1 . Four Unique Festivals In Europe

Anything that exists or doesn’t exist can be the main theme of one of Europe’s festivals. Add excitement to your future travel plans with these unusual events.

Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

Every year on the third week of February, the Italian town of Ivrea turns into a battlefield filled with oranges, where participants launch 600, 000 kilograms of oranges at each other during the historic carnival of the city. According to history, the Battle of the Oranges aimed to reconstruct a 12th-century battle between the locals and Napoleon’s royal army.

Air Guitar World Championships, Oulu, Finland

Anyone can try to play the guitar, but it takes a special talent to play an invisible guitar. Every August, musical instrument artists from all over the world flock to northern Finland, putting their best onstage “shamelessly” with their invisible instruments to compete for the event. Held in conjunction with the Oulu Music Video Festival, this contest since 1996 has been aiming to promote world peace.

Running of the Bulls, Pamplona, Spain

This internationally recognized event, which starts on July 7th, has grown massively. It originated from men using fear and excitement to hurry the process of taking cattle to market. Nowadays the event is a lot more organized, and thousands now run through a barricaded (设路障的) course being chased by a thundering herd of bulls!

Kettlewell Scarecrow (稻草人) Festival, Kettlewell, Britain

In medieval times, farmers in England would often make unique human dolls out of straw to chase away fierce animals and birds, and place them in the fields to protect the crops. Later, this tradition gradually evolved into this national farmers’ festival. For two weeks in August, a variety of activities have emerged, including the finely crafted scarecrow production, and competing for the champion in the competition.

1. Which festival has its origin related with a war in history?

A．Battle of the Oranges.	B．Air Guitar World Championships.
C．Running of the Bulls.	D．Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival.

2. What features the Air Guitar World Championships?

A．It is intended to appeal to special talents onstage.

B．Its participants perform with imaginary instruments.

C．Its participants are limited to people in northern Finland.

D．It provides participants with specially-made instruments.

3. What do the last two festivals have in common?

A．They take place at the same time.	B．They share the similar celebrations.
C．They originated from traditional practice.	D．They showed the abundance of the locals.

2 . Against huge odds, Shikuku Ooko is fighting to save the last remaining ancient forest. When he was in his early 20s, Shikuku Ooko was deeply taken with the Afro-Alpine forests of central Kenya. So much so that he decided to buy 15 acres of woods next to Mount Kenya National Park & Reserve. More than 30 years later Mr. Ooko’s home is one of the few plots still filled with native trees and plants. In contrast, much of the national park has been heavily logged.

The Mount Kenya region is remote and delicate, which makes it difficult to safeguard. Though the Kenya Forest Service has made sustainably managing all public forest plantations its second priority, the burden of conservation has fallen on the shoulders of local individuals such as Mr. Ooko.

In recent years, herders (牧民) have even built animal pens within legally protected areas. “It’s a bit of an annoying sight,” Mr. Ooko says, “when foreign visitors have to pay a high fee to enter the park but then come across huge herds of sheep and cattle in the delicate environment. The laws protecting that environment are in place, but they are insufficiently enforced because rangers (护林员) at each gate are limited.”.

When he’s at home in Naro Moru, Mr. Ooko advocates for tree planting, particularly among kids. “It’s something I grew up doing,” he explains. “When I was young, my dad would give all of us 10young trees to plant and take care of. Somehow, he knew the connections between trees and climate changes.”

It’s a practice Mr. Ooko has kept alive despite continuous challenges with climate and cattle; it is not uncommon for sheep and cattle to destroy the young trees that he and his young friends have planted. “We just keep going,” he says. “It’s something I value, and I think we should plant more.”

1. What can we know about Mr. Ooko’s woods?

A．They were purchased 20 years ago.	B．They suffer from heavy logging.
C．They have conserved much wildlife.	D．They have been well protected.

2. Why are the laws insufficiently enforced according to Mr. Ooko?

A．Because herders need to save cattle.	B．Because herders need wood for fire.
C．Because there are too many visitors.	D．Because there aren’t enough rangers.

3. What can we infer about Mr. Ooko according to the passage?

A．He never raises sheep and cattle.	B．He was influenced by his father.
C．He donated his woods to the park.	D．He has made a fortune by planting.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Challenges from Climate Changes	B．The Introduction to Mount Kenya Park
C．The Fight to Save Mount Kenya’s Forests	D．The Connection between People and Nature

3 . It’s Community Day again!

