1 . More and more people are making eco choices on the road. Follow these tips to get your next trip off to the greenest start possible.
Pack light
Lighter luggage is the first step to reduce your travel footprint. Pack quick-dry, washable items that you can mix and match.
Go your own way
Some destinations are too popular for their own good, but there are so many beautiful places to visit beyond these overcrowded hotspots. Get off the beaten track.
Slow down
You may as well stay a little longer and really get to know a place. Start up a conversation and find out where the locals like to eat and drink. Get around using public transport, book a homestay, and explore some days without a plan.
Show kindness
Visiting another country is a chance to build bridges between cultures, and learn about different points of view.
Social media can take a beautiful destination from fantastic to horrible in no time when shared images and videos draw crowds from around the world. National parks and other ecosystems have suffered a lot from the flood of travelers. Avoid sharing the location on social media.
| A．Travel green |
| B．Share with care |
| C．Go gently and respectfully |
| D．Choose a lesser-known city |
| E．Don’t forget to take a large scarf |
| F．Look after the people and wildlife you meet along the way |
| G．The unexpected people and places are what make slow travel so special |
2 . Gifts are more than just an economic exchange of goods. They signal things about the giver, receiver and their relationship. It’s a sort of language that lets us communicate without words. Use the following little tricks to make gift-giving perfect.
Aesthetics (美学) of a gift shouldn’t be ignored and neither should presentation be. All the time and energy you spend picking the perfect thing for your receiver will fall short if you do. A gift should delight. It should be unique and easy on the eyes. So receivers often prefer appearance over function. This is why gift stores are filled with such gifts. These items are often low in their usefulness yet they make most gifts.
The price isn’t necessarily a priority. Even costly items can be considered as cheap sometimes. It’s better to pick an item from the top of an inexpensive sort than one at the bottom of an expensive sort. Even if you’re paying the same for both choices, the former will be received well.
A gift that feels heavier tends to be considered as of higher quality. Giving someone a hardcover book is better than giving them a paperback as a gift. You may also package it in a relatively heavy box. Anyway, pick items that aren’t too light.
Don’t present your gift without the wrapping (包装). It shows effort and devotion. Presentation expresses special thought on behalf of the giver. When they receive a gift, receivers process the exchange and analyze the giver in terms of thoughtfulness, which is communicated through gift presentation. If you want your receiver to think of you as thoughtful, make sure you wrap it in a good wrapping paper. Bad presentation can ruin a great gift. So it matters making a present more attractive to your receiver.
1. What kind of gifts are mostly sold in shops?| A．Strange objects. | B．Eye-catching items. |
| C．Useful things. | D．High-cost pieces. |
| A．Never choose any expensive gif. |
| B．The more expensive a gift is, the better. |
| C．Two gifts at a time are always better than one. |
| D．The best gift in the cheap kind is a better choice. |
| A．A hardcover book. | B．A paperback. |
| C．One in a light box. | D．One without wrapping. |
| A．The giver is generous. | B．The receiver is special. |
| C．The giver is thoughtful. | D．The receiver is attractive. |
3 . At West Exe School, students have access to a wide range of electronic resources to support heir progress through the curriculum. Below are a range of resources, with a brief introduction of what they are. If you have any questions regarding E-Learning, please do not hesitate to contact Toby Holland who will be able to help you.
Electronic Resources
| Type | Brief introduction |
| Class Charts | Class Charts is the one-stop shop for students, parents and teachers to add and track homework, merits and performances. More details can be available by calling 88097144 |
| Moodle | Moodle is our online learning platform which provides students with a means by which to access lesson content for some subjects, especially math at home. |
| Heggarty Maths | Heggarty Maths is used to provide students with engaging mathematical challenges. These are largely set for homework and involve watching video content. |
| Lexia | Lexia is being used by the English department to improve literacy across the school. This highly effective online learning programme is widely considered to be the best of its kind. Lexia Strategies can be accessed here: http ://wwwlexiastrategies.com/ |
| Tassomai | Tassomai is a highly effective, adaptive learning platform for Science. Many schools that have used this platform have seen gains of up to 2 grades in Science through the platform’s engaging design and content. |
| A．Class Charts. | B．Moodle. | C．Lexia. | D．Tassomai. |
| A．Turn to Tony Holland for help. | B．Call West Exe School directly. |
| C．Read the brief introduction in detail. | D．Surf the web for further information. |
| A．Heggarty Maths. | B．Lexia. | C．Tassomai. | D．Moodle. |
4 . Music is a proof to human creativity and expression in a language that goes beyond barriers (障碍). Let’s explore the world of music.
Classical music is a large type that includes music from the Middle Ages to the present day. Known for its rich harmonies, classical music requires a high level of skill and understanding to perform. It’s often seen as the start of many other music types.
Rock music started from rock and roll, and quickly became a force of its own. It’s known for strong and driving rhythms (节奏). Rock music has always been connected with a fight and social comments, and it’s often praised for its raw sound.
