1 . Four best day trips from Amsterdam: the ultimate travel guide
Zaanse Schans: a picture-perfect town of windmills
A trip to the Netherlands would be incomplete without seeing windmills-and there’s no better way to see them than in the historical town of Zaanse Schans. This quaint village gives visitors an accurate impression of Dutch living in the 17th and 18th centuries. From cheese and dairy factories to traditional windmills and historical museums, you’ll live, breathe, and experience the old Zaan style of living. Classic!
Travel time by car: 21 minutes
Transport fees: €4 for adults, €1.5 for children
Marken: a former island in the Zuiderzee
Residents of the town built wooden houses on artificial hills to prevent more flooding damage. To this day, these picturesque homes remain a popular cultural attraction. On your walk, you can visit the cosy town harbour or enjoy the scenic route of fields, forests, and the lakeshore.
Travel time by car: 27minutes
Transport fees: €4.5 for adults, €1.5 for children
Dordrecht: a historic trading port
Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland (we mean the old province of Holland and not the so-called “country”!). There are plenty of cultural spots, including seven churches and several historical monuments-turned-museums.
Travel time by car; l hour and 5 minutes
Transport fees: €9.5 for adults, €2 for children (2-6 years old)
Schiedam; home to the world’s tallest windmill
While there are windmills all around the Netherlands,Schiedam has the tallest traditional windmills of all, standing at 26.6 metres. Schiedam is also known for being the Netherlands’ gin (杜松子酒) capital, with the city producing the most jenever (also known as Dutch gin) in the country. There are multiple bars museums where you can check out the production process.
Travel time by car: 55 minutes
Transport fees: €9 for adults, €3 for children
1. How much should a couple pay for a trip at least?| A．€3. | B．€8. | C．€9. | D．€9.5. |
| A．Zaanse Schans. | B．Marken. |
| C．Schiedam. | D．Dordrecht. |
| A．They’re both islands. |
| B．They both produce Dutch gin. |
| C．They’re both featured in windmills. |
| D．They’re famous for wooden houses, |
2 . Holidays abroad are officially back, with millions set to book a trip away this summer, To guarantee a stress-free break, use these practical tips.
Take out travel insurance as soon as you bookBy not having insurance, travellers risk having to pay substantial medical or repatriation (遣送回国) costs if they fall ill or hurt themselves abroad
With tourist areas expected to be crowded this year, many visitors will face disappointment if they don’t book attractions or restaurants in advance. Avoid long queues at busy places by making a reservation.
Invest in a translation device or appUnfortunately, as a traveller, you can attract the attention of criminals who see you as an easy target, so it’s important to stay alert to the possible risk of theft, cheats and other financial tricks.
With large numbers of travellers expected this year,be prepared for airports, ports and stations to be extremely busy with a high chance of delays. Have a less stressful journey by allowing yourself plenty of time to check in and get through security.
| A．When you travel abroad |
| B．If you have prepared for the trip |
| C．Book activities and attractions in advance |
| D．And they may also risk a delay in treatment |
| E．Avoid carrying large amounts of cash when exploring |
| F．Make sure you have books, magazines, or games to keep you entertained |
| G．Forget awkward hand gestures and pointing and concentrate on making memories |
3 . The recent spread of “fake news” may make it seem like misinformation is a relatively modern invention. But falsehoods (假话) and wild claims have been part of human culture for about as long as it’s existed. This is because misinformation originates with, and is spread by, fellow humans.
When you’ve ever had to communicate an important, but complex, issue to a general audience, you may have a sea of the most reliable data, the most elegant PowerPoint slides and the full backing of every famous expert in the relevant field. And yet, you can still be less persuasive than someone whose entire argument is: “A guy I met down the pub told me something different.”
In a perfectly sensible, logical world, someone who is loosely connected with a certain field or industry wouldn’t have the same influence as actual data, or the leading experts in the field. But humans aren’t perfectly sensible, logical creatures and neither is the world we live in.
The ability to think rationally and analytically is a relatively recent addition to our mental abilities (in the evolutionary sense). And it costs our brains a lot of energy and effort, The more established, fundamental systems in our brain, which shape memory and learning, are heavily reliant on emotion. The more emotionally stimulating something is, the easier it is to remember. That’s why we can spend months revising the material for a crucial school exam, but struggle to remember any of it once we’ve passed. Meanwhile, the embarrassing tine we slipped and landed on our backside in the school canteen. that memory will last until our dying day.
The most determined sceptics (无神论者) will often say, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” which is correct. But feelings don’t necessarily care about facts either. And ultimately, feelings have more of a say in what we think and do. And that’s why your mate down the pub can seem more believable than a pile of published research.
