1 . Never climbed before? It doesn’t matter! Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre is a fantastic outing for the whole family that’s guaranteed to pack your day with fun and adventure! No experience is necessary.

Under the guidance of qualified instructors, you will step outside of your comfort zone in a safe and controlled environment. All equipment is provided — just bring your spirit of adventure and your willingness to challenge yourself! Boulders specializes in introducing people of all abilities into this vertical (垂直的) world in a fun, safe and inclusive way!

With climbing walls that reach between 4 to 12 metres in height, Boulders, whose task is to teach you all the skills required to climb safely, is designed to train the bravest explorer. You will learn how to move around the climbing wall in a safe manner, and how to differentiate (区分) between grades and varieties of techniques.

There’s even a café on site with free Wi-Fi, so send the children to climb and check in with the office while you’re enjoying a skinny latte! Boulders offers a wide range of climbing activities, including:

Climbing classes for children, families, students and adults

Birthday parties for all ages

Children’s holiday activities

Soft play for children 7 years old and under

Climbing-Introduction courses

Opening hours:       Mon.-Thur.             10:00-22:00

Fri.             10:00-21:00

Sat.-Sun.             10:00-18:00

Price:       Adults £15       Children £10

The price includes entry to the wall after the session, your one-off registration fee and shoe hire.

Family pass:       £38

Up to 4 persons. Rental shoes & chalk included.

1. Which is the requirement for the climbers in Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre?

A．Awareness of safety.	B．Being brave and adventurous.
C．Previous experience of rock climbing.	D．Abilities to communicate with others.

2. What is the aim of Boulders according to the text?

A．To instruct the climbers to gain skills of climbing safely.

B．To help instructors to enjoy the spirit of adventure.

C．To guarantee the climbers out of their comfort zones.

D．To equip learners with abilities to design climbing walls.

3. Which of the following activities could an 8-year-old boy join?

A．Having soft play at 10 am on Wednesday.

B．Attending a birthday party at 8 pm on Saturday.

C．Taking climbing classes at noon on Sunday.

D．Attending climbing classes at 9 am every Friday.

2 . Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.

As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).

With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.

The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.

“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.

“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”

1. Why do polar bears move further south?

A．To create hybrids.	B．To expand territory.
C．To relieve hunger.	D．To contact grizzlies.

2. What makes “pizzly” bears adapt to natural surroundings better than their parents?

A．Broader habitats.	B．More food options.
C．Climate preference.	D．Improved breeding ability.

3. What does the underlined phrase “a tipping point” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．A rare chance.	B．A critical stage.
C．A positive factor.	D．A constant change.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change.

B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change.

C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming.

D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming.

3 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.

For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.

Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”

Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.

1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?

A．By analyzing a mass of data.

B．By conducting genetic research.

C．By comparing various levels of activity.

D．By tracking the subjects for many years.

2. What does the study show about depression?

A．Physical activity betters medical treatment.

B．Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it.

C．Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same.

D．Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment.

3. What does the underlined word “ubiquitous” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Harmful.	B．Complex.
C．Unusual.	D．Common.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To discuss a disease.

B．To introduce a method.

C．To analyze a genetic risk.

D．To explain a phenomenon.

5 . Five years ago, I got an email from a well-known professor in my field in March. He invited me to________ for a position in his lab. Things went well and all I needed to do was finish up my thesis (毕业论文) and I decided to ________ it in the following months.

One night, my mother came up to my room, asking softly, “Have you ________ your thesis yet?” “Not yet, Mom,” I ________ , even too busy to look up at her. Then she mentioned that she had some ________ symptoms (症状) in her body that had never been seen before. She wanted to say something more, but my academic (学业的)________ made me hardly take her words to heart.

However, two months later, the doctor announced my mother might ________for less than a year ________cancer (癌症). It was then that I was ________that things became more serious than I had imagined. Before it was too late, I was________to stop my thesis and be there with my mother for her rest life. ________ , my mother failed in the battle and passed away at the end of the year. The next July, I finished my scientific thesis and got the________from the lab.

When looking back today, I feel ________for losing precious time with my mother. The ________ of my mother gave me a new way to think about life: If your loved ones need you, be there for them. Sometimes, just being a listening ear to them can really ________.

