1 . Holidays abroad are officially back, with millions set to book a trip away this summer, To guarantee a stress-free break, use these practical tips.

Take out travel insurance as soon as you book

By not having insurance, travellers risk having to pay substantial medical or repatriation (遣送回国) costs if they fall ill or hurt themselves abroad     1     . Make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book. So if something goes wrong and you can't travel, you could claim for the cost of your holiday.

    2    

With tourist areas expected to be crowded this year, many visitors will face disappointment if they don’t book attractions or restaurants in advance. Avoid long queues at busy places by making a reservation.

Invest in a translation device or app

    3    , being able to speak and clearly understand the local language will make your whole holiday experience stress free and much more enjoyable. When you want to order food, call for taxis, or communicate with the locals, a language translation device or app such as Pocketalk will help ensure your trip runs smoothly.

Be aware of potential cheats and financial tricks abroad

Unfortunately, as a traveller, you can attract the attention of criminals who see you as an easy target, so it’s important to stay alert to the possible risk of theft, cheats and other financial tricks.     4    . Do not let your credit card leave your sight when paying for things.

Prepare for delays

With large numbers of travellers expected this year,be prepared for airports, ports and stations to be extremely busy with a high chance of delays. Have a less stressful journey by allowing yourself plenty of time to check in and get through security.     5    

A．When you travel abroad

B．If you have prepared for the trip

C．Book activities and attractions in advance

D．And they may also risk a delay in treatment

E．Avoid carrying large amounts of cash when exploring

F．Make sure you have books, magazines, or games to keep you entertained

G．Forget awkward hand gestures and pointing and concentrate on making memories

2 . The teenage years are a transformative period marked by great physical, psychological, and emotional changes.     1     They refer to the feelings that arise during interactions with others, such as gratitude, shame, sympathy, guilt, and pride.

Understanding and managing social emotions can help develop teenagers’ identities. Teenagers experience a wide range of emotions from social interactions, which significantly influences their self-understanding and social awareness. In the process, they learn to understand, and appropriately respond to both their own emotions and those of others.     2    

In academic settings, social emotional competencies like self-regulation, motivation, and social awareness directly impact a teenager’s ability to learn, participate, and engage in school activities.     3     Teenagers with strong social emotional skills are better equipped to handle stress, resist peer pressure, and avoid risky behaviors, reducing the likelihood of developing mental health issues.

Learning social emotions involves a combination of personal experience, guidance, and formal education.     4     This environment influences teenagers’ earliest understanding of how to communicate and manage their emotions. They feel safe and supportive to express their emotions freely and learn to manage them without fear of judgment. Schools also play a significant role through social emotional learning programs that teach these skills in a structured environment. Community involvement, extracurricular activities, and peer (同伴) interactions offer additional opportunities for teenagers to practice and refine their social emotional skills.

    5     It contributes to a teenager’s ability to manage their own emotions, understand others’ emotions, and face social complexities. This learning is a cornerstone for shaping their identity, influencing their interpersonal relationships, academic success, mental health, and future life outcomes.

A．What exactly are social emotions?

B．The journey into mature emotion is quite easy.

C．Social emotion learning for teenagers is essential.

D．Central to this phase is the concept of social emotions.

E．This helps shape their own personal principles and beliefs.

F．Families play a crucial role in modeling and developing these skills.

G．Moreover, social emotional skills are closely linked to mental health.

3 . When Mark Twain visited Florence (佛罗伦萨) in 1867, he dutifully visited the city’s museums, churches, and tombs. But as he stood by the Arno, he began to sense the Italians’ insistence that it was a river, not a stream. “They all call it a river, and they honestly think it is a river, do these dark and bloody Florentines,” he complained, “I might enter Florence under happier circumstances a month hence and find it all beautiful, all attractive. But I do not care to think of it now, at all.”

It’s normal to feel uncomfortable outside your home culture. Feelings of discomfort, dislocation, and overload among travelers are referred to by many as “culture shock.” But Susan Goldstein, a professor at the University of Redlands says, “ Though the term has existed for many years, ‘Culture shock’ implies a dramatic, unexpected, negative event. Though many travelers will experience such challenges, a real sense of ‘shock’ is untypical. So untypical that many researchers no longer use the term.”

It was the vivid description of culture shock by Canadian researcher Oberg, written in 1960 in response to his own multicultural experiences, that won over audiences. The researcher spoke of the adjustment process as “an occupational disease of people who have suddenly been transplanted abroad” — a “disease” that progressed from a honeymoon phase, through rejecting the new environment, to finally adjusting fully to it. By the 1970s many researchers adopted the idea that, like physical illnesses, culture shock progressed through a remarkably consistent and universal set of stages.

