1 . If you want to stay in any of these luxurious hotel suites, you’d better get saving now, with a night’s stay topping the average annual salary.

Royal Suite

The Royal Suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York, which comes in at $40,000 a night, features three bedrooms, private elevator access, and large windows overlooking Fifth Avenue. Other features in the apartment include a grand piano, a dining room to seat 12, and a king­sized master bedroom.

Royal Penthouse Suite

A stay at the Royal Penthouse Suite at Hotel President Wilson in Geneva will make you shocked at the bill in the morning, which costs $80,000 a night. The 12-bedroom Royal Penthouse covers the entire eighth floor and shows amazing views of Lake Geneva through floor-to-ceiling bay windows. As guests walk in, they’re greeted by a light-filled living room with a grand piano and a collection of rare books.

Penthouse

The fashionable Penthouse at the Faena Hotel in Miami costs you $50,000 a night. The contemporary suite features two levels of spacious gathering areas and dining rooms. Each of the suite’s five bedrooms have furnished balconies, so guests can enjoy sunrise to sunset views over the coast.

Princess Grace Suite

Hotel de Paris in Monaco once hosted the wedding reception of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, in whose honor the Princess Grace Suite was newly opened. In the sunny apartment, there are two bedrooms, a gym, an office, toilets on each floor, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and luxury bathrooms. The price tag follows the royal theme, with stays coming in at $37,000 a night.

1. Which suite will you choose if you are a book lover?

A．Royal Suite.	B．Royal Penthouse Suite.
C．Penthouse.	D．Princess Grace Suite.

2. What can you do at the Penthouse?

A．Enjoy the view of Fifth Avenue.

B．Take a walk around Lake Geneva.

C．Attend the wedding of the royal family.

D．Admire sunrise and sunset over the coast.

3. How much does the suite with a gym cost for one night?

A．$37,000．

B．$40,000．

C．$50,000．

D．$80,000．

2 . What I Saw on the Hibiscus Airship

C. L.Heng

$43.95

A girl on a great journey to find her destiny (命运) realizes the power of wrong doings, unsung heroes, and most of all, love. What I Saw on the Hibiscus Airship is a story of adventure and family.

The Tiger and the Leopardess (母豹)

Ho Khong Ming

$23.05

An old hungry tiger is on the hunt for a meal and meets an unhappy leopardess. Can enemies trust each other? In this story, The Tiger and the Leopardess, will hate or love influence their relationship?

Privatization of Facility Management in Public Hospitals

Hong Poh Fan

$40.65

Hong Poh Fan explores the transition public hospitals have undertaken (负责) to improve services in Malaysia. He shares lessons learned over a fifteen­year period of hospital privatization in this detailed examination of how to improve health care.

Escape to America

Tetsuo Fukuyama

$38.45

Fukuyama decided to leave his homeland and experiment with a completely different lifestyle: living in New York City. This story of how the author’s courage and determination helped him survive in difficult conditions will encourage readers to find their own happiness.

1. Which of the following is all adventure book?

A．Privatization of Facility Management in Public Hospitals.

B．What I Saw on the Hibiscus Airship.

C．The Tiger and the Leopardess.

D．Escape to America.

2. Who explored love and hate in his book?

A．Tetsuo Fukuyama.	B．Hong Poh Fan.
C．C.L.Heng.	D．Ho Khong Ming.

3. What do we know about Escape to America?

A．It describes life in Malaysia.

B．It is for practical use.

C．It is based on real­life events.

D．It tells a story about friendship.

3 . Imagine a world where kindness rules, where people help their neighbors, and where communities gather to create positive change in the world together. But you don’t have to imagine it, for you can live it by joining millions of other like-minded changemakers on Good Deeds Day(GDD). This global day of volunteering falls on April 16 in 2023.

How it began

“I believe that if people think good, speak good and do good, the circles of goodness will grow in the world,” said Shari Arison, philanthropist, businesswoman, and the founder of GDD. That’s what led to the creation of GDD which began in just one country in 2007 and went global in 2011. This global day of helping others has united millions of people from 108 countries in organizing doing good projects, improving their communities and providing inspiration to do good on GDD and every day.

