1 . It is natural for young people to be critical of their parents at times and to blame them for most of the misunderstandings between them. They have always complained, more or less justly, that their parents are out of touch with modern ways; that they do not trust their children to deal with crisis; that they talk too much about certain problems; and that they have no sense of humor, at least in parent-child relationships.
I think it is true that parents often underestimate their teenage children and also forget how they themselves felt when young.
Young people often annoy their parents with their choices in clothes and hairstyles, in the entertainers and music. This is not their motive. They feel cut off from the adult world into which they have not yet been accepted. So they create a culture and society of their own. Then it turns out that their music or entertainers or clothes or hairstyles annoy their parents. This gives them additional enjoyment. At least in a small way, they are leaders in style and taste.
Sometimes you are proud, because your parents can’t change what you do. If they do approve, it looks as if you are betraying (背叛) your own age group. But in that case, you are assuming that you are an underdog: you can’t win, but at least you can keep your honor. This is a passive way of looking at things. It is natural enough after long years if you were completely under your parents’ control in your childhood. But it ignores the fact that you should be responsible for yourself.
From my teaching experience for ages, I want to give you young people the following advice that perhaps can help deal with the generation gap properly. If you plan to control your life, co-operation can be part of that plan. You can charm your parents into doing things the way you want. You can impress them with your sense of responsibility, so that they will give you the authority to do what you want to do.
1. What can we know from the young people's views in Paragraph 1?| A．Parents are lacking in humor and like talking a lot. |
| B．Parents always know much and keep pace with the times. |
| C．Parents should be responsible for all the misunderstandings. |
| D．Parents believe their children's ability to solve any problems. |
| A．They find extra fun from their annoying actions. |
| B．They are quite content to be away from the adult society. |
| C．They make full use of their music to speed up their lives. |
| D．They always annoy their parents in order to enjoy music. |
| A．Lovely dog. | B．Failure. | C．Partner. | D．Looker. |
| A．A capable chef. | B．A famous writer. |
| C．A senior teacher. | D．A trusted entertainer. |
2 . A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have found that dogs do not use their tails to help stabilize their movements, which is contrary to previous research results. Instead, as they explain in their paper, the tails are used as a communications device.
The researchers began their work by noting that dogs are unique among mammalian carnivores(哺乳食肉动物) because they do not climb trees. Thus, their tails are not needed to help them survive in such an environment. They then noted that many other ground animals with tails use them for stabilization during running or jumping, Cheetahs(猎豹) , for example, use their tails to help them remain stable as they run very fast. Dogs' tails, the researchers noted, are smaller than those of tree-dwelling(树栖的) creatures and much less flexible than those found on creatures such as cats, which use them quite often to keep their balance.
To learn whether dogs' tails help stabilize their movements, the researchers dressed several sheepdogs in suits with sewn-in sensors, so that they could take down on a computer the movement of every part of the body during their running, jumping and other activities.
Overall, the researchers found that dogs do not use their tails to help them keep their balance or to change direction, or for anything else, at least physically. They note that previous research has shown that dogs use their tails to convey their mood and intentions. Fast wagging, for example, usually means the dog is happy. They suggest that while the tails of dogs may have once served a large purpose, those that live in modern times appear to only use them to show others around them how they are feeling-a very useful ability for a pack animal.
1. What's the author's purpose in mentioning cheetahs and cats in Paragraph 2?| A．To compare their tails' use with the dogs'. |
| B．To stress the unique function of cats' tails. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of dogs' life. |
| D．To state cheetahs' various hunting methods. |
| A．To distinguish them from the real dogs. |
| B．To control their tails wagging frequently. |
| C．To keep their body balance over fast runs. |
| D．To record the movements of every part of their body. |
| A．It can't run as fast as a normal one. |
| B．It will be less flexible to make turns. |
| C．It will often roll over during running and jumping. |
| D．It can't communicate with its visual body language. |
| A．The Removal of Dogs' Tails Is Acceptable |
| B．Dogs' Tails Are Not Used for Stabilization |
| C．Dogs' Tails Are More Flexible in Modern Times |
| D．The Function of Dogs' Tails Has Changed Entirely |
3 . On that day, I was firstly invited by my colleague, Marion, to her birthday party. When I arrived and sat in the corner, a young man opened the door. He was the most handsome man I had seen in my 22 years-with a black crew haircut, a small mustache and beautiful blue eyes. “He is an excellent example,” Marion whispered to me. “And his name was Johan Viggo.”
