1 . Kruger National Park is, in a word, life-changing. One of the top attractions in South Africa, and one of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger National Park is a must for any wildlife lover.
Kruger National Park Animals
Nothing will prepare you for the huge volume of wildlife that you’ll be able to see in Kruger National Park. The park is home to 114 different species of reptiles; more than 500 species of birds; and 147 mammals. Not only will you have the opportunity to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino), but you’ll see tons of other mammals like zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, impalas, and many more.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park?
The driest months being June, July, and August are the best time of year to visit the park, when the days are sunny and warm and the nights are cooler. Many trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, and water sources dry up, making it easier to spot game around the remaining waterholes.
Driving in Kruger National Park
What makes Kruger National Park unique from other parks is that it is accessible via self-drive. Many people who come to the park come with their own vehicle because it’s considerably more affordable than taking a guided tour. Doing a self-drive safari (游猎) also gives you more flexibility with your timing.
1. How does the writer show the diversity of animals in Kruger National Park?| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By using illustrations. | D．By classifying facts. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．It has unique animals. | B．It offers a flexible time. |
| C．It allows self-drive. | D．It charges fairly low. |
July 1971, I was taking a summer class in Black-American literature on the campus of SUNY Oneonta in northern New York. Professor James walked into the classroom and announced that he had invited a special guest to class, but his guest was delayed. The class stirred with curiosity and anticipation.
“Who’s coming?” someone asked.
“All I will tell you is that he is the author of one of the books you have read for this class,” he said. “I need a volunteer to meet him in the hall of the administration building and take him here.”
To my amazement, my right hand shot up as though it had a mind of its own. “What am I doing?” I thought. I never volunteered for anything. I was shy and uncomfortable meeting new people. In fact, I was absolutely the wrong person for this job. Realizing my mistake, I pulled my hand down quickly, but it was too late.
“Thank you, David,” Professor James said. “You’d better leave now. He’ll be arriving any minute.”
Seeing no way to back out, I reluctantly got out of my seat and headed for the classroom door. When I reached it, I stopped.
“Umm,” I said. “If I don’t know who this person is, how will I recognize him? I’d hate to bring back the wrong guy.”
Professor James laughed. “Good point,” he said. He pulled me aside and whispered a name in my ear. “Alex Haley,” he said.
“Really?” I said. I gave a thumbs-up to the class and left the room.
As I entered the empty hallway, I criticized myself for volunteering. “Why didn’t you let someone else do this?” Alex Haley was the author of The Autobiography (自传) of Malcolm X. He was also famous for his diligence, perseverance and in-depth thinking.
As I walked across the campus, my anxiety grew. I feared that I was about to embarrass myself in front of this famous gentleman by asking stupid questions, or worse, accompanying him in painful silence. I reached the front steps and climbed them slowly.
注意：1.所续写短文的词数应为150 左右;
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
As I pulled open the heavy glass door, I realized why I raised my hand to volunteer for this job.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“I’d like to become a writer, but I don’t know if I have the talent,” I said.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon
Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024, for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon! Starting in North Brooklyn, the route offers stunning waterfront views and passes under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Experience the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, from Fulton Street & Flatbush Avenue to the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, and finish in Prospect Park.
Registration:
Fees for NYCRUNS members are $135 if registered by December 13th. Non-members pay $150. Register early to secure your spot in this unforgettable race! NYCRUNS members can enjoy a $10 discount on the registration fee. Additionally, up to 50% of the race fee can be covered using Race Credit.
Amenities:
NYCRUNS is known for putting on running events of the highest quality. After the race, celebrate your achievement with the official race shirt and an incredible medal with pride! When you finish, enjoy fresh Brooklyn bagels, NYS apples and more!
Awards:
Top finishers in various age groups will be recognized. Prize money will only be awarded to athletes who complete the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon in a gun time faster than the qualifying time. Athletes may be subject to drug testing to ensure a fair and equal field.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Non-profits interested in group volunteering, please contact us.
Transportation:
Public transportation recommended.
Closest stations: L train to Bedford Avenue, G train to Metropolitan Avenue.
Register today and be a part of this unforgettable Brooklyn experience!
1. What is the starting point of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon?| A．Prospect Park. | B．North Brooklyn. |
| C．Williamsburg Bridge. | D．Manhattan Bridge. |
| A．$75. | B．$135. | C．$150. | D．$200. |
| A．A shirt and a finisher’s medal. | B．Prize money based on the age. |
| C．Free transportation services. | D．A gift from NYS Apple Stores. |
4 . Summer Day Camps
Join the Environmental Learning Center this summer for adventure in the outdoors! We can’t wait to be part of your summer!
