1 . Life is full of ups and downs, and you must understand that you will sometimes fail at things and it is okay when that happens. Almost all of our life we have been taught that failure is really bad, and when we fail we must drown (沉浸) ourselves in sorrow, this is an entirely wrong approach.
From a kid to an adult, you will fail at many things in life but that will only tell you about yourself. You will get to learn about your true capabilities, the things you are good at, and the things that you are bad at. We must learn to accept the process rather than run from it. Only then will we be able to achieve our goals in life.
Let me tell you something about myself, and how I faced failures in life. In my early years at school, I had trouble with some subjects. I used to get really bad grades. Sometimes I would get an F and that would make me really scared. I used to think: “What will I show my parents?” So what I used to do was cover those grades up. I would turn the F into a B just to please my parents. Well the short version of it is that it didn’t work out and eventually, I was caught doing that. I learned a lot after that. I knew that I had to accept that failure and learn from it, and something good actually came from it. I started doing better with my grades. That F turned into a B naturally, and that B turned into an A.
Whenever you face a failure, never think that you are never going to recover from this. You must think of ways to better yourself. Did you know that it took Thomas Edison 10,000 attempts to perfect the light bulb? Bill Gates failed many times, even his first company was a complete failure. All of this is proof that we must learn from our failures, not run from them!
1. What agrees with the author’s attitude to failure?| A．It should be a painful process for us. | B．It is a way to tell us about our abilities. |
| C．It’s better to find ways to escape from it. | D．Smart people can find ways to avoid it. |
| A．To tell us we can cover our mistakes sometimes. |
| B．To tell us almost everyone will make mistakes. |
| C．To show the right attitudes to failure is crucial. |
| D．To explain everyone will succeed with devotion. |
| A．Slow but sure wins the race. | B．Good beginning is half done. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. | D．Where there is a will there is a way. |
| A．Clever. | B．Careful. | C．Caring. | D．Optimistic. |
2 . In ancient Greece, festivals were an essential part of their culture. These festivals were celebrated in honor of various gods and goddesses and were a way for people to come together and celebrate their beliefs.
One of the most important festivals in ancient Greece was the Eleusinian Mysteries. This festival was held in honor of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility (丰产). The Eleusinian Mysteries were a series of rituals (仪式) that celebrated the cycle of life and death. Participants would go through a process that involved fasting (斋戒), purification, and secret rituals.
The Dionysia was another significant festival in ancient Greece. This festival was intended for Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and theater. The Dionysia consisted of several days of dinning, drinking wine, and watching plays performed by playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides.
Festivals were not just about honoring gods; they also served as a way for people to come together as a community. During festivals, people would gather in public spaces to socialize, watch performances or sporting events, or participate in religious ceremonies.
In addition to these major festivals, there were many other smaller festivals throughout ancient Greece that celebrated local traditions or honored specific gods or goddesses. These festivals varied from region to region but all shared the common purpose of bringing people together to celebrate their beliefs.
In conclusion, festivals played an important role in ancient Greek culture as they provided opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared culture. These festivals were not just about honoring the gods; they were also a way for people to socialize and participate in community events. The use of festivals as a means of cultural expression is still popular in modern times, and serves as a proof to the enduring treasure of ancient Greece.
1. What’s the function of festivals in Greece?| A．Chances for people to know other cultures. |
| B．Honor to people’s glorious process of life. |
| C．Rewards for people’s devotion to the society. |
| D．Religious themes and occasions for gatherings. |
| A．To hold a music party. | B．To have a big dinner party. |
| C．To honor the rich gift from nature. | D．To put on plays written by famous people. |
| A．social contacts | B．people’s show of talents. |
| C．volunteer activities | D．choices of the good tradition |
| A．The Major Festivals in Greece. | B．Reasons Behind Festivals in Greece. |
| C．Activities in Greek Festivals. | D．Changes about Festivals in Greece. |
3 . If you’re looking for meaningful yet easy ways to volunteer from home, then you’ll love this list of opportunities for remote volunteers.
Use your voice to protect the earth. Friends of the Earth is committed to changing economic and political policies and systems that lead to injustice and that harm nature.
Virtually mentor high school kids. iCloudBe’s mission is -to empower at-risk middle and high school students to stay in school and reach their goals with the help of an online community of mentors.
