1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman going to do this Saturday?

A．Go on a business trip.

B．Attend a party.

C．Work overtime.

2. Who does the man advise the woman to ask for help?

A．Her neighbors.

B．The kids’ teacher.

C．The kids’ grandparents.

3. What does the man say about nannies (保姆) here?

A．They are common.

B．They have no certificate.

C．They’re more expensive for full-time care.

2 . Cashmere Nicole

Cashmere Nicole was a struggling single mother, juggling (兼顾) her nine-to-five job and family life and battling breast cancer when she started her side business, Beauty Bakerie, a beauty brand. Started in her kitchen, the brand is currently sold in over 100 countries worldwide. “You can only find the things you truly love by exploring, by trying things,” says Nicole when interviewed about her achievement. “If we aren’t trying, we aren’t giving ourselves the best shot at finding the one thing that we’ll enjoy doing.”

Gerard Adams

Gerard Adams founded Fownders, a digital and in-classroom learning platform for entrepreneurs (企业家). Adams thanks his mentor (顾问), Tony Robbins, for much of his success. “Find a good mentor and get started,” he says. “We wouldn’t be anywhere as far as we are today without good mentorship.” Through Fownders, Adams provides mentorship to entrepreneurs.

Tamar Lucien

Tamar Lucien had just $250 left to her name when she started MentalHappy. Inspired by her own struggles with anxiety, she wanted to create a business and movement that helps people overcome their own sadness and anxiety, which is done through MentalHappy’s signature “Cheerbox” filled with happiness tools.

Christopher Gray

Gray graduated from college and decided to help others find scholarship money, which is why he founded Scholly, a mobile and web app that finds students scholarship money for college and graduate school. Gray knows it takes a ton of hard work to be a successful entrepreneur. “There are no shortcuts (捷径) to success,” he says.

1. What does Nicole value most in terms of achieving success?

A．Attempting new things.	B．Having a healthy body.
C．Balancing work and life.	D．Taking care of your appearance.

2. Who has made up his / her mind to lift people’s spirits?

A．Tamar Lucien.

B．Gerard Adams.

C．Cashmere Nicole.

D．Christopher Gray.

3. Which of the following makes it easy for students to find scholarships?

A．Fownders.

B．Scholly.

C．MentaIHappy.

D．Beauty Bakerie.

3 . Why does Helen want to ask for leave?

A．She needs to care for a relative.

B．She fell down the stairs.

C．She plans to visit her parents.

4 . The year 2023 witnessed the occurrence of significant cultural events, with culture and tourism becoming even more closely connected. Let’s review the major cultural events of 2023 as we bid farewell to the year and embrace the new year of 2024!

Museum visits rise in popularity in summer

Tourists were seen queuing for long hours in front of museums and obtaining entrance tickets became more challenging. In response to the growing demand, 46 museums in Beijing canceled their customary Monday closures and remained open daily until August 31. The rise in “museum fever” can be credited to various factors, including the public’s increasing enthusiasm for traditional Chinese culture, the booming market for youth educational tours and summer camps, as well as the continuous innovation of museums.

Old tea forests in Pu’er win World Heritage Site title

The newly named heritage site, located in Lancang Lahu autonomous county in Pu’er, Yunnan province, consists of five large-scale, well-preserved old tea forests, which stand 1,250 to 1,500 meters above the sea level, three protective barrier forests, and nine ancient villages in the old tea forests, which are mainly inhabited by Blang and Dai ethnic groups. The cultural landscape was jointly created by the ancestors of the Blang people—who immigrated to the Jingmai Mountain in the 10th century AD and later discovered and domesticated wild tea trees—and the native Dai people.

Protection plan released for Beijing’s Central Axis

The plan is said to be one of the necessary steps toward bidding for UNESCO World Heritage status. Alongside regulations on the protection of the Central Axis carried out earlier, the plan is in line with the requirements of World Heritage conservation. The 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee will decide on whether Beijing’s Central Axis can be added to the World Heritage List at the committee’s 46th annual conference in 2024. If the application succeeds, it will reinforce Beijing’s top position among cities worldwide by number of World Heritage Sites.

1. Which of the following is NOT the reason for the rise in “museum fever”?

A．Museums’ ceaseless innovation.

B．The constant innovation of summer camps.

C．The growing market for youth educational tours.

D．People’s growing passion for traditional Chinese culture.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning the cultural events?

A．46 museums in Beijing stayed open all year round.

B．The Blang people are the natives in Jingmai Mountain.

C．The heritage site in Pu’er consists of four large old tea forests.

D．Beijing’s Central Axis hasn’t been added to the World Heritage List yet.

3. In which magazine would a reader most likely find this text?

A．Wonders of the Natural World	B．Scientific Exploration
C．Chinese Culture Research	D．Art and Architecture

5 . Peter is a high school student and he lives in Suzhou. His family often take a trip to cities, such as Nanjing and Hangzhou. But Peter always hoped to visit Shanghai. This year, his dream finally came true.

On June 22nd, Peter’s family took the train to get to Shanghai. Their first destination was Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. After arriving there, they tasted many delicious foods first. Then they watched Kunqu Opera performances and hanfu shows.

On the second day, Peter’s family went to Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. They not only watched many animals, but also joined in some traditional activities about the Dragon Boat Festival. For example, they made zongzi and joined in a boat race. Peter also played an ancient game — touhu. This was the first time he had tried the game. It was so interesting. They also went to At Life Hub@ Anting Square.

On the last day, Peter’s family enjoyed the old Shanghai songs and guofeng music at the concerts. They also went to Jiabei Country Park. They had fun at a music festival and took many photos at a Chinese art show.

“The three-day vacation was a great experience for me,” Peter said, “I learned a lot about Chinese traditional art and history.”

