1 . Scotland’s landscapes, history, and culture offer a great variety of experiences. This summer, join our unique ranger programs to discover Scotland like never before!

Young Clan’s Highland Games (June 4 to August 22)

A delightful experience for children! Test their skills in traditional Scottish games and compare their abilities to the historical legends of Scotland. No prior experience needed. Fun and educational, this program is flexible to fit your schedule. Meet at the Highland Folk Museum.

Wild Highlands Exploration (May 25 to September 3)

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Perfect for families, this program offers guided hikes through scenic trails, wildlife spotting, and camping adventures. Learn about Scotland’s native wildlife and how to responsibly enjoy the natural environment. Gather at the Glencoe Visitor Centre.

Loch Ness Legends and Lore (June 8 to September 3)

At the world-famous Loch Ness, this program combines breathtaking views with captivating stories about the Loch’s history and the mysterious Nessie. Ideal for families and photography enthusiasts. Meet at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition for this engaging talk.

Photography Workshops in the Isles (June 18 & July 11)

Enhance your photography skills in Scotland’s picturesque landscapes. Join our expert photographers for hands-on workshops.

6/18—Isle of Skye Sceneries: meet at the Old Man of Storr parking area.

7/11—Capturing the Aurora: meet at the Shetland Isles Observatory.

1. What do we know about Young Clan’s Highland Games?

A．It combines education and pleasure.	B．It requires previous experience.
C．It offers scenic views.	D．It tests athletic skills.

2. What do Wild Highlands Exploration and Loch Ness Legends and Lore have in common?

A．Offering guided hikes.	B．Enhancing photography skills.
C．Being most suitable for families.	D．Learning about traditional Scottish games.

3. What is the main purpose of the Scotland’s programs?

A．To offer a variety of sport activities.	B．To provide natural and cultural experiences.
C．To focus on historical landmarks.	D．To teach about wildlife conservation.

2 . Have you ever fallen asleep in class? There’s no need to be ashamed about dozing off in class. Studies have shown that people can only stay completely focused on something for a maximum of 10 minutes.     1    . This results in poor academic performance. In this article, you’ll discover 4simple strategies to feel energized and awake while in class.

Sleep the night before your class.

Students who doze in class often missed sleep the night before.     2    . Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and allow yourself time to relax before heading to bed by putting away your phone, homework, and other things that keep your mind active.

    3    .

Most people have experienced the well-known “food coma” after eating a large meal, which results in a feeling of heaviness that drains your energy. This is particularly true if you eat certain foods, such as a meal that is high in carbohydrates.

Drink plenty of water, and bring some to class too.

Your blood concentration thickens due to a lack of fluid, resulting in the reduction of plasma (血浆) in the blood, which in turn makes your heart work harder to supply oxygen and nutrients to the body. Increase your water intake by consciously taking sips of water throughout the day.     4    .

Take notes.

Keep your attention on what’s going on in class by taking notes as the teacher gives the lecture. Taking notes is an effective way to stay awake in class.     5     Your brain will be engaged in class if you write down what is being said.

A．Avoid eating a large meal before class.

B．Consume less carbohydrates.

C．It forces you to maintain activity in your mind.

D．Unfortunately, many class instructors are totally unaware to this learning process.

E．Furthermore, prevent dehydration (脱水) and make sure you’re bringing water with you to class.

F．Getting enough sleep is your first line of defense for staying awake in class.

G．It’s necessary to make the full use of class time to improve academic performance.

3 . As awareness of climate change grows, so does the desire to do something about it. But the scale of the problems it causes—from wildfires to melting glaciers to droughts—can seem utterly overwhelming. It can be hard to make a connection between our everyday lives and the survival of polar bears, let alone how we as individuals can help turn the situation around.

One way to gain a quantifiable understanding of the impacts of our actions, for good and bad, is through what is known as a carbon footprint. But while the concept is gaining traction, it is not always fully understood. According to Mike Berners-Lee, a professor at Lancaster University in the UK and author of The Carbon Footprint of Everything, it is “the sum total of all the greenhouse gas emissions that had to take place in order for a product to be produced or for an activity to take place.”

What steps a person can take to reduce their personal footprint the most of course depends on the kind of lifestyle they presently live, and the same actions are not equally effective for everyone. Berners-Lee notes that, “for some people, flying may be 10 percent of their footprint, for some people it’s zero, and for some it’s such a huge number that it should be the only thing they should be thinking about.”

