwide lockdowns, he’d created his own online shop.
Soon after, Alejandro began selling his products on his own website, “Smell of Love Candles,” where shoppers can find offerings with creative names like “Sage the Day!” and “Alexa, clean the house.” He also lists other products such as room sprays for sale.
According to the site, his younger sister Valentina serves as assistant of operations while his mother takes the role of assistant to the CEO.
Now, he is operating his business in a local mall as well. This past September, he opened a stand in D.C.’s Tysons Corner shopping center—making him the youngest leaseholder (承租人) at the mall.
Besides inspiring fellow kids with his entrepreneurial spirit and talent, Alejandro is also a positive role model for giving back and making a difference: He donates a part of his profits to a local charity.
With the experience and knowledge he’s gaining from running this business at such a young age, Alejandro hopes to one day go on to create an engineering business.
1. What is Alejandro’s dream?2. Why did the boy come up with the idea?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
• Alejandro is a successful businessman because he began his candle business and started an engineering business at a young age.
4. Among Alejandro’s qualities, which one do you think will be important for you? Why? (In about 40 words)