Young Experimenters | June17-21 | $200 |
Participate in hands-on experiments from environmental disciplines of science. By using the scientific method, recording data and running experiments, students will study and connect with the natural world. | ||
The Wildness Week | June 24-28 | $220 |
Do you know how to catch a fish, where to find frogs or how to copy the call of a red wing black bird? Do you want to learn how to find pure water and build a temporary living place? We’ll give you the outdoor skills to is cover the hidden wonders of nature. | ||
Animal Antics | July 8-12 | $230 |
From the common squirrel to the mysterious wind scorpion, the ELC is home to an abundance of wildlife. We’ll spend the week studying them through exploration, observation and experimentation. | ||
Outdoor-ologists | July 22-26 | $260 |
Ever wonder what it takes to spend a career out in nature? This week of camp will focus learning about on all the different sorts of people who work outside. | ||
Refund Policy | ||
Cancellations made on or prior to March 20 will be refunded at 100%. Cancellations made between March 21 and April 17 will lose the $50 deposit. Ater April 17 and up to two weeks prior to the first day of camp, a 50% refund will be given. After two weeks prior, no refunds will be given. | ||
| A．To interpret the singing of birds. | B．To experiment on wild animals. |
| C．To get along with wild animals. | D．To survive well in the wild. |
| A．Outdoor-ologists. | B．Animal Antics. |
| C．The Wildness Week. | D．Young Experimenters. |
| A．$230. | B．$180. | C．$115. | D．$50. |
5 . Jump to It
Jumping rope is an activity that contributes to a healthy lifestyle and helps meet your fitness and wellness goals. Here’s how jumping rope benefits you.
It burns calories. How many calories does jumping rope burn? While this depends on your pace on average, you may burn about 100 calories jumping rope for 10 minutes.
It’s easy to do. You can jump rope almost anywhere, making it a great option for on-the-go or when you’re traveling. Some people keep the habit of working out in the open air.
It builds bone density (骨密度). Your bone density decreases as you age. Luckily, jumping rope helps keep your bones strong.
It improves your heart and lungs. Jumping rope strengthens your heart and lungs by raising your heart rate quickly. Those who do rope-jumping exercise have better vital capacity.
It makes you feel good. Did we mention it’s fun? After exercise, your body will release a special chemical, which can help with depression. Therefore, if you get anxious sometimes, being active can also help calm ourselves down.
| A．Others prefer to work at home. |
| B．But what if it’s raining outside? |
| C．So, skip ahead to the good stuff. |
| D．It is actually a load-bearing activity. |
| E．It refers to the amount of air you can breathe out after taking a deep breath. |
| F．Therefore, as a well-rounded exercise, jumping rope helps with weight loss. |
| G．However, bend your knees slightly to avoid injuries to ankles and bones when you land. |
1. What is the aim of the first app?
| A．To make your body flexible. |
| B．To strengthen your muscle. |
| C．To burn your body fat. |
| A．You have to read the instructions. |
| B．You do the same exercise every day. |
| C．You must be fit enough to use it. |
| A．Hard. | B．Boring. | C．Inconvenient. |
| A．Daily Fit Club. | B．Superfit in Ten. | C．Burn the Fat. |
7 . Nobody knows yet what the best way of removing all that carbon will be, but scientists around the world are developing a new method. The Swiss company Climeworks is building big extractor (抽油烟机) fans to remove carbon.
But other scientists are looking to nature’s carbon cycle for inspiration. They’re looking for ways to improve it, speed it up and help it take more carbon out of the air permanently.
One of those scientists is Professor Luke Mackinder, a plant biologist at the University of York. His research into carbon removal is inspired by ocean algac (海藻). “About half of carbon absorption takes place in the ocean,” he says. “Algae are extremely efficient at absorbin g it.”
In order to do this, his team has studied the genetic code (基因密码) of algae to work out which genes play a vital role in carbon absorption. He believes they have now figured this out. “Now we have a list and we can start thinking about how to bring them together in different living things,” he says. “We place the genes into those of other plants. It’s genetic modification.”
Mackinder anticipates adding them to a range of crops and trees. The resulting increased production could be good for food security. Alternatively, they could help to enhance the influence of climate change. It all depends on what we do with the carbon once it’s trapped in those plants. Eating them would quickly return it to the atmosphere. But if instead we find ways to store it, we could keep it out of the atmosphere for good.
Dave Hillyard, chief administrator of the Carbon Technology Research Foundation that is funding Mackinder’s research, says that it is important to fund work on a wide range of carbon removal methods, because “some will not get the results they’re looking for and some will succeed. There are a lot of opportunities here but very little funding and research going into it.”
