1 . It’s very important to use the summer break effectively. The break should be seen as an extended part of your education. You can learn about the world, about life, and most importantly, about yourself. You could also obtain some valuable experience. An effective break will bring you more satisfaction and contribute to your future.
Be organised. Before your break starts, do some research and make a plan. Take travel for example. You have to find out about the destination. How to get there? Where to stay? How much to spend? And so on and so forth.
Be money-minded. Will you spend money or save it? Will you need to borrow money? Budgeting is an essential life skill to master.
Be happy. Although planning an effective summer break can be stressful, it is essential to ensure that you have a safe and pleasant time!
| A．Be safe. |
| B．Be smart. |
| C．Start thinking and planning now. |
| D．Stop having a rest now and then. |
| E．You don’t have to choose just one option. |
| F．This in itself develops important life skills. |
| G．Remember to do something that interests you. |
2 . Though shark attacks can be a rare occurrence, there have been 46 publicly reported shark attacks so far this year. Then why do sharks attack humans? Here's everything we know.
Shark attacks are often put into different categories: provoked (被挑衅) and unprovoked. “Unprovoked bites” are defined as incidents in which a bite on a human occurs in the shark's natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark. “Provoked bites” occur when a human starts interacting with a shark in some way. For instance, when divers are bitten after attacking or trying to touch sharks.
Roger Tabor, a biologist and naturalist, says, “There is no evidence that sharks specifically hunt people.” Nowadays, a theory called the Mistaken Identity Hypothesis (假说) explains shark bites on surfers, swimmers and divers as “mistakes,” which typically means that sharks might confuse humans with their typical prey (猎物). Mr. Tabor says surfing has previously been linked to shark attacks because the sudden movement, similar to an animal suddenly moving back, or bright parts of wetsuits reflecting looking like a fish, can cause a response in the visually oriented (导向的) great white".
In a paper published by Eric Clua, a marine biologist and Carl Meyer, a biologist at the University of Hawaii, in the Brill Journal, they look at the MIH theory. The paper says that although MlH may now be “widely” accepted by the general public and the scientific community, there are still some unknown gaps. “This hypothesis ignores the important role of other senses (e.g. hearing) in discriminating potential prey,” the paper says. The authors also note that shark bites which occur in clear water cannot always be explained by MIH. It adds," To put it simply, sharks don't make ‘mistakes’ but instead continually explore their environments and routinely investigate novel objects as potential prey by biting them.”
Climate change may be another reason for seeing an increase in shark attacks. Mr. Tabor says," Global warming and habitat damage can move marine species including seals and sharks. That can bring larger sharks more into contact with beaches, with people.”
1. What can we learn about sharks from paragraph 2?| A．They tend to bite humans purposely. |
| B．They are frequently targeted at divers. |
| C．They are potentially risky to interact with. |
| D．They don't attack people unless disturbed. |
| A．Bright wetsuits damage sharks' vision. |
| B．Sharks have quite a poor sense of sight. |
| C．Sharks merely take people for their prey. |
| D．Global warming results in their violence. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Carefree. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．Desire to seek new food sources. |
| B．Lack of underwater creatures as prey. |
| C．Constant transformation of the environment. |
| D．Incompetence of distinguishing novel objects. |
3 . Imagine you are on your way out of class today. You trip on a loose piece of carpet and break your ankle. As a result of the injury, you lose your place in the local sports team. Bad luck? Or an opportunity to get rich quickly?
Roslyn Darch of Houston felt annoyed when she tripped over a little kid running around a furniture store, and broke her ankle. But a few months later, she was $780,000 richer, after she successfully sued (起诉) the shop. The owner was clearly surprised at Roslyn’s compensation, particularly since the child she tripped over was her own son.
Some argue that this is just greed—that the amount of money is far too much for the injury suffered—and besides, it’s not the shop’s fault that a mother can’t control her child anyway. Others would say that it’s good to see the law taking the side of the individual against the big corporations, for a change. Take the example of the hundreds of smokers who have received millions of dollars from the tobacco companies, after saying they were responsible for the terminal illnesses they had developed because of smoking. Whatever you think, the compensation culture which has emerged in recent years is spreading, and it will affect all of us.
