1 . Some people travel because they want to go to warm places for winter vacations or because they want to visit art museums in Europe. But other people travel simply because they have a passion for it.

Luisa Yu, a 79-year-old woman, fell in love with travel as a young girl in the province of Leyte in the Philippines when she watched movies. “I saw the beautiful scenery, the rivers and the mountains, and that fascinated me,” Yu said. “That’s why I always thought someday I would go to these places and travel.”

At 23, as an exchange student studying medical technologies in the US, Yu decided that she wanted to visit all of the countries in the world, but visa restrictions (限制) didn’t allow her to travel outside of the country.

It took Yu 15years to get her admission allowing her to travel internationally and there were times when she worked three jobs to save money to travel. She eventually took a part-time job as a travel agent, which gave her many more opportunities to travel to new places around the globe.

For the past 50 years, Yu has been visiting countries across the world, even some that are very difficult to get into. She has tried dog meat when she visited the DPRK, explored the beaches of Somalia, and even skydived in Dubai when she was 73. “Everyone said, ‘Don’t go to Somalia, that’s dangerous,’” Yu said. “If I want to go somewhere, nobody can stop me. I want to do everything.”

Yu achieved her goal to visit all of the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, in November 2023. To date, there have only been around 400 people who have set out to achieve this amazing cause.

Yu’s advice to people who love to travel is to just do it. “Don’t wait for anybody. If I keep on waiting, it will never happen, because the opportunity sometimes comes only once,” she said.

1. What inspired Luisa Yu’s passion for travel?

A．The wonderful settings of the movies.	B．The desire to take a winter vacation abroad.
C．The dream of visiting art museums in Europe.	D．The studying opportunities while taking trips.

2. What can we learn about Luisa Yu from paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．She searched for fortune through travel.	B．She longed to be a travel agent.
C．She shot to fame by accident.	D．She was fond of challenges.

3. Which of the following can best describe Luisa Yu?

A．Tough-minded and devoted.	B．Considerate and gifted.
C．Humorous and knowledgeable.	D．Responsible and powerful.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Meet Luisa Yu: One of 400 People Recognized by UN

B．Follow Luisa Yu’s Example: Seeking Adventure on Traveling

C．79-Year-Old Woman Has Traveled to 193 Countries Around the World

D．Travel Agent Surprises the World with the Longest of Travel Experience

2 . Different countries celebrate festivals in their own unique ways. The same goes for the New Year. Let’s take a look at some unique New Year traditions from around the world.

Smashing (打碎) plates

If you walked out of your front door to find a load of smashed plates, you might be a bit confused. But that’s exactly what people in Denmark hope to find after midnight, as it represents good luck. Danish people go and smash a plate in front of a friend’s door on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck over the next 12 months.

Dropping things

In New York City, Times Square is the centre of the countdown to midnight. But the thing that everyone is looking forward to is called the “ball drop”, which is when a glowing (发光的) ball is lowered down a big flag pole (旗杆), marking the start of the New Year. Other cities in America now have their own traditions of dropping things on New Year’s Eve. For example, in Vincennes, Indiana, people drop watermelons from high places.

Eating grapes

When the clocks hit midnight in Spain, you’ll find people reaching for grapes. This is because there is a tradition of eating one grape each time the clock strikes midnight. The idea is that this will bring people 12 lucky months in the year ahead.

Walking with an empty suitcase

In some South American countries like Colombia, you might see some people on New Year’s Eve walking around with an empty suitcase. Some hold the belief that taking a “suitcase walk” means they will have a year full of adventures.

1. Why do Danish smash plates on New Year’s Eve?

A．To have fun.	B．To honor a poet.
C．To celebrate the harvest.	D．To bring good luck.

2. What do Spanish do when the clocks hit midnight on New Year’s Eve?

A．They exchange gifts.	B．They eat grapes.
C．They dress up as bears.	D．They drop halls from high places.

3. Which country has the tradition of carrying empty suitcases on New Year’s Eve?

A．Denmark.

B．USA.

C．Colombia.

D．Spain.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan) is an annual television show broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV) on the eve of the Chinese New Year. The Gala is a four-hour TV show featuring     1     (diversity) performances, including traditional and modern dance acrobatics (杂技), comedic acts, and musical performances by popular singers and     2     (celebrity). It also features special parts     3     (highlight) Chinese culture, history, and achievements.

The Gala     4     (become) an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations since 1983. Families and friends gather around their televisions to watch the show,     5     is seen as a symbol of unity, prosperity (繁荣), and good luck for the coming year.

The Gala is     6     (typical) four hours long, but it can sometimes run longer. It is estimated that over 10,000 people     7     (involve) in its production. The Gala is hosted by a team of popular CCTV hosts, and it features performances by some of the biggest names in China.