It isn’t easy to calculate a carbon footprint and it has been claimed that the earliest such calculator appeared in 2004 as part of the “Beyond Petroleum” campaign of oil giant BP—a fact that causes some observers to criticize the pressure to reduce personal carbon footprints as a “sham” to “promote the slant that climate change is not the fault of an oil giant, but that of individuals.”

“I would say personal carbon footprint calculators are a useful tool to assess the impact of your immediate actions.” Berners-Lee says. “But what’s much more important than your personal carbon footprint is your climate shadow, which aims to paint a picture of the full sum of one’s choices and the impact they have on the planet. For example, how you vote, where you work, how you invest your money, and how much you talk about climate change.

1. What does the underlined word “traction” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．attention

B．insight

C．control

D．power

2. How does Berners-Lee explain his opinion according to paragraph 3?

A．By presenting a fact	B．By making a comparison
C．By clarifying a concept	D．By giving suggestions

3. What is the observers’ attitude to the “Beyond Petroleum” campaign of oil giant BP?

A．unclear

B．favorable

C．indifferent

D．disapproving

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Tools are more important than choices.	B．Only individuals are responsible for climate change.
C．Climate shadow covers a broad range of actions.	D．Calculating carbon footprint is the most effective.

4 . In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn’t a real library, of course, it was just a small room dominated by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of book — hardback books of many colors — surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.

But in the 1970s, I’m noticing a worrying trend: a move away from books. American homes might soon lack dedicated spaces for libraries, and hardcover books, once symbols of enduring thought and wisdom, may become endangered.

A friend who owns a bookstore in a college town tells me he struggles to sell hardback books; paperbacks, though easier to sell, still disappoint him. Students, once seen with books, now carry music records. Reading seems to be giving way to listening. Recent observations support this shift: the University of Illinois reported that a significant portion of freshmen have reading skills no better than an average eighth grader, with many of these students having been top performers in high school.

University professors note that even college graduates struggle with reading and writing. The cultural impact of this change is evident. A successful fiction book might sell a mere 3,000 copies, while a music album by a new band, Boston, has sold millions. This reflects our passive consumption era, where listening to music or watching shows requires little active engagement, unlike reading a book, which demands effort and intent.

In the past, reading was a fundamental part of life, but now, in the era of fast information access, books are losing their significant place. Today’s young Americans are more likely to read a disposable paperback than to cherish and reread a hardcover. In a society that values speed and convenience, the book for keeping and rereading is a weighty dinosaur.

1. What trend in the 1970s does the author find concerning?

A．The rise of paperback books.	B．The increase in television watching.
C．The struggle to sell hardback books.	D．The decline in book reading and interest in libraries.

2. What impact does the shift away from books have on college students?

A．They may have difficulty in reading and writing.	B．They read more hardbacks than paperbacks.
C．They are buying more books than music records.	D．They are more likely to engage in demanding work.

3. According to the author, what is the book for keeping and rereading viewed as today?

A．A valuable resource.	B．A popular trend.
C．An outdated relic.	D．A new innovation.

4. What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A．Library: A Valuable Place	B．Books: An Endangered Species?
C．Reading Makes People Wise	D．Hardcovers Are Symbols of Wisdom

5 . As the other four players enjoy the crucial victory in an Arena Of Valor competition, they remained unaware that their teammate Lu Dong is a Paralympic _________ champion who plays with her feet.

At 32, Lu Dong has _________ a lot of medals over her 19-year swimming career. Meanwhile, she has enriched her daily life by _________ into various hobbies.

Lu _________ an interest in Arena Of Valor in 2017. _________, her appearances in internet cafes drew a lot of curious glances, which made her _________ However, it also led to generous compliments when others _________ her remarkable skills. “They praised me after watching me play so well with my feet, which gave me a sense of _________,” Lu said. Besides video games, Lu has _________ an hour daily to piano practice for the past three years and has also __________ her skills in both cooking and beauty makeup.

Losing her __________ in a childhood accident, Lu stop participating in P. E. classes to avoid __________ in her elementary school days, which made her physically and mentally __________. Luckily, she was recommended to join the provincial swimming team in 2004. She won two golds and two silvers in the youth group of the National Championship in 2005, earning a __________ in the national squad (代表队). Lu’s __________ performances in the pool caught the eye of Beijing Sports University in 2020, __________ the beginning of her college journey.

Changing from a (n) __________ girl to a national champion, Lu gained immense confidence. She no longer __________ to wear T-shirts in summer or to tuck her sleeves into her pockets in winter.

