1 . The Wild Atlantic Way has a certain romantic attraction, bringing to mind images of violent storms, terrible winds and driving rain. The Irish Republic inaugurated (为……举行仪式) this, “the longest defined coastal touring route in the world”, in 2014, an excellent marketing idea. The Wild Atlantic Way follows the west coast of Ireland, from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south.
Having recently retired, and also having a very supportive wife, I decided to cycle the 2,600 kilometres of this highway, and to seek some sponsorship while doing so for the benefit of a small, but hugely effective charity supporting Children of the Dump in Manila in the Philippines.
Another reason to start this cycle tour was the polite refusal of my youngest son to my request to accompany him, and his friend, on their journey in 2016 from Lima in Peru to Ushuaiain Patagonia by bike. He was probably quite right to have done so. The Donegal hills were enough to tire me out in the first week of my own adventure; the Andes might have finished me off a longtime before I had the opportunity to wheel my bike from the Holyhead to Dublin ferry (渡口) at the beginning of May this year.
Having begun the journey in suitably cold and wet conditions in Donegal, my luck and that of the rest of Ireland changed quite suddenly, and to the amazement of the whole country, they and I enjoyed some of the finest May and June weather on record. The “Wild Atlantic Way” became the “Kind Atlantic Way”, and I got sunburnt! It was a remarkable and unforgettable journey for me. Generous friends have helped me raise £2,600, one pound for each kilometer I rode.
Try it yourselves, but do it the green way and leave the car at home. Pump up (给……打气) your bike tyres and give it, or at least some of the route, a go. You won’t regret it.
1. What do we know about the Wild Atlantic Way from paragraph 1?| A．It starts at Kinsale in County Cork. | B．It is a famous cross-Europe touring route. |
| C．It used to be extremely popular with sea divers. | D．It was promoted by the Irish Republic government. |
| A．To join his wife. | B．To raise money for a charity. |
| C．To work out for his health. | D．To find sponsorship for his company. |
| A．Lucky. | B．Angry. | C．Excited. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．He stopped halfway. | B．He was badly injured. |
| C．He got many flat tyres. | D．He had quite a few sunny days. |
2 . What you need to know about New Orleans
New Orleans has something for everyone; all ages, interests, and lifestyles. It is described as the northernmost Caribbean city and the westernmost European city. You will not find another place quite like it in the world.
What is the best way to get there?
Flying: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the city’s main airport, where you can keep the good times rolling by appreciating some live entertainment while you wait for your flight.
Train: New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (终点站) is a major American railroad center, with three train lines offering service to every big city.
Bus: Three major bus companies in the United States all offer service to the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal.
How to enter New Orleans legally?
If you are a non-U. S. citizen, you may need a visa to visit New Orleans, unless your country is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), such as Japan, France and 41 other countries. The program allows citizens of certain countries to visit the U. S. for up to 90 days without a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time in New Orleans is in February and lasts until May. During this period there is also the Carnival season and the world-famous Carnival celebrations. The average daily temperatures this time of year typically hit high s of 22℃, with lows dropping to 7℃.
If you’re looking to avoid the crazy prices, choose to visit in winter when hotels are cheaper, and you won’t experience the summer’s heat or worry about autumn’s possible hurricanes.
How much do I tip?
Restaurant service: Standard tipping in New Orleans is 15 to 20 percent of your bill or 25 percent if you are extremely happy with your meal and service.
Housekeeping: It’s common to leave a tip of $2 per day of your stay to the housekeeping staff of your hotel, which you can leave in the room when you go. Some hotels leave envelopes for such tips, but if they don’t, a quick note saying “Thank you” will work.
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking: The legal drinking age in New Orleans is 21. You can consume alcohol on the streets of The Big Easy as long as it’s not in a glass container. Some places even allow you to bring drinks in from other places. In addition, some bars are open 24 hours.
Greetings: If you’re asked, “Where y’at?” by a local, don’t give your location. They’re actually asking how you are or what’s going on.
