1 . I had spent some time in the morning talking to my granddaughter about being “generous”. She had a lot of chocolates. I asked her if she had thought about how she was going to ________ her good fortune with her sister? “No!” she said.

That’s why I ________ her to share, and why it’s good to be generous. Not sure if she was convinced, we then ________ out on the town, in Sydney. I wanted to show her Chinatown and shop at the markets.

After shopping I took her to a ________. She is a fussy (挑剔的) eater. She was having a good time and even tried some new ________ while I taught her how to ________ chopsticks.

I noticed a man sitting near me having lunch. Then he got up to ________ and upon leaving he paid for our ________. The shop owner checked with us if that was OK. I was so ________. Then he was gone before I really had ________ to thank him. My 9-year-old granddaughter was really ________ by this. We were then also gifted dessert by our waitress. Good ________ came in pairs.

Upon leaving I ________ them $5. Then I said to my granddaughter “we don’t really need a ________ lunch, do we? So now we have to pay our good fortune forward to someone else.” She got money ________ and was looking for a homeless person.

1.

A．discuss

B．argue

C．share

D．play

2.

A．warned

B．encouraged

C．ordered

D．forced

3.

A．wiped

B．watched

C．set

D．headed

4.

A．restaurant

B．cinema

C．shop

D．theatre

5.

A．drinks

B．tastes

C．cakes

D．tables

6.

A．use

B．choose

C．enjoy

D．recognize

7.

A．hide

B．escape

C．explain

D．leave

8.

A．room

B．meal

C．goods

D．taxi

9.

A．moved

B．confused

C．annoyed

D．stressed

10.

A．money

B．excuse

C．time

D．permission

11.

A．frightened

B．puzzled

C．touched

D．embarrassed

12.

A．chances

B．things

C．services

D．customers

13.

A．tipped

B．owed

C．showed

D．borrowed

14.

A．delicious

B．cheap

C．rich

D．free

15.

A．exactly

B．absolutely

C．shily

D．immediately

2 . It was late July and except for a few thin, white clouds the sky was a bright blue. The sun was ________ on the green grass giving it a golden colour. Birds were ________ flying to and from their homes feeding their ________ growing babies. The air was full of the smell of freshly-cut grass and the sweet smell of ________. In the field behind my house, I could see sheep ________ grass by the edge of the woods.

Our black cat, Alice was sleeping under the shade (阴凉) of our Maple tree, without noticing the little rabbit that was ________ along in the field behind my home. I could see the trees, flowers, and plants along the side of the ________. All of this beauty was here for me just as I ________ outside. Filled with all this, my heart felt so ________. I breathed in the sweet, cool, morning air and walked without ________ in the grass, experiencing nature. I knew that a heat wave was on the way so I wanted to enjoy the comfort of the morning and ________ all of these wonderful gifts of nature creation.

Just then a lovely, yellow butterfly flew down and ________ on a flower right in front of me. It beat its ________ and I smiled. It flew up, circled my face and then was blown away by the gentle ________. A peace filled me as I received the message of nature. And I ________ nature for this beautiful day, this beautiful world, and this beautiful life.

1.

A．appearing

B．moving

C．shining

D．burning

2.

A．easy

B．busy

C．happy

D．difficult

3.

A．entirely

B．actually

C．definitely

D．rapidly

4.

A．flowers

B．vegetables

C．plants

D．trees

5.

A．touching

B．eating

C．searching

D．smelling

6.

A．jumping

B．warning

C．fighting

D．looking

7.

A．house

B．village

C．farm

D．road

8.

A．worked

B．stepped

C．relaxed

D．played

9.

A．weak

B．sad

C．full

D．calm

10.

A．shoes

B．words

C．question

D．doubt

11.

A．take in

B．sweep away

C．hand out

D．give up

12.

A．hunted

B．walked

C．rushed

D．landed

13.

A．legs

B．wings

C．back

D．head

14.

A．water

B．power

C．wind

D．sound

15.

A．improved

B．protected

C．praised

D．thanked

3 . Online Event: How to be a human

Venue

Online event | Thursday, 8 September 2024 | 18.00-19.00 BST

Humans are strange creatures. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of eight, Camilla created her own handbook for understanding humans.

Camilla Pang, biologist and author

Camilla Pang is the author of the book Explaining Humans, a memoir (自传) that uses scientific principles to understand human behaviour through the lens (视角) of someone who has autism and ADHD. Her latest book Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You is a scientific guide to growing up for children, published in March 2022.

