1 . Florida is a desirable place to retire because of the suitable cost of living and location close to the beach. In addition, it has provided different kinds of services to support the retirement community. Here are some best Florida cities for retirement.

Miami

Population: about 605,800

Share of population age 65+: 18.2%

Median monthly rent: about $1,500

Miami has higher housing and costly health care, so seniors retiring in Miami need to face the higher cost of living. However, it offers retirees plenty of activities. It’s more expensive, but the rich cultural experience, dining, shopping, and health care services are top-tier.

Fort Myers
Population: about 752,200
Share of population age 65+: 28.4%
Median monthly rent: about $1,300

Fort Myers scored well on the desirability and happiness metrics (指标). Many retirees are able to comfortably afford a home, which frees up retirement income for other important expenses. Seniors in Fort Myers can create a relaxing beach retirement lifestyle, even on a limited budget.

Tallahassee
Population: about 382,700
Share of population age 65+: 14.6%
Median monthly rent: about $1,000

Tallahassee has four clear seasons, and its short winters are colder than the state’s coastal areas. Housing is more affordable here than in other Florida cities. Retirees can take classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida, or enjoy one of Tallahassee’s many museums, historic sites and parks.

Ocala
Population: about 370,000
Share of population age 65+: 28.5%
Median monthly rent: about $990

This equestrian (马术) town is best known for award-winning horses. Retirees can attend horse shows and equestrian events and enjoy regular horseback rides. Ocala’s inexpensive housing makes it easy to relocate to the area. The Ocala National Forest has hundreds of lakes, rivers and springs where you can swim and fish.

1. What is an advantage of Miami?

A．It offers services in a wide variety.	B．It gives the suitable cost of living.
C．It provides discount housing.	D．It organizes volunteer activities.

2. Which is the best if retirees want to get education after retiring?

A．Miami.

B．Fort Myers.

C．Tallahassee.

D．Ocala.

3. What can retirees do in Ocala?

A．Create a beach retirement lifestyle.	B．Explore the depth of the forest.
C．Visit many historic sites.	D．Take part in equestrian events.

2 . Women’s sport is experiencing growth. This season, the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) league kicked off with a campaign to transform ideas of women’s rugby. Here are the stories of four remarkable women who are powered differently — born to break the stereotypes (刻板印象).

Abbie Ward, 30, Bristol Bears

Abbie has marked a successful return to the rugby field this season playing her first match since the Rugby World Cup Final in November 2021, just four months after giving birth to her daughter, Hallie. Abbie’s journey showcases a ground-breaking shift in the sport’s approach to motherhood. Abbie is eager to integrate Hallie into her playing life, maintaining a balance between being a mother and a professional sports person.

Jodie Ounsley, 22, Exeter Chiefs

Jodie attracts audiences as a deaf athlete. As the first deaf person to be selected for the England 7s squad, she in 2020 won Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year. Jodie detailed, “I’ve had parents messaging me saying ‘My daughter with a cochlear(耳蜗的) implant hasseen you online playing rugby, and wants to do it, too.’”

Rachel Lund, 29, Gloucester-Hartpury

Rachel is a proud member of the “dual career club”, a nickname Rachel has given to the PWR players taking other regular jobs around their training and match days. She devotes herself to a full-time role as a physiotherapist (理疗师) with her commitment to female sport extending beyond the field. According to Rachel, “Research on female health is minimal at best. I’m keen on improving female health.”

Amanda Swartz, 23, Leicester Tigers

Amanda’s journey from a professional figure skater to a professional rugby player shows the determination that defines her athletic journey. Seeking a new challenge beyond skating, she discovered rugby. The discipline and goal-oriented drive experienced during her figure skating days became invaluable in her rugby change. Amanda has accepted her new sporting path and takes pride in promoting the visibility of rugby in Sweden.

1. Who is a disabled player?

A．Abbie Ward.

B．Jodie Ounsley.

C．Rachel Lund.

D．Amanda Swartz.

2. What can we learn about Amanda Swartz?

A．She focuses on female health.	B．She was fired by the former team.
C．She has just given birth to a baby.	D．She was a professional figure skater.

3. What do the four women have in common?

A．They experience a tough life.

B．They have the same athletic journey to rugby.

C．They change people’s view of women’s rugby.

D．They urge women to improve their mental health.

3 . 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition

To celebrate the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival, National Mall and Memorial Parks is hosting a youth art competition. We need your artistic help to inspire visitors to become Cherry Blossom Protectors! The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation’s capital city. Thousands of people come every year to see the cherry trees and enjoy the festival.

