1 . Floating Markets in Bangkok, Thailand

One might feel as though they are entering a different world upon visiting a Thai floating market. While some countries in Asia have their own floating markets, none compare to Thailand’s, and the special experience is one you cannot miss while visiting the country.

Long-tail boats, ancient and traditional houses, and shouting vendors (商贩) are the major elements of floating markets in Bangkok. They are excellent options for experiencing the unusual culture and life of Thailand. Here are the top 8 floating markets in Bangkok, where you can experience the chaotic and charming atmosphere.

Name	Distance from Downtown Bangkok	Open Times	Features
Damnoen Saduak	80 km (50 mi)	Every day from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m	Long-tail boat cruises, remote villages, plantations
Amphawa	90 km (55mi)	11 a. m. to 9.30 p. m., Friday to Sunday	Thai food, little wooden houses, temples
Wat Sai	23 km (14 mi)	8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday	A mixture of Chinese culture and Thai culture
Taling Chan	12 km (7 mi)	8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday	Temples, massages (按摩) on boats, foot massages under trees
Bangkhla	100km (60 mi)	8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday	Remote countryside, charm, biking
Bang Nam Pheung	20 km (12 mi)	8: 30 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday— Sunday	Fruit, food, a nature sanctuary (避难所)
Bang Phli	38 km (24 mi)	11 a. m.— 5:30 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday	Oldest, historical buildings, temples
Khlong Lat Mayom	21 km (13 mi)	7 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday — Sunday	Food, fruit, boat noodles

1. Which floating market only opens on weekends with the shortest opening hours?

A．Taling Chan.	B．Bang Phli.
C．Bang Nam Pheung.	D．Khlong Lat Mayom.

2. What is the unique characteristic of the market closest to Bangkok?

A．Delicious Thai food.	B．Numerous temple buildings.
C．Various massage services.	D．The traditional countryside life.

3. Which statement about Wat Sai is correct?

A．It is influenced by Chinese cultural elements.

B．Its number of open days in a week is the largest.

C．It is the centre of cultural exchange around the world.

D．It is a must-see tourist destination for Chinese tourists.

2 . DREAMING OF A NEW OFFICE?

Are you undisturbed by the chill of the Antarctic winds? Can you adapt to near-constant daylight, subzero temperatures and no flushing toilet (抽水马桶) or running water? Ready to take on the challenges of living and working in one of the most remote corners of the Earth? The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust invites passionate individuals to join our team at Base A on Goudier Island, Antarctica.

As a member of our elite team, you’ll manage a museum, post office, and gift shop as well as conducting penguin counts. You will live and work at Base A at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island, which is about the size of a football pitch. Imagine waking to breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by curious penguins and the vast expanse of untouched wilderness. This is not just a job — it’s an expedition, a chance to make history while living among the impressive beauty of Antarctica.

Applicants must possess resilience, physical fitness, and environmental awareness. Training will begin in August, ahead of the working period from late October or November until March, 2025. Interview s and selection events will be conducted to ensure the best fit for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join us in our mission to preserve Antarctica’s rich heritage and contribute to global conservation efforts. Apply by 25 April at jobs @ ukaht. Org and become part of an adventure that will leave you forever changed.

1. What’s the challenge of the advertised positions?

A．Extreme heat.	B．Total darkness.
C．Tough working conditions.	D．Drinking water shortage.

2. What might be the duty of those selected?

A．Counting penguins.	B．Maintaining a football field.
C．Opening a gift shop.	D．Appreciating the scenery.

3. How long will a successful applicant work there?

A．5 months or so.	B．Less than 3 months.
C．About 13 weeks.	D．Around 7 months.

3 . How can the man get to the bus stop?

A．By turning left twice.

B．By turning to the left.

C．By turning left and then right.

4 . Four Places to Listen to Free Music Online

Pandora

Pandora is a popular Internet radio service that lets users create personalized stations and listen to music. To use Pandora, you will have to create an account using your email address and a password. As you find music you like, you can save songs to your collection. However, you can’t download any specific tracks to your computer or phone.

LiveOne

On LiveOne, you’ll mostly find big artists, bands and songs along with interviews and news. While you won’t be able to stream all songs on demand for free due to licensing restrictions (限制), you will be able to create a station of similar tracks/artists from nearly any song. There’s a tab (标签) named “My Library” where you can save and share your favourite music.

iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio is a great website or app for listening to live radio stations. You can find local stations or check out stations from around the country. You won’t have to create an account to begin listening on iHeartRadio. but you can make one for free to save stations and playlists. Whether you decide to create an account or not. you won’t be able to download music from iHeartRadio.

Spotify

If you’re looking for free music online, you’ve most likely come across Spotify already. This resource is great for streaming popular hits while discovering new favourites. You can keep track of what you’ve recently played, and “favourite” songs. In addition to music. Spotify offers playlists of its most-played songs and information on local upcoming concerts.

1. Which is a must before using Pandora?

A．Saving some songs.	B．Creating an account.
C．Calling other users.	D．Sending a private email.

