1 . We’ve all heard the age-old advice to drink eight cups of water a day. But if you fall short, don’t worry: That advice is probably wrong anyway. That’s according to new research. which found that for most healthy adults, there is no real benefit to drinking eight cups of water a day.

The advice to drink eight cups of water a day comes from a 1945 recommendation from the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council, which encouraged adults to consume about 64 ounces of water daily. The recommendation referred to a person’s total daily intake of water, including from all their foods and drinks, but it was widely misinterpreted to mean that people should drink 8-ounce glasses of water every day.

To see how much water people really need, Herman Pontzer, a professor at Duke University and his co-authors analyzed data on 5,600 people. The participants were tracked with a gold-standard technique called “doubly labeled water”, which uses water laced with tracers that can be used to track the body’s production of carbon dioxide, allowing the researchers to get precise measurements of the participants’ daily energy consumption.

The researchers determined how much water the participants lost and replaced each day. a measurement known as water turnover (水周转率). They found that a person’s daily water turnover was largely determined by their size and their level of body fat, which contains less water than muscle and other organs. The more “fat-free” mass a person has, the more water they need.

The research showed that how much water you need changes over your lifetime. In general, our water needs peak between the ages of 20 and 50 and then decline in parallel with the slowing down of our metabolisms (新陈代谢).

So how much water should you drink? The answer is simple: Drink when you’re thirsty. Prioritize water, and try to avoid sugary drinks, which can cause metabolic problems. “If you’re paying attention to your body and drinking when you feel like you need to, then you should be fine,” Pontzer said.

1. What is the author’s attitude toward the advice to drink eight cups of water a day?

A．Critical.

B．Supportive.

C．Tolerant.

D．Uncertain.

2. What can be known about the research conducted by Pontzer?

A．It was conducted in 1945.

B．It tracked participants’ daily water turnover.

C．It studied participants’ feelings about drinking water.

D．It found that body fat contains less water than muscle and other organs.

3. Which of the following is correct according to the passage?

A．When people get older, they should drink more water.

B．Drinking 64 ounces of water per day is beneficial to people.

C．When people have more muscles, they need relatively more water.

D．Drinking water with sugar can help improve metabolism.

4. Which is the best way to determine how much water to drink?

A．By following the advice of experts.

B．By drinking as much water as possible.

C．By paying attention to one’s body and drinking when thirsty.

D．By measuring one’s water turnover.

2 . Art galleries you can visit for free with your Paris Pass

Centre Pompidou

Normally €7.00       Wednesday-Monday: 11 AM-10 PM

Centre Pompidou is a must-see attraction when you’re visiting Paris. Featuring late 19th-20th century art, the museum has collection of over 50,000 works, including movements from Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.

Musée Gustave Moreau

Normally €13.00       Wednesday- Monday: 10 AM-6 PM

Musée Gustave Moreau was designed by the painter himself and includes his private apartment and the large gallery he built to display his work. The apartment is preserved exactly as it was 100 years ago.

Musée de l’Orangerie

Normally €9.00       Wednesday-Monday: 9 AM-6 PM

The museum is best known for its association with the famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet and his Water Lilies series of paintings. Before it was an art gallery housing some of the most famous pieces in history, Musée de l’Orangerie was used as a storehouse and a home for mobilized soldiers.

Musée d’Orsay

Normally €14.00       Tuesday-Sunday: 9:30 AM-6 PM

Musée d’Orsay was an old turn-of-the-century railway station that was built on the site of the Palais d’Orsay. Exemplifying the architecture of the Beaux-Arts movement, Musée d’Orsay is one of Paris’ most popular art galleries and houses art and sculpture from 1848 to 1915.

1. How much is the admission to Centre Pompidou without a Paris Pass?

A．€7.00.

B．€9.00.

C．€13.00.

D．€14.00.

2. Where can visitors enjoy a series of Monet’s Water Lilies?

A．Centre Pompidou.	B．Musée Gustave Moreau.
C．Musée de l’Orangerie.	D．Musée d’Orsay.

3. What was the original use of Musé e d’Orsay?

A．An art gallery.	B．A storehouse.
C．A railway station.	D．A personal apartment.

3 . By the age of 27, Vincent had made the most important decision of his life, to become an artist. He spent the years between 1880 and 1885 developing his _______. He had little money and lived in _______ rooms all over the Netherlands, including the flat agricultural landscape of the Drenthe. There he _______ country people. He was often ill and miserable, but determined to _______ this new career.

