1 . There is a lot to learn about the unusual habits and qualities of the British people when you first visit London.

Get to know what to wear. Most men now go for a shirt, and women go for a smart-casual skirt or trousers and top(上衣), or a dress. Some men might keep a jacket and tie at work that they can put on if they have a client meeting or some other reason to look extra smart.     1     For example, if you head to the Ritz Hotel for tea, or visit the members’ section at: Lord’s Cricket Ground, you will be expected to dress appropriately.

Pay attention to the art of giving praise.     2     We receive praise, we will often make a self-deprecating(自嘲) comment to emphasize modesty. For example, if you tell somebody “I love your dress”, you expect the reply to be “This old thing? I bought it in Primark ages ago!” In this example, when faced with a self-deprecating British person, you could say, “Well, I think it’s lovely.”     3    

Visiting gardens is common. Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities in the UK. Two-thirds of British people visit a garden centre each year, which results in great economic value.     4     In fact, we love the gardens so much that each year the National lead 10Garden Scheme opens over 3,000 private gardens to the public, raising money for charity in the process.

    5     The truly wealthy rarely show off their wealth, and we don’t like to talk about money or how much we earn. A common saying is “money can’t buy taste”. In other words, if you are truly “upper class”, you do not need to show it.!

A．The British like to be modest.

B．This business is worth 25 billion.

C．When it comes to money, less is more.

D．In this way, you will have made their day.

E．We like to wear suits to the gardens and donate money to show modesty.

F．And if you are going to a wedding as a guest, it is best to avoid wearing white.

G．Away from the workplace, however, there are still places that expect a suit and tie.

2 . An outbreak of bird flu（禽流感） moved from Asia to Europe, and has now spread to North America, which has led to the deaths of tens of millions of birds.

The last time there was a bird flu outbreak was seven years ago. The 2015 bird flu caused the death of over 50 million birds in the US alone. Slowly, over time, that outbreak was brought to a close by itself. This version of bird flu was first noticed in Saudi Arabia in February,2020. All through 2020 and 2021, the disease continued to spread. Wild birds which caught the flu in one part of the world carried the disease to other parts as they travelled.

The current bird flu appears to be at least as deadly as the 2015 flu, and seems to spread more easily. As one expert put it, “A lot more birds appear to be affected.” In the US alone, over 40 different kinds of wild birds have been found to have the disease, and those birds are spread out over 30 different states. Among the wild birds hit the hardest are water birds like ducks and geese. Birds which eat other birds, like eagles, are also being heavily affected. To keep the flu from spreading, farms with a few infected birds often have to kill thousands of birds, even if they don’t all have the disease yet.

Some scientists think this virus will stick around in wild bird populations. “I hope that this is not the case. I hope that in the US this infection will go away soon,” says Ron Fouchier, a virologist（病毒学家） at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. “But there’s no guarantee for that, as we’ve seen in Europe now that this virus has remained present for several years.”

1. What do we know about the 2015 bird flu?

A．It was discovered in Saudi Arabia.	B．It had little effect on the birds.
C．It appeared in different forms.	D．It came to an end on its own.

2. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The performance of the infected birds.	B．The killing of the bird flu.
C．The current bird flu’s consequences.	D．The tough choices for farmers.

3. What is Ron Fouchier’s attitude to the end of the infection in America?

A．Positive.

B．Uncertain.

C．Uncaring.

D．Disapproving.

4. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A magazine about animals.	B．A novel about ordinary people.
C．A health guidebook.	D．A medicine book.

3 . As people get older, it can become more difficult for them to do activities that require a wide range of mobility (移动的能力) — but that doesn’t mean they want to stop being active.

Feeling inspired by this realization, Ole Kassow, a kind and considerate man, wanted to offer free bike rides to the old at the local nursing home in Denmark. To make that possible, he thought hard and came up with an idea of making a trishaw (三轮脚踏车) , a new kind of 24bike that includes a two-person wooden bench that’s located at the front so riders can better enjoy the view. In this way, Ole showed great love to the old.

Ole’s bike rides became so popular that, over time, he turned it into a non-profit club called Cycling Without Age. Since then, they’ve gone from having one chapter (地方分会) in Denmark to having chapters in 52 countries! To make these rides accessible to all, they come at absolutely no cost to the riders.

Cycling Without Age is all about making bike rides accessible to the elderly, but it’s actually so much more than that. In addition to getting some much needed fresh air, these lovely people are given the chance to socialize.

“We dream of creating a world together, in which the access to active citizenship creates happiness among our fellow elderly citizens by providing them with an opportunity to remain an active part of society,” their website says.

