1 . Every week, even every day, we have lots of different tasks to finish.
Volunteering helps you develop new relationships.
Volunteering teaches you valuable job skills. During volunteering, you can have lots of chances to learn useful and important skills. For example, volunteer organizations always provide on-the-job training courses for volunteers before they start the work. Those courses can help you learn some skills for certain jobs.
Volunteering makes your resume (简历) attractive. Are you stuck for things to write on your resume to get the job you want?
| A．Volunteering makes you independent. |
| B．And they’re often offered to you for free. |
| C．Volunteering can be good for your health. |
| D．It lets you meet people from all walks of life. |
| E．If so, there are some good suggestions for you. |
| F．Deal with it by showing the volunteer work you have done. |
| G．With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. |
2 . There are so many beautiful places in the world that wait for you to explore, but some of them won’t wait around forever.
The Dead Sea, for example, known for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world is in danger of disappearing. Tourists are in the rush to the lake to float（漂浮）in its waters and put its mineral-rich mud on their skin. However, the water level has been dropping more than three feet per year in recent years. In fact, if nothing is done by 2050, it will be too late.
Madagascar’s rainforests could also be gone in about 30 years. They once covered 120,000 square miles, but due to logging（伐木）and forest fires, only 20,000 square miles remain today. This is sad for many animals that call Madagascar home. About 80 percent of the species（物种） that live there can’t be found anywhere else in the world, and there are even many more yet to be discovered.
There are also many man-made places of interest with long history around the world that are at risk of disappearing. One of these is Machu Picchu. A trip to these Inca ruins is on many people’s plan lists. However, Machu Picchu has been in danger, too. If steps are not taken to protect the ancient site, it could be gone in the near future.
Another place in danger is the Great Wall of China. Around one-third of the wall, built over centuries and completed in the Ming dynasty, is already gone. Wind and rain have weathered it and plants that grow in the wall have weakened it further. Also, poor villagers have stolen its bricks in order to sell them or build homes with them.
It’s hard to believe that so many amazing places could soon be gone for good. If you have your heart set on visiting any of these places, pack your bags and get to them before time runs out!
1. What is the problem with the Dead Sea?| A．It is polluted seriously. | B．It attracts too many tourists. |
| C．Its water is drying up. | D．Its water is too salty for people. |
| A．It has a great influence on people’s lives. | B．It is important to some special species. |
| C．It is of great value in human history. | D．It serves as a name card for its country. |
| A．They are under good protection now. |
| B．They are important to the environment. |
| C．They are famous man-made places of interest in the world. |
| D．They are in danger of being impossible to see one day. |
| A．In a travel magazine. | B．In a science report. |
| C．In a personal diary. | D．In an adventure novel. |
3 . Lens fogging (镜片起雾) has been troubling glasses wearers for as long as glasses have existed; it happens more often to those needing to wear masks (口罩). Researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland may have finally come up with a lasting solution to the problem that works whether someone is wearing a mask, or they’ve just come inside from the cold.
There’s no real mystery as to the foggy lenses. It happens when moisture (水分) in wet air, or from someone’s breath, hits a glasses lens that’s colder than said moisture, which then becomes obvious drops. It happens a lot in the winter, when people are coming in from the outside to warm places, or when people breathe out with masks, the warm, wet air goes upwards.
It’s also a problem that plagues car windows, making it hard for a driver to see. The simple solution there is to see. The simple solution there is to heat the windows. But adding electric heaters to glasses, which are designed to be lightweight and comfortable to wear, isn’t really a choice. So ETH Zurich researchers came up with another way to heat glasses lenses. They rely on a new type of glass coating that effectively does the same thing.
The coating is made from very thin gold in such small amounts that the added cost would be very small. The gold takes in a kind of light from the sun, causing glasses lenses to heat up by up to eight degrees. By doing this, it can prevent moisture in the air from forming on the glasses. The coating also cannot be seen by human eyes, not influencing people’s views. Because it’s so thin, the coating can even be applied to surfaces that are not flat.