After the failure of his studies for the priesthood, Vincent didn’t want to _______ art formally at an academy. But he knew nothing of anatomy (解剖学), the study of the human figure, or of perspective, by which artists show a sense of _______ in work done on flat paper or canvas. Theo, his brother, knew a rich young _______, Anthon van Rappard, who taught Vincent perspective, and _______ him prints to copy. Vincent made hundreds of drawings of people, _______ charcoal, crayon, ink, and watercolor. Theo provided ________ for oil paint, and he began to paint in oils. Vincent often traveled to the ________ or the coast to draw working people. He was beginning to believe in himself as an ________.“Diggers, sowers, planters, male and female, they are what I draw ________. I have to ________ and draw everything that belongs to country life.” The compassion that Vincent ________ for poor people as a preacher was now channeled into his art.

1.

A．skills

B．relationship

C．personality

D．business

2.

A．cheap

B．empty

C．messy

D．dark

3.

A．treated

B．drew

C．followed

D．remembered

4.

A．give up

B．compromise on

C．turn down

D．succeed in

5.

A．study

B．choose

C．offer

D．teach

6.

A．strength

B．length

C．depth

D．width

7.

A．agent

B．painter

C．doctor

D．farmer

8.

A．sold

B．lent

C．helped

D．supported

9.

A．copying

B．taking

C．purchasing

D．using

10.

A．canvas

B．money

C．house

D．materials

11.

A．museum

B．country

C．gallery

D．ocean

12.

A．musician

B．guide

C．lawyer

D．artist

13.

A．continually

B．carefully

C．quickly

D．accurately

14.

A．image

B．memorize

C．observe

D．forget

15.

A．felt

B．recognized

C．moved

D．praised

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Last year, I started doing some volunteer work for a charity in my town that helps disabled children. I found out that the charity needed to buy some new wheelchairs, but that they really didn’t have the money. So, I started to think about what I could do to raise money.

When I mentioned this to my friends, they said, “Well, why don’t you run the London Marathon?!” They laughed and so did I — we all know that I’m not an athlete at all. I’d never done any running before. But later, I started to think that it might not be a bad idea.

I approached the charity and discussed the possibility of participating in the marathon on their behalf. They were excited with the idea and agreed to appoint me as their representative. With their support, I purchased the necessary running equipment and began my training journey.

Every night, I laced up my running shoes and hit the sidewalk, determined to build my endurance. After a month of consistent training, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I could comfortably run nearly five kilometers. However, the reality remained: the marathon covered a challenging distance of 42 kilometers.

With the race only five months away, I intensified my training efforts. I pushed myself to the limits, knowing that completing the marathon was not only a personal achievement but also a means to secure funds for four much-needed wheelchairs. The thought of making a difference in the lives of disabled children motivated me to persevere.

As the race day approached, I filled my mind with determination and excitement. I knew that crossing the finish line would symbolize the end of my hard work and the success of a noble cause. With the support of my friends and the charity, I could run 25 kilometers during my training sessions.

注意：
（1）续写词数应为150个左右：
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

However, when the big day came, I was not at all sure that I was ready.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With every step, I fought against my physical limitations.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

Animated movie Chang’an breathes new life into Tang Dynasty’s most iconic poets, Xu Fan reports. Named after the ancient name for Xi’an in Shaanxi province, which served     1     the capital of the Tang Dynasty for over 280 years, the movie brings to life some of the most iconic     2    （figure） in Chinese literary history. With a runtime of 168 minutes —the     3    （long） of any Chinese animated movie—it is suitably epic (史诗) in scale.

In order to     4    （accurate） convey the Tang poetry and better translate the cultural context fixed in the dialogue, the production team invited Linda Jaivin, an Australian Sinologist,     5    （assist） with the translation process. Xie Junwei,     6     co-directed the movie alongside Zou Jing, explains the distinctive design approach     7    （inspire） by the dynasty’s sculptures, figurines and mural paintings showcased in museums.

The movie     8    （feature） a total of 48 poems, with Li Bai’s masterpiece, Qiang Jin Jiu （Invitation to Wine）, at the heart of the most visually stunning scene. The poem was composed in the year 744. At that time, Li Bai was forced to leave Chang’an and wandered in the mountains with     9     few close friends as a means to ease his sadness at being unappreciated despite     10    （he） great talent.

6 . Nearly everything we do contributes to our carbon footprint.     1     Sales of electric bikes, or e-bikes, are on the rise. In 2021, 880, 000 e-bikes were sold in the U. S., compared with 608,000 electric cars and trucks. That’s up from 450,000 c-bike sales in 2020.

E-bikes have the same components as traditional bicycles: frames, seats, handlebars, and wheels.     2     The speed of a non-electric bike relies on the rider’s physical strength and endurance. Casual cyclists can pedal at 10 to 14 miles per hour, depending on the terrain and weight of the bike and rider.

