1 . Chen Shaoqin, a woman from Beijing, has shown the world how life should be lived by working as a tour guide in her seventies.

Chen has only a middle school education. She began studying English at the age of 40, changing herself from a factory worker to a white collar (白领) worker in an international trade company.

Chen continued to learn after retirement (退休), studying art and finally becoming an art guide at the age of 67. Over the past five years, from a person who knew nothing about art to a great volunteer guide, Chen's hard work and love for learning have encouraged many. As a guide, she is able to take special training courses and has the chance to learn from artists, giving her courage to continue.

Chen is proud of many exhibitions (展览) guided by her over the years, including those of famous artists like Zeng Fanzhi, Xu Bing, Qiu Zhijie and Pablo Picasso. She believes that every tour is a beautiful journey and a new chance to learn and be moved. Chen's love for learning has made her an excellent guide. After turning 73 this year, she said. “Well, I may be old, but I believe that the width of one's life can be expanded (延伸) through self-exploration and learning.”

1. How did the English learning affect Chen Shaoqin?

A．She became a white-collar.	B．She got a job as an art guide.
C．She had a chance to be an artist.	D．She turned out to be a factory worker.

2. How old was Chen Shaoqin when she became an art guide?

A．40.

B．67.

C．72

D．73.

3. What can we know about Chen Shaoqin from the last paragraph?

A．She gets into trouble when travelling.

B．She becomes famous for her great paintings.

C．She has guided many exhibitions successfully.

D．She has been a volunteer guide for five years.

4. What's Chen Shaoqin's attitude towards her life?

A．Hopeful.

B．Worried.

C．Regretful.

D．Doubtful.

2 . Academic Year (学年) at Newcastle University in the UK

If you’re staying with us for the next academic year, you might be wondering about term dates and assessment (测评) periods. Here’s how the next academic year will look.

Term 1

There will be a one-week training course on the week beginning on 18 September this year. Teaching on most programmes will start on 25 September.

Teaching in this term will last for 12 weeks, with an enrichment week, allowing you to stop and think of your learning, or to explore new skills. During the enrichment week we’ll be running many events for you to take part in.

After the Winter Break, there will be a two-week assessment period beginning on 8 January next year, followed by a one-week break from 22 January.

Term 2

Teaching in Term 2 will begin on 29 January and will last for 12 weeks, including a revision week, allowing you to focus on your studies and to catch up.

The assessment period for Term 2 will begin on 20 May and will last for three weeks.

Term 3

For our students on Postgraduate Taught programmes, Term 3 will begin on 21 June and finish on 13 September.

1. What’s special about Term 1?

A．There is a training course.

B．It has no assessment periods.

C．It has the longest teaching weeks

D．It includes Postgraduate Taught programmes.

2. When will Term 3 start?

A．On 8 January.	B．On 20 May.
C．On 21June.	D．On 13 September.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A DIY course.	B．A history book.
C．A school calendar.	D．A travel guide.

3 . A Trip to Northern Spain

DAY 1: Begin the day from Bilbao with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum where you can view European modern art. Afterwards, move onto Laguardia to visit the old city and a wine shop for a tasting. Finally continue on to Burgos to visit the Museo de la Evolucion Humana before returning to Bilbao for an evening meal together.

DAY 2: Move from Bilbao to Santander to visit the Prehistory and Archaeology Museum of Cantabria. Then enjoy a visit to the caves (洞穴) of Las Monedas and El Castillo. El Castillo has many cave paintings with a history of more than 40, 000 years old. Finally continue on to Santillana del Mar to enjoy dinner together.

DAY3: This morning, you’ll visit the old town of Santillana with many historic buildings which provide a fascinating background for exploring this town. Then you’ll visit the Cave of Altamira, where some of the cave paintings were damaged by a large number of visitors. Then you’re free before an evening meal together.

DAY 4: In the morning, you’ll visit the Cave of EI Pindal, which has 12 prehistoric paintings, some more than 33, 000 years old. Then head to the Cave of EI Buxu. Due to the size of the cave, only several people are allowed in at a time. Later in the afternoon move to Oviedo and visit the Gothic Cathedral before enjoying dinner.

1. Which place is the starting point of the whole trip?

A．Laguardia.

B．Bilbao.

C．Santander.

D．Oviedo.

2. On which day are tourists allowed to have their own trip plan?

A．Day 1.

B．Day 2.

C．Day 3.

D．Day 4.

