1 . Find your new favorite hobby
Challenging and fun hobbies have the power to make us happier and healthier. They can lead to better physical health, lower stress, greater life satisfaction, a larger social network and improve work performance.
Ask yourself how you want to feel
Hobbies present an escape—they can help you get out of your head and calm down. Ask yourself how you want an activity to make you feel. Mentally engaged? Distracted? Relaxed? Socially connected?
Start small
When people feel guilty about spending time on leisure, they experience increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Give yourself permission to do something that you like and keep in mind that if a hobby makes you healthier and happier, everyone around you will benefit. Think of discovering new hobbies as a way to add new dimensions to your life, and enjoy the process.
Take a trip back in time
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? The answer could point you toward an appealing hobby. Revisit some activities you loved when you were young, like drawing, putting together model kits, collecting things or building clay figures, which is really helpful to start your new hobbies.
Keep a list
Keep a list on your fridge or other things of all the things that strike you as interesting. Write down potential interests as they come to you, and you’ll have no shortage of options to explore when you’re ready.
| A．Remove guilt. |
| B．Keep optimistic. |
| C．Plus, they often promote connection with others. |
| D．Those childhood delights can easily develop into adult hobbies. |
| E．Don’t invest a ton of time and money in a new hobby immediately. |
| F．You shoud keep an open mind and don’t ignore some potential hobbies. |
| G．It’s also helpful to consider what your life is missing, like creativity or physical activity. |
2 . Art galleries you can visit for free with your Paris Pass
Centre Pompidou
Normally €7.00 Wednesday-Monday: 11 AM-10 PMCentre Pompidou is a must-see attraction when you’re visiting Paris. Featuring late 19th-20th century art, the museum has collection of over 50,000 works, including movements from Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.
Musée Gustave Moreau
Normally €13.00 Wednesday- Monday: 10 AM-6 PMMusée Gustave Moreau was designed by the painter himself and includes his private apartment and the large gallery he built to display his work. The apartment is preserved exactly as it was 100 years ago.
Musée de l’Orangerie
Normally €9.00 Wednesday-Monday: 9 AM-6 PMThe museum is best known for its association with the famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet and his Water Lilies series of paintings. Before it was an art gallery housing some of the most famous pieces in history, Musée de l’Orangerie was used as a storehouse and a home for mobilized soldiers.
Musée d’Orsay
Normally €14.00 Tuesday-Sunday: 9:30 AM-6 PMMusée d’Orsay was an old turn-of-the-century railway station that was built on the site of the Palais d’Orsay. Exemplifying the architecture of the Beaux-Arts movement, Musée d’Orsay is one of Paris’ most popular art galleries and houses art and sculpture from 1848 to 1915.
1. How much is the admission to Centre Pompidou without a Paris Pass?| A．€7.00. | B．€9.00. | C．€13.00. | D．€14.00. |
| A．Centre Pompidou. | B．Musée Gustave Moreau. |
| C．Musée de l’Orangerie. | D．Musée d’Orsay. |
| A．An art gallery. | B．A storehouse. |
| C．A railway station. | D．A personal apartment. |
3 . Although most empty plastic bottles are thrown, there are actually many other ways you can reuse them other than drinking.
When making biscuits, did you just realize you didn’t have any tools to cut them? You just need a small or large plastic bottle depending on your needs. First cut the bottle into half.
Do you find it challenging to separate eggs?
Want to remove flies in your garden safely? Use plastic bottles. Cut the bottle into half and place a sweet syrup (糖浆) at the bottom. Then place the top in the bottom so that the bottle mouth faces down. The fly will be attracted to the smell and fly into the bottle hole. Once in the bottle, the fly will climb through a narrow opening without thinking about how to get out and eventually dies.
Air conditionerSometimes, the fan removes hot air and does not cool the room but now we have a solution!
| A．The trap |
| B．The harm of flies |
| C．Pour the water out from the large bottles |
| D．You can solve this problem with plastic bottles |
| E．Fill two large bottles with water and turn into ice |
| F．And then you just take one of two parts to cut the cookies |
| G．They allow you to recycle creatively for a variety of purposes |
4 . While writing, we may always ask ourselves “Are there any better expressions to convey what we mean?” In a writing class, a teacher tells a golden rule of writing.
Teacher: Show but don’t tell, class. This is the golden rule of creative writing. You need to show the reader (the person who is reading) what you want to say, not tell him, or her.
David (student):
Teacher: Stop laughing, everybody, and listen carefully. I’ll give you two examples: ‘He was feeling very worried.’ Now I will say the same thing in a different way: ‘He was biting his fingernails and sweating.’
Anne(student):The second example, the one about the fingernails and the sweating.
Teacher: Yes! Excellent! Well done, Anne. You’re a brilliant student.
