1 . The case for and against social media

Is social media harmful to teenagers?     1     Social media sites have been blamed for most of the world’s social problems from feeling disconnected and lonely to having difficulty forming meaningful relationships. Yet, many of us feel a need to use social media because it offers something we cannot find elsewhere, despite knowing the downsides.     2    

An argument for social media claims it can strengthen social bonds by facilitating relationships with people in different geographical areas. For example, social media has helped old school friends to get back in touch after many years without contact.     3     These are real benefits of using social media.

    4     The argument used by many people is that interactions on social media are no substitute for face-to-face communication. When you are out with friends how many times do they check their phones? for example.     5     Research highlights it is far more satisfying to physically laugh out loud in real life rather than to replace the act with a typed representation of laughter such as “haha” or “LOL”.       

Ideally, we should have enough self-control to be able to limit our use of social media, enjoying the benefits it can bring.

A．The disadvantages of social media.

B．In my opinion, the disadvantages of social media outweigh the benefits.

C．It is all too easy to become absorbed in this online life rather than communicate in real life.

D．People secure jobs now through social media or research information for their studies.

E．This is the question we are going to examine.

F．We will look at the arguments for and against using social media before answering the question.

G．We aim to control our use of social media.

2 . Must-See Destinations in 2024

Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.

Spain

Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.

Montenegro

Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.

Croatia

Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...

South Africa

Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.

With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.

1. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common?

A．They are both praised by tourists.

B．They both have world heritage cities.

C．They are known for their architectures.

D．They both own beaches and rich history.

2. Which destination will attract people who are interested in creatures?

A．Spain.	B．South Africa.
C．Montenegro.	D．Croatia.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A website.	B．A guidebook.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

3 . 【课本原文】

THE AMAZING ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA

Our topic today is “Creatures Unique to Australia”, with questions answered by wildlife expert, Dr Jim Smith.

Australia has lots of unique animals, but which animal is a symbol of the country?

It has to be the kangaroo, as it has a wide distribution throughout the country. It’s a tough animal that has to survive in a difficult environment. Also, it cannot walk backwards, so it is always moving forwards. This expresses the strength and resolve of the Australians as individuals and as a nation. Baby kangaroos weigh only two grammes at birth. They then find their way into their mother’s pouch—a kind of pocket—to stay safe and warm. They sleep and drink milk in that temporary, protected environment until they are about seven or eight months old. After this phase,   they go out to try their legs. After they learn to jump, they gradually spend less time with their mother and learn to be independent. Kangaroos may look cute, but encounters with them don’t always end so well. Kangaroos can hit and kick very hard, so please folks, if you see some kangaroos, remember they’re not for petting!

Koalas are cute, and we see so many pictures of people holding them. But in many places in Australia, it is against the law to even touch them. Can you clarify that?

They are really quite cute, but the truth is, koalas are very sensitive creatures who can easily panic because of even small changes in their environment. They spend quite a lot of time eating, sleeping, and hanging onto tree trunks, so interaction with humans can cause them a lot of stress.   

Because of this, the government began to make laws against touching koalas, in the interest of animal protection, as well as public safety. So, if you see one in the wild, you shouldn’t approach it to pick it up or even touch it. If you want to hold a koala, you have to go to certain licensed zoos where animal experts make sure that the koalas selected for each session are in a good state for human contact and that they are handled for only a limited time and on a limited frequency of occasions.

So, we’ve talked about some cute animals. What about animals which aren’t so cute?

My favourite is a little creature called the Tasmanian devil. If you are out camping in Tasmania and come across one, the experience might scare you! Tasmanian devils hunt at night, so you won’t usually see them, but you may hear their loud cries when they are fighting or eating. The noise they make could wake the dead. Frightening! They are about the size of small dogs and look like rather large black rats. They also have a terrible smell! Their diet is mostly dead animals. Fortunately, despite their name, they are generally not violent towards people.

Australia also has some animals that many people have never heard of, for example, the duck­billed platypus. Is that some kind of bird?

