1 . Some travelers are itching to escape the season’s bitter weather. If you want to find the locale that best suits your winter vacation, use these ideas to start planning your getaway.

Honolulu - Oahu

As temperatures begin to drop in other parts of the world, Hawaii’s capital city remains comfortable thanks to average highs in the low to 80 degrees. Visit Chinatown for festive Chinese New Year celebrations, or marvel at the Honolulu City Lights, a month-long Christmas display at Honolulu’s city hall. Keep in mind that winter is the island’s high season, so make your reservations early and expect to share the sand with lots of other sun-seeking travelers.

Sydney

Sydney’s summer begins in December and lasts through February, making this a popular destination for tourists escaping the Northern Hemisphere’s chilly winter weather. Average daytime temperatures hover between the mid-70s and low 80s. This time of year also features a packed events calendar, with can’t-miss sporting events and celebrations like the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix and Sydney’s famed New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Remember to book your tickets early, as this can be a pricey and popular time to visit Australia.

Galápagos Islands

Winter in the Galápagos Islands is marked by warm weather and ample opportunities to view wildlife, snorkel and scuba dive. Although this is technically the wet season, the sun shines most days and rain showers are brief. Plan on visiting in December to see newly hatched giant tortoises and male marine lizards displaying vivid colors. For a bit more action, arrive in February to celebrate Carnival on Santa Cruz Island. To read more, click here.

1. What do Oahu and Galapagos Islands have in common?

A．International sports events.	B．Warm sunshine.
C．Diverse wildlife.	D．Festive city lights.

2. What should you do if you want to see a spectacular display of New Year’s Eve fireworks?

A．Book your tickets early to Australia.	B．Arrive in Galápagos Islands by February.
C．Visit Chinatown in the city of Honolulu.	D．Make your reservations early to Hawaii.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．An entertainment magazine.	B．A tourist brochure.
C．A travel agency website.	D．A pre-travel checklist.

3 . In 1970s, a psychologist named J. P. Guilford conducted a famous study of creativity known as the nine-dot puzzle (九点谜题). He challenged research subjects to connect all nine dots using just four straight lines without lifting their pencils from the page. All the participants limited the possible solutions to those within the imaginary square. Only 20 percent managed to break out of the confinement (束缚) and continue their lines in the white space surrounding the dots.

The fact that 80 percent of the participants were effectively blinded by the boundaries of the square led Guilford to jump to the sweeping conclusion that creativity requires you to go outside the box. The idea went viral. Overnight, it seemed that creativity experts everywhere were teaching managers how to think outside the box. The concept enjoyed such strong popularity that no one bothered to check the facts. No one, that is, before two different research teams-Clarke Burnham with Kenneth Davis, and Joseph Alba with Robert Weisberg-ran another experiment.

Both teams followed the same way of dividing participants into two groups. The first group was given the same instructions as the participants in Guilford’s experiment. The second group was told that the solution required the lines to be drawn outside the imaginary box. Guess what? Only 25 percent solved the puzzle. In statistical terms, this 5 percent improvement is insignificant as this could be called sampling error.

Let’s look a little more closely at the surprising result. Solving this problem requires people to literally think outside the box. Yet participants’ performance was not improved even when they were given specific instructions to do so. That is, direct and clear instructions to think outside the box did not help. That this advice is useless should effectively have killed off the much widely spread — and therefore, much more dangerous — metaphor (比喻) that out-of-the-box thinking boosts creativity. After all, with one simple yet brilliant experiment, researchers had proven that the conceptual link between thinking outside the box and creativity was a misunderstanding.

1. What did the nine-dot puzzle study focus on?

A．Visual perception.

B．Thinking patterns.

C．Practical experience.

D．Theoretical knowledge.

2. Why did the two research teams run the follow-up experiment?

A．To test the catchy concept.

B．To contradict the initial idea.

C．To collect supporting evidence

D．To identify the underlying logic.