1. According to the passage, what are you most likely to do while waiting for a flight in MSY?| A．You will watch a live show. | B．You will buy some food to eat. |
| C．You will provide tips to airport staff. | D．You will appreciate pop music on your phone. |
| A．The world-famous Carnival celebrations maybe are held in July. |
| B．If you’re looking to avoid hurricanes, choose to visit in autumn. |
| C．The average daily temperatures all year is 22 Celsius to 7 Celsius. |
| D．Hotels are less expensive during the winter compared to the summer. |
| A．You need to answer what you ate. | B．You need to answer where you live. |
| C．You need to answer how you are today. | D．You need to answer what you drank today. |
3 . English businessman Richard Branson made history on July 11, 2021 as he and three other crewmates became the world’s first space tourists. The flight was made by a spacecraft named VSS Unity that was built by Branson’s company, Virgin Galactic. The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, and took Branson and crew to an altitude (海拔) of 53.5miles above the Earth, just a little above the boundary (边界) of space which lies 50 miles above the Earth.
At that height, the atmosphere turns into the black of outer space and the Earth becomes a bent ball of blue. Travelers also exhibit weightlessness as there is no gravity, the force that keeps our bodies walking on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, Branson and his fellows were able to float around in VSS Unity while enjoying the views. They were able to do that for three minutes before the spacecraft began its downward journey. It landed back at Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico, United States, which is the same place from where it had taken off 90 minutes before.
On landing back, Branson said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid but honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of the Earth from space. It was just magical. I’m just taking it all in, and it’s unreal.”
July 11’s flight is the start of space tourism for one and all. In early 2022, customers who can afford a ticket for a quarter of a million dollars can line up for a seat on a trip to space. And guess what — they will have a choice of spacecraft. Jeff Bezos, who owns a famous company, is all set to launch himself into space on July 20 on board a spacecraft built by his new branch company Blue Origin. Blue Origin will also carry tourists to space.
1. What is Richard Branson famous for?| A．His success in tourism. |
| B．His company of Virgin Galactic. |
| C．His spaceship named VSS Unity. |
| D．His first commercial space travel in history. |
| A．Unbelievable. | B．Adventurous. | C．Regrettable. | D．Worthless. |
| A．Take a spacecraft of Virgin Galactic. |
| B．Pay $250,000 for the rocket tour. |
| C．Pass the fitness test for astronauts. |
| D．Line up for a position in Blue Origin. |
| A．Humans will move to other livable planets. |
| B．Ordinary people will soon land on the moon. |
| C．Private rocket space travel is growing gradually. |
| D．Some companies abandon their proper business. |
4 . Food waste across the globe continues to fuel climate change, nature loss and pollution while hurting the global economy according to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, which says it is important for countries to connect the fight against hunger and the three global crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
The report, whose findings revealed that the total food loss on the global economy is estimated at roughly $1 trillion, emphasized that reducing food waste is an opportunity to reduce costs and tackle some of the biggest environmental and social issues of our time: climate change and food insecurity.
While making opening remarks at the conference that launched the report, Dechen Tsering, acting director of the climate change division at the UNEP, said government polices, such as tax rebates (退税) and waste collection fees, could be used to stimulate changes in business practices and consumer behavior. In addition, better data on the cost of food waste and the environmental, economic, and social benefits of limiting food waste could help influence investors and consumers.
According to the report, as of 2022, only 21 countries had included food loss and waste reduction in their national climate plans, including China, Namibia, Sierra Leone, etc. Meanwhile, the number of people who are food insecure and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in the Greater Horn of Africa rose to 74 million at the end of February, according to another report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other agencies.
The international agencies said that the 2023 El Nino rains contributed to the rise in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in the region. With wetter-than-normal conditions forecast in most parts of African countries during the 2024 March-May rainfall season, the situation may not improve.
