1 . Popular Countries to Visit in 2024

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country that travelers all over the world always talk about, not only because it is a friendly country, but also because it is one of Africa’s safest places. In Zimbabwe, you can visit many tourist attractions. For example, Big Five-filled national parks, forested mountains and the Victoria Falls. Here you can see African lions, African elephants, African buffaloes, African leopards, and rhinoceroses, which are called the big five animals.

Jordan

If you have a taste for adventure (冒险), you will certainly love Jordan, because there is a 650-km-long path in Jordan and you can have a 36-day hike here. There are several other places for people to visit, for example, the Rift Valley is the best place that attracts travelers fond of adventure to challenge. Besides, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, which can leave a deep impression on people.

Indonesia

From Sumatra to Papua, more than 17,000 islands make Indonesia a multicultural (多元文化的) country. On these islands, there are many kinds of tasty food, which could offer tourists good feelings and experiences. Thanks to heavy investment (投资) in new air, land and sea connections by the government, people from 169 countries can enter Indonesia with free visas (签证) . It has never been easier to explore this warm country.

Belarus

Belarus becomes more and more popular because of the relaxed visa requirements. There are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties in Belarus. In its beautiful old towns, people can go to the fashionable bars and join the happy summer street parties. Minsk, the capital of Belarus, has been chosen as the host city for many global events and meetings. 2024 European Games is on the list.

1. Where will you go if you are interested in African animals?

A．Zimbabwe.

B．Jordan.

C．Indonesia.

D．Belarus.

2. In Jordan which is the biggest attraction for travelers who love adventure?

A．The 650-km-long path.	B．The 36-day hike.
C．The Rift Valley.	D．The Dead Sea.

3. What can we learn from the passage about Indonesia?

A．Indonesia is one of the safest places in the world.

B．Many foreigners can visit Indonesia with free visas.

C．Indonesia is famous for its tasty food.

D．More than 17, 000 cities form the warm country.

4. Why does Belarus’ popularity increase?

A．Because the visa requirements have been less strict.

B．Because there are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties.

C．Because people can get 30-day free visas.

D．Because people can join the happy summer street parties.

5. Which country’s capital has become a center of global activities?

A．Zimbabwe.

B．Jordan.

C．Indonesia.

D．Belarus.

2 . Cannes, a coastal city in France, is famous for hosting the Cannes Film Festival every year. It’s also a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. Here are 4 things to do in Cannes.

Stroll (漫步) along the famous La Croisette

Enjoy a stroll down La Croisette — a famous 2-mile waterfront road. It’s the place where the Cannes Film Festival takes place. Take a seat for people-watching or enjoy the beautiful scenery. Discover recreational (娱乐的) places for kids or go to summer music concerts at a low price.

Explore the historic Le Suquet

Lose yourself in the attractive streets of Le Suquet, the historic old town of Cannes. An impressive 5th century theater will take your breath away. Visit the World Explorations Museum, and enjoy wonderful views from the tower. Walk through narrow streets and discover cafes and wine bars.

Take a tour of Cannes with a screenwriter

You can set foot on a small-group tour, led by a screenwriter and historical researcher. Get fully immersed (沉浸) in the city’s rich film history, and see how it transforms itself into an international film center. Remember to book your tour on the Internet in advance.

Leave for Sainte-Marguerite

Take a ship to Sainte-Marguerite, the largest of the Lerins Islands just off the coast of Cannes. Enjoy walks on coastal paths, or relax on the beaches, which are perfect for swimming and picnics. Enjoy local seafood, or go deep into the island’s past with a visit to the 7th century Fort Royal.

1. What can we know about La Croisette?

A．It holds free summer concerts.

B．It offers play areas for children.

C．It becomes well known for top-class service.

D．It allows visitors to take photos with film stars.

2. Which tour can help tourists understand the film development in Cannes?

A．Stroll along the famous La Croisette.	B．Explore the historic Le Suquet.
C．Take a tour of Cannes with a screenwriter.	D．Leave for Sainte-Marguerite.

3. How can tourists reach Sainte-Marguerite?

A．By water.

B．By car.

C．On foot.

D．By air.

3 . Grace Choi, whose nickname is Sunny, is a gymnast in America. “I remember her doing cartwheels (翻跟头) when she was a kid,” her brother Jin says.

One night at college, Choi saw members of a breaking (霹雳舞) club dancing by accident. She was immediately attracted to the dance and came to a class. Choi’s gymnastics skills gave her an advantage. After graduating from business school, she began working in the cosmetics (化妆品) industry. But on the side, she kept breaking.

Breaking was added to the Paris Olympics program in 2020. In late 2021, Choi attended a camp. It was for the top U. S. breakers. A coach there asked those who wanted to become Olympians to raise their hands. Everyone’s hand went up except Choi’s. Working full-time while training to make the Olympic team seemed impossible.