Scan & proofread books to make reading accessible to all. Bookshare, an e-book library devoted to making reading easier for all, is always on the lookout for remote volunteers to scan and proofread books for their collection.
| A．Send a care package to a solider |
| B．You’ll be able to see the wish list before signing up. |
| C．Add your voice to the meaningful volunteer work of climate change fighters |
| D．When you check this page for easy ways to volunteer by taking simple actions |
| E．You can take part in meaningful volunteer work online by becoming an eMentor |
| F．While offering time to in-person and volunteer abroad projects can be worthwhile. |
| G．Their library features books that are customizable for people with reading disabilities. |
4 . The sound of my mother preparing breakfast fills the house — my morning alarm.
As I walk toward the kitchen, I’m greeted by my mother standing over the cooker. She effortlessly cooks a dish that blends (融合) Western and Eastern styles, a beloved breakfast classic in our family. This is my grandmother’s recipe.
Since my grandmother’s passing, I’ve become more aware of my mother’s aging and her devotion to cooking for us. She has cooked for her family for more than 30 years, dividing her time between three countries — Korea, Canada and Germany. When my parents visit us from Korea, they stay with us for several months. My mother helps around the house, showing her cooking skills to provide delicious meals for me, my partner and our kids. In every other year, she and my dad will travel to Berlin to spend a couple of weeks with my sister and her partner.
According to Statista, most Canadians report spending between 31 and 60 minutes preparing an average weekday dinner for themselves and others in their houses. Ten percent stated that they spend more than an hour preparing their evening meal. My mother belongs to that 10 percent.
Her cooking goes beyond the kitchen, starting with careful grocery shopping trips where she examines produce and finds the best deals. She takes everyone’s preferences and needs into account. The meal she creates becomes a ritual (仪式), bringing the family together to connect and share. Helping her out in the kitchen requires a great deal of patience. Yet, I know it’s her way of expressing love.
As I prepare the vegetables, she notices that my carrots are not evenly sized. She pushes me aside to take over the task.
“Just do the dishes.’’
1. What do we know about the author’s mother from the text ?| A．She has three daughters. |
| B．She has great cooking skills. |
| C．She lives with the author in Korea. |
| D．She invented the author’s beloved breakfast classic. |
| A．To show her mother’s love. |
| B．To present a common issue. |
| C．To explain the reasons behind infrequent cooking. |
| D．To stress the significance of home-cooked meals. |
| A．Her mother gets angry easily. |
| B．Her mother wants to teach her everything. |
| C．Her mother dislikes being bothered. |
| D．Her mother expects perfection in cooking. |
| A．Mother’s Love Needs to Be Responded to |
| B．Mother’s Recipe Is the Best in the World |
| C．Mother’s Kitchen Draws Us Closer Together |
| D．Mother’s Selflessness Inspires My Family |
5 . Gym Welcome
Price: free
Session duration: up to 25 minutes
• Perfect for members new to a gym environment.
• Familiarize yourself with all our facilities and services.
• Understand the key health and safety aspects of the gym.
• Learn the basic knowledge of fitness equipment.
• A chance to speak with a member of staff and get exercise advice to help you get started.
Personal Program
Price: free
Session duration: up to 55 minutes
• Suitable for everyone, especially if you’re new to the gym.
• Programs are designed around an individual’s needs for a more effective workout.
• Program length can be tailored (制订) to your requirements. Once the program is complete, you can choose to renew it or try one of our other program options.
• Personal programs are limited to one per member every 12 weeks.
Personal Training
Price: £45 per session — Buy five sessions for the price of four at £180
Session duration: 60 minutes
• Perfect for those who really want to make the most of their training. Suitable for athletes, people who need more guidance, people who lack motivation, or anyone who has a specific goal — sport, wedding, competition, etc.
Group Personal Training
Price:
– one two-person personal training session: £60
– one three-person personal training session: £75
– five four-person personal training sessions: £240
– five five-person personal training sessions: £330
How to book
If you would like to book or have any questions about the sessions on this page, please speak to a member of staff. This can also be done via email at fitness@sport.cam.ac.uk.
1. Who are the “Gym Welcome” sessions most suitable for ?| A．Athletes and competitors. |
| B．Experienced gym-goers. |
| C．New gym members. |
| D．Individuals with specific fitness goals. |
| A．It can be renewed at any time. |
| B．It lasts 45 minutes in each session. |
| C．It offers one-on-one fitness consultations. |
| D．It provides individualized workouts. |
| A．£180. | B．£375. | C．£300. | D．£240. |
6 . The classical gardens of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China date back to the 6th century BCE when the city was founded as the capital of the Wu Kingdom. Inspired by these royal hunting gardens built by the King of the Slate of Wu, private gardens began emerging around the 4th century and finally reached the top in the 18th century.
