1 . Today, the world celebrates the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) under the theme “Resilience (复原力) of Older Persons in a Changing World”.

The number of older persons worldwide is projected to reach more than 1.5 billion in 2050. All regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2022 and 2050. Less developed countries excluding the least developed countries will be home to more than two-thirds of the world’s older population (1.1 billion) in 2050. Yet the fastest increase is projected to take place in the least developed countries, where the number of people aged 65 or over could rise from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050 (about 225%).

As to the “Silver Generation”, all countries have to bear increased pension (养老金) and healthcare costs as people live longer. But including the elderly in a productive way in the national economy has become a major problem for many countries. Many young families also struggle to care for their elderly parents or give it up altogether. Meanwhile, though older persons continue to meaningfully contribute to their political, economic, social and cultural lives, their contributions and experience are largely ignored.

The 2022 theme of UNIDOP serves as a fillip, something that jogs your memory and makes you think about the significant role older people play in taking up global challenges and contributing to their solutions. UNIDOP 2022 is also a call for action and opportunity to hear older persons’ voices and show their resilience and contributions in society.

Age is just a number and only a state of mind. Indeed, what matters is ageing elegantly, accompanied by good health. It is meaningless to live to 85 or 90 if one is limited to bed, unable to move around. But this could be a thing of the past in the light of rapid medical advances, which will give mobility and a new life to the elderly. I believe there will come a time when one’s actual age doesn’t really matter anymore in both a physical and mental sense.

1. Why are the figures used in paragraph 2?

A．To clarify the gap between rich and poor.

B．To show the growth in the older population.

C．To explain the correctness of the UN statistics.

D．To analyze the reasons for population ageing.

2. What does the author say about the “Silver Generation”?

A．It is a double-edged sword.

B．It is a force to be treated seriously.

C．It is a huge burden to young families.

D．It is a by-product of the economic development.

3. Which word is closest in meaning to “fillip” underlined in paragraph 4?

A．Reference.

B．Guideline.

C．Reminder.

D．Platform.

4. What is the author’s understanding of age?

A．Age affects both physical and mental health.

B．Age is not a number but a mental state.

C．Age does not matter in the medical field.

D．Age pales by comparison with health.

2 . You can study a wide range of topics in an art and design school, from history to sculpting, theater to fashion. Due to the variety, learners remain interested, and a challenging curriculum encourages them to think outside the box. The top art schools in Hong Kong are listed below.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU)

The school benefits from its location as a link between the East and the West, enabling its students to improve their creative skills while also gaining a distinctively global cultural awareness. Practical skills are thought to be a crucial component of the problem-solving process, which students must practise through practical workshop activities. The workshop facilities give students the chance to become familiar with the techniques needed for perfect making.

The University of Hong Kong (UHK)

Study subjects that interest you and select from a large range of beginner arts courses to learn about new themes. You have the freedom to create a course of study that is ideal for you thanks to the program’s adaptable curriculum and inviting dual (双的) degree choices. You will choose your own combination of courses during your first year from a wide range of basic arts and humanities courses.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Faculty (系) of Arts at CUHK has always been essential to the university’s commitment to combining Chinese with Western traditions, with bilingual teaching, and with cutting-edge interdisciplinary (跨学科的) research.

Vocational Training Council (VTC)

The multidisciplinary program here exposes students to a wide range of modern visual arts mediums and actively involves them in the larger cultural sectors. And the program promotes a dynamic climate where interdisciplinary arts projects grow via cooperation and creativity within the arts sector. Graduates are also encouraged to pursue careers as professional artists.

1. Which school can you choose to learn to make things?

A．The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.	B．The University of Hong Kong.
C．The Chinese University of Hong Kong.	D．Vocational Training Council.

2. What can students do at the University of Hong Kong?

A．Obtain a global cultural awareness.	B．Choose courses suitable for them.
C．Perform cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.	D．Pursue careers as professional artists.

3. What do the four schools have in common?

A．They all carry out bilingual teaching.

B．They all offer interdisciplinary courses.

C．They all aim to develop innovative talents.

D．They all provide a dynamic learning atmosphere for students.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How old is the speaker’s brother?

A．15.

B．19.

C．20.

2. What is the speaker’s mother?

A．A police officer.

B．A nurse.

C．A firefighter.

