1 . Like every gym class I have ever taken, I felt like the odd one out. Opening the door and glancing around the room, I seemed to be the only girl struggling. Everyone else, in their fitted tank tops and leggings, not a hair out of place, looked as if they belonged. I on the other hand, with my curly hair now wildly unleashed, oversized shirt, wondered why I had ever bothered to subject myself to a gym class.

Earlier that year, with a healthy dose of encouragement from my family, I decided to give fitness a real shot. I showed up to my university gym for spin class with my stomach in a bundle of nerves. The first time I tried to stand on the bike pedals, I felt my legs shake and immediately sat down. All the muscles I hadn’t used before creaked as they suddenly engaged in rapid movement. It wasn’t until the third class, when I smoothly transitioned to standing up on the bike, that I started to gain some confidence.

Eventually, as my comfort on the bike grew, I became less focused on how I looked and the exact movements my legs and arms were to engage in and more focused on looking inward. I had never considered myself athletic. But now, rather than agonize (感到痛苦) over my weight, I started to reflect in amazement at my body’s ability to lift groceries, move apartments and all the other countless tasks it did to keep my life moving forward.

Somewhere between being yelled at to squat lower, jump higher and push harder, gym class made me realize that while I was wrong about many things when it came to fitness, I was right about one important thing: What truly matters is showing up, not what you wear or your fitness abilities. Because once you show up, the rest gets easier, one sweaty adventure at a time.

1. How did the author feel when she first entered the gym class?

A．Excited.

B．Awkward.

C．Confident.

D．Bothered.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The changes to the author’s body.

B．The author’s passion for spin classes.

C．The author’s experience as a new gym-goer.

D．The reasons for the author’s entering gym classes.

3. What does the author think of her body at present?

A．She is in pretty good shape.

B．She cares more about her weight.

C．She is critical of her body’s ability.

D．She is proud of her body’s capability.

4. What important lesson did the author learn from the gym class?

A．Pushing harder is good for you.

B．What you wear to the class matters the most.

C．Showing up plays a determining role in fitness.

D．Fitness abilities are more important than showing up.

2 . Scientists continue to discover ways in which a lack of sleep affects our mental and physical health- now a new study reveals that a serious lack of sleep can even influence the way we see other people.

When we’ve gone without sleep, we spend less time fixing our eyes on others’ faces, the study shows. As that’s an important part of reading social signals from those around us, our relationships are likely to suffer. “Since facial expressions are helpful in understanding the emotional state of others, spending less time focusing on faces after serious sleep loss may increase the risk that you misunderstand others’ feelings, “ says sleep researcher Lieve van Egmond from Uppsala University in Sweden.

The study authors recruited 45 participants who went through a night without sleep, and another night with 8 hours of sleep, separated by at least a week. In each case, eye-tracking sensors were used the morning after to monitor the subjects as they looked at images of faces. A mix of expressions were shown on the faces: happy, angry, fearful. Participants were also asked to assess the attractiveness, trustworthiness of the faces they saw. When it came to face focus, there was a drop in duration (持续时间) between 6. 3-10. 6 percent after sleep loss, and this drop happened regardless of the emotion being shown. Overall, faces were regarded as less trustworthy and less attractive after a night without sleep.

“The finding indicates that sleep loss is associated with more negative social impressions of others, “ says neuroscientist Christian Benedict from Uppsala University. “This could result in less motivation to interact socially.”

It’s perhaps no surprise that a lack of sleep makes us less likely to want to engage with others, but the study adds some interesting data to the mix. Negative social impressions of people after sleep loss may lead to social withdrawal by those with sleep issues, suggest the researchers.

1. Lack of sleep may contribute to ____________.

A．misreading others’ emotions	B．becoming angry and fearful
C．focusing on others’ faces seldom	D．behaving in a different way

2. What did the researchers do while carrying out the study?

A．Require participants to evaluate the expressions.

B．Divide participants into two groups.

C．Monitor participants during the whole course.

D．Ask participants to finish the experiment in a row.

3. What can we conclude from the study?

A．People lack of sleep are more likely to stay at home.

B．The more we sleep, the more likely we are to interact socially.

C．The focus duration will drop less concerning happy faces.

D．People with sleep loss will have a bad social impression of others.

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Lack of sleep makes us less attractive and trustworthy.

B．Sleeping loss impacts our mental and physical health.

C．Lack of sleep influences our social relationship.

D．Sleeping loss leads to paying little attention to others.

3 . YOLO, the highest-grossing movie of this year’s Spring Festival holiday has _________ a weight loss craziness among the Chinese _________. Though Jia said the story was intended to _________ self-care, her surprising physical transformation — she halved her weight in about a year, has stirred a discussion on slimming and encouraged viewers to hit the _________ or change their diets.