2. What can you do on “My Library” of LiveOne?

A．Download popular songs.	B．Make new friends online.
C．Share your favourite music.	D．Discover radio stations.

3. What is special about Spotify?

A．It offers news on local upcoming concerts.	B．It requires no membership card.
C．It allows users to download music for free.	D．It features a station of similar artists.

5 . Insider Flight Tips for Your Journey

Anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that is affordable, accommodating and fun. At www. tripinsiders. org, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business. And on this website, we also offer a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever. Here are some insider tips that we'd like to share with you about flights.

Look for Glitch (小故障) Fares

Online booking systems for airfare don’t come without a pricing mistake every once in a while. Follow deal-minded travel sites and blogs to learn about pricing mistakes that work in your favor. This is the most useful if you live near a major airport and have a flexible schedule.

Consider Alternate Airports

Some major cities have more than one airport, so make sure to check them all for the cheapest fares. For example, if you’re planning to visit the Bay Area of California, check for rates in both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

Cross the Border by Land

Domestic flights are often cheaper than international ones, so if you live near a border and want to fly to a neighboring country, you can save by crossing the border by land and then catching a domestic flight. For example, Toronto residents may save by crossing the American border into Buffalo and then flying to another American city.

Use a Digital Luggage Scale

There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that your bag is too heavy to fly or that it’ll cost you extra when you arrive at the airport. Digital luggage scales are great for making sure that you’re not going over the baggage limit with your new souvenirs.

1. What is the main purpose of www.tripinsiders.org ?

A．To recommend travel websites.	B．To fund the travel business.
C．To advertise a travel agency.	D．To uncover travel business secrets.

2. What is advised for air travel?

A．Selecting airports.	B．Flying the border.
C．Carrying more baggage.	D．Having a fixed schedule.

3. What do the four tips have in common?

A．They cover all aspects of a trip.	B．They help travelers save money.
C．They merely apply to businessmen.	D．They are only for Toronto residents.

6 . My father Rong Xing isn’t exactly a good father.

He works very late every night because ________ his job, sometimes even ________ to eat dinner, and gets up ________ as well. Even when he’s at home, he thinks about his work all the time and hardly ever spend any time ________ my mother and me.

As a doctor who graduated (毕业) from a famous ________ before, he could make ________ of money and only do half the work he is doing now, but he chose to do more difficult and important work. He spends less money on himself ________ he makes more. He always wears old, cheap clothes, saying they are ________ and refuses to change. I sometimes get ________ with him for not caring enough about his clothes, but he just smiles and says, “Daddy has more ________ uses for the money, all right? ”

I never stopped being curious (好奇的)________ how he spent his money. Then one day when I was reading the newspaper, a piece of news caught my eyes: “Rong Xing ________ 100, 000 yuan to help   ________ children go back to school.” Then I ________ understood.

My father’s love for others touched me deeply, I started to understand the great ________ and I decided to pass it on.

1.

A．to

B．of

C．for

2.

A．forgetting

B．offering

C．continuing

3.

A．early

B．late

C．fast

4.

A．for

B．with

C．on

5.

A．university

B．hospital

C．library

6.

A．lot

B．lots

C．many

7.

A．but

B．though

C．if

8.

A．beautiful

B．uncomfortable

C．comfortable

9.

A．happy

B．nervous

C．angry

10.

A．important

B．easy

C．difficult

11.

A．for

B．about

C．on

12.

A．wrote down

B．gave away

C．cut out

13.

A．rich

B．poor

C．simple

14.

A．suddenly

B．quietly

C．carefully

15.

A．truth

B．opinion

C．spirit

7 . Being outgoing is good for your life. Outgoing people meet lots of interesting people and things in life. In fact, being outgoing is not so hard as you think. Even the shy people can be outgoing.

You can start becoming outgoing with your best friend or a group of friends. But the real challenge comes when you meet strange people or new friends. Smile more, and usually they will return your smile.In this way, you may have some talks.

Start a talk. Just a simple “Hello” or “How is it going” is a good start. If you want to make interesting talks, you should read the news and get ready for your talks. The easiest way to become more outgoing is to go out. This is also the most important step. Go to a park, club, party or any other place that you think can be fun, and you may make new friends there.

1. You should start to be outgoing with________ .

A．your parents	B．your teachers
C．your best friends	D．your new friends

2. When you start a talk with a stranger,you should say________ .

A．What’s the matter?	B．What’s your name?
C．How is it going?	D．Are you healthy?

3. The easiest way to be outgoing is to________ .

A．talk	B．smile
C．Play	D．go out

4. Making new friends can make us________.

A．more outgoing

B．healthier

C．more serious

D．quieter

8 . The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is the largest and most well-known virtual business competition for high school students in the world. It was founded in Maryland in 2014 by a young budding (萌芽的) high school entrepreneur.