1. What does the Report 2024 indicate?| A．Food loss is the biggest problem to tackle. |
| B．Serious pollution can cause food insecurity. |
| C．Food waste worsens the environmental situation. |
| D．Many countries are cooperating to fight against hunger. |
| A．Effective measures should be taken by government. |
| B．Unnecessary costs in climate lead to development problems. |
| C．Data make no sense to consumer behavior and investors’ decision. |
| D．Avoiding waste collection fees is beneficial to limiting food waste. |
| A．Humanitarian assistance is the only way to help African people. |
| B．Food insecurity is still a big challenge to many African countries. |
| C．The situation of food waste in Africa becomes more and more severe. |
| D．The number of people needing help is increasing mainly due to bad weather. |
| A．To reveal the urgent financial situation in Africa. |
| B．To stress the necessity of food waste prevention. |
| C．To call for the joint efforts of governments in climate. |
| D．To raise the awareness of environmental conservation. |
5 . Scientists have designed plenty of devices that can pick up solid objects. Big mechanical claws can lift cars. Small claws can pluck (摘，拉) prizes from a glass box in an arcade game (街机游戏). But these new pluckers can lift something else entirely — a liquid.
Engineers have built the device, which can pick up and move a single drop of liquid. The device is made of two flexible crossed pieces. It is about the size and shape of a finger. Experimental tests showed that the pair can lift up a drop of liquids as small as 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) across.
Such a device might help scientists safely handle biological liquids like blood, says Arun Kota. That task could be particularly useful in laboratories where samples are tested for signs of flu or other infectious diseases. Kota is a mechanical engineer at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He worked on these new devices.
The new device combines tech from two fields of engineering. One is soft robotics. Unlike robots made from hard and heavy materials such as metal, soft robots are made from soft stuff. The other field is materials science. “Many materials are repellent to water, but in alcohol or oil they’re no longer able to do it,” Kota says. Working with Wei Wang, an engineer in his lab, he developed such materials, which will not let any liquid pass through them.
The group completed their design by 2017. Yet cool as it was, it had no obvious use. Xiaoguang Dong, an engineer at Vanderbilt University, doubts whether infectious disease labs are looking for such a device. “To me, this is not really practical,” he says. “The number of droplets that can be lifted is very small. They need independently robotic fingers to lift several droplets. If you want to control hundreds of droplets, how do you do that?”
1. Why are the big mechanical claws and small claws mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the function of the new invention. |
| B．To show the common usage of mechanical tools. |
| C．To give examples of some recent scientific findings. |
| D．To reveal the importance of accurately lifting liquids. |
| A．Its future. | B．Its feature. | C．Its creator. | D．Its principle. |
| A．Exposed. | B．Resistant. | C．Connected. | D．Similar. |
| A．It should be easier to use. | B．It should be safer in disease labs. |
| C．It should combine low-cost materials. | D．It should carry many more drops of liquid. |
6 . Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
This is the memoir (回忆录) and first book of Michelle Zauner, lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast. Zauner writes about growing up as a Korean American and how losing her mother to cancer when she was 25 forced her to reconnect with her identity. It’s a story of Zauner’s grief and an exploration of all the gifts (language, food, history) her mother left behind.
Overwhelmed, by Brigid Schulte
You’ve probably heard by now that you won’t be sleeping much after you welcome your bundle of joy and noise into the world. Parenthood can be challenging and tiring, but you don’t have to feel like you’ve lost yourself while you’re creating a life for someone else. Journalist Brigid Schulte lays out how our always-on culture can get the best of us and what you can do to take back some time for yourself.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese-American poet and his first novel is written in the form of a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Exploring race, class, and manhood, the novel handles difficult topics with beauty and the kind of lines that will hang in the air long after you’ve set the book down.
24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, by Tiffany Shlain
In 24/6, filmmaker and popular speaker Shlain introduces readers to what she calls a “Technology Shabbat” -the one day, every week, where she and her family turn off all electronic devices. Beyond detailing the many ways she and her family have benefited, Shlain gives helpful, reassuring advice for setting your own tech shabbat and controlling device use.
