1 . During my final year of college, I made two signs that read, “Feeling stressed about exams? Have a free hug!” Then I found a friend and we stood in the campus, held up the signs, and waited. Passersby either quickly looked down at their phones and awkwardly walked by, or their faces lit up as they embraced us. Most people were enthusiastic. Some exclaimed, “You made my day!” or “Thank you. I needed this.”
A study published earlier suggests that, in addition to making us feel connected with others, all those hugs may have prevented us from getting sick. At first, this finding seems incredible, because hugging hundreds of strangers would increase your exposure to germs and therefore the likelihood of falling ill. But the new research adds to evidence for the positive influence of social support on health.
The researchers conducted an interview to find out how often participants experienced conflict with others and how often they received hugs. Then they infected the participants with a common cold virus and, later the researchers found that, regardless of how much conflict they endured, participants with a strong sense of social support developed less severe cold symptoms. Likewise, the more often people hugged, the less likely they were to get sick, even among individuals who frequently had tense interactions. In other words, both social support and hugging prevented against illness.
But their impact is more than a runny nose. On the extreme end, social connectedness seems to play a role in preventing against death. According to a research that examined over 300,000 people around the world, low levels of social support can increase the risk for premature death more than commonly known factors like smoking or alcohol consumption. No surprise that the World Health Organization identifies social networks as a primary determinant of health.
Evidently, just as we prioritize exercise and nutrition, we ought to prioritize quality time with loved ones; just as we avoid unhealthy habits like smoking, we should make effort to avoid isolation and social exclusion. And even if you don’t want to hug hundreds of strangers, don’t underestimate the healing power of touch.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To amuse the readers. |
| C．To explain a viewpoint. | D．To quote an instance. |
| A．It helps to relieve social stress. | B．It increases the risk of getting ill. |
| C．It prevents against social exclusion. | D．It promotes the feeling of closeness. |
| A．Death. | B．A virus. | C．A hug. | D．A cold. |
| A．Getting socialized. | B．Doing more exercise. |
| C．Giving up smoking. | D．Valuing your time. |
2 . On August 15,a team of researchers and conservationists set off on a two-year voyage from Plymouth, England,on board the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde. They will sail more than 46,000 miles(74,000 kilometers)and drop anchor in 32 different ports across four continents,before ending their journey in Falmouth,U.K.
The expedition, named Darwin200,comes more than 190 years after Charles Darwin sailed the globe collecting specimens and shaping ideas of his theory of evolution. The team will closely follow Darwin’s original voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, which set off on Dec.27,1831,and returned to England on Oct.2,1836.
Darwin was 22 years old when he joined the expedition with the intention of seeing the world before joining the church. But during the trip, Darwin became fascinated by the wide range of different species he encountered, which eventually led to him creating his theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin’s account of the journey, published after his return, also helped him establish his reputation as one of Victorian Britain’s academic elite.
The main aim of the new expedition is to train and inspire 200 young environmentalists, between 18 and 25 years old, who will each spend a week on board the Oosterschelde studying threatened species that Darwin encountered on his voyage.
“We wanted to create a similarly transformative experience(for the young naturalists),”Stewart MePherson, mission director of Darwin200,said in a statement. They have” the potential to be the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)and conservation leaders of tomorrow,” he added.
Every week, the team will broadcast interactive “nature hour” sessions live from the ship for people across the world. They will also collect important data on ocean plastics and coral reef health,as well as survey seabirds, whales and dolphins.
1. What can we learn about Darwin200 from the first two paragraphs?| A．It takes along 200 naturalists. | B．It takes a shortcut for the journey. |
| C．It is to mark Darwin’s Beagle voyage. | D．It lasts longer than Darwin’s voyage. |
| A．It established his writing style. | B．He gained a sense of adventure. |
| C．He earned great fame and fortune | D．It changed the direction of his life. |
| A．To be more creative. | B．To keep an open mind. |
| C．To develop scientific skills. | D．To challenge Darwin’s theory. |
| A．Ocean conservation. | B．The exploration of ocean. |
| C．The art of navigation. | D．Scientific education. |
3 . Hillier Gardens School Holiday Program
The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens are open year-round offering opportunities to view interesting plants and flowers and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Throughout the Easter school holidays, we have various events for children, which are fun and educational and give them interesting ways to interact with nature.
Self-Guided Easter Trail
The Gardens feature a regular trail throughout the year. For the Easter school holidays children will pick up their maps and follow clues left by the Easter Bunny. The family trails are a great way to explore the gardens with a little bit of guidance. Children who finish the trail will also be able to collect a small prize at the end. Trail maps can be picked up from the ticket desk.