But this method isn’t perfect. As the gold draws the energy it needs to heat lenses from the sun, the coating won’t do much good in the winter months, when it starts to get dark by late afternoon. But the researchers believe that even a small amount of electricity, like from a battery hidden away in the arms of a pair of glasses, would be enough. And with gold being one of the most valuable metals on earth and still in high demand, the researchers are looking for other metals to replace it.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．How to keep your glasses clear. | B．When moisture becomes drops. |
| C．What weakness glasses have. | D．Why glasses get foggy. |
| A．Changes. | B．Controls. | C．Troubles. | D．Measures. |
| A．By making the glasses reflective. | B．By using sunlight to heat the glasses. |
| C．By smoothing the surface of the glasses. | D．By taking in the moisture on the glasses. |
| A．It’s limited by temperature. | B．It’s used on few surfaces. |
| C．It’s not thin enough. | D．It’s energy-wasting. |
4 . I remember waking up early on Saturday mornings when I was 12 to go and see patients with my dad. He volunteered once a month at a health center in downtown that served the city’s Spanish-speaking population. He would bring his own equipment — a lamp and a large machine called an autorefractor (自动验光仪). There was always a line of people waiting when we arrived. I’d sometimes help with translating, but often my father would ask me to run the autorefractor, which would give a judgement of the patients’ visual acuity (视力).
After completing checks and treatments, my dad would offer a deeply discounted operation on a later date to those who needed it. Besides volunteering, my father’s practice was one of the few in the area that accepted people without insurance, despite the risk of losing money. He sometimes came home with a piece of artwork or some food from patients who couldn’t pay for their care and instead offered a gift of their talents. He thought all the patients should receive the same care, regardless of their ability to pay.
Volunteering seemed like a task to me at the time. Little did I know that my father was planting the seeds (种子) of serving the Spanish-speaking community in my mind and heart. He never forced me to go into medicine, but what I saw through him was that one person can truly make a difference in the world.
It’s this type of character of devotion and service that has inspired so many doctors to apply for medical school every year. I am fortunate that my father has given an example of this in his 40 years as a doctor because it was what he had done that inspired me to dive into this great job. I can only hope that I can be that same type of light for others.
1. What did the author usually do on Saturdays at 12?| A．He taught Spanish to local people. |
| B．He helped repair medical equipment. |
| C．He translated paperwork at a health center. |
| D．He conducted medical visits with his father. |
| A．Plain but serious. | B．Considerate but strict. |
| C．Careful and open-minded. | D．Generous and warm-hearted. |
| A．He lacked communication with his father. |
| B．He was affected by his father unknowingly. |
| C．He was required to study medicine early. |
| D．He had a preference for Spanish-speaking people. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Doubtful. | C．Grateful. | D．Worried. |
5 . Dining Room Server - Perfect for High School Students!
Linden Ponds is a beautiful 108-acre continuing care retirement community. It is located just 24 miles from Boston on the South Shore in Hingham, Massachusetts. We’re part of a growing network of communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, a national provider of senior living and health care with campuses in 1l states. We’re finding responsible, kind, and hardworking high school students to join our dining teams. What is perfect for high school students is that the position allows after-school and weekend hours, as well as no late nights.
❖ What we offer:
*Scholarship opportunities are available(可获得的) for students.
*Available education support and student loan partnership programs.
*Opportunities for promotions (晋升) through a variety of departments and locations.
*Quality of life--not your assumed late-night restaurant hours.
*24-hour gated and safe community campus.
*$15 per hour.
❖ How you will make an impact:
*Share daily menus with our residents and offer them recommendations based on knowing their preferences.
*Input food and drinks into our point-of-sale system.
*Correctly record orders for food and drinks.
*Deliver an outstanding dining experience.
❖ What you will need:
*Friendly and energetic communication skills.
*The desire to provide great service.
*Weekday and weekend availability.
