1 . How Taking Short Vacations Can Improve Your Well-Being at Work

Without doubt, the nonstop demands of work and life can be bad for your well-being, exhausting your physical resources and cognitive capacities-and possibly resulting in adverse health and performance results.

    1     Research emphatically shows that vacations improve our physical and mental health while also boosting our performance at work. Perhaps surprisingly, they can even increase the likelihood of receiving a pay raise or promotion.

    2     In fact, nearly half of U.S. workers take less time off than their job allows, leaving an average of 9.5 days of paid time off (PTO) on the table, according to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center. And for 30 percent of employees, this unused vacation time doesn’t roll over to the next year.     3     taking mini-vacations throughout the year can improve their overall well-being. That means you can just use a long weekend to explore a new small town in your state, go camping in a national park, or do a biking tour of your local wineries.

We know that being on vacation feels good and that it’s good for us.     4     Naturally, there is the expense, and the bill involved in long trips-room, board, airfare, rail, sightseeing, everything-can be daunting.     5     The Pew survey of over 5,900 U.S. workers found that 49 percent of participants indicated they worried they might fall behind at work if they take more vacation time.

No wonder, then, that most people don’t use all their vacation time. And over half (52 percent) of U.S. employees work while on vacation.

A．If working hard is the way to earn more bread,

B．Even if many workers don’t use all their PTO,

C．Taking a real break is important for so many reasons.

D．But that doesn’t mean we always use our vacation time.

E．So why do we neglect to take all the time we’ve earned?

F．Do you know why people like to take vacations whenever possible?

G．It also turns out that taking extended time away from the office causes a lot of stress.

2 . Ugandan student’s study and adaptation of traditional Chinese craft helps build bridges through art. With its balanced, rounded pot and cups, the tea set seems like Chinese ceramic (陶瓷) at first glance. But closer inspection of its pattern reveals an ancient Ugandan design. “My projects always aim to join some aspects of Chinese and Ugandan culture together,” says the tea set’s creator, Ocen Robert.

In 2015, Robert arrived in China from the East African nation to pursue a higher education in ceramic arts at Jingdezhen Ceramic University in East China’s Jiangxi province. The Ugandan is also enrolled in a PhD program focusing on design, with his art pieces sold at national-level exhibitions in China.

He says, “I love it here not only because of its safety, but the raw materials and the production techniques for ceramics here are also among the best in the world.” During his time in China, Robert was given many opportunities to participate in ceramic production, exhibitions and even access to experts-all helping to grow the space where he could express his creativity.

To deepen his understanding and passion for traditional Chinese culture, Robert spends most of his free time in local museums’ culture and history sections. He also gets to know Chinese professionals inside and outside the ceramic world. “I would love to solidify my career as an artist here while helping to link Uganda and China,” Robert says.

“Ugandans are thankful, curious, and passionate about Chinese culture. I would love to introduce the artists back home to study and create ceramic artworks in China and promote them to the world.”

Robert says, “To be a modern artist in Chinese ceramics, one needs to comprehend the full flow of production, which requires years of practice and learning.” One of the most challenging areas of creating his pieces involves creating the “ideal shape and thickness”. He says “I fail at times, but I always practice and try again and again.” Robert has attained the essential spirit of Chinese ceramic arts——accepting and integrating the differences.

1. What is the goal of Robert’s art projects?

A．To promote traditional Chinese ceramics in Uganda.

B．To combine elements of Chinese and Ugandan culture.

C．To compete in the international exhibitions.

D．To restore and preserve ancient Ugandan arts.

2. Why did Robert choose to study ceramic arts in China?

A．He intended to earn money in China.

B．He desired to achieve a doctoral degree abroad.

C．China has the best ceramic materials and craft.

D．China is safer than any other country.

3. How does Robert deepen his understanding for traditional Chinese culture?

A．By visiting famous masters of Chinese history.

B．By comparing it with Ugandan traditions and customs.

C．By acquiring related knowledge from local museums.

D．By participating in art festivals and academic meetings.

4. What words can best describe Robert?

A．Creative and perseverant.	B．Kind and knowledgeable.
C．Humorous and passionate.	D．Courageous and intelligent.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What did Rosemary’s father do that day?

A．He went out to look for his wife.

B．He prepared meals for his parents.

C．He took his wife to the hospital.

2. What happened to Rosemary?

A．She lost her parents.

B．She lost her hands.

C．She lost her legs.

3. Which of the following words can be used to describe Rosemary?

A．Dependent.

B．Beautiful.

C．Independent.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the two speakers?

A．In the office.

B．In a car.

C．At school.

2. Why is the man sleepy?

A．He didn’t sleep well last night.

B．He didn’t sleep at all last night.

C．He slept late last night.