3. Who might be most interested in the trip?

A．People who love European art.

B．People who enjoy extreme sports.

C．People who do medical research.

D．People who love modern buildings.

4 . Choosing a career path is one of the most important decisions that senior high graduates have to make.     1     Therefore, it is essential to consider various factors before making a final decision. Here are some factors that senior high graduates should consider when choosing a possible career.

Personal Interests and Passions: Choosing a career that suits to one’s interests and passions can lead to a fulfilling and satisfying career. For instance, if someone is passionate about art, they may consider a career in graphic design, animation, or fine arts.     2    

Job Market and Demand: Graduates should research the job market and find out which careers are in high demand.     3     For instance, careers in healthcare, technology, and finance are currently in high demand.

    4     Some careers require a specific degree or certification, while others may require on-the-job training. Graduates should research the education and training requirements for their chosen career and ensure that they are willing to invest the time and resources required.

Potential Salary and Benefits: Graduates should research the average salary and benefits for their chosen career and ensure that it matches up with their financial goals and lifestyle.

Work- Life Balance:     5     Graduates should consider their personal preferences and lifestyle when choosing a career.

Choosing a career is a significant decision that requires careful consideration. By considering these factors, graduates can make an informed decision that will lead to a fulfilling and successful career.

A．Previous Working Experience:

B．Education and Training Requirements:

C．This will increase their chances of finding a job after graduation.

D．It is a decision that will have a significant impact on their future.

E．Graduates should consider the gap between the job demand and their potential.

F．Some careers may require long hours or frequent travel, while others may offer more flexibility.

G．On the other hand, someone interested in science may consider a career in medicine, engineering, or research.

5 . 语法填空

The Chinese painting is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world. The painting in the traditional style is known today in Chinese as guohua,     1    (mean) the “national” or “native” painting. It is different from Western styles of art which     2    (become) popular in China in the 20th century.

One technique of the traditional Chinese painting is ink and wash painting and in Chinese it is called shuimo. In fact this was an art form     3    (practise) by gentlemen from the Song Dynasty. This style is also referred to     4     xieyi or the freehand style.

    5    (traditional), the Chinese painting is done on rice paper or thin silk. There     6     (be) broadly three subjects for traditional Chinese paintings — portraits, landscapes, and flowers and birds — of     7     the landscape is the most familiar to people. Therefore the Chinese painting is often known as the landscape painting, or shanshui painting.

The landscape painting was regarded as     8     highest form of the Chinese painting, and generally still is. In the north, artists such as Jing Hao painted     9     (picture) of towering mountains and in the south, Dong Yuan, Juran, and other artists painted the rolling hills and rivers of their native countryside in     10     (peace) scenes.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个恰当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In the late 1980s and 1990s, parents in Singapore     1     (begin) noticing a worrying change in their children. More and more children were becoming short-sighted.

Nobody was able to stop this     2     (nation) eyesight crisis. Rates of short-sightedness—also known     3     near-sightedness or myopia—continued to rise and rise. Today, Singapore has a myopia rate of around 80% in young     4     (adult).

    5     happened in Singapore now appears to be happening all over the world. Countries with seemingly completely different lifestyles     6     (face) with the same phenomenon; rapid increasing rates of short-sightedness.

What explains this global eyesight crisis? Genetics play only     7     small part. Instead, lifestyle factors are thought to be more significant, in particular, a lack of time outdoors, and focusing on close objects for an extended period through an activity like reading. The way in     8     children obtain an education in the modern world, with the emphasis on long hours     9     (spend) in classrooms, appears to be consistently hurting     10     (they) eye health.

7 . Some years ago, I was stuck on a bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was ___________ moving. The bus was ___________ with cold, tired people who were deeply annoyed with one another. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody ___________ her a seat. Rage was in the air.

As the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom (对讲机).

“Folks,” he said, “I know you have had a ___________ day and you are frustrated. I can’t do anything about the weather or ___________, but here is what I can do. As each one of you ___________ the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, ___________ your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don’t take your problems home to your families tonight, just ___________ them with me.

My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive there ___________, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water. Hearing that, everyone ____________ laughing.

At the next stop, just as promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed (模仿) the ____________ of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed, some shed tears but everyone ____________ it. The driver repeated the same lovely ritual (仪式) at the next stop, too. And the next. All the way to the river.