I was extremely shy and nervous when the party started. We all played the Catch the Fox; but I cheated and got Johan Viggo’s number, 13. Before I could call it, he called my number, 10. I was caught by him. Later, I learned that he had cheated, too. Afterwards, we as friends matched, and had a better understanding.
When drinks and food were served, Johan Viggo offered me a taste of his ice cream. He sat with me and asked if he could take me home. I agreed. And eventually, Marion waved us out of her party one by one.
Several days later, Johan Viggo said his vacation was over and he would return to his ground troops where he served, saying he had a lot to do. “During my break, I will go online to teach my primary school students music.”
Two months ago, Bosnian Kalesic, head of Woods Primary School, Marion’s friend, told Johan Viggo she would find a substitute teacher to cover his classes while he was on duty, but he insisted on continuing to teach. She said, “Johan is an excellent example. He also teaches our kids the significance of practice and determination.”
However, Johan Viggo said to me he was not doing anything extraordinary. “My mom was a music teacher. That’s why I do what I do. I am here to do what’s needed, and if that means standing outside for 24 hours straight in the freezing cold, I’m ready to do that, because it’s my duty as a soldier to follow orders.”
1. Why does the author mention the Catch the Fox in Paragraph 2?| A．To display number 13 is more popular than number 10. |
| B．To prove the most popular party is constantly changing. |
| C．To show that he and Viggo both have a desire to know each other. |
| D．To suggest that he and Viggo have known each other for a long time. |
| A．Viggo was very strict with kids. | B．Viggo was irreplaceable anytime. |
| C．Viggo had a positive effect on kids. | D．Viggo was diligent and independent. |
| A．A soldier and teacher. | B．A soldier and student. |
| C．A headmaster and writer. | D．A headmaster and teacher. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Devoted. | C．Humorous. | D．Outgoing. |
4 . The website Books We Love is back with strong recommendations for new books handpicked by its staff, which will interest readers deeper.
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
A young child named Finn is sad and does not want to get out from beneath their blanket. His loving grandfather gently convinces him to go for a walk, and Finn gradually appears from his shell as the grandfather points out what’s beneath all the things they see. Beneath the surface of Cori Doerrfeld’s quiet story lies a deep emotional intelligence.
Limitless by Jeanna Smialek
New York Times reporter Jeanna covers the organization the Federal Reserve (Fed) (美联储) and explains how much the Fed affects the lives of ordinary people, which is the key point, and details the changing role of the Fed among worldwide financial crisis. Through human-level storytelling, she makes the Fed’s decision-making feel refreshingly transparent.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Has there ever been a better time to read about a charming funny young woman who just can’t seem to get it together? This book follows Eve Brown-a talented cook, extraordinary singer, devoted sister. At the start of the story, she is idle. As her story progresses, Eve winds up (以……告终) learning a lot about herself and what she’s capable of. Besides, her struggle also helps illustrate how rigid and often misguided the expectations of our family, friends and communities can be. “In this sense, the author is also an educator,” a famous editor, Code Switch says.
The Color Purple by Linda Holme
It is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which is about a love story that begins on the Italian Coast in the early 60s and eventually appears on the screen in Hollywood. As the settings shift from Italy to Edinburgh to Los Angles, you will find yourself longing to go as well. Buy it on Amazon.
