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4 . How satisfied are you with your life? How good do you feel every day? Your answers to those two questions can show how happy you are.
It’s true that your happiness is partly affected by your genes.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has different talents and abilities. It’s OK that you’re not like someone else. Comparison has been called “the thief of joy”. In addition, forgive yourself often.
Spending time with people you love and that love you is necessary for building strong connections and developing a sense of belonging. By devoting time and attention to those who matter most to you, you can create lasting memories, deepen understanding, and strengthen bonds with each other happily.
Get outside for exercise.Nature helps to reduce stress. Exercise and put your health in the first place.
Stay aware of recent events. But don’t spend hours consuming news, which usually includes negative stories and events.
Since happiness is a choice, why not choose it? Life will look brighter filled with love and joy!
| A．You are not perfect. |
| B．Invest in your relationships. |
| C．Determine happiness through actions. |
| D．You could perhaps lead a happier life and feel more satisfied. |
| E．But even if you’re not usually a happy person, you can change that. |
| F．People who get up and move are usually happier than those who don’t. |
| G．The Internet is full of people who look beautiful and seem to lead exciting lives. |
5 . Macquarie Island is a tiny island that’s part of Australia. It’s about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. The island’s been made a world heritage area because it’s so untouched, but this unique environment is under threat from some unwanted visitors.
It all started when seal hunters came to the island in the early 1800s. They brought rabbits with them as a source of food for the journey, and also on board the ships were rats and mice, which made their way onto the island too. They’re being blamed for destroying the homes of marine birds, causing soil loss and ripping up plant cover, as these before-and-after photos show.
So what’s being done about the problem? It starts with a team of helicopters that fly across the island carrying these giant containers. Inside them are poisoned pellets (有毒饲料) which are dropped and spread across the island. For any rabbits that survived the baiting (诱饵) , there’s a plan B. This special team of dogs is being put through a final training. It’ll be their job to track down any remaining rabbits. They have to also learn to behave around the island’s native wildlife. The dogs could be here for years or until the task is complete. The dogs don’t actually kill the rabbits. They find them, then the hunters decide to either catch the rabbits or shoot them.
But the program has received a bit of criticism. Some people argue 25 million dollars is a lot of money to be spending on wiping out rabbits and rodents (啮齿目动物), and in the process, some native birds will be killed because of the baiting.
The reality is the problem isn’t going to be solved overnight. The people running the program say that even if one pair of rabbits is left alive, the whole task will be seen as a failure, which means these guys could be here for a long time, trying to ensure that this precious island remains protected from pests.
1. Who are these unwanted visitors?| A．Seal hunters. | B．Marine wildlife. | C．Native birds. | D．Foreign species. |
| A．Advancing. | B．Destroying. | C．Dividing | D．Balancing |
| A．Poisoned pellets are being dropped on the island from helicopters. |
| B．A team of hunters is being trained to catch or shoot rabbits. |
| C．Native birds are being protected from the unwanted visitors. |
| D．A special team of dogs is being sent to kill the rabbits. |
| A．To spend as little money as possible. |
| B．To protect native birds from the unwanted visitors. |
| C．To ensure that no pair of rabbits survive on the island. |
| D．To train dogs to track down the rabbits on the island. |
6 . Once upon a time, there was a small village in the center of a big forest. All the villagers were used to their robotic farm work and none of them had the imagination or the will (意愿) to try something new, except for one girl named Jo. Very few could read or write, and Jo was one of them.
One afternoon, when Jo was on one of her explorations in the forest, she came upon an abandoned cottage (废弃的小屋). Though she’d been warned to stay away from abandoned places, her curiosity got the best of her. She slid in and was amazed to find a room full of books! Jo’s excitement was huge when she realized she had found a hidden treasure.
She ran to tell the villagers everything, thinking that they would share her excitement but instead, she heard roars of laughter! Jo was confused by this reaction (反应) and a little hurt too, but she did not give up on her books.
She came to the cottage every day and got down to reading the books. For her, each page was an adventure with characters who challenged difficulties with their determination and who struggled for good. Knowing the power of stories in impressing on people the values of life, she decided to share the stories with the villagers, though she knew it would be a difficult journey. Making this her mission (使命), Jo started telling stories every day at her cottage.
In the beginning, only a few came to the readings. But word spread rapidly, causing more and more people to come, some of whom even traveled from far away to just listen to her stories. She also conducted workshops in which she taught people how to read and write. She was remembered and lived in her stories even after she was long gone.