Modern research, however, suggests that the experiences of adaptation are individual, not universal. “People will have their ups and downs, but for the most part, they will become increasingly comfortable and competent over time,” Goldstein says. And while many connect the causes of culture shock to the host culture itself, an individual’s internal expectations and differences are just as important.

As for Mark Twain, the moody author was able to ride out his feelings of upset and dislocation while traveling. He eventually finished out his European tour - and in his bestselling travel memoir The Innocents Abroad, famously remarked that travel is “fatal to prejudice and narrow-mindedness.” With the right attitude - and the willingness to seek help if you need it - it’s more than likely that you, too, can adapt and grow in new settings, building new memories-and toughness - with each new stamp in your passport.

1. How did Mark Twain feel about Italians’ insistence?

A．Annoyed.

B．Calm.

C．Uninterested.

D．Curious.

2. What can be inferred about culture shock?

A．It would lead to physical diseases.

B．It was regarded as an avoidable thing.

C．It was named for people’s adjustment.

D．It had gained wide acceptance by the 1970s.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Suggestions about culture shock.

B．A change in understanding culture shock.

C．Stress of the importance of culture shock.

D．A criticism of previous idea of culture shock.

4. Why is Mark Twain mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．To remember him.	B．To inform and anticipate.
C．To conclude and encourage.	D．To make the ending humorous.

4 . Powerful Benefits of Journaling

When looking for a way to better manage stress and feel your best, consider adding journaling to.     1     It’s a pathway to deeper self-understanding, emotional clarity, and psychological recovery.

Practice journaling as therapy (治疗)

By making journaling a regular practice, you create a space for self-reflection that can lead to personal growth and psychological treatment.     2     Once you start, with each word you write, you’re taking a step towards a deeper understanding of yourself and moving closer to well-being.

Release and process feelings

    3     Journaling provides a private, judgment-free space to explore and express emotions without reservation. This process of externalizing what’s inside can be incredibly cathartic (宣泄的), helping to reduce stress and manage extreme emotions.

Help recognize sources of stress

Think of it as a safe space to express how you feel, leading to a significant decrease in stress levels. Sometimes the first step in building the life you want starts with simple awareness. Journaling gives you a chance to recognize what stresses you out in the first place.     4    

Promote mindfulness

Journaling brings your focus to the present. Just like in mindful meditation (冥想), journaling gives you an outlet to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment. Think of this as an act of self-love, to accept yourself in the present moment just as you are.     5    

A．This practice goes beyond just recording daily events

B．Even just five minutes can help gain some comprehension

C．Sometimes people find it challenging to express their emotions.

D．This mindfulness aspect provides a crucial tool in reducing stress.

E．Once you notice bad situations, you can remove that source of stress.

F．This can enhance decision-making skills and promote an approach to life’s difficulties.

G．To begin your therapeutic journaling journey, the most important aspect is to get started

5 . Pickleball, which combines elements of badminton, Ping-Pang, and tennis, has two characteristics that make it a good choice for older adults. It’s slower than other racket (球拍) sports, and it’s easier to learn.

With a play area about a quarter the size of a tennis court and a plastic ball that doesn’t bounce as high or as fast as a tennis ball, you don’t have to run as much or as quickly. The bats are lighter and shorter than tennis rackets, making them easier to swing and control. There are fewer rules than tennis.

Plus, pickleball is more social than many types of exercise and it’s fun. In one study, participants rated pickleball 150 percent higher for enjoyment than walking. “People are finding it’s not boring,” says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief science officer at the American Council on Exercise, who has played pickleball for more than 20 years. “It’s not something they’re doing just because they should, but because they enjoy it and want to do it.”

Pickleball is an effective workout, and like walking, you can adjust the intensity to your preferences. A friendly doubles match can qualify as proper exercise. A competitive singles match is likely to be tighter.

And pickleball offers plenty of health pluses. After six weeks of playing an hour of pickleball three times a week, older adults improved their cardiorespiratory (心肺的) fitness and blood pressure, according to a study published in 2018 in the International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology. Another study found that the activity may keep you mentally sharp. “You’re making a lot of quick decisions while engaged in a physical task,” says study author David Bolton, PhD, assistant professor at Utah State University in Logan. “It is effectively training cognitive (认知的) ability.”

But it is not without risks of getting injured. Don’t just hit the court and go right into having a game. A warm-up is the best defense against injury, so take at least 5 minutes to prepare your body.

1. What is one of the reasons for the popularity of pickleball among older adults?

A．Its slow pace.	B．Its great intensity.
C．Its complex rules.	D．Its cheap equipment.