3. What’s wrong with the man’s father?

A．He has some trouble with his heart.

B．He has a bad cough.

C．He has a chest pain.

4. What does the woman advise the man to do?

A．Take more medicine.

B．Do some exercise.

C．Ask for leave.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does Linda ask her daddy to give her something？

A．Because it will be cold soon.

B．Because it is Linda’s birthday tomorrow.

C．Because he has a lot of money.

2. What does Linda’s father want to buy for her at first?

A．A new coat.

B．A new dictionary.

C．A mobile phone.

3. What will the two speakers do this afternoon?

A．Have dinner together.

B．Buy a birthday cake.

C．Go to the supermarket.

6 . Host a Film Night

Cinemas sometimes are closed because of the corona-virus pandemic but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the magic of the movies.     1     You could even make it a new family tradition.

First of all, talk to your family members about which days they think would work for a film night. If you want to make it a regular activity, take your thought into consideration when choosing a day.     2     Or you could keep the first Wednesday evening of every month free. If you decide to start with a single film night, schedule it for a specific day and leave time for excitement to build.

    3     Then, when it’s time for film night to begin, time is wasted because nobody in your family can agree on what to watch. Thus, if your film night is scheduled on a Friday, write down options and ask everyone to submit their choice by Wednesday. Review the options and then pick the film that most family members can agree on. If your film night is set to be a regular activity, then the decision making can be done in turn among family members. Ask them to write down the names of their selected films and put them into a box.     4    

Moreover, if you decide to do film nights regularly, picking a theme can be fun. Your theme could be films which were made before the year 2000, or films that feature your favorite actor or actress.

When the big night arrives, get your living room, or wherever you’re watching the film, ready.     5     Or put an air mattress down on the floor for extra comfort. Then you’re ready to press PLAY.

A．Choose a film for the night in advance.

B．After all, the charm of movies should never be ignored.

C．You may decide that every Friday night works, for example.

D．Instead, why not dim the lights and have a film night at home?

E．One common mistake people make is putting off choosing the film.

F．Add sleeping bags and pillows if you want to make the room more inviting.

G．Draw one out of the box every week to determine which film is to be picked.

7 . Researchers have developed a material made of collagen protein (胶原蛋白) from pig’s skin, which resembles the human cornea (眼角膜) and restored vision to 20 people. The promising result of the trial brings hope to people suffering from corneal blindness.

An estimated 12.7 million people around the world are blind due to their corneas being damaged or diseased. Their only way of regaining vision is to receive a transplanted cornea from a human donor. But just one in 70 patients receives a cornea transplant. Furthermore, most of them live in low and middle-income countries in which access to treatments is very limited.

To avoid the above disadvantages of traditional cornea treatment, the researchers used collagen protein from pig’s skin. “It is possible to develop a biomaterial that meets all the criteria for being used as human implants (移植物), which can be mass-produced and reach more people with vision problems,” said Professor Neil Lagali. While donated corneas must be used within two weeks, the bioengineered corneas can be stored for up to two years before use. The pig skin used is a byproduct of the food industry, making it easy to access.

The researchers have also developed a new surgical method for treating the disease. No stitches (缝针) are needed with this new method. In a pilot study, 14 of the 20 participants were blind before the operation. After two years, all of the patients regained their sight. Three of the Indian participants who had been blind had perfect vision after the operation.

The researchers also want to study whether the technology can be used to treat more eye diseases, and whether the implant can be adapted to the individual for even greater effectiveness.

1. What is the disadvantage of traditional cornea treatment?

A．Serious side effects.	B．Low availability rate.
C．Poor medical equipment.	D．Complicated surgical process.

2. What do we know about the biomaterial?

A．It has higher production costs.	B．It can be stored for much longer.
C．It is able to be used for several times.	D．It can help people prevent vision problems.

3. Which of the following best describes the new surgical method?

A．Successful.

B．Ineffective.

C．Convenient.

D．Controversial.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To spread knowledge about cornea donation.

B．To show the difficulties of treating blindness.

C．To call on people to protect their eyes properly.

D．To present a new breakthrough in the medical field.

8 . On 30 January, thousands gathered in Derry, in Northern Ireland, to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when 13 people were killed and at least 14 were hurt by the British Army.

Bloody Sunday took place on Sunday 30 January, 1972. Over 10, 000 people had gathered in Derry for a civil rights march to give everyone equal treatment. People were marching because the UK Government wanted to introduce a law that would mean people could be held in prison for a long time without the reason being tested by a court to see if it was true. The change was meant to stop violence at the time.

