1 . How Can Volunteering Help You Get a Good Job?
Sometimes, by giving just a little, you can get a lot back in return. This couldn’t ring more true for volunteering. Here are just some of the things volunteering can do for your employ ability.
Employers like to see evidence of practical work experience on your CV (简历) — it tells them that you have the soft skills needed to work as part of a team and are able to handle responsibility. So, if the “work experience” section of your CV is: looking a little bare, volunteering is a great way to flesh it out. Even if the role isn’t super relevant to the job you want after university, so long as there are transferable (可迁移的) skills, it will be valuable for your CV.
Introduce you to new people
If you are volunteering in the sector you want to eventually work in, it will be a great way for you to network with people who have already broken into the field.
Help you develop valuable skills
Boost your confidence
You’ll experience so many personal benefits from helping the community or lending a hand for a worthwhile project.
| A．Improve your CV |
| B．Update your interview skills |
| C．Volunteering is a great way to push you ahead |
| D．University prepares you for work academically |
| E．Volunteering can help you develop all of these and plenty more |
| F．It can help give you a fresh sense of purpose and make you feel valued |
| G．Use the opportunity to pick their brains, get insider advice and find out job opportunities |
2 . There is a myth (神话) in today’s society that human beings are weak and that the only way to be happy and successful in life is to protect oneself by avoiding difficulties. Not only is the myth false, but the actions we take believing them to be “protective” also usually limit happiness and even hamper (阻碍) personal and professional growth. Rather than fear and try to avoid all difficulties, perhaps we should accept the unavoidability of difficulties in life and prepare for, if not welcome, them. As a muscle grows stronger with stress, so can people, teams, organizations, even communities.
Sports psychologists Fletcher and Sarkar have studied Olympic gold medal winners. They conclude, “Indeed, most of the participants argued that if they had not experienced certain types of stressors at specific times... they would not have won their gold medals.”
Psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun even created the term “posttraumatic growth”. They describe it as the experience of positive change that occurs as a result of highly challenging life crises (危机). It is shown in a variety of ways, including an increased appreciation for life in general, more meaningful interpersonal relationships, an increased sense of personal strength, and a richer spiritual life.
The remarkable success stories that arise after moments of great challenge and failure are countless. Abraham Lincoln faced long-term depression, political failure, and the loss of a son but arose from failure and tragedy to become the greatest of American presidents. Thomas Edison failed thousands of times trying to create the world’s first practical light bulb. Harland Sanders developed Kentucky Fried Chicken in his 60s while recovering from a failed career as a lawyer.
An English philosopher once wrote the result of sheltering people from their mistakes is to fill the world with fools. Let us not make that mistake. Rather, let us understand that growth arises from challenge and even failure. The myth of overprotection keeps us all from realizing our full potential.
1. The author thinks that .| A．human beings are weak | B．challenges are unavoidable in life |
| C．we should court disasters | D．it is wise to avoid all difficulties |
| A．The growth after surviving a big challenge. | B．The satisfation after watching a nice movie. |
| C．The pain during the struggle for survival | D．The unhappiness for the loss of beloved ones. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．By analyzing data. | B．By conducting surveys. |
| C．By listing examples. | D．By making comparisons. |
3 . Montreal is one of those diverse cities that offer something for everyone. The best time to visit Montreal is typically in the spring (March ~ June) or during the fall (September ~November). At these times, you’ll likely find fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations and the best weather for sightseeing as it is neither too hot nor too cold.
Things to do
Go back in time in Old Montreal: A visit to Old Montreal is a must for anyone visiting the city. Even if you don’t have a plan, just wandering the scenic stone streets is worthwhile. You ‘ll see centuries-old buildings blending (融合) perfectly with trendy restaurants and cute cafes and you can easily spend half a day exploring.
Do some shopping along Sainte-Catherine Street: From major department stores to boutiques, there is a lot to shop for on Sainte-Catherine Street. From west to east, it stretches 9miles across the city.
Explore the Old Port: Montreal’s Old Port features a range of things to see and do, making it a great area to spend an afternoon or even a whole day. The Old Port is also where you’ll find the Montreal Science Centre and its IMAX theatre, and in the winter, take advantage of the outdoor skating spot.
Hang out in Pare du Mont-Royal: No matter at what time of a year you visit Montreal, you’ll find something to do at Pare du Mont-Royal. The park is popular among walkers, joggers and bikers as well as picnickers in the spring and summer. While in the winter, you can enjoy skating and skiing.
1. Which of the following is the best time to take a trip to Montreal?| A．April. | B．July. | C．August. | D．December. |
| A．In Old Montreal. | B．On Sainte-Catherine Street. |
| C．In the Old Port. | D．In Pare du Mont-Royal. |
| A．Have a picnic. | B．Appreciate centuries-old buildings. |
| C．Walk on the stone street. | D．Watch a film in an IMAX theatre. |
Nola Ochs was born in Kansas in 1911. There were many farms and everybody had a job to do. Nola Ochs was raised under the endless sky, and the long arc (弧线) of the sun marked her chore-filled (满是工作的) days. Her life was common. She grew and married, had children and grandchildren, taught in country schools, and lived the quiet Midwest life. But she was different in one way: After her husband died in 1972, Nola began taking classes and finally earned her associate degree (准学士学位) at the age of 77.
