1 . Beginning your journey abroad, you’ll witness excitement fill the air. Each step brings new experiences and adventures from busy streets to beautiful landscapes. Pack your bags and welcome the thrill of discovery that awaits. Here are a few things for you to get started with before you set foot.
Do thorough research on your destination.Conduct complete research about the country or region you plan to visit before your trip.
When packing for your trip abroad, prioritize essentials and pack light to avoid unnecessary weight.
Be alarmed and aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid risky areas, especially at night, and keep your belongings secure. Familiarize yourself with local emergency contact numbers, the location of your country’s embassy (大使馆), and any specific safety precautions recommended for travelers in your destination.
Welcome new experiences that come your way.As your journey abroad comes to a close, memories of adventure and discovery will remain in your heart. Cherish (珍惜) the moments shared, the sights seen, and the lessons learned.
| A．Pay attention to safety at all times. |
| B．Respect local customs and traditions. |
| C．Learn about its history, culture, customs, and local laws. |
| D．Stay updated on travel guidelines issued by your government. |
| E．Traveling abroad offers access to new cultures and experiences. |
| F．Though your travels may end, the spirit of exploration will live on. |
| G．Consider the climate and your activities, and pack proper clothing and equipment. |
2 . “On the very first day of 2024, I saw the snow of Kilimanjaro, not from the novel written by Ernest Hemingway, but from the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!” Xu Zhuoyuan, a 17-year-old mountaineer who’d stood on top of Mount Qomolangma last May, climbed onto the tallest peak in Africa, making herself the youngest Chinese girl that conquered it.
Xu’s passion for mountaineering was motivated by her father, who himself reached many peaks, including Mount Qomolangma. And her mountaineering journey began on a family trip to Xizang and Sichuan four years ago. For many years, Xu devoted herself to rigorous training. She went to the mountains in Yunnan and Sichuan every month, climbing peaks over 5,000 meters and doing daily physical exercises like running, swimming and rope skipping. All that hard work got her ready for the challenges she would face on Kilimanjaro.
Above 4000 meters on Mount Kilimanjaro, the climate is similar to a desert, with big temperature differences. The whole climb took 7 days, during which Xu faced unpredictable weather such as rain and strong winds. Staying warm and avoiding heat loss was the main challenge. Xu had to be very sensitive to any temperature changes and adjust her clothing accordingly. This climb was also a learning experience for Xu. She was climbing with Xia Boyu (aged 74), the first Chinese climber to summit Mount Qomolangma with an artificial leg, who’d inspired Xu a lot.
Mountaineering, Xu discovered, is not just about being strong physically; it is also a journey of self-discovery. “In climbing and life, it’s important to know when to let go of things that are weighing us down and how to re start when we feel ready,” she reflected.
1. What inspired Xu Zhuoyuan’s interest in climbing mountains?| A．A novel written by Ernest Hemingway. |
| B．A former trip to Mount Qomolangma. |
| C．Her father’s success in mountaineering. |
| D．Her family trip to Xizang and Sichuan. |
| A．Flexible. | B．Strict. | C．Casual. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．She was accompanied by a disabled climber. |
| B．There was a desert 4000 meters on Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| C．Weather condition was unstable above Mount Kilimanjaro. |
| D．Clothes adjustment was needed due to temperature changes. |
| A．Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro—A Chinese Girl’s Bravery. |
| B．Conquering New Heights —A Story of Passion. |
| C．Mountaineering—A Journey of Self-discovery. |
| D．Mount Kilimanjaro —A Destination of Inspiration. |
3 . Four places to explore in northern Canada
Welcome to Canada, the land of openness. Discover True North itineraries and undeniably Canadian experiences with a coast-to-coast collection of travel packages. All you need to bring is an open mind. And maybe a light jacket. If you want to get more detailed information, please click www.travelcanada.com
Nights Under LightsFrom USD $4,995 per person
6 days/5 nights
Our Nights Under Lights multi-day tours will give you some of the best chances in the world to see and photograph the beautiful northern lights. Spend days adventuring with dog sledding tours, snow-walking, visiting local historic sites and museums and spend the evenings at our award-winning location for cultural presentations, aurora viewing and photography.
Subarctic Wonders: Exploring Churchill’s Northern LightsFrom USD $3,795 per person
5 days /4 nights
Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of the aurora and embark on an authentic northern lights adventure. Each evening, we journey to tranquil hideaways, far from the city lights, where the sky unfolds its awe-inspiring display. Experience the wonder of the Northern Lights in Churchill, expertly guided by our team, as you dig into the vibrant northern culture and witness nature’s breathtaking light show.