Country music is from rural American folk and Western music. Known for its storytelling, country music often features themes of love, heartbreak and everyday life. It’s characterized by its unique style, making use of instruments like the guitar, piano, banjo and fiddle.
Indie music, short for “independent (独立)”, is characterized by its being away from mainstream music rules. It often features nontraditional song structures. The indie spirits of valuing personal creativity over business success and supporting the DIY approach to recording and publishing give this type a unique and different sound.
1. Which music covers from the Middle Ages to the present day?| A．Rock music. | B．Country music. | C．Classical music. | D．Indie music. |
| A．It is the start of music. | B．It is themed with love. |
| C．It focuses on business success. | D．It stresses personal creativity. |
| A．Its development. | B．Its types. | C．Its instruments. | D．Its birthplace. |
5 . Computers are becoming more and more important in our life. With the development of science and technology (科技) they have grown smaller and smaller. There are many kinds of computers, such as personal computers and supercomputers
Computers are very useful in life. For example, we can use them to send messages to friends by email. What’s more, we can also use them to share information with others through the World Wide Web, so others can know it. Computers make us relaxed. We can listen to music or play games on them. Computers can help people to save much time to do much work. They can also help people to work out many problems easily. Now, our country asks students to learn to use computers because computers are used everywhere.
Today more and more families have computers. Parents buy computers for their children. They hope computers can help them improve their studies in school. However, many children use computers to play games, watch videos or listen to music. In this way, computers cannot help children to study but make them fall behind. So computers are locked in boxes by parents.
In some other countries, some scientists dislike computers. They say computers let millions of people lose their jobs or bring them a lot of trouble. Will computers really bring trouble to people or can they bring people happiness? It will be decided by today’s students themselves!
1. What has become of computers according to the text?| A．Bigger and bigger. | B．Smaller and smaller. |
| C．Heavier and heavier. | D．More and more special. |
| A．How to use computers to talk with others. | B．The uses of computers in our life. |
| C．How to spend free time on computers. | D．The funny results of using computers. |
| A．Computers are almost useless to them at home. |
| B．They think computers are bad for their children’s eyes. |
| C．They’re afraid their children may use computers incorrectly |
| D．They don’t want to spend much time on computers at home. |
| A．They think computers are dangerous to people. |
| B．They think computers will make people out of work. |
| C．They think computers cannot do things well sometimes. |
| D．They think computers make people become lazy. |
6 . There are many potential sources of clean energy out there: solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen-based energy, and more. One of the less-known sources of clean energy is wave energy. Now the energy is being put to use in an almost funny way, turning seawater into drinking water by Oneka, a Canadian startup.
In general, there are two traditional kinds of desalination (脱盐) technology. In the first technology, seawater is heated till the water changes into steam, leaving the salt behind, and then the steam is cooled, turning into water, and made available for use. In the second one, seawater is pushed through a see-through thin material, separating the salt and the water, which consumes relatively less fuel compared with the first technology. Whichever technology is used, however, most desalination plants run on non-renewable energy.
Desalination equipment is traditionally powered by fossil fuels, but the world has certainly reached a vital point where it’s necessary to move away from fossil fuel-powered desalination. This is where Oneka’s unique desalination technology comes in. Oneka uses floating desalination machines, attached to a kind of floating device which then absorbs energy from the ocean waves, and changes it into mechanical forces, to pump the water through the see-through thin material system. The fresh water is then pumped to land, through the power of the waves.
The waste from conventional desalination plants contains high concentrations of salt which is discharged into the sea, creating a zone where sea life dies off. Oneka’s technology steers clear of this, because the water that streams back into the ocean only has a 30 percent increase in the salt concentration, and is quickly spread by the waves.
This innovative technology shows us that sometimes the solutions to complicated problems don’t have to be complicated at all. Sometimes all you need are the ocean waves.
1. Which can best describe the first technology in paragraph 2?| A．It is labor-intensive. | B．It is energy-hungry. |
| C．It separates salt via cooling. | D．It outperforms the second one. |
| A．It’s slightly complicated. | B．It leaves little salt behind. |
| C．It reshapes fresh water storage. | D．It’s mechanically driven. |
| A．Relieves. | B．Facilitates. | C．Envelops. | D．Achieves. |
| A．Eco-driven Desalination Machines | B．Ocean Waves: The New Energy Solution |
| C．Wave-powered Green Desalination | D．Desalination: The Future of Fresh Water |
7 . Cathy Winston is a sports nutritionist. Among her regulars are athletes. Cathy thrives on the variety, with each new sport providing new challenges and a renewed appreciation of her chosen field of expertise. In her view, dealing with athletes from various sport backgrounds helps her become seasoned, which is a key part of being a successful nutritionist. “You have to understand nutrition and people, and then you can begin to work in this field,” she says. “Besides, in tennis you must learn to be reactive, because you don’t know how long the match lasts. However, it’s 90 minutes in football so you know what you’re fueling for.”