1. Who are the main target readers of Overwhelmed?| A．Children. | B．Parents. | C．Writers. | D．Journalists. |
| A．Crying in H Mart. |
| B．Overwhelmed. |
| C．On Earth We’re Brie fly Gorgeous. |
| D．24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week. |
| A．They are related to family life. |
| B．They are on the theme of growing up. |
| C．They are written by mixed-race authors. |
| D．They are concerned with electronic devices. |
7 . If you’ve ever seen a sparrow steal your dog food or a crow open a garbage bag, you get a sense of that some birds have learned to take advantage of new feeding opportunities—a clear sign of their intelligence. Scientists have long wondered why certain species of birds are more innovative than others, and whether these capacities stem from larger brains or from a greater number of neurons (神经元) in specific areas of the brain.
It turns out that it’s a bit of both, according to a recent study by an international team that included members from McGill University published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
The researchers used a new technique to estimate the number of neurons in a specific part of the brain called the pallium in 111 bird species. The pallium in birds is equal to the human cerebral cortex (大脑皮层), which is involved in memory, learning, reasoning, and problem-solving, among other things. When these estimates about neuron numbers in the pallium were combined with information about over 4,000 feeding innovations, the team found that the species with the higher numbers of neurons in the pallium were also likely to be the most innovative.
“The amount of time chicks spend in the nest as their brains develop might also play a crucial role in the evolution of intelligence,” says McGill University Emeritus Professor Louis Lefebvre who spent more than 20 years gathering examples of feeding innovations. “Larger species of crows and parrots, which are known for their intelligence, spend longer in the nest, which allows more time for the brain to grow and accumulate pallial neurons.”
The results of the study help to deal with previously opposed views of the evolution and significance of brain size and show how a life-history perspective helps to understand the evolution of cognition.
1. What may a sparrow be thought of when it steals dog food?| A．It is lovely. | B．It is immoral. | C．It is heartbroken. | D．It is intelligent. |
| A．Assessed the neurons in their pallium. |
| B．Tested a new technology on their brain. |
| C．Trained them to learn to feed individually. |
| D．Compared their pallium with the human cerebral cortex. |
| A．Their large shape. |
| B．More time in their nest. |
| C．Their learning ability. |
| D．More feeding innovations. |
| A．Health. | B．Society. | C．Science. | D．Culture. |
8 . More than 400 athletes across a variety of sports, ages and levels of experience were questioned for the study by sports psychology experts from Staffordshire University and Manchester Metropolitan University. The findings reveal that athletes’ belief systems — specifically irrational (非理性) beliefs — are related to poorer self-confidence, and in turn, greater competitive anxiety and depressive symptoms.
“Phrases that reflect self-depreciating (贬低) beliefs such as ‘If I lose, I’m a failure’ or ‘If I face setbacks, it shows how stupid I am’ are warning signs,” said the authors. Paul Mansell, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University, said, “Despite the psychological benefits of physical activity, studies frequently report poor mental health in athletes, which may be exacerbated by adversities, such as injury, de-selection, and performance pressure. We investigated athletes’ beliefs, how they view stress, their levels of self-confidence and put all this data together to work out what might predict psychological well-being. We found irrational beliefs to be a core reason for symptoms of poor mental health in athletes.”
This is the first known study that has examined irrational beliefs, self-confidence, and the psychological well-being of athletes all together. Irrational beliefs are extreme, rigid, and illogical ideas that people hold. For example, a person might believe that they “must” get what they want, or that just because they have failed, they are a “complete failure”.
“We can all work to help athletes develop mindsets that help them deal with the challenges of sport and life. By encouraging rational and logical beliefs about performance, we can help athletes to stay healthy amidst the high demands of competitive sport,” said Paul Mansell.