Cost: E1.50 per child
All ages
Pond Dipping
The Education Garden ponds at Hillier Gardens are filled with all sorts of interesting creatures you might never think to look at. Keep an eye out for beetles, skimmers and more creatures living in the ponds. All materials are provided and bookings are not required. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: E2 per child
All ages
Outdoor Adventure Holiday Club
The Outdoor Learning Company will be running their popular Outdoor Adventure Holiday Club for four days throughout the Easter break. Children will experience a range of different outdoor skills and activities, including campfire cooking, bush craft tools, and den building. There’s also plenty of time to just enjoy the outdoors running around, tree climbing and exploring. Bookings are essential and can be made on the Outdoor Learning Company website.
Cost: E22
Ages 5-11
Family Bushcraft Cooking
One of the last activities of the holiday period is a campfire cooking session. You’ll make warm fruit puddings and cook other things on the campfire, while also learning essential bushcraft skills for cooking and safe fire handling. The price is for one adult and one child. Tickets can be booked online or by calling 01794369318.
Cost: E12.50
Ages 4-12
1. What good will the holiday events do to children?| A．Enjoying the festive leisure. | B．Improving self-care abilities. |
| C．Bringing them close to nature. | D．Strengthening the family ties. |
| A．Pond Dipping. | B．Self-Guided Easter Trail. |
| C．Family Bushcraft Cooking. | D．Outdoor Adventure Holiday Club. |
| A．Have a self-guided walk. | B．Learn outdoor survival skills. |
| C．Enjoy a family picnic. | D．Take care of small animals. |
Chinese Loong is the fifth animal of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle,
Data from an e-commerce platform show that searches
Purchases by the post-1990s and post-2000s generations accounted for nearly 55%, while consumers in Guangdong province, Beijing, Jiangsu province in that order,
“Brands should capitalize on traditional Chinese culture to launch more innovative
5 . What will you do when you feel like a failure? Feeling like a failure is part of the human experiences. Treat yourself with kindness and understand that failure does not define you, but it is a stepping stone on your journey. When you’re ready, take action and challenge yourself.
As some friends were deeply lost in the world of yoga and mindfulness, I’ve personally struggled with the feeling of failure, not on the yoga mat, but on the road to my entrepreneurship(创业). It all began several years ago when I threw myself into the business, driven by my passion and a dream.
In the early days, optimism flowed freely, but financial struggles and sleepless nights soon followed. I questioned my decision and felt like the biggest failure. However, every difficulty became a stepping stone towards growth. I learned more from my failures than from my successes, adapting and growing stronger with each obstacle. I reached out to instructors, friends and family, sought advice and slowly saw a ray of hope. One defining moment came when I gained my first long-term coaching partnership. It was a breakthrough, and my hard work paid off. Over the years, I faced many more failures, but I refused to let them define me.
Today, looking back at my journey, I realize that moments of feeling like a failure were essential to my success. They taught me humility, perseverance and the value of hard work. They shaped me into a successful entrepreneur I am today—someone who doesn’t fear failure but embraces it as a necessary part of the path to success. As we approach the end of the year of graduation, remember that success is not about avoiding failure, but about how we rise after we fall. Let’s support each other on this journey called life. Stay positive, stay inspired and stay true to ourselves.
1. What is the function of paragraph 1?| A．To give the definition of failure. |
| B．To list some examples of failure. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the story. |
| D．To stress the importance of experience. |
| A．Internal motivation. | B．Advice from a coach. |
| C．Family financial crisis. | D．Encouragement from friends. |
| A．To teach is to learn. |
| B．A word spoken is past recalling. |
| C．Constant dropping wears away a stone. |
| D．Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. |
| A．Inspire us with his lessons. |
| B．Persuade us to major in business. |
| C．Recall the key moments of his entrepreneurship. |
| D．Advocate avoiding obstacles on the way to success. |
Bobby, my brother, and I would spend our usual Saturday with Grandpa, cleaning his house. Mom would take us to his home in the early morning. Since childhood, Bobby and I had been spending the day dusting, mopping and changing the sheets on his bed.
Grandpa grew up in a poor family. His dad died when he was a teenager. Then he had tol eave school, run the family farm and raise his brother and sister. He worked as a nightdoor keeper for a company within walking distance of his home, and the highlight of his week was the reward that he gave my brother and me for cleaning. And it was the moment when we felt the happiest.
This Saturday, after Bobby and I finished cleaning, Grandpa decided to invite us to dinner. When we finally arrived at his favorite restaurant, the waitresses greeted him as along-lost elder. Their smiles and waves followed us to our favorite table as we placed our orders. And then we laughed and ate. Grandpa praised how well we had cleaned his place, telling anyone who would like to listen about every task we had accomplished.
Regardless of who was serving us at the time, each of the other waitresses would come up to say “hi” to Grandpa and congratulate his grandkids on their work. It was a restaurant, but it was like our home. When dinner was over, the waitress would bring the check and hand it to Grandpa. This time, it was Gloria that bent close to him, and told him the amount of the check.
