1 . Recently, I took him for a classic English afternoon tea at The Ritz Hotel. The thought of showing him a piece of authentic British life excited me for weeks, so when we finally sat down in the Ritz’s elegant tearoom, with the sound of a pianist in the background, I was thrilled.

I looked at the polished silver tea stand topped with finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones (烤饼), and mouthwatering pastries and teacakes. I was ready to dig in. Then I looked at Dad and a trace of nervousness flashed across his face. He carefully copied what I ate and how to use the knife and fork, and from time to time anxiously looked up at the waiter in his bow tie who was serving our table.

When we got to the scones, Dad took a big bite and remarked how delicious it was. He asked me to explain how the British eat scones, so I supplied him with details about the custom of breaking scones into small pieces, spreading cream and strawberry jam on top, before consuming each piece in one mouthful.

“Oh, why did you not tell me earlier?” Dad’s face turned red in embarrassment, suddenly realizing his mistake. For the rest of the scones session, he busied himself with neatly spreading the cream and jam like an obedient (听话的) child.

Suddenly, I felt a complex mixture of happiness, sadness and loneliness. Growing up, Dad was my hero, my mountain. I still remember flying into his arms after school at the kindergarten gate. Through the sound of his voice, I learned to feel and understand the world.

After moving to London alone, I have learned to achieve academic grades, found a job, and started a new life all by myself. But I did not fully realize how much I had grown up, until I saw how dependent Dad was on me in London. Although he is still a mountain in my heart, I realized I have in the meantime built a strong mountain of my own. And by being away from Dad’s protective wings I have come to understand more of myself and to find my own place in the world.

1. Why did the author take her father for a classic English afternoon tea?

A．The food in the restaurant was delicious.

B．She wanted her father to experience real British life.

C．Her father was deeply attracted by the elegant tearoom.

D．She intended to introduce an excellent restaurant to her father.

2. Which of the following best describe the author’s father when eating scones?

A．Disappointed and painful.	B．Embarrassed and desperate.
C．Nervous and cautious.	D．Sorrowful and helpless.

3. What did the author realize after the experience?

A．She had a happy childhood.	B．She had achieved a lot in academic area.
C．Her father was not her mountain any more.	D．She should be the person for her father to rely on.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．An eating experience changed a father.	B．Eating with Dad strengthened our relationship.
C．Dining environment was vital for a restaurant.	D．Living alone enhanced a person’s independence.

2 . Tickets are now on sale for Walt Disney World’s latest holiday event. Disney Jollywood Nights, abrand new holiday event, will run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for 10 nights: Nov. 11, 18, 20, 27 and 29 and Dec. 4, 6, 16, 18 and 20. The after-hours holiday event officially runs from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., but event guests are usually allowed to enter the park 90 minutes early.

What to expect from Disney Jollywood Nights?

A live holiday special hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy at Theater of the Stars

The return of the impressive nighttime firework show

A jazz bar at The Hollywood Brown Derby

An “other-worldly party” at The Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard

A “Latin street fair” along Commissary Lane

A “spirited sing-along” at Hyperion Theater

Exciting photo opportunities with Mickey Mouse and his friends

How much are tickets to Disney Jollywood Nights?

Ticket prices range from $159 to $179 for guests aged 3 and up. Please note that children youngerthan age 3 don’t need a ticket. Guests with tickets to this event don’t need a theme park reservation in orderto enter the park at 7 p.m. or later. If you plan to arrive earlier than 7 p.m., valid park admission as wellas a theme park reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be required.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each night, and they are non-transferable (不可转让的), non-refundable and may not be resold.

1. What do we know about Disney Jollywood Nights?

A．It is a newly returning event.

B．It continues for 4 hours each night.

C．It lasts for 10 days in a row.

D．It requires guests to arrive in advance.

2. What can guests do at Disney Jollywood Nights?

A．Enjoy live jazz in a bar.

B．Sing along at Theater of the Stars.

C．Join a Latin street party.

D．Take pictures with Mickey Mouse.

3. How much should a couple with their 2-year-old daughter pay at least for the event?

A．$318.	B．$358.
C．$477.	D．$537.

5 . Nature’s beauty is all around you. Wild flowers shine in bright blues, yellows, and reds. Trees, with unique shaped branches, and leaves, decorate the horizon. Under your feet, pine needles, leaves, and grass give their natural beauty on the earth’s surface. But how many of you take the time to notice all of nature’s wonders?

Hannah Bullen-Ryner is an artist who not only takes the time to “smell the roses”, but she uses them as a medium to craft stunning portraits of birds. Bullen-Ryner, a photographer by trade, began her artistic hobby shortly after her twin daughters were born. The young mother suffered from depression and anxiety. To seek a solution, she turned to nature.

Bullen-Ryner started spending time alone in the woods, foraging for materials: flowers, branches, leaves, and grass. On an impulse (冲动), she started forming a portrait of a bird with the items she had gathered. When her picture was finished, Bullen-Ryner realized that she felt calmand hopeful. The process had been healing and therapeutic (有疗效的).

Bullen-Ryner tells My Modern Met, “Finding the medium of land art has allowed my art and soul to connect to the earth. As a full-time Mama of nearly three-year-old twin girls, and someone who suffers from anxiety, my art is my quiet time, my peace.”

When Bullen-Ryner creates her artwork on the forest floor, she never uses glues or any other material to bond the foraged items. This means that a single breeze is able to carry away or scatter her portrait.