Not at all. While it may lay eggs in a nest like a bird, it’s really a primitive mammal, with a unique biology. Its eggs hatch after about ten days, and then the baby platypus nurses from its mother like all other mammals. Its nose looks like a duck’s bill, and it has feet like a duck’s so it can dive under the water, but it’s covered in hair. Do you know what’s really strange about a platypus? The platypus doesn’t use its senses of sight or smell to find food. It has a capacity to find food in the water by using electrical sensors in its bill. There are only a small handful of animals in the world that can do that!

1. What can we infer from the last two sentences of the first part?

A．Kangaroos can be dangerous sometimes.	B．It is hard to take kangaroos as family pets.
C．Meeting kangaroos is always a lucky thing.	D．It is always good to pet a cute kangaroo.

2. When does a kangaroo try to be independent?

A．After they were born for ten days.	B．Until they can dive under the water.
C．Since they were born immediately.	D．When they are about seven or eight months old.

3. Why is it forbidden to touch koalas in some places?

A．It may disturb their daily activities.	B．It can change their living habits.
C．It will bring pressure to their life.	D．It may attack people by surprise.

4. What do we know about Tasmanian devils?

A．They are aggressive against humans.	B．They frighten their prey to death.
C．They belong to a rat family.	D．They make loud and frightening noise.

4 . Favored by many internet influencers, the city of Zibo, once a sleepy industrial city, has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms. The topic Zibo “barbecue” on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, was played 4.96 billion times since the city stormed the Internet for over a month. On 29 April, Zibo Railway Station saw a record 87,000 train trips to and from the station, according to Chinese news website Caixin.

Local authorities in Zibo have been quick to respond to the sudden flow of visitors. A barbecue zone that can accommodate 10,000 people, featuring live band performances, was built overnight. Volunteers have been dispatched to the railway station to offer advice and recommendations to tourists. Designated (指定的) buses and trains bring tourists to and from the hottest barbecue spots. The government has even threatened to punish profiteering hotels who raise prices by more than 50% .

What makes Zibo barbecue so special is that it does offer a distinctive (独特的) dining experience. The skewers (烤串) are 70-80 percent cooked before they are brought to the table, where diners can finish cooking them on their own stoves, offering an immersive dining experience.

Zibo’s low prices are also appealing. Many college students in Shandong have made concrete plans to enjoy Zibo barbecue at the least cost, and traveling back and forth by train for only 200 yuan ($29.1). So what better way to attract adventurous, hungry college students with a tight budget other than “tasty barbecue that makes you full for only 50 yuan!”

The locals seem happy enough about the arrival of visitors and shy away from hot spots to make space for outsiders, saying they are proud that their hometown has gained nationwide fame.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The history of Zibo.

B．The influence of social media.

C．The newfound popularity of Zibo.

D．The crowdedness of Zibo Railway Station.

2. What makes Zibo barbecue attractive to college students?

A．Unique dining experience.	B．Convenient transportation.
C．Wonderful performances.	D．Affordable prices.

3. What is the local people’s attitude to the arrival of tourists?

A．Favorable.

B．Worried.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Critical.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To promote an industrial city.

B．To introduce barbecue in Zibo.

C．To explain how to attract tourists.

D．To show the popularity of barbecue.

5 . You’re in the shower. You grab the showerhead. What do you do? You sing.

Have you ever wondered about this phenomenon? Some of us wouldn’t sing in public if someone paid us. Yet we’ll sing in the shower without embarrassment. Believe it or not, there’s a scientific explanation behind it.

First, let’s look at why we’re relaxed enough in the shower to burst into song. Think about it: you don’t sing when you’re sad (unless you’re singing the blues, of course). For many people, shower time is the only time they’re alone all day. You’re in a warm, small, safe environment. You’re comfortable enough to be yourself! When you relax, your brain releases dopamine (多巴胺), which can give your creative juices an extra kickstart.