The competition gives high school students the chance to present their innovative business ideas, get real entrepreneurial experience, earn cash prizes, and build resumes that stand out from the crowd when applying for college. Participation is 100% free for all students, which levels the playing field and provides equal access to opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs regardless of their socioeconomic background or nationality.

The competition attracts the very best high school student entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe, making the competition truly global.

Participating is Easy

Register for the competition individually or team up with up to four friends to compete together.

Recognize a pressing problem the world faces, then create something new and build a business idea to address it.

Check out the scoring criteria to make sure your idea qualifies as a blue ocean business.

Reference the blue ocean pitch template (模版) to record your 5-minute video, upload on YouTube, and submit a link and the video file.

1. What benefit could a competitor get from the competition?

A．A college admission letter.

B．A full scholarship.

C．Hands-on business experience.

D．Discounted entry fee.

2. When did the competition expand on a global scale?

A．In 2014—15.

B．In 2015—16.

C．In 2016—17.

D．In 2022—23.

3. What should be done in preparation for participation?

A．Submitting a word file.

B．Designing a scoring criterion.

C．Identifying an urgent global issue.

D．Register a business organization.

9 . What will our world really be like 20 years from now? What does the future hold for the food we eat, the technology we use and the homes we live in? It would be beyond imagination--food pills, flying cars and bases on the moon--but the reality will probably be less exciting. The world in 2040 will probably be much like it is today, but smarter.

The future of food

The next major food change will be vertical farming (垂直农业) in which we grow food in AI-controlled vertical buildings rather than horizontal land. We could be eating insects in 2040. Insects are rich in proteins, low in fat and a good source of calcium.

The future of love

The Internet has forever changed the way people meet and fall in love. Online dating and location-based services have opened up possibilities that allow people to look beyond their friends, friends of friends, and co-workers.

The future of technology

We’re heading into a future where improved battery technology will make better electric cars, personal flying machines, and private space tourism possible.

The future of work

Rather than humans working with machines, robots are likely to reduce some jobs. Taxi drivers will be replaced by self-driving cars, for example. Clearly, there will also be new jobs created: the computer engineer, mechanics who fix the self-driving taxis, programmers, space tour guides and vertical farmers. Technology will continue to disturb businesses and get rid of some jobs, creating new professions we can’t yet imagine.

The future of health

Hospitals are the costliest part in the health system, Prevention will become the center of attention as we gain greater control of our health information.

1. What is the food in 2040 like?

A．People will not eat pork or beef then.

B．Insects will become the main food then.

C．The food will mainly exist in the form of pills.

D．Part of the food will come from vertical farming.

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 5?

A．New professions will appear.	B．Boring jobs will be abandoned.
C．Most jobs will be done by robots.	D．Humans will work with machines.

3. What will be the focus of health in the future?

A．Hospital treatment.	B．Health systems.
C．Prevention.	D．Health information.

10 . Did you buy too much bread before heading out for a holiday? Did you give up the vegetables that are going bad?

In an effort to help eco-conscious consumers, a Geneva nonprofit is speeding up its plan of street-side, free-access public refrigerators that restaurateurs, at-home cooks and others can use to give away food that’s about to go bad. It’s part of a bigger effort by communities in Switzerland and other European countries to do their part for the environment while helping to cut down on food waste.

The nonprofit Free-Go has placed refrigerators and shelves in Geneva where passersby can get fruit, vegetables, bread and other perishables(易变质食品) to take home for free.The program costs about $40,000 to run each year and enjoys the support from the city government. It began a year ago with a single fridge outside a community center in western Geneva and it now has four fridges, strategically placed around town. A fifth one is planned before year’s end.

Free-Go is experimenting with scheduled pickups at apartment buildings to make it easier for residents(居民) to participate in the program. It has also set up a“hotline”that restaurateurs can use to call for the collection of unused food. Free-Go says giver s of food from the private sector, such as restaurants, must make a promise to ensure the given food is safe to eat.

Free-Go says about 1 billion tons of food go to waste every year around the world—using up energy and other resources in the farming and transportation process. Similar food-sharing activities are in place in the capital, Bern, after the idea was imported from Germany.

According to Foodsharing.de, a community group in Germany that started more than a decade ago, more than a half-million people in Germany, Switzerland and Austria have made “the food-sharing initiative an international movement”and have helped save 83 million tons of food from going to waste.

1. How did the Free-Go program start in the beginning?

A．With two fridges in a local supermarket.

B．With a single fridge outside in western Geneva.

C．With three fridges distributed in various parks.

D．With a large storage facility in central Geneva.

2. What is the main objective of the Free-Go?

A．To promote local restaurants.

B．To provide refrigeration services.

C．To establish a hotline for food collection.

D．To reduce food waste and help the environment.

3. What is the primary purpose of Free-Go’s“hotline”?

A．To report refrigerators in bad condition.

B．For residents to schedule food pickups.

C．To provide information about safe food handling.

D．For restaurateurs to call for the collection of unused food.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the Free-Go’s program?

A．Critical.

B．Negative.

C．Positive.

D．Indifferent.