But after finishing second at the World Games in July 2022, Choi left the cosmetics industry. In 2023, she was chosen for the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the Pan American Games.“I’m so much happier,” she says. “I feel lighter. I have more energy for the things I want to do.”

Thirty-two breakers will go to Paris. “Choi has power moves,” says Mary Fogarty, a professor of dance at York University, in Toronto, Canada. “Choi is someone who has enough material to go all the way through.” Choi struggles with self-doubt. She’ll work on her mindset. She’ll lift weights with a strength coach. And she’ll eat a healthy diet.

Choi is confident about one thing: If you give breaking a chance, you won’t be disappointed. “You feel the energy,” she says. “You feel the excitement. You feel the happiness or the anger or whatever emotion that the dancer is expressing in that moment. What’s so cool about breaking is that you get to be really you.”

1. What introduced Choi to break dancing?

A．An accidental chance.	B．Her gymnastics skills.
C．Her brother’s encouragement.	D．The camp for the top breakers.

2. What did Choi give up in order to attend the Olympics?

A．Her job.	B．Her health.
C．Her college education.	D．Her chance of promotion.

3. How does Fogarty feel about Choi attending the 2024 Paris Olympics?

A．Anxious.

B．Confident.

C．Uncertain.

D．Unexpected.

4. What can we learn from Choi’s story?

A．A youth is to be regarded with respect.	B．The young thirst for being famous.
C．Where there’s interest, there’s success.	D．Curious minds never feel contented.

4 . There are reasonable dependencies that are healthy for an individual’s development. However, other dependencies bring unhappiness.     1     In this article, we’re going to be talking about some of them.

Other people’s opinions

Depending on other people’s opinions means letting your behavior, likes and desires be determined by the approval of those that surround you.     2     As a result of this, you guide your life projects, dreams, and behavior according to what others may think.

Fashion

Few are able to tell apart their own tastes and style from the current fashion trends. Now, we’re not only talking about clothing or accessories here but about general preferences and even philosophies. That desire to hop on a train and be part of the majority sometimes leads to dependency. Some become truly concerned about not being “in style”.     3    

Physical appearance

    4     As a result, they end up believing that their worth as human beings is defined by the way they look. We can’t lie; beauty opens doors to some individuals. Also, it makes it easier for some to climb to the top. However, it doesn’t serve much beyond that initial chapter.

Money

When the individual begins associating their personal value with the amount of money they have, it becomes a problem. Relying on money sometimes means believing that happiness equals consumption.     5     To those who think this way, not having money is equivalent to losing everything, including themselves.

A．It is associated with a deep dependency.

B．Having money is vital to everyone’s life.

C．These don’t contribute to your well-being.

D．Therefore, their own sense of identity is lost.

E．Some people take this too seriously to the point of addiction.

F．Supposing that your value depends on your wealth is the key to unhappiness.

G．You don’t really focus on believing yourself but getting acceptance from others.

5 . Teachers work hard to care equally about each of the students they teach. For most of us, however, some students stand out because they have greatly influenced our lives. Years ago, I had a young boy named Juan in my first-year class who I will never forget. Our experiences together impressed upon me the huge influence that just a few minutes of kindness can have on a young life.

Juan came from a very poor, single parent home. His mother showed little interest in his education and in his life in general. Throughout the year, I noticed that Juan had an unusual ability to solve questions and he picked up new ideas fast. I was surprised when he approached me to tell me that he did not think he was smart enough to attend college.

I explained to Juan that he was one of my best students. His face lit up with excitement, and he looked at me delightedly. I went on to explain to him that he could apply for scholarships (奖学金) to pay for college. I continued by telling Juan that it would be a waste of talent if he did not go to college. Juan looked as though he would need to re-think his whole life. It was not surprising that he was finally awarded enough scholarship that he was able to attend the local university.

My love for my students and for the subject I teach has continued to grow over the years. I consider myself lucky to be a teacher, and to have been a part of so many young lives, hopes, and dreams! I may not drive the nicest car on the block, but I am very rich in the things that count the most.

1. Why do some students stand out according to the author?

A．They gain high scores.

B．They are from poor families.

C．They make a difference in teachers’ lives.

D．They work hard to get the attention of the teachers.

2. What can we know from Juan?

A．He does very well in studies.	B．He had a quarrel with his mother.
C．He was abused (虐待) by his mother as a child.	D．He is not smart enough to catch up with others.

3. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．My encouragement for Juan.	B．Juan’s response to my words.
C．The relationship between Juan and me.	D．Juan’s puzzlement of life and stress from studies.

4. What is the author’s opinion of teaching?

A．It is well-paid.	B．It is energy-consuming.
C．It saves many young lives.	D．It enriches the spiritual life.