Regardless of the sport, Cathy’s attitude remains the same: Any athlete failing to respect nutrition is one who is failing to fulfill their potential. It’s a key part of the training process. It’s not just something that you take casually. She advises her athletes to hold nutrition in the same regard as they do their most crucial bit of equipment. “Just as you wouldn’t forget to put your shin pads (护腿板) or your boots in your kit bag, don’t forget to put in your drinks and your snacks. That informs how well you train, because you can’t get out if you haven’t put in.”
Nutritionists are sometimes unfairly represented as militant (斗志昂扬的) types telling what athletes can and can’t eat. But Cathy insists that when to eat is more important than what. “It’s about when’s the right time to have it in,” she says. It’s a message that Cathy says can take a while to sink in. “A lot of boxers say, ‘but bananas make you fat, right?’, and there’s this inherent belief that we mustn’t eat those kinds of things. But it’s not about what to cut out. It’s about making sure that you’ve got the foundation right for health and performance. It’s that one size fits one. It’s what works for you. To be an excellent athlete, you really need to be an exceptional eater.”
1. What does Cathy think about her job?| A．It hardly faces new challenges in every competition. |
| B．It mainly focuses on the duration of matches. |
| C．It merely needs to understand nutrition and people. |
| D．It highly values experience and flexibility. |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By analyzing a phenomenon. |
| C．By telling a story. | D．By providing data. |
| A．Focusing on the timing of the diet. |
| B．Cutting out specific foods from the diet. |
| C．Following a strict and militant diet plan. |
| D．Increasing the variety of foods. |
| A．Food has a say in the sports field. |
| B．Nutritionists act as unsung heroes behind athletes. |
| C．Nutrition determines the results in the competition. |
| D．A good eater is a great athlete. |
8 . Technology is around us everywhere, from simple devices like our smartphones, laptops and TV to background technology we don’t even notice.
Technology boosts business. Many new tech advancements and innovations are made by and for businesses. Why?
Technology has advanced education. Some examples include the availability of online courses and unlimited online resources for research. Before technology, you’d have to physically go to class or go to the library to do research.
Technology makes everyday life better. Think about the introduction of self-driving cars: they were unheard of a few years ago, and now they’re a reality.
| A．Technology makes online shopping possible. |
| B．Technology has changed the world for the better. |
| C．We need to use technology in a healthier and more careful way. |
| D．Now, education is easier for everyone, no matter where you live. |
| E．The way we use technology can help or harm ourselves and others. |
| F．Besides, technology has also had a positive influence on household items. |
| G．Because companies want to improve their products and services for profit. |
9 . NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon
Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024, for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon! Starting in North Brooklyn, the route offers stunning waterfront views and passes under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Experience the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, from Fulton Street & Flatbush Avenue to the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, and finish in Prospect Park.
Registration:
Fees for NYCRUNS members are $135 if registered by December 13th. Non-members pay $150. Register early to secure your spot in this unforgettable race! NYCRUNS members can enjoy a $10 discount on the registration fee. Additionally, up to 50% of the race fee can be covered using Race Credit.
Amenities:
NYCRUNS is known for putting on running events of the highest quality. After the race, celebrate your achievement with the official race shirt and an incredible medal with pride! When you finish, enjoy fresh Brooklyn bagels, NYS apples and more!
Awards:
Top finishers in various age groups will be recognized. Prize money will only be awarded to athletes who complete the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon in a gun time faster than the qualifying time. Athletes may be subject to drug testing to ensure a fair and equal field.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Non-profits interested in group volunteering, please contact us.
Transportation:
Public transportation recommended.
Closest stations: L train to Bedford Avenue, G train to Metropolitan Avenue.
Register today and be a part of this unforgettable Brooklyn experience!
1. What is the starting point of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon?| A．Prospect Park. | B．North Brooklyn. |
| C．Williamsburg Bridge. | D．Manhattan Bridge. |
| A．$75. | B．$135. | C．$150. | D．$200. |
| A．A shirt and a finisher’s medal. | B．Prize money based on the age. |
| C．Free transportation services. | D．A gift from NYS Apple Stores. |
10 . Kruger National Park is, in a word, life-changing. One of the top attractions in South Africa, and one of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger National Park is a must for any wildlife lover.
Kruger National Park Animals
Nothing will prepare you for the huge volume of wildlife that you’ll be able to see in Kruger National Park. The park is home to 114 different species of reptiles; more than 500 species of birds; and 147 mammals. Not only will you have the opportunity to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino), but you’ll see tons of other mammals like zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, impalas, and many more.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park?
The driest months being June, July, and August are the best time of year to visit the park, when the days are sunny and warm and the nights are cooler. Many trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, and water sources dry up, making it easier to spot game around the remaining waterholes.
Driving in Kruger National Park
What makes Kruger National Park unique from other parks is that it is accessible via self-drive. Many people who come to the park come with their own vehicle because it’s considerably more affordable than taking a guided tour. Doing a self-drive safari (游猎) also gives you more flexibility with your timing.
1. How does the writer show the diversity of animals in Kruger National Park?| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By using illustrations. | D．By classifying facts. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．It has unique animals. | B．It offers a flexible time. |
| C．It allows self-drive. | D．It charges fairly low. |
