1 . Must-See Destinations in 2024

Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.

Spain

Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.

Montenegro

Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.

Croatia

Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...

South Africa

Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.

With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.

1. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common?

A．They are both praised by tourists.

B．They both have world heritage cities.

C．They are known for their architectures.

D．They both own beaches and rich history.

2. Which destination will attract people who are interested in creatures?

A．Spain.	B．South Africa.
C．Montenegro.	D．Croatia.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A website.	B．A guidebook.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What should people do to rent a Nice Ride bike?

A．Show the ID card.

B．Download an app.

C．Get the membership card.

2. What encourage more people to choose biking?

A．The short supply of gas.

B．Concerns about the environment.

C．The request of the government.

3. Which country has the largest bike-share program?

A．Australia.

B．The US.

C．China.

4. How does the US Department of Transportation support cycling?

A．Build on-street bike lanes.

B．Provide thousands of bikes.

C．Start bike-share programs.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did Landon succeed in doing?

A．Managing his own business.

B．Completing a degree in Computer.

C．Getting into a college.

2. How much does Jason’s school charge per year now?

A．$20,000.

B．$40,000.

C．$60,000.

3. What does the man think of college education?

A．It costs less now.

B．It isn’t necessary.

C．It is meaningful.

4. What are the speakers talking about?

A．What major to choose.

B．Whether to go to college.

C．How to pay for university.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is Uncle Meyer?

A．A teacher.

B．A librarian.

C．A historian.

2. Where did Uncle Meyer and the children go on Sundays?

A．The zoo.

B．The museum.

C．The library.

3. What will Uncle Meyer do next year?

A．Support museums.

B．Study Chinese.

C．Go on a trip to China.

4. How many great things are talked about Uncle Meyer?

A．Four.

B．Three.

C．Two.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman call the restaurant?

A．To order food.

B．To book a table.

C．To ask about her missing bag.

2. What does the man ask the woman to do at first?

A．Provide a description.

B．Give a card number.

C．Call back later.

3. Why is the woman in a hurry?

A．She needs bags for packing.

B．She needs money for her trip.

C．She needs her passport for going abroad.

4. What will the woman do next?

A．Call the police.

B．Get back her bag.

C．Buy a new bag.

6 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. Which is a superfood according to the man?

A．Yogurt.

B．Noodles.

C．Rice.

2. Why are superfoods healthy?

A．Because they cure some terrible diseases.

B．Because they fight against some cancers.

C．Because they reduce the risks of some diseases.

3. Which food will the woman be adding to their family diet?

A．Fish.

B．Tomatoes.

C．Brown rice.

7 . What should the woman do according to the man?

A．Bring her pet dog to the countryside.

B．Try to overcome her own depression.

C．Just take it easy.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man doing?

A．Hosting a program.

B．Chairing a meeting.

C．Giving a lecture.

2. What did the woman’s parents grow in their gardens?

A．Potatoes and melons.

B．Potatoes and tomatoes.

C．Carrots and tomatoes.

3. Why was the project started?

A．To get a teamwork award.

B．To make kids develop confidence.

C．To help kids know more about food.

4. What can children do in the Alice Waters Garden Project?

A．Create recipes.

B．Design gardens.

C．Build kitchens.

9 . Parkinson’s is a progressive brain disease which leads to shaky hands and slow movement, and there is no cure. Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art that combines (结合) slow, gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation, may be an effective means of reducing the suffering. Recently, the researchers say that those who practised the martial art twice a week had fewer complications (并发症) and better quality of life than those who didn’t. Experts say the findings back up previous studies on the benefits of exercise for those with Parkinson’s.

The study, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, monitored the health of hundreds of Parkinson’s patients for up to five years. One group of 147 people practised regular Tai Chi while another group of 187 did not. The researchers found that the disease progressed more slowly in the Tai Chi group on measurements of symptoms (症状), movement and balance. This group also saw fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness, with memory and concentration problems also lower than in the other group. At the same time, sleep and quality of life continuously improved.

