1 . Stay safe in the sun

Summer is the ideal time to be outside having fun in the fresh air and sunshine. Sunlight can boost your vitamin D levels, which keeps your bones, teeth and muscles healthy.     1     However, from late spring to early autumn, the sun’s rays are stronger and can damage skin and make you feel unwell.

It’s of vital importance to protect yourself from the sun’s powerful rays. Everyone needs to take caution in the sun.     2     In strong sunshine the body can heat up quickly, and this can mean you sweat and lose a lot of water. This can make your body lose water, which can cause headaches, a dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness and fainting.

    3     It’s wise to wear a hat and apply sunscreen with SPF50 (sun protection factor 50) while in the sun. However, sweat and swimming can wash off sunscreen. It’s advisable to apply more throughout the day repeatedly. Never look directly at the sun even though wearing sunglasses. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Sunburnt skin is red, hot to touch, can feel sore and itchy, and even may blister.     4     Don’t put ice on it, and try not to scratch peeling skin. It’s important to tell an adult straight away if you feel unwell.

It’s sensible to be careful but playing in the sun is also good for your mood and your health.     5    

A．So, head out and have fun.

B．Thus, avoid being exposed to sunshine.

C．You’d better rush to the hospital and consult a doctor.

D．And the paler your skin, the more protection you need.

E．Being outside on a sunny day can also make you feel good.

F．If sunburnt, wash your skin in cold water and apply after-sun cream.

G．You can’t have fun in the sun without taking measures to protect yourself.

2 . Asia’s centuries-long fascination with fair skin has deep roots and, even today, is influenced by Eurocentric (以欧洲为中心的) beauty standards linking paleness with charm. The questioned concept dating from colonial history is continued through media channels.

This fascination is vividly reflected in the make-up industry, leading to a multi-billion-dollar market for skin-whitening products across Asia. A striking survey conducted by WHO revealed 40% of women in countries such as China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea routinely use skin-whitening products. It was also found that 75% of men believed their partners would be beautiful with lighter skin. Such a deep-rooted relation between fairness and beauty continues to fuel the thriving skin-whitening industry. The industry’s value is estimated to reach a breathtaking $8.9 billion by 2027.

The historical preference for lighter skin in Asian culture is also closely tied to socio-economic status. Historically, having fair skin indicated higher social status, as individuals engaging in physical labor often had darker skin from being in the sun. The upper class, meanwhile, enjoyed a sheltered indoor life due to their wealth, translating into fairer skin. Consequently, those with darker skin remained in a lower status, fueling the favor for fairer faces.

Colonialism (殖民主义) has also affected the beauty standards in Asian countries. Many nations across the continent were once colonized by white powers from the US and Europe. Eventually, their fair skin symbolized the power and wealth of the colonizers. Even in Japan, never colonized, noblewomen during the Edo period adopted white makeup to copy the luxurious image related to lighter skin. These historical factors continue to shape modern beauty standards in Asia.

In recent years, such Eurocentric beauty standards have been receiving widespread criticism. A growing movement has come up, promoting the beauty of darker skin tones and advocating accepting all skin colors. While the preference for pale skin remains universal in many Asian countries, the tendency is slowly turning as new standards of beauty pop up. Hopefully, we will see a society that celebrates inclusivity and the beauty of all skin tones.

1. What’s the common beauty standards in Asian countries?

A．They include a person’s charm.

B．They relate to a person’s makeup.

C．They are measured by a person’s fair skin.

D．They refer to the color of a person’s skin.

2. According to the article, what historical factors contributed to the preference for lighter skin in Asian cultures?

A．European colonizers in Japan.

B．Exposure to the sun and physical labor.

C．Socio-economic status and colonialism.

D．The use of white makeup by noblewomen.

3. What is the current tendency in Asia regarding beauty standards, according to the article?

A．A growing preference for pale skin.

B．A rejection of Eurocentric beauty ideals.

C．No change in traditional beauty standards.

D．Increasing acceptance of diverse skin tones.

4. What is the article’s general message regarding beauty standards in Asia?

A．They are unique to Asian culture.

B．They are set to remain unchanged.

C．They are rooted in biological differences.

D．They are being questioned and changing gradually.

3 . A certain item is being stolen more than ever in Japan. Rather than the usual luxury watches, cars, or jewelry, thieves in Japan are picking fruits as their target. There is a thriving market for quality fruits which are grown by hand to ensure they reach high standards for appearance and taste. Japanese individuals and companies often buy them as gifts for special occasions.

One softball-sized strawberry, for instance, can cost as much as ¥500,000 JPY ($3,346 USD). Several districts have recently witnessed an alarming rise in fruit theft. Yamanashi Prefecture, for instance, lost an shocking ¥8,500,000 JPY ($56,890 USD) from 40 cases of missing fruit in the last four months. It is so bad, in fact, that local firefighters and private security guards are going around and checking the area at night to ensure the safety of the fruits.

The same thing happened to another peach farm located in Fuefuki City when farmers were aware that 1,400 peaches went missing out of the blue. Another top farming company in Yamanashi City lost 1,500 peaches just two days later. Peaches were not the only luxury fruit being targeted in the past few months. Just last September 28,400 bunches of grapes went missing in the Yamanashi Prefecture. The total loss amounted to ¥350,000 ($2,343 USD).

Farm owners are now increasing their security measures to prevent this rise in theft. They are paying a fortune to employ local private security guards to patrol around the clock when fruits are ripe. Even they are about to install a monitoring system to watch over the farm at all times, which serves as a threat to thieves. If thefts do happen, they can call the police.