We live in a hard world. There are times when everything seems ____________ in darkness. You ____________ the light but don’t know where to find it. But what if you are the ____________ that a dark situation begs for? That’ s what this bus driver ____________ me, that anyone can be the light at any moment. He was only a bus driver, one of society’s most ____________ workers. But he possessed real power, and he used it ____________ for our benefit.

My friends, no matter who you are, or where you are, or how tough your ____________ may seem, I believe you can illuminate (照亮) your world, which means you have more ____________ than you realize.

1.

A．barely

B．almost

C．simply

D．approximately

2.

A．hidden

B．emptied

C．met

D．filled

3.

A．sold

B．offered

C．refused

D．achieved

4.

A．tender

B．obvious

C．ambiguous

D．rough

5.

A．people

B．traffic

C．avenue

D．crossroad

6.

A．gets down

B．gets on

C．gets off

D．gets up

7.

A．drop

B．hit

C．hold

D．take

8.

A．depart

B．leave

C．fetch

D．include

9.

A．later

B．earlier

C．after

D．before

10.

A．break out

B．burst out

C．run into

D．come into

11.

A．expression

B．laughter

C．gesture

D．silence

12.

A．did

B．went

C．lost

D．hated

13.

A．discovered

B．explained

C．covered

D．removed

14.

A．use for

B．answer for

C．stand for

D．long for

15.

A．light

B．supply

C．support

D．receiver

16.

A．owed

B．taught

C．made

D．paid

17.

A．respectable

B．incredible

C．noticeable

D．ordinary

18.

A．importantly

B．impatiently

C．beautifully

D．carelessly

19.

A．part

B．place

C．tradition

D．situation

20.

A．stress

B．reputation

C．influence

D．time

8 . Researchers have recently discovered that gut microbiome (肠道微生物群)—bacteria that grow within our body-helps the brain build important social skills.

According to a paper published in PLOS Biology in November, zebra fish were used to research subjects to test how a lack of microbiome could alter social skills. Zebra fish are social animals as even 2-week-old fish starts to hang out in groups of 4 to 12.

The experiment started with making a group of fish “germ-free” through their diet. The other group were injected with a healthy mix of gut bacteria after they were hatched (孵化出来). About 15 days later, the second group began swimming in groups while the “germ-free” group “shockingly, didn’t,” Judith Eisen, a co-author of the new research, said to Quanta Magazine.

The team then examined the fish’s brains, discovering obvious differences between the two groups. The ones who lacked the gut microbiome had more interconnections among the neurons (神经元) in their brains in charge of social behavior. It also led to fewer microglia, the neural immune cells (神经免疫细胞) that help clean the brain’s unwanted neurons. With less microglia to clear the brain’s neurons, social neurons were seen to have overgrown. This made the fish more cautious in social situations.

Scientists supposed that the bacteria could release a special chemical that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain directly. Or, the immune cells might move between the gut and the brain, sending messages. Although the experiments were only on fish, the findings can theoretically be applied to humans. The team wishes to explore how gut microbiome affects the human brain in the future, which may lead to solutions to mental health problems.

Perhaps many people who claim that they have “social phobia” (社交恐惧症) can blame their guts. However, social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, can be a serious illness if overlooked. According to the National Health Service in the UK, it is more than shyness but instead a constant fear of social situations. Patients may experience panic attacks which are an overwhelming fear and anxiety that last for a few minutes.

1. What did the research aim to find out?

A．The causes of social phobia.	B．The way zebra fish build social skills.
C．The influencing factors of social behavior.	D．The link between gut bacteria and social behavior.

2. How did researchers conduct the study?

A．By examining the fish’s guts.	B．By collecting and analyzing data.
C．By observing the fish’s appearance.	D．By comparing different groups of fish.

3. What do we know about the fish without gut microbiome?

A．They tend to behave less socially.	B．They have more neural immune cells.
C．Their brains have fewer unwanted neurons.	D．Their social neurons are loosely connected.

4. What does the author think of social phobia?

A．It is often overlooked.	B．It is caused by inactive neurons.
C．It should be taken seriously.	D．It affects the amount of gut microbiome.

9 . Some seniors golf every weekend, others chase after grandchildren. Me, I'm rescuing and speaking up for bugs.

Insects evolved 400 million years before humans. They inhabit every part of the planet. I have become fascinated by these small creatures for the past decade.

