1 . 语法填空

The good news is that we can change, if we understand     1     habits work. To facilitate     2     positive change in our bad habits, we must first examine our bad habit cycles and then try to adapt them. We can do this by combining the information from our habit cycles     3     our own positive ideas. We can also use the habit cycle     4     (create) good habits.

2 . Everyone dreams of having a magical experience at Disney parks.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This Disney theme park is located at Walt Disney World Attraction in Bay Lake, Florida, USA. They say that Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is one of the most visited Walt Disney World parks. Animals in the Animal Kingdom will surely give you a great experience!

The price in Animal Kingdom for their 1-day ticket is between $116.09 to $122.48. The 3-day ticket is around $309.92 to $329.09.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland will not disappoint you if your family find enjoyment in a theme park. Expect to see all the Disney princesses (公主) and queens, Micky Mouse, and more!

A 1-day ticket for Hong Kong Disneyland park costs around $79 for grown-ups. For a kid, the ticket is about $58, while it costs around $13 each for old men.

Tokyo Disneyland

No matter how many Disney parks around the world you visit, the experience will not be complete without Tokyo Disneyland. This is one of the Disneyland parks which offer rides and attractions that will surely give you an unforgettable experience.

Don’t forget to try Splash Mountain, ride on a log (原木), and end up dropping over a waterfall!

Splash Mountain is a must-try too!

The ticket costs ranging from ¥4,700 — ¥7,800

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris resort is one of the Disney parks you must not miss. There are two theme parks in Disney-land Paris resort.

You will see the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Tower of Terror, and Indiana Jones there.

1-park tickets cost around E59, while the Disneyland Paris 2-park tickets cost roughly f94.

1. How much will a child and his grandpa pay for their tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland?

A．$26.

B．$71

C．$92

D．$137.

2. Which of the following is suitable for you to try dropping on a log?

A．Disney’s Animal Kingdom

B．Hong Kong Disneyland.

C．Tokyo Disneyland

D．Disneyland Paris.

3. In which column can we probably read the text?

A．Entertainment.

B．Education.

C．Science

D．Health

3 . Four best photobooks in 2023

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Following 2020’s smash hit Entangled Life, mycologist Merlin Sheldrake return s just in time for Christmas with an amazing illustrated edition. At over 240 pages, Sheldrake’s passion and knowledge leap off every spread. From the microscopic (微观) to the splendid, the colour images create an entertaining experience.

Anna Atkins: Cyanotypes by Peter Walther

Often copied, seldom improved on, the elegant cyanotypes (氰化钾照片) of Ann a Atkins are timeless. First created in the 1840s, cyanotypes use light-sensitive iron salt solution and exposure to sunlight to create beautiful Prussian blue prints. Peter Walther’s book is comprehensive, 660 pages long, and is perfect for Atkins’ fans or anyone keen to learn.

The Earth in Our Hands by Thomas Pesquet

Thomas Pesquet’s breathtaking collection of photographs taken from the International Space Station(ISS)follows in the footsteps of astronaut Don Pettit’s Spaceborne. Pesquet took more than 245,000 images over two missions, with his book including 200 of these. It is the closest most of us will get to being on the ISS — a really immersive read.

Looking at Trees by Sophie Howarth

Sophie Howarth’s absorbing book features 26 of the world’s leading photographers, including Nicholas J. R. White and Anna Beeke. From a framed Hollywood juniper in California to a surreal (超现实的) image of Halfway Gardens in Gauteng, South Africa, Howarth asks us to value trees at a time of environmental challenge. A book you will return to.

1. How many pages are contained in the book Anna Atkins: Cyanotypes?

A．Over 240.

B．660.

C．About 200.

D．Over 26.

2. Which book’s pictures were taken in the International Space Station?

A．Entangled Life.	B．Anna Atkins: Cyanotypes.
C．The Earth in Our Hands.	D．Looking at Trees.

3. What does Sophie Howarth call on people to do with his book?

A．Value trees.	B．Take pictures.
C．Go on a trip.	D．Maintain a good image.

4 . Brian Tracy is a very famous Canadian-born motivational speaker, and it is safe enough to say that he is one of the best ones out there. Brian is _______ good at the fields of public speaking, leadership and success psychology. _______, it did not begin for Brian like that, as he was the troublemaker of the family.

