1 . The Let’s Activity Campaign
The Let’s Activity campaign aimed at preserving rivers is coming. You will board at Castle Wharf, Nottingham, England. Offer to join us now.
BookingArrive 15 minutes before the schedule time to ensure we can get started in a timely manner. The sessions are designed for adults and children of all ages to enjoy a new experience. Parents or guardians should book tickets in advance to participate in the campaign.
CostThis campaign is free for all participants who are also not paid. However, if you fail to cancel and simply don’t show up on the day, you must pay the standard £20 administration fee, chargeable for each ticket booked.
Therefore, if your circumstances do suddenly change and you are no longer able to attend, you must cancel using one of these three mechanisms:
1. The preferred method is via the ticket booking system. You can find the link on your ticket.
2. You can also click here to send an email to us, and know more about details of the date, time, venue and participants in your email message. Don’t email if within less than 48 hours of the campaign. Instead, you’d better use option 1 above or option 3 below.
3. In case of an unforeseen emergency within 48 hours of the campaign, telephone the staff member, which we hope won’t happen.
Donate to Let’s ActivityAs part of our work, the Let’s Activity campaign is a waterway charity to help everyone get out, get active and make their lives better by learning to boat. You can now support the work our teams do with families, and make a donation on our website for the environmental protection.
1. What do we know about the campaign?| A．It requires reservation. | B．It is chargeable to adults. |
| C．It is a 15-minute parent-child experience. | D．It requires individual administrative capability. |
| A．Sending cell phone messages. | B．Telephoning the staff member. |
| C．Emailing within 48 hours of the campaign. | D．Using the booking system linked on the ticket. |
| A．To call for a visit to rivers. | B．To call for volunteering work. |
| C．To encourage a donation on the spot. | D．To encourage children to learn to boat. |
2 . Psychologists tell us our self-image defines(限定) what we believe we can and cannot do. Each of us over the years has built up belief about ourselves: Unconsciously, our pictures of who we are have been formed by past experiences. As self-image plays a great role in our growth, gaining a proper understanding of it and even making changes to it can hold significant meaning for our development.
Changing our self-image is possible: Some psychologists suggest we begin to change our self-image by mentally picturing ourselves performing well at some tasks. Since we presently react to things based on our present images, it's suggested that we replace those with better ones. In many experiments, people were asked to sit quietly for a few minutes each day and imagine themselves doing well. For example, subjects would sit and imagine themselves throwing darts(飞镖) at a bull's-eye on a target Over a period of weeks, their dart game improved.
The point of changing self-image is not to develop an image of ourselves that is not real. The aim is to find the real self and to bring our mental images of ourselves in line with our true potential. However, it is generally accepted among psychologists that most of us fail to do justice to ourselves. We're usually better than we think we are.
Another important part of changing self-image is to not think about past mistakes. Don't let failures do harm. It is all right to make mistakes. But when they have taught us what we did wrong, we should forget them and not dwell on(纠结于)them. Sometimes we keep remembering our failures or mistakes and feel guilty or embarrassed about them, and then we develop a fear.
It is important to have realistic expectations of ourselves. Some of our dissatisfaction might come from expecting too much of ourselves. If our goal is to reach perfection, we are doomed(注定要失败的)from the start.
1. Which situation agrees with the idea of the passage?| A．To win a speech contest, Tina pictures herself speaking more confidently. |
| B．To get along with her classmates, Doris always humbles(使卑微)herself. |
| C．To become a star player, Alex repeatedly plays back his mistakes in his mind. |
| D．To be better than his classmates, Joe sets an unrealistic goal. |
| A．To clarify(澄清)the key to changing self-image. |
| B．To confirm(确认)the effect of changing self-image |
| C．To propose a new view on changing self-image. |
| D．To stress the importance of changing self-image. |
| A．They are tools for overcoming fear. | B．They are warnings for future. |
| C．They are part of our growth. | D．They are barriers to our development. |
| A．Overcoming fear through past mistakes. |
| B．Building a realistic self-image through proper imagination. |
| C．The importance of humility(谦卑)in personal growth. |
| D．Setting realistic goals for personal development. |
3 . Are you longing for a travel experience full of iconic attractions, which is not only immersive but also intimate? Offering attentive guides, unique experiences, and the perfect combination of exploration and friendship, small group travel is redefining the holiday experience.
●Explore uncharted but safe territories. Take a journey to breathtaking destinations that might otherwise be frightening to explore independently.
●Be guided by the local guides.
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●Start your adventure with peace of mind. Small group tour operators take care of everything. With convenience at the forefront, you can explore outside your comfort zone, knowing that every detail has been thoughtfully arranged.
| A．Bond with like-minded travelers |
| B．It is a unique experience to visit a packed place |
| C．Take a look below to find what you can do on the trip |
| D．Travel alone to find more opportunity to enjoy yourself |
| E．A small group tour offers access to off-the-beaten-path places |
| F．You can experience the true essence of a destination with their guidance |
| G．Besides, reputable small group travel companies ensure your protection and security |
4 . Accents in English
Accents are fascinating and usually come with kinds of information.