Belugas, Bears & Summer Wildlife of ChurchillFrom USD $7,895 per person
7 days /6 nights
Few of nature’s marvels match the intense aliveness of an Arctic summer. More than 3.000 of these adorable white whales gather at the mouth of the Churchill River, and our motorized rafts and kayaks put us at eye level with these often-curious aquatic lives. On the surrounding land, we frequently spot polar bears wandering or napping on the banks, their creamy coats contrasting with the rocky shoreline and dark forest.
Canada’s Premier Polar Bear AdventureFrom USD $7,495 per person
8 days/7 nights
When you’re standing on the outdoor platform of our Polar Rover, the chill Arctic air feels refreshing. But not as much as the sight of the huge polar bear strolling towards us. Sometimes they are shadows on the horizon, slowly moving on the vast expanse of icy land, in search of seals for meals. Join us for one of nature’s most wondrous wildlife encounters—no one does it better than Natural Habitat!
1. In which tour will you spend the most money each day?| A．Nights Under Lights. |
| B．Subarctic Wonders: Exploring Churchill’s Northern Lights. |
| C．Belugas, Bears & Summer Wildlife of Churchill. |
| D．Canada’s Premier Polar Bear Adventure. |
| A．Sled with dogs. | B．Enjoy the Northern Lights. |
| C．Hike on the ice. | D．Visit museums. |
| A．A geographic magazine. | B．A newspaper. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A website. |
4 . Turn on a light outside at night, and it won’t be long before lots of insects start gathering around it. This behavior has led to a popular comparison for attraction, “like a moth to a flame.” However, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, it turns out that insects aren’t “attracted” to artificial lights, but rather confused by it.
The new finding is based on a theory about insect orientation (定位). Due to their small and lightweight bodies, insects experience less air resistance, allowing them to achieve higher accelerations (加速度), which in turn makes it challenging for them to sense up and down during flight. So, they typically rely on stable light sources like the moon and stars to orient themselves at night, keeping the sky at their backs to stay upright. However, the introduction of artificial lights confuses their natural sense of direction. The insects you see circling street lights, in other words, are probably lost.
To reach these conclusions, scientists used high-resolution cameras to film insects flying around artificial lights in Costa Rica. They also attached tiny sensors to insects and filmed motion-capture videos of them in flight. In this way, researchers can slow down the insects pace and study their movements in greater detail. The videos showed insects turning their backs toward sources of artificial light — even at the price of flipping over or crashing.
This can be dangerous for insects, as circling around artificial lights can put them at risk from enemies, exhaustion, and starvation, causing many to die before morning. Night artificial light is a major cause of insect population loss, which could severely impact crop pollination and food supplies for larger animals, including humans. “Insects have been flying around for 370 million years, and it’s just in the last 150 years that it’s really gone wrong for them,” says entomologist Samuel Fabian of Imperial College London. “If we don’t want to influence large amounts of insect populations, we should not have lights shining up into the sky.”
1. What have scientists found out about insects?| A．Artificial lights can disturb their sense of direction. |
| B．Their populations are in decline. |
| C．They often fly quickly during the night. |
| D．Their eyesight is well adapted to light changes. |
| A．By detecting the living environment of insects. |
| B．By monitoring the insects’ brain activity during flight. |
| C．By making videos to study insects’ movements. |
| D．By building models to analyze insects’ motion patterns. |
| A．To stress the importance of insects to food supplies. |
| B．To appeal to people to reduce light pollution. |
| C．To show the reasons for insects flying around lights. |
| D．To explain the effects of insects’ death on human life. |
| A．How Artificial Lights Impact the Ecosystem |
| B．What Leads to the Loss of Insect Populations |
| C．How Insects Orient Themselves in the Flight |
| D．Why Insects are Attracted to Lights at Night |
5 . On hearing the word vacation, most people react positively. Experienced travelers will argue that more important than where they go on vacation is who they go with.
Family travel is special and creates lasting memories, but it can also have some challenges. For one, the success of a trip often depends on the relationships that the family members have with one another. If two brothers do not get along at home, the chances are that they will fight during a vacation.
Finally, people can choose to travel alone. Solo travelers can be more flexible with transportation than those traveling in a large group.
| A．They can change plans more easily. |
| B．Each person tends to cover his or her individual expenses. |
| C．Another potential problem of family travel is transportation. |
| D．Sightseeing and scheduling are not a problem for solo travelers. |
| E．In fact, friendships are often strengthened with the travel memories. |
| F．Traveling with friends can be an unforgettable experience for several reasons. |
| G．Vacations can be classified on the basis of who vacationers choose to travel with. |
6 . On the bustling streets of Sydney, Australia, Dong Min, a young Chinese woman, dressed in elegant Chinese traditional clothing — hanfu, gracefully holds a dizi, the bamboo flute of China, fascinating passersby with the melodies of traditional Chinese music.
