1 . Getting the best deal

Bargaining is a difficult process. The buyer wants to purchase a product at its minimum price while the seller wants to maximize the potential for profit.     1    , and thus it is in the best interest of buyers to strategize exactly how they will convince sellers to lower their prices.

First, buyers should assume that the price tag represents the starting point of negotiations, not the final word on the matter. Buyers should begin by asking the salesperson whether any sales or discounts will soon be advertised.     2    , the salesperson probably will not volunteer to give one to them. Salespeople often work on commission, so it is frequently to their advantage to hide this information from their customers.

Second, buyers need to find out whether the seller has lowered prices in the past and, if SO, by how much.     3    , he or she can request a similar price. This step in the bargaining 2 process requires perseverance, but it can pay off financially. Also, it is important that buyers never let sellers know that they need their products because the seller is then less likely to lower the price.

Finally, buyers must be patient     4    , as buyers must collect a good deal of information about the product. Sometimes buyers might need to purchase a product at a more expensive price sim ply because they do not have the time necessary to shop further. The buyer’s time is important, too, and sometimes it is worth spending extra money if he or she needs the item immediately. However, sometimes simply by waiting for two weeks or two months, the buyer will save a considerable amount of money.     5    .

A．Even if customers really want the item

B．If customers do not request a special deal

C．Looking for bargains takes time and energy

D．It can be worthwhile to wait under these circumstances

E．The desires of the buyer and the seller oppose each other

F．Buyers must be prepared to walk away from an item when bargaining

G．If the buyer learns that the seller has offered discounts to other customers

2 . American Unique Buildings

The country’s full of awe—inspiring natural wonders, but those made by man (and woman) are equally impressive. The architect behind a design or the creation’s history or purpose are all elements that may prove particularly attractive. These following buildings are all well worth visiting.

Bradbury Building

Los Angeles

Glancing at the Bradbury Building, built in 1893, the oldest commercial building in L.A., you may say: “OK, it’s a 19th-century relic.” Step inside and you will be surprised by the light-filled Victorian court, a wonder of open—cage elevators, marble stairs, and splendid iron barriers. Its architectural history is debatable — Sumner Hunt’s designs seem to have been completed by George H. Wyman, who monitored the construction.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Miami

Built in 1916, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, formerly Villa Vizcaya, is the one-time winter home of businessman James Deering. On Biscayne Bay in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, the early 20th-century property features Italian Renaissance (文艺复兴) gardens, native woodlands, and a complex of historic outbuildings. The property designed by Paul Chalfin is today operated by Miami-Dade County.

Rogers Building

Orlando

The 132-year-old, Queen Anne-style structure, now housing an art gallery but a one-time home to cocktail-and-gaming clubs, was donated to the City of Orlando in 2018 earlier by Ford Kiene. The restriction that it must remain an arts and culture center for at least 20 years ensures public access for the near future.

Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles

It’s possible to see the stars at this destination that includes sweeping views of the city and the Hollywood sign, and has a planetarium (天文馆) to boot. It’s been a draw for its construction style sign its 1935 opening, with a $93 million expansion completed in 2006.

1. Which of the following places has the shortest history?

A．Bradbury Building.	B．Griffith Observatory.
C．Rogers Building.	D．Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

2. What can we learn about Rogers Building?

A．It used to be an art gallery.	B．It was expanded in 1892.
C．It was once privately owned.	D．It has been a culture center for 20 years.

3. In which column can this text probably be read?

A．Business.

B．Travel.

C．Science.

D．Education.

3 . Compared with Americans, people in Okinawa, 1, 000 miles south of Tokyo, are three times more likely to become centenarians (百岁老人) , according to professor Dan Buettner’s research. The centenarians garden, sing, laugh and play. For most of the city dwellers (居民) who are busy working, it’s not possible to live like that.     1     Here are some ways that Buettner find those centenarians keep.

    2       

For those who don’t like the gym, you may be inspired by the way the centenarians bring movement into their everyday routines.     3     “A garden pushes you to weed, water and harvest almost every day, which keeps you moving,” Buettner says. “I also talked with a 104-year-old woman who got up and down the floor 30 times, making for better balance and flexibility,” Buettner recalls.

They reduce meat for a plant-forward approach.

The typical diet in America includes 220 pounds of meat per year. per person.     4     “About 1/10th of what we eat,” Buettner says. In Okinawa, tofu is often eaten twice a day, mixed with vegetables. And a key principle of eating there is to stop when you’re 80% full. Mindful eating has been shown to help people have moderate intake.