Participants

The contest is open to all Washington, D.C. students, K-6. One submission per student please.

Theme

Artworks should focus on the theme “Cherry Blossom Protector.” Draw or paint a picture that shows what you appreciate about the cherry blossoms, how we can take care of them, and why we should. Submissions must include the words “Cherry Blossom Protector”.

Deadline

Artworks will be accepted starting December 13, 2023. All submissions must be postmarked by February 25, 2024.

Submission requirements

A valid submission will contain the following information:

1. An original copy of the artwork. Each piece must be original, authentic (真实的), unpublished, the sole property of the entrant (参赛者), and not previously submitted in any other contest.

2. Your personal information, printed on either the back of your artwork or on a separate sheet attached to your physical artwork or provided with the e-mail for your digital entry: First and last name, grade/age.

3. A completed and signed entry form. Print out the entry form and send it to us when you send your artwork. Entries cannot be accepted without a signed entry form by a parent or guardian.

Delivery address

Mailed submissions must be sent to:

National Mall and Memorial Parks

c/o 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition

1100 Ohio Drive, SWWashington, DC 20242

1. Why do National Mall and Memorial Parks host the art competition?

A．To honor the national heroes.	B．To improve students’ art skills.
C．To protect the cherry blossom.	D．To attract more visitors to the parks.

2. What should you do if you attend the contest?

A．Volunteer as a cherry blossom protector.	B．Choose your own theme for the contest.
C．Email all your artworks to your school.	D．Summit artworks before February 25, 2024.

3. What should be included in the submission entries?

A．Personal information.	B．A previous submitted copy.
C．A guardian’s recommendation.	D．An electronic application form.

4 . The Best Places to Camp in Olympic National Park

With more than 2.5 million visitors annually, Olympic National Park is one of the most popular parks in the US. If you’re looking for breathtaking views, these are the best places to camp inside Olympic National Park.

Campground	Brief Introduction	Cost
Deer Park	Tent-only. 14 campsites are available on a first come, first served basis from June through mid-October.	$15/night
Staircase	49 campsites. The location is open through the whole year. Some of its facilities are only available during the summer.	$24/night
Kalaloch	With its 170 campsites, Kalaloch is the largest and most popular campground in the entire park. It is recreational, vehicle-friendly.	$24/night
Dosewallips	Dosewallips features roughly 30 campsites, none of which can be reserved ahead of time. It is accessible throughout the year.	Free

Things to Know Before You Go
●Bring a B ear Canister (防熊罐): The park is filled with all kinds of wildlife that are more than willing to help themselves to your food. Bring a bear canister to keep your supplies safe.
●Firewood: Some campgrounds have firewood for sale, but visitors are allowed to collect kindling (引火物) in locations where that isn’t the case.
●Group Camping Sites: The park offers large-group camping sites in Kalaloch. The reservation may require a phone call to complete and has different pricing models. Visit the website for more information.
●Reservation Fees: All fees for the various campsites are payable by credit card only. No cash is accepted. Be sure to have a card with you if you are not making a reservation online ahead of time.
1. What do Staircase and Dosewallips have in common?

A．They charge the most.	B．They welcome tents only.
C．They are open year-round.	D．They need a reservation.

2. Which campground is suitable for campers in large groups?

A．Staircase.	B．Kalaloch.
C．Dosewallips.	D．Deer Park.

3. Which of the following is banned in the campgrounds?

A．Making a fire.	B．Feeding wild animals.
C．Paying in cash.	D．Bringing some firewood.

5 . Henry Ford didn’t always pay attention in school. One day, he and a friend took a watch apart. Angry and upset, the teacher told them both to stay after school. Their punishment is was to stay until they had fixed the watch. But the teacher did not know Ford’s genius. In ten minutes, this mechanical wizard had repaired the watch and was on his way home.

Ford was always interested in how things worked. He once plugged up the spout of a teapot and placed it on the fire. Then he waited to see what would happen. The water boiled and, of course, returned to steam. Since the steam had no way to escape, the teapot exploded. The explosion cracked a mirror and broke a window. The young inventor was badly scalded (烫伤).

Ford’s years of curiosity and thinking paid off. He dreamed of a horseless carriage. When he built one, the world of transportation was changed forever.