3. Which of the following best describes the follow-up experiment?

A．Groundless.

B．Inspiring.

C．Fruitless.

D．Revealing.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Puzzle Solving: A Key To Creativity

B．Thinking Outside the Box: A Misguided Idea

C．Nine-Dot Puzzle: A Magic Test

D．Creative Thinking: We Fell For The Trap

4 . When it comes to lowering blood pressure, studies have typically shown that aerobic (有氧的) exercises are best. Recent research suggests another type of physical activity is worth including as an effective tool to prevent and treat high blood pressure.

Exercises that engage muscles without movement, such as wall squats and planks, may be best for lowering blood pressure, according to a large study published in July, 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This type of training is known as isometric exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Isometric muscle action happens when muscles contract but do not visibly change length, and the joints involved don’t move, facilitating stability of the body. Isometric exercises can be done with weights or without, just relying on the body’s own weight.

“These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure,” said study coauthor Dr. Jamie O’Driscoll in a news release.

The researchers looked into randomized controlled trials that had reported the effects of exercise interventions, lasting two or more weeks, on blood pressure between 1990 and February 2023. From a review of 270 trials with 15,827 participants, the researchers found that among HIIT (high intensity interval training), isometric exercise, aerobic exercise, dynamic resistance training and a combination of the latter two, isometric exercise led to the greatest reductions in blood pressure.

It’s also important to note that there are other lifestyle changes as well as exercise that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and ensuring that you continue to take any prescribed medication.

More research is needed to determine exactly why isometric exercises might be better for lowering blood pressure than other types of training, the authors said.

1. What does the underlined part “isometric exercise” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Exercise that is done with extra weights.

B．Exercise that involves visible muscle contraction.

C．Exercise that focuses on stability of the body.

D．Exercise that engages muscles without movement.

2. How did the researchers carry out the study?

A．By providing statistics.	B．By interviewing experts.
C．By doing experiments.	D．By making comparisons.

3. What does the author suggest the future studies about isometric exercise focus on?

A．Exploring the reasons for its effectiveness.

B．Demonstrating its influences on mental health.

C．Assessing its suitability for different populations.

D．Determining its long-term impacts on blood pressure.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The benefits of aerobic exercises.	B．The best exercise for blood pressure.
C．The effects of various types of exercises.	D．The importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle.

5 . Tima Abudhi is a 55-year-old mother of five. When growing up, she remembers watching her neighbors _________ at the mangrove forests (红树林) around her village on Pate Island, on Kenya’s east coast, to build houses or to sell as wood.

As the mangroves _________, so did the fish that live among their roots --- a _________ for the fishing village of Kizingitini. The threat to their livelihoods and homes _________ Abudhi and other women to start replanting the mangroves, often spending all day at the _________, taking time away from caring for their families and _________ their small businesses. Protecting the mangroves over the past few decades has _________ their incomes, but they felt it was a matter of urgency, Abudhi said.

“Replanting the mangroves is not _________. We have to go early in the morning to get the seedlings (幼苗) and then come to the beach and plant them until evening, just before the tides _________ again. We couldn't make __________ time for our businesses,” she said.

Today, the women of Kizingitini no longer have to __________ to both make a living and conserve the mangroves, thanks to a loan scheme that helps them keep food on the table so they can __________ to continue planting. “This has led to increased __________ of women in conservation and community development, as well as reduced __________ inequality,” said Abudhi.

Mangrove forests can __________ flooding and are considered key to controlling climate change and protecting people against warming-linked disasters.

1.

A．cut away

B．settle down

C．set out

D．get up

2.

A．moved

B．disappeared

C．died

D．rose

3.

A．contribution

B．choice

C．disaster

D．luck

4.

A．encouraged

B．motivated

C．forbade

D．persuaded

5.

A．neighbor

B．community

C．beach

D．village

6.

A．selling

B．assessing

C．closing

D．running

7.