1.

A．search

B．account

C．interview

D．investigate

2.

A．focus on

B．stare at

C．apply for

D．refer to

3.

A．burned

B．completed

C．considered

D．canceled

4.

A．illustrated

B．comforted

C．shouted

D．replied

5.

A．creative

B．specific

C．strange

D．similar

6.

A．task

B．interest

C．freedom

D．achievement

7.

A．debate

B．explain

C．concentrate

D．survive

8.

A．according to

B．because of

C．except for

D．instead of

9.

A．curious

B．confident

C．aware

D．impressive

10.

A．shocked

B．worried

C．honored

D．determined

11.

A．Unluckily

B．Uncertainly

C．Obviously

D．Currently

12.

A．award

B．joy

C．offer

D．site

13.

A．regretful

B．grateful

C．ready

D．lonely

14.

A．comment

B．loss

C．passion

D．struggle

15.

A．suffer

B．last

C．happen

D．matter

6 . I am a big laugher. I’ve been told that even in a room of a thousand people, you can always hear me laughing over the crowd. For me, laughter is the ultimate form of embodied joy. And by “embodied”, I mean that my whole body is involved when I laugh. On the inside, it’s like a bubbling fountain of joy spilling out all over the place.

But what is joy, anyway?

Life can be terrible, but if you decide to follow the sound of the joy-fountain, you will find joy showing up in all kinds of places: pets playfully bouncing around, kindness, or even in nothingness.

How can joy be found? A friend moved into a new apartment and needed some help, so I helped him. Afterwards, he was obviously so much happier and at case. I noticed that playing even a small part in his happiness brought me great joy, and I took a moment to let this feeling of embodied joy in. We can practice letting joy in by noticing how it feels to smile. Where does your body light up when you smile? When I smile, it makes me want to take a deep breath, and I notice my shoulders and belly relaxing. When I embody caring and loving, it feels great!

Sadly, many of us are unaware of joy, or suspicious of it. Maybe you arc afraid to open up to joy, or maybe you are so unfamiliar with what joy feels like that you ignore or resist it when it comes knocking. No one, other than you, owns your happiness, but you might unknowingly block feelings or experiences that help you embody joy. The fact is that when you can’t embody joy, you miss out on one of life’s essential vitamins.

Want more joy? Don’t be afraid to look silly. Silliness helps us take things less personally. It helps us see the world the way a kid does. When we can find more joy in the smalls of everyday life, we can embody happiness, rather than just pursuing it.

1. How is the topic of joy introduced at the beginning of the passage?

A．By highlighting a joyful experience.

B．By stressing the importance of laughing.

C．By presenting an ultimate form of satisfaction.

D．By sharing the author’s understanding of joy.

2. What might be the author’s advice on finding joy?

A．Taking a deep breath.	B．Smiling to your friends.
C．Doing small acts of kindness.	D．Reflecting on nothingness.

3. What might be the reason for many of us missing joy?

A．That many of us refuse it on purpose.

B．That many of us are insensitive to joy.

C．That many of us lack life’s essential vitamins.

D．That many of us are likely to take joy for granted.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Life is the creation of joy	B．A happy man always laughs last
C．People are always unaware of joy	D．Happy people are happy in childhood

7 . I offered to reward him with money, but ________(decline). (所给词的适当形式填空)

8 . China is one of the world’s ancient civilizations and has the earliest outstanding bronze casting technology. Here we’ve created a list of 4 museums where you can gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese bronze.

Sanxingdui Museum

Address: Sanxingdui Ruin Site, 133 Xian Road, Guanghan, Deyang, Sichuan province

Hours: Comprehensive Gallery (the first exhibition hall): 8:30-18:00; Bronze Gallery (the second exhibition hall): 8:30-18:30. Last tickets sold at 17:00. Closed on the morning of Chinese New Year’s Eve

Ticket booking: 0838-5651526

General admission: Gallery ticket 80 yuan

Note: Children shorter than 1.2m (including 1.2m) can visit the gallery free of charge. The ticket must be used on the day it is sold and authorizes one visit to each gallery.