“People often ask me why I don’t make something more permanent or they say it’s such a shame that it’s temporary,” Bullen-Ryner explains. “But for me,” she continues, “it is the short-lived nature of what I do that has become therapy for my soul. I get to put down all my anxieties, my fears, and all the chaos from my brain and turn it into something beautiful to honor Mother Nature. I take some photos and then walk or cycle away, leaving it all behind and feeling calmer, more connected, and truly lighter.”

1. Why did Bullen-Ryner take up her artistic hobby?

A．To kill time.	B．To make more profits.
C．To serve as a treatment.	D．To entertain her daughters.

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

A．Making.	B．Answering.
C．Providing.	D．Seeking.

3. What do we know about Bullen-Ryner’s artwork?

A．It is well received with customers.

B．It cannot be preserved for a long time.

C．It stimulated the local tourism industry.

D．It won her widespread praise domestically.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Bullen-Ryner is grateful to nature.

B．Bullen-Ryner regrets what she has done.

C．Bullen-Ryner is into going to work by bicycle.

D．Bullen-Ryner persuades more people to participate.

6 . What is the definition of a dumpling? In its most basic sense, it’s a pocket of flour filled with some form of tasty stuffing. And the easy ideas are surely the best. Dumplings are a popular food across the globe: both simple and complex, local and global, adaptable yet fixed in their home regions. Here are 4 of our favorites around the world to get your mouth watering.

Xiaolongbao

Served steamed in bamboo baskets, Xiaolongbao look different from other types of Chinese dumplings, as the skin is gathered at the top instead of folded in half. Xiaolongbao are also unique in that aside from the traditional pork filling, a small piece of aspic (肉冻) is folded into the dumpling, which melts when steamed. Thanks to the thick soup, the filling stays juicy and flavorful.

Ravioli

Italy is the home of filled pasta, and ravioli is one of its most famous offerings. Ravioli can be packed with anything from meat to cheese to vegetables, or any combination thereof. If the processed canned or bagged varieties familiar to lazy college students make up your only impression of ravioli, change that as soon as possible, preferably with a trip to Rome.

Sichuan spicy wonton

The spicy Sichuan wonton, or Chaoshou, comes to the table in spicy chili oil flavored with Sichuan pepper. The Chaoshou is boiled, and the very best ones are so slippery that they’re nearly impossible to pick up with chopsticks. The combination of tasty meat, smooth wonton skin and tongue-numbing oil, makes for the most pleasant runny nose you’ve ever had.

Siomay

Siomay, a steamed fish dumpling, is closely related to the Chinese dim sum snack, shumai. Think of Siomay as the Indonesian street food version of shumai, which is traditionally found in Chinese dim sum restaurants. Adopted from Chinese Indonesian cuisine, the most popular variant of Siomay is found in Bandung. The best way to sample these dumplings is from a street seller carrying a steamer on his bicycle.

1. Why are Xiaolongbao different from other Chinese dumplings?

A．They are served in bamboo baskets.	B．The skin is typically folded in half.
C．They are traditionally filled with pork.	D．They become juicy when cooked.

2. What can be learned about the dumplings mentioned?

A．Canned Ravioli is preferred in Rome.	B．Chaoshou features its smooth skin.
C．Siomay is found in Chinese restaurants.	D．Shumai is a street food in Bandung.

3. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To present ways of making dumplings.	B．To promote Chinese food and culture.
C．To explore global dumpling diversities.	D．To introduce popular street snacks.

9 . In an era of digital technology, the art of writing by hand has slowly been downgraded to a past entertainment. However, recent research suggests that this physical act is essential to brain health and development, having multiple cognitive (认知的) benefits. It is time we should reevaluate the potential benefits it may have on our mental capacities.

According to numerous studies, writing by hand stimulates more complex and diverse brain connections essential for encoding new information and forming memories. For instance, a recent investigation found that brain connectivity patterns were far more complicated and widespread for participants who wrote by hand compared to those who typed. Thus, it is clear that handwriting has a distinct and significant impact on our brain health.

Handwriting isn’t just good for our brains health—it also has clear, practical benefits. Research has shown that students who take handwritten notes score significantly higher on quizzes, demonstrating improved learning. This extends beyond the classroom too. People who recorded information on paper calendars demonstrated more brain activity and recalled information faster than those who used smartphones. The act of handwriting, therefore, could be a valuable tool for students preparing for exams and adults managing daily tasks.

Despite its clear benefits, handwriting has been on the decline. However, 25states in the US have reintroduced writing back into school curriculums. This is a step in the right direction, as previous research has also indicated that handwriting is essential in children’s brain development. Preliterate (未识字的) children who wrote by hand demonstrated brain activity in a circuit of the brain used in learning to read, further strengthening the link between handwriting and cognitive development.

It is clear that handwriting is a valuable activity that has the potential to enhance our brain health, learning, memory, and problem-solving skills. As we continue to navigate the digital age, it is important not to overlook the value of this seemingly simple activity. So, the next time you reach for your keyboard, remember the benefits of picking up a pen instead.

1. What do people usually think of handwriting at present?

A．It has become an old-fashioned skill.	B．It has many cognitive benefits in life.
C．It has been replaced by digital devices.	D．It has been a popular entertainment.

2. What does the author mainly show about handwriting in paragraph 3?

A．It is beneficial to brain health.	B．It helps students score higher on quizzes.
C．It stimulates diverse brain connection.	D．It has good effects on learning and memory.

3. Why is previous research mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．To make a comparison.	B．To add further evidence.
C．To show different opinions.	D．To explain the brain activity.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To illustrate a finding on handwriting.	B．To emphasize the importance of handwriting.
C．To show the wide application of handwriting.	D．To introduce the artistic value of handwriting.