The Spring Festival Gala is     8     unique and remarkable event that shows the best of Chinese culture and     9     (entertain). It is a cherished (珍贵的) tradition that brings people together     10     helps to create a festive and joyous atmosphere for the Chinese New Year.

4 . Show someone you care

Valentine’s Day, which takes place on February 14, is a holiday celebrating love, and its origins may date back more than 1,000 years.     1     In addition, Random Acts of Kindness Week kicks off on February 11 — another reason to make others feel special! Here are some sweet ways to spread love and kindness this year.

Decorate your home

    2     One idea is to cut paper hearts out of construction paper, make holes in them, and use string to hang them across a mantel or bookcase. Another fun way to decorate is to write messages on paper hearts and put them in unexpected places. Surprise your family with a “Looking good!” heart on the bathroom mirror or an “I love you” heart on a coffee maker.

Start a surprise chain

Here’s a fun tradition to try for delighting others. Pack a goody bag or small box with sweets, stickers, colored pencils, or whatever you have on hand.     3     Include a note that encourages them to leave a similar goody bag for someone else.

    4    

One of the best ways to show a friend or a family member that you care about them is to plan a special outing just for the two of you. For example, you could write a card to your dad inviting him on a hike, or give a card to your best friend suggesting a picnic in the park. You can also do a random act of kindness, like cleaning the mess out of the family car, packing a surprise snack in a brother’s lunchbox, or surprising a grandparent with an unexpected phone call.

Go homemade

There’s a reason why Valentine cards and chocolates are so popular—everyone likes them! Make homemade cards and treats for special people in your life. Check out the Valentine’s global craft and chocolate shake recipe on the web page and try to go homemade.     5    

A．Make a special plan

B．Call your grandparents now and then

C．Get your family in a festive mood with holiday decorations

D．Leave it on the doorstep of a friend or neighbor without them seeing you

E．It is important to make families and friends feel extra special this Valentine’s Day

F．Now, it’s a holiday that honors all types of relationships that bring people joy and happiness

G．On your card, write about how much you appreciate the person or recalling a fun memory you shared

5 . In the past few years, our knowledge about the prevention of the disease dementia has increased dramatically, and many issues that cause it are actually now treatable. “We have finally sorted out what the risk factors are, and we are paying attention to them,” says Dr. Weaver.

According to a report of The Lancet led by Prof. Livingston in 2020, 40 per cent of dementia cases could be avoided. The number one factor was hearing loss, which can affect your ability to converse with others, leading to loneliness. “That really surprised us,” she says. “And it’s a reversible (可逆的) risk, because you can change it by simply using hearing aids.”

Spending time socialising was another important factor. “Talking to other people stimulates your brain and gets it working because you have to engage, and you have to think,” Prof. Livingston explains. Having a stimulating job also helps, as does getting more education earlier in life. All those boost what’s known as your cognitive (认知的) reserve, so even if you do suffer from a loss of cognitive power, you have some to spare. Treating depression is also important.

Getting 150 minutes of exercise a week can keep your heart in good shape, which translates into a healthier brain. And then there are things to avoid. Smoking and air pollution raise the risk. Plus, it’s now known that brain injury also raises the risk, as do heavy drinking, having high blood pressure or diabetes, and being overweight. “We now know that for many people, dementia is not inevitable,” says Prof. Livingston.

Just as important as new medications are breakthroughs in diagnosis (诊断). Multiple blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease, which have been used widely in clinical trials, are expected to be available to the public over the next few years. “I think the blood tests and new treatments that are coming are going to really transform how we practise and how we care for people with memory loss,” says Professor Gil Rabinovici, professor of neurology and radiology and director of the University of California’s Alzheimer’s disease research center.

1. Which of the following used to be the greatest risk factor of dementia?

A．Lack of exercise.	B．Hearing loss.
C．Smoking.	D．Air pollution.

2. In what way do people benefit from socializing?

A．They improve their eyesight.	B．They boost their hearing ability.
C．They reduce heart disease risk.	D．They enhance cognitive capacity.

3. What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word “inevitable” in paragraph 4?

A．Ineffective.	B．Unimportant.
C．Indifferent.	D．Unavoidable.

4. What’s the purpose of the text?

A．To advocate a new idea in healthy lifestyles.

B．To clarify some misunderstanding in old age.

C．To share some information in medical science.

D．To make a prediction of mental health treatments.

6 . Millions of shipping containers are sitting empty at ports all over the world. And they’ve been a treasure for architects Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano.

The two were in San Francisco recently for the opening of an exhibition at Hosfelt Gallery focused on their use of shipping containers as building materials.

