1 . Valencia lives, for the time being, in a mobile home park.

He greeted me when I arrived and poured me a cup of coffee. He told me that his dad had worked at a brick-manufacturing plant. His mother worked at home. Most of his seven brothers and sisters didn’t go to college.

Valencia was determined to be the first, despite his late start. He said he was an average student struggling with math and went to community college a year after graduating from high school but decided quickly it was not for him.

He got into construction and then the insurance industry, but he’d always liked to write and do crossword puzzles. “And I loved to read. A lot,” he said. And he joked with his mother that if he won the lottery, he’d use the winnings for college.

It was around 2007. Valencia got tired of telling himself he was going to go back to school. He told his mother it was finally for real. She said, “I hope you make it, Jerry.” And I told her, “I’m going to make it, Mom. Surely!”

The plan was to capitalize on his former construction experience to study civil engineering—the design, building and repair of roads, bridges, etc. But he discovered other interests.

“He was not the youngest student,” says Grant Tovmasian, coach of the forensics debate team Valencia joined. “But he was the most motivated and dedicated, encouraging fellow students and inspiring them to live a more satisfying life?”

Valencia’s sister Sindi Majors says her brother was always bright, but he went through a couple of rough experiences in his life.

Because Valencia has nearly always been homeless, she bought him a motor home, where he lived from 2009 to 2018.

There is something splendidly irrational about Valencia’s determination to get a four-year degree and then a master’s. At his current pace, he’ll be 90 when he finally achieves his goals.

But that doesn’t influence him. He’s found all the youthful energy and academic opportunity stimulating.

“Valencia’s grade in my class this semester will not show up on his transcripts (大学生的成绩单). But I’m giving him an A and in the most important ways, it counts.” says Tovmasian.

1. What does the underlined phrase “capitalize on” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Make use of.

B．Get rid of.

C．Break down.

D．Appeal to.

2. Which of the following is the right order of Valencia’s experience?
a. Valencia joined the debate team.
b. He went to a community college.
c. He got into construction industry.
d. He planned to study civil engineering.

A．b-d-c-a

B．b-c-d-a.

C．c-a-d-b

D．d-c-b-a

3. Which of the following can best describe Valencia?

A．Caring and ambitious.	B．Devoted and modest.
C．Positive and generous.	D．Determined and motivated.

4. Why does Tovmasian decide to give Valencia a grade A?

A．Because he hopes to see Valencia graduate as soon as possible.

B．Because he admires Valencia for his good quality and performance.

C． Because Valencia has done extra work to perform the best in the class.

D．Because Valencia has reached his goals earlier inspired by Tovmasian

2 . With a leather book cover, a golden overhang, made from colored paper and edges of the book painted red, the French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius《论语入门》is a classic from the Age of Enlightenment in France. The book is about the political ideas, ethical thoughts and moral concepts of China more than 2,000 years ago. Francois Bernier, the author of the book, would never have expected that the French version of the Chinese classic translated by him could be brought to China more than 300 years after he finished it.

The French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius is a national gift. 2019 marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties. On March 24 of that year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Nice, France. Before their meeting, Macron presented Xi with the original French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius published in France in 1688.

As a classic of traditional Chinese culture, The Analects of Confucius《论语》was introduced to Europe as early as the 17th century. Commenting on the influence of Chinese culture in France, Macron said the thoughts of Confucius had deeply inspired French thinkers such as Voltaire and had a long-lasting influence on the French Enlightenment (启蒙运动).

After hearing Macron’s introduction, Xi said he would take this precious gift back to China’s National Library. President Xi once said that the rich philosophical ideas, humanistic spirit, edifying thoughts (教化思想) and moral concepts of China’s fine traditional culture can provide useful inspiration for understanding and transforming the world, for governing the country, and for moral construction.

1. What does An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius mainly deal with?

A．Music history, ethical thoughts and folk songs.

B．Political ideas, ethical thoughts and fairy stories.

C．Moral concepts, classic works and military ideas.

D．Ethical thoughts, moral concepts and political ideas.

2. What did Macron think about the thoughts of Confucius?

A．Macron saw them as an inspiration to many French inventors.

B．Macron saw them as guidelines for the French Enlightenment.