What’s included in your ticket:

※Live lecture lasting 60 minutes including Q&A with Camilla Pang

※On-demand access to a recording of the lecture and Q&. A for 12 months

※Extra content from New Scientist

Being Human (Series tickets available)

About the series: What makes us human? What skills and concepts do humans have that separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom? And how did they arise? The “Being human” series from New Scientist will explore the beginnings of all the things that make us human, over the course of four virtual events. The series will feature the following talks:

※Origin of love: Anna Machin | 5th May 2024 (now available on-demand)

※The dawn of language: Sverker Johansson | 9th June 2024

※The evolution of childhood: Brenna Hassett | 7th July 2024

※How to be a human: Dr Camilla Pang|8th September 2024

Save 20% off the standard ticket price by purchasing all 4 live online “Being Human” lectures (also available on-demand) or purchase single tickets for £25 per lecture(early booking rate), to hear from the finest minds in science in 2024.

1. What can you do when you attend the online lecture?

A．Take exams to test your knowledge.	B．Communicate with the speaker.
C．Make friends with other students.	D．Ask for a book written by the speaker.

2. Who would interest you if you like the origin of language?

A．Anna Machin.	B．Brenna Hassett.
C．Dr Camilla Pang.	D．Sverker Johansson.

3. How much do you pay if you buy all 4 live online lectures?

A．￡20.

B．£50.

C．￡80.

D．￡100.

4 . 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。

Body language is an important part of     1     (communicate). If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you can use your body to say what you mean.

Different culture usually makes different body language. Chinese often greet others with a firm handshake, but Americans like a loving hug instead. Russians like to kiss on their     2     (friend) cheek. Some body language also have     3     same meaning in different countries     4     we speak different languages. Smiling is one of them. Take care     5     your body language, then you may make a good impression.

Body language     6     (use) by people for sending messages to one another. It is very useful because it can help you make yourself easily     7     (understand). When you are talking with others, you are not just using words, but also using expressions and gestures. For example, waving one hand     8     (be) to say “Good-bye.” A smile and handshake show welcome, and     9     (clap) hands means congratulations. Nodding the head means agreement, but shaking the head means disagreement. The gestures are accepted both by Chinese and foreigners as having the same meanings.

When you use a foreign language, it is very important to know the meanings of     10     (gesture) and movements in the foreign country.

5 . Reasons to Put on Your Rollerblades and Hit the Pavement

Rollerblading (旱冰) is great for building balance, strengthening muscles, and improving mental health. It’s also a cheap, fun, and eco-friendly way to get your daily exercise in.

It’s fun

We all know that we should be exercising several times a week, and picking a workout that is fun naturally motivates us to get up and get going.     1     The top benefit of rollerblading is exercise in ways that are fun, soul-filling, and mental health-improving.

It’s cheap

Rollerblading is also a great exercise choice because it costs very little.     2     There’s no need to pay for a monthly gym membership or expensive equipment. Rollerblades cost a lot less than a bike.

It’s eco-friendly

    3     Rollerblading is much faster than walking and can take you up to ten miles. Maybe that’s why some Viennese citizens are choosing to use this sustainable (可持续的) activity for their means of transportation.

Skater and climate activist, Gerhard Ladstatte explains why he started Friday Night Skating, a free street skating event. “We want to move without burning fuel.” People looking for an oil-free way to get to a workplace that isn’t too far from home, while combining daily exercise into their routine, can consider rollerblading to work.     4    

It’s good for your mental health

Like any form of aerobic exercise, skating is associated with a number of wellness benefits.     5     By fixing your attention on both the body and its surroundings, you can shift focus away from negative thought patterns and anxieties. Rollerblading can also increase self-confidence and positive feelings.

A．In other words, rollerblading has it all.

B．Exercise and fresh air can reduce stress.

C．Not only is skating cheap, it also benefits nature.

D．All you need is a pair of skates and some safety equipment.

E．Rollerblading is an exciting way to get in fresh air and exercise.

F．It’s easy to see why so many people are discovering the joys of skating.

G．Unlike a bicycle, you don’t need to find a place to store your skates while you work.

6 . Along the streets of Malabon in the Philippines, Marilene Capentes pushes a cart every morning except Sundays. The city of Malabon is just north of the capital, Manila.

Capentes is a waste picker. She collects bags of separated garbage, placing food waste in one container. This material will be turned into compost (堆肥) at the local recycling center. The rest of the waste goes into separate containers. The recyclable materials are later sold.

Capentes said the heavy rubbish used to be all mixed together. Then a few years ago, a local environmental nonprofit (非盈利机构) started asking people to separate their rubbish.