6 . How to Improve Your Sense of Self-worth

Self-worth is a key factor when it comes to your mental and physical health. Stress, depression and anger have all been shown to pave the way to illness and disease.     1     If so, you’re probably more content, confident and successful. You’re likely also healthier. If you find that your self-esteem (自尊) is weakening a little, there are plenty of ways to build it back up again.

Let yourself off the hook. As the saying goes, it is better to try something and fail than to not try anything. Focus on goals that are linked to activities you are interested in. Don’t care about whether or not you achieve your goal in full, just enjoying the process.     2    

Keep your body healthy. Eat a balanced diet and stay physically active to keep your body in good shape. You will look better, feel better and have more energy for new activities.

    3     Redefine the roles you play in the society and give yourself more sense of self-worth. Instead of “sales manager” or “mother”, start thinking of yourself as “community organizer”, “literacy volunteer”, “great cook”, “gifted gardener” and more.

Be aware of your advantages.     4     Are you fun to be around, thoughtful, generous? Keep adding to the list and pull it out whenever you need an improvement.

If you feel good about yourself, have a positive outlook and stay active and involved, you’re more likely to be happy and healthy.     5    

A．Rebuild your identity.

B．Find out your original roles.

C．These emotions influence your self-worth.

D．You will enjoy a sense of purpose and pleasure from it.

E．Remind yourself of your best qualities and make a list of them.

F．But a healthy level of self-worth can deal with life’s challenges well.

G．Therefore, increasing your self-worth with these methods is necessary.

7 . The health of our oceans is related to the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents (洋流) playing a key role in reflecting Earth’s climate. A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.

This significant research provides the first documented proof of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC (大西洋经向翻转环流). Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the data in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to track down the AMOC’s performance over time. Their findings reveal a change: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow remained unchanged. However, starting in the mid-1990s, a marked decline in its strength was observed, with a striking reduction in its speed.

Mishonov explains the signs of weakening circulation in Atlantic ocean currents, stating, “If AMOC slows down, the heat exchange will be reduced, which in turn will affect the climate, causing hot areas to get hotter and cold areas to get colder.” This imbalance could have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, possibly leading to more extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, disorders to marine (海洋的) ecosystems, and a mass of other climate feedbacks.

Mishonov’s research also touches on the cultural spirit, referring to the dramatic description of a similar scene in the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. While he stated that the film’s scenes with explosive effects is highly exaggerated and not supported by the scientific community, the hidden message—that a significant slowdown in the AMOC could lead to great and unpredictable climate changes—resonates with (与……共鸣) many experts.

As the scientific community continues to uncover the mysteries of our oceans, the significance of Mishonov and his workmates’ work cannot be overstated. Their research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between ocean currents and global climate.

1. How was the research carried out?

A．By referring to huge data.	B．By recording ocean movements.
C．By modeling the ocean currents.	D．By doing practical experiments.

2. What can we learn from Mishonov?

A．The increased heat exchange has an impact on the climate.

B．Rising sea levels from climate change could be prevented.

C．The slowdown of AMOC leads to extreme climate conditions.

D．The heated temperature may quicken the movement of the ocean.

3. Why is the movie The Day After Tomorrow mentioned in Paragraph 4?

A．To stress how scientific the story is.

B．To warn people of uncertain climate change risks.

C．To criticize the exaggerated threat in the movie.

D．To draw attention to the explosive effects of the movie.

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

A．The AMOC: A Potential Risk to the Earth

B．Ocean Currents: The Very Signals of Our Planet

C．Water Temperature: A Lasting Unavoidable Change

D．Climate Change: An Increasing Concern Around the World

8 . With stories about legends, romance and superpowers, Chinese online literary works are gaining a growing global readership.

Online literature, or web literature, refers to a new literary form created and published in a digital format (格式) on the Internet, which can include novels, poetry or prose. It mainly consists of original works which are posted onto a website previous to any type of physical publication in book form. Authors are free to build their stories on online reading platforms, which are usually update d on a daily basis. Fans log on to platforms, reading the latest content and paying for it. On online reading platforms, readers not only rank books based on their plot, word building, translation, but they also interact with the author.

Chinese web novels are popular among young Chinese, who share similar reading preferences with their overseas counterparts (相似的人). Popular Chinese web novels adopt the styles of Western fantasy novels which are familiar to Western readers, who also find freshness with elements from traditional Chinese culture. By the end of 2022, more than 16, 000 Chinese online works of literature had been exported abroad, reaching over 150 million readers outside China.

As a literature scholar who took notice of the phenomenon, Noah Forrin noticed the growing number of local writers overseas on WebNovel. He said they understand the preferences of the locals and are well aware of the taboos of their culture so that they can decide what can be included in their writing and what should be avoided, while having the potential to create popular online works for local readers using the production system of Chinese online literature.

