1 . Enjoy days in London
ArcelorMittal OrbitEnjoy breathtaking views of London up to 20 miles into the distance from the ArcelorMittal Orbit — the UK’s tallest sculpture. Giant screens and mirrors which change the views of the horizon, and 455 steps to the ground will make your experience unique. Thrill-seeker? Upgrade your ticket to include The Slide, the World’s longest tunnel slide!
Offer times: Mon — Fri 11:00 — 17:00; Last admission 16:30Sat-Sun 10:00 — 18:00; Last admission 17:30
Place:5 Thornton Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2ADCity Cruises
See and experience London from the comfort of a modern, all-weather sightseeing City Cruises boat. Open-air decks and panoramic (全景的) windows give great views of the most famous sights in London — and the best photo opportunities!
Offer times: Daily 10:00 — 17:00; Last admission 1 hour before closing timePlace: Westminster Pier, London SWIA 2JH
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens is London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the most various collection of living plants anywhere in the world. With events, festivals and a range of charming attractions, it offers a unique day out for all ages.
Offer times: Daily 10:00Closed 24 — 26 Dec 2022
Place: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3ABKidZania London
KidZania London offers 4 to 14-year-olds exciting real-life activities. Occupying about 75,000 square feet, KidZania is an amazing indoor city built just for kids! Designed to entertain kids, KidZania gives children the chance to challenge themselves and explore a world of opportunities.
Offer times: Daily 10:00Place: Westfield London, Ariel Way, London W12 7GA
1. Which of the following can provide a bird’s eye view of London?
| A．Kew Gardens. | B．City Cruises. |
| C．KidZania London. | D．ArcelorMittal Orbit. |
| A．8:00. | B．9:00. | C．16:00. | D．17:00. |
| A．It covers a large area. | B．It is suitable for kids under 4. |
| C．It is next to a beautiful garden. | D．It has the world’s longest slide. |
2 . Jim Rivers, a professor of wildlife ecology in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry, has been interested in birds since he filled the feeders in his backyard growing up. “As a kid, I always made sure the feeders were filled and, particularly, I did that before birds might be going through some challenging weather conditions like a big storm coming through or particularly cold weather,” Rivers says.
Now, as a researcher, he started looking into them. There was one earlier study where researchers just took feeders away and found that birds weren’t dependent on human help. Rivers wanted to look at more challenging conditions.
For the study, Rivers and his team chose to use the black-capped chickadee, a small bird that is found throughout North America and often visits bird feeders during winter. The birds will often take just one seed from the feeder at each visit, allowing for a clear measure of the feeder visitation rate.
Researchers caught 67 birds and either left them alone as a control group or clipped (剪) some of their feathers. Clipping is a way to increase the energy birds spend while flying. In some of the birds they did a light clipping; in others, they performed a heavier clipping. They also tied a tracking chip on each bird before setting them free. Then they put 21 feeders around their study area. “We thought the birds, because of their increased energetic need, would come to these feeders and spend a lot more time there,” Rivers says.
But that’s not what they found. Instead, the feather-clipped birds took a bit of a break(several days to a few weeks)before returning to the feeders. Then they used the feeders at a similar level as the control birds. “It was a surprise to us because as the food is free and they know where it is, we thought that the birds would come back and use it at greater levels afterward but instead we saw no real strong response,” Rivers says.
1. What did Rivers use to do as a child?| A．Offer food to birds. | B．Catch birds in the wild. |
| C．Train birds in the backyard. | D．Remove bird feeders before storms. |
| A．It’s easy to find a large population of them. |
| B．They had been used in other similar studies. |
| C．They depend on humans to feed them year-round. |
| D．It’s possible to measure how often they visit feeders. |
| A．They didn’t take breaks. |
| B．They didn’t increase their feeder use. |
| C．They wanted a lot more human help. |
| D．They came back to the study area every day. |
| A．It was reasonable. | B．It was unexpected. |
| C．It was well received. | D．It was hard to achieve. |
3 . I found a special app on my cellphone after I turned 15 and I fell in love with it immediately.
The app is a social media platform where people share snippets (片段) of their lives and content they consider worth sharing, and it’s also a space to communicate with others. While all those are obviously great things, it comes with many negative aspects. Number 1 on the list of problems is the scrolling (滚屏) addiction. The Internet is overflowing with con tent and our “Far You” page is an unending supplier of it. What I’ve come to learn through my own experience is that after some time we become so used to scrolling that it becomes a reflex action (反射动作) for us to do so whenever we’re bored.