And it’s not only claims for physical injuries that are keeping the lawyers busy. A group of overweight New York teenagers sued giant fast-food company, claiming that they had not had enough warning that a diet of burgers, fries and milkshakes would make them fat.
Who knows where it will end? Some say there should be penalties (处罚)for excessive claims, or that there should be a limit on payouts. But one thing’s for sure—in the end, the only certain winner is the lawyer!
1. What does the underlined word “compensation” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．The great payout. | B．The process of the sue. |
| C．The incredible accident. | D．The unexpected injury. |
| A．The law took her side. | B．The owner’s son tripped her. |
| C．She fell over the furniture. | D．She suffered a severe injury. |
| A．Analyzing reasons. | B．Providing evidence. |
| C．Showing humor. | D．Explaining concepts. |
| A．To Fine or Not to Fine: the Lawyer’s Victory |
| B．To Support or Not to support: the Value of Justice |
| C．To Pay or Not to Pay: the Big Company’s Option |
| D．To Sue or Not to Sue : the Rise of Compensation Culture |
4 . Most people suffer from “just-me-ism”. What is that? Well, say you leave the tap running while brushing your teeth, or you drop a piece of litter and can ’t be bothered to pick it up. You know all those things are wrong, but so what? “What difference can it possibly make?” you say to yourself. “There are millions of people in the world and I’m just me.” But just think of all the millions of people saying to themselves, “It doesn’t matter, it’s just me.” Millions of gallons of water would be wasted; millions of pieces of litter would be dropped. And all of this would be very harmful.
To inspire young people to take action for the environment, animals and their community, Roots & Shoots was established in the early 1990s by Dr. Jane Goodall, a world’s well-known environmental scientist. Besides her research, she has been whole-heartedly committed to environmental protection.
The organisation is called Roots & Shoots because roots move slowly under the ground to make a firm foundation, and shoots seem small and weak, but they can break open brick walls to reach the light. The roots and shoots are you, your friends and young people all around the world. Hundreds and thousands of roots and shoots can solve the problems, change the world and make it a better place to live in.
Do you think you help to make the world a better place when you make a sad person smile, when you make a dog wag its tail, and when you water a thirsty plant? One cheered-up person, one happy dog, one flowering plant, and you. That’s what Roots & Shoots is all about. Dr.Jane Goodall believes that the most important thing is that every individual matters. You get to choose: Do you want to make the world a better place? Do you want to make Roots & Shoots rooted in everyone’s heart? Do you want to be part of a community for a shared future? You cannot be absent.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The reasons for “just-me-ism”. |
| B．The negative effects of “just-me-ism”. |
| C．The definition of “just-me-ism”. |
| D．The sufferings of people with “just-me-ism”. |
| A．By appealing for experts’ devotion. |
| B．By explaining the origin of the organization. |
| C．By enhancing young people’s academic skills. |
| D．By motivating the youth to make a difference. |
| A．To illustrate the value of each individual. |
| B．To demonstrate the significance of teamwork. |
| C．To make a comment about some acts of kindness. |
| D．To inspire young people to reflect on wrongdoings. |
| A．Join Roots & Shoots. | B．Break open walls. |
| C．Resolve world issues. | D．Pull their own weight. |
5 . Ready to step into the magical world of castles? Here are some of the most beautiful and famous castles around the globe to add to your bucket list.
Chateau de Chambord, Loire Valley, France
Located in the heart of the Loire Valley in France, the Chateau de Chambord and UNESCO World Heritage Site reflects the Renaissance era through and through. It’s home to the famous double helix (螺旋)staircase, designed by the great Leonardo Da Vinci.