Today , more than 50 of these gardens are still in existence, nine of which are regarded as the finest models of Chinese “Mountain and Water” gardens. The earliest of these, the Canglang Pavilion was built in the early 11th century on the site of an earlier, destroyed garden. Designed and built under the influence of the unconstrained (不受约束的) poetic freehand style originally seen in traditional Chinese landscape paintings, they are noted for their excellent connection of skillful techniques, artistic elegance and rich cultural implications. These gardens lend insight into how ancient Chinese constructors harmonized conceptions of aestheticism (唯美主义) in a culture of reclusion (隐居) within an urban living environment.
Garden masters from each dynasty adapted various techniques to artfully model nature by skillfully adapting and using only the physical space available to them. Limited to the space within a single residence, classical Suzhou gardens are intended to be a microcosm of the natural world, incorporating basic elements such as water, stones, plants, and various types of buildings of literary and poetic significance.
These excellent gardens are a proof to the superior craftsmanship of the garden masters of the time. These unique designs that have been inspired but are not limited by concepts of nature have had great influence on the development of both Eastern and Western garden art. These garden groups of buildings, rock formations, calligraphy, furniture, and decorative artistic pieces serve us showcases of the artistic achievements of the East Yangtze Delta region; they are basically the personification of the traditional Chinese culture.
1. What aspect about the classical gardens of Suzhou does paragraph 1 tell?| A．Its history. | B．Its styles. | C．Its size. | D．Its owners. |
| A．in the limited space | B．with the direction of poets |
| C．near the mountain and water | D．with natural and cultural factors |
| A．Decoration. | B．Reflection. | C．Limitation. | D．Improvement. |
| A．Beautiful but unavailable. | B．Decorative but impractical. |
| C．Skillful and influential. | D．Laborious and space-occupying. |
7 . NCOF offers unique work experiences for teens. Through these experiences, they learn new skills, problem solve, and become good citizens and leaders.
Leader in Training (LIT)Ages 14 — 16
8:30 am — 4:30 pm, minimum 1 week commitment
The LIT position is an unpaid, volunteer opportunity for motivated teens to assist in one or more weeks of our 10-week summer program with children ages 3 - 11. LITs learn from and work alongside our summer staff as we educate kids about farming, food, the environment, and sustainability.
Teen Work Crew TWC (TWCT)Ages 15 — 18
8: 30 am — 3: 30 pm
Our TWC program offers paid, guided work experience for teens. Teens work 24 hours per week, and scheduled for 2-4 weeks in a 10-week summer. TWC deals with the “big jobs” aroyund the farm, such as fencing, cutting wood, rebuilding animal shelters, and more.
Directing Teens through Agriculture Apprentice (学徒) Program (DTTAAP)Ages 14 — 17
This program provides year-round job training and paid work experience to teens who wish to master the wide range of skills it takes to run a diversified farm. Candidates are selected by farm staff based on participation in other farm programs for their skills and “can do” attitudes.
From the Drawing Board to the Border (FTDBTTB)Ages 15 — 18
Wednesday, November 8
6: 30 — 8: 30 pm
How do you take your plans from the drawing board to creating the garden without being defeated by the amount of work and money? Learn how to develop a shopping list and timeline to phase the work over several seasons. You will receive some useful tips on budgeting, purchasing plants, and working with landscape professionals.
1. Who is the text intended for?| A．Experienced farmers. | B．College graduates. |
| C．Middle school students. | D．Agriculture investors. |
| A．Help small children with farming. | B．Cut wood, rebuild animal shelters. |
| C．Learn skills to run a diversified farm. | D．Learn how to develop a shopping list. |
| A．They both open till 3: 30 pm. |
| B．They are designed for the same age group. |
| C．Both are about how to develop a shopping list. |
| D．They both provide year-round job training. |
8 . Widespread descriptions of animals in pop culture could actually be hurting the animals’ survival chances in the wild, new research suggests.
Franck Courchamp of the University of Paris-Sud was interested in the idea of “appeal” in animals. He wanted to know: What species do people consider appealing? And what are the influences of being appealing on populations in the wild?
In a research published this month, Courchamp and other researchers list the top twenty appealing species. Most of the animals identified as appealing are large mammals living on land. Coming in first place were tigers, followed by lions, elephants, giraffes, panthers, pandas, cheetahs, polar bears, wolves, and gorillas. However, at least half of the interviewees didn’t realize that five of the top ten most appealing species are threatened. It is contradictory that we haven’t been able to protect the species we care about the most.