Before I used the app, I really loved writing and reading books. However, after I used it, everything changed for me. All I wanted to do was to be on my phone. Scrolling was just making me feel tired and lazy and my creativity was lost. I wasn’t feeling motivated enough to get myself out of the bad cycle I’d fallen into.
Finally, I realized that I was stuck. I knew I needed to get out of it. It didn’t just happen overnight though. It took me a few weeks to finally stop using the app. Now I can concentrate on reading and writing again. I’m glad I’ve made the right decision.
I know many young people are struggling now just like I used to. If you think using social media platforms is negatively affecting your life, then take action to quit it. I’ve managed to do that. You can do it, too.
1. What does the author think is the biggest problem of using the app?| A．Being addicted to scrolling. | B．Sharing too much about one’s life. |
| C．Making one get bored easily. | D．Having’ difficulty in finding good content. |
| A．She became more creative. | B．She became interested, in online stories. |
| C．She developed some new hobbies. | D．She couldn’t focus on reading and writing. |
| A．She failed many times. | B．She succeeded gradually. |
| C．She managed it overnight. | D．She got help from her parents. |
| A．To tell her story of using social media. |
| B．To show how she began to write again. |
| C．To show social media is a double edged sword. |
| D．To warn young people not to be addicted to social media. |
4 . It’s easy to let things slide in midlife. But our 40s to 60s is actually the best time to increase activity levels. Indeed, a study found that people aged 40 — 61, who increased their fitness routine with activities such as walking and cycling, to a few hours a week, were 16. To 43 per cent less likely to die from cancer and heart disease. Therefore, exercise is necessary for this group of people.
·Walk faster
The best way to get fit is also the easiest: head out for a quick walk.
·Play racquet (球拍) sports
·
We tend to forget about our balance until we lose it but research shows that practising balance skills improves our fitness, strengthens brain health and leads to a longer life. In a 12-year study of 1,702 people, the ability to stand for 10 seconds was associated with longevity and health. Or simply practise standing on one leg. If you can manage 10 seconds, your balance is good.
| A．Balance on one leg |
| B．Keep a balanced diet |
| C．Here are the tips for midlife fitness |
| D．We ought to move more and sit less |
| E．Tennis or badminton offers more health benefits than other sports |
| F．Fast-paced walkers live longer and are less likely to get heart disease |
| G．If you want to stay sharp and lively into old age, take up tennis or badminton |
5 . Study abroad programs offer an educational and rewarding experience for students.
Travelling to another country is one way to fully understand that country’s culture. Visiting other countries can give students a greater appreciation of different ways of life and expand their education beyond the typical college setting. For example, a student studying a foreign language might want to spend time in a country where that language is widely used not only for the language benefits but for the customs that go with the language.
Or, a student studying the culinary (烹饪的) arts might find visiting other countries and learning about their foods and styles to be very useful. Study abroad programs are offered in every career path. The different perspectives (思维方式) that students can gain after studying in a different country can open many doors for their future.
My own experiences in Europe have taught me to appreciate different cultures. I have a growing admiration for other nations after having visited them. All college students should experience another culture at least once in their lives.
While study abroad programs are becoming very popular, there is one big negative thing. Travel, housing and personal expenses aren’t cheap.
If the cost of living elsewhere for a while could be lowered, or if all students could get help paying for the trip, study- abroad programs could be the perfect experience. If students want to expand their education or simply want to experience life in a completely different way, the money spent is well worth it. And although travelling abroad takes time away from family and friends at home, students can acquire new friends and relationships abroad.
To conclude, study abroad programs can be costly but can greatly benefit students.
1. Why is the example mentioned in Paragraph 2?| A．To show the benefits of studying abroad. | B．To encourage people to live abroad. |
| C．To prove different ways of learning cultures. | D．To show the importance of studying a language. |
| A．She is a college student now. | B．She appreçiates other cultures. |
| C．She was born in a European country. | D．She visited few countries as a student. |
| A．It’s worrying. | B．It’s difficult. | C．It’s expensive. | D．It’s relaxing. |
| A．Benefits of travelling around the world. | B．Ways of appreciating different cultures. |
| C．Personal experiences of studying abroad. | D．Advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. |
6 . One of the common truths about the world is that giving back is a great way to feel good about yourself and the world. So why not choose some of the following opportunities to volunteer?