Grandpa carefully dug into the pocket of his trousers and brought out a worn coin purse. He carefully laid out the coins and paid the bill. Then he gave Gloria a tip, but it wasn’t enough. I was ashamed that he got the amount of the tip wrong, and we were embarrassed. I was about to say something when Gloria grabbed my hands. “Come and get some flowers, today’s gifts, Susie,” she said as she led me toward the counter.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“I want you to listen carefully, Susie,” Gloria said to me seriously.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I listened to Gloria and stared at those flowers, deep in thought.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As Chinese traditions go, few things are
Among vegetables and meat spread out on the dinner table, mutton has been placed in the center. Many diners believe mutton has the medical effect of warming the body,
Traditional Beijing instant boiled mutton,
Nowadays, mutton hotpot has become one of
8 . A man rides at full speed on a single-wheeled bike, leaning back on a seat fixed above a recycled tyre as he performs wheelies (杂技). This machine is just one of many crazy inventions from Make It Extreme, a You Tube channel run by Michael Mavros and George Shiailis, two best friends who use old materials to create unique and innovative mechanical projects.
The partners of this DIY design make the inventions to promote the joys of mechanical engineering and inspire creativity in others.
On Make It Extreme, they transform everyday objects and vehicles into extreme versions of themselves, pushing creative boundaries in the process. They build and design their projects, film and edit the entire process, then finally showcase the results.
“By passionately crafting furniture, engines, tools, toys and vehicles while using our imagination, we try to offer innovative solutions to various mechanical challenges,” explains Mavros, “We’ve shared this passion since our early years, and now, through our channel, we share it with millions of other people in an easily understandable way.”
For its 100th video, Make It Extreme introduced the Monotrack bike, constructed entirely from recycled and old materials. They utilised a 100cc two-stroke engine from an old scooter (摩托车), cutting the sidewalls of a used car tyre and fitting it around a recycled motor. The bike reflects their commitment to sustainability and creativity, purely for the joy and curiosity it brings.
“The idea for the Monotrack bike came from an old wartime photo where we saw a similar vehicle,” says Mavros, “Our creations are often inspired by things we’ve encountered before. For example, the Monowheel, where a person sits inside a huge wheel, was inspired by similar vehicles from decades ago, and our tank chair stemmed from the idea of creating an accessible adventure vehicle for people with limited mobility.”
Make It Extreme now has almost two million subscribers who are eager to tune in every month to see the partners’ latest invention. And Mavros promises that 2024 will see them create their most daring project yet.
1. Why do Mavros and Shiailis run Make It Extreme?| A．To make profits. | B．To earn popularity. |
| C．To develop hobby. | D．To awaken innovation. |
| A．Practical. | B．Eco-friendly. | C．Costly. | D．Convenient. |
| A．Why the old things were used. | B．Where the Monowheel was found. |
| C．What their inspirations originated from. | D．How the Monotrack bike was invented. |
| A．Nothing is impossible. | B．Hard work will pay off. |
| C．Success needs perseverance. | D．Many hands make light work. |
Alex sat at a table in a cafe, scrolling (滚动) through his phone. Eric, the waiter, approached him with a nervous expression. Alex ordered a double black coffee but Eric seemed not to hear clearly what Alex said and asked for pardon.
“What? Are you deaf?”Alex said unkindly. After repeating the order, Alex went back to scrolling through his phone. His father had promised to buy him a car if he got good grades in school, but Alex failed his last math test.
A few minutes later. Eris returned with a coffee with milk in it. Alex was so angry that he said if he were the boss, he would fire Eric. Eric’s face turned red and hurried away to change the coffee. Just then, Alex’s father，Bill, joined ham at his table and told him he should be more respectful of people, even if they made mis takes. Worse still, in view of Alex’s poor study grades, Bill refused to buy him a new car and decided to teach him a lesson.
Bill asked the cafe manager if they were short-staffed and said his son needed a job and could start immediately. The manager agreed. Bill promised if Alex stuck it out, then they could talk about a new car after the summer vacation.
Alex showed up for work at the cafe the next day, nervous and worried. The manager assigned him the first table with a couple. They ordered two coffees with milk in both. Alex wrote down the order and took it to the counter. He stood awkwardly in front of the coffee machine.
“How does this thing work?” Alex turned a button, and steam came pumping out, catching him by surprise.
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。
Alex looked around in panic and saw Eric watching him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Eric asked Alex to keep a secret that he was losing his hearing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In downtown Xiamen, Fujian Province, a 6-meter-high mound(土堆) that stretches for 60 to 70 meters stands in contrast to the high-rise
The blue-tailed bee-eater, or Merops philippinus, is known for its colorful plumage and on the Chinese mainland it
In recent years, with improved environmental conditions in Xiamen and the city government’s commitment
In 2015, the center
The birds,
The 13-year experience of preserving blue-tailed bee-eaters has given the center a grasp of their habits and made the Wuyuanwan Nature Reserve a stable home for them.