The event that Map le Estate residents are eagerly looking forward to is just around the corner! As usual, the Map le Residents’ Committee has planned a programme that is designed to promote community spirit. Maple Estate has been celebrating Community Day every month for more than a year. By now, we hope all our residents understand the importance of forming strong bonds with our neighbours. If you have just moved to our lovely estate and have not had the opportunity to know your neighbours, you can do so by joining at Community Day!

August Highlight: Map le Estate Chefs Call all residents who are keen to practice your cooking skills and let your neighbours sample your cooking! You will be the stars of the upcoming event! Visit www.maplerc.sg for more information and to register for this activity. Kitchen equipment and basic ingredients will be provided. You will receive a $50 shopping voucher that you can use to purchase other ingredients from MapleMart the day before the event. Remember to register before 21 July, 2024! We are sure everyone will enjoy the delicious dishes! Time: From 10 a.m.to 6 p.m,6 Aug.,2024 Place: Maple Community Club Entry: Flash your Maple Resident Card

“My wife and I moved to Maple Estate when we got married. For a few months, we spent all our free time after work doing up our house. Even though we knew that our neighbours were friendly and would sometimes invite us for their gatherings, we were occupied with getting things ready. However, it wasn’t long before we grew curious about the Community Day celebrations. After we started attending them regularly, we met many neighbours. The first time we invited some of them over, we played games that helped us to get to know one another better!”

—Mr. Wang, a Maple Estate resident since 2022

1. What do the Community Day events aim to do?

A．To teach how to cook meals.	B．To develop community spirit.
C．To meet diverse needs of neighbours.	D．To make the community cleaner.

2. What do you have to do if you want to take part in the Maple Estate Chefs?

A．To sign up before 21 July , 2024.	B．To provide basic ingredients.
C．To use your own kitchen equipment.	D．To pay a registration fee of $50.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t socialize with their neighbours much at first because ______.

A．they spent all their time at work

B．they weren’t invited for the gatherings

C．they were busy beautifying their home

D．they lacked information about the community

4 . Dublin is one of Europe’s smaller capital cities, but it has an outsized number of places to see. Here’s a decent sampling of the great attractions that await when you come to Dublin to play.

National Gallery of Ireland

Ireland is a country known for its literary contributions, but don’t overlook its contributions to the artistic world. It houses a number of works by Rembrandt, Goya and Monet. The collection’s 15,000 Irish and European works date from the 13th to mid-20th centuries and include paintings, prints and national portraits (肖像). Particularly prized is the Yeats Collection, consisting of works and other materials related to Irish painter Jack B. Yeats, brother of poet and playwright W. B. Yeats.

Ha’penny Bridge

This modest cast-iron bridge over the River Liffey has become the symbol of Dublin, with its wonderful design and old-fashioned lampposts. Before it became a tourist attraction,

Ha’Penny Bridge was a welcome addition for local people. Before its construction, most of them had to ferry (摆渡) across the river. When it was built in 1816, Ha’penny Bridge was the first iron bridge across the Liffey.

Dublin Castle

You’re in Europe. It’s hard to resist a good castle. And you have one right in the heart of Dublin. And like all good castles, it has a storied history—from its start in the 1200s on the site of a Viking settlement to 1922, when it was handed over to the new Irish government after independence from the United Kingdom. A fire in 1684 damaged a good bit of the castle, and in reconstruction, parts of it took on the look of a Georgian palace, making for an interesting mix of styles today.

St. Stephen’s Green

As a treasured part of the city for centuries, the park, which is in the heart of Dublin, has important sculptures of major figures in Irish history and well-maintained Victorian grounds in the center. A variety of trees line the perimeter (周边) to help block city noise, and it’s a haven for birds as well as people.

1. What can visitors see in National Gallery of Ireland?

A．W. B. Yeats’ collection of poems.

B．Works about painter Jack B. Yeats.

C．Over 15,000 European literary works.

D．Irish paintings dating from the 11th century.

2. What was Ha’penny Bridge originally built for?

A．Attracting foreign visitors.	B．Offering shelter to ferrymen.
C．Replacing a cast-iron bridge.	D．Helping people cross a river.

3. What do the last two attractions have in common?

A．They feature a variety of rare birds.

B．They are not well-maintained at present.

C．They are located in the center of Dublin.

D．They take on the look of a Georgian palace.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who helped the woman arrange her accommodation?

A．Her father.

B．The man’s relatives.

C．The man’s friends.

2. Which place is the woman’s first destination?

A．Athens.

B．Istanbul.

C．New York.

3. Why does the woman prefer Montreal to New York?

A．It’s more modern.

B．It’s more relaxed.

C．It’s more beautiful.

4. What does the woman say about Mexico City?

A．It is a little noisy.

B．It is very European.

C．It has many museums.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the speakers do last week?