“I still want to go to school. It is fun to go to classes. And if I have homework to do in the evening, that takes up my time in a pleasant way,” she recalled. After some years went by, Nola decided to keep going and get her master’s degree in Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where her granddaughter studied. She emailed the university for admission (入学), mentioning that she was 80, and had prepared for studying further.
注意：1.续写词数应为 150个左右;2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
A week later, she got an mail back for her admission.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the day of her graduation, Nola was chosen to be a spokesperson.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are indicating that accurate quake forecasting may be attainable, thereby casting doubt on the conventional wisdom that such an accomplishment is beyond our capabilities. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, created an AI model that, during a test run in China, correctly forecasted approximately 70 percent of earthquakes with a one-week warning and offered reliable assessments of their potential intensity.
The researchers attribute their technique’s effectiveness to its reliance on a straightforward machine leaning framework. The AI was provided with a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics, and then instructed to train itself using a five-year database of earthquake recordings. Once trained, the AI offered predictions by detecting early indicators of quakes hidden within the planet’s low-frequency rumbles (隆隆声).
The project marks a substantial breakthrough in the exploration of AI for anticipating seismic (地震) events. According to Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior researcher heading the Texas Seismological Network, “Seismic occurrences strike without warning, often in the blink of an eye. Your readiness is all you can influence. Achieving a 70% prediction rate is a considerable achievement that could significantly restrict the impact of earthquakes, reducing both the financial burden and loss of life, and the potential to remarkably improve earthquake preparation worldwide.”
Although the effectiveness of this method in different regions remains uncertain, the researchers believe that their AI model has the potential to enhance prediction accuracy when carried out in regions equipped with dependable seismic monitoring facilities. Their next step is to test artificial intelligence in Texas, where the University of Texas’s TexNet operates a network of 300 earthquake stations and over six years’ worth of continuous records, making it an ideal location for these purposes.
Ultimately, the authors aim to combine the system with physics-based models. This approach could be particularly valuable in areas characterized by limited or inadequate data. “That may be a long way off, but many advances such as this one, taken together, are what moves science forward,” concludes Scott Tinker, the bureau’s director.
1. How does the AI predict seismic events?| A．It identifies data from the satellites. |
| B．It analyzes background sounds in the Earth. |
| C．It models data based on earthquake recordings. |
| D．It monitors changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. |
| A．The ways to reduce losses in earthquakes. |
| B．The importance of preparing for earthquakes. |
| C．The significance of developing the AI prediction. |
| D．The restrictions of AI-based methods in earthquake prediction. |
| A．Conducting tests in different locations. |
| B．Applying the AI approach to other fields. |
| C．Building more earthquake stations in Texas. |
| D．Enlarging the database to train the calculation accuracy. |
| A．Stable but outdated. | B．Effective but costly. |
| C．Potential and economical. | D．Pioneering and promising. |
6 . Pursuing a career in travel often begins with unpaid internships where beginner guides share their passion for destinations they’ve grown to love. These roles are highly sought after by those looking to break into the industry and are particularly valued by employers who recognize the importance of practical experience and a deep understanding of the travel sector.
Essential skills & traits needed
While everyone brings their own personality to the job, there are some basic qualities that all tour guides should have:
•Energy and enthusiasm are an absolute must — when the day’s tour is done, a guide still needs to study commentary (解说) and confirm the next day’s activities, so you will often need to operate on very little sleep.
•A friendly personality is needed when interacting with clients, tour operators and the general public.
•An insight into a wide range of cultures helps a guide settle all kinds of issues, not only in the place being visited, but also among the people on the tour.
•Familiarity with emergency procedures and the capacity to remain calm during critical situations are invaluable for any tour guide. Your assurance as a tour leader can positively influence the entire group.
Be aware of the facts
Tour guiding often demands extended periods away from home, with peak work times sometimes overlapping (重叠) with cherished family holidays. Burnout is a challenge to manage, yet it doesn’t necessarily signal the end of a journey in the travel sector. The industry frequently presents opportunities in product development and sales, where your guiding experience can serve as a solid foundation for success in these new roles.
Visit our Centre for Further Education to get more information on how to receive a General Certificate in Guiding and start your career as at our guide.