Warm water is rushing over you, and now you’re relaxed and feeling good. It turns out that singing makes you feel even better. Singing, because of the breathing you put into it, gets more oxygen into the blood. This gives you better circulation, which in turn improves your body and mood. And because you have to breathe a little deeper to belt out a song, you get some of the same relaxation and mind-clearing benefits as meditation (冥想). Another neat thing is that when you’re singing, you really can’t think about your problems—more stress relief.

But the best thing about singing in the shower? The acoustics (音响效果)! You can never ask for a better sound system than a bathroom. Because bathroom tiles (墙砖) don’t absorb sound, your voice bounces back and forth around the room before fading away, which makes your voice hang in the air longer. And because the shower is a small space, it boosts your voice, making your singing sound more powerful. So you will sound better than you actually are, which is a confidence boost.

We don’t sing in the shower simply because we have “Call Me Maybe” stuck in our heads. It turns out we do it for many reasons: stress relief, happiness, great acoustics, or maybe just because we like to hear our own voices. Whatever the reason, keep it up. It’s good for you. And if you’ve never tried it, pick a song, grab the showerhead and put on your own private concert.

1. Why do many people feel comfortable singing in the shower?

A．The acoustics are perfect in public places.	B．Shower time is relaxing and private.
C．Singing boosts stress levels.	D．Showering improves vocal abilities.

2. What scientific effect contributes to the urge to sing in the shower?

A．Released dopamine due to relaxation.	B．Increased exposure to blues music.
C．Enhanced oxygen absorption from water.	D．Strengthened lung capacity.

3. Why does singing in the shower help in relieving stress?

A．The bathroom’s small size encourages relaxation.

B．Breathing while singing improves circulation.

C．Singing removes the need for deep breaths.

D．Tile walls absorb sound and stress.

4. In which part of a website can we probably read the text?

A．Science.

B．Technology.

C．Culture.

D．People.

6 . Parrots are prey animals, which means that other predators (捕食者) in the wild, such as hawks or snakes, are looking to make them into a meal. This one factor influences parrots’ behavior in your house more than any other.

Parrots are most easily hurt when feeding on the ground. Membership in a group plays an important function in ensuring their safety and improving their chances of survival from attacks by predators. The most common predators of parrots include hawks, snakes, cats, monkeys, and bats. Some predators make attacks only during the day while others hunt in the night.

As prey animals, parrots are constantly watching out for danger and they instinctively (本能地) react to risks. Their first choice is to take flight. However, if this is not possible, they will fight with their powerful beaks to defend themselves.

Because their biggest enemy is the hawk, parrots are especially reactive to quick movements from above and behind. For this reason, it is wise to avoid quick, sudden movements near your bird. This is a built-in reaction not subject to logic or reason. Simple and relatively harmless household objects can draw extreme fear responses from a bird. For example, a balloon may represent a hawk or a vacuum hose (吸尘器软管) may be the same as a snake in your bird’s mind.

As prey animals, parrots are often frightened by exposure to new household items or strangers. It is important to expose your bird to safe experiences and changes starting at a very young age to build flexibility and improve their adaptability. Variety in diet and toys, travel, and exposure to new people and places all help to make your bird more flexible and adaptable to change.

1. What is important for parrots to better survive from attacks in the wild?

A．Living in a group.	B．Growing beautiful feathers.
C．Feeding on the ground.	D．Avoiding coming out at night.

2. What is parrots’ first response to an immediate risk?

A．To attack back.	B．To get away.
C．To protect the young.	D．To play dead.

3. Why would a balloon frighten a parrot?

A．It may explode suddenly.	B．It may be in a strange shape.
C．It may have a strong color.	D．It may move around quickly.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To explain wild parrots’ behavior.	B．To give advice on raising a parrot.
C．To call for action to protect animals.	D．To introduce a study on bird ecology.