The study also found that we are flooded with images of these creatures, even as they are becoming fewer in the wild. The study suggests that too much of imagination might be creating a “virtual population” of the animals in people’s minds, making them believe there are far more individuals in the wild than is exact.
The study suggests that companies benefiting from the use of these images should set aside a small percentage of their profits for protection efforts and information al campaigns. “That would be not only something fair, but that would be something that could bring a win-win situation for them,” Courchamp says. “It could bring them positive public relation, for instance. Besides, if a company’s mascot (吉祥物) goes extinct, that could hurt them from a marketing point. But not enough companies are “truly concerned about the protection of the species that they work on,” he adds.
1. What is the influence of the widespread images of animals in pop culture?| A．It raises people’s wildlife protection awareness. |
| B．It does good to the survival of appealing animals. |
| C．It makes a false impression of the animals’ real situation. |
| D．It brings a win-win situation for both animals and companies. |
| A．It is natural to regard the large mammals as attractive. |
| B．More than half of the top ten appealing species are protected. |
| C．It is strange that people’s thoughts contrast with their behavior. |
| D．It is terrible that the species are dying out at an alarming speed. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By using numbers. |
| C．By making definitions. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Positive. | C．Supportive. | D．Dissatisfied. |
9 . Are you happy with your life now? If not, don’t despair (绝望)—instead, consider making changes to improve your life. It’s totally possible to learn how to change your life and live your dreams. This is the guide for you.
Pinpoint (确定) the issue. Consider an area of your life where you feel unsettled or unsatisfied. Is it your study? Friendship? Your health? Take a few minutes to write about it in a journal.
Identify things that may hold you back.
Choose your “one thing”. When you learn how to change your life completely, it’s important to remember that this process takes time.
Set your goals and make a plan. If you want to succeed, it is necessary to set a specific goal. After doing all of the above, it’s time to make a plan.
| A．Consider your “Why”. |
| B．Set a goal for yourself. |
| C．It won’t all happen at once. |
| D．You have to be aware of potential barriers before they arise. |
| E．It is necessary to take some time to review all of what you enjoyed. |
| F．Then you can explore how you would want things to be different in this area. |
| G．Despite the best of intentions, the lack of planning tends to limit our success. |
10 . I was eleven years old when I asked my mom for piano lessons in 2010. We were in the economic crisis. She said a polite “no”.
That didn’t stop me. I searched the measurements of a keyboard, drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk. I would click notes on an online keyboard and “play” them back on my paper one — keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head. I spent six months playing without touching a real piano. Once my mom saw that I was serious, she borrowed money and bought me ten lessons.
I still remember the first one. I was struck by how real the sound of the piano was. I sat my Grade One after eight lessons. Once I started secondary school, we couldn’t afford lessons again. I passed Grade Three, and then Grade Five, practicing only on my piece of paper.
One evening, when I was about thirteen, my mom said she had a surprise for me; it was an electronic keyboard, bought with more borrowed money. It was the first time I’d played for her. She was in astonishment.
My school didn’t offer music A-level. I found the Purcell School for young musicians. But I had to pass a difficult test. To my amazement, I was offered a place. At the Purcell School, I spent two years working as hard as I could, performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano. When I left the Purcell School, I was awarded the senior piano prize and senior academic music prize. I am now at the Guildhall School in London. I feel proud — it’s been ten years since I drew my paper piano, and I’m at one of the world’s leading music schools.
The irony is that I continue to do a lot of my practice away from the piano — what we call mental practice. The paper piano helped arouse my curiosity about how music works and the building blocks that form the pieces, being a reminder of how I held on to what I love — piano.
1. Why did the author’s mom buy him lessons at last?| A．She suddenly made a fortune. | B．She saw his performance on a real piano. |
| C．She realized he meant what he said. | D．She had no doubt about his talent for piano. |
| A．He prepared a surprise for his mom. |
| B．His mom was amazed the first time he played for her. |
| C．He was awarded the senior piano prize at the Purcell School. |
| D．His mom earned enough money to buy an electronic keyboard for him. |
| A．Determined. | B．Honest. | C．Humorous. | D．Generous. |
| A．To introduce the method of mental practice. |
| B．To encourage people to stick to their dreams. |
| C．To describe how costly it is to learn an instrument. |
| D．To share how he convinced his mom to buy a piano. |