What Cycling Without Age is doing is something the volunteers enjoy as well. “This is a great opportunity to really bring generations together,” young volunteer Adam Binnie said.

“It reminds me of when I was younger and able to go out into the countryside,” Christina Ogilvie, one of the riders said. “Yes, that’s what it reminds me of-getting out, walking... I felt like royalty (王室成员), actually, waving at everybody and everybody waving at us. We all love riding like this.”

1. What did Ole mainly take into consideration when making the trishaw?

A．Its riders’ interests.

B．Its production costs.

C．Its drivers’ age.

D．Its raw materials.

2. What is one of the purposes of Cycling Without Age?

A．To promote sport for all people.	B．To make the old become social.
C．To tell people to value young days.	D．To provide jobs for young people.

3. Why does the author mention Christina Ogilvie in the last paragraph?

A．To prove she is so popular.	B．To praise her for being active.
C．To say Ole’s project is well received.	D．To explain trishaws will be available soon.

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

A．Love breaks down barriers.	B．The simplest way is the best way.
C．It pays to put theory into practice.	D．It is not rewarding to try new things.

4 . Our General English 20+ course is a practical course for motivated (积极的) adults who want to develop their confidence in communicating in English in a variety of situations. In small groups, you will develop your fluency and accuracy with realistic role-plays and real-life situations. Full-time or part-time choices are available to fit around your work, childcare or lifestyle commitments.

Our learners typically come from a wide range of backgrounds and an average of 70 nationalities per year.

For people who book 8 weeks or more, we have a special support system to ensure that your needs are met throughout your time with us and that you continue to see progress in your skills. This extra support includes extra free help and personalized feedback. We will communicate regularly with you so that any issues can be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Here’s more information about our course:

Maximum group size: 8

Minimum age: 20

Duration (时长) : a minimum of 1 week

Full-time: 24 hours per week; 9: 30-15: 45/16: 00 (Monday to Friday)

Part-time: 12 hours per week; choose morning or afternoon classes

Morning: 9: 30-12: 00 (Monday to Friday)

Afternoon: 13: 30-16: 00 (Monday to Friday)

At the end of this English course you can expect to understand the news and media better, use English more effectively for work or travel, deal with everyday. situations like meeting people or booking a hotel, and have developed your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

1. What’s special about the English conversations during the course?

A．They are academic.

B．They are natural.

C．They are informal.

D．They are easy.

2. What should you do to have your learning problems solved more quickly?

A．Join a group of eight.	B．Choose full-time classes.
C．Give your personalized feedback.	D．Book at least an eight-week course.

3. What requirement should the learners meet if they want to book the course?

A．They should be 20 or older.	B．They have to be on the job.
C．They should be free at weekends.	D．They must be native English speakers.

5 . Dog ownership may be associated with longer life, especially for heart attack and stroke (中风) suvivors who live alone, according to a new study.

Previous studies have shown that dog ownership alleviates social isolation (隔绝), improve physical activity and social bonds, even lowers blood pressure, leading researchers to believe dog owners could potentially have better health outcomes compared to non-owners. They sought to determine how dog ownership affected health outcomes.

Researchers compared the health outcomes of dog owners and non-owners after a heart attack or stroke using health data provided by the Swedish National Patient Register. Patients in the study were Swedish residents aged 40 to 85 who experienced a heart attack or stroke. Compared to people who did not own a dog, researchers found that for dog owners, the risk of death for heart attack patients living alone after hospitalization (住院) was 33% lower and 15% lower for those living with a partner or child. The risk of death for stroke patients living alone after hospitalization was 27% lower and 12% lower for those living with a partner or child.

The lower risk of death associated with dog ownership could be explained by an increase in physical activity and decreased depression and loneliness, both of which have been connected to dog ownership in previous studies.

While this study drew the conclusion from a large sample (样本), potential misclassifications (错误分类) of dog ownershipin couples living together, death of a dog and change of ownership could have affected the outcomes of the study.

The results of this study suggest positive effects of dog ownership for patients who have experienced a heart attack or stroke. However, more research is needed to confirm a cause-effect relationship. Moreover, from an animal welfare perspective (角度), dogs should only be owned by people who feel they have the ability and knowledge to give the pet a good life.

1. What does the underlined word “alleviates” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．reduces

B．increases

C．causes

D．shows

2. Who were the subjects (主体) of the study?

A．Healthy dog owners and those with illnesses.	B．Dog owners and non-owners in hospitalization.
C．40- to 85-year-old dog owners around the world.	D．Middle-aged and old heart attack or stroke survivors.