1. What contributes to the spread of “fake news”?| A．People factor. | B．Human culture. |
| C．Modern invention. | D．Information accuracy. |
| A．They prefer making sensible analyses. | B．They ae more likely to be emotional. |
| C．They have more trust in authority. | D．They overestimate themselves. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By explaining a concept. | D．By citing experts’ words. |
| A．To reveal secrets. | B．To share emotions. |
| C．To criticize a decision. | D．To describe a phenomenon. |
4 . Since the mid-1990s, tourists have paid storm-chasers to take them to places in the American Great Plains where they expect to see tornadoes. Why, a reasonable follow-up question might go, would anyone want to get so close to something so disruptive? These tourists, a study found, characterized their relationship to severe weather as a “passion”, describing their feelings about tornadoes using words like “enjoyment”, “fascination” and “love”. Some people seem spiritually moved by tornadoes-one tourist called the storms “humbling” -but the main motivator seemed to be simple: Twisters are cool.
America has many more tornadoes than any other country, and its people have long regarded twisters with a mix of fear, awe and thrilled pleasure. Fast-moving and dramatic, tornadoes have been irresistible parts for popular entertainment. One needn’t be an extreme-weather enthusiast, however, to take a brief and far-less dangerous tour: of culture tornadoes have inspired and of the transformation of American society’s feelings about these storms from fear to excitement.
European colonists in the future United States were fascinated-and sometimes horrified-by their new land’s weather. In the Early Republic, the influence of romantic ideas about the terrible and wonderful power of nature became clearer in American tornado culture. Some people began to write about tornadoes in terms of awe, and to produce art that explored the phenomenon’s natural beauty, while also moralizing about its meaning. Since the 1930s, American tornadoes have been less deadly: the country has much better early-warning systems, fewer people live in rural areas and tornado activity has largely shifted from the southeast to the thinly-populated Great Plains.
Storm-chasing-a scientific, thrill-seeking activity that most Americans found out about via the1996 blockbuster film Twister, is still incomprehensible to many who don’t practice it. “I find it difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t chased what forces us to seek pleasure from risk,” wrote Jennifer Henderson, a scholar and crazy storm-chaser, characterizing her feelings while chasing as “a sense of exposure and revelation tightly coupled”.
1. What does the underlined word “disruptive” in the first paragraph mean?| A．Amazing. | B．Ruinous. | C．Costly. | D．Sensitive. |
| A．They are small and have a slower moving speed. |
| B．They tend to be less common in American history. |
| C．They have aroused interest in weather tours in America. |
| D．The American people have suffered less damage from them. |
| A．The population of America was declining gradually. |
| B．There was no tornado activity in the southeastern America. |
| C．America has made greater progress in natural disaster warning. |
| D．The natural environment in tornado areas has been damaged. |
| A．The thrill of storm chasing | B．The tour of watching tornadoes |
| C．The formation of tornadoes | D．A unique phenomenon in nature |
5 . Shrewsbury is an ideal getaway with visitors.
Shrewsbury eBike HireBEST FOR: SEEING THE SIGHTS AT A GENTLE PACE
Set off on a self-guided tour of Shrewsbury on one of the town’s new e-bikes. The route is easy to follow with lots of stops along the way, including the Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and the Victorian-era Shrewsbury Prison. It’s most suitable for ages 14-plus.
Shrewsbury Flaxmill MaltingsBEST FOR: INSPIRING ARCHITECTS
This was the world’s first iron-shaped building when it was built in 1797-a forerunner of the modern skyscraper (摩天大楼). A new visitor centre opened in September-it’s also the end point of the Heritage Trail e-bike tour. An exhibition explores how the building has grown and been repurposed over the years.
Shrewsbury Market HallBEST FOR: FOOD AND SHOPPING
Situated in the centre of town, this was an innovative example of modern architecture when it opened in 1965. Recent upgrades mean it’s now home to more than 70 independent businesses, including traditional market stands, artisan producers, craft shops and antique dealers.
Riverside CabinsBEST FOR: QUIET STAYS
Opened in 2020, Riverside Cabins is a rural collection of wooden cottages built in18th century, a 20-minute drive from Shrewsbury. Cabins sleep between two and six guests and each come with their own hot baths, as well as Wi-Fi and smart TVs. Try your hand at boating along the river, with equipment available to borrow on site. From £ 135 for a minimum of two nights for a family of four.