Dong Min, a talented musician was born in 1990. Seeing a female performer playing the bamboo flute on TV fired her interest in this Chinese traditional instrument at the age of 8. Soon her interest blossomed into talent. At the age of 10, winning a provincial-level Chinese musical instrument competition earned her one of only four spots for further studies in Beijing. After graduating from Minzu University of China with a major in Chinese bamboo flute in 2015, she enrolled at the University of New South Wales in Australia to study cultural leadership where she initiated street performances, featuring Chinese traditional instruments. One year later, she formed a band and founded the Sydney Meya Institute of Chinese Music to teach various Chinese traditional instruments to more people.
Apart from street performances and her institution, Dong also offers online dizi lessons to a global audience and organizes online exchange concerts for her students worldwide. “Our students range from 4-year-olds to 80-year-olds, reflecting the timeless appeal of Chinese music across generations,” Dong said.
Her effort paid off eventually. Her performances grew in popularity. Many audiences traveled all the way from cities like Melbourne and Brisbane to Sydney just to attend her performances.” Many music schools now offer courses on Chinese instruments. I hope to create a platform for music enthusiasts to connect and cultivate friendships through their shared love for music. Thus, we can not only raise awareness of Chinese traditional music in Australia but also share the richness of Chinese culture through music with the international audience.” Dong Min said.
1. Which of the following is true?| A．Dong Min founded the institution at 26. |
| B．Dong Min taught dizi through street performances. |
| C．Dong Min majored in Chinese bamboo flute in Australia. |
| D．Dong Min wished to gain popularity through her performances. |
| A．By analyzing reasons. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By following time order. |
| A．Brave and humorous. | B．Gifted and passionate. |
| C．Creative and stubborn. | D．Patient and experienced. |
| A．Chinese Traditional Music: From China to Australia. |
| B．Bamboo Flute: Chinese Instrument Shared in Australia. |
| C．Dong Min: A Culture Messenger Bridging Cultures through Music. |
| D．Dong Min: A Talented Chinese Girl Spreading Chinese Instruments. |
7 . Reasons Why You Need to Read More Historical Fiction
Historical fiction refers to fictional stories set in true historical contexts. This mixes the lines between reality and imagination, because it is both factual and fictional.
It is a common belief that victors write history. Indeed, it is always victors who have had the last say in the documentation of facts. But through stories，which demand imagination and innovation, it is possible to rewrite histories from the perspective of those on the losing side. This allows unheard voices to get recognition, and unknown stories to be told.
Because historical fiction doesn’t exist in a completely made-up world and is written instead in definite places and times, it has a context.
Among various fiction types, historical fiction stands out as a highly informative category. This is due to the extensive and precise research it demands, creating an impressive experience that transports you to different eras. This, in turn, allows you to get a sense of a life and times so vastly different from yours.
It challenges your perspectives about culture.| A．It makes you connect with your ancestors. |
| B．It offers alternative perspectives to past realities. |
| C．Alternative perspectives make you broad-minded. |
| D．It gives you a sense of a life and times before yours. |
| E．You should definitely invest in reading historical fiction. |
| F．It is this context that makes historical fiction unique and essential. |
| G．One social influence historical fiction has is that it challenges cultural assumptions. |
8 . On 17 September 2023, Senior 1 student Charlie Robson was enjoying his dinner at the stand when there came a sudden scream from the boy next to his table, who accidentally swallowed the plastic wrapper stuck to the bottom of his food.
Seeing him unable to cough it up, the boy’s mother was immediately filled with fear as she stood there, patting his son’s back anxiously. “Somebody help! My son is going to choke with the wrapper in his throat.”
Charlie noticed that the boy’s face had turned complete purple. He knew he must take action immediately. Otherwise, the boy’s life was in great danger. Charlie quickly ran behind the boy and started doing the Heimlich maneuver (海姆立克急救法) whose theory is to push air through the airway to force whatever is in there out. Minutes later, the plastic wrapper was eventually forced out and the boy began to breathe again.
Seeing the boy was safe, Charlie rushed to the school without knowing his act of kindness went viral after someone in the scene posted the video on Tik Tok. Charlie’s father said, “I’m so proud of my son. He is a brave boy with great responsibility. He didn’t tell me what had happened until I saw the video on Tik Tok.”
Plus, the boy’s mother wrote to the headmaster, saying “The student who saved my son’s life the other day is really a hero. We’re so grateful that he stepped in to help when my son was faced with such a dangerous situation. Thanks so much for educating such well-rounded students with good moral virtues.” In response to the letter, Jimmy Mehwish, the headmaster of the school, said, “At the very beginning of the semester, Charlie has set a great example for all the students. His kindness really sets a tone for everyone else.”