The author s propose Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as an effective tool for protecting self-confidence. REBT helps athletes to challenge these self-depreciating beliefs and develop beliefs that are more helpful and healthy. For example, rather than believe “I am a failure if I fail”, this might be countered with “Failing is not ideal, but it does not mean that I am a failure”.
1. What did the study centre on?| A．Physical health of athletes. |
| B．The competition state of athletes. |
| C．Psychological health of athletes. |
| D．Competition habits of athletes. |
| A．Worsened. | B．Examined. | C．Promoted. | D．Recognized. |
| A．Setbacks won’t stop me. |
| B．If I fail, I will lose everything. |
| C．It is a world full of competition. |
| D．What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. |
| A．Psychological benefits of physical activity |
| B．Effective tools for protecting self-confidence |
| C．Rational and logical beliefs about performance |
| D．Warning signs of poor mental health in athletes |
9 . Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude and affection for the incredible women who have shaped our lives, whether that’s your mum, your grandma, your friend or whoever else you’d like to celebrate.
Start with a classic expression of gratitude. Thank your mother for her unwavering love, support, and the countless sacrifices she’s made.
A Mother’s Day card is a chance to convey the love and appreciation you feel for the remarkable women in your life.
| A．Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing! |
| B．There are countless ways to create a heartfelt message. |
| C．Express your excitement about creating more memories together. |
| D．End your message with warm and affectionate closing expressions. |
| E．If you have plans for the day or future adventures, mention them in your card. |
| F．A simple “Thank you for everything you do” sets a warm and appreciative tone. |
| G．While selecting the perfect Mother’s Day card is important, the affections written inside hold even greater significance. |
10 . “Red tide” is a natural phenomenon that frequently occurs in many places around the world. The phenomenon is the result of extreme growth of tiny algae (海藻) called K. Brevis, which has a red color, giving the water surface a very noticeable red color. K. Brevis will give off chemicals that can attack the nervous systems of animals, which often leads to deadly results.
Florida citizens are no stranger to “red tide”, which occurs along the state’s Gulf Coast annually. However, the most recent outbreak of red tide has so far lasted much longer and spread across nearly 145 miles of the coastline in southwestern Florida.
The long season has caused the death of tons of fish and other animals which were washed up on the beaches all the way from Tampa to Naples. The smell of the dead animals has kept away thousands of locals and tourists that frequent the area’s long beaches. In view of that, in August, Florida declared a state of emergency for the seven places where K. Brevis has been growing quickly, providing $ 3 million to help with research, cleanup, and wildlife rescue.
Recently, the situation of red tide in Florida may be exacerbated due to an outbreak of algae Trichodesmium in the waters offshore of Manatee County. Trichodesmium floats on the water’s surface sucking nitrogen (氮) from the air while K. Brevis lives below the surface obtaining nitrogen from the water. If these two masses of algae mix, the dying Trichodesmium may end up providing nitrogen for K. Brevis, lengthening its stay in the area.
Researchers recently are exploring the idea of introducing other algal species to Florida. Among the possibilities is the Diatom. It’s a kind of algae that can grow quickly in the water. Its growth will consume a large amount of nitrogen from the water. So it competes with K. Brevis for nitrogen. Another possibility is algae known to give off chemicals that stop the growth of red tide.
The 10-month-long red tide outbreak in Florida may be the result of a combination of heavy rainfall, warmer ocean temperatures, and pollution. Now it’s time for us to do something.
1. What can we learn about K. Brevis?| A．It’s caused by red tide. | B．It can harm ocean life. |
| C．It’s facing dying out. | D．It exists mainly on land. |
| A．The researchers’ study of algae. | B．The tourism potential in Florida. |
| C．The possible ways to deal with red tide. | D．The consequences of red tide in Florida. |
| A．Worsened. | B．Studied. | C．Handled. | D．Ignored. |
| A．To change the color of K. Brevis. |
| B．To help reduce K. Brevis’ food supply. |
| C．To damage K. Brevis using some chemicals. |
| D．To increase fishes’ resistance to K. Brevis’ attack. |