1. Henry Ford __________ in school.

A．studied very hard	B．was absent-minded
C．never paid attention	D．did very well

2. The teacher asked Henry Ford to __________.

A．punish his friend

B．stay at school until he had repaired the watch

C．go home at once

D．stay at school and take the watch apart

3. Who fixed the watch in ten minutes?

A．Henry Ford.	B．Ford’s friend.
C．Ford’s teacher.	D．A mechanic.

4. The teapot exploded and the explosion __________.

A．broke a mirror	B．broke a window
C．hurt Henry Ford	D．All of the above

5. According to this passage, we know that Henry Ford __________.

A．was interested in everything

B．was the youngest inventor in the world

C．paid for a horseless carriage

D．built one of the earliest car

6 . Hello! My name is Bob. I’m an English boy. But now I’m in China with my parents Jack and Helen, and my sister Sally.

In China, November 11th is a special day. Many people buy a lot of things on Taobao. This year, my mother buys some things for us. They are a quilt, four jackets, two cups and a pen. The quilt is blue. It’s for me. The yellow jacket is for Sally. The black jacket is for my father and the green jacket is for me. My mother buys herself a red jacket. She likes red very much. The white cup is for Sally and the other cup is for my father. It’s blue. The pen is black. It’s for Sally.

My mother likes shopping on Taobao. She says it’s convenient because she doesn’t need to go out. What do you think of it? Tell me about your ideas.

1. Bob is in __________ now.

A．England

B．America

C．Japan

D．China

2. The quilt is for __________.

A．Bob

B．Sally

C．Bob’s father

D．Bob’s mother

3. Bob’s mother buys __________ for Sally.

A．a red jacket and a white cup

B．a green cup and a red quilt

C．a yellow jacket, a white cup and a black pen

D．a yellow jacket, a green cup and a blue pen

4. The underlined word “convenient” in Paragraph 3 means __________ in Chinese.

A．靠近的

B．方便的

C．迅速的

D．浪费的

5. What is the passage mainly about?

A．It’s about what Bob’s mother buys for him.

B．It’s some information about Bob’s family.

C．It’s about different ways of shopping.

D．It’s about a special way of shopping — shopping on Taobao.

7 . Tom is an English boy. Now he is in Beijing with his parents and his two sisters. Every morning he has breakfast at 7:00. Then he goes to school at 7:30. His first class starts (开始) at 8:00. In the morning he has four classes and in the afternoon he has two classes. The classes finish at 4:30 pm. After that, he always plays soccer with his classmates for an hour.

At school Tom’s favorite subject is music. His best friend is Frank. Frank is not from England. She is a Chinese girl. Her Chinese name is Liu Yuanyuan. She is a small TV star. You can see her on TV. Why does Tom like Frank?

Because they like the same things (事情). They like music and they like blue and white.

1. When does Tom have breakfast?

A．At 6:00.

B．At 7:00.

C．At 7:30.

D．At8:00.

2. Tom always with his classmates        after school.

A．plays soccer	B．plays tennis
C．plays basketball	D．plays computer games

3. What is Tom’s favorite subject?

A．Art

B．Music

C．History

D．Math

4. Who’s Frank?

A．Tom’s sister

B．Tom’s teacher

C．Tom’s cousin

D．Tom’s friend

5. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．There are four people in Tom’s family.

B．Tom has seven classes every day.

C．Tom likes blue and white.

D．Frank doesn’t like music.

8 . In the ground below a tall New York City apartment building, several machines collect carbon dioxide(CO₂)from large gas-powered boilers which help heat the building but also release CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Nearly 70 percent of New York City’s large buildings have steam boilers that run on natural gas or oil. Big buildings in New York City release about two-thirds of the city’s emissions(排放). New York state’s buildings also release more air pollution than any other state.

Brian Asparro, chief operating officer of CarbonQuest—the company that built the machines to capture(捕获)the CO₂ in the apartment buildings—said, “Time is not on our side, and this type of solution can be cost-effective and without a major destruction.”

The machines cool the CO₂ to about-23℃. At that temperature, the gas becomes liquid and can be carried away by trucks to Brooklyn, another area in New York City. There, another company turns the liquid into a solid, The solid CO₂ then reacts with calcium to form calcium carbonate(碳酸钙), which goes into concrete, Once the CO₂ is in concrete, ‘it will not release into the atmosphere unless the concrete is heated to about 600℃.

However, critics say, “Carbon capture doesn’t actually reduce emissions; it seeks to put them somewhere else.” Critics also worry that it is dangerous to keep large amounts of CO₂ below buildings. If too much of the gas is released by accident, it could cause health problems and even death.