They give loneliness the boot and become joiners.

Buettner describes a woman named Panchita who was well over 100 years old. She didn’t feel lonely at all because, her 85-year-old son biked to her house to help feed the chickens each day. In return, she cooked him some beans and some rice. They both found happiness in doing so. “There’s this beautiful symbiosis (共生) .     5     ” Buettner says.

A．They depend on each other.

B．They eat as little as they can.

C．They build movement into their days.

D．They plant a garden in their backyard.

E．But we can learn from their simple habits.

F．Those centenarians only consume 20 pounds a year.

G．Much of their intake is from whole plant-based foods.

4 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.

Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.

Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.

Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.

1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?

A．He comes from a single-parent family.	B．He is humorous in speech.
C．His dream was inspired by his fans.	D．His mom used to be a singer.

2. What made Bayoh’s mom worried?

A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing.	B．The judges’ attitudes to his son.
C．Bayoh’s performance on stage.	D．Some audiences’ initial responses.

3. How did the audience probably feel after hearing the boy’s song?

A．Touched.

B．Annoyed.

C．Relieved.

D．Amused.

4. Why does the author mention a music teacher?

A．To uncover more musical geniuses.	B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well.
C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing.	D．To contradict some audiences’ comments.

5 . Thanks to the 1999 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 26 endangered species in Australia have seen their populations recover.

It seems like that we're always hearing about new animals that have become endangered, but there's some good news in Australia: 26 animal species no longer meet the criteria to be listed as threatened. Australia’s biodiversity has been in decline, with more than 1, 700 species and ecological communities known to be on the line. In 1999, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act was passed to introduce protections for endangered animals. The burrowing bettong is one of 26 Australian species that have returned from the edge of extinction.

Seemingly these are working, as a recent study published in the journal Biological Conservation reviewed the animals that were previously or currently listed as threatened between 2000 and December 2022, and discovered that 26 species had recovered to no longer meet the criteria. Species that have seen improvement include the charmingly named burrowing bettong, the golden bandicoot and the bulloo grey grasswren.

Factors behind this improvement include habitat management, control of introduced predators (捕食者) and translocation of endangered animals to predator-free islands. However, the species have not been officially delisted at this time. The EPBC Act only allows species to be delisted if doing so will not have a negative effect on their survival, and researchers believe that conservation gains could be lost should management efforts be stopped.

Dr Michelle Ward, a conservation scientist at WWF Australia, told The Guardian, “The key problem with delisting species is that then they no longer have monitoring and no longer need certain funding plans.”

However, it is promising that researchers have found signs of improvement. Hopefully this will continue among these and other species!

1. What do the underlined words “on the line” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Out of place.	B．At risk.
C．Under control.	D．On the increase.

2. What did a recent study find?

A．Some animals are facing extinction.

B．Burrowing bettong is a charming species.

C．The criteria to be delisted were hard to meet.

D．26 endangered species’ populations are recovering.

3. The species haven’t been delisted officially because ________.

A．their living situation is severe	B．the delisting consequences are uncertain
C．the conservation gains are short	D．the habitat management level is poor

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the researchers’ discovery?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Doubtful.

C．Positive.

D．Worried.

6 . Robotics/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competitions for High School Students

Robotics and AI competitions are a great way for high schoolers to dive into modern technologies. Here are four of them.

MATE ROV Competition

Location: Houston, Texas

Awards: VR headsets

Competition Date: March to June

MATE ROV Competition challenges students to design and build remotely operated vehicles, and its purpose is to see who can design a vehicle that will help monitor ocean health, provide clean energy, or just help keep our oceans healthy for the future.

RoboRave

Location: Lorrach, Germany

Awards: Small cash prizes

Competition Date: November

RoboRave is a robotics competition that welcomes participants to compete in various challenges like firefighting. The competition’s unique aspect lies in its international reach, bringing together enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate robotics education and hands-on learning.

Agorize AI Challenge

Location: Virtual for initial phases, then in Paris, France for the final award ceremony

Awards: A trip to the destination of your choice, iPad, Apple TV

Competition Date: September

In this project, you can work in teams of 2-5 people to present an idea for how we can use AI-technologies to impact a specific field, like marketing, healthcare, etc. You’ll send in your initial application in a 3-5 slides presentation, and if your team makes it pass this phase, you’ll have the opportunity to include more information about your product features.