1. What can be the topic of Limitless?| A．An important organization. | B．A changing role in the world. |
| C．The worldwide financial crisis. | D．The Fed’s effect on people’s lives. |
| A．Cori Doerrfeld’s. | B．Talia Hibbert’s. |
| C．Linda Holme’s. | D．Jeanna Smialek’s. |
| A．Beneath. | B．Limitless. |
| C．The Color Purple. | D．Act Your Age, Eve Brown. |
5 . I am an ecologist from Zimbabwe, but I’ve been based at the National University of Lesotho in Maseru for more than 13 years. Lesotho is a mountainous inland kingdom in southern Africa. Its high-altitude (高海拔的) wetlands support the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which delivers water to the Vaal River System in South Africa, generating both income and electricity for Lesotho.
I study the ecological balance that keeps those areas functioning properly: The wetlands t rap water when it rains and release it gradually during dry periods. An important part of this is to map the plants, animals and general environmental conditions, and how they change over time.
One of our team projects monitors the soundscapes of those areas to identify the animals that live there. We put sensitive recording equipment in the field for weeks at a time. This is of great help because, although that site is just 180 kilometers from my university in the capital of Lesotho, it can take up to four hours to drive there.
The data we gather are huge, and although we do listen to the recordings, we mainly use software to help us analyze the data. We want to compare our recordings between seasons, between dawn and dusk (晨昏) and between day and night, to understand the rhythms of the ecosystem. We also compare our recordings from different wetland types. High-altitude areas are easier to be affected by climate change and, in my view, it is the greatest threat those protected wetlands face.
Listening to the recordings makes me happy because I enjoy hearing a variety of sounds, especially the singing of different birds. In a small country like Lesotho, there are so many knowledge gaps to fill — it’s one of the benefits of being a researcher there. I hope that in the future some of you in this classroom will contribute to this as well.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Collecting water on rainy days. | B．Harvesting electric power. |
| C．Studying the ecological balance. | D．Surviving during dry periods. |
| A．It can attract more animal lovers. | B．It can save time on traveling there. |
| C．It can offer directions to new drivers. | D．It can test the quality of the equipment. |
| A．What to do with the recordings. | B．Why climate change is a threat. |
| C．How to record sounds in the wild. | D．When natural sounds are recorded. |
| A．In a news report. | B．In a speech. |
| C．In a research paper. | D．In a travel guide. |
6 . The protesters who had gathered on a lawn in Rome’s central Piazz a Venezia came from neighborhoods all around the capital, but they had one concern in common: saving the towering umbrella pine trees that for centuries have decorated the city’s skyline but are disappearing in alarming numbers.
Celebrated in music and art, and admired by the ancient Romans, the trees are as much a part of the city’s identity as its human-made landmarks. “They are in the hearts, photographs and memories of everyone,” said Jacopa Stinchelli, who is helping lead the defense of the pines, which in recent years have taken a turn for the worse.
An attack by an invasive pest, which sneaked into Italy about a decade ago, has killed many trees. In the eyes of some Romans, however, it’s not just the bugs that are to blame but also a city government that has struggled to deliver basic services.
Critics say that the pines have been subjected to indiscriminate removal, with trees that could still have been saved. They claim that during the past two years at least 4,000 potentially curable trees have been chopped down. While it’s hard to lay responsibility on Rome’s municipal government for the invasion of pests, critics say the city could be doing more to preserve the pines.
The primary method to counter the pest in urban areas involves injecting a special insecticide into the tree to kill the female population. But the current costly and high-maintenance approach “can’t be a permanent solution,” said Pio Federico Roversi, the director of a national research center for plant protection. “We’d better introduce natural predators—animals that kill and eat the pests, which doesn’t pose a risk for the Italian environment,” Mr. Roversi said.
Sabrina Alfonsi, the member of Rome’s City Council, said in an interview that the city had set aside 100 million euros, or $110 million, to care for the city’s green spaces. All infected pines had been treated, she added, the city has begun monitoring all its 350,000 trees of various species.