3. Why can dog ownership reduce the risk of death according to the researchers?

A．Dogs make people physically and mentally active.	B．Dogs give warning of heart attacks or strokes
C．Dogs encourage social participation.	D．Dogs save lives in emergencies.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward dog ownership?

A．Approving

B．Uncertain

C．Objective

D．Critical

6 . Best Online Exercise Classes

Online exercise classes are changing the way we think about fitness, and here are some of the best apps for online exercise classes for you to select.

Daily Burn

Daily Burn offers a 30-day free trial, so you can get a feel for the classes and instructors before you make the decision. It provides over 1,000 classes ranging from choices for beginners to advanced athletes, all taught by expert trainers. There are classes that are 10 minutes and ones that are an hour, so you can do a workout that’s perfect for your schedule.

Alo Moves

Through this app, you’re given the chance to connect with encouraging coaches and other hard-working members, and take more than 2,500 different yoga classes of all styles and all difficulties. You can even take classes or practice yoga with any of your friends online. At a price point of $20 per month, it’s surely one of the reasonable at-home choices.

Booya Fitness

Classes offered include cardio (有氧运动) kickboxing, sports conditioning, dancing, and even more. Even if that sounds like you’ll need much expensive equipment, Booya Fitness promises that 75% of their workouts can be completed with just an exercise mat (垫子). Booya Fitness is also very selective (严格挑选的) in the music they play because they know a good song can make your cardio workout motivating. It’s a best choice for the middle and upper class.

Peloton

Peloton’s service is based on live classes intended for anyone who has a bike, and they require the Peloton branded equipment to join in. There are new classes every day, and thousands of classes to choose from. What’s more, there is also a treadmill users can purchase for running- and walking-based classes, and a TV app for strength classes. However, it will charge you more for the convenient service.

1. What can we know about Daily Burn?

A．It offers 30-day free trial classes freely.	B．It’s only suitable for advanced athletes.
C．Most classes are taught by experienced trainers.	D．It’s intended for anyone who has a bike.

2. What is Booya Fitness particular about?

A．Prices.

B．Sports facilities

C．Trainers

D．Music

3. Which of the following may suit those who want to seek a fair price?

A．Daily Burn.

B．Alo Moves.

C．Booya Fitness.

D．Peloton.

7 . Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada

There is refund (偿还) of the tax money (GST) paid on such items as: clothes; electronic products; cosmetics and short-term accommodation (住宿).

Any goods about food; tobacco products; alcohol; entertainment and goods that you consume in Canada do not qualify for refund.

You can claim a refund of the tax money if you meet the following conditions:

◆You are not a citizen of Canada at the time you apply for a refund.

◆The goods you purchase are for personal use.

◆You have paid GST on these purchases.

◆Only original receipts (收据) of the goods you purchase are available. No photocopies are accepted.

◆Each receipt indicates a minimum purchase amount of Canadian dollars $50, not including GST.

◆The total amount of your purchases should reach Canadian dollars $200, not including GST.

◆The receipts should be stamped by the customs officers in the customs offices in one of the Canadian international airports.

You can mail us your receipts of purchases within one year with your original plane boarding pass back home and your home address. We will mail back your tax money in cash within six weeks after we get your receipts. Any false claim will cause a serious offence.

Please fill up the tax refund application form if you fully understand the information with your signature. Mail the form to:

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Suite 104, 275 Pope Road Canada.

For more information: Call Canadian customs service at 1-800-461-9999

1. All the tax money spent on the following goods or items can be refunded except on _______.

A．cameras and CD players	B．hotel living expenses
C．pants and jackets	D．movies and concerts

2. The tax refund instructions are aimed at those who _______.

A．pay for their purchases in cash

B．buy goods and use them outside Canada

C．travel or work in Canada as foreigners

D．are interested in making shopping trips abroad

3. The tax refund application form should be mailed to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency_______.

A．before the buyer leaves Canada

B．after the buyer leaves Canada

C．when the buyer is in the Canadian International Airport

D．after the buyer has the receipts stamped at the airport

8 . I have a strong faith that the pain is almost gone but the feeling of success will stay forever. I was among the 38,000 runners who participated in the marathon (马拉松赛跑), the largest event of its kind in Asia.

My decision to participate in the marathon was because of the insistence of my wife, who had run the half-marathon previously. This year, she wanted me to participate along with her. Unexpectedly, her application got rejected while mine got accepted.

Though I had been into fitness training before, it seemed to be a daunting task to run 21 km. I started training about 10 weeks before the day. I had made up my mind to finish the run. So I tried my best to accommodate training into my busy schedule whenever I could.