Windsor Castle, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Escape from the crowded streets of London with a trip to Windsor Castle, located just 20minutes away by train from Paddington Station. This gothic-style castle is an ancient wonder—it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sitting on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is a historic fortress (堡垒) with a commanding presence over the city. Set against clear, expansive skies, its ancient beauty and attraction are best enjoyed at sunrise or sunset. If you’re traveling with kids, consider an interactive Harry Potter-themed walking tour that includes Edinburgh Castle as one of its stops.
Schloss Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany
Set in the peaceful countryside of Bavaria, Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle is the very castle that inspired the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Located nearby is the equally impressive Hohenschwangau, where the late King Ludwig II spent his childhood. Both castles require admission tickets.
Traveler tip: Join a skip-the-line tour with stopovers at both.
1. Which castle best suits a family with little kids?| A．Chateau de Chambord. | B．Windsor Castle. |
| C．Edinburgh Castle. | D．Schloss Neuschwanstein. |
| A．Skip the line at will. | B．Take a tour for free. |
| C．Get some inspiration. | D．Visit two castles at a time. |
| A．Nature adventurers. | B．Travel lovers. |
| C．Extreme sports players. | D．Professional philosophers. |
6 . The relationship between Jeffrey Pang and his son, Kevin Pang, was like hot-and-sour soup. It boiled over easily. The Pangs, who moved to the United States in 1988, wanted their son and daughter to know Chinese culture. As a video game-playing American teen, Kevin wasn’t interested.
But when Kevin became a food writer for the Chicago Tribune, he realized he had a valuable resource: his cook-laving dad. “My father and I shared, for the first time, a common interest. I would call to ask about recipes and cooking techniques. He would school me on the world of Chinese food,” Kevin writes in the introduction to the cookbook he has just published.
When it comes to cooking Chinese food, he points out that there is no one definition of Chinese food. “Chinese cooking is not hidebound. For example, consider baked pork chop rice, popularized in Hong Kong. It is a pork chop with egg-fried rice. And then you top it with this thick tomato sauce,” explains Kevin. “And then you top that with some cheese. It’s a very interesting combined dish that has some Western British influences, and it’s altogether very Chinese as well.”
By the time Kevin joined America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) staff in 2020 as its editorial director for digital content, his dad had become an Internet celebrity demonstrating the family’s recipes. Kevin recognized an opportunity not only to share his own family’s food stories but also to apply the ATK method of breaking down recipes into simple steps for the home cook.
“I think this cookbook can teach fathers and sons how to connect, how to find a common interest and improve their relationship, ” Kevin says. That feeling has found an enthusiastic fan base, generating nearly 3 million views, for their online cooking series “Hunger Pangs”, where viewers speak highly of their father-son bond as much as they do of their attractive dishes. Today the Pangs’ relationship is rarely sour or hot.
1. Why would Kevin phone his father after becoming a food writer?| A．To publish his Chinese cookbook. | B．To inquire about hot-and-sour soup. |
| C．To seek permission for video games. | D．To ask about cooking Chinese food. |
| A．Inflexible. | B．Inclusive. | C．Unpleasant. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．Their relationship has improved. | B．They run America’s. Test Kitchen. |
| C．They do dishes to attract followers. | D．Their cookbook is about low-fat food. |
| A．Cooking at home helps you cook well for less. | B．Father and son jointly teach Chinese cooking. |
| C．Chinese culture is becoming popular in the us. | D．Recipes and cooking techniques are really easy. |
7 . Imagine Hying over the city in an electric powered aircraft that has no pilot but can take you from point A to point B in minutes. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, not anymore. China-based Ehang has become the world’s first company to receive official approval to fly passengers in its pilotless air taxis.
Ehang’s EH216-S air taxis are electric vertical (垂直的) takeoff and landing aircraft, also called eVToL for short. The air taris can carry up to wo passengers or about 270kg of goods. They can fly at speeds of up to 130kmb and distances of up to 28km. The air taris are controlled by a central command centre that monitor the light, routes and weather conditions.
Passengers can simply select their destination on a touchscreen inside the cabin and enjoy the ride without worrying about piloting the aircraft. The taxis do not require airports or runways. They can take off and land vertically from any flat surface.