Thanks to the development of technology, various handy accesses are available for people to share and pick up accents. English actor and accent coach Sarah Valentine is an expert in teaching the tones which can change the English language.
Valentine has been working in TV since the 1990s. She appears to have found success coaching other actors to speak in a variety of dialects.
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Everyone has an accent. A dialect coach like Valentine can help one learn to speak differently, for an acting job or for fun.
| A．In fact, all accents are worthy of pride |
| B．One’s birthplace can affect his accent |
| C．However, not all accents are worth learning |
| D．While much work with actors is done in one-on-one coaching |
| E．They can signal one’s living places, education and personality |
| F．On TikTok, she gives examples of simple phrases repeated in over 20 accents |
| G．A region’s location has a direct influence on the development of a local language |
5 . If you think that running marathons will help you live a long and health y life, new research may come as a shock. According to a recent scientific study, people who do a very strenuous workout are as likely to die as people who do no exercise at all.
Scientists in Denmark have been studying over 1, 000 joggers and non-joggers for 12 years. The death rates from the sample group indicate that people who jog at a moderate pace two or three times a week for less than two and a half hours in total are least likely to die. The best speed to jog at was found to be about 5 miles per hour. The research suggests that people who jog more than three times a week or at higher speeds of over 7 mph die at the same rate as non-joggers. The scientists think that this is because strenuous exercise causes structural changes to the heart and arteries (动脉). Over time, this can cause serious injuries.
Peter Schnohr, a researcher in Copenhagen, said, “If your goal is to decrease the risk of death and improve life expectancy, jogging a few times a week at a moderate pace is a good strategy. Anything more is just unnecessary, and it may be harmful.”
The implications of this are that moderate forms of exercise such as Tai Chi, yoga and brisk walking may be better for us than “iron man” events, triathlons and long-distance running and cycling. According to Jacob Louis Marott, another researcher involved in the study, “You don’t actually have to do that much to have a good impact on your health. And perhaps you shouldn’t actually do too much.”
1. The underlined word “strenuous” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “ ______”.| A．hard | B．regular | C．practical | D．little |
| A．suggest giving up jogging | B．show risks of doing sports |
| C．provide supportive evidence | D．introduce the research process |
| A．Jogging for an hour every day. | B．Brisk walking for half an hour every day. |
| C．Cycling at a high speed. | D．Doing yoga once a month. |
| A．It may injure the heart and arteries. | B．It can make the body tired out. |
| C．It will bring much pressure. | D．It consumes too much energy. |
6 . In a video shared online, a young photographer, Lily, is seen confidently directing a well-known action movie star for a photograph. Even though the actor is very tall, she is not nervous. She tells him what to do like a real professional, even though she’s still quite young.
“Given his size, I asked him to make more pronounced movements,” said Lily, reflecting on the shoot in a recent interview. The young shutterbug (摄影爱好者) has already taken photos of several personalities and has earned a significant following online, with her work receiving millions of likes.
Lily’s journey into photography began when she was just four years old, with a simple point-and-shoot camera. Her father, recognizing her natural ability to connect with people, encouraged her to explore street photography. At the age of five, she captured a portrait of a renowned musician-turned-actress during a chance encounter in a store, which quickly went viral on the social media.
Since then, Lily has been receiving numerous requests to photograph top talents. “The more I photograph in public places, the more recognition I get, which in turn leads to more chances to work with well-known figures,” she explained.
Because of her young age, some have questioned how she manages to secure such high-profile shoots. Her father, who assists with minor post-production edits, explained that her unique perspective was what attracted the attention of talent agencies. “Through Lily’s lens (镜头), subjects show a different side,” he said. “Her photos capture a softer, gentler aspect of people, celebrity or not.”
Addressing concerns about the use of filters and heavy editing, Lily insists that her images are minimally processed. Her ultimate goal is to evoke (唤起) emotions through her photography and, eventually, to become a full-time portrait photographer. For now, she continues to hone (磨炼) her craft and enjoys the present moment.
1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?| A．A girl is directing a film. | B．How a girl is photographing. |
| C．Children need social activities. | D．How a short video is produced. |
| A．She photographed many action movies. | B．A famous actress offered to help her. |
| C．Her father made her skills known. | D．Social media played a significant role. |
| A．She is good at adjusting lens. | B．She constantly learns from others. |
| C．She photographs from a special angle. | D．She gains recognition from celebrities. |
| A．Hesitant. | B．Determined. | C．Pessimistic. | D．Negative. |
7 . Southern Africa is home to most of the world’s black and white rhinos. Because of global warming, the weather in this area is changing quickly. People have worked hard to protect rhinos from being hunted, but until now, no one has really looked at how the changing weather might hurt these animals.
A research team from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has recently reported that the area will be affected by both higher temperatures and changing precipitation (降水) and the rhinos are more sensitive to rising temperatures, which will quickly increase above the animals’ acceptable maximum threshold.