Brian Tracy was born in Canada in 1944 and _______ in the United States. His early childhood was spent in many locations, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and California. His family _______frequently and he was often in a new school. His mother was a _______single parent who held down three jobs to _______the family.

In his childhood, he fell in love with reading, which brought him great _______ and helped him go through these tough years. Tracy read _______ books, including biographies (传记) and books on success, personal development and history. His reading gave him an _______ that was far beyond his years. Although his life was full of ________ , Tracy’s optimism and determination eventually ________ his success. His early childhood experiences ________ his beliefs and values, and he ________ them to his later life and career.

His deeds are an inspiration to many people in trouble and he has one main message for everyone out there, “I believe through ________ and the application of what you have learned, you can ________ any obstacle and achieve any goal that you set for yourself.”

1.

A．obviously

B．generally

C．occasionally

D．extremely

2.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Besides

D．Otherwise

3.

A．raised

B．adopted

C．acknowledged

D．noted

4.

A．moved

B．escaped

C．exchanged

D．quarreled

5.

A．confident

B．hardworking

C．cautious

D．patient

6.

A．build

B．assist

C．save

D．support

7.

A．name

B．confusion

C．delight

D．attention

8.

A．various

B．best-selling

C．similar

D．special

9.

A．insight

B．opinion

C．experience

D．achievement

10.

A．chances

B．risks

C．hardships

D．threats

11.

A．held back

B．resulted from

C．turned over

D．contributed to

12.

A．ruined

B．weakened

C．shaped

D．reflected

13.

A．transformed

B．applied

C．exposed

D．reached

14.

A．practicing

B．learning

C．seeking

D．creating

15.

A．overcome

B．pose

C．hit

D．encounter

5 . Every year—for more than 15 years running—Amazon editors come together to decide on the Best Books of the Year. Below are the top 4 picks, along with quotes from the editors.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

“Though divided by centuries, three women, who share a unique connection to the natural world and to one, another, tell their amazing stories of coldness, danger, and survival in a beautifully written novel that is an impressive read.” —Seira Wilson

Happy Place by Emily Henry

“Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels!More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how—as adults—we deal with this thing called life.”—Kami Tei

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

“Please get ready. This true story of violence and murder, adventure, and ambition on the high seas is a page-turner. You can almost feel the salt stuck on your skin as the ship and its noisy shipmen fight against the bad weather and each other for becoming rich and famous. David Grann,once again, has made history come alive.” —Al Woodworth

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

“I will not soon forget Lady Tan. A historical story grounded in women, medicine, and tradition, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is heart-touching, and I found myself underlining throughout this inviting read.” —Kami Tei

1. What is Happy Place mainly about?

A．Adventures of adults.	B．Connection to nature:
C．Mixed feelings of life.	D．Challenges of growing up.

2. Who wrote a novel based on a true story?

A．Ann Napolitano.	B．Emily Henry
C．David Grann.	D．Lisa See

3. What do Hello Beautiful and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women have in common?

A．They are set in history.	B．They are about women.
C．They cover several centuries.	D．They focus on dangers of life.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does Kevin think of abstract art?

A．It has lasting artistic value.

B．It makes little sense to him.

C．It appeals mainly to children.

2. What impression did the first painting give the woman?

A．Hopefulness.

B．Nervousness.

C．Coldness.

3. What color was used for the background in the second painting?

A．Green.

B．Purple.

C．Red.

4. What will Kevin probably do this Saturday?

A．Attend an art class.

B．Visit an exhibition.

C．Buy an abstract painting.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What course does Professor Brooks teach?

A．Public Speaking.

B．European History.

C．English Literature.

2. Why does Vicky come to talk with Professor Brooks?

A．To sign up for his course.

B．To ask for a make-up test.

C．To discuss her homework.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does Linda do for plays and shows?

A．She gives actors advice.

B．She assigns roles to actors.

C．She designs actors’ clothes.

2. What does Linda need to research?

A．The setting of the story.

B．The decoration of the stage.

C．The names of the characters.

3. Who does Linda report her work to?

A．The director.

B．The editor.

C．The photographer.

4. What does Linda say about her job?

A．It pays very well.

B．It requires team effort.

C．It involves frequent travel.