Volunteer Match: While some young adults are satisfied with giving money and then tracking where that money goes, others want a much more personal experience in giving back. Volunteer Match makes it easy to find local, hands- on opportunities that suit their lives and specific skills or interests. Whether it’s working with little children or planting a garden, there are many ways of giving back available on Volunteer· Match.
Watsi: Founded by Chase Adams after a bus ride in Costa Rica when he was in the Peace Corps that opened his eyes to the needs of those who are poor and sick, Watsi is a digitally health- focused nonprofit. It offers real- time tracking of where donated money goes.
Pencils of Promise: Using social media to reach out to possible donors, Pencils of Promise encourages their benefactors (捐助人) to connect with others to increase giving and help to build schools, provide supplies and train teachers in Ghana! Guatemala, Laos, and, Nigeria. All money donated online goes directly to programs to educate more young people.
Water is Life: Water is Life is devoted to providing solutions in villages and communities that are in great need of clean drinking water. Opportunities to go to many countries and help build facilities to treat water are available. It’s also devoted to educating children and adults about the dangers of unclean water, thus encouraging them to protect water.
1. What can volunteers do on Volunteer Match?| A．Build schools. | B．Train teachers. |
| C．Make use of their special skills. | D．Track their donated money. |
| A．Volunteer Match. | B．Watsi. |
| C．Pencils of Promise. | D．Water is Life. |
| A．By being well educated. | B．By travelling abroad. |
| C．By having clean water to drink. | D．By knowing where your money goes. |
7 . Mickelson Trail Biking Day Tour
Spending an afternoon biking a part of the 109-mile Mickelson rail trail is a fantastic way to see the Black Hills!
Depending on the desired tour length, you can choose from a short ride to the entire 109-mile length! However, for most people, the section of the trail from Rochford to Hill City makes for a nice day’s ride. This 22.5-mile part of the trail owns numerous tunnels, railroad bridges, and breathtaking scenery. There is a several-mile climb at a very low grade, so if that doesn’t match with your vacation preferences, there’s an option to do an 18-mile downhill part instead!
This is typically run as a private tour with just your group or family, and because of that, we have to charge a single-person supplement of $125 if you are traveling alone, since it will likely just be yourself and a guide.
Start time: 10:00 am
End time: 5:00 pm
Pricing and what’s included
1 person: $175 + supplement
2 persons: $299 per person
3 — 4 persons: $249 per person
Large groups: Please ask for additional discounts
All prices include bike rental, helmets, private guide, onboard snacks, drinks and picnic lunch.
Other things to know
This tour can be combined with other activities, like spending the morning at Devils Tower, stopping by Mt Rushmore, or visiting the wineries and breweries (啤酒厂) after the ride in Hill City! Just email and tell us your thoughts and we’ll help you design a day that is perfect for your group!
1. Which ride does the text suggest for most people?| A．The 18-mile ride. | B．The 22.5-mile ride. |
| C．The 40.5-mile ride. | D．The 109-mile ride. |
| A．$175. | B．$249. | C．$299. | D．$300. |
| A．It can last for several days. | B．It begins early in the morning. |
| C．It can include additional activities. | D．It requires people to bring their bikes. |
8 . The slow approach to travel has never been more important. These following hikes offer a chance to reconnect you with the world.
Karhunkierros Trail, Finland
Finnish Lapland is famous as a winter destination, with magical aurora borealis (北极光) and a fascinating ancient Sami culture. It’s also home to the 82-kilometer Karhunkierros Trail, the most well-known long-distance walk in Finland. It’s a route best to explore in summer, when the nights are bright. The path takes four days, depending on the weather.
High Tatras Hut-to-Hut Hike, Slovakia
The High Tatras are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains, stretching from Northern Slovakia into Southern Poland. Hikers—mostly Slovaks and Czechs—greet with a genuine smile and a cheerful Ahoj or Dobryden. Especially, don’t miss the unique food, potato dumplings with sheep cheese and sweet steamed buns.
King Charles III England Coastal Path, England
Covering 4,300 kilometers, the England Coast Path was named after the country’s king. The good news is that it can be easily broken down into sections for hiking beginners. Whether taking in the high cliffs and bays of Comwall or deep silence of Suffolk and Norfolk, just a few days on this route will leave anyone refreshed.
Vikos Gorge and Mount Gamila, Zagoria, Greece
The remote and beautiful mountains of Zagoria are Greece’s best-kept secret. They offer great hiking without the crowds. The highlight is the Vikos Gorge. In some places, its cliffs tower 1,350 meters. Wander its dry river bed in summer and keep an eye out for rare wild animals.