C．Macron considered them great valuable to French in some ways.

D．Macron considered them the best way to spread Chinese culture.

3. What is the passage most probably chosen from?

A．Science.

B．Travel.

C．Culture.

D．Technology.

3 . “We don’t mind using GPS,” says our Aboriginal guide Baamba in his Australian accent, as he looks out across the wilderness which belongs to his tribe. The red ground ahead is covered with bushes and trees. Although it’s early, it’s already 30 degrees in the shade. It’s a difficult hike, but Baamba is a sensible guide: he always carries a satellite phone in his backpack in case of emergencies. His ancestors, however, relied on songs.

The early Australian Aborigines made the land navigable (可航行的) through songs, dance and paintings. The songs described pathways or “songlines”, which provided an oral “map” of the land. They showed people where to find a water hole, where there was a river and where they could hunt. Generations of Aboriginals followed these pathways, leaving clear marks and carvings on rocks and trees to help future travelers. “But the songs describe more than a pathway,” explains Baamba. “They also tell stories about how the world was created.” According to Aboriginal stories, the world was created, when giant beings, part human, part animal, came down from the sky. From across the sea and from deep in the earth.

One of the many sacred sites called Arkaroo Rock was mentioned in the songs and stories about the land. These songs and stories show the close relationship between the native people and their environment, how they saw themselves as part of nature rather than master of it, and how their way of life resulted in a valuable knowledge of their land. It was a way of life with more than 2,000 generations. It was a way of life that was safe from invasion and influence until 1788.

____________ Sadly, this destroyed their ancient way of life, and many Aboriginal songlines were lost. Today, people like Baamba are trying to restore this heritage and preserve it.

It’s late now and Baamba is waiting outside Arkaroo Rock. Inside, we’re admiring the beautiful cave paintings, but as soon as we have taken some photos, we leave. Dark clouds are visible on the horizon—there are already flashes of lightning and thunder in the distance. As we drive away, the wind blows through the trees, and we can almost hear the voices of those first Australians, singing the songs of their ancestors, and following the songlines.

1. Why does the writer mention Baamba’s ancestors’ songs in paragraph 1?

A．To promote these songs, special culture	B．To draw readers’ attention to the theme.
C．To show off the old but advanced songs.	D．To advertise the place’s tourist attractions

2. What can we know about songlines according to the passage?

A．Songlines were printed maps of die land.

B．Sonlines were mainly used to help hunters.

C．Songlines were a symbol of bravery of the Aborigines.

D．Songlines played a key role in finding people’s way around.

3. What will the author most probably talk about in the blank of paragraph 4?

A．Songlines were negatively influenced by strange tourists.

B．The Aborigines experienced a terrible natural disaster in 1788.

C．The Aborigines celebrated their victories for defeating the enemy.

D．Foreigners’ invasion since 1788 resulted in the natives’ life destroyed.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Guidelines.

B．Songlines.

C．Exploration.

D．Tradition.

4 . “If you feel like sleeping more in the winter, you’re not alone,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine in California, citing research that found at least a third of American adults reported they sleep more in the winter.

The 188 patients who underwent sleep studies at St. Hedwig Hospital in Berlin slept about an hour longer in winter than they did in summer. And participants did get 30 more minutes of rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep during winter.

The REM phase of sleep is the sweet spot of sleep cycles, characterized by more dreaming and faster heart rate and breathing than in other stages. Its “an essential stage of sleep that helps with memory, concentration, mood regulation and immune function,” Dasgupta said.

The desire for more sleep during winter may have to do with how light fluctuates (波动,起伏) throughout the year. “Our bodies receive cues from the sun when it comes to our circadian rhythm, meaning that when it is bright outside we tend to be active, but when the sun goes down, you may tend to feel tired,” Dasgupta said. “The decrease in sunlight causes an increase in melatonin (褪黑激素) in the body that regulates sleep-wake cycles.”

With the earlier production of melatonin during winter, “it would be natural to assume that a healthy person also would need more sleep during the winter,” said Dr. Carleara Weiss, a research assistant professor at the University of Buffalo.

And light influences not only sleep quantity but also sleep quality. ‘“REM sleep is highly affected by light and darkness, so when during the winter months we have less light, the body is going to basically overcompensate by giving more REM sleep,” said Dr. Joshua Tal, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep issues.