A．increased

B．gained

C．produced

D．decreased

8.

A．difficult

B．easy

C．worthwhile

D．suitable

9.

A．return

B．calm

C．withdraw

D．remove

10.

A．hard

B．enough

C．long

D．cheap

11.

A．struggle

B．stop

C．prepare

D．determine

12.

A．attempt

B．witness

C．afford

D．refuse

13.

A．unemployment

B．resignation

C．participation

D．ignorance

14.

A．gender

B．wealth

C．income

D．age

15.

A．cancel

B．keep

C．accelerate

D．slow

6 . It was snowing hard. Gus Kiebel, a county wildlife officer, was driving home from work when he ________ the pair in the flash of his headlights. The father-to-be scanned the roadside so that his struggling ________ might rest safely for the night. He looked over at her ________. They needed a warm ________ from the bitter wind.

Gus parked his truck and ________ the animals. He stretched out his hands to the beagles (比格犬), which made no effort to ________. Then he dialed the number from the dogs’ tags (标牌). A man answered and immediately grew ________ when Gus told him why he was calling. “I gave those dogs away,” the man said. “They’re not mine anymore.” Then he hung up.

Obviously, these beagles were ________. Then he brought the tired beagles home. As a boy, owning beagles had been his ________, but keeping this pair was out of the question now—the Kiebels already had a family dog. So he ________ the League for Animal Welfare to drop them off—on one ________. “I’m not signing the dogs over to you if you’re going to ________ them,” he said. The shelter workers promised him they’d keep the couple together.

In the following days, Gus phoned the shelter ________ to check up on them. Soon, the beagles were adopted as a pair, to a loving family. It’s a simple story, but it ________ the best of our nature. And when kindness weighs more than ________, it becomes the greatest miracle of all.

1.

A．spotted

B．recorded

C．assisted

D．gathered

2.

A．instructor

B．companion

C．stranger

D．officer

3.

A．immediately

B．frequently

C．unwillingly

D．curiously

4.

A．comfort

B．fire

C．blanket

D．shelter

5.

A．protected

B．approached

C．awakened

D．embraced

6.

A．starve

B．interact

C．expect

D．escape

7.

A．refreshed

B．concerned

C．defensive

D．accessible

8.

A．abandoned

B．discovered

C．reconnected

D．released

9.

A．miracle

B．surprise

C．dream

D．pressure

10.

A．declined

B．reported

C．approved

D．contacted

11.

A．hand

B．basis

C．condition

D．level

12.

A．prevent

B．separate

C．impress

D．adopt

13.

A．gradually

B．traditionally

C．repeatedly

D．confidently

14.

A．influences

B．possesses

C．guarantees

D．conveys

15.

A．passion

B．cruelty

C．respect

D．tiredness

7 . The Stories Behind 3 of the Photos from Our Pictures of the Year

Each year, National Geographic will publish a special issue to showcase some of the impressive images taken around the globe to celebrate the high-quality photography. This year, 49 were selected as the best photos of the year out of millions of images, and the photo editors give a glimpse behind the scenes of 3 images included in 2022 Pictures of the Year annual special issue.

Qaanaaq, Greenland//Kiliii Yüyan

Photographer Kiliii Yuyan is no stranger to documenting the daily lives of native peoples and the issues they face around the world. He commits himself to capturing surprising and unique images for each story while his colleague Mallory has quit in their tracks. In his story, two cousins push strollers (婴儿车) across a snowy plain in Greenland on their way to annual dogsled races. The story itself challenges readers to think about how to treat their ecosystem without destroying it and gives more insight into the daily lives of Inughuit women.

Canary Islands, Spain//Carsten Peter

It’s hard to capture the speed, texture, and sense of danger of lava flowing from a volcanic eruption, but that’s what photographer Carsten Peter achieved with this image. He documented the 85-day eruption for National Geographic, then returned to focus on the damage and on the scientific fieldwork that had been done once the slow-moving lava had cooled.