What’s more, I remembered that four weeks into my training, my shoes were worn. I searched and hunted and literally spent a fortune on a new pair of shoes. However, right on the first day of running with them, I felt that they were not for me. I preserved, thinking that my discomfort was because the shoes were new. Eventually, I gave up on them. I even tried looking for another new pair of shoes, but couldn’t find that were as comfortable as my old ones.

Finally, on 16th January 2011, I ran and completed the half-marathon. And I did it in my old shoes.

Now, when I think about it, it all seems so easy. All I had to do was to picture completing the run in good time in my mind.

What I have learned from the experience is that completing a marathon is like any other goal in life — largely a mind-over-matter phenomenon. In other words, unless you believe you can reach your goal, you’ve lost even before you begin. No doubt, factors such as hard work, experience and talent help to a greater or lesser degree. But without your belief that you will get there, every goal remains difficult to achieve.

1. Why did the writer participate in the marathon at first?

A．It was the largest event of its kind.

B．He had run the half-marathon previously.

C．His wife insisted on him participating.

D．He had been training for a long time.

2. What can we learn from the text?

A．The writer was the best among all the runners.

B．The writer tried his best to do some marathon training.

C．The writer’s fitness training before was only a little help to him in the run.

D．The writer’s old shoes were very expensive.

3. The writer says completing a marathon is like “a mind-over-matter phenomenon” because_______.

A．self-confidence is the primary factor in a marathon.

B．to win a marathon depends on your mind, not on your shoes

C．it would be easy if you made up your mind to begin it

D．belief can bring you success in a marathon

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．Practice Makes Perfect.	B．Insist on Your Decision
C．The Pain before Success	D．A Running Lesson

9 . Starting a club of some kind at school can be difficult. But with a good idea, some active friends, and the right knowledge, you can pull it off.     1     .

Decide whether you really want to start a club. Once you have strong enough support from your friends and fellow students, you’re ready to go .

    2    . Find an advisor for your club. Pick someone who will help you organize events for your club.

Find a place.     3     If you want to do this,   talk to your headteacher to apply (申请) for a classroom.

Decide when to meet. Decide how often your club should meet, and then pick a convenient time and day when most club members will be free.

Advertise your club at school. Make bright, colorful informative posters (海报) that will attract attention.     4    .

Plan volunteering events. You can decide on events yourself, or hold a meeting to get your club’s opinion.     5    

Have fun. What’s the point of having a club if it’s no fun? Don’t take yourself too seriously and be sure to have a sense of humor.

A．Get support.

B．Read on to learn how.

C．Know the purpose of setting up a club.

D．Most clubs meet in classrooms after school.

E．Professors from other schools can be invited to deliver a lecture.

F．Either way, be sure to hold fun events that everyone can take part in.

G．You can also ask your headmaster if you can make a small presentation in public.

10 . Peru

Tour guides are required to lead tourists to the forest and accompany them during their stay at a jungle hut. Working hours may be any time between 4 a. m. and 8 p. m., as the tour programme requires. Applicants should be fit, enthusiastic, and have an interest in the natural world. A rich knowledge of English is very important. Please send your application to the address below: Tambata Jungle Lodge, O. O. Box 527, Cuzco, Peru.

Italy

Staff is required all year round in our hotel situated on the edge of Lake Maggiore. Previous experience is not necessary but a high level of English or Italian is highly desirable. Applicants must be hard-working and quite flexible in working hours. Send your application to the personnel manager to the address: Grand Hotel Montana, Via Osteria, 1-28051. Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Nepal

Volunteer teachers are needed to help teach various subjects in primary schools in Nepal. All meals and accommodation are provided. Applicants should be caring, highly-motivated, and preferably have some sporting or artistic skills. Besides, fluent English is required. For further information, please contact: The Director, Intouch Nepal, P. O. Box 439, Pokhara, Nepal.

1. What do you have to do if you take the job as a tour guide in Peru?

A．Have some sporting skills.

B．Lead and accompany tourists in the jungle.

C．Work more than sixteen hours almost every day.

D．Be fit, enthusiastic and have an interest in the arts.

2. What can we know about the job in the hotel in Italy?

A．Previous experience is not a must.	B．The applicants must have artistic skills.
C．The applicants must speak Italian well.	D．All meals and accommodation are provided.

3. What do the jobs in Peru and Nepal have in common?

A．The applicants should work all year long.	B．They both provide free accommodation.
C．They both require good spoken English.	D．The applicants should be good at sports.