7 . In August 2019, two citizen scientists, Sunniva Sorby and Hilde FalunStrom landed on Spitsbergen, in Norway’s Svalbard island group. They planned to work through the winter, then go home in May 2020. But their ship could not come because of COVID-19 shutdowns. For fourteen months, they lived in a small cabin on an icy island near the North Poles. Sometimes, hurricane-force winds forced freezing air through the cabin’s slats. Once, wind ripped the door open. Sunniva and Hilde couldn’t close it until the storm ended! Between storms, silence settled on the cabin. Then, they could hear the crunch-crunch-crunch of polar bears walking in the snow.

Their days started at 7 am and ended after midnight. Each morning, they wore down-stuffed jackets and pants as they waited for the wood-burning stove to heat the cabin. They cut pieces of freshwater ice to melt for drinking, cooking and bathing. For the stove, they gathered driftwood. They cooked their meals, including pizza! These tasks used up large stretches of each day. They also kept in touch with schools and other groups. They wrote blog entries and answered e-mails. For fun, they danced to music, exercised, practiced yoga and read.

“We are efficient here,” Sunniva wrote. “We have a routine, habits, and systems. We have time for what matters most living safely while making a contribution to our understanding of a changing world.” They conducted lots of experiments. They gathered data on climate change, using a drone (无人机) to measure sea-ice temperatures. They observed wildlife and tested new technologies, including an electric snowmobile.

To stay four extra months, they had to eat smaller amounts of food so they wouldn’t run out. “It was difficult being here, so far away from everything,” Sunniva wrote. “Food, shelter, and warmth are often taken for granted until you are on your own.” But, they wrote, “We have packed our patience, our smiles, and good spirits.” And they enjoyed the adventure, finding ordinary miracles every day.

1. What can we learn about the two scientists on Spitsbergen?

A．They lived a boring life there.	B．They could always keep the door closed.
C．They brought drinking water with them.	D．They stayed in contact with other groups.

2. What did Sunniva and Hilde do according to Paragraph 3?

A．They watched the wildlife carefully.	B．They invented an electric snowmobile.
C．They conducted experiments on drones.	D．They collected data of new technologies.

3. Which of the following best describes these two scientists?

A．Generous.

B．Optimistic.

C．Sensitive.

D．Honest.

4. What does the author want to convey through the two scientists’ story?

A．Well begun, half done.	B．It’s easier said than done.
C．Every cloud has a silver lining.	D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

8 . We parents often take material things for love. “I give him everything，” a disappointed mother complains. “New shoes, video­games, and his own TV. You’d think he’d at least show me respect!”

Of course, love and presents are related. Most parents work hard to earn money. They want their children to have more than they did and have better lives. The problem is, most children don’t connect the things parents buy with the labour that is paid for them. Children have more, but our culture—television in particular—teaches them that more is never enough. Having more does not mean that a child feels loved.

From a parent’s point of view, children are not thankful. But this has to do with their natural growth. Young children see their parents as all-mighty (万能的). If parents fail to provide what they want, it must be a matter of choice. It’s normal for children, even school­age ones, not to be able to take another person’s point of view. For example, they may dislike their parents for working long hours, and not realise that the parents would also rather have more time at home.

In addition to giving presents, we have to find other ways to express love and create memories. Reading or telling stories together, making music and playing games are all ways for families to spend time without spending money. Traditions like reading favourite poems and even snowball fights all serve the purpose (达到目的). Most importantly, as parents, we have to learn to hold back some energy from our tiring jobs. When we’re present for our children, we ourselves become the presents we want to give.

1. What does the underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．The things parents buy.

B．Parents.

C．Children.

D．Better lives.

2. According to the passage, children ________.

A．want fewer presents	B．want presents rather than love
C．are taught to ask for more	D．can live better without their parents

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．There’s a heavy job load for some parents.

B．There’s a lack of money in some families.

C．There’s misunderstanding between parents and children.

D．There’s little love between parents and children.

4. What does the last paragraph of the passage mean?

A．Our children are good presents to us.	B．We should spend more time with our children.
C．We ourselves need some presents.	D．We should give more presents to our children.