The whole of Ireland used to be part of the UK. However, in 1921, an agreement between the Irish and UK governments led to Ireland splitting into two regions. The south became the Republic of Ireland, while Northern Ireland stayed in the UK. In Northern Ireland there was unrest because some people wanted to be part of the UK, while some wanted to join Ireland. This led to a period of violence from 1968 to 1998 known as the Troubles, when around 3, 700 people died. For much of the Troubles, the British Army had lots of soldiers based in Northern Ireland.

The march started peacefully that day but later skirmishes broke out between demonstrators and the army. Some people started throwing stones at soldiers. The army moved in to arrest them and soldiers fired their guns, killing 13 people and injuring 14 people.

Thousands of people marched through Derry. The Irish prime minister Micheal Martin laid a wreath (花圈) at a memorial in Derry and spoke to relatives of the victims. At a special event at the city’s Millennium Forum Theatre, the victims’ names were read out and a silence was held at the moment the first person was shot 50 years ago. The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, said, “Derry stands as a guiding light of hope and justice.”

1. Why did the UK government want to introduce a new law?

A．To stop ongoing conflicts.	B．To offer equal rights.
C．To put people in prison.	D．To test people in court.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．How Bloody Sunday was marked.	B．What happened on Bloody Sunday.
C．Why people marked Bloody Sunday.	D．Why there was a period of violence.

3. What does the underlined word “skirmishes” mean?

A．Fierce wars.	B．Great celebrations.
C．Small fights.	D．Huge demonstrations.

4. Why are Micheal Martin and Michael D. Higgins mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．To stress the power of the march.

B．To show the importance of Bloody Sunday.

C．To emphasize the cruelty of the Bloody Sunday.

D．To show people’s determination for independence.

9 . During the 20th century, an estimated 3 million great whales were hunted to provide humans with oil, meat and rose fertiliser. Roger Payne, a biologist and environmentalist, spurred (推动) a worldwide environmental conservation movement with his discovery that whales could sing.

This discovery was made in 1967 during his research trip to Bermuda (百慕大) when a navy engineer provided him with a recording of curious underwater sounds documented. Payne identified the tones as songs whales sing to one another and he was conscious from the start that whale song was to get the public interested in protecting an animal previously considered little more than a resource, curiosity or nuisance.

Payne saw the discovery of whale song as a chance to spur interest in saving the giant animals, who were disappearing from the planet. In 1970, Payne released the album Songs of the Humpback Whale. The record, a surprise hit, fueled a global movement to end the practice of commercial whale hunting and save the whales from extinction. It remains the bestselling environmental album in history.

The impact of the whale song discovery on the early environmental movement was immense. Many antiwar protesters of the day took on saving animals and the environment as a new cause. The humpback whale became the icon of a new environmental awareness. And the whales entered pop culture, no longer the fearsome beasts. In 1977, the whale calls were loaded on to the Voyager probes and sent into outer space.

Payne, graduating from Harvard University and Cornell University with a doctor’s degree, authored or co authored dozens of scientific papers, gave hundreds of lectures, made countless television programmes and films, and led 100 oceanic expeditions. Payne had started an ambitious new project: CETI, a combination of scientists using new technology to interpret what whales might be “saying”.

1. What caused the decline of the whale population in the 20^th century?

A．Habitat loss.	B．The climate change.
C．Uncontrolled hunting.	D．The ocean pollution.

2. What was the purpose of releasing the album of whale songs?

A．To boost interest in protecting whales.	B．To satisfy people’s curiosity about sea.
C．To achieve great commercial success.	D．To earn a reputation as a researcher.

3. Which of the following can best describe Roger Payne?

A．Considerate.	B．Accomplished.
C．Courageous.	D．Patient.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The conservation of ocean environment.

B．Efforts to awake public ocean awareness.

C．A high-tech way to document whale tones.

D．A whale protection campaign by a biologist.

10 . 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。

Red Cross is an international organization that cares for people     1     are in need of help. The Red Cross     2     (exist) in almost every country around the globe. A man in a Beijing hospital who needed blood, a woman in Turkey who     3     (injure) in an earthquake, and a family in Indonesia that lost their home in Tsunami may all be aided by the Red Cross.

The idea of     4     (form) an organization to help people in need began with Jean Dunant. In 1859, he     5     (careful) observed how people were suffering on a battlefield in Paris. He wanted     6     (help) the wounded soldiers despite which side they were fighting for. His efforts brought on the Geneva Convention (公约), an international treaty. It protects     7     (prisoner) of war, the sick and wounded, and other citizens during a war.

Aside from being     8     activist, Henry Dunant was also a businessman and author. He wrote the book A Memory of Solferino to keep his memories of Battle of Solferino. He was among those who witnessed the battle in Italy. The book is what led     9     the foundation of International Committee of the Red Cross — ICRC in 1863. Though he was     10     (success) at some point in his life, he later went from riches to rags (穷人).