Living rurally has afforded me an opportunity to observe the seasonal march of insects in a way I couldn't in the city. On my half-acre property, as spring gives way to summer the insects make their presence known. Bees buzz around the dandelions and red hawthorn blossoms. Ants rush around, sometimes taking up residence in my house. In the height of summer, the blossoms are covered with bees. Sitting nearby, it's as if I am sitting next to an insect orchestra.

My friends may tell you that I have become obsessed with insects. It's true. Having read books on entomology (昆虫学), I’m amazed by the beauty, resourcefulness and creativity of insects. One of the most important things I've learned is how insects contribute to the well-being of human lives. Yes, there are the poisonous spiders, and mosquitoes that carry malaria (疟疾), but these are vastly outnumbered by the insects that are harmless and necessary for humans.

It is because of bees that we have honey, and the flowers of vegetables are fertilized (使授粉). It is because of animals such as earthworms that all the fruit peels we dump are turned into soil. It is because of insects that we are eating fishes and chicken for those creatures feed on insects. They are doing more good than harm.

Over the decades, I have never given a second thought to pesticides and insecticides, all promising to rid your plants of pests. Kill the ants. Kill the flies. Kill the wasps. Now, I want to sweep all those products off the shelves. Let the insects live!

Insects, I have decided, are the flowers of the animal kingdom. I will continue to speak up for insects. I will plant a pollinator (传粉昆虫) garden for the bees and butterflies and may explore monarch butterflies or woolly bear caterpillars. But, in full honesty, I may still swat (拍) at the mosquitoes that land on my skin.

1. What does the author notice when sitting in her garden in summer?

A．Bees outnumber ants in her garden.	B．Ants are more annoying than bees.
C．The buzz of insects sounds like music.	D．Dandelion blossoms are the bees' favorite.

2. Why does the author mention different insects in paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．To mention which insects benefit humans.

B．To prove insects do more good than harm.

C．To show off her rich knowledge of insects.

D．To compare the different roles they play in nature.

3. What does the author think about pesticides and insecticides?

A．They have become overused.	B．They are necessary for farming.
C．They pose serious risks to human health.	D．They can reduce the spread of disease.

4. What message does the author want to convey?

A．Insects are intelligent creatures.	B．Living rurally has many advantages.
C．Many insects deserve our protection.	D．Bees are the most important insects to humans.

10 . Whether you’re in high school or college, there are many opportunities at parks and offices across the country to donate your time and services. Following are some volunteer opportunities that you could take up.

Interpretation Language Translator, Mandarin and Cantonese

Time: 4/25/2023—8/31/2023

Address: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California

Description: We are seeking the help of a native Chinese translator/speaker to help translate signs at our Point Bonita lighthouse to traditional Chinese for Cantonese and Mandarin speaking visitors to our park. Volunteers will be working from a Google Document provided by the volunteer supervisor with the associated English text.

Qualifications: Patience; Organized; Attention to detail; Advanced written and spoken proficiency in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese; Access to Computer and computer software.

Mark Twain Lake M. W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center Attendant

Time: 4/1/2023—10/1/2023

Address: Mark Twain Lake, Highway J Monroe City, Missouri

Description: Looking for outgoing individuals with professional attitude to greet visitors, provide customer service, answer phones, issue Annual Passes and assist with a small bookstore/ nature store tasks.

Qualifications: Outgoing personality; professional attitude; good communication skills; basic computer skills; willing to work with team.

Wild Wednesday Assistant

Time: 6/ 1/2023-8/31/2023

Address: Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, County Highway 26, Rochert, Minnesota

Description: The purpose of the Wildlife Wednesday program is to enhance a young child’s visit to the refuge through a one hour hands-on nature exploration activity during the summer season. The activity consists of a story, craft, hike or the movement activity which may incorporate dance and music.

Qualifications: good interpersonal communication and computer skills; passionate about connecting young children to nature; basic knowledge and understanding of ecology, wildlife and plants.

Please click Volunteer.gov to learn more about current opportunities near you.

1. What do volunteers at Mark Twain Lake need to do?

A．Tell stories about wildlife protection to children.

B．Translate signs from English to Chinese and Mandarin.

C．Greet visitors, provide customer service and answer phones.

D．Attend the movement activity incorporating dance and music.

2. What do the three voluntary jobs have in common?

A．Computer skills are needed.

B．They are all located in California.

C．Volunteers can work from April to October.

D．Volunteers ought to go to those places in person.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a travel brochure.	B．On the website.
C．In a magazine.	D．In an advertisement.