1. What initial steps should one take to become a tour guide?| A．Making friends with professional guides. | B．Developing different detailed tour plans. |
| C．Guiding tours in a familiar place for free. | D．Earning a degree in tourism management. |
| A．Ability to work alone. | B．Complete knowledge of finance. |
| C．Proficiency in various languages. | D．Quick reaction to unexpected situations. |
| A．Talking with loved ones. |
| B．Taking formal training in sales. |
| C．Taking a long vacation away from home. |
| D．Seeking another career in the travel industry. |
7 . Money doesn’t grow on trees, as the saying goes, and learning how to spend money wisely is a valuable lesson we should all learn when we are young. In China, a growing number of young individuals are embracing this
Young individuals in China are actively engaging with
Saving cash through the purchase of used goods is a strategy adopted by many who
Frugality,
| A．version | B．restriction | C．principle | D．presentation |
| A．available | B．enjoyable | C．demanding | D．incredible |
| A．invisible | B．valuable | C．friendly | D．financial |
| A．advocate | B．intend | C．indicate | D．pretend |
| A．visits | B．creations | C．purchases | D．celebrations |
| A．items | B．shoes | C．pants | D．hats |
| A．download | B．remove | C．advertise | D．update |
| A．assistants | B．operators | C．pessimists | D．enthusiasts |
| A．exchange | B．perform | C．polish | D．presume |
| A．mean | B．forbid | C．resume | D．recognize |
| A．Above all | B．For instance | C．In turn | D．On average |
| A．barely | B．badly | C．deadly | D．totally |
| A．day | B．bargain | C．pity | D．shame |
| A．make up | B．turn up | C．bring up | D．end up |
| A．rooted | B．originated | C．lived | D．spotted |
8 . Although Sir Isaac Newton did not employ his reflecting telescope to uncover novel astronomical phenomena, he did use it to completely transform how we view the world we live in and the universe as a whole.
Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to bend light and enlarge images, distinguishing them from refractors (折射望远镜) that rely on lenses. Their simplicity in construction and ability to achieve much greater sizes than refractors have led to a transformation in our astronomical knowledge and our comprehension of the universe.
As light passes through glass, various colors or bands are refracted at varying angles, leading to chromatic aberration (色差) and consequently, distorted images when viewed through a lens. In the time of Newton, the technology for producing glass and lenses was still very primitive, and the challenges associated with chromatic aberration had not been adequately addressed. Today we can make lenses that have almost no chromatic aberration but we can’t make them very large. As the size of a lens increases significantly, it becomes extremely heavy, causing its own weight to distort the lens and consequently ruin the image quality.
Newton’s telescope solved these problems. A mirror doesn’t allow light to pass. It simply bounces all the light off the surface. This means there’s no chromatic aberration. Plus, because we only need to bounce light off the surface, we can support the entire mirror on a base, reducing its weight. This allows us to build much larger mirrors without any distortion.
While Galileo is credited with the discovery of moons around Jupiter and Halley with predicting the comet’s orbit, what Newton did do was tie in mathematics, astronomy and our comprehension of the universe through the use of his telescope and his universal gravitation theory.
The original telescope constructed by Newton is preserved and maintained by the Royal Society of London. It is showcased in London and occasionally embarks on international tours as an element of exhibitions.
1. What do we know about Newton’s reflecting telescope?| A．It has a complex structure. |
| B．It relies on mirrors instead of lenses. |
| C．It can make the image smaller than a refractor. |
| D．It helped Newton uncover novel astronomical phenomena. |
| A．Confused. | B．Twisted. | C．Evident. | D．Vivid. |
| A．Issues with image quality. | B．Restrictions on the size. |
| C．Challenges of lens making. | D．Limits of light passing angles. |
| A．To state a fact. | B．To raise a point. |
| C．To explain a concept. | D．To make a comparison. |
I’m Franklin G. Takata, better known as “Find-It Frankie” due to my exceptional tracking abilities. I will say that there’s nothing out there I can’t find. I am fortunate to have a loyal and skilled partner, Munchy, by my side. He was selected especially for me from an animal shelter by my parents on the occasion of my fifth birthday.
One Thursday afternoon, Munchy and I were playing in the garden when Mom revealed that her cherished diamond ring had disappeared, entrusting us with the task of locating it. Had I known how tricky the case would be, I might have thought twice. But I said then as I’d say today, “I assure you that there’s nothing we can’t locate”
Whenever an item disappears, my initial inquiry to Mom is, “Do you recall the last place you saw it?” “I was occupied making cookies in the kitchen,” Mom replied, “when I removed my ring and set it on the counter. However, after taking a call from your aunt, I returned to discover the ring missing!” “Hmm. Well, it couldn’t have disappeared all by itself,” I said. “Munchy, let’s go take a closer look.” Munchy led the way to the kitchen.
The counter bore no indication of the ring’s whereabouts(下落); however, the flour betrayed faint paw prints, which pointed toward the criminal’s identity. “The cat” I said. “Mr. Jingles must have been playing with the ring, causing it to drop to the ground!” Crawling on the floor, I searched high and low for the ring. My efforts were in vain.
注意: 1. 续写词数应为150左右;2. 请按如下格式在答题卷的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: “Munchy, you’re up! Go find Mr. Jingles.”
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Paragraph 2: I was about to give up when I took a bite of the warm cookie Mom handed me.
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On Thursday, the National Cultural Heritage Administration in Beijing
The latest underwater archaeological
The Ming Dynasty’s No.1 shipwreck,