1. What is an advantage of e-bike tours?| A．They organize architecture lessons. |
| B．They provide professional guides. |
| C．They offer a relaxing way of travelling. |
| D．They are accessible to all ages. |
| A．Shrewsbury eBike Hire. | B．Riverside Cabins. |
| C．Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. | D．Shrewsbury Market Hall. |
| A．history | B．food | C．transport | D．fashion |
6 . Scientists are worried about the future of the axolotl (蝾螈), an unusual Mexican salamander(蜥蜴), and they’re asking for help. A new program lets people “adopt” an axolotl to raise money to support efforts to save the endangered animal.
If an axolotl loses a leg, or even part of its heart, brain, or lungs, it can regrow them. Scientists have long been interested in this. Some people think the information could help solve some human medical problems.
The Mexican axolotl is only found naturally in Lake Xochimilc o near Mexico City. This is not a big and open lake, but a collection of canals and smaller bodies of water. Sadly, axolotls are in trouble. The number of axolotls in Xochimilco has dropped 99.5% in less than 20 years. Scientists used to find thousands of axolotls in a fairly small area. Now, they’re only finding dozens.
There are a number of reasons for the drop in axolotls. One is that the water in the canals has become more and more polluted. Another is that there are invasive fish in the lake which are eating the axolotl’s food and even their babies.
Scientists at Mexico’s National Autonomous University(UNAM) have been working for years to try to protect the axolotls. Last year, the UNAM scientists started a program they called AdoptAxolotl. They asked people to donate money to help pay for efforts to save the axolotl. The program was a big hit, and raised more than $26,000. The money was used to help clean up some of Xochimilco’s canals and for a program to raise axolotls in a safe environment.
This year, the scientists are trying AdoptAxolotl again. The program offers several ways for people to support axolotls. For $30, you can virtually “adopt” one of the animals for a month. Smaller donations can help pay for food for an axolotl. Larger donations are aimed at improving areas where axolotls live, and include a visit to the protected area where UNAM is raising axolotls.
1. What have the scientists had an interest in?| A．How axolotls cure themselves. | B．Who can address medical problems. |
| C．How soon axolotls will go extinct. | D．Why some people focus on axolotls. |
| A．To promote axolotl research. | B．To blame the Mexican residents. |
| C．To show the severe conditions. | D．To expand the habitat for axolotls. |
| A．collected enough money | B．turned out very popular |
| C．helped to build new canals | D．moved students at UNAM |
| A．New Projects Are Needed to Protect Axolotls |
| B．Amazing Axolotls Live in Hash Environment |
| C．Everyone Can Help to Stop Adopting Animals |
| D．Scientists Work to Save Mexico’s Axolotls |
7 . Everyone can experience loneliness from time to time, which causes concern about our health and well-being.
Some of us are lonely because we don’t have close relationships in our lives. But if that’s not the case for you, by all means let your friends or family know how you’re feeling and ask for support. Calling or texting can be an active way to shift your mood and help relieve loneliness.
Adopt a pet
There are many reasons to have pets.
Try loving-kindness meditation (冥想)
Not everyone likes to engage in loving-kindness meditation. But it has been found to reduce loneliness, perhaps because it helps you to accept negative emotions more easily.
Count your blessings
| A．Reach out to friends or family |
| B．Be kind to the relatives around you |
| C．What can you do when you feel lonely |
| D．Even though this practice can help you feel much happier |
| E．It can also help you increase a sense of connection to others |
| F．While expressing gratitude toward others can fight loneliness directly |
| G．One of them is that they can provide companionship and unconditional love |
8 . In a world driven by technological advancements, event professionals are accepting the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to push the boundaries of what is possible in the area of event planning and execution (执行). From attracting designs and personalized experiences to streamlined operations and data-driven insights, AI is emerging as a transformative force, letting event organizers to create extraordinary moments that leave attendees impressive.
I didn’t write the introduction paragraph. Chat GPT did, in response to the request: Can you help me write an introduction to an article that features different ways professionals use AI for events? If you’re using a generative AI tool to help you write session descriptions, marketing messages, or social-media posts, you may recognize that distinctive over-the-top tone.
But the hype (炒作) about AI itself is not overblown: McKinsey &. Company’s recent The Economic Potential of Generative AI report estimates that generative AI has the potential to generate $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion in value across industries.
We could cite all kinds of statistics about generative Al’s impact on knowledge work. explore its gloomy side, like the ethical (道德的) influences of the technology on society, or go the other way and publish mind-blowing predictions of its future use. We chose instead to focus on how the tool is being used by event professionals today in everyday and practical ways.