David: I don’t understand.
Teacher: And here, everybody, we see a very good example of both showing and telling. Not only has David told us that he doesn’t understand, he’s also shown us: with that silly look on his face.
David: Stop laughing! It’s not funny! Be quiet, Anne!
Teacher: David! Don’t shout at Anne. She’s done nothing wrong. Now, everybody, let’s play a game:
| A．This is showing |
| B．A lovely example |
| C．Why not try doing it |
| D．But how do we do that |
| E．I’ll tell you something and you have to say it in a different way |
| F．Now, which example tells the reader about how the man was feeling |
| G．Look and decide which ‘tell’ sentence matches which ‘show’ sentence |
5 . Do you remember reading an article called Kouji in middle school? In it, a kouji performer, specializing in vocal mimicry, creates lifelike performances of various sounds using just his mouth, with the stage having only a table, a block of wood on it, a chair and a fan.
Originating from ancient China, the art of kouji involves skillfully using movements of the lips, teeth, throat, and tongue to produce sounds that mimic birds, animals, and various other noises in the world. It is often combined with story-telling during performances. In 2011, kouji was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
According to the IHChina website, traditional kouji is becoming endangered due to the rapid development of electronic audio. However, Cao Quyang, a 28-year-old inheritor, has found a solution by combining kouji with beatboxing, achieving a perfect combination of traditional and modern performance art.
Cao started learning kouji in 2016 when she wanted to bring something original to her B -box performance."As a former percussionis（打击乐器演奏者） ,I'm sensitive to rhythm, so I integrated the kouji techniques I learned into beatboxing and created my own unique style in my area of expertise." she added. For example, when mimicking environmental sounds like wind, Cao can use her mouth to weave beatboxing into it, making the sound of the wind stronger and more rhythmic. "The addition of beatboxing brings more musical expression to kouji performances, making the stories more vivid and appealing to today's young audiences." said Cao.
In addition to kouji and beatboxing, Cao can also play the Chinese drums, drum set, and piano, as well as DJ. " Innovation is not difficult for me. To me, innovation is simply expressing something that people don't understand in a way they do," said Cao, "As long as it combines tradition and modernity and allows the public to appreciate the beauty of tradition through innovation, I'm willing to do it."
1. What does the article tell us about kouji ?| A．It involves five parts of the human mouth. |
| B．It originated in the Western Han dynasty. |
| C．It usually mixes sound mimicry with storytelling. |
| D．It received national heritage status in 2001. |
| A．By developing a new form of art. |
| B．By employing it to compose pop songs. |
| C．By including digital effects in her performances. |
| D．By combining it with percussion instruments. |
| A．Visual appeal. | B．Emotional depth. |
| C．Mimicry accuracy. | D．Rhythmic complexity. |
| A．It presents challenges and risks of failure. | B．It is a means of beautifying the old. |
| C．It is a way to bridge understanding. | D．It serves as a form of self-expression. |
6 . The waves were clean and curling one day about ten years ago when surfer Will Rose stepped into the water at Ocean Beach in San Diego, California. Rose was an experienced surfer then in his mid-20s. Midway through his session, he spotted a young surfer, perhaps 10 years old, who’d lost his board and was struggling in a powerful rip current (离岸流). Rose paddled over as the boy was carried underneath a long pier (码头) and s wept rapidly out to sea.
“It was one of the craziest rip currents I’ve ever seen,” Rose recalls.
He traded places with the boy, handing over his board and pushing the younger surfer towards the shore in a breaking wave. Rose held onto a pier pile tightly in the fast-flowing water as a lifeguard hurried over on his own board before helping him back to the beach.
Rose’s act of heroism, new research suggests, is a surprisingly common one for surfers. In a recent survey conducted in New Zealand, scientists found that throughout their lives, surfers reportedly rescue an average of three people who are drowning (溺死) or otherwise struggling in the water. The findings cast new light on the role of surfers: as largely overlooked guardians of the beach.
The study was conducted by Jamie Mead, then a graduate student at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. It began with an online survey of 418 surfers from across New Zealand. Processing the responses, Mead found that these surfers were claiming to have participated in a total of 1,274 rescues, including 296 times when they felt they’d saved a person’s life. Of these rescues, 73 percent took place on beaches without lifeguards present. It showed the crucial role surfers have played in protecting beach goers.
The survey responses also show that in nearly nine out of ten rescues, the people the surfers helped required no further treatment after the incident, and probably left no official record or report of the event.
“We need to get surfers the praise they deserve.” Mead says. The research, Mead writes in his paper, suggests that organizations involved in drowning prevention, “Should work closely with surfing communities on ways to reduce deaths at coastal beaches?”