However doctors warn that such a rapid loss of weight is not healthy, and has _________ risks. It is possible to lose 50 kilograms in a little over a year, which _________ losing less than 5 kilograms per month, said Chen Qiuxia, a famous _________. But it is vital to undergo this process under the _________ support of professional nutritionists. Chen said for health and safety _________, a weight loss of 50 kilograms should take at least 6 months. If one aims to lose this much weight in a shorter period, the body might __________.

The key to staying fit is __________ a healthy lifestyle and understanding that weight loss is a long, gradual journey. To lose weight in a healthy way, you need to set a long-term goal that __________ several reachable short-term goals. It would be better to work out a schedule and __________ it, rather than blindly trying extreme workload to lose weight.

Regarding __________, the most important thing is to find a type of exercise that is safe and easy to continue in the long run, and it is important to __________ cardio (有氧运动) with resistance training.

1.

A．arisen

B．aroused

C．risen

D．raised

2.

A．lastly

B．frequently

C．recently

D．firstly

3.

A．stimulate

B．dominate

C．emerge

D．involve

4.

A．school

B．market

C．hospital

D．gym

5.

A．potential

B．negative

C．massive

D．crucial

6.

A．plans

B．means

C．keeps

D．tends

7.

A．nutritionist

B．teacher

C．police

D．nurse

8.

A．precise

B．subjective

C．positive

D．comprehensive

9.

A．reputations

B．recognition

C．concerns

D．guarantee

10.

A．protect

B．restore

C．protest

D．die

11.

A．adapting

B．adopting

C．tolerating

D．reforming

12.

A．composes of

B．makes up of

C．comprises of

D．consists of

13.

A．appeal to

B．stick to

C．subscribe to

D．up to

14.

A．workouts

B．games

C．practices

D．sports

15.

A．provide

B．fill

C．equip

D．combine

4 . Our relationship with pets has changed greatly in recent decades.     1     A recent survey found that 69% of Australian households have at least one pet.

While owning a pet is linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits, our pets can also carry infectious diseases that can sometimes be passed on to us. For most people, the risk is low. But some people, like those with weakened immune systems, are at greater risk of getting sick.     2    

Infectious diseases that move from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases (动物传染病). More than 70 pathogens (病原体) of companion animals are known to be transmissible to people.     3     But often there may be no visible signs of sickness, making it easier for you to catch it, because you don’t suspect your pet of carrying pathogens.

Close contact with animals, some behaviors in particular, increases the risk of zoonotic diseases. Surveys conducted in the Netherlands showed that half of pet owners allowed their pets to lick their faces, and 18% permitted dogs to share their beds.     4     Research has also linked occasional zoonotic infections in pet owners to kissing pets. For example, in Japan, a woman developed a serious infectious illness after regularly kissing her dog’s face.

    5     These include washing hands thoroughly after interacting with pets, handling their bedding and toys, and cleaning their waste. It’s also essential to avoid allowing pets to lick faces or open wounds. Moreover, it is advisable to keep pets out of the kitchen, especially cats that may access food preparation surfaces.

A．Pet ownership is at an all-time high.

B．Sometimes, a pet with a zoonotic pathogen may look sick.

C．Dogs and cats are significant sources of zoonotic infections.

D．But it’s not just dogs and cats that can spread diseases to humans.

E．To minimize the risk of getting sick, several good practices should be adopted.

F．Additionally, 45% of cat owners allowed their cats to jump onto kitchen sinks.

G．So it’s important to know the threats and take necessary action to prevent infections.

5 . Having a regular dentist check up is as essential for ensuring healthy teeth and gums (牙龈) as regular brushing and flossing. Here’s why you should make the trip.

Prevention is better than cure. Regular dental check-ups are recommended to maintain healthy teeth and gums.     1     Your dentist will advise you on what’s right for you. The aim of a check-up is to nip any problems in the bud, before you experience pain, lose teeth or have other health problems.

You’ve had a new medical diagnosis.     2     For example, high blood sugar levels in saliva caused by diabetes favour bacteria which can cause cavities (蛀牙). Some medications can cause oral problems ranging from dry mouth to stained teeth.

    3     More and more adults are having orthodontic (正畸) treatment to straighten their teeth. Not only does it make a huge difference to your smile, it can also prevent gum disease, which is more likely to take hold if you struggle to clean crooked teeth.

You’ve got bad breath. Halitosis (口臭) is embarrassing and can sometimes leave a nasty taste in your mouth. You might have a hole in your tooth, an infection or gum disease.     4     Your family and friends will thank you for it.