The young scholar has full confidence for the future of online literature, since both the literary circle and readers are pushing authors to write better works. He believes adaptations to films, TV dramas, and games will also boost (促进) the development of online literature. “For now, Chinese online literature is seizing the moment, but other countries and cultural circles will join in, bringing about changes worldwide,” said the young scholar.

1. What can we learn about online literature?

A．Its off-line version is published earlier.	B．The authors usually update their works weekly.
C．It is a digital literary form with various types.	D．The readers can give comments and adapt the works.

2. Why do Chinese web novels appeal to readers overseas?

A．Western literature is gradually losing its freshness.

B．Westerners are crazy about traditional Chinese culture.

C．The novels combine Western styles and Chinese elements.

D．Readers overseas have the same reading habits as Chinese readers.

3. What does the underlined word “taboos” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Something unacceptable.	B．Something hidden.
C．Something unnoticed.	D．Something available.

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

A．To explain the features of online literature.

B．To show the popularity of Chinese online literature.

C．To introduce different attitudes to Chinese online literature.

D．To compare Chinese online literature with that of Western countries.

9 . Fu Zai, a lovely corgi only six months old who has been trained to be China’s first corgi police dog, made his debut (亮相) during the opening day of a police camp in Weifang, Shandon g Province.

His debut once again hit people’s fixed idea that “little short legs” cannot join the police force. Unlike those long-limbed dogs full of strength and energy, Fu Zai quickly went viral online thanks to his symbolic smile, special short legs and excellent explosion device-seeking abilities.

As a reserve police dog, Fu Zai faces a “heavy workload”: training is scheduled for every morning and afternoon, involving a variety of subjects, such as obedience (服从) exercising, bomb search, sniffing techniques and so on. Throughout the whole process, Fu Zai stood out and outperformed many of his peers at two months old.

However, some have doubted whether this adorable police dog can actually be qualified. In the face of questioning, Fu Zai performed well thanks to its unique advantages in the training. “His strong environmental adaptability, his desire for possession (拥有) of items and his fondness of food are particularly beneficial to our training,” said Wang Yanan, head of the police dog base of the Weifang Public Security Bureau.

“Police dogs are cute, but trainers have done a lot of work and effort to train them,” said Wang. “After a period of further training to adapt to the complex environment, Fu Zai is sure to be appointed and given missions.”

Following four months of training, Fu Zai now can take advantage of his short legs to directly search beneath the car and easily search narrow spaces. He can also improve interactions between police dogs and the public because of his appearance.

1. What should police dogs be like in people’s mind?

A．Energetic and fierce.	B．Smart and cute.
C．Devoted and calm.	D．Long-legged and strong.

2. What do we know about Fu Zai?

A．He has become a qualified police dog.	B．He can adapt to the surroundings easily.
C．He performed best in the training process.	D．He met some problems due to his short legs.

3. How does Wang sound in Paragraph 5?

A．Confident.

B．Serious.

C．Interested.

D．Concerned.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Every man has his faults.	B．A good dog deserves a good bone.
C．Good things come to those who wait.	D．Never judge a book by its cover.

10 . 阅读表达

If you love eating and drinking for free and are looking to make some money, there’s a job that suits you. A new type of service allows people to hire(雇佣) others to enjoy their favorite   foods.

Chinese media recently reported on an increasingly popular service that people can go online and hire others to enjoy certain foods and drinks, and ask them to provide video evidence of them eating or drinking the said treats. People should pay from two to nine yuan for the service besides the cost of the food.

Pearl milk tea(珍珠奶茶) is a particularly popular service, as the chewy (耐嚼的) balls and tea drink is so popular these days. There are also some people who want to pay the one who wants to eat fried chicken or hot pot for them. The trend(趋势) has spread to other areas such as selling videos of pet owners feeding their animals and people watching TV series for others. One person in Harbin even offered to sell photos of buyers’ names written in the heavy snow.

So why would anyone pay a total stranger a treat rather than enjoy it themselves? Well, clearly, the online service is so cheap that some people simply do it because of boredom. Some sellers explained that most customers buy their service because they’re hungry at night while they’re on a diet. Eating and drinking by others may help customers reduce the desire(欲望) and avoid high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other health problems, sellers said. While others get satisfaction in watching others enjoy their favorite treats.

This service has garnered a lot of attention on social media. Although it’s not exactly a get-rich-quickly job, there are quite a lot of people willing to do it for the free treats alone. Some people describing it as their dream job.

1. How much money does it cost to consume certain foods and drinks besides the cost of the food?(no more than 5 words)
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Why would some people pay someone to eat or drink for them? (no more than 15 words)
______________________________________________________________________________
3. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 5? (1 word)
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Why do some people describe the job as their dream job? (no more than 10 words)
______________________________________________________________________________
5. What’s your attitude towards hiring others to consume tasty food? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
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