But supporters of capturing the CO₂ say it is safe. They also argue that boilers and other gas heating systems are probably more dangerous than the machines that capture the CO₂.

Under a new state law in New York, many buildings must reduce their emissions. If they do not lower their emissions, the building owners will have to pay a fine. What’s more, to help increase the use of carbon capture machines, the government lowers taxes for owners who put them in their buildings.

1. How do carbon capture machines in New York City work?

A．By heating the carbon dioxide to 600℃.

B．By changing the physical state of carbon dioxide.

C．By replacing large gas-powered boilers gradually.

D．By transporting the carbon dioxide to other cities.

2. What are critics worried about concerning carbon capture machines?

A．Their cost.	B．Their occupied area.
C．Their safety.	D．Their harm to the environment.

3. What is the government’s attitude to the carbon capture machines?

A．Supportive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Unclear.

D．Unconcerned.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A Major Crisis of Environmental Pollution

B．A Disadvantage of Carbon Capture and Storage

C．The Development of a Company Called CarbonQuest

D．Carbon Capture Technology for Tall Buildings in New York City

9 .

Sunshine Club For young people from 12 to 18 years old Include games, music, dancing and more. Every Saturday: 6:30 am—9:30 pm          28 Oxford Street, London Tel: 76239652     Price: Just £3 a time

Cartoon Museum Come and see the best of British cartoon art. There is something for everyone, including popular cartoon characters and a great shop full of funny books and cards. Price: free Opening times: Tuesday—Saturday 10:30 am—5:30 pm   Sunday 11:00 am—6:00 pm Tel: 65235873

Cox’s Hotel Tel: 87058366 E-mail: info@coxshotel.co.uk     Website: www.coxshotel.co.uk Opening times: Coffee shop: 9:00 am—6:00 pm        Every day Tea room: 10:30 am—5:30 pm            Monday—Thursday Pub (小酒吧): 8:00 am—11:30 pm          Friday—Saturday

Hamilton Zoo Over 600 animals: tigers, pandas... Opening hours: 9:00 am—5:00 pm   Monday—Sunday An adult: £15 A child (under 12 years old): £10 Tel: 23653692

1. Where can we get funny cards?

A．In the Cartoon Museum.	B．At Cox’s Hotel.
C．In the Sunshine Club.	D．In the Hamilton Zoo.

2. Which is the right time to go to the pub at Cox’s Hotel?

A．9:00 am—6:00 pm on Friday	B．8:30 am—11:30 pm on Friday
C．8:00 am—11:30 pm on Wednesday	D．8:00 am—11:30 pm on Thursday

3. If Jim and his 5-year-old son want to the Hamilton Zoo, they should pay __________.

A．£10

B．£15

C．£25

D．£4

10 . Here are some fantastic parks in San Antonio.

Brackenridge Park

The park was first established in 1899 and has been popular with both locals and visitors ever since. Towering trees and peaceful riverbanks will greet guests along the park’s paths, and the facilities include playgrounds, museums, a miniature train, a Japanese tea garden, and one of the oldest golf courses in the city.

Friedrich Wilderness Park

In the park, you’ll find about 10 miles of paved(铺过的)and unpaved trails(路线), with a little something for everyone. From rocky climbs to deep canyons, and enchanting forests to open views, there’s no shortage of natural beauty. The area is nationally famous for birdwatching.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

The park is the state’s only one on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers quite a large area, so it’s best to make it a full-day or at least a half-day trip so you can be sure to cover everything. While the Alamo is a separate attraction, you will get to enjoy the architectural wonders of Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. They’re all connected by a hike and bike trail, with plenty of stops along the way to picnic, climb trees, and refill water. Admission is free!

Eisenhower Park

Just a 20-to 30-minute drive from the city center, the park puts the best landscapes in the Texas Hill Country on full display, holding 6 miles of hiking trails, both paved and unpaved. Explore dried creek beds, look out over plunging canyons, and enjoy full views of San Antonio down below. You can also find playgrounds for the little ones, picnic tables, and barbecue facilities.

1. What is Friedrich Wilderness Park well-known for?

A．Birdwatching.	B．Ancient buildings.
C．A Japanese tea garden.	D．Unpaved hiking paths.

2. Which park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

A．Brackenridge Park.

B．Friedrich Wilderness Park.

C．San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

D．Eisenhower Park.

3. What are some of the features of Eisenhower Park?

A．Golf courses and bicycle trails.

B．Museums and no entrance fee.

C．Birdwatching and playgrounds.

D．Hiking trails and barbecue facilities.