    3     Some models have a pedal (脚踏板)assist system with a motor to amplify pedaling power, while others have a throttle and don’t require pedaling. The max speed an e-bike can reach is 28 miles per hour, which is comparable to moped speeds, thus requiring more safety precautions than traditional bikes.

The pedal assist on e-bikes can encourage riders to bike farther and more often than they would on a traditional bike, leading to more exercise long-term. This also makes e-bikes a multifunctional option for older riders and individuals with disabilities that would otherwise prevent them from biking.     4    

    5     When it replaces trips made by a car, an individual e-bike can reduce CO₂ emissions by 225 kilograms each year. That’s equivalent to the emissions produced by one passenger flying economy from Philadelphia to Chicago.

A．E-bikes also need public storage and charging stations.

B．They differ in their power and speed.

C．Some women chose e-bikes because they make them feel safer, research says.

D．Energy recovery is one common method.

E．E-bikes are fueled by batteries, making them heavier.

F．But a two-wheeled solution is zipping through the world at 20 miles an hour.

G．E-bikes are a powerful tool on the road to sustainability.

7 . Traditional Chinese opera has been revitalized in recent years, frequently breaking out with spectacular performances and showing strong artistic prowess. An immersive Shaoxing Opera, “New Dragon Gate Inn”, performed by Xiao Bai Hua, one of the most remarkable Shaoxing Opera troupes from Zhejiang Province, has emerged as a phenomenal hit.

The “New Dragon Gate Inn” Shaoxing Opera draws inspiration from the classic martial arts film of the same name. The story is set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and tells the tale of martial arts heroes encountering skilled agents of the traitors at the Dragon Gate Inn located in a vast desert.

Shaoxing Opera, the second most popular of all traditional Chinese operas, originated from south of the Yangtze River. It has a unique form of storytelling that combines classical singing, dancing and acting into one. Like many classical art forms, it faced decreasing interest from younger audiences until the groundbreaking “New Dragon Gate Inn” broke the spell.

The plot breaks away from the traditional focus on the love stories and explores the theme of the martial world. What’s more, the young team incorporates short videos into the production, successfully generating widespread attention.

The success of “New Dragon Gate Inn” comes not only from the charm of the work itself, but also from the cultural heritage and artistic confidence of the Shaoxing Opera genre. “Today, we are putting in great efforts to make Shaoxing Opera more accessible and relatable to the younger generation. This is a positive step in the revival of this ancient art,” said Xu Yena, who acts in the show as the landlady of the inn.

1. What does the underlined word “hit” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．knock

B．success

C．click

D．reach

2. What do we know about Shaoxing Opera?

A．It is the most popular of all traditional Chinese operas.

B．It originated form the southern part of China.

C．It’s doomed to die because of decreasing interest from younger audiences.

D．It focus on the love stories.

3. What makes “New Dragon Gate Inn” more popular?

A．It innovates how secret passages are set in a Shaoxing Opera.

B．The plot does not contain the traditional love stories.

C．The plot is groundbreaking in term of its martial arts performance.

D．The young team incorporates short videos into the production.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Shaoxing Opera “New Dragon Gate Inn” Wows Audience

B．The Influence of Martial World on Chinese Opera

C．A New Era of Modern Cinema: “New Dragon Gate Inn” Film

D．The Evolution of Traditional Chinese Performances

8 . Six-year-old Amar Lal was never concerned with what year, month, week or day it was. His routine was the same. Every morning the family would pack their belongings and move from quarry (采石场) to quarry, where they began a day’s work. As the colours of the sky changed from blue to orange to black, the family would break stones.

Needless to say, school was a distant dream as was permanent housing. But one day in 2001, Lal’s destiny changed when Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi paid a visit to the quarry.

Recalling the fateful day in 2001 when Satyarthi was conducting a gathering in his village — an education march part of the “Save Childhood Movement” — Lal says Satyarthi spotted him carrying heavy stones. A short conversation later, Satyarthi had convinced Lal’s parents that their child was meant for greater things.

“I vividly recall Satyarthi asking my parents whether I went to school. But not my parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents had ever been to school. They looked at him with a puzzled look because a nomadic (游牧的) lifestyle was the only one we knew. Work was all we were taught to do,” the 27-year-old lawyer Lal shares.

His parents were interested by this “angel” who assured them that a better world lay outside this quarry — a world where their children could play, laugh and learn. They decided to trust Satyarthi. And several days later, Lal went to Satyarthi’s centre for children. Thus began Lal’s second chapter of life.

“My education at Satyarthi’s centre taught me that child labour is a serious problem and children around India are subjected to cruelty under the banner of ‘work’. I was really grateful that I was given a chance at a new life which thousands of children dreamed of. I wanted to give other children the same.”