The Mother Earth Foundation in the Philippines is a member of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, called GAIA. The organization wants to avert food waste from going to landfills. Food waste gives off biogas (沼气) as it breaks down. Biogas is a powerful greenhouse gas.

At a material recycling center in Malabon, organic (有机的) waste collected from households is turned into compost. This material then goes into a community garden to grow vegetables. Some of the food waste is broken down into biogas. This biogas is then used to cook vegetables for waste workers to eat.

There are challenges in establishing these systems in new places. It costs money to set up a facility for composting. People, including local officials, have to be educated on the importance of separating waste. Containers have to be provided to families that cannot buy more than one.

And sometimes separating organic waste is not thought to be important. Also, unlike recyclables and metals, there is not a large market for organic materials. Therefore, waste workers must be paid for the system to work. But these problems can be solved. More people are making the connection between reducing biogas and fighting climate change.

1. Why is food waste separated from other waste?

A．To sell it for money.	B．To cook vegetables.
C．To feed it to animals.	D．To turn it into plant food.

2. What does the underlined word “avert” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Remove.

B．Prevent.

C．Select.

D．Protect.

3. What does the author intend to tell in paragraph 6?

A．Difficulties to build the new systems.	B．Importance of building the new systems.
C．Conditions required for the new systems.	D．Arguments over building the new systems.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards separating organic waste?

A．Critical.

B．Grateful.

C．Optimistic.

D．Doubtful.

7 . At the school Art Festival, I was asked to design the costumes for three school plays. Everyone was________to see the actors wear my costumes on stage. This experience has made me realize that I am really good at____and have a talent for fashion design, which has inspired me to________fashion design as my job. That way, I can____work with my interests and strengths. To find out how to_____the field of fashion design, I did some____about what kind of education and skills I might need. I________that many premier fashion designers studied at fashion design institutes in London, Paris or Milan. I also keep a(n)________on job ads for the fashion industry to see what abilities or _____designers should have.

After much thought, I decided to________these skills and get the right qualifications by studying art at university. While I am there, I would like to work part-time for a fashion design company in order to________from other designers. Actually, I don’t have to wait until I go to university to swing into________as there will be a workshop in my city next month which I am hoping to________

After graduation, I will____a job as a fashion designer. One day, I hope to start my own________company.

1.

A．determined

B．amazed

C．awkward

D．expected

2.

A．drawing

B．acting

C．sculpture

D．communication

3.

A．challenge

B．admire

C．pursue

D．aid

4.

A．provide

B．compare

C．create

D．combine

5.

A．get into

B．get through

C．get over

D．get from

6.

A．training

B．research

C．quiz

D．schedule

7.

A．checked

B．persuaded

C．recognized

D．forecasted

8.

A．head

B．eye

C．back

D．foot

9.

A．flexibility

B．standards

C．drawbacks

D．qualities

10.

A．apply

B．demonstrate

C．improve

D．acquire

11.

A．learn

B．result

C．benefit

D．obtain

12.

A．motion

B．action

C．position

D．operation

13.

A．attend

B．equip

C．design

D．organize

14.

A．conduct

B．submit

C．land

D．perform

15.

A．accounting

B．consulting

C．cleaning

D．clothing

8 . Humanities departments(人文院系)in America are once again being cut down. Earlier this month, the State University of New York(SUNY)StonyBrook announced a plan to abandon several of the college’s well-known departments for lack of fund. The University of Pittsburgh has cut its German and classics.     1    In the UK, Middlesex University decided to gradually get rid of philosophy department. In June 2015, the Japanese minister of education sent a letter to the presidents of the national universities of Japan, suggesting they close their graduate and undergraduate departments in the humanities and social sciences and focus on something more practical.

These are hard times. Instead of Shakespeare or French, there will be(perhaps there already are)college classes in how to cut corporate spending.     2    But the only opportunity has been lost if they are denied the opportunity to study foreign languages, the classics, literature, philosophy, music, theater and art in the university. When else in their busy lives will they get that chance?

    3    . Essays explain why we need these subjects, and what their loss will mean. These areas of learning provide us with the ability to think critically and independently; to see both sides of an issue;to look beneath the surface of what we are being told; to appreciate the ways in which language can help us understand one another more clearly.