1. What did Will Rose do when he saw the struggling young boy?| A．He ignored the boy. | B．He called for help from a nearby lifeguard. |
| C．He helped the boy escape the danger. | D．He helped the boy find his lost surfboard. |
| A．To highlight the dangers of rip currents. |
| B．To show the bravery and skills of experienced surfers. |
| C．To stress the potential dangers faced by young surfers. |
| D．To exhibit a typical rescue example by experienced surfers. |
| A．The findings of Jamie Mead’s study. | B．The purpose of Jamie Mead’s study. |
| C．Jamie Mead’s comments on surfers. | D．Jamie Mead’s advice on drowning prevention. |
| A．Surfers deserve public praise. |
| B．Increased lifeguard coverage is needed. |
| C．Beaches are safe with both surfers and lifeguards present. |
| D．Drowning prevention efforts need to involve surfing communities. |
7 . The Ark
Shanghai International Dance Center Theater will present “The Ark” this weekend, a two-dance performance by Chinese and foreign female choreographers (编舞者).
“Build Beauty” by Chinese choreographer Gong Xingxing and “Last Man Standing” by German choreographer Sita Ostheimer, comprise “The Ark”. Artists from Xiexin Dance Theater will perform both works.
Time: December 23, 7:30 pm
Admission:180 — 580 yuan
Venue: Shanghai International Dance Center Theater
Belt and Road Initiative
The exhibition narrates the history of the ancient Silk Road and Shanghai’s modern development. It features over 250 documents, artifacts, photos and videos. About 80 percent of the exhibits are on display in Shanghai for the first time. Highlighted items include a tiny replica (模型) of the treasure ship of Zheng He and some historical documents.
Time: Through late April, 2024
Admission: Free
Venue: Shanghai Archives
Live in Love!
The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers will lead audiences to welcome the New Year with a concert “Live in Love!”
Starting at 10:00 pm on Sunday, the concert features RCS’s original compositions covering the themes of love, memory, and farewells. The concert will end with the title song “Live in Love!” Audiences will be invited to stand up and set their emotions free together with the singers to welcome the New Year.
Time: December 31, 10:00 pm
Admission:180 — 1,080 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center
Inside No. 9
The popular British TV series “Inside No. 9” has been adapted into an immersive (沉浸式的) live theater performance. Three “Inside No. 9” stories will be performed live for the audience. The specially designed seats and stages will provide audiences with a one-of-a-kind immersive theater experience.
Time: Through February 29, 2:50 pm/7:30 pm/8:20 pm
Admission:489 — 589 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater
1. What is special about “The Ark”?| A．It will contain dances from the East and the West. |
| B．It will be composed all by German choreographers. |
| C．It will provide specially designed stages. |
| D．It will offer an immersive theater experience. |
| A．Some brilliant dances. | B．Some operas with the theme of love. |
| C．Some performances based on a TV play. | D．Some videos about the ancient Silk Road. |
| A．The Ark. | B．Live in Love! | C．Belt and Road Initiative. | D．Inside No. 9. |
8 . “We don’t mind using GPS,” says our Aboriginal guide Baamba in his Australian accent, as he looks out across the wilderness which belongs to his tribe. The red ground ahead is covered with bushes and trees. Although it’s early, it’s already 30 degrees in the shade. It’s a difficult hike, but Baamba is a sensible guide: he always carries a satellite phone in his backpack in case of emergencies. His ancestors, however, relied on songs.
The early Australian Aborigines made the land navigable (可航行的) through songs, dance and paintings. The songs described pathways or “songlines”, which provided an oral “map” of the land. They showed people where to find a water hole, where there was a river and where they could hunt. Generations of Aboriginals followed these pathways, leaving clear marks and carvings on rocks and trees to help future travelers. “But the songs describe more than a pathway,” explains Baamba. “They also tell stories about how the world was created.” According to Aboriginal stories, the world was created, when giant beings, part human, part animal, came down from the sky. From across the sea and from deep in the earth.
One of the many sacred sites called Arkaroo Rock was mentioned in the songs and stories about the land. These songs and stories show the close relationship between the native people and their environment, how they saw themselves as part of nature rather than master of it, and how their way of life resulted in a valuable knowledge of their land. It was a way of life with more than 2,000 generations. It was a way of life that was safe from invasion and influence until 1788.
____________ Sadly, this destroyed their ancient way of life, and many Aboriginal songlines were lost. Today, people like Baamba are trying to restore this heritage and preserve it.
It’s late now and Baamba is waiting outside Arkaroo Rock. Inside, we’re admiring the beautiful cave paintings, but as soon as we have taken some photos, we leave. Dark clouds are visible on the horizon—there are already flashes of lightning and thunder in the distance. As we drive away, the wind blows through the trees, and we can almost hear the voices of those first Australians, singing the songs of their ancestors, and following the songlines.