3. Why is it hard for the speaker to see her brother now?

A．Her brother has been infected with COVID-19.

B．Her brother is in isolation because of COVID-19.

C．Her brother is busy helping fight against COVID-19.

4. What does the speaker decide to do in the future?

A．Help more people like her brother.

B．Spend more time with family.

C．Study in a police training school.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What can kids do through Bryan’s Facebook page?

A．Listen to stories.

B．Chat with friends.

C．Enjoy nice photos.

2. Who inspired Bryan to start a Facebook page?

A．His father.

B．His mother.

C．His grandmother.

3. What does Bryan want the woman to do?

A．Join him in reading stories.

B．Record kids’ daily life.

C．Spend more time with kids.

5 . When did the woman come to the US?

A．In 1973.

B．In 1975.

C．In 1977.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who will help deliver the bottles on Monday morning?

A．Lisa

B．Steven.

C．The teacher.

2. Why do the students collect the bottles?

A．To decorate the room for the party.

B．To make gifts for the homeless.

C．To use them as money boxes.

3. What is the conversation mainly about?

A．A community club.

B．A charity event.

C．An entertainment activity.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What was Inhotim like before 1990s?

A．It was popular.

B．It was unique.

C．It was undeveloped.

2. What is the main purpose for the visitors to Inhotim?

A．To experience the art.

B．To see the landscape.

C．To visit the farm.

3. What has directly benefited Inhotim?

A．More employment

B．Better living environment.

C．Stronger cultural atmosphere.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When was Rebecca offered the position as a local news reporter?

A．In 2016.

B．In 2017.

C．In 2019.

2. Why did Rebecca leave her first job?

A．She moved to another city.

B．She followed her husband's advice.

C．She wanted to take up a better position.

3. What does Rebecca think of her second job?

A．Impressive.

B．Enjoyable.

C．Promising.

4. What information does the man want to get from Rebecca?

A．Her educational background.

B．Her working experience.

C．Her professional skills.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How many multiple-choices remain unfinished?

A．3.

B．4.

C．7.

2. How did Linda perform in the free response questions?

A．Fairly well.

B．Just so-so.

C．Quite badly.

10 . The oceans play a crucial role in lightening global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions. However, in a study conducted by the University of Texas, researchers found that the oceans’ capacity to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) would reach its maximum by 2100 and decrease to half of its current efficiency by 2300, based on a climate simulation (模拟) that was set for a worst-case emissions scenario (设想).

The decline happens because of a surface layer of low-alkalinity (碱度) water that can hinder the ability of the oceans to absorb CO₂. Alkalinity affects how much CO₂ can dissolve in seawater. Although the emissions scenario used in the study is unlikely because of global efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the findings reveal a previously unknown tipping point that if activated would release an important brake on global warming.

“We need to think about these worst-case scenarios to understand how our CO₂ emissions might affect the oceans not just this century, but next century and the following centuries. Climate simulations had previously shown that the oceans slow their absorption of CO₂ over time, but none had considered alkalinity as an explanation. We recalculated pieces of a 450-year simulation until we hit on alkalinity as a key cause of the slowing.” said Megumi Chikamoto, who led the research at the University of Texas Institute.

The effect begins with extreme climate change, which slows ocean currents. This leaves the surface of the oceans covered in a warm layer of fresh water that won’t mix easily with the cooler, more al kaline waters below it. That means more of it is left behind in the atmosphere. This in turn produces faster warming, which sustains and strengthens the low-alkalinity surface layer. Co-author, Pedro DiNezio, said that the discovery was a powerful reminder that the world needs to reduce its CO₂ emissions to avoid crossing this and other tipping points.

1. What may happen after the year 2300?

A．More CO₂ will be absorbed by the oceans.

B．The oceans will lose all their current efficiency.

C．The world will face even more severe warming.

D．The oceans will be less crucial to global warming.

2. What does the underlined word “hinder” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Improve.

B．Weaken.

C．Protect.

D．Control.

3. What does Megumi Chikamoto say about the oceans?

A．Finding why they slow CO₂ intake is hard.

B．Their ability to absorb CO₂ is at their maximum.

C．They will decide on the future of human beings.

D．They will slow down CO₂ absorption very quickly.

4. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A biology textbook.	B．A government report.
C．Science fiction.	D．An environmental journal.