1. When is the best time for hikers to explore Karhunkierros Trail?| A．Winter | B．Summer nights | C．Sunny days. | D．Any time |
| A．Karhunkierros Trail. | B．High Tatras Hut-to-Hut Hike. |
| C．King Charles III England Coastal Path | D．Vikos Gorge and Mount Gamila |
| A．Some unusual animals | B．Tough and deep roads. |
| C．A 1,350-feet mountain | D．Crowds from all over the world. |
9 . Want to see the world? Each year, TIME magazine makes a list of the World’s Greatest Places, which is provided by our readers. They will take us from cities to wilderness, and from tiny villages to faraway islands. Here are some of the best ones.
Culture Trip
Rapa Nui is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It’s also known as Easter Island. It’s famous for the massive and mysterious sculptures(雕像) made by the Rapa Nui people, who arrived about 1,200 years ago. The spirit of Hotu Matu’a, their early king, is said to have become a sea turtle.
—By Johanna Read
Lively Spot
The Galápagos Islands are located off the coast of Ecuador in South America. They are some of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Recently, marine-life protections were expanded in the area, limiting fishing and cresting safe paths for animals to travel through.
—By Karen Catchpole
Ancient Past
Alentejo is a rural part of Portugal in Europe. It is covered with forests and olive groves. There are ancient cities, too. A museum in Estremoz shows off traditional tiles. In Esperanca, hikers can see eagles and vultures, plus 5,000-year-old cave paintings.
—By Robin Catalano
Bike It!
Bogotá is the capital of Colombia in South America. It’s the perfect place for a bike ride. The city has taken steps to reduce pollution. It has more than 350 miles of bike paths. The city also has a bike share program, which will provide bicycles that people with disabilities can use.
—By Kate Crittenden
1. What can people do on Rapa Nui?| A．Meet Hotu Matu’a. | B．Visit a museum. |
| C．Enjoy sculptures. | D．See eagles. |
| A．Johanna Read. | B．Karen Catchpole. |
| C．Robin Catalano. | D．Kate Crittenden. |
| A．Estremoz. | B．Alentejo. | C．Esperanca. | D．Bogotá. |
10 . Aspirin is one of the safest and least expensive pain relievers on the marketplace.
The active ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid (水杨酸), was first found in the bark of a willow tree in 1763 by Reverend Edmund Stone of Chipping-Norton, England. Earlier accounts indicate that Hippocrates of ancient Greece used willow leaves for the same purpose — to relieve the aches of a variety of illnesses. During the 1800s, scientists extracted salicylic acid from willow bark. Then, in 1853, French chemist Charles F. Gerhardt made a primitive form of modern aspirin, which was developed from salicylic acid. In 1897, Felix Hoffmann, a German chemist working at a Germany chemical company, Bayer, discovered a better method for producing the drug.
Today, aspirin can be used to fight a host of health problems: some brain diseases (with less than one tablet a day); general pain or fever (two to six tablets a day); and other diseases such as arthritis (关节炎). The drug is also helpful in preventing heart attacks. In addition, biologists use aspirin to study white blood cell action, or to activate genes.
The wide range of effects that aspirin can produce made it difficult to figure out how it actually works, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that biologists assumed that aspirin works by holding up certain hormones that cause pain and inflammation (发炎). Since then, scientists have made further progress in understanding how aspirin works. They now know, for instance, that aspirin and its relatives actually prevent the growth of cells that cause inflammation. They also get to know aspirin has side effects, although relatively mild, like it’s somehow irritating to the stomach lining.
Be that as it may, there is no denying that aspirin is truly the 20th-century wonder drug.
1. Who first produced aspirin?| A．Hippocrates of ancient Greece. | B．Reverend Edmund Stone. |
| C．Charles F. Gerhardt. | D．Felix Hoffmann. |
| A．Various effects of aspirin helped in finding how it works |
| B．The growth of some cells are stopped when aspirin works |
| C．Biologists do not care about Aspirin’s side effects |
| D．Scientists found out how aspirin works in the 1970s |
| A．in favour of aspirin | B．against the use of aspirin |
| C．not interested in aspirin | D．worried about aspirin |
| A．The Effects of Aspirin | B．A Drug of Mystery |
| C．A Medicine of Wonder | D．The History of Aspirin |