OpenCV AI Competition

Location: Online

Awards: Certificates, cash, free courses

Competition Date: December

In your project, you can either work individually or in teams of three using computer vision technologies. OpenCV AI Competition suggests project ideas related to robotics, agriculture or education, but you’re not limited to these areas.

1. Which of the following mainly welcomes the entries for oceanic conditions?

A．RoboRave.	B．MATE ROV Competition.
C．Agorize AI Challenge.	D．OpenCV AI Competition.

2. What is the unique feature of RoboRave?

A．It is held every month.	B．It offers online training.
C．It is a global competition.	D．It promises a national tour.

3. What do Agorize AI Challenge and OpenCV AI Competition have in common?

A．They allow teamwork.	B．They provide free courses.
C．They fund their winners.	D．They need presentations at first.

7 . Going on a solo travel is more than just a holiday; it’s a journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. However, it’s not easy to make a decision because of the potential risks.     1    ? These four ways that solo travelling will change your life will convince you to buy that plane ticket!

Self-discovery beyond your comfort zone

Solo travel forces you out of your comfort zone, pushing you into an environment where self-reliance becomes common. You do everything on your own, from choosing destinations to exploring unfamiliar streets.     2    . It will equip you to tackle challenges with a newfound confidence.

Cultural involvement and global view

    3    . Being alone makes you more approachable, making it easier for locals and fellow travelers to engage with you. Whether it’s striking up a conversation with a native or sharing a meal with locals, solo travel provides a unique window into the cultural tapestry (图景) of each destination.

    4    

From understanding foreign languages to managing unexpected changes in plans, you are regularly meet with challenges that demand creative solutions. The ability to think on your feet and find innovative solutions to unexpected issues equips you to tackle challenges in various aspects of your personal and professional life.

Mindfulness and living in the present

In busy daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of the present moment. Solo travel allows you to fully expose yourself to the experiences at hand. Whether it’s enjoying a breathtaking sunset, or simply wandering through the streets of an unfamiliar city, solo travel encourages a deep appreciation for the present.     5    .

A．Enhanced problem-solving skills

B．Still hesitate to lake a solo travel adventure

C．Increased self-confidence and independence

D．Solo travel is the opportunity to expose yourself lo diverse cultures

E．This newfound mindfulness helps you gain a more fulfilling existence

F．Enjoy the loneliness, and allow solo travel to bring a positive change to your life

G．Through these experiences, you’ll build a stronger, more self-aware version of yourself

8 . Issues such as global warming and sustainability have become passionate concerns for many of the concert industry’s fans and increasingly for the musicians. Coldplay, a pop band whose members scored their first big hit in 2000 with a song called Yellow, announced in November that it wouldn’t go on tour to promote its latest album, Everyday Life, until it could find a way to make concerts more sustainable and greener to the environment.

It’s not always easy to walk the talk. A growing number of artists, including Peggy Gou, have environmental demands built into their contracts when they tour, such as bans on plastic tableware. But there’s almost no way of avoiding carbon emissions produced by a tour, which involves moving hundreds of people and tons of equipment across large distances.

Lisa Pomerantz, who books travel for acts says that real change will require action by venue owners, concert promoters, and the fans. Major acts like Coldplay can afford to stop touring while figuring out how to lessen their environmental impact. But lesser-known artists can’t stay off the road, since streaming earnings haven’t been able to compensate (弥补) for the collapse in CD and downloaded music sales. Even when concerts are aggressive about being more sustainable, the impact of audience travel can easily swamp (淹没) their efforts. For bigger acts, this can represent as much as 80% of the carbon footprint, according to a 2015 study. Another analysis showed that roughly a third of the tour’s carbon footprint came from a venue’s power consumption.

Still, even the most green-conscious bands must balance their desire to be more sustainable against the financial necessity of touring. “I absolutely think you can go on tour and have a concern about the environment. It’s a matter of just keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible,” says Flavian Graber, lead singer of We Invented Paris.

1. Why did Coldplay stop its promotion tour?

A．Because it had already released a hit.	B．Because it wanted a more environmentally friendly concert.
C．Because its latest album needed further improvement.	D．Because they could afford the money.

2. What does the underlined part “walk the talk” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Make it.

B．Talk it.

C．See it.

D．Appreciate it.

3. What is the best way to reduce carbon emissions according to Lisa Pomerantz?

A．Stopping bands’ promotion tours.

B．Downloading music on the Internet.