1. How did the boy’s mother feel after he ate the plastic wrapper?| A．Concerned. | B．Scared. | C．Upset. | D．Embarrassed. |
| A．Be attacked by viruses on social media. |
| B．Be sold to make a profit on social media. |
| C．Became familiar with fans on social media. |
| D．Spread quickly and widely on social media. |
| A．He is afraid of his father. |
| B．He is a brave boy of few words. |
| C．He dislikes the attention from Tik Tok. |
| D．He thought little about his act of kindness. |
| A．Charlie is a well-rounded student. |
| B．The boy’s mother is grateful to Charlie. |
| C．Other students should learn from Charlie. |
| D．Charlie is responsible for the boy’s safety. |
9 . Jilin is not a place that was ever high up on my list of places that I wanted to go to in China, but after visiting it I can confidently say it should be at the top of yours.
My first stop was the Jingyuetan National Forest Park, situated in the southeast of Changchun city. The freshness and calmness of this park was idyllic, with pockets of people out for their afternoon run or just getting some alone time. I was taken to a cable lift that took me up to one of the highest points and got to toboggan (长雪橇) down the hill side, which I had done once before beside the Great Wall of China, but this time I was in among the trees and wilderness.
The forestry in Jilin is second to none, which was evident when I visited the Changchun Zoological and Botanical Gardens, featuring multiple parades and performances, but my favorite of all was the glowing lantern sculptures decorated around and in among the greenery. I was fortunate enough to dress up in some of the performance costumes. I have attended a performing arts academy for many years, so I was over the moon when greeted by performers in Siping.
My last day in Jilin was a day of relaxation. I started the day by rafting down a local river, where butterflies adorned the trees like Christmas decorations. From here I made the journey to a rural forest to partake in the intangible cultural heritage protection project of ginseng picking. A master guided me into the forest in search of the root plant and showed me the correct way to unearth the roots. The practice can only be done during two months of the year and the rest is left for the ginseng to grow back. It can take many years for the ginseng to grow to a profitable size.
My expectations were blown up to the mountains in Jilin as the people here showed me all warmth and generosity, sharing their wonderful province with me. It is most definitely a place I’m itching to climb back into.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined world “idyllic” in the second paragraph?| A．Crowded | B．Lonely | C．Peaceful | D．Wild |
| A．You can’t miss the forestry. |
| B．The forestry ranks second. |
| C．Changchun Zoological and Botanical Gardens is the second largest park in Jilin. |
| D．He likes the Changchun Zoological and Botanical Gardens most. |
| A．He hasn’t been to other tourist attractions in China. |
| B．Jilin was a must place to visit for him. |
| C．He can pick ginseng at any time of a year. |
| D．He is a performing artist. |
| A．A geography textbook. | B．A health care report |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．A science brochure |
10 . Harvest Festivals Around the World
The harvest season falls at different times of the year depending upon region, climate, and crop, but festivals celebrating its arrival are held the world over. The following list highlights four particular harvest festivals.
Rice Harvest Festival in Indonesia (May 1 — June 30)
The Rice Harvest Festival that is held in Bali, Indonesia, is a feature of the island’s Hindu culture. The harvest time, which follows the New Year by about one month, is dedicated to the rice goddess and is a time of joyous celebration. Sculptures of the goddess are placed in the fields in thanks, towns are decorated with colored flags, and special bull races are held.
Yam Festival in Ghana (August or September)
The Ewe people of Ghana in Africa celebrate the end of the rainy season and the first appearance of yams, a staple crop. The duration and exact days of the celebration vary according to place, in hopes of driving away hunger in the coming year. People gather and hold huge feasts and activities such as dances and parades.
Sukkoth in Israel (September-October)
Sukkoth, the “Feast of Booths (棚子),” is held shortly after the High Holy Days of the New Year celebration. Special booths are constructed to recall the period of the Exodus, recorded in the local religion, when their ancestors lived in booths in the desert before entering the Promised Land.
Pongal in India (January)
The four-day festival of Pongal is a celebration of the rice harvest period. Held after the winter solstice (冬至), it celebrates the return of longer days of life-giving sunlight. Pongal is similar to other festivals held in South and Southeast Asia, but its name comes from a local word meaning “to boil” and is also the name given to a rice dish that is prepared during this time.
1. What is special about Rice Harvest Festival?| A．Its connection with Hindu culture. | B．Its celebration of the rainy season. |
| C．Its respect for their ancestors. | D．Its similarity to other festivals. |
| A．In Indonesia. | B．In Ghana. | C．In Israel. | D．In India. |
| A．Rice Harvest Festival. | B．Yam Festival. | C．Sukkoth. | D．Pongal. |