9 . A decadelong study of older adults in China has found that a healthy lifestyle is linked to slower memory decline even when people carry a risky gene for Alzheimer’s.

Memory loss is a common part of aging. While there is no cure for most conditions that cause cognitive decline, lifestyle has received increasing attention as it is relatively easy to manage with potential benefits for overall health, including memory.

In a report in the latest issue of British Medical Journal, researchers from China’s National Center for Neurological Disorders and other medical institutes followed 29,000 people aged at least 60 years with normal cognitive abilities for up to 10 years. Forty-nine percent of the participants were women.

The participants were from 12 provinces from the north, south and west of China, representing the geographical characteristics, degree of urbanization, economic status, dietary patterns, and cultural and social differences in China.

At the beginning of the study in 2009, the researchers tested participants’ memory function with the Auditory Verbal Learning Test, one of the most widely used word-learning tests. They were also tested for the APOE gene, the most common gene linked with Alzheimer’s. Around 20 percent of the participants were carriers of the risk gene.

The participants received assessments in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. In the follow-ups, six healthy lifestyle factors were analyzed: a healthy diet (adherence to recommended food items), regular physical exercise (at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercises per week), active social contact (for example, seeing friends and family at least twice a week), active cognitive activity (for example, reading, writing, playing chess at least twice a week), non-smoking and never drinking alcohol.

1. According to the study, what can help us reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s?

A．Regular mental training.

B．A healthy diet.

C．Non-smoking habit.

D．All of above.

2. How does the author support the theme of the text?

A．By giving examples.

B．By stating arguments.

C．By explaining statistical data.

D．By providing research results.

3. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Causes of memory loss.

B．Lifestyle to rate of memory decline.

C．The study about memory decline.

D．Healthy diet and memory loss.

10 . It takes Sanduk Ruit about five minutes to change someone’s life. The Nepalese doctor can make a small incision (切口) in his patient’s eye, remove the cataract (白内障) damaging the patient’s vision and replace it with an inexpensive artificial lens. He said, “Some of our younger doctors even do it faster than that.”

In the past decades, Ruit has personally restored the sight of more than 100,000 people across Asia and Africa, and taught his rapid-fire technique to countless other eye doctors in parts of the world. His patients suffer from eye conditions that are mostly preventable. But because of poverty and limited access to public health services, they have been unable to seek treatment. Their stories are all too common in the developing world.

Driven by a belief that the world’s poorest people deserve safe, affordable and high-quality eye care just as much as anyone else, Ruit has made it his mission to root out avoidable blindness.

In 1994,he joined the late Australian eye doctor Fred Hollows, who was his mentor and close friend, in establishing Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology-an eye hospital in Kathmandu devoted to providing world-class eyecare for the people of Nepal. The hospital makes the state-of-the-art lens that is commonly used in treating cataracts or myopia, and exports it to more than 30 countries worldwide.

For the patients who cannot reach urban areas, Ruit and his team conduct mobile eye camps in remote parts of Nepal and neighboring countries. They often trek for days to those areas and clean out structures like tents, classrooms or even stables for use as temporary operating rooms. When the eyepatches (眼罩) come off the day after an operation, it’s an extremely moving moment for all relevant persons. Ruit said that he was so grateful that he could make a difference in so many people’s lives.

1. What do we know about Ruit?

A．He refused to do operations for the rich.

B．He wasn’t mean with his excellent technique.

C．He joined Fred Hollows in the nineteenth century.

D．He restored more than a million people’s sight in person.

2. What inspires Ruit to fight against avoidable blindness?

A．Making a lot of money.

B．Obtaining relevant data to write scientific papers.

C．The desire to make his technique well-known.

D．The idea that all sick people should get proper treatment.

3. Which of the following could best describe Ruit?

A．Kind-hearted and responsible.

B．Friendly and energetic.

C．Open-minded and outgoing.

D．Clever and brave.

4. In which section of a newspaper can we find the text?

A．Science.

B．Sports.

C．Education.

D．Figures.