1. What is discussed in the first paragraph?| A．An approach to carbon removal. | B．A way to improve big extractor fans. |
| C．A means of joining a company. | D．A method of doing scientific research. |
| A．It is secure. | B．It is effective. | C．It is sufficient. | D．It is accessible. |
| A．They bring about great side effects. | B．They are useless for carbon absorption. |
| C．They help increase food production. | D．They have been put into other plants. |
| A．The government’s permission. | B．More scientists’participation. |
| C．Increasing experimental chances. | D．The input into the research. |
8 . Winter vacations don’t have to be about snow. From scenic coastal journeys to wildlife watching, we have found a trip for every type of winter wanderer. Here’re some hot spots.
Road-trip down Oregon’s scenic coast
One of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, this 363-mile stretch of coastline is filled with landscapes, waves, headlands, and winter storms. There’s no shortage of stops on the scenic route from Astoria to Brookıngs. Visit coastal communities, spot sea lions at Shore Acres State Park, watch dancing lellyfish at the Oregon Coast Aquarıum, and explore 79 state parks.
Enjoy the light show in San Antonio, Texas
From late November to early January, millions of twinkling lights decorate the San Antonio River Walk in an eye-catching display. Riverboats carrying diverse mix of bell choirs, folk groups, and Latino bands fill the air with carols on evenings through late December.
Soak in New Mexico’s natural hot springs
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, five national forests, and 17 national parks and monuments, New Mexico is a paradise(乐园) of outdoor adventure. After an active day, loosen up your muscles in comfortable mineral springs.
Celebrate New Year’s Day with the mummers in Philadelphia
On New Year’s Day, thousands of brightly costumed people take to the streets of Philadelphia for the annual Mummers Parade, the oldest continuous folk parade in the U. S. The people line the streets of the City of Brotherly Love from JFK Boulevard down Broad Street to watch the mummers (哑剧演员) flood the city in an explosion of color, music, and dance.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to explore coastal life?| A．Oregon. | B．San Antonio. | C．New Mexico. | D．Philadelphia. |
| A．October 26. | B．November 1. | C．December 16. | D．February 4. |
| A．A history book. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A course plan. | D．An art journal. |
9 . Hong Kong has the largest collection of high-rise buildings on Earth, many of which have been designed by world-famous architects.
HSBC Headquarters Building
In 1979, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) launched an international design competition for its new headquarters. Foster +Partners, headed by architect Sir Norman Foster, won the competition with an out-of-the-box idea. With a budget of roughly S667 million in the day’s currency, the British visionary had the modular (模块化的) pieces constructed in the US, Japan and the UK before shipping them to Hong Kong for assembly (组装).
The Henderson
Zaha Hadid Architects(ZHA) has revealed plans to replace a multi-story car park in Hong Kong’s central business district with a new 623-foot tower. Like so many of ZHA’s visionary projects, the office tower, completed in 2023,integrates technology with natural environments. For instance, there is a sky garden which is an outdoor recreational space with a running track and a planting network that acts as an effective biological air-purifying filter by consuming pollutants.
Two International Finance Centre
On a clear day, you can see straight across Hong Kong from the offices in Two International Finance Center(2IFC), completed in 2003. Designed by the late Cesar Pelli, the 1,352-foot tower was the tallest in the city upon its completion. It transformed the skyline when it opened with its breath taking height and tapered (锥形的) shape, symbolizing Hong Kong’s rise.
Bank of China Tower
The 1,205-foot tower, completed in 1990,broke records at the time and became an instant landmark as the first tower over 985 feet outside North America. A vision of urban energy, expansion and geometry, the Bank of China Tower(BOC Tower)was designed to resemble a bamboo shoot, symbolizing strength, vitality and China’s emergence as a significant player in international finance.
1. What is special about the HSBC Headquarters Building?| A．It was designed by several architect teams. | B．It was funded by countries across the world. |
| C．Its style was considered to be the most creative. | D．Its design was a winning work of a competition. |
| A．HSBC Headquarters Building. | B．The Henderson. |
| C．Two International Finance Centre. | D．Bank of China Tower. |
| A．They are known for being eco-friendly. | B．They were completed in the same century. |
| C．They used to be the tallest in Hong Kong. | D．They were designed by the same architect. |
1. What is the talk mainly about?
| A．A lecture on success. | B．A graduation ceremony． | C．A school award ceremony. |
| A．A girls’ school. | B．A boys’ school. | C．A mixed school. |
| A．A sportsman. | B．A teacher. | C．A singer. |
| A．Confidence. | B．Success. | C．Trying. |