I don’t believe that the humanities can make you a decent person.     4    . Studying philosophy teaches us about those who have gone before us. A foreign language brings us closer to those with whom we share the planet. The humanities touch those aspects of awareness that we call intellect and heart.     5    

A．These subjects are under attack

B．Students need practical skills to find jobs

C．Defenses of the humanities have appeared

D．This problem has also arisen internationally

E．Therefore, courses in the humanities are beneficial

F．It helps us learn how to think and live in a harmonious society

G．But they can expand our sense of what humans can accomplish and create

9 . It’s well-known that humor can benefit us both physically and mentally. The idea that laughter is the best medicine has been around since ancient times. In his 1905 book, Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, Sigmund Freud argued that humor is the highest of the psyche’s defense mechanism (机制), capable of turning anxiety into pleasure.

There are four humor styles. Affiliative humor refers to jokes about things that might be commonly considered funny, which is usually employed to improve relationships or make others laugh. If you’ve ever shared a funny picture with a coworker, you’ve used affiliative humor. Self-enhancing humor involves being able to laugh at yourself, often used as a way for you to deal with stress or difficulties and feel better as a result. Aggressive humor is laughing at the expense of others, which often involves sarcasm (讽刺), teasing, and criticism. Self-defeating humor is the art of putting yourself down to gain favor from your peers, which is possibly used by someone who’s targeted by bullies.

Each style of humor actually carries a different influence, when it comes to mental health. Julie Aitken Schermer, a psychological researcher at The University of Western Ontario, says people using self-enhancing humor are less likely to show signs of loneliness and poor relationships with others. By contrast, both aggressive and self-defeating humor styles can hint at trouble. “We find that self-defeating humor is the most concerning style as it is also linked with loneliness and feelings of not mattering. Those with an aggressive humor style may not experience loneliness as much, however, since they rely on group dynamics (群体动力) in order to make fun of their peers,” says Schermer.

Even if you tend to favor more negative humor styles, there’s no reason to lose heart. Schermer says people can develop a positive, self-enhancing humor style by concentrating on the lighter and more humorous aspects of life. As author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “Laughter and tears are both responses to worries and anxieties. I prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”

1. Why is Sigmund Freud’s book mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To show the importance of mental health.	B．To stress the role of humor.
C．To persuade people to stay positive.	D．To introduce ancient jokes to us.

2. According to the text, which kind of humor may you use to relieve pressure?

A．Affiliative humor.	B．Self-enhancing humor.
C．Aggressive humor.	D．Self-defeating humor.

3. What does the underlined phrase “hint at” probably mean in the third paragraph?

A．Signal.

B．Explain.

C．Prevent.

D．Solve.

4. Which of the following will Kurt Vonnegut probably agree with?

A．Humor is difficult to control.	B．Crying is a good way of relief.
C．Humor is a double-edged sword.	D．Laughter is the best cure for stress.

10 . Let’s face it: Life is hard. But it doesn’t have to be, especially if you have the following products. From a workout mirror to a water purifier, your day today routine is about to get a lot easier.

Tempo Move

$495 SHOP. TEMPO. FIT

Tempo makes exercise truly convenient from your own home. You may recognize it as one of the many workout mirrors on the market, but the new tempo move system allows you to easily connect your phone and their apps to a TV, and follow along with all their wonderful classes.

VIVE Flow

$499 AT VIVE. COM

Vive goggles will bring an extremely accessible and refreshing approach to the VR world. The Vive goggles are, well, a pair of goggles not unlike something you’d wear to snowboard. They’re extremely lightweight with a lightning fast set-up that’s suitable for things like watching Netflix, or meditation (冥想). It’s the calmest headset I’ve ever worn and uses cameras to let you control everything with just your hands.

Hisense 75”U 80X0GR 8K ULED Roku TV

$1, 800 AT BEST BUY

8K sounded like a luxury, but now that brands like Hisense, which focus on a more affordable version, have got some time with the tech. You can finally bring the deep color output and astonishing detail into your living room. Calling it “afordable“ may be a little overstate, but compared to most 8K TVs which all run over $5, 000, it’s the most cost-efficient version of the tech we’ve got.

LARQ Water Purifier

$139 AT LIVELARQ. COM

Larq just made your water cleaner with light technology. The best part is that it somehow manages to taste clean and fresh too. And while I thought it may be a trick, I’ve forced friends, family, and strangers to compare, and they all agree. Even if you don’t care about clean water, you’ll care about that, right?

1. What can be inferred about Vive Goggles?

A．They are user-friendly.	B．They help keep track of weight.
C．They are intended for snowboarders.	D．They can control everything.

2. What is special about Hisense 8K TV?

A．Its look is luxurious.

B．Its tech is advanced.

C．It is economical.

D．It features deep color.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A consumer review.	B．A science report.
C．An online advertisement.	D．A product introduction.