1. What unusual item is currently being stolen more frequently in Japan?

A．Quality fruits.

B．Watches.

C．Luxury cars.

D．Jewelry.

2. Why are these quality fruits in Japan so valuable?

A．They have unique flavors.

B．They are always given as gifts.

C．They are less expensive than other luxury items.

D．They are grown by hand to meet high quality standards.

3. Why did the article mention the price of a softball-sized strawberry?

A．To highlight the size of the stolen fruits.

B．To provide an example of a stolen fruit.

C．To emphasize the high cost of luxury fruits.

D．To explain the popularity of strawberries in Japan.

4. What is the primary purpose of the article?

A．To stress the value of luxury fruits in Japan.

B．To show the rise in theft of luxury items in Japan.

C．To describe the efforts to fight fruit thefts in Japan.

D．To promote the growth of the quality fruit market in Japan.

4 . Travel by train from London to Edinburgh

If you want to travel from London to Edinburgh by train, you’ve come to the right place —Waverley train station. Click Journey Planner to search for specific travel details.

Time Consumption:

The average journey time is 5 hours and 30 minutes, with around 68 trains per day. The journey time may be half hour longer on weekends and holidays. The fastest services just need 4 hours and 10 minutes when the governors travel between the two cities to be present at conferences.

Services:

There are 68 non-stop trains, though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date. The first train leaves at 04:45 a. m. The last train leaves at 23:45.

Discount Train Tickets:

In general, the train ticket from London to Edinburgh is priced at €29.95 each. However, train ticket prices can start from as little as €23.96 when you book 12 weeks in advance online. And cheap tickets can also be gained in other ways.

•Get a Railcard: Save up to 1/3 on eligible(符合条件的) journeys for a whole year.
•Travel Off-Peak: Tickets are usually 15% cheaper than usual during quieter times on weekdays and weekends compared to Peak times.
•Use GroupSave: If you’re travelling in a group of 3-9 people, you can save up to 35% on eligible journeys at Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak times.

Want to check if trains are running? Use our timetable to view live trains.

1. At what possible time do you arrive in Edinburgh if catching the last train on December 24 from London?

A．5:15 a. m on Christmas Day.	B．5:45 a. m on Christmas Day.
C．10:15 a. m on Christmas Eve.	D．10:45 a. m on Christmas Eve.

2. How much can a couple with a Railcard each save on a journey?

A．About €11.98.	B．Some €17.97.
C．About €19.97.	D．Some €20.96.

3. Where is the passage probably taken from?

A．Website.	B．Brochure.
C．Magazine.	D．Advertisement.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why is the speaker making this announcement?

A．To celebrate a graduation.

B．To congratulate a prize winner.

C．To thank Bobby Smith.

2. Why is the speaker celebrating Bobby today?

A．He does well with his studies.

B．He will probably graduate with honors.

C．He is good to his science teacher, Ms. Green.

3. What is Ms. Green doing now?

A．She is now flying back to New York

B．She is having a bad day.

C．She is with her family.

4. What does the speaker want students to learn?

A．The importance of being nice.

B．The benefits of working hard.

C．The need to respect your elders.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is wrong with the woman?

A．She gets sunburned.

B．She is too tired.

C．She is ill.

2. Why is Sardinia much hotter than imagined?

A．It is on the coast of Italy.

B．It is too close to Africa.

C．It is near Cagliari.

3. Where did the speakers take a boat?

A．From Tunisia.

B．From India.

C．From Italy.

4. Where will they likely travel next?

A．To Cagliari.

B．Still in Tunisia.

C．To the coast of Italy.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How many people do they mention in the drawing?

A．Eight.

B．Nine.

C．Ten.

2. What is Max doing?

A．Playing with a ball.

B．Running after Joe.

C．Sitting on the ground with Sally.

3. What is the man doing in the drawing?

A．He is standing in the center.

B．He is giving the children candy.

C．He is possibly working in the garage.

8 . What time is the man’s appointment?

A．2:15 p. m.

B．2:30 p. m.

C．2:45 p. m.

9 . Why does the man want to cancel his newspaper delivery for next week?

A．He will move out of the town.

B．He will be away on business.

C．The delivery boy is ill.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Suodiu, one of the dishes in Hubei, made a comeback this summer someway. The dish,     1     real rock dish, is literally rocks. It’s low in calories and 100% eco-friendly. Since its comeback, many street vendors (小贩)     2     (make) sudden profits by the suodiu craze.

Previously, on the coasts of Hubei Province, fishers would     3     (stick) on fishing boats long waiting for their turn to dock. With their food     4     (run) out, they came up with the creative and     5     (conventional) idea of cooking smooth river rocks to kill the time. The rocks were cleaned, boiled and then stir-fried with oil, garlic, ginger and a     6     (vary) of sauces. They never ate the rocks actually but just suck on them for the flavour and spat them out.

Hence, the name suo means sucking, and diu means getting rid of.     7     (essential), it all comes down to the secret sauce recipe.

Since the only thing eatable in suodiu is the sauce, every street vendor has     8     (they) own secret recipe. But the main ingredients are the same — ginger, lots of garlic and spicy chili,     9     will have you reaching for your ice-cold beer or bottle of wine.

It was the perfect drinking snack for bored fishers to pass the time while at sea. Now it’s still enjoyed     10     a drinking snack.