Activities range from small projects like painting a community center or blood drives to large projects like a massive beach clean-up in Greece in 2022. While GDD went virtual in 2020, there are many large community events planned for 2023.

How to take part

Get involved in GDD in three easy steps. Save the date on your phone or computer, register on the website, and then let the GDD people know what you are planning to do.

You can find a volunteer opportunity through Points of Light, a nonprofit organization. Another resource is VolunteerMatch, a nonprofit that matches volunteers with causes they support.

Whatever project you participate in will make a difference to a person, a community, or even the world.

1. What will you do in a GDD project?

A．Join a club.	B．Meet some famous people.
C．Do voluntary work.	D．Visit a community.

2. What contributed to the founding of CDD?

A．A similar event.	B．The like-minded changemakers.
C．The communities’ inspiration.	D．The founder’s belief.

3. How can you participate in CDD?

A．By calling the person in charge.

B．By registering on the website as scheduled.

C．By matching volunteers with causes.

D．By knowing what the GDD people are doing.

4 . Across the world, young people are shaping the future in many fields. Their ideas are transforming communities and society. Here’s a look at the achievements of four inspirational young leaders.

Kwiri Yang

Kwiri is the founder and CEO of LifeGyde, an online platform for young people to seek advice, guidance and support. She has an impressive track record of supporting individuals and small businesses.

She first helped immigrant owners of small businesses in California. When she developed anxiety and depression, Kwiri realized how many people, like her, were struggling with their mental health — and LifeGyde was born.

Abi Ramanan

Abi is the co-founder and CEO of ImpactVision, a software platform that uses machine learning to reduce food waste.

ImpactVision’s technology uses digital imaging to take a picture of food and analyze its nutritional value and freshness. The system aims to reduce waste while also improving food safety. As technology advances, the sensors it uses are reducing in size and price, and could soon be integrated into everyday devices.

Oana Toiu

Oana is the founder and general manager of Social Innovation Solutions, which offers training and consultancy in social innovation.

She’s also on the Board of Directors of The Entrepreneurship Academy, where students work in teams, learning about business by running real businesses under the guidance of a team coach.

Doreen Kessy

Doreen is CEO of Ubongo, a multi-media educational platform in Africa. Using the power of entertainment and mass media, the company provides educational material at low cost and high volume.

Some 6.4 million households in 31 countries currently watch, listen and learn from Ubongo’s cartoons each week, with improved outcomes in maths and school readiness.

1. What is Kwiri Yang’s achievement?

A．She found a cure for mental diseases.

B．She established a company on immigration.

C．She supported the young in their mental health.

D．She set up an online learning platform for kids.

2. Which field does Abi Ramanan’s platform mainly focus on?

A．Health care.

B．Education.

C．Technology.

D．Food safety.

3. What do these four people share in common?

A．They are young, energetic and wealthy.	B．They create jobs for many young people.
C．They made contributions to communities.	D．They encouraged the young to do business.

5 . Giving Tuesday is the perfect time for you to help out some pets in need. And we have a few ideas.

By design, Giving Tuesday arrives the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and is a perfect time to give to those less fortunate. That includes dogs, thousands of whom will be spending the holidays in shelters rather than loving homes. For a few dollars, you can make their stay a little easier.

Here are several ways you can contribute to animal welfare on Giving Tuesday.

Your Local Animal Shelter

This is the best way to see an immediate impact while keeping dollars in your area. Shelters almost certainly could use your help. If you can’t adopt a pet or donate some time, a money gift is the next best option.

Find your local rescue’s website or social media profile and see if they have a page where you can donate. You can also check and see if the organization has a wish list you can view. Then you can buy something you’re sure they need.

Organizations Affected By Natural Disasters

2022 was yet another year full of natural disasters, whether it’s flooding, hurricanes, or fires. Through it all, shelters and rescues keep caring for their dogs and cats, keeping them safe and healthy.