1. Why does the writer mention Baamba’s ancestors’ songs in paragraph 1?| A．To promote these songs, special culture | B．To draw readers’ attention to the theme. |
| C．To show off the old but advanced songs. | D．To advertise the place’s tourist attractions |
| A．Songlines were printed maps of die land. |
| B．Sonlines were mainly used to help hunters. |
| C．Songlines were a symbol of bravery of the Aborigines. |
| D．Songlines played a key role in finding people’s way around. |
| A．Songlines were negatively influenced by strange tourists. |
| B．The Aborigines experienced a terrible natural disaster in 1788. |
| C．The Aborigines celebrated their victories for defeating the enemy. |
| D．Foreigners’ invasion since 1788 resulted in the natives’ life destroyed. |
| A．Guidelines. | B．Songlines. | C．Exploration. | D．Tradition. |
9 . I have begun every conversation with the usual opening line, “Entschuldigung, mein Deutsch ist noch nicht so gut” since I moved to Hermsdorf, a little village in east Germany in 2015. The purpose was to let the Germans know that they shouldn’t expect me to express more ideas or respond quickly and accurately, so I escape too much conversation with them.
Learning to speak German was not funny for meat all. Even if I could technically write academic (学术的) articles in German, the thought of calling a doctor to make an appointment (约定) would still bring me anxiety. I would stammer (口吃) during small talk with a mother I had never met before, while dressing my one-year-old at kindergarten.
This went on for almost ten years until a month ago. I was at home, telling my husband about a meeting I’d had. As usual, I started the meeting by apologizing (道歉) for my poor German. The lady behind the desk looked at me somewhat confused, “But your German is great.” “She is right, you know,” my husband said. “I don’t know why you still think you speak poor German. OK, it is not perfect, but who cares?” After living in Germany for nearly ten years, why did I still worry so much? I finally saw the light. It was because I was trying to protect my feelings.
Lately, when I sat across from a woman who could be my future boss, I felt anxious about the interview, especially the unavoidable question, “Tell me about yourself.” I really wanted to use my usual opening line, but I didn’t and thought I should trust myself and my German. That afternoon, l was called back to meet the CEO who told me that I was hired, and when we shook hands, she didn’t mention anything about my German skills.
1. Why did the author begin conversations with the usual opening line?| A．She pretended to be polite. |
| B．She hoped to impress people with her language skills. |
| C．She wished form or c opportunities to practice German. |
| D．She wanted to avoid further conversation with Germans |
| A．Excited and inspired. | B．Anxious and bored. |
| C．Confident and relaxed. | D．Pleased and satisfied. |
| A．Not having confidence in speaking German. |
| B．Writing academic articles in German. |
| C．The basic rules of German grammar. |
| D．Small talks with her friends. |
| A．To stress the author’s language skills were praised. |
| B．To illustrate the mental challenges of job interviews. |
| C．To prove good relationship between the author and the CEO. |
| D．To show the author’s changes and growth in speaking German. |
10 . Having a right app can make a huge difference in your daily life.
Sworkit
As a fitness app, Sworkit provides users with lots of workout variety — from strength to cardio (有氧运动) to yoga. Once you download the app, you’ll be asked to do a quiz so Sworkit can work out the best program and fitness plan for you. The app is free to download but you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to access workouts after one-week free trial.
Bookly
Would you like something to track your reading progress? Here comes Bookly. You can get not only detailed and insightful statistics, such as reading speed, estimated book finish time, days you’ve read in a row, but also many personalized reading suggestions. However, what really makes this app shine is its another distinctive function which enables users to add their own comments, quotes, or thoughts while reading.
Fabulous
As the name suggests, this app’s aim is to make you feel fabulous (极好的). This daily self-care app offers specially designed routines that help you build healthy habits. Once you complete a habit or routine, the app will respond with words of encouragement, cute sound effects, or even a special letter.
Peak
This app is all about keeping your mind sharp. It has over 45 short, interactive games and puzzles that focus on aspects including memory, attention, problem-solving, and emotion control. When you open Peak for the first time, you’ll get to set personal goals and choose what brain-related aspects you’d like to improve on. The app is free to download, but unless you buy the paid version, you’ll need to watch some video advertisements every now and then.
1. Which is the right app for people who want to develop good habits?| A．Bookly. | B．Fabulous. | C．Sworkit. | D．Peak. |
| A．It tracks users’ reading progress. | B．It provides detailed and useful statistics. |
| C．It offers personalized reading suggestions. | D．Users can add their comments while reading. |
| A．They offer varieties of options. | B．Plans are made by users themselves. |
| C．Users need to watch advertisements. | D．They can be used for free all the time. |