❖ Contact us:
*Telephone:617-404-2134
*Address: 300 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham, MA 02043
1. What is the best part of this position for high school students?| A．Its daily pay. | B．Its work time. |
| C．Its education support. | D．Its chance of promotions. |
| A．Try out new sales systems. | B．Keep residents’ rooms clean. |
| C．Prepare daily menus in advance. | D．Get familiar with residents’ preferences. |
| A．Enough knowledge of health car. | B．Good communication skills. |
| C．Related serving experiences. | D．A clean bill of health. |
6 . Travel all around the world and back again. That’s the goal of Hudson and Emily Crider of Lancaster, Pennsylvania — who are aiming to complete this challenge in the year 2024. The couple has so far visited about 120 countries since they began traveling internationally in 2020.
When Hudson’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack, the pair felt more encouraged than ever to set out on a cross-country journey in January 2017. “My dad was a huge supporter of our trip,” said Hudson. “And that just made us realize how short life is and we want to make the most of each day. So we decided to do what we want at once.”
Despite there being a lot of work ahead, the couple is still really excited about the journey. Seeing each country has been fun, but meeting people and recognizing the kindness of others all around the world has been Emily’s biggest takeaway. “There are ups and downs, but we’ve found people are kind and caring no matter where we’ve gone,” Emily said. She told the story of an Uber driver in Saudi Arabia who kept saying sorry for not presenting them with a gift upon their arrival in his country.
The couple has been able to make their world travels possible by saving for four years before the trip. They’ve also made money for their trip by teaching English online and creating their own content to cover flights. “The most helpful thing about keeping costs low is planning everything out ahead of time, as well as staying in cheap hotels, eating street food and using public transportation,” said Hudson.
For others who are looking to see the world, Emily suggested starting small and enjoying different places in your home country. “Think of the stories you want to tell someday — and then go out and live them,” Emily said.
1. What did the loss of Hudson’s father influence Hudson and Emily to do?| A．Accept the job offer in a foreign country. |
| B．Take action to achieve their dreams. |
| C．Invite more people to join their trip. |
| D．Take enough exercise to keep fit. |
| A．Having chances to attend meaningful cultural events. |
| B．Enjoying the beauty of natural landscapes. |
| C．Listening to foreigners’ moving stories. |
| D．Experiencing different people’s goodwill. |
| A．How the couple affords their journey. |
| B．The importance of leading a simple lifestyle. |
| C．The couple’s tips on saving money in daily life. |
| D．How the couple stays safe while traveling abroad. |
| A．Great hopes make great men. | B．Learn to walk before you run. |
| C．Traveling light makes you travel far. | D．All good things come to those who wait. |
7 . When your best friends are upset, sad, or disappointed, all you want to do is lift their spirits. Here are some easy ways to cheer them up.
Help your friend clean their room.
Being surrounded by a mess doesn’t do much for your mental state.
Encourage them to talk it out.
Talking is effective. Teenagers usually want someone to talk to when they are stressed.
Practice gratitude.
Thinking about and focusing on the good things in your life can do wonders for lifting your spirits. Help your friend turn their attention to those things.
Staying active can help get depression (抑郁) away. Invite the person to join you in a dance class or anything else they may have mentioned before that they wanted to try out but never have. Fun time with friends is surely helpful.
Do an aimless act of kindness together.
| A．Try new things together. |
| B．Plan for your future together. |
| C．Just be there for them and listen to them. |
| D．Together, you can each list all the things you’re grateful for. |
| E．Science has shown just being in nature naturally improves one’s mood. |
| F．Meanwhile, having a tidy space can help you feel more in control and calmer. |
| G．Oftentimes when we do things for other people, we are the ones that benefit. |
8 . Helping others is an important part of life.
The easiest way to know how you can help others is simply to ask them. Talk to a family member or friend, ask them what they most need help with, and offer your services. Then, follow through and try your best to do what they’ve asked of you. Remember actions always speak louder than words!
Be proactive (积极主动的).
Look for opportunities to help and lend a hand without being asked.