Then comes the aftermath (余波). Shelters still have to care for many lost or homeless pets—numbers that often increase after disasters—as their communities clean up and rebuild. There’s no pause as their jobs get harder. If you know of an animal welfare organization affected by a disaster this year—natural or otherwise—they could use some help.

Plenty More Giving Opportunities

There is no shortage of places to donate on Giving Tuesday, so if you’re still unsure on where to direct your generosity—or, hopefully, willing to give to a few organizations—here are even more ideas.

Canine Cellmates, a program that aims to train dogs to be adoptable
America’s VetDogs, which partners service dogs with veterans (老兵)
Best Friends Society, an organization dedicated to avoiding the euthanisation (使安乐死) of shelter dogs
Biscuits and Bones, which organizes dog food donations

There are hundreds of other worthy organizations not listed here, so research your own area and give somewhere close to your heart.

1. Which of the following is the best way to help your local animal shelter?

A．Donating money	B．Volunteering
C．Providing animals	D．Saving dollars

2. Why are natural disasters challenging for animal shelters?

A．It is hard to clean up	B．They are easily damaged
C．Pets tend to become unhealthy	D．They have more animals to deal with

3. Which organization prepares dogs for new homes?

A．Best Friends Society

B．America’s VetDogs

C．Canine Cellmates

D．Biscuits and Bones

6 . From life-saving medical technologies to everyday household items, these four brilliant women left an indelible mark on history with their inventions.

Modern ironing board by Sarah Boone

Before the invention, clothing used to be ironed on wooden planks balanced between chairs. Though it seems like a simple invention, Bone put a lot of thoughts into it, which was evident in the end product. Aside from solving the initial problem of uneven ironing, Boone also made the ironing board’s legs folded for storage and designed a curved (弧形的) shape for the body to accommodate sleeves and curved areas. Alongside her invention, Boone also became one of the first African-American woman to receive a patent.

Silk by Empress Lei Zu

Though there is no way of confirming the account, ancient writings (including Confucius’) attribute the first invention of silk to the Chinese Empress Lei Zu, who was four-teen at the time and had been enjoying tea in the imperial gardens when a fateful incident took place. A cocoon (茧) fell into her teacup and lost its cohesiveness (粘结性) upon contact with the hot water. The fact that the cocoon was a single strand of silk had drawn Lei Zu’s attention and she wove the thread into fabric, creating silk cloth.

Caller ID and call waiting by Shirley Ann Jackson

Dr Shirley Ann Jackson broke the glass ceiling as the first African-American woman to be awarded a doctorate from MIT. She contributed to the invention of caller ID and call waiting during her research period at AT&.T Bell Laboratories, so we can now see the phone number and name of whoever is ringing our phones.

Spray-on skin repair technique by Fiona Wood

Dr Fiona Wood introduced spray-on skin repair technique to the world in the 1990s. The technique changed the way in which burn victims used to be treated, as spray-on skin repair technique can be directly applied to wounds to form a new layer of skin that promotes healing and minimises the risk of infection.

1. What can we learn about Sarah Boone?

A．She learned a lot from ironing.	B．She solved the problem of washing.
C．She created a piece of useful furniture.	D．She was the first person to receive a patent.

2. What inspired Lei Zu to find silk?

A．Her interest in drinking tea.	B．A cocoon dropping into her cup.
C．A desire to write something crucial.	D．Her working in the imperial gardens.

3. Who made a contribution to medical cause?

A．Sarah Boone.

B．Lei Zu.

C．Shirley Ann Jackson.

D．Fiona Wood.

7 . Cold rains, icy sidewalks and gray skies can make winter travel a trial. But hot drinks, snowy slopes, frozen lakes and blue skies full of fresh air? That’s the kind of winter we can all have a try. Here are some cities around the world that make for a great cold-weather destination.