The Italian “starchitects” got into the shipping container building game in the 1990s and people like shipping container buildings not only because they look interesting but also because they seem to solve a problem — finding a use for the millions of used steel shipping containers across the planet. They’re used in projects like Photoville in New York City, which transforms the containers into mini art galleries, and Monarch Village, a development for formerly unhoused people in Lawrence, Kansas. “Shipping containers are great for building with because they are modular (模块化的), movable and durable,” said California architect Douglas Burnham.

But there also exist many challenges, a significant one of which is temperature control. Those steel boxes get very cold inside in winter — and very, very hot in summer.

Joe Carroll lived in an eye-catching shipping container home designed by LOT-EK for five years. Carroll said that he appreciated many things about LOT-EK’s approach. “It’s about designing structures that are unique looking, not just a row of cubes (立方体),” said Carroll. But Carroll also said his energy bills were sky high. “There was no heat or solar energy,” he said. “We didn’t have any of that in the home.” All that heating and cooling takes not only money but environmental resources.

So what should we do with them? Critics say the most environmentally friendly use of all these unused steel shipping containers is to recycle them. “The highlight of these containers is, ‘Well, we’re saving them.’ But it doesn’t make any sense,” said San Francisco-based architect Mark Hogan of Open Scope Studio, who has publicly shared his concerns about shipping container housing. “You’d be much better off recycling the container into steel and then build out of steel studs — like the normal way you’d build a building.”

1. What was the focus of the exhibition at Hosfelt Gallery?

A．Traditional building materials.

B．Artistic paintings and sculptures.

C．Architecture photography collection.

D．Shipping containers in building projects.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．Advantages of shipping container buildings.

B．Representative projects of LOT-EK architects.

C．Ideal locations for shipping container complexes.

D．Procedures of building shipping container projects.

3. Why is Joe Carroll mentioned in paragraph 5?

A．To show the cost-effectiveness of the home.

B．To emphasize the high energy consumption.

C．To illustrate the unique design of the structure.

D．To prove the convenience of heat and solar resources.

4. What is Mark Hogan’s attitude towards shipping container housing?

A．Favorable.	B．Unconcerned.
C．Curious.	D．Critical.

7 . The Best Books of the Year

Poverty by Matthew Desmond

Hardcover: $14.8

Paperback: $6.5

“In his powerful book, Matthew Desmond exposes the realities of inequality in the world. His writing takes readers on a journey through the lives of those struggling to make ends meet. Desmond’s book is a powerful call to action, urging readers to demand change and work towards a more just and fair society. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the root causes of inequality and the urgent need for transformative solutions.” — Lindsay Powers

King: A Life by Jonathan Eig   

Hardcover: $15.5

Paperback: $7.2

“Eig’s book dives into the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr., providing an in-depth and comprehensive account. This book offers deep insights into the life of one of the most influential figures in American history, revealing the hardships and heroics of a man who changed the world.” — Al Woodworth

The Wager by David Grann

Hardcover: $18.5

Paperback: $5.4

“This true story is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It is a story of human ambition, greed, and the continuous pursuit of adventure, all set against the backdrop of the vast and unforgiving ocean. Journey into a world of adventures, where fortunes are made and lost, and lives hang in the balance. Witness pursuits of power and wealth. Experience the dangers and uncertainties of life on the high seas, where anything can happen and no one is safe.” — Al Woodworth

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Hardcover: $17.6

Paperback: $4.5

“Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels! More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how — as adults — we deal with this thing called life.” — Kami Tei

1. Whose book might be a biography?

A．Matthew Desmond’s.	B．Jonathan Eig’s.
C．David Grann’s.	D．Emily Henry’s.

2. Which book relates to an adventure on the sea?

A．Poverty.	B．King: A Life.
C．The Wager.	D．Happy Place.

3. How much should you pay if you buy the paperback version of Happy Place?

A．$4.5.	B．$15.5.
C．$17.6.	D．$18.5.

8 . Pickleball. It’s got nothing to do with pickles — it’s a sport. It has been described as a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Picture a small plastic ball soaring through the air that you need to bat back to your partner, or partners.

Many Brits are listening to their inner athlete and picking up this racket game. In the UK, there are currently around 7,000 players, according to Pickleball England. But the association aims to have more than 25,000 players by 2025and is even attempting to get the sport played as part of promotion for the 2028 Olympics.

How exactly do you play this game? Well, it can be played indoors or outdoors and it can be played as a singles or doubles game. There are a few easy-to-understand rules. The ball is served underhand and should be batted diagonally across the court. On the first two hits, the ball has to bounce, but after that, players are free to volley. To win a point, the defending side must miss the ball.

So, why is it popular? Firstly, it appears to be a game for all ages. The ball is lightweight because it’s full of holes. This means that, when batting, there is much less impact on the body than when hitting a tennis ball, for example. Elaine Brown, who is in her 50s and a regular pickleball player, told news organisation, The Guardian why she loves the sport. “It’s good exercise, it’s strategic, it can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be, and most of the time it’s just good fun.”