No solution is likely to eliminate the pest problem entirely, Mr. Roversi said, but it could become manageable “so that the plants no longer suffer.”
1. What can we learn about the umbrella pines in recent years?| A．The distribution is hugely uneven. |
| B．They have faded out of Roman mind. |
| C．The number has dropped dramatically. |
| D．They are used to celebrate special occasions. |
| A．Remove the bugs as soon as possible. |
| B．Make efforts to defend curable pines. |
| C．Chop down the trees destroyed by pests. |
| D．Take responsibility for the invasion of pests. |
| A．By using natural enemies. |
| B．By spraying chemical pesticides. |
| C．By replanting pines resistant to pests. |
| D．By establishing a nature reserve for pines. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Skeptical. | C．Discontented. | D．Approving. |
7 . Andrew McCarthy-stars roles in era-defining movies such as Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire and Less Than Zero. But he is also an award-winning travel writer whose books include The Longest Way Home (2012) and Walking With Sam (2021). In the new book, he looks back on an epic adventure, where he walked 500 miles across Spain’s Camino de Santiago with his 19-year-old son, Sam.
McCarthy had hoped the trip would be a way to re-examine their evolving relationship, as Sam was just stepping into his own manhood. “I wanted to get to know my son. Not just in the parent-child, dominant-submissive or unruly roles, but as adults, as equals, as peers (同龄人),” he said. “The Camino gave me the greatest luxury you have with adult children—which is time.” For McCarthy it was a chance to spend time with Sam, and perhaps avoid repeating the history he had with his own father. “My relationship with my dad ended pretty much when I left home at 17 years old, and I didn’t want that happen with my kids,” MeCarthy said.
The book’s structure follows the path of the Camino, with a chapter per day over the course.
It creates a pleasant rhythm of the trail. It also establishes a gradual sense of community and friendship among the other walkers they encounter, and paints a clear picture of McCarthy as somebody extremely in touch with his feelings.
Sometimes physical togetherness and shared experiences are the most you can ask for in a relationship, and there are lovely examples of both here. In one scene McCarthy realizes Sam is suffering from a sugar crash, and offers him a protein bar he’s been saving for just such a moment. “I reach out and rub his shoulder,” McCarthy writes.“He nods softly, gratefully. We sit together as thousands upon thousands of dandelion puffs (蒲公英) float in the air like dancing diamonds.” Walking with Sam captures this encouraging and hopeful expedition as the pair walk across the country and towards one another.
1. What do we know about Walking With Sam according to paragraph 1?| A．A fantasy novel. | B．A travel memoir. |
| C．A prize-winning diary entry. | D．An era-defining movie. |
| A．To honor his father. | B．To help his son fly the nest. |
| C．To bond with his son. | D．To seek for writing inspiration. |
| A．Comparison and contrast | B．Cause and effect |
| C．Facts and opinions | D．Sequence of events |
| A．Plain but functional. | B．Inspiring and touching. |
| C．Brief but informative. | D．Humorous and straightforward. |
8 . When does spring begin? For some, it’s the second Sunday in March, when we turn our clocks forward by an hour in the United States. For others, it’s when they first realize they’ve finished dinner and it’s still light out. This year, impatient as ever for winter to end, I decided to skip my usual routine of calendar watching and see if I couldn’t do something to speed up spring’s arrival.
It’s only a three-hour flight from La Guardia (rainy, cold), New York to West Palm Beach (sunny,81 degrees, slight breeze), Florida and from there an hour’s drive to Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, the spring training home of the New York Mets, where the traffic of more than 7,000 fans descended. Here in Port St. Lucie on a Tuesday afternoon, weeks before the season’s official start, cheery fans were dressed in lightweight clothing, drinking Modelo Especial and snacking on peanuts, heckling(起哄)the players. Here, spring was already happening.