National Museum of China

Address: East side of Tian’anmen Square, Dongcheng district, Beijing

Hours: 8:30-17:00 (no entry after 16:30)

General admission: Free (passport required for entry), Closed Mondays (except for national holidays)

E-mail: webmaster@chnmuseum.cn

Shanghai Museum

Address: 201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu district, Shanghai

Hours: 9:00-17:00 (no entry after 16:00), Closed Mondays (except for national holidays)

E-mail: webmaster@shanghai-museum.org

General admission: free (a max of 8, 000 admitted daily)

Hunan Museum

Address: 50 Dongfeng Road, Changsha, Hunan province

Hours:   9:00-17:00 (no entry after 16:00), Closed Mondays (except for national holidays) and the eve of Chinese New Year

Tel: (+86-731) 8415833, 84475933

E-mail: web@hnmuseum.com

General admission: Free (passport required for entry)

1. Which museum should you choose for your family to visit next Monday?

A．Sanxingdui Museum	B．Hunan Museum
C．Shanghai Museum	D．National Museum of China

2. What do these museums in this passage have in common?

A．They are all free of charge.	B．They all set a deadline for entry.
C．They all lie in the south of China.	D．They can all be available through E-mail.

3. In which part of a newspaper can you most probably read this passage?

A．Science

B．Today’s News

C．Entertainment

D．History and Culture

9 . Is it true that our brain alone is responsible for human cognition(认知)? What about our body? Is it possible for thought and behaviour to originate from somewhere other than our brain? Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition(EC)ask similar questions. The EC theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.

If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don’t have emotions so much as needs – they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats, and this has a calming effect. In the real world, they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to associate being warm with being loved.

Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one experiment, test subjects were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink. They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too. In another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being “included” in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.

For further proof, we can look at the metaphors(比喻)that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.

Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it? If you’re having a bad day, a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.

1. According to the author, what is the significance of EC?

A．It brings us closer to the truth in human cognition.

B．It offers a clearer picture of the shape of human brain.

C．It reveals the major role of the mind in human cognition.

D．It facilitates our understanding of the origin of psychology.

2. Where does the newborns’ understanding of their surroundings start from?

A．Their personal looks.	B．Their mental needs.
C．Their inner emotions.	D．Their physical feelings.

3. What does the author intend to prove by citing the metaphors in Paragraph 4?

A．Human speech is alive with metaphors.

B．Human senses have effects on thinking.

C．Human language is shaped by visual images.

D．Human emotions are often compared to natural materials.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph?

A．To deepen the readers’ understanding of EC.

B．To encourage the reader to put EC into practice.

C．To guide the reader onto the path to career success.

D．To share with the reader ways to release their emotions.

10 . It is very challenging when it comes to trying to master the English language. However, there are some things you can do to improve your English learning. The following books are an excellent way for people trying to learn English or get better at it.

Oxford Picture Dictionary

This is a great book for those who like to learn things visually. You can use the pictures to learn many new words each day. There is also a bilingual version for those who want to learn using their own native language.

Word Power Made Easy

This useful dictionary provides one of the best ways to learn over 1, 000 of the words which are most commonly used in English. The book has many interesting activities and games, and gives tips on avoiding spelling errors.

NTC Vocabulary Builders

Students who are more advanced in the English language will greatly like NTC Vocabulary Builders. If you want to build your English vocabulary, then this book is a good choice.

English Vocabulary in Use Series

This is one of the best-selling books by Cambridge University Press. The book is good for students of the English language of all levels who want to have a wider vocabulary. You can choose to learn British English or American English.

Improving your English is one of the best ways to make sure that you will do great in life. It can open many doors for you. For those who are not native English speakers, these books will come in handy. With hard work, anyone can be a master of the English language.

1. Which book provides ways to help you make fewer mistakes in spelling?

A．Oxford Picture Dictionary	B．Word Power Made Easy
C．NTC Vocabulary Builders	D．English Vocabulary in Use Series

2. What is special about Oxford Picture Dictionary?

A．It is designed for language beginners.

B．It offers advice on language learning.

C．It provides many pictures to help learn language.

D．It gives learners a lot of interesting daily tasks.

3. What do the four books have in common?

A．They only provide English versions.	B．They are all for beginners.
C．They help you to do great in life.	D．They help to learn vocabulary.