C．Cutting down venues’ water and electricity consumption.

D．Combining efforts of bands, audiences and venue owners.

4. How does Flavian Graber like the idea of bands going green?

A．Achievable.

B．Fruitless.

C．Challenging.

D．Controversial.

9 . A tragic case of Kitty Genovese, who was killed, happened in New York in 1964. However, subsequent investigations concluded that several people saw or heard what was happening, but did nothing to intervene. This has been termed the “bystander effect” — a well-known psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to someone when other people are present. The more people there are, the less likely they are to help.

None of us like to think we’d walk on by when someone needed our help. But sometimes we behave in ways we wouldn’t expect when faced with a situation we are unsure about. While we might like to think we would rush to someone’s assistance, we know from studies that often people hang back. Research from the British Heart Foundation has suggested that a third of people would not give first aid if they saw someone collapse on the street, with some even admitting they wouldn’t call an ambulance.

There are various factors contributing to this effect — people think that others will get involved. Afterwards people often say they did not feel qualified or important enough to be the one to intervene. It is also partly down to “pluralistic ignorance” — since everyone is not reacting to the emergency, they don’t need to either; it’s not serious because no one else is doing anything.

Other studies have shown that once people are aware of the bystander effect, they are less likely to be affected by it. Self-awareness is the best solution to it. When facing an emergency, think to yourself how you would behave if you were on your own. Ignore everyone else and go with your gut (直觉) — If you’d run for help, do it. If that’s how you would have behaved when you were on your own, then that’s probably the right course of action. The worst that can happen is that you’ll look a little foolish at having overreacted. You might also save someone’s life.

1. What is the author’s purpose of telling about the case of Genovese?

A．To show the high frequency of killing.	B．To highlight the indifference of bystanders.
C．To introduce the topic of the passage.	D．To lead to the investigations.

2. What can we know from paragraph 2?

A．No one would like to admit the truth.	B．People tend to help when no people are present.
C．Few people will encounter uncertain situations.	D．Many people will not rush to help in an emergency.

3. What’s paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The consequences of the phenomenon.	B．The reactions to different accidents.
C．The seriousness of an emergency.	D．The reasons for not helping.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Don’t Be A Bystander	B．Life-Saving Response
C．Importance of First Aid	D．Reactions in Emergency

10 . It’s been 20 years since a cookbook changed my life. Before reading every page in Nigella Lawson’s Feast, I didn’t give much thought lo what I ate. Cooking was a boring task I wasn’t particularly good at. Moreover, fear of calories and not being able to fit into my jeans left little room for enjoying things like “chocolate cake”. Nigella, the author of Nigella Lawson’s Feast transformed my relationship with food, changing it from a source of panic to one of limitless pleasure. Leafing through the pages of Feast, I began to think of the women who shaped my cooking. They not only influenced me strongly with their words, recipes and passion for the art of eating, but they also left their mark on the culinary (烹饪的) world.

Take Eugénie Brazier, for example, who grew up with barely enough to eat yet with plenty of determination to achieve great things. After years of hard work on farms and later as a humble cook, she used the little savings she had to open La Mère Brazier, a restaurant that would attract the likes of celebrities. A second location followed, and in 1933, she became the first chef ever to hold six Michelin stars simultaneously (同时地). Known as the mother of modern French cooking, Brazier’s simple yet elegant food changed the way Britain ate.

What Brazier did for the UK, the passionate Julia Child did for America. At a time when TV dinners and tinned foods were gaining popularity, she inspired home cooks to try elegant recipes, teaching them about the use of quality ingredients in an approachable way.

While Julia Child tempted us with her recipes, it was the American author Fisher who enlightened us with her fine cooking prose (散文). In her brilliant essays, she praised the pleasures of the table and explored connections between food and culture. One of my favorite books is Love in a Dish, a charming collection of culinary experiences that transport you to French villages and even describe how the love of food can potentially save a marriage!

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By giving examples.	B．By raising a question.
C．By describing his experience.	D．By offering facts.

2. Which words can best describe Brazier?

A．Friendly and determined.	B．Considerate and brave.
C．Generous and intelligent.	D．Ambitious and successful.

3. What do Fisher’s works focus on?

A．The ingredients of food.	B．The story behind food.
C．The significance of food.	D．The origin of food.

4. What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?

A．To motivate readers to cook at home.	B．To market high-quality cooking books.
C．To honor some exceptional women cooks.	D．To share his passion for cooking.