Since Lal graduated as a lawyer in 2018, he has been working with Satyarthi on cases and practical assistance, and in turn, giving hope to many more children.

1. How was Lal’s life before meeting Satyarthi?

A．He worked as a labourer.	B．He led a comfortable life.
C．He was abused in the family.	D．He liked to observe the sky.

2. Who is Satyarthi most likely to be?

A．An advocate for children’s rights.	B．An owner of a big quarry.
C．A Nobel Prize winner in medicine.	D．An expert in children’s behavior.

3. How might Lal’s parents react to Satyarthi’s question?

A．They felt annoyed.	B．They were confused.
C．They felt unhappy.	D．They were disappointed.

4. Which of the following can best describe Lal?

A．Grateful and generous.	B．Reliable and determined.
C．Ambitious and modest.	D．Lucky and responsible.

9 . FREE ONLINE FIRST AID COURSE

Welcome to our online first aid course. Anyone can take this training online and learn more about lifesaving first aid. We provide this first aid training for no charge.

Simply work your way through our online first aid modules (模块) below. You must be logged in (登录) to access the course material. If you don’t have an account, then please register. Basic online first aid course

Below are the modules for our online first aid course. You do not have to take them in a specific order. However, if you are totally new to first aid, it may help to start at the beginning.

At the end of each module there is a first aid test where you can test your knowledge. Once you’ve completed all the modules, you can download a free first aid certificate (证书).

Module 1	Introduction to First Aid
Module 2	The Unconscious Victim
Module 3	Bleeding and Shock.
Module 4	Burns

Please remember to mark all the modules as completed otherwise you will not be able to download your basic first aid certificate. Modules marked as completed will have a green tick next to them above.

Advanced online first aid course

Completed the above course? Why not check out our new free online advanced first aid course? This course will build upon the training and content in the basic first aid course above and will help further your knowledge on topics such as:

* Medical conditions

* Minor injuries

* Patient assessment

* Clinical observations

* The roles and responsibilities of a first aider

As always, you will receive a free first aid certificate once you complete the advanced course.

1. What is a must to learn this online course?

A．Offering a small fee for the training.	B．Having an account on this website.
C．Learning the course in the required order.	D．Taking a first aid test before the course.

2. Which module provides knowledge about bloody nose?

A．Module 1.

B．Module 2.

C．Module 3.

D．Module 4.

3. What can we know about the advanced online first aid course?

A．It provides a paid certificate of honor.

B．It is intended for professional medical workers.

C．It teaches people how to judge patients’ condition.

D．It has nothing to do with basic first aid knowledge.

10 . When 12-year-old Erica Fernandez volunteered to help clean up the beach in her new hometown, Oxnard, California, she could barely speak English. She was just a kid helping 20 adults take care of the beach. She and her family had recently arrived in California from a small town in Mexico.

Erica started going door to door in her mainly Spanish-speaking farmworker community. “I always loved the ocean,” she says, “so it made me really sad to see this beautiful beach full of trash. That’s why I decided to help.”

Erica cared too much to stay silent. Having grown up in a tiny town in the Mexican state of Michoacán, she had a strong motivation to care for nature. “We grew our own food and raised our own animals. Taking care of nature was part of survival.” She wanted to bring that same spirit to her new life in California.

As her English improved, she talked to kids in her high school about what was going on. “I didn’t know if they would listen to me. My English wasn’t good and I was only sixteen,” she says. As she nervously approached the microphone, she was informed that time was running out. One minute and thirty seconds was all she had. “I couldn’t give my prepared speech, so I just spoke from my heart.”

The result was electrifying. When Erica was finished, people stood up and broke into applause. One of the teachers said, “I’m very moved by your words, Erica. When I was your age, I was playing video games.”

Only the second person in her family to go to college, Erica wants to become an environmental lawyer so she can fight for the environment and for the rights of communities. She wants other young people to speak out when they see something wrong, even if they feel shy about it at first. “We are the future. The future is ours.”

1. Why did the author mention Erica’s words in Paragraph 2?

A．To show gratitude to her action.	B．To advocate learning from her.
C．To clarify the reason for her help.	D．To think highly of her devotion.

2. According to the passage, what can we learn about Erica?

A．She was the only college student in her family.

B．She volunteered to clean up the garbage on Spanish beaches.

C．She spent her childhood in a small town in Mexico.

D．She couldn’t speak either English or Spanish in California.

3. What do we know about Erica’s speech?

A．The device disturbed her performance.

B．The audience was greatly encouraged.

C．It affected people’s attitude to playing games.

D．Erica expressed her inner thoughts fluently.

4. From which is this text most probably taken?

A．A geography textbook.	B．A health report.
C．A scientific website.	D．An environmental magazine.