A．They sent the Smiths to hospital.

B．They visited the Smiths’ daughter.

C．They expressed thanks to the Smiths.

2. Where is Lily now probably?

A．At the hospital.

B．At school.

C．At home.

7 . While there are many summer programs for high school students in NYC, the Career Edge, an NYU high school summer program, affords students an exceptional college and career readiness experience. It has served thousands of high school students from around the world in exploring career paths and experiencing what it is like to live on the NYU campus and learn at a well-known university.

Program overview

The program offers you the chance to explore a career path before you declare it as a college major. Many students choose to attend multiple weeks, taking a different course each session.

Academic experience

The courses focus on the content that provides a comprehensive overview of your area of interest. Field trips to related companies and organizations bring what you learn in class to life.

NYC experience

Living and learning in NYC is an unforgettable adventure. You’ll dive deep into the course content that immerses you in industry, while enjoying the culture and excitement of the city.

Students’ feedback

Tony: The Finance class was great. We explored Wall Street, visited Federal Hall and the Museum of American Finance, and learned how to trade stocks. The instructor made the course interesting and entertaining.

Ava: The Integrated Marketing class was very informative. The instructor was a real professional. Visits to digital agencies and marketing firms gave me an insider’s view of what it’s like to work in the field.

1. Who is the program intended for?

A．College students.	B．Primary school students.
C．Junior middle school students.	D．Senior high school students.

2. What can the students do after joining in the program?

A．Learn American history.	B．Set up new organizations.
C．Visit some places in NYC.	D．Work in a foreign company.

3. What may Tony and Ava think of the program?

A．It’s costly.

B．It’s boring.

C．It’s ordinary.

D．It’s wonderful.

8 . WHY SHENNONGJIA?

As we know, in 2016, Shennongjia made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. But there are so many important places not yet on this list. So you might ask: why Shennongjia?

UNESCO awarded Shennongjia this status because it meets two criteria required by the list. It contains a naturally-balanced environment that allows the many and various species to live and prosper. It is also one of the rare locations in the world where scientists can observe in real time the ecological and biological processes that occur as the plants and animals develop and evolve.

For the first criterion, Shennongjia is apparently one of the most “complete” natural areas in the world. The region rises from about 400 metres to over 3, 000 metres above sealevel, giving it the name the “Roof of Central China”.

For the second criterion, we can see that Shennongjia has incredible biodiversity. Look at this slide. According to official statistics, over 3, 000 plant species have been recorded there. This represents more than ten percent of China’s total floral richness.

It is a challenge to look after so many species. In winter, scientists brave heavy snow and freezing temperatures to supply food to the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Thanks to their efforts, the monkey’s population has doubled since the 1980s.Their number reached over 1, 300 in 2015 and continues to grow.

But the most impressive aspect of Shennongjia is the local people, who take things from nature without causing damage. I visited a local village which is known for its home-made honey. What is special about the honey is that it is produced by the earliest species of Chinese bee. All of this explains why Shennongjia earned—and deserves—its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as highlighting how understanding, awareness and hard work have contributed towards protecting a unique and wonderful part of our natural world.

1. Why is Shennongjia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List?

A．Because its forests stretch on and on like great green seas.

B．Because it is the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine.

C．Because it satisfies the two requirements for the status.

D．Because it has the mysterious creature called “Yeren”.

2. Shennongjia is also called the“          ”.

A．Roof of Central China	B．Roof of Northern China
C．Roof of Eastern China	D．Roof of Southern China

3. How does the author think of the scientists in Shennongjia?

A．Patient.

B．Careful.

C．Confident.

D．Hard-working.

4. According to the text, what impressed the author most?

A．A local village.	B．The local people.
C．Some special monkeys.	D．The wild bees.

9 . 我期待参加更多像这样的活动。
I ________________ taking part in more activities like this.

10 . 从下面的方框中选择合适的短语并用其正确形式填空。

come across; make the most of; in panic; give sb. a hand; over and over again be different from; speaking of; be short for; turn around; go all out

1. We students should learn to ________________ our potential by wisely managing our time.
2. My neighbour is always willing to ________________ when I am in trouble.
3. ________________ the part-time job, I think it’s important for college students to put their studies in the first place.
4. When walking down the street, I ________________ Losang, whom I hadn’t seen for years.
5. WTO ________________ World Trade Organization.
6. ________________, I saw a white-haired man.
7. American English ________ significantly ________ British English.
8. I read the letter ________________, but I couldn’t simply understand its meaning.
9. You will be a lot happier if you ________________ to pursue your dream.
10. The customers all rushed out of the store ________________ because of the sudden accident.