Being outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air, things do feel slower and easier. I love that baseball has long been considered America’s national pastime. A pastime is something that makes the passing of time pleasant. Isn’t that what we’re dying for in the winter months? Something that makes time not just tolerable but enjoyable?
By the time I left Florida, it was pouring rain and even a little chilly. How was I supposed to take springtime home with me, I wondered fiercely. It was still raining in New York when I landed. Spring isn’t just weather, of course, and it certainly makes no promises about rain. I'm trying to resist cliché (陈词滥调), to keep from saying something similar to “spring is a state of mind,” even though I wish it were.
I went looking for spring and I found it where spring breakers find it every year, already in full swing in the Sunshine State. My own official removal of woolen coats will occur on Tuesday, when spring finally arrives. But having experienced 24 hours of spring’s full pageant (盛会), my own little preseason, I feel slightly pacified. Perhaps I can be patient as spring establishes itself, and offer the season a little grace as it clicks into place.
1. What is presented in Paragraph 1?| A．Spring falls on a fixed date. |
| B．Spring came late this year. |
| C．The author was longing for spring restlessly. |
| D．The author was celebrating the end of winter. |
| A．A fast-paced world. | B．Full of a joyful atmosphere. |
| C．The birthplace of baseball. | D．Home to delicious food. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Disappointed. | C．Curious. | D．Calm. |
| A．In Search of Spring | B．In Praise of Spring |
| C．A Trip to Florida | D．A Farewell to New York |
9 . DREAMING OF A NEW OFFICE?
Are you undisturbed by the chill of the Antarctic winds? Can you adapt to near-constant daylight, subzero temperatures and no flushing toilet (抽水马桶) or running water? Ready to take on the challenges of living and working in one of the most remote corners of the Earth? The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust invites passionate individuals to join our team at Base A on Goudier Island, Antarctica.
As a member of our elite team, you’ll manage a museum, post office, and gift shop as well as conducting penguin counts. You will live and work at Base A at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island, which is about the size of a football pitch. Imagine waking to breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by curious penguins and the vast expanse of untouched wilderness. This is not just a job — it’s an expedition, a chance to make history while living among the impressive beauty of Antarctica.
Applicants must possess resilience, physical fitness, and environmental awareness. Training will begin in August, ahead of the working period from late October or November until March, 2025. Interview s and selection events will be conducted to ensure the best fit for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join us in our mission to preserve Antarctica’s rich heritage and contribute to global conservation efforts. Apply by 25 April at jobs @ ukaht. Org and become part of an adventure that will leave you forever changed.
1. What’s the challenge of the advertised positions?| A．Extreme heat. | B．Total darkness. |
| C．Tough working conditions. | D．Drinking water shortage. |
| A．Counting penguins. | B．Maintaining a football field. |
| C．Opening a gift shop. | D．Appreciating the scenery. |
| A．5 months or so. | B．Less than 3 months. |
| C．About 13 weeks. | D．Around 7 months. |
10 . Knowledge is power, and the more you learn about mental health, the better the position you may be in to help those facing mental health battles. Consider doing the following things to support those closest to you.
Attend a training course
Listen
If someone approaches you in their time of need, it’s not always easy to know what you’re supposed to do, and it may be more beneficial for you to just listen.
While being a listening ear is sometimes all someone needs to feel better, you can also become an ongoing source of support. Check in with the person experiencing a mental health problem like depression so that they know you are always there for them. Make contact with them regularly to see how they are feeling. Just knowing someone cares can make a world of difference.
Call emergency services
Your support, guidance, and listening ear can be of great value to anyone going through a tough time.
| A．Check in with them |
| B．Suggest support services |
| C．However, it’s essential to know your limits |
| D．Such a course may just help you to prevent someone’s depression |
| E．They may not need you to offer solutions or even give them a hug |
| F．Sometimes, the best thing you can do is encourage them to seek professional help |
| G．You don’t have to be in a professional health role to attend depression prevention training |