Humans still don’t need to hibernate (冬眠), Weiss said, nor can we afford to due to our social and occupational obligations. “But we can make adjustments to perform in a better way, to rest in a better way during winter,” she said. “To help our bodies make this transition from sleep to wake, it’s important to have light exposure in the morning during winter months,” Weiss said. “Along with that, it’s important to keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up times.”

1. What happens in the REM phase of sleep?

A．Faster breathing.	B．Slower heart rate.
C．More concentration.	D．Fewer dreaming.

2. What can we learn about the connection between light and sleep?

A．Light will remove people’s desire for sleep.

B．The brighter it is, the more active you will be.

C．Light affects not sleep quantity, but sleep quality.

D．People are more likely to feel sleepy when it gets dark.

3. What does the underlined sentence suggest in paragraph 6?

A．People’s sleep quality is decided by the REM sleep.

B．People’s health is built up based on the REM sleep.

C．More REM sleep can strengthen our energy in winter.

D．REM sleep can make up for the shortcoming of less light.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The theory of REM sleep.	B．The approach to relaxing.
C．The way to adapt ourselves.	D．The plan of increasing sleep.

5 . Four beautiful trips combining bikes and trains

Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail (小径)

The trail is an 87-mile pathway from Cleveland to Bolivar in Northeast Ohio. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) stretches out separately along the trail from Akron to Thornburg Station, a 31-mile stretch that passes through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The trail hugs the outline of the original Ohio and Erie Canal. Today, the trail passes many landmarks, including bridges, museums, and villages.

Danube Cycle Path

It is a path that follows the Danube River for about 745 miles, from Donaueschingen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. The path is most popular in Austria featuring 245 scenic miles serviced by local and long-distance trains. Most cyclists choose to ride from west to cast with the flow of the river, to take advantage of the natural slope (斜坡) of bicycle traffic.

Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail

The trail extends for 25 miles through woodlands next to the Lehigh Rive. A historic tourist railway called the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway follows the trail, allowing cyclists to create a one- way ride rather than backtracking. The rail trail is mostly flat and passes through Lehigh Gorge State Park. While the train operates most days, the bike service is only offered one weekend a month from May to November.

Cinder Track

The Cinder Track is a 21-mile broken-stone pathway along the coast of Yorkshire, England: The towns of Scarborough and Whitby, where the trail begins and ends, both have train stations near the trail. The train journey is not a direct pathway between the two towns—in fact, the tracks of the original direct pathway were removed to create the trail. The trail, meanwhile, hugs the Yorkshire coast, with views of seaside bluffs (峭壁), fishing villages, etc.

1. What is special about the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail?

A．It offers a chance to visit museums.

B．It goes past many cities and villages.

C．It shares most of its trail with CVSR.

D．It provides cyclists with a view of the sea.

2. What’s the disadvantage of the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail for cyclists?

A．The numerous sharp slope.	B．The extremely rough path.
C．The connection with a railway.	D．The time limit of bike service.

3. Which of the following covers the longest distance?

A．The Cinder Track.	B．The Danube Cycle Path.
C．The Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail.	D．The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

6 . Volunteer Art &Architecture Tour Guide for Boston Public Library, Copley Square

The goal is to generate public interest in the history, art, and architecture of Boston Public Library, including its special collections and exhibitions at the Central Library in Copley Square.

ROLE AND EXPECTATIONS

●To conduct public and private group tours of the Central Library’s art, architecture, and exhibitions, answering questions from groups and recording attendance statistics after tours conclude.

●To continue to inform oneself of the art, architecture, history, holdings, and exhibitions of Boston Public Library.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Interest in history, art, and architecture in general, and of Boston Public Library in particular.

● Confidence in addressing and presenting information to large groups; prior guiding or public speaking experience desirable.

●A strong command of the English language is required, and fluency in other languages is highly preferred.

TRAINING

Accepted candidates will be asked to attend tour guide training meetings. New guides are expected to complete training around four months. Progress evaluations will be ongoing throughout the training period, and continue through the first six months of working as a full guide.

REQUIREMENTS

●Minimum commitment of two tours per month (or 24 tours per year).