1. What do the underlined words “got the best of” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Prevented. | B．Frightened. | C．Cheated. | D．Beat. |
| A．They already knew it. | B．They thought nothing of it. |
| C．It was related to something fun. | D．It was all Jo’s imagination. |
| A．Caring but confusing. | B．Honest and helpful. |
| C．Adventurous but careless. | D．Determined and influential. |
| A．The Discovery of a Hidden Treasure |
| B．Jo’s Journey: from Adventure to Education |
| C．The Power of Stories in Challenging Difficulties |
| D．Jo’s Adventure: Unearthing an Abandoned Cottage |
7 . My mom spent years as a stay-at-home mom so that my brothers and I could focus on our education. However, I could tell from her curiosity of and attitudes toward working women that she envied their financial freedom and the self-esteem that must come with it. When I asked her about working again, she would tell me to focus on achieving my dream. I knew she had once dreamed for herself.
For years, I watched het effortlessly light up conversations with both strangers and family. Her empathy and ability to reach the heart could make anyone laugh, even when the story itself did not apply to them at all. “Mom, have you ever thought about being a stand-up comedian?” “It is too late for me, son,” she responded, laughing at the idea. I could not bear to watch her struggle between ambition and doubt.
Her birthday was coming up. Although I had already bought her a present, I knew what I actually wanted to give her. I placed little notes of encouragement inside the present. I asked my family and her friends to do the same. Eventually I had collected 146 notes, and each with the same sentiment: “You are humorous, full of life, and ready to take on the stage.”
On the day of her birthday, my mom unwrapped my present. She was not surprised as she had hinted at it for long. But then she saw those little notes. She started to weep with her hands full of notes. She could not believe the support was real.
Within two months, my mom gave her first performance in a New York comedy club. I have read the notes countless times with my mom. They are framed and line the walls of her new office space that she rented with the profits she made from working as a professional comedian. For many parents, their children’s careers are their greatest accomplishment, but for me my mom’s is mine.
1. What was the attitude of the author’s mother to working women?| A．She was curious about their income. | B．She admired what work brought them. |
| C．She felt indifferent to working women. | D．She appreciated their ambitions in finance. |
| A．Her effort in making friends. | B．Her talent to bring people joy. |
| C．Her curiosity about working women. | D．Her desire for financial independence. |
| A．Amazed and hesitant. | B．Sad and disappointed. |
| C．Moved and encouraged. | D．Delighted and proud. |
| A．Supporting Mom’s dream. | B．Achieving his own dream. |
| C．Securing financial freedom. | D．Becoming a successful comedian. |
8 . Live music livens up beach
I’ve been to a few music festivals like Glastonbury, the UK’s biggest and most famous music festival. But I’d never been to one in China.
At the end of August, I went to the Xiami Music and Arts Festival in Aranya, Qinhuangdao. Although the main draw of the festival for me was Suede, a classic UK band, I still had a lot of fun enjoying the festival’s other aspects.
Apart from the festival’s huge stages and screens, excellent sound systems and people dancing and singing with their friends and family, there were other surprises too. This was the first festival I’d been to located on a sandy beach!
Watching live music by the ocean was incredibly relaxing. Everyone had blow-up chairs you could buy and sit on comfortably to enjoy the music. Some people even had couches! Often at music festivals, you’re left standing the whole time, but Aranya was a bit more peaceful. There were also more children and families in attendance than I’ve seen at UK festivals, and this was great to see.
As the day went on, my anticipation (期待) grew as I looked forward to seeing my familiar band, Suede, who were the headliners: While Suede put on a good show, the most enjoyable surprise came from my unexpected discovery of and subsequent (随后的) fondness for the Chinese band The Life Journey. Unlike the seasoned Suede, these young performers were clearly in their prime. They became famous after appearing on iQiyi’s The Big Band (《乐队的夏天》). Playing after the sun had gone down with bright lights coming from the stage, The Life Journey really captured my imagination with their variety of musical styles, beautiful vocals (歌唱) and positive lyrics and vibes (氛围). Even with my limited Chinese, I was still able to happily sing along.
1. What can we know about the author?| A．He has been to the largest music festival in Europe. |
| B．He went to Aranya to see his favorite Chinese band. |
| C．He had never seen Suede in person before. |
| D．He went to a Chinese music festival for the first time. |
| A．Its performers. | B．Its ticket price. | C．Its location. | D．Its popularity. |
| A．There were more families in the audience. | B．Everyone had their own chair to sit on. |
| C．People felt more relaxed and comfortable. | D．It lasted longer with more bands performing. |
| A．They interacted more with the audience. | B．Their music was emotional and unique. |
| C．He could understand their lyrics easily. | D．He was attracted by their performance. |
| A．Studying late at night. |
| B．Using up all the milk. |
| C．Leaving the milk out. |
1. Why was Misty worried about Matthew meeting Father Christmas?
| A．He was too excited. |
| B．He has health problems. |
| C．He is afraid of strangers. |
| A．That he had an accident. |
| B．That he was born too early. |
| C．That he had a terrible fever. |
| A．That Matthew had learning difficulties. |
| B．That Matthew was unable to walk. |
| C．That Matthew couldn’t talk. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Confused. | C．Excited. |