Minneriya. Sri Lanka//Brent Stirton

Photographer Brent Stirton provided a window into these animals’ lives, which she hopes will increase awareness and stir up sympathy through the photo.

The image was tough to capture not only because Stirton needed to get close to the wild animals for the frame but also because it was a challenging time to work in Sri Lanka. The government was collapsing in economic decline. “I think there’s an opportunity to show people a side of animals they may have not seen before,” she says.

For more pictures and stories, please click the https://www. nationalgeographic.com.

1. Whose image cares about people’s life?

A．Mallory’s.	B．Carsten Peter’s.
C．Kiliii Yuyan’s.	D．Brent Stirton’s.

2. What shared features do these three pictures have?

A．They all take efforts and patience.

B．They are all about the environment.

C．They all provide a window into animals’ lives.

D．They all make a difference to scientific fieldwork.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A travel magazine.

B．An academic article.

C．A biology textbook.

D．A photography website.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

It is familiar to us Chinese that the year of 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit,     1    reminds us of the “rabbit” on the moon, China’s Yutu-2 lunar rover (月球车).

The Yutu-2 is named     2     the pet rabbit of the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e. On January 3, 2019, the rover was brought to the far side of the moon by China’s Chang’e-4 lunar probe. It was the first-ever soft landing on the    3     (previous) uncharted area of the lunar surface.

The Chang’e-4 lunar probe consists of a lander and the Yutu-2 rover. Before its launch, a relay satellite     4     (send) into space in May 2018 to facilitate earth-moon communication. So far, the rover has collected    5    (value) data on solar wind, soil, gel-like rocks and dead volcanoes. The data and images sent back by the Yutu-2 have enhanced geography knowledge of the landing site,     6     (deepen) understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon.

Of the many pictures of the lunar landscape    7    (take) by the Yutu-2, one square object caused great debate among people on Earth. When the rover finally approached the object, it turned out to be    8    rabbit-shaped rock. What an interesting coincidence!

The Yutu-2    9    (travel) more than 1, 400 meters on the far side of the moon till now. It will continue to uncover more    10    (mystery) of the moon.

9 . Oscar Wilde once said, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Art provides a way to communicate experiences when people lack verbal skills.     1    Art therapy is founded on the assumption that everyone is creative and capable of self-expression.

    2     As a restorative practice, it allows people to express themselves in non-verbal ways, such as drawing and painting. Even a 45-minute creative activity can change a person's mental state. Working with an art therapist does even more:     3    

Young children typically draw and sing and dance without worrying about their abilities. Adults, however, often have complex feelings about art and art making. They begin to evaluate the quality of their art instead of focusing on self-expression itself.     4     However, art therapists can guide people in expressing themselves without concerning whether their artwork is technically brilliant, so that they can connect or reconnect with the artworks that help them deal with life challenges.

What are art therapists’ superpower? They can channel dangerous thoughts into imaginative artworks. For instance, people with violent tendencies might let out their anger by hitting another human being.     5     These artistic choices satisfy the brain's desire for novelty without compromising personal safety.

A．Art therapy is a double-edged sword.

B．Thus, the many benefits of creative self-expression are lost.

C．They develop art as an expressive skill for solving problems.

D．But, obviously, releasing their anger in this way isn't a good choice.

E．Art therapy, in its own ways, can influence a range of human functioning.

F．It can significantly enhance positive moods and boost measures of well-being.

G．However, with art therapists’ help, their energy could be changed into creative products.

10 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

By drawing patterns such as bamboos on the surface of a cup of tea, Chabaixi, an ancient Chinese tea trick     1    (go) viral recently. There are a dozen steps, from grinding tea for fine powder, to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth(泡沫), and finally drawing patterns. Clear water it used to put into the cup. When the water     2    (touch) the surface of tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before drawing is known as “diancha.” The quality of it is crucial to     3     the patterns can be successfully produced later.