●Commitment to attending tour guide meetings and enrichment programs for continuing education.

REVIEW

Regular assessments and evaluations will be conducted based on the above criteria to ensure that volunteers meet the necessary qualifications.

Interested candidates should complete the application form below and send it to tours@bpl.org.

1. What does a volunteer tour guide need to do after tours?

A．Ensure safety of the artworks.

B．Maintain cleanness of the hall.

C．Document the numbers of visitors.

D．Answer questions about qualifications.

2. How long will the progress evaluations last?

A．4 months.

B．6 months.

C．10 months.

D．12 months.

3. Which will result in a poor review of the position?

A．Insufficient (不足的) working hours.

B．Absence of a second language.

C．Little relevant volunteer experience.

D．Limited knowledge about exhibitions.

7 . Rising Legacy High School senior Brianna Ortiz is one of five students in the US and the only Texan to be selected to attend the International Science School (ISS) this summer in Australia.

This famous programme, designed to inspire young minds and awaken a passion for space exploration, provides students with an immersive and educational experience that promises to shape their future in the field of space science.

Brianna’s space journey started when she tooke part in MISD’s Orbitz program in the fall of 2021. That experience gave her the opportunity to apply for ISS through an extensive application process that included letters of recommendation, writing essays and an interview. ISS selected Brianna from a highly competitive pool of international applicants who share an enthusiasm for space exploration.

During the program, Brianna will have the privilege of engaging with outstanding scientists, engineers and educators who will guide her through a series of hands-on activities, simulations (模拟), and lectures. This comprehensive training will provide her with invaluable knowledge about space travel, rocketry, robotics, and other essential aspects of the aerospace industry.

“This is a dream come true for me, and I can’t wait to immerse myself in the world of space exploration,” Brianna said. “When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut, but now I’m interested in becoming an aerospace engineer and building rockets that impact the way we live here on Earth.”

Brianna said one of the things she’s most looking forward to is the opportunity to cooperate with fellow like-minded students from around the world. They will participate in team-building exercises, problem-solving challenges, and space mission simulations, developing essential skills such as leadership, critical thinking, and effective communication.

The experience gained at ISS will broaden Brianna’s horizons and inspire her to pursue a career in the exciting field of space exploration.

1. What is the aim of ISS?

A．To select the best talent.

B．To cultivate excellent astronauts.

C．To help students develop a strong mind.

D．To get students interested in space exploration.

2. Which of the following best describes the process of Brianna being received by ISS?

A．Difficult.

B．Painful.

C．Creative.

D．Slow.

3. What will Brianna do at ISS?

A．Experience space travel.	B．Listen to lectures by experts.
C．Work in an aerospace factory.	D．Participate in robotics development.

4. What can we learn about Brianna?

A．She has great teamwork skills.

B．She has been the best students at ISS.

C．She dreams of being an astronaut after attending ISS.

D．She has been interested in space exploration since childhood.

8 . Travel Wifi (formerly TEP Wireless) is a global company with a simple mission: to keep you connected to the Internet while traveling. They do this by providing wifi hotspot devices (for rent or purchase) that can be used on 6 different continents.

About the wifi devices

The Pocket Travel Wi devices are the size and shape of a small smartphone. The standard Hotspot Rental and The Sapphire 2 (for purchase) share a similar design with one but on and one mini-USB charging port. However, it’s important to note that these devices are not waterproof. When fully charged, they should last around 12 hours with fairly regular wifi use. Additionally, the Sapphire 2 model features indicator lights displaying signal strength and battery life.

Renting vs. Buying the travel wifi device

The cost of purchasing a travel wifi device is $89-$109, and then you pay on top of that for data packages ($29.9 for 20 GB in a month). Most frequent travelers buy their own device for convenience

The rental price is based on the total number of days that you’ll keep the device and how much data you want to use each day. Daily rents range from $6.9 for 1GB, $129 for 2GB to $16.9 for 3GB. Week pass ($45.9) with no data limit is also a good choice for short-term travelers.