And the social aspect and low-impact nature of the game has been attracting players worldwide, creating a blossoming community of pickleball enthusiasts, such as celebrities Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio. So, if you fancy picking it up, find your local pickleball court and give it a go!

1. What is Paragraph 2 of the text mainly talk about?

A．A new event in the Olympics.	B．The favorite sport of the British.
C．The promising future of pickleball.	D．The number of people playing pickleball.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A．It can be played like a volleyball.

B．You don’t have to follow any game rules.

C．Defeating the defending side is very easy.

D．The game must be played with at least one partner.

3. Why does playing pickleball have less effect on the body than sports like tennis?

A．Because it is lightweight.	B．Because it is full of holes.
C．Because it is easy to play.	D．Because it is just good fun.

4. What may be Bill Gates’ attitude towards playing pickleball?

A．Indifferent.	B．Supportive.
C．Unclear.	D．Doubtful.

9 . Xu Hai’ou has spent most of her life promoting environmental protection work in Beihai, a coastal city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, by cleaning beaches, protecting mi-grant birds and recycling kitchen waste.

Though her family originally comes from the eastern province of Shandong, the 60-year-old was raised in Guangxi and moved to Beihai for work at age 23, directly after graduating from college. Before she retired, she worked as a reporter for the Guangxi Daily Media Group, a news outlet in the region. In her free time, she became involved in voluntary work.

“In initially, in the 1990s, I helped impoverished children in Guangxi’s rural areas obtain financial aid from donors in Hong Kong, and set up my own NGO in 2004. At the time, it was Beihai’s only nonprofit social organization involved in volunteer work,” she said, “It’s very enjoyable to do this charity work and I have made many friends through it.”

She said her NGO focuses on environmental protection work and organizes a range of voluntary activities, including cleaning up beaches, and protecting mangrove forests and migratory birds.

In 2008, the organization joined a marine life protection event supported by the central government, the UN Environment Programme and the Global Environmental Facility.

Xu and her colleagues at the association arranged a number of voluntary events such as raising awareness of marine biodiversity among local residents and students, and beach-cleaning activities to help promote understanding of the need to protect marine animals and plants.

“Undertaking voluntary activities or charitable work has become my mission, and I want to contribute my own efforts to the nation’s environmental protection work, even if they only produce a small improvement. However, protecting the environment is very hard work. which can’t be done by a single person. I sometimes feel like my ability falls short of my wishes.”

According to Xu, her NGO is currently promoting the classification of waste in Beihai and recycling kitchen waste into compost. “We have mature technologies, but still face difficulties in promoting the program because many residents lack awareness of environmental protection. We hope the government can figure out better ways of managing the garbage after we classify it to make full use of this ‘waste’.”

1. What can we learn about Xu Hai’ou from the first two paragraphs?

A．She grew up in Shandong Province.

B．She graduated in Beihai at the age of 23.

C．She works as a journalist for a newspaper at present.

D．She is a retired reporter volunteering to protect the environment.

2. What did Xu Hai’ou think of her voluntary work?

A．Rewarding.

B．Exhausting.

C．Amazing.

D．Embarrassing.

3. What is Xu and her colleagues’ purpose in arranging voluntary events?

A．To clean beaches and recycle kitchen waste.

B．To get support from the central government.

C．To raise people’s awareness of marine biodiversity.

D．To help people understand the necessity of protecting marine life.

4. Why does Xu Hai’ou persist in her volunteer work?

A．She wants to win a good reputation.

B．She wants to do what others don’t want to do.

C．She wants to do her part to protect the environment.

D．She wants to make the most of kitchen waste on her own.

10 . 阅读下面的材料，在空格处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Wang Xin, a marketing manager based in Shanghai, paid special attention to the carbon consumption figures shown on a flight booking platform. “When booking a flight, I will first check the flights     1     meet my time requirements. If multiple flights within the time range are approximately the same price, I will     2     (definite) choose the one with     3     (little) carbon consumption.” Wang says.

Business travelers like Wang have shown a     4     (prefer) for trips that leave a smaller carbon footprint, according to a recent report. More than 60 percent of its business customers have options     5     low-carbon travel products. “The low-carbon travel trend began in 2022 when we launched flight carbon emission data, which has been recognized by     6     increasing number of business clients,” says Zha Jun, an official with the travel management division.

Afterwards, the carbon emission data of hotels, trains and cars     7     (add) up to now. Business travelers have been encouraged to use new energy vehicles and save electricity and water at hotels, as well as food on flights. Those     8     (choose) low-carbon travel products can also get rewards, such as air miles and credits that can be used     9     (reduce) future travel costs.

According to the US-headquartered Global Business Travel Association, 25 percent of companies worldwide consider carbon footprint and sustainability important in business travel. Among     10     (they), 35 percent have carried out sustainable policies.