2. What does Cedric Bryant mainly want to tell us about pickleball?

A．It is demanding.	B．It is enjoyable.
C．It is beneficial.	D．It is practical.

3. What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Making quick decisions.

B．Training cognitive ability.

C．Brain activity during physical exercise.

D．The proper frequency to play pickleball.

4. What might the author talk about next?

A．Pre-workout preparations.	B．The rules of this exercise.
C．Comments on this game.	D．Disadvantages of pickleball.

6 . The 2017 Noble Prize for Physics was given for the confirmation of a prediction made 101 years earlier. In 1916 Albert Einstein, whose theories of special and general relativity revolutionized scientists’ understanding of the universe, predicted that, in certain circumstances, the fabric of the universe itself should swing and bend.

The cause is gravitational waves In 2015 gravitational waves were directly observed for the first time. LIGO, an American observatory based in Washington State in that country’s northwest, and Louisiana in the southeast, detected waves produced by a pair of crashing black holes, each about 30 times the mass of the sun. That produced ripples (波纹) in space-time with a frequency of about 150 Hz, or cycles per second, and a wavelength of around 2, 000km.

This detection marked the beginning of the era of gravitational wave astronomy, which uses gravity to examine the universe in the same way that conventional astronomy uses electromagnetic radiation, from visible light to radio waves and gamma rays. On June 29th four projects led by researchers in America, Australia, China and Europe claimed to have pushed forward the state of that emerging art. They announced the detection of new, extremely low frequency gravitational waves which could offer insights into some of the hardest-to-study bits of the universe.

Gravitational wave detectors are interferometers (干涉仪). They work by dividing a ray of light into two,and sending each half down one of a pair of long,straight arms. At the end of the arms,the light waves are reflected back towards the source, where they are recombined. If that journey is uninterrupted, the returning rays will cancel each other out when they are put back together. If they do not, then that suggests some disturbance has disturbed them on their journey.

1. Why was Einstein mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To make a prediction.	B．To make a comparison.
C．To offer more background.	D．To honor this great scientist.

2. Which word best describes the detection of gravitational waves?

A．Expected.

B．Surprising.

C．Accidental.

D．Groundbreaking.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us about gravitational wave detectors?

A．How they work.	B．What they can do.
C．Whether they are accurate.	D．Why they are used.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Ripples in Space-Time.	B．Theories to Be Confirmed.
C．Predictions about the Universe.	D．Ways of Observing the Universe.

7 . The British accent of Cary Gran has finally been revealed after a fellow actor tracked down a secretly tape recording of the Bristol-born big screen superstar.

Jason Isaacs, who plays Cary Grant in a coming ITV biopic (传记片), said that although setting his mind on figuring out the actor’s real accent, he had become upset by the absence of interviews with Cary Grant.

The star, whose death aged 82 in 1986 brought to an end one of the 20th century’s greatest screen careers, rarely spoke in public and would always adopt a mid-American accent for the cameras

Isaacs, 60, said this week that after some “detective work”, he found out about an interview Cary Grant gave to a student from the University of Iowa months before his death. The student’s classmate secretly recorded the interview in which Cary Grant spoke about his hatred (厌恶) of being approached by fans. The secret recording reveals Cary Grant’s true accent.

At the launch of the ITV drama Archie-after Cary Grant’s birth name Archibald Leach — Isaacs said that when he landed the role, “the first thing I did was look for interviews of Cary Grant.” Isaacs added; “He didn’t want to be seen and he didn’t want to be known. There was nothing at all. Only the films. And that’s not what he spoke like. His accent changed a lot in the films.

Isaacs said of listening to the tape: “I felt like I’d finally made a real connection with him and that’s the voice you hear on screen in Archie. It’s more English than he is in the movies. People think they remember Cary Grant’s voice but what they remember is Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot.”

The ITV biopic focuses on Grant’s troubled family relationships. Jennifer Grant, Grant’s daughter, said her father had rarely spoken about his childhood. “Sadly I think there was so much shame wrapped up in it,” Jennifer Grant said.

1. Why did Jason Isaacs attempt to get a recording of Cary Grant?

A．To recreate his accent for real.

B．To show sincere respect to him.

C．To get the role of Cary Grant easily.

D．To make the film more profitable.

2. What can we infer about Cary Grant from Paragraph 4?

A．He acted as a detective.

B．He worked in a university.

C．He hated being recorded secretly.

D．He disliked having his life disturbed.

3. Whose voice is familiar to the audience?

A．Cary Grant.

B．Tony Curtis.

C．Jason Isaacs.

D．Jennifer Grant.

4. What kind of person is Jason Isaacs?

A．Generous.

B．Ambitious.

C．Determined.

D．Knowledgeable.