1. What is an advantage of the travel wifi device?

A．It is convenient to carry.	B．It is quick to charge.
C．It is resistant to water.	D．It is excellent in signal

2. For a 7-day UK trip, what’s the minimum rent for a Wi-Fi device?

A．$6.9

B．$29.9

C．$45.9

D．$48.3

3. Which group may be excluded from the intended audience?

A．Regular travelers.	B．People on business globally.
C．Passionate surfers.	D．Tourists accessing wifi abroad.

9 . Anger Management

Maybe you have a serious attitude to life, or perhaps you are just angry. Everyone gets angry.     1     The following strategies will help you manage it in more positive ways.

Angry people tend to swear to reflect their inner thoughts.     2     For instance, instead of telling yourself,   “oh, it’s awful, it’s terrible, everything’s ruined,” tell yourself, “it’s understandable that I’m upset about it, but it’s not the end of the world and getting angry is not going to fix it anyhow.”

Don’t say the first thing that comes into your head, but slowdown and think carefully about what you want to say. Listen carefully to what the other person is saying and take your time before answering. At the same time, it’s natural to get defensive when you’re criticized, but don’t fight back.     3    

Give yourself a break.     4     One example is the working mother who has a standing rule that when she comes home from work, for the first 15 minutes “nobody talks to Mom unless the house is on fire.” After this brief quiet time, she feels better prepared to handle demands from her kids without blowing up at them.

Not all anger is inappropriate, and often it’s a healthy, natural response.     5     And it disappoints us to find out that this isn’t always the case. The best attitude to bring to such a situation, then, is not to focus on finding the solution, but rather on how you handle and face the problem.

A．But letting it get out of control is harmful.

B．We should have a positive attitude towards anger.

C．Try replacing emotional thoughts with more reasonable ones.

D．There is also a cultural belief that every problem has a solution.

E．That means letting go of the busy schedule and focus on the moment.

F．Make sure you have some “personal time” scheduled for stressful days.

G．Keeping your head can keep the situation from becoming a disastrous one.

10 . Born in 1973 in Wenzhou, Jiang Shengnan is the youngest daughter in the family and her name, Shengnan, translates as “better than men”. She was a bookworm as a primary school student and often spent what she calls “a colorful day” at the school library, reading one or two books a day, absorbed in her own world.

Jiang began reading ding Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911) author Cao Xueqin’s Dream of the Red Chamber in the second l grade, when she did not even fully understand all the characters. She also loved reading history and the first historical books she read were the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, stories that are more than 2,280 years old.

In 1996, she wrote her first martial arts novel Modao Fengyun to entertain herself. In 1997, she bought a computer and typed in the manuscript (手稿), but with nowhere to publish, only family and friends read the book.

Jiang focused on women, who were usually overshadowed and presented as simplified characters in Chinese literature, particularly important historical women. She realized that Chinese historical novels tended to focus on emperors, kings, and generals, and women often featured as vehicles, such as virtuous wives and good mothers.

Among the 2, 000 ratings on Douban, a major review aggregator (聚合器) in China, nearly 70 percent of readers gave Jiang’s most famous novel four stars or more out of five. One reader, nicknamed Yinrendeponiang, who gave the novel four stars, commented that, “The book describes the life of China’s first empress dowager (女皇) , through a mix of fiction and history. It details her journey from birth to rule, and how the changes in her life influenced her, shaping her into a kind yet tricky yet tricky individual. She resists others’ control over her...This book not only informs us about her path to growth, but also shows how a woman can achieve success through her own efforts.”

1. What can we learn about Jiang from the first two paragraphs?

A．She had an extremely romantic view of life.

B．Her reading choices were family-influenced.

C．Her hobby was comparable to men’s early on.

D．She tackled complex literature at a young age.

2. Why did Jiang’s family and friends be the readers of her early works?

A．To persuade her out of writing.

B．To kill their time for entertainment.

C．To encourage her writing enthusiasm.

D．To help her find mistakes in her work.

3. What is the author’s purpose of mentioning Yinrendeponiang?

A．To call on women to achieve success.

B．To show his dissatisfaction with the novel.

C．To make comments on China’s first empress dowager.

D．To demonstrate Jiang’s work is well-received on Douban.

4. Which proverb can best describe Jiang’s work?

A．Knowledge is power	B．Women holdup half the sky.
C．One good turn deserves another.	D．Constant dripping wears away the stone.