“It was swimming that __________ the girl who always talked a lot and the girl who was brave enough to __________ the fixed image of the disabled.” Lu said.

1.

A．swimming

B．running

C．dancing

D．singing

2.

A．accounted

B．accommodated

C．accomplished

D．accumulated

3.

A．looking

B．diving

C．leaping

D．bumping

4.

A．developed

B．created

C．made

D．built

5.

A．Eventually

B．Formally

C．Initially

D．Firstly

6.

A．confident

B．comfortable

C．uneasy

D．annoyed

7.

A．approved

B．witnessed

C．learned

D．practiced

8.

A．responsibility

B．belonging

C．identity

D．achievement

9.

A．dedicated

B．lasted

C．waited

D．offered

10.

A．found

B．kept

C．required

D．showcased

11.

A．hands

B．arms

C．legs

D．feet

12.

A．wounds

B．damage

C．injuries

D．loss

13.

A．vulnerable

B．capable

C．strong

D．tired

14.

A．degree

B．living

C．position

D．point

15.

A．unique

B．ordinary

C．typical

D．exceptional

16.

A．changing

B．marking

C．following

D．proving

17.

A．uncommunicative

B．unambitious

C．selfish

D．impatient

18.

A．managed

B．attempted

C．expected

D．hesitated

19.

A．found out

B．brought back

C．waken up

D．taken away

20.

A．understand

B．accept

C．challenge

D．shape

6 . 文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及-一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号( Ʌ )，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Last week, I participated the School Art Festival. Our school band was invited to put on a performance at the open ceremony. As a member of the band, I practiced hard but made full preparations for it. Unfortunate, there was something wrong with our equipments before the show began. With the help of our music teacher, we deal with the problem successfully and completed the performance, that made us receive loud applause from the audience. After their performance, I watched other performances. I was impressed by the talents of my fellow students and had a great fun. I felt proud to be part of this Art Festival and grateful to have so wonderful classmates.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个恰当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Tea is an important part of Chinese traditions. Chinese tea has enjoyed a history of more than 4000 years. Green tea and black tea are familiar     1    many people, but there’s more. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)     2    (recent) released a document from Chinese experts classifying tea into six types. The basic tea types are black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, dark tea and yellow tea, according to the new standard     3    (establish) by Anhui Agricultural University in Hefei, Anhui province.

The standardization work was led by Wan Xiaochun, professor and director of the State key laboratory of tea plant biology and utilization at the university. For the new standard, Wan     4    (cooperate) with 31 experts from other countries since 2008. Chen Chuan, a pioneer in tea science, put forward the classification standard as early as in 1979. It has been widely adopted     5    had not become an international standard until March, when the document was released, Wan said during     6     news conference.

    7     (process) fresh tea leaves is the most important step of tea production. The six tea types can be further processed or reprocessed to create     8    (product) such as scented tea (花茶) and instant tea, the ISO document said. The classification will allow consumers, world tea traders and governments     9    (have) a clear understanding of the different type of tea through their advanced techniques, which have a significant     10     (affect) on Chinese tea industry.

8 . Years ago Paul was living his best life, conducting tours in his native Zimbabwe. But his life changed after he_______ to lead an adventure down the Zambezi River.

Leading six clients and three other_______ down the river in three canoes (独木舟), Paul felt _______ because he knew the area well. Everything went well until they_______a school of hippos (河马)._______that they were at a safe distance, Paul_______ to just paddle (用桨划) around them.

The canoe_______ by guide Evans, however, was somehow knocked off course. Suddenly, there was a big _______. A male hippo had charged at Evans’s canoe and Evans was thrown into the water. The current was _______ Evans toward a mama hippo and her young 150 meters away. The situation was quite ________ because hippos are very territorial and might attack any animal________their territory.

Paul turned his canoe around to reach Evans ________ the other guides managed to get the clients to safety on a rock that hippos couldn't climb. The moment their fingers almost________, Paul was up to his waist down a hippo’s ________.

The hippo threw him out of its mouth soon but wouldn’t________ its attack. By the time others came to his________, Paul had been________   injured. After waking up ten hours later in a hospital,he realized that his left arm was gone. The only news that gave him some________ was that Evans survived, too.

Not long after his ________, Paul returned to the river in a canoe with a custom made single paddle. “Focus on what’s possible, not what we’ve ________,” Paul says.

1.

A．expected

B．forgot

C．hesitated

D．agreed

2.

A．writers

B．guides

C．reporters

D．actors

3.