9 . Recently, a set of video clips (片段) featuring a man showcasing umbrellas with various creative designs has gone viral on the Internet, even spreading overseas and attracting foreign netizens with the unimaginable “Chinese creativity”, CCTV news reported.

In the clips, there are shining laser (激光) reflective umbrellas to dispel darkness, umbrellas with floor-length plastic curtains to prevent one’s clothes from getting wet, twin umbrellas specially designed for couples and many others. All of them are made by the man in the clips, Lei Penglin. 38-year-old Lei has operated an umbrella factory in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Netizens affectionately call him “uncle” due to his performances in the clips.

In 2014, Lei established his own factory. At first, his factory received thousands of orders. However, as the competition intensified, Lei had to explore new opportunities. He found that creative and unique products always stood out. Therefore, Lei started to infuse creative ideas into the products and, in 2022, his umbrella with an attached flashlight gained popularity. “Consumers pursue personalized products. So the umbrellas have to function as decorations aside from just preventing sunshine and rain,” Lei said.

In the comment section of the product videos, Lei noticed an interesting request with many likes, suggesting to him to make a reflective umbrella for walking in the dark. Following the advice, Lei created the “laser reflective umbrella”, selling over 70,000 units once upon release. From then on, Lei started to attach great importance to comments to absorb new ideas.

Presently, Lei spends several hours reading comments every day. “Basically 300 to 500 comments a day, I will read and reply to them all by myself. Only by carefully observing can I know everyone’s need, and solve the after-selling problems on time,” he said. Several products developed based on the comments have been on shelf. “Almost all the umbrellas made so far can be sold; none have suffered loss,” Lei introduced.

In the future, Lei hopes to make some Chinese-style umbrellas that can be paired with Han-style clothing. “I want to try something new and also advocate for our Chinese culture,” Lei added.

1. What is the feature of Lei’s umbrellas?

A．Conventional.

B．Innovative.

C．Unimaginative.

D．Durable.

2. What does the underlined word “infuse” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Divide.

B．Burst.

C．Integrate.

D．Emerge.

3. What is Lei’s attitude towards his future career?

A．Uncertain.	B．Indifferent.
C．Dissatisfied.	D．Optimistic.

4. What contributes most to Lei’s success according to the author?

A．Promoting his products through social media.

B．Paying attention to customers’ comments and needs.

C．Seeking uniqueness to compete with other producers.

D．Adding elements of traditional culture to his products.

10 . South Africa does have a calendar filled with more festivals than most people can think of. In fact, many of these festivals have won international popularity.

Aardklop Arts Festival

Every year during the last week of September, the southern region of the northwest province prepares itself for one of the country’s greatest cultural festivals. Held in the university town of Potchefstroom with its thousands of students, it offers a five-day feast of classical music, jazz, hard rock, visual arts, poetry and more, ending with the “OppiAarde” rock festival on the final day.

Grahamstown National Arts Festival

At the end of June each year Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape is transformed into one huge happening for a period of 11 days, when the Grahamstown National Arts Festival gets underway. It’ s a national phenomenon of arts. The festival offers more than 500 shows from opera, drama and jazz to stand-up comics and folk music.

Arts Alive International Festival

The Arts Alive International Festival , held in Johannesburg every September since 1992, is an annual festival of music, dance, theatre and performance-poetry. Over 600 artists take part in the four-day festival, which consists of a musical feast, dance performances and events , poetry readings , theatrical productions, and workshops. The festival ends with the popular “Jazz on the Lake“ held on the final day.

Cape Town Jazz Festival

Since its birth in the year 2000, the Cape Town Jazz Festival has grown into a successful international event. Arguably the best jazz festival in Africa, it takes place in Cape Town every last weekend in March. It features around 40 international and local artists. Performances are held on stages in exhibition halls throughout Cape Town, including one free , open-air show.

1. Which festival lasts the shortest?

A．Aardklop Arts Festival.	B．Cape Town Jazz Festival.
C．Arts Alive International Festival.	D．Grahamstown National Arts Festival,

2. Where should you go to enjoy“Jazz on the Lake”?

A．Potchefstroom.

B．Grahamstown.

C．Johannesburg.

D．Cape Town.

3. What can visitors do at all of the four festivals?

A．Enjoy music.	B．Taste cuisine.
C．Appreciate drama.	D．Experience local customs.