1 . In October 2023, 3-year-old Journey Castillo completed a quest to visit all 63 of America’s national parks. Her parents, Eric and Valerie Castillo, said she is likely the youngest person to reach that milestone.

The family, from San Antonio, Texas, ended their travels with a trip to Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. “Mission complete,” they wrote on Instagram. “After three years of adventure, countless logistics work and not giving up, we could not be more proud to share the conclusion of our quest.” Journey hasn’t been officially verified as the youngest traveler to visit all 63 parks. But more important than the title, her parents say, is the experience.

“Our thing was: ‘Let’s… inspire in Journey a passion for nature, inspire in her that she can handle the strenuous parts of the traveling: the environments, the weather changes, different cultures.” Valerie Castillo told The Guardian’s Ramon Antonio Vargas.

Before she could walk, Journey Castillo’s parents set out to visit every national park in the U.S. They hiked up Pikes Peak and explored Rocky Mountain National Park, all with an infant in tow. As far as they could tell, Journey seemed to enjoy herself.

“We could see her little eyes open and take it all in,” Valerie Castillo told the San Antonio Express-News last year. “She was so aware, even being a few days old. She’s adapted so well.”

They then ventured to Grand Canyon National Park — and decided to keep going. They set a goal of visiting 21 parks by Journey’s first birthday, then 42 parks by her second birthday. Eventually, they decided to go for all 63 parks. The family has been documenting every step of the way on Instagram and their website, Journey Go Explore.

Reaching the last few parks on their list — all in Alaska — required lots of logistical management, including renting flights, ferry rides, and even special permission from the National Park Service to visit a seasonally closed park. Though their visit was challenging at times, the Castillos say it helped their daughter develop confidence. Journey walks fearlessly through airports and happily greets park rangers. “When she’s out at these parks, she comes to life, and her personality brightens up,” Eric Castillo said.

1. Why did Journey Castillo’s parents take her to visit all America’s national parks?

A．To inspire others to be more active.

B．To document their travels on Instagram.

C．To inspire a passion for nature in Journey.

D．To break a record as the youngest traveler.

2. What does the underlined word “strenuous” probably mean in the third paragraph?

A．identical

B．appealing

C．mild

D．challenging

3. What did the parents perceive about Journey during their visits to national parks?

A．She was uninterested in the surroundings.

B．She adapted well and seemed to enjoy herself.

C．She preferred staying indoors with her parents.

D．She only enjoyed specific environments and attractions.

4. How did Eric Castillo describe Journey’s personality during those travels?

A．Shy and introverted.	B．Reliable and anxious.
C．Fearful and splendid.	D．Enthusiastic and confident.

3 . Forgiveness is often defined as a deliberate decision to let go of feelings of anger toward someone who you believe has wronged you.     1    . The following advice may help you learn how to forgive yourself.

Understand your emotions. Becoming aware of the emotions you are experiencing is an important part of learning to forgive yourself.     2     and can help you better regulate emotions.

    3     Forgiving yourself is about more than just putting the past behind you and moving is about accepting what has happened, which is the first step toward self-forgiveness. It’s also the hardest step. Do not make up excuses to make your actions seem acceptable.

Treat yourself with kindness and compassion (同情). The key to self-forgiveness lies in treating yourself with the same kindness that you would show to another person.     4    . Instead, be compassionate while still acknowledging that you made a mistake and want to do better in the future.

Express regret for your mistakes. As a result of taking responsibility, you may experience a range of negative feelings, including guilt and shame.     5    . They can serve as a springboard (跳板) to positive behavior change. Understand that making mistakes that you feel guilty about does not make you a bad person but help you do better in the future.

A．Accept responsibility for your actions

B．Make an effort to do better in the future

C．You should try to avoid being self-critical

D．It’s completely normal to have such feelings

E．A little self-forgiveness also goes a long way

F．Research has found that identifying your emotion helps reduce its strength

G．However, while you may be quite generous to forgive others, you may be much harder on yourself

4 . It was July 15, 2021, and my friends had helped me celebrate my 31st birthday.

Earlier in the day I had prepared for the _________ event of a flood. We are about a third of a mile from the banks of the Ahr River. It had been raining heavily that week, and the government had issued a flood _________, though not for where I was. _________, I’d placed sandbags on the floor outside my garden door just in case _________ got through. Before my friends left, they _________ me for doing that, but I thought, why take a chance?

As I drifted off to sleep, I was awakened by the _________ of rushing water, as if I were lying beside a waterfall instead of in my bedroom. When I moved my legs off the bed, I was _________ by the touch of cold water lapping against my knees and rising fast. Trembling and in darkness, I _________ my cellphone and turned on the flashlight. I saw water was shooting through the gaps of the garden door.

I admit it, I began to _________. The Ahr, usually such a __________, slow-moving river, had violently burst its banks. And now I had to get out—fast!

Any effects of the celebratory drinks I’d had earlier were now gone. I heard the garden door starting to crack under the __________ of the flood. In bare feet, I started to move to my only __________: the door that leads to the hallway. All around me things were breaking, and the cupboards were being __________.

I tried to pull the door open, but the force of the water wouldn’t __________ me. Finally, I __________ to make a gap of about a foot, just wide enough to squeeze through and make it into the __________.

If I had __________ just a few minutes later, I would have drowned. Many of the houses around us were destroyed, including, __________, a home for the disabled. Not everyone got out.

I came close to drowning that day. But rather than keep thinking about that, I prefer to __________ what my mother told me afterward: “Christian, don’t remember the day when you lost everything. Remember the day you __________.”

1.

A．unimportant

B．unlikely

C．unnoticed

D．unbearable

2.