Check for cancer. Dentists don’t just look for cavities and unhealthy gums. They can also spot mouth cancer and refer patients to hospital to see a specialist. Cases have risen by 34 per cent in the past decade, according to the Oral Health Foundation.     5    

A．You want to improve your confidence.

B．You think it is time to have some changes.

C．However, early diagnosis can save your life.

D．Certain conditions can affect your oral health.

E．You might just be brushing too enthusiastically.

F．It varies from three months to two years depending on your oral health.

G．Your dentist can give you tips on freshening your breath more effectively.

6 . People have always believed that nature is good for health and happiness. According to scientific studies, being in nature makes people less stressed. In a recent experiment in Japan, one group of people were asked to walk through a forest while another group had to walk through a busy city.     1    . However, researchers found that after the walks, the people who had walked in the forest had better moods, less anxiety and even lower blood pressure. So the experiment showed that it was being in nature that helped people feel less stressed, not just the walk.

Gregory Bratman from Stanford University in the United States found in experiments that a walk in nature could have important cognitive (认知) benefits, improving a person’s memory and creativity.     2    . Teachers find that when children are enjoying the natural world, their awareness and creativity are improved, along with their reasoning and observational skills.

Why does being in nature bring so many benefits for us?     3    , so we have an instinctive (本能的) love for it. Even just looking out of the window at a beautiful tree can help us feel less stressed.

Scientists also think that being in nature helps our brain recover from a lot of activities that we usually do during the day such as working on math problems or using our cell phone.     4     — putting all our attention into one thing, which can make us feel tired. But when we are outside, we use undirected attention. We see an interesting cloud or a beautiful flower, and our attention moves quickly and easily from one thing to another. So being in nature gives our brains the chance to rest.

    5    . For many of us, nature is something we can enjoy just by walking out of our door. So enjoy the nature around you!

A．The walks were equally long and hard

B．Regular workouts are surprisingly helpful

C．One idea is that human beings come from nature

D．Nature’s benefits have been scientifically confirmed

E．In these activities, we use a lot of directed attention

F．Being in nature increases people’s mental health as well

G．We can see this in schools where outdoor learning has been introduced

7 . As an ordinary senior school student, I’ve discovered a wonderful way to _________ life with a positive attitude — my daily bicycle rides. Riding my bike has become more than just a fun activity. It’s like a little _________ that has taught me important lessons about staying positive, facing challenges and being _________.

When I get on my bike and ride around familiar streets, it feels like I’m on a small quest. It’s not just about reaching a(n)_________; it’s about enjoying the ride itself. Cycling has turned into a kind of teacher, helping me understand the _________ of practice and having a can-do spirit. One of the coolest things I’ve learned is about not giving up when things get hard. You know, when I’m trying to pedal up a steep hill, it’s hard! But guess what? Even when my legs feel super tired, I keep going and do not give up, till I reach the _________. Life is kind of like that too. When I have a challenging task or any problems in my studies, I remember those steep hills. I know if I keep trying, I can _________ anything.

Another thing that cycling has taught me is to be ready for surprises. The road isn’t always _________. Sometimes there are bumps, and you have to ride around them. When something is wrong with my bike, I do not _________. I try to find a solution. Life’s a bit like that too. It’s not always easy, but being flexible and staying positive helps me rise to the challenge and handle __________ problems.

The most important part, though, is how cycling makes me feel happy and __________. The wind in my hair and the rhythm of pedaling makes everything seem OK. It’s like a secret power — no matter what’s going on, it keeps me happy, lets me __________ my batteries, and lets me come back feeling __________.

In the end, my daily bike rides have become more than just a way to get around. They’ve become a(n) __________ for how I want to live my life. Cycling has shown me that being positive, facing challenges with __________, and keeping an optimistic attitude can turn the life journey into a fantastic adventure. So, here’s to more bike rides and more fun!

1.

A．estimate

B．approach

C．guarantee

D．challenge

2.

A．phenomenon

B．coincidence

C．adventure

D．entertainment

3.

A．flexible

B．unique

C．traditional

D．responsible

4.

A．cooperation

B．dilemma

C．crisis

D．destination

5.

A．discovery

B．value

C．comment

D．growth

6.

A．top

B．coast

C．stage

D．platform

7.

A．describe

B．detect

C．remove

D．overcome

8.

A．delicate

B．fragile

C．smooth

D．tough

9.

A．volunteer

B．insist

C．pray

D．panic

10.

A．original

B．unexpected

C．crucial

D．natural

11.

A．useful

B．efficient

C．carefree

D．curious

12.

A．apply

B．recharge

C．develop

D．recognize

13.

A．alarmed

B．embarrassed

C．fresh

D．emotional

14.

A．audience

B．passenger

C．victim

D．guide

15.