A．anxious

B．guilty

C．confident

D．curious

4.

A．carried off

B．looked over

C．searched for

D．came across

5.

A．Assuming

B．Doubting

C．Admitting

D．Fearing

6.

A．pretended

B．decided

C．failed

D．used

7.

A．piloted

B．witnessed

C．recommended

D．recognized.

8.

A．mistake

B．improvement

C．noise

D．influence

9.

A．surrounding

B．assisting

C．attracting

D．washing

10.

A．confusing

B．critical

C．embarrassing

D．unique

11.

A．entering

B．marking

C．protecting

D．observing

12.

A．until

B．if

C．while

D．although

13.

A．froze

B．touched

C．bled

D．bent

14.

A．back

B．nose

C．throat

D．tail

15.

A．launch

B．increase

C．stand

D．stop

16.

A．rescue

B．senses

C．attention

D．conclusions

17.

A．seriously

B．frequently

C．mentally

D．commonly

18.

A．sorrow

B．amusement

C．relief

D．trouble

19.

A．arrival

B．recovery

C．retirement

D．escape

20.

A．created

B．hidden

C．abandoned

D．lost

9 . Unlike some other academic skills, the ability to write well is something that follows you from elementary school all throughout your life, particularly if you work in an office environment — so it’s no wonder there’s such an emphasis on it in school! Whether you’re still in school now, or want to refresh your skills as an adult, it’s never too late to improve your writing.     1    

Read (a lot)!

This might be surprising, but the first step toward developing writing skills is not to write, but to read!     2     Reading a lot will also help you recognize what sounds good on paper and, in turn, will help you follow a similar model in your own writing. And it goes without saying that reading good writers will expose you to correct grammar and spelling, as well as a larger vocabulary.

Write everyday.

The old saying stands true: practice makes perfect. When you want to get better at something, there’s just no substitute for doing it, and doing it consistently.     3     You may not feel like you are developing writing skills from day to day, since progress can be very gradual, but trust us, you’re getting better with each day, week, and month of practice!

    4    

This tip is another one that might seem unexpected, but it is important.     5     When you read your writing out loud, you may notice if it’s choppy (不连贯的), incomplete, or repetitive — things you may not always notice when you’re busy typing or writing away.

A．The same goes for writing!

B．Read works of various writing styles.

C．Read your writing out loud to yourself.

D．Here are some key strategies to be carried out into your regular routine.

E．Some are born with natural writing talent and others need extra practice.

F．Writing that is good on paper should also sound good to the reader’s ears.

G．Reading classics will open your eyes and mind to examples of good writing.

10 . AI, or artificial intelligence, has become increasingly popular in everyday life. Programmers code and “train” computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual recognition, artificial speech, and problem solving. AI algorithms (人工智能算法) work behind the scenes to customize ads and content online, and natural language processors interact and respond with users in a conversational manner. AI chatbots are now widely available and can be used for a variety of purposes .

One example of an AI that may help protect individuals is “Take It Down”, a program developed by Meta to help teenagers remove unauthorized photos from the internet. While there are concerns about AI programs collecting data and invading privacy, AI automation can save time and improve efficiency in many areas, including this task that would otherwise take hours to perform manually.

The current generation of AI chatbots still face limitations in fully simulating human emotions and attending to subtle variations of language cues in human conversations. The problems result from AI developers’ preference of language choices. They must continue to work on improving AI processing and linguistics for a more humanized approach.

AI may also change how we approach education and tutoring. AI tutoring programs and AI-assisted mental health services could provide 24/7 accessibility for students and personalized assessments for academic, behavioral, and mental health issues. However, concerns remain over the potential misuse of AI technology for cheating and plagiarism in academic settings.

Despite concerns about privacy and the sci-fi idea of AI robots taking over, AI will continue to open up new discoveries in all aspects of life. This technology carries both risks and benefits, but if used with care, it can bring positive developments while avoiding risks to livelihoods and privacy.

1. What is the main purpose of “Take It Down”?

A．To perform tasks automatically.	B．To protect individuals’ privacy.
C．To improve work efficiency.	D．To collect personal information.

2. AI technology can do the following EXCEPT

A．providing mental health services.	B．customizing ads and content online.
C．fully simulating human emotions.	D．assessing academic achievements.

3. What does the underlined word “plagiarism” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Writing.

B．Copying.

C．Improving.

D．Protecting.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the popularization of artificial intelligence?

A．Neutral.

B．Tolerant.

C．Negative.

D．Favorable.