Prague, Czech Republic

With its snow-capped towers and cobbled winding streets, Prague is a fairytale city that remains relatively tourist-free in winter. The unusual and impressive architecture looks even prettier under a sheet of snow. Gas street lamps throughout the city center add a romantic color to evenings. Cafes here are ideal for escaping the bitter cold. The fascinating Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the world premiere(首演) of “Don Giovanni” in 1787, is a must.

Tromso, Norway

Tromso, known as the capital of the Arctic, is great in winter. It’s widely regarded as Norway’s most beautiful city and is a base for spotting the northern lights. There are also fascinating museums, including the Polar Museum, which offers an insight into the history of Arctic expeditions, and the Tromso Museum, famous for its Sami exhibitions.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

In winter, Amsterdam’s museums are much less crowded, making it the time to visit attractions such as Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. Built originally to house a circus, the Royal Carré Theatre is more than 130 years old. Children will love the spectacular performances.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Cobbled streets, a beautiful castle and lovely public gardens make Edinburgh a beautiful city any time of year, but in winter it’s breathtaking. Princes Street Gardens is transformed into a wonderland, with ice skating rinks, enormous Christmas trees and a Ferris wheel. On the edge of the city, Arthur’s Seat is the perfect location for a winter walk and the views from the top are second to none.

1. What is one of the attractions of Prague in winter?

A．No charge for all tourists.

B．Iconic architectures covered by snow.

C．Colorful gas lamps for street lighting.

D．Mozart’s performance “Don Giovanni”.

2. If you take your 4-year-old kid, which place is the best choice?

A．Prague, Czech Republic.	B．Tromso, Norway.
C．Amsterdam, Netherlands.	D．Edinburgh, Scotland.

3. Where is this text probably from?

A．A tour blog.	B．A travel magazine.
C．A geography textbook.	D．A government website.

8 . Nature embraces us with beauty. Below, you will learn a list of famous natural reserves.

Natural Park of the Coral Sea

New Caledonia is famous for its beautiful nature, diverse species and wonderful coastal ecosystems. The Natural Park of the Coral Sea safeguards large marine (海洋的) habitats vital to the inhabitants, wildlife, and environmental protection of the territories in the south western Pacific region. The Natural Park of the Coral Sea in New Caledonia is a shelter for sharks, whales and turtles. Unique world-class diving locations can be found in the Natural Park of the Coral Sea.

The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Located in the central Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Remote Islands Monument area includes seven islands. There are 165 identified oceanic plates in the sites of diversity and species richness. It is one of the most beautiful tropical marine habitats. The island hosts corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, land birds, insects, and the flora (植物群) existing nowhere else on the planet.

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI-MPA)

SGSSI-MPA is a vast natural preservation and conservation area in the far southern Atlantic Ocean. Due to the isolated geography and freezing weather throughout the year, few inhabitants live in this location. The marine reserve’s laws in this location are highly restrictive, with no commercial fishing permitted.

Coral Sea Marine Park

The park is one of the world’s largest marine parks and is located off the coastlines outside the Great Barrier Reef. Coral reefs, deep-sea plains and canyons (峡谷) are among the unique ecosystems found in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Additionally, the marine park preserves sixteen bottom ecosystems, including canyons and plains. It consists of 34 larger reef zones and 15, 000 square kilometers of shallow reef systems followed by much marine life.

1. What is special about the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument?

A．Shellfish.	B．Rich species.
C．Unique flora.	D．Seven islands.

2. Why do few people live in SGSSI-MPA?

A．The climate is too extreme.	B．It’s a large preservation area.
C．Commercial fishing is banned.	D．It’s far from the Atlantic Ocean.

3. What do the four reserves have in common?

A．They are in the Pacific Ocean.	B．They are marine reserves.
C．They have some canyons.	D．They contain plains.

9 . Cheap and even free volunteering programs are everywhere. Don’t worry about a budget that may stop you from volunteering abroad! Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary (保护区) is the right place for you.

Highlights

Volunteer with elephants and bring them back into their natural habitat.

Make a difference in the conservation efforts to save elephants living under awful conditions.

Help teach English to the communities and raise awareness about the captive (圈养的) elephant situation.