Be a nonjudgmental (无偏见的) listener.
Sometimes, listening is more helpful and healing than practical assistance. Not everybody is looking for hands-on help or a solution to their problems.
Send a thoughtful note.
| A．Ask people how you can help them |
| B．Think about what people may want |
| C．It gives you a sense of purpose and happiness |
| D．In fact, there are many small things you can do |
| E．Instead, sometimes they just need a supportive listener |
| F．It’s better to listen to them and give reasonable advice |
| G．You can help just by letting people know that you care |
9 . You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression — this was the theme of this year’s International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC), held in London from May 11 to 12. Thirty-three young speakers aged 16 to 20 from around the world gathered at The English Speaking Union to tell their stories, including Wu Dongxu, 19, a student from China. To him, the event wasn’t just about giving a speech on first impressions. It also made a strong impression on him.
“Rather than a competition, the experience was more like an inspiring research trip to me, a trip that allowed me to see firsthand the differences and similarities between Chinese and foreign cultures,” said Wu.
Apart from the obvious differences in food, transportation and climate, what impressed Wu most was the different styles of Chinese and foreign public speaking.
Although still a teen, Wu is no stranger to the public speaking podium (讲台). He has participated in many speaking competitions since 2017. But on the stage of the IPSC, speakers had no podium to stand behind. They just had to face the audience.
“This was the first time that I gave a speech without a podium, which made me realize how important eye contact and body language are,” said Wu. “It also gave me more freedom to convey more information with my body language instead of just with words.”
Another difference that caught Wu’s attention was the evaluation criteria (评价标准). According to him, in every speaking competition he had participated in in China, things like pronunciation, fluency and quality of language are always important. But to his surprise, in the IPSC accents and grammatical mistakes are not considered in the evaluation process. It is the story itself that matters most.
“Audiences are eager to hear powerful stories, no matter where they are from. That’s because the emotions expressed in them are shared by all human beings although there are the cultural differences.” said Wu. “Diversity, respect, tolerance and understanding — these are what the IPSC really wants to stress and spread.”
1. What is the topic of this year’s IPSC?| A．Cultural difference. | B．First impression. |
| C．Body language. | D．English education. |
| A．The food culture. | B．The transportation means. |
| C．The climate. | D．The public speaking style. |
| A．Speakers are allowed to use podiums. |
| B．Body language plays an important part. |
| C．Pronunciation and fluency matter a lot. |
| D．Language quality is considered the most important. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Opposed. |
10 . Like most of his classmates, Zhang Yixuan is facing academic pressure as he is preparing to attend the national college entrance examination, or gaokao, next year. However, compared with playing smartphones and games, Zhang Yixuan prefers spending his summer vacation walking in wild nature, meeting little creatures like crabs. His bedroom is packed with dozens of “living treasures” that he has collected from the outdoors, including insects, fish, and crabs.
It is the microscope that his father bought him that makes the bedroom look more like a mini-biology lab than anything else and it’s a place where Zhang can devote himself to identifying or observing crabs day and
Last year, a group of crabs caught Zhang’s attention since they looked unusual compared with the commonly seen ones in Rongxian county, where he lives. He decided to take seven of them home. After much observation and lots
The hardworking and gifted teenager is very grateful to his parents for their understanding and support. His father Zhang Lefei, who was born in a rural area, loved catching fish and crabs himself at an early age. So he and his wife would take their son out into nature to explore as much as possible and would allow him to observe crabs quietly without any disturbs.
They say interest is the best teacher. And so are parents, it seems.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us about Zhang Yixuan?| A．His hobbies. | B．His character. |
| C．His academic pressure. | D．His relationship with others. |
| A．In the wild. | B．In his school. |
| C．In his bedroom. | D．In a biology lab. |
| A．Showed. | B．Inferred. |
| C．Argued. | D．Suggested. |
| A．To share their interest. | B．To show their support. |
| C．To indicate their effort. | D．To reveal their background. |