1. Which city did Peter always hope to visit?

A．Suzhou.

B．Nanjing.

C．Shanghai.

D．Hangzhou.

2. What did Peter and his family do first after arriving at Zhujiajiao Ancient Town?

A．They visited some parks.	B．They took many photos.
C．They watched hanfu shows.	D．They tasted many delicious foods.

3. What did Peter try for the first time at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park?

A．Watching animals.	B．Making zongzi.
C．Enjoying a boat race.	D．Playing touhu.

4. Which place did Peter and his family visit on the last day?

A．Jiabei Country Park.	B．At Life Hub@ Anting Square.
C．Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.	D．Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.

5. What does Peter think of his vacation?

A．Tiring.

B．Great.

C．Boring.

D．Safe.

6 . 请听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where will the charity event be held?

A．At the Forest Hotel.

B．At the Park Hotel.

C．At the City Lights.

2. What will the money from the charity event be used to do?

A．Open a training centre.

B．Build a new hotel.

C．Provide shelter for the homeless.

3. What activity is added this year?

A．Trying a new restaurant.

B．Attending a festival.

C．Visiting an adventure park.

4. What will volunteers do for the charity event?

A．Check the tickets.

B．Help with seating.

C．Serve the coffee.

7 . 请听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does the man suggest seeing at first?

A．A circus.

B．A musical.

C．A comedy.

2. Which of the following is launched last week?

A．The Dancing Queen.

B．Take It or Leave It.

C．Sweet Dating.

3. How does the woman feel about the romantic comedy the man mentions?

A．It’s funny.

B．It’s boring.

C．It’s old.

4. What do the speakers decide to do at last?

A．Attend a club.

B．Enjoy the clowns.

C．See a silent film.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does the woman feel?

A．Worried.

B．Confused.

C．Bored.

2. What does Tim suggest doing?

A．Working extra hours.

B．Employing some new staff.

C．Giving the staff 3 days of paid vacation.

3. What is the man going to do?

A．Chair a meeting.

B．Talk to a client.

C．Finish a project.

9 . The UK is home to 26 world-ranked universities of the top 200 globally. At the heart of each university is the library, a space for students to access resources, absorb knowledge and gather thoughts. Here are some of our must-visit libraries across the UK.

The British Library, London

Located in London, the British Library is home to over 170 million items. The collections offer a glimpse into literary heritage over the ages, from books to maps to manuscripts. Visitors can browse treasures including Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook. Students with a reading pass are known to spend hours at a time in the reading rooms.

Bodleian Old Library, Oxford

Dating back to 1488, the Bodleian Old Library has three notable reading rooms. It is celebrated for its late Gothic architecture. You may recognize the elaborately carved ceiling from scenes in Harry Potter. Students at the university automatically get access to the library.

John Rylands Library, Manchester

Opened in 1900, this library is part of the University of Manchester, one of the top five universities in the UK. This library offers limitless research potential for students. Whether you want to make use of the rich collections available, or simply explore the site, this library should be on everyone’s must-see list.

The Mitchell Library, Glasgow

The Mitchell Library is one of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks. On the top of the copper dome (圆屋顶) is a bronze statue of the Roman goddess, Minerva. Visitors can climb the dome for the city’s most distinctive rooftop views.

1. Which library requires a reading pass to enter the reading room?

A．The British Library.	B．The Mitchell Library.
C．John Rylands Library.	D．Bodleian Old Library.

2. At the Mitchell Library, tourists can        .

A．join research groups

B．admire Gothic architecture

C．enjoy Glasgow’s rooftop views

D．refer to Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook

3. In which column of a newspaper can the passage be found?

A．Culture.

B．Fashion.

C．Science.

D．Entertainment.

10 . Top Chinese Restaurants in the Greater Seattle Area

Dumpling Generation

As the name implies, baskets of steamed dumplings are the move here. The wrappers are hand-rolled—not too thin or thick—and the fillings are savory and juicy. Ifyou prefer a strong taste, get the dumplings that include Chinese chives (韭菜), which have large, flat leaves that aren’t afraid to announce their presence.

Xi’an Noodles

Biang biang noodles take their name from the satisfying sound you hear when chefs slap dough (面团) on the counter. The impact creates the specialty noodles of the northwest Chinese city of Xi’an. These chewy, hand-ripped noodles center in most dishes on the menu. Order them as a soup,or as a bowl tossed with spicy cumin (孜然) lamb or just some chili hot oil.

Friendship BBQ

The Northeastern-Chinese-style grilled baroque restaurant is actually the Seattle branch of a New York-based chain. Meats and seafood come coated in a cumin-forward seasoning with your choice of spice level. Don’t miss the side dishes, including the garlic eggplant, which is roasted until the flesh is covered with a garlic sauce. Despite its authentic taste, you’ll constantly be wowed by its cool new recipes. That’s probably what sets it apart in the Chinese food scene.

Imperial Garden

The dim sum menu contains all the favorites and any extras make great takeaway. But Imperial Garden’s star remains the Peking Roast Duck—shaved pieces of meat topped with long narrow pieces of shiny duck skin,served with steamed pancakes. While the restaurant uses white tablecloths and is spacious enough to accommodate large banquets, the vibe (氛围) isn’t formal.

1. What do Dumpling Generation and Xi’an Noodles have in common?

A．Steamed foods.	B．Plain taste.
C．Handmade dishes.	D．Northwestern origin.

2. How is Friendship BBQ different from other Chinese restaurants?

A．It’s not locally owned.	B．It has innovative spirit.
C．It features roasted dishes.	D．It has casual atmosphere.

3. If you plan to organize a grand family gathering, which is the most suitable place?

A．Imperial Garden.	B．Dumpling Generation.
C．Friendship BBQ.	D．Xi’an Noodles.