Wander the forests and observe elephant’s natural behaviours in their home environment.

Our Sanctuary

Our sanctuary has rescued 5 elephants from the tourism industry and we have now brought them home to live out their lives in the forest, in semi-wild conditions. We need volunteers to help us keep these elephants happy and healthy in their natural habitat. With volunteer support. we hope to return more elephants to the forest soon.

Your tasks

Performing research on the natural elephant behaviours and the surrounding forest.

Taking part in community projects such as teaching English at the school and to other locals.

Carrying out litter pick-ups with the kids to educate on waste management.

Your Rough Schedule:

Day 1: Pickup from Chiang Mai at 9 am. Travel through a national park and stunning mountains until you arrive in our unique village. Meet your homestay family and the other volunteers, and immerse yourself in hill tribe culture.

Day 2: Wake up early to hike in the forest and find our elephants. Spend the morning recording and learning about these amazing animals and their natural behaviours. Return to the village in the late afternoon and take part in our community & teaching projects.

Day 3: Another early start to like to observe our elephants one last time. Return to Chiang Mai in the afternoon.

1. Which of the following highlights the volunteer work at the sanctuary?

A．Looking after captive elephants.

B．Seeking elephants in natural forests.

C．Learning local communities’ folk arts.

D．Saving elephants in poor environment.

2. What should you do as a volunteer?

A．Establish experimental bases.

B．Promote educational programs.

C．Enhance cultural exchange.

D．Start anti-poverty projects.

3. What should you keep in mind if you want to volunteer there?

A．You should have good ability of hiking.

B．You can choose your own transportation.

C．You may camp on the mountain for days.

D．You must be familiar with local languages.

10 . The marathoner Molly Seidel was the third American woman in history to win an Olympic medal in the marathon, but her road to success was not smooth. She skipped the 2016 U. S. Olympic trials to make her mental health a priority. Seidel thought her career might be over back in 2016. Treatment changed everything. She became a better athlete than ever. When she crossed the finish line at the Tokyo Olympics, she screamed with joy.

In a world that rewards constant toughness, Seidel’s breakthrough was a case study in the value of patience and self care. Despite the conventional wisdom that the career of a professional athlete should be an unbroken upward path to peak performance, Seidel stepped away to protect her health, recovered, and came back stronger.

Many of the most storied moments in Olympics history are simplified examples of athletes pushing past pain, injury and mental exhaustion to compete. Who can forget Kerri Strug who in 1996 vaulted on an injured ankle, then was carried off the mat to receive her medal? But the story of this most recent Olympics was athletes choosing to protect their health instead of sacrificing it to compete.

The gymnast Simone Biles was a typical example, when she declined to compete after experiencing a bad case of “the twisties”. Top athletes across global competitions this year spoke openly about stepping back from competition to recalibrate. The British cricketer Ben Stokes recently announced an “indefinite break” from the game to check into treatment for his mental health; the tennis star Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open; and the British swimmer Adam Peaty celebrated winning two gold medals in Tokyo with the announcement that he’s taking a month off to take care of himself.

Seidel’s Olympic performance proves this approach: Giving yourself time to heal and rest is not just the compassionate thing to do for your health. It can be also the smartest strategy for success. It’s a powerful lesson in how to handle the natural derailments (脱轨) of life. We’re seeing burnout. Olympians, are warning us to the problems of an overly goal-oriented society.

1. Seidel gave up the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials to ________.

A．attend the Tokyo Olympics	B．receive mental treatment
C．put and end to her athlete career	D．improve her performance

2. The conventional wisdom holds that professional athletes tend to ________.

A．value patience and self care	B．take a break when necessary
C．keep up training until they succeed	D．protect their health instead of sacrificing it

3. Why are the examples given in paragraph 4?

A．To give advice on how to win gold medals.

B．To emphasize how cruel the competition is.

C．To show athletes caring more about their health.

D．To tell training stories of some successful athletes.

4. What may be the author’s attitude towards athletes like Seidel?

A．Supportive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Cautious.

D．Unclear.