The air taxis use electric power to reduce environmental harm caused by emissions. They can be fully charged in two hours and have bow nose levels. They also have backup batteries and emergency landing systems and parachutes in case anything goes wrong.
They could transform how we travel around big cities —imagine using them to avoid traffic jams, save time on the daily commute (通勤) to work or school, or get to places that are hard to reach by car or public transport. And beyond just moving people, the aircraft can be used for delivering goods, such as packages, medical supplies or food. During natural disasters such as bushfires or foods, air taxis could transport much-needed medical staff, equipment or medicines to the scene quickly and safely.
One big challenge will be gaining the trust of the public and convincing commuters they are safe while flying. To do this, Ehang will educate passengers about the benefits and risks of using its taxis while also addressing potential issues and concerns about noise levels, privacy and the environmental impact.
1. What do we know about EH216-S air taxis?| A．They don’t make any noise. | B．They are environment-friendly. |
| C．They are controlled by eVTOL. | D．They can carry 270kg of goods and two persons. |
| A．A swimming pool. | B．An empty street. |
| C．A crowded car park. | D．A woody valley. |
| A．Where air taxis can work. | B．When air taxis function well. |
| C．Why air taxis are needed. | D．How air taxis can be used. |
| A．By providing a free tip for brave passengers. |
| B．By rewarding the most reliable passengers. |
| C．By explaining is taxis advantages and disadvantages. |
| D．By stressing the importance of environmental protection. |
8 . Four Wonderful Books
Worried Whippet: A Book of Bravery
by Jess Bolton
This beautifully illustrated story is about an anxious dog who navigates (驾驭) moments of bravery and acts of courage as she goes about her everyday life.
Written for adults and children who are struggling with anxiety, Jess’s hope is that the book can encourage you to take small steps of bravery as well, just as the worried Whippet does.
All Through the Night
by Dani Robertson
Author and dark sky officer Dani Roberston is on a mission to protect the world from the effects of light pollution. In doing so, she helps us to understand why the dark nights are so important for ourselves, animals, and plants, and turns the switch on why it’s something that should be embraced (欣然接受).
The Book of Nordic Self-Care
by Elisabeth Carlsson
If your typical self-care routine isn’t cutting it, now is the time to embrace self-care the Nordic way. From wellness practices to Nordic foods, nutritionist and lifestyle coach Elisabeth Carlsson reveals the secrets from the world’s happiest countries that will help you bring peace and balance to your life.
The Britannias : An Island Quest
by Alice Albinia
Put on your walking boots and head off on this tour through the history of Britain’s islands.
In tracing the nation’s geographical periphery (周边), author and journalist Alice Albinia also, fittingly, sets out to recentre the narrative on stories sometimes pushed to the edges: those of women, for instance, or of people regarded with suspicion. Part history, part travelogue (游记), this is an interesting exploration of how a land shapes its people.
1. What is the book Worried Whippet: A Book of Bravery about?| A．The story of an anxious but brave dog. |
| B．The effects of light pollution. |
| C．The history of Britain’s islands. |
| D．Nordic self-care practices. |
| A．Jess Bolton. | B．Dani Robertson. |
| C．Elisabeth Carlsson. | D．Alice Albinia. |
| A．Worried Whippet: A Book of Bravery. |
| B．All Through the Night. |
| C．The Book of Nordic Self-Care. |
| D．The Britannias: An Island Quest. |
9 . Given the chance, 15-year-old Lenny King likes nothing more than to climb over seven foot-high garden fences and run across the busy road to the Co-op, which he associates with free biscuits. His sister Daisy, 17, frequently falls over, and she was told she’d never walk.
The eldest, 19-year-old Rosie, might launch into an outburst of swearing (咒骂) at any moment. The King family are special in a number of ways. Not only are all three children on the autism (自闭症) spectrum, but their parents — rather than see their situation as at best unlucky and at worst a curse (诅咒) — regard it as a blessing. “In some ways my children are forever young, so while in most families the children grow up and pull away from their parents, mine continue to be a source of childlike surprises,” says Mum Sharon, 47.