Not all of us are quick to accept AI, but we can’t afford to ignore it, either. And when it comes to its potential in the business world, McKinsey Senior Partner Lareina Yee seems to be speaking directly to the heart of our industry, “In general, workers can spend more time on the human connection and interaction aspects of their roles, which is something AI can’t take away.”
1. Why is Chat GPT mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To stress the great function of AI. | B．To praise the author’s operation ability. |
| C．To prove the difficulty of writing. | D．To show the need of a generative AI tool. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Promising. | C．Single. | D．Dark. |
| A．Human connection is the core of an industry. |
| B．AI needs improving in human potentials. |
| C．AI can’t take over humans completely. |
| D．She is unconcerned about AI industry. |
| A．Nature. | B．Technology. | C．Lifestyle. | D．Environment. |
9 . When 19-year-old Emily Bhatnagar from Maryland, USA, found her father had stage four thyroid (甲状腺) cancer, her response was different from what you might expect. To honour her father, who she also described as her best friend, she decided to start a book drive called For Love and Buttercup, collecting books for kids with cancer.
“It was very much an overnight idea,” she explained. “I posted a message on an app called Nextdoor asking my neighbors to donate used books. I was only expecting a few here and there, but the response was truly incredible and it was just the push I needed to co-exist with my grief (悲伤) rather than letting it consume me.”
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch my dad go through cancer and see him lose a little bit of himself each day, but the book drive allowed me to develop a new-found sense of purpose intertwined (交织) with a greater sense of compassion to help others in any form. I wanted to help kids. They’ve always held a soft spot in my heart.”
Using tips she earned from working at her parents’ bread shop, Emily bought many books out of her own pocket. In addition, she received donations through her Amazon wishlist, which can be found in the bio (简介) of the book drive’s Instagram account, @forloveandbuttercup.
Emuly and her older brother spent a whole summer driving around town, loading boxes of books into their car. “It was such a privilege to know people had carried these books all their lives through generations, and they wanted to gift it to my cause.”
For Love and Buttercup has donated over 15,000 books to sick children and it is being recognised by The Washington Post, Forbes, The President’s Volunteer Service Award and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.
1. What did Emily do knowing her father’s disease?| A．She turned to books for help. | B．She tried to help her father recover. |
| C．She decided to meet her father’s desire. | D．She asked for used book donations online. |
| A．Inspired. | B．Ashamed. | C．Disappointed. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．She grew up in a rich family. | B．She helped in her parents’ shop. |
| C．Nobody cared about her wishlist. | D．Her parents were not supportive. |
| A．Unfavorable. | B．Money-consuming. |
| C．Successful. | D．Demanding. |
10 . The Denton Black Film Festival(DBFF) is the brainchild of Harry Eaddy, the festival director, and is presented by the Denton African American Scholarship Foundation. Several years ago, Harry Eaddy approached two important men of the Denton community—Cheylon Brown and Mesha George—with a unique idea to bring an event focused on Black cinema to the region. DBFF was set up in order to deal with the problem that films are insufficiently represented by giving Black stories an audience and Black creatives a platform. The festival has expanded to the Denton Black Film Festival Institute and serves filmmakers and creatives of all backgrounds.
WHEN
January 27-February 6
DETAILS
The DBFF returned this January with this virtual festival. Built around amazing cinema, the festival is unique from many others in that it also features music, a technology expo, spoken word/poetry, art and more. This festival celebrates the diverse stories and culture of Black community through film, music and art. Storytelling is the core of any culture. Stories are how traditions, ideas and experiences are shared and passed down from one generation to the next. DBFF is a platform for stories about Black lives, Black culture and Black experiences to be shared, told and lived.
The DBFF creates a space where:
· a minority culture can be a majority experience
· stories on the margins (边缘) are given center stage
· the Black experience is valued and celebrated
Denton, a rapidly evolving art and culture hotbed, provides the perfect backdrop (背景) for DBFF on its path to building community, celebrating culture, but most importantly, sharing stories.
The festival features narratives, documentaries, and shorts submitted by filmmakers nationwide and internationally. More is to be announced... Now is the perfect time to purchase tickets. Please click dentonbff. com/ film-festival.
1. What is the purpose of creating DBFF?| A．To address under-representation in films. | B．To earn more audiences for Black communities. |
| C．To push the development of the minority. | D．To help filmmakers produce creative films. |
| A．Its strong supporters. | B．Its various forms. |
| C．Its great influence. | D．Its different culture. |
| A．Organize the storytellers. | B．Guide the festival director. |
| C．Experience the Black culture. | D．Paint on the center stage. |