A．warning

B．report

C．challenge

D．statement

3.

A．Besides

B．Moreover

C．Therefore

D．Still

4.

A．air

B．sand

C．water

D．someone

5.

A．laughed at

B．appreciated

C．blamed

D．shouted at

6.

A．coldness

B．push

C．sound

D．fear

7.

A．moved

B．excited

C．inspired

D．shocked

8.

A．grabbed

B．lost

C．forgot

D．left

9.

A．operate

B．reflect

C．panic

D．cry

10.

A．powerful

B．quiet

C．broad

D．winding

11.

A．guidance

B．control

C．protection

D．pressure

12.

A．equipment

B．belongings

C．surroundings

D．escape

13.

A．thrown away

B．cut up

C．torn apart

D．broken into

14.

A．help

B．let

C．stop

D．influence

15.

A．managed

B．tried

C．determined

D．expected

16.

A．bedroom

B．backyard

C．hallway

D．basement

17.

A．woken up

B．jumped down

C．moved away

D．run out

18.

A．secretly

B．tragically

C．accidentally

D．possibly

19.

A．request

B．recall

C．realize

D．research

20.

A．survived

B．recovered

C．matured

D．refused

7 . Lonely Planet’s best in travel destinations for 2024 revealed

To mark its 50th anniversary, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024 has expanded from the top 10 best cities, countries, and regions to include two new categories of best value and best sustainable destinations, recognising a total of 50 locations across the globe offering amazing experiences to enjoy in 2024.

Spain tops the sustainable travel list, having taken enormous strides to boost off-season travel, expand renewable energy, spread visitors across the year, and bring tourism to previously overlooked destinations.

Wales too has been recognised as one of those leading the way in sustainability, thanks to its rebuilt railways expanding the possibilities of exploring the nation’s wild, wonderful west.

And bouncing back strongly from the 2020 bushfires is Kangaroo Island, which remains one of South Australia’s great ecotourism destinations.

Slow Travel, a favourite topic with Lonely Planet readers, is celebrated by highlighting the Portuguese Way hiking trail and the continued rise of night trains in Europe.

Meanwhile the popular sun-kissed country of Croatia is now easier to explore with the opening of the Peljesac Bridge shining a spotlight on the previously overlooked Peljesac Peninsula and a new highway means it’s now possible to travel directly between Split and Dubrovnik.

Algeria, the USA’s Midwest, Greek island of Ikaria and Normandy are just a few of those great value and often overlooked destinations, ideal for the cost-conscious traveller.

For those seeking to enjoy the great outdoors, the new Western Balkans’ Cycle Route is set to open in 2024 and Far North Scotland is bidding for UNESCO status for its unsung boggy area and a coastline of heartbreaking beauty.

1. Lonely Planet’s has expanded Best in Travel 2024 mainly to ________.

A．Response to negative comments on previous lists.

B．Fill diversity in Travel Preferences.

C．Mark its 50th anniversary.

D．Respond to a decline in travel interest.

2. What transport development in Croatia makes it easier to explore?

A．Opening of the Peljesac Bridge.	B．Expansion of renewable energy.
C．Repair and rebuilding of railways.	D．Building a new highway in Ikaria.

3. For those who love cycling, which place is most appealing?

A．North Scotland.

B．Croatia.

C．Greek.

D．Western Balkans.

9 . The two Greek words — “philo”, which means love and “Sophia”, which means wisdom, are the beginnings of the word we use today: Philosophy, the love of wisdom.

Most people have a philosophy on life. Everybody has an idea of what is right and what is wrong, and why things are the way they are, and who they are and who to trust. A lot of people believe somebody else’s philosophy. That person may be a religious or political leader, or anybody you look up to. Some people have their own philosophy on life which might be a mixture of theories. Others are philosophers: people who want to know the truth about life for themselves and spend their time studying, thinking and asking questions.

Today philosophers are still encouraging people to think. Schools in some countries teach philosophy to children. Reading books written by old philosophers can be difficult because the language is from the past. So stories are used to help schoolchildren make their own decisions about what is right and wrong and think about the best way to solve problems.

Why do we need philosophy? There are plenty of people who think that killing animals is cruel, but eating animals is fine. If you are one of these people, you should ask yourself why. Why is killing animals cruel? Why is it okay to eat animals? You might find that the answer to each question is very different and you could have an argument by yourself using your own ideas! Go on and argue — you will understand more about what you believe. You will begin to understand the subject more deeply. And this helps you to feel comfortable with it. And you might change something or you might not. When we ask ourselves questions, we start to understand ourselves and our lives, and it’s up to us to make changes or not. If the ideas in your head agree, this means you have integrity. What you say and what you do are the same. Everyone respects someone who has integrity!

By thinking and questioning, we can understand more and maybe prevent problems caused by misunderstanding. But philosophy can also cause problems and conflict when people don’t agree. When one group of people choose one philosophy to believe and another group of people choose a different philosophy, when they need to think or make a decision together, they start trying to change each other instead of working together on bigger ideas about life.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The main conflicts among philosophers.

B．The application of philosophical beliefs.

C．The definition and function of philosophy.

D．The pros and cons of philosophical discussions.

2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “integrity” in paragraph 4?

A．Honesty.

B．Connection.

C．Belief.

D．Unity.

3. Why do we need philosophy according to the passage?

A．To prove our own ideas.

B．To bring about disagreements.

C．To reduce cruel deeds in the world.

D．To inspire thinking and seek answers.

4. What can be inferred according to the last paragraph?

A．Misunderstanding helps prevent problems.

B．Different choices make different philosophy.

C．Philosophy can be both positive and negative.

D．Conflicts and disagreement result from philosophy.