Prof. Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology and neuroepidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, called it “an important study”—the positive effects on aspects of motor (运动的) and non-motor functions are impressive — but said there were limitations in its design, and more tests were needed.

“We already recommend Tai Chi, as well as other forms of exercise, but understanding which forms of exercise are most beneficial is an important goal to improve the long-term management of patients,” he said.

1. Why was the study conducted?

A．To find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

B．To improve the sleep quality of Parkinson’s patients.

C．To remove the misunderstanding of the previous studies.

D．To research the benefits of Tai Chi for those with Parkinson’s.

2. Which of the following is not the researchers’ finding?

A．Concentration problem was lower in the Tai Chi group.

B．The disease progressed more slowly in the Tai Chi group.

C．Patients in the non-Tai Chi group continuously fell down.

D．Back pain and dizziness were relieved in the Tai Chi group.

3. What can we learn from Prof. Alastair Noyce’s words?

A．Tai Chi should be given more preference.

B．Finding the most beneficial exercise is of importance.

C．It is unnecessary to do more related studies.

D．Improve the long-term management of patients is impossible.

4. What is Prof. Alastair Noyce’s attitude towards the study?

A．Confused.

B．Doubtful.

C．Positive.

D．Worried.

10 . Moving around Bogota can be a bit of a Jekyll-or-Hyde experience. On the one hand, the city is infamous (声名狼藉的)for having the world’s worst traffic. Yet, on the other, its cycling infrastructure is considered a good model of sustainable urban mobility, according to the Copenhagenize Index, which ranks bike-friendly cities. The Colombian capital generated a now-international movement in the 1970s called Ciclovia, which sees 1.5 million people cycle across 128km of car-free streets each Sunday morning.

So, when the pandemic reached its shores in mid-March, Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez, an avid cyclist herself, introduced one of the world’s first plans to encourage bike travel, using traffic cones to create 76 km of temporary lanes.

“Everyone started using a bicycle, and they already knew how to get around on one because we have this bike culture thanks to the Ciclovia,” says Carlos Pardo, a local cycling advocate and senior advisor at the New Urban Mobility Alliance. Pardo got involved at the beginning of the pandemic by partnering with a local bikeshare company to provide 400 free e-bikes to health workers. Now, he’s busy persuading the public that the government’s new bike lanes should become permanent fixture (固定设施).

“Some drivers say, ‘you took away our lane’, but we’re saying, we took one car lane and made a two-lane bidirectional bike lane,” he explains. “So, you’re duplicating the effectiveness of the space, and moving more people per hour, per direction.”

Biking has enjoyed a renaissance (复兴) around the world as urban citizens avoid public transport for the relative safety of a two-wheeled commute. Now, many advocates like Pardo are working with local governments in the hope of turning these pandemic-response measures into lasting changes—ones that are more plausible now than ever after lockdowns provided an unprecedented (空前的)opportunities to fast-track infrastructure trials. The results of these urban planning experiments could not only radically shape the way we commute across global cities, but also make them more adaptable to future shocks.

1. What can best illustrate the underlined sentence?

A．Much knowledge that is of help in learning about a new place.

B．A mixed feeling that is too confusing to express themselves.

C．An understanding that everything has both advantages and disadvantages.

D．An idea that human beings are born somewhere between good and evil.

2. What was NOT the cause of the popularity of cycling in Bogota?

A．The outbreak of the pandemic in mid-March.

B．The worldwide bike culture dating back to the 1970s.

C．The government’s support for the temporary bike lanes.

D．The local bike company’s contribution to health workers.

3. What factor is likely to stop the change of bike-friendly, slow streets?

A．The increasing number of cyclists.	B．Duplicated effectiveness of road use.
C．A well-rounded city expansion plan.	D．The growth of car ownership.

4. Which section of the newspaper includes articles of this sort?

A．Urban life.

B．Politics.

C．Sports

D．Advice column.