Over the last 100 years, Africa’s average monthly temperatures have gone up by 0.5℃ to 2℃. Scientists think that in the next 100 years, it might get even warmer, up to 2 more degrees. This change in weather might also change how much rain we get. But here’s the thing：For animals like white and black rhinos, which people have been trying to protect for a long time, will the heat or the rain changes hurt them more? This is a big question because rhinos don’t have sweat to cool down. They stay cool by taking baths and staying in cool shady spots.
To understand how changing climate will affect rhino populations, lead author Hlelowenkhosi S. Mamba and his colleague, focused their efforts on five large national parks representing diverse landscapes in southern Africa that are home to most of the rhinos. They have found that temperature conditions in all study parks will become increasingly unsuitable for both species, but it is predicted that white rhinos will be affected earlier than black rhinos.
“This research highlights the importance of using climate predictions for both park and rhino management,” says Randhir. “We propose that park managers now think about increasing water supplies, tree cover, watching for stress and planning to allow rhino migration as the world warms.”
1. How are rhinos traditionally protected?| A．By building their living habitats. |
| B．By saving them from illegal hunt. |
| C．By monitoring their physical health. |
| D．By removing their breeding surroundings. |
| A．range | B．register | C．average | D．content |
| A．Cooling heat off by sweating. | B．Drinking much water. |
| C．Migrating to other places. | D．Bathing in the water. |
| A．Predicting the weather. | B．Buying new species. |
| C．Boosting habitats. | D．Restricting visitors. |
8 . People normally look for a bit of adventure in their lives. They hunt for something new, something unknown, and they learn new things about the world and themselves.
Most of the time, adventures can be rewarding, because they make you feel satisfied after doing them.
| A．Adventures come in many forms |
| B．That may be followed by disasters |
| C．However, some adventures are risky |
| D．It is the best way to live a life of adventure |
| E．It tells us about what life was like during his time |
| F．And one’s adventures also provide others with useful information |
| G．We should weigh the dangers against the rewards before our adventures |
9 . You’ve made the decision that you want to travel more this year. You’ve realized that experiences are more important than possessions (财产) and you’ve put together a plan to start saving for your next big trip.
Be open-minded.
Haven’t heard of a place?
You want to travel to a certain destination but flights are really expensive? Don’t let this put you off, unlock your creativity and find a solution. Using the example of Ljubljana again, it’s really expensive to fly direct but flights to Venice are cheap and then there’s a 2-hour shuttle (往返) bus from Venice Ljubljana. Problem solved.
Explore travel websites and blogs.
Seek suggestions from locals.
Locals are often the best sources of information when it comes to discovering hidden destinations. Engage (接触) with locals through conversations, or social media groups related to your destination.
| A．Be creative. |
| B．Can’t even pronounce a place? |
| C．Avoid the common misunderstandings. |
| D．Can’t find a way to write your journal? |
| E．But how are you going to decide where to actually go? |
| F．The Internet is a place full of valuable information when it comes to travel. |
| G．Ask for their recommendations that might not be widely known but are worth exploring. |
10 . A 2021 York University study showed that weekly dance training improved motor function and daily living for those with mild Parkinson’s disease. So what is it about dance that’s different from other exercises?
Helena Blumen, a scientist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, says the mental multitasking that dance requires activates various parts of the brain at the same time, which can lead to the building of better connections across different brain regions. Basically, dancing requires more “brain power” than simpler repetitive exercises.
While scientists are still learning how dancing works in the brain, a clearer picture is beginning to take shape. In 2018, researchers at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany, did MRI scans (扫描) of older adults who had taken part in one of the two programs over six months: one group practiced dance and the other did a traditional exercise program with cycling and strength training.
Both groups improved their level of physical fitness, but the dancers grew more white and grey matter in the parts of the brain that are responsible for cognitive (认知的) processes. What’s more, the dancers showed an increase in blood plasma BDNF, a factor known to play an important role in the development of brain capacity (能力). Together, the researchers suppose, these brain changes contribute to more of the brain’s ability to form new connections and pathways.
In a different study in 2022, Blumen and other researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that social ballroom dancing, when compared with treadmill walking among adults over 65, was connected with diminished possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease and improved overall quality of life.
Similar studies have shown the benefits of dance in conditions ranging from MS to Huntington’s disease or other mental illnesses. Dance therapy (疗法) might even help people with brain injuries. A small Finnish study of 11 people with severe brain injury showed that dance-based therapy may improve mobility, cognition and overall well-being.
1. How is dancing different from other exercises according to the text?| A．Dancing is more fun. | B．Dancing is more challenging. |
| C．Dancing is better for the heart. | D．Dancing requires more brain activities. |
| A．By making a detailed survey. | B．By referring to previous studies. |
| C．By making comparative analyses. | D．By setting up a modeling pattern. |
| A．Reduced. | B．imagined. | C．Flexible. | D．Existent. |
| A．It’s risky. | B．It’s beneficial. | C．It’s informal. | D．It’s traditional. |