8 . Vietnam Quality Tour

Price	￡4,240 per person
Price includes	·Return flights from the UK, current taxes ·Domestic transportation ·16 nights’ four star accommodation ·16 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners ·Touring with guides and entrance fees as detailed in schedule ·Exclusive free pre-tour extension including hotel night with breakfast and dinner and a half-day cooking class.
Departures	May 2024 to June 2026

This tour is the perfect introduction to Vietnam, with cultural activities and plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals. Learn more about the history of Saigon, and explore Hue for a glimpse(一睹) of the grand past of this ancient country. Hoi An will impress you with its stone streets and scenic riverside setting, while the capital city Hanoi features timeless streets full of local life, wonderful colonial(殖民的) architecture and a splendid history. The tour finishes as it started, with a showstopper—Halong Bay, where you’ll take an overnight journey by sea out onto the calm waters and wind your way through the breathtaking karst(喀斯特) scenery.

When booking this tour with The Times Travel Offers, you will get a high-quality free pre-tour extension, which includes an extra hotel night with breakfast and dinner, as well as a half-day cooking class which is of great value-make sure to quote TIMES-ON when booking.

1. When can you sign up for this tour?

A．In April 2024.

B．In August 2025.

C．In July 2026.

D．In August 2026

2. What is Halong Bay famous for?

A．Its stone streets.

B．Its unique scenery.

C．Its splendid history

D．Its colonial architecture.

3. What type of writing is the text?

A．A travel plan.

B．A travel journal

C．An attraction profile.

D．A travel advertisement

9 . There are over 15 million restaurants in the world. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, when combined (合并), food that is produced by these restaurants is more or less enough for the customers. About 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted.     1    

It’s really a pity that billions’ worth of food is wasted.     2     For it’s rather difficult to recycle or reduce waste if big companies aren’t going to stop sending out gas into the atmosphere (大气), or cutting down entire forests to provide the world with food to satisfy its hunger for cattle and coffee.

    3     CNN World reports that restaurants in California right now are trying out a new way to fight food waste in the form of the surcharge (附加费) that aims to help farmers. The initiative (倡议) is still optional for restaurants.

According to Anthony Myint, the organizer of the initiative, he hopes that restaurants do take the lead, and that they try to do what they can to ease environmental concerns.     4     It shows their dishes are eco-friendly and nutritious (有营养的).

Myint hopes at least 200 restaurants sign on for their statewide programme by the end of this year so that the farmers could receive funding that could reach $10 million per year.     5     This partnership is an opportunity for eaters and buyers to share in land-based solutions.

A．The food is very cheap.

B．It will be used to promote healthier soil.

C．We can really save a lot of money in fact.

D．Despite all this, restaurants are trying to change that.

E．These billions’ worth of wasted food is also expensive.

F．However, it would be too difficult to just keep everything.

G．He also shares how he wants to eventually see Restore California signs on restaurants.

10 . Everyone is making the best efforts and sometimes a few kind words of encouragement can aid people realizing that their effort is not useless. It happened when I was in the fifth standard in my school, back when I was a very shy girl.

It happened on the day when there was a drawing competition at my school. The theme is given to us all was the fight of “Kargil”. So we all started brainstorming to get some creative ideas. Everyone started drawing something on their canvas (画布) and I was still busy trying to think of something which can bring out my thought and emotions. While doing this I was kind of lost in another world. When my science teacher called my name, it brought me back to my senses. I responded to her voice which was coming from the back. She came to me and encouraged me by saying that “do not think too much over it, just put whatever comes in your mind on canvas. And do your best, you will do well”. I listened to her words of wisdom and started my painting.

The next day, the names of the winners of the competition were announced in front of the whole school. I heard my name as the 1st runner-up and winning the second prize. It was an astonishment for me as I never even dreamed to even get any prize.

Later, I thanked my science teacher for her words of encouragement and showing her confidence in me. Overall, that day, I became aware of my talent and I tried making more paintings whenever I got free time. Sometimes I think that if not for her words of encouragement I would have never acknowledged the talent I had.

1. What was the author doing before being called by her teacher?

A．Painting her work on her canvas.	B．Trying to get some creative ideas.
C．Waiting for help from others.	D．Playing in another classroom.

2. What does the underlined word “astonishment” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Surprise.

B．Confusion.

C．Awkwardness.

D．Anger.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．The science teacher is popular with all students.

B．The science teacher enjoys the author’s paintings.

C．The author has been thinking she has a talent.

D．The author is grateful to her science teacher.

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

A．How Encouragement Excited Hidden Talent	B．How We Should Encourage Others
C．Why Encouragement Is Good	D．What I Learnt from My Science Teacher