Sharon and Richard King met in a Wakefield nightclub. Sharon had a normal pregnancy (怀孕) and gave birth to Rosie, who was a highly developed youngster. While her parents thought her “a bit different”, they saw no reason to be concerned about having a second child. Two years later Daisy was born and, within 12 months, she was diagnosed (诊断) with the rare genetic condition Kabuki Syndrome which is a rare, multi-system disorder characterized by abnormalities including distinctive facial features, growth delays, varying degrees of intellectual disability.
The Kings were told that Daisy may never walk or talk, though she proved the doctors wrong in the first instance by getting to her feet, aged five. Sharon and Richard, a 52-year-old civil engineer, were also advised to think carefully about having any more children. At that point Sharon was already six months pregnant with Lenny. When their son was 18 months old, the Kings noticed that he wasn’t meeting his developmental milestones and doctors raised the possibility that he might be autistic. Lenny was finally diagnosed with classic autism before his third birthday, which then raised questions about nine-year-old Rosie. Tests revealed she had high functioning Asperger’s (阿斯伯格综合征).
Now Lenny and Daisy are collected by an autism resource centre at 8 a. m. each day and returned at 4 p. m. People who are not defeated by suffering are brave warriors in life, and they definitely will have a bright future.
1. Which can best describe Sharon?| A．Optimistic. | B．Pitiful. | C．Inspiring. | D．Grateful. |
| A．They were healthy. | B．They prefer a large family. |
| C．Rosie seemed almost normal. | D．There was no history of the illness in them. |
| A．She was infected by Lenny. | B．She also carried some disease. |
| C．She was ignored by her parents. | D．She was diagnosed with autism at birth. |
| A．To explain the unfairness of life. | B．To encourage readers to offer help. |
| C．To persuade people to focus on autism. | D．To tell people to be positive about misfortune. |
10 . As soon as we get past the age of 25, many of us immediately feel the urge to stop the signs of ageing — especially the visible ones. Men and women are now using topical “anti- ageing” creams, spa treatments and medical procedures to counter many of them. But while these methods can somewhat affect the way you look, ageing is an internal process. A group of scientists based out of the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that instead of being a smooth, continuous process, ageing surges (猛增) forward at three distinct stages of life: first, at the age of 34, then at age 60, and finally at 78.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that scientists can not only predict your age by studying the proteome (protein levels in the blood) but also determine which organs are ageing faster than the others, and which age-related diseases your body is more susceptible to. The study measured plasma proteins (血浆蛋白) collected from 4, 263 adults between the ages of 18 — 95 years and studied the changes in the proteome that occurred with age.
Their ultimate goal was to understand how to identify the changes associated with cardiovascular (心血管的) issues and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s so that therapeutic treatments can be thought up to counter their onset while there’s still time.
Wyss-Coray and his workmates did not study protein samples from individuals but instead divided the participants into age groups. This helped them identify that ageing underwent sudden surges during three stages of life: young adulthood, late middle age and old age. The scientists were also able to isolate people who did not age according to their actual age. What’s more, the study also confirmed that men and women, who were equally represented in the study, age differently.
While these are still early discoveries and actual clinical applications, the scientists revealed, are at least 5 to 10 years away, the results seem to have a lot of potential. There could one day be a simple blood test that could study the protein levels and determine whether you are ageing appropriately or not.
Does this also mean that there could, one day, be a way of actually stopping the process of ageing altogether? You never know.
1. What did the scientists find?| A．Ageing can’t be avoided. | B．Preventing ageing can cure illnesses. |
| C．Ageing process quickens at three phases. | D．Humans can use some methods to look younger. |
| A．Mature. | B．Defenseless. | C．Responsive. | D．Addictive. |
| A．To pursue a forever young life. |
| B．To know more about life and death. |
| C．To offer possible treatments for age-related diseases. |
| D．To identify the differences between men and women. |
| A．Favourable. | B．Critical. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Doubtful. |