A．determination

B．attempt

C．comfort

D．calmness

8 . You may have read that light coming into your eyes sets the body’s clock. Similarly, food changes the clocks in tissues in your liver, muscles, and fat. Human beings developed to eat only during daylight, which lasted 12 hours. That meant we didn’t eat for 12 hours a day. Sticking to that plan may help you stay healthier as well as thinner. However, it’s a surprisingly bad idea to ignore breakfast, eat lunch or dinner late, eat a big bedtime snack, or eat in the middle of the night.

In a study with 776 participants, people who ignored breakfast were 80 percent more likely to have obesity (肥胖症). People who ate lunch after 12:30 (or dinner after 21:00) were 60 percent more likely to have those extra pounds. That was true for both men and women at different ages and regardless of other factors that affect weight including your diet and exercise habits.

Odd hours seem to contribute to uncontrollable eating. When you eat late at night, you tend to eat more. Perhaps driven by hormone (荷尔蒙) increases, we long for sweeter, saltier food at night, research suggests. In one study, night eaters ate about 300 more calories each day.

“Eating late in the day aggravates reflux, writes Jamie A. Koufman, who specializes in voice disorders and acid reflux (胃酸倒流). Many of my patients find that eating late makes them suffer more from their allergies and diabetes symptoms,” he says. “Give your stomach at least three hours to digest before sleeping,” advises Jonathan Aviv, another specialist in acid reflux.

Eating breakfast late may also increase your breast cancer risk by about 17 percent for every hour you delay, according to a study of nearly 1,200 women with breast cancer in Spain, compared to more than 1,300 women who didn’t develop breast cancer. If you eat late at night, another research suggests, you may up the chance of breast cancer occurrence. While researchers work out the details of how our body clocks affect digestion and their downstream effects, one point is clear: Early is better.

1. What can be learned from the first two paragraphs?

A．What you eat makes no difference to your clocks.

B．Not eating for a half day may do good to your health.

C．Eating late may be more harmful than ignoring breakfast.

D．People gain weight because of their diet and exercise habits.

2. What does the underlined word “aggravates” probably mean?

A．Worsens.

B．Comforts.

C．Causes

D．Improves.

3. How is the result found in the text?

A．By experimenting on people of different ages.

B．By summarizing the data from various surveys.

C．By comparing the studies about the eating disorder.

D．By concluding some researches concerning eating habits.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Ignore Breakfast to Lose Weight.	B．Night Eaters Are Much Healthier.
C．Eating Late Is Really Bad for You.	D．Eating More Damages Body Clock.

9 . Many think 2024 could be the year more people have the tools to follow through on New Year’s resolutions about weight loss. If they can afford them and manage to stick with them, people can turn to a new generation of remarkably effective weight-loss drugs, also called GLP-1s, which offer the potential for substantial weight loss.

Wegovy, which was approved in 2021, and Zepbound, which got the nod from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023, are the most effective publicly available weight-loss drugs ever made. Wegovy has been shown to help people shed as much as 16% of their body weight, in combination with exercise and diet. Zepbound’s highest dose, along with lifestyle changes, has helped people lose as much as 27% of their body weight over 18 months.

Although long-term data isn’t available, these drugs appear to be the safest to date. A large number of people suffer from gastrointestinal distress (肠胃不适) on the medications, including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea; but more serious side effects, like those previous weight-loss drugs, have been rare. Wegovy also appears to reduce the risk of a repeating heart attack or stroke for people with pre-existing disease.

So far, both drugs have been hard for patients to access. Suppliers have had trouble making enough of the medicines to meet the skyrocketing demand. And insurance companies haven’t covered the cost of the drugs, which can run from about $1,000 to over $1,300 a month.

Paying for them should become easier in 2024, as supplies rise up and insurance companies could bow to market pressure and cover more of the cost.

Also in the new year, there are more GLP-1 drugs on the way and in more forms. Both Wegovy and Zepbound are delivered as weekly shots. Pill versions are under development as are other medications, some of which could help people lose even more weight.

There’s a major unknown factor with these drugs, which could become better understood in the coming years. Experts can’t say if people will be able to keep the weight off if they don’t make lifestyle changes and stop taking the drugs.

1. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The side effects of the two drugs.	B．The safety of the two drugs.
C．The advantages of the two drugs.	D．The doubt about the two drugs.

2. Which is the reason for the shortage of the two drugs?

A．The technology to make the medicines is not mature.

B．They are expensive, sold at around $1,000 for each shot.

C．They are not currently included in the medical insurance.

D．There are no pill versions of the two drugs on the market.

3. Which statement about GLP-1 drugs is correct?

A．They are mainly injected into patients at present.

B．They can effectively reduce weight by 27% per year.

C．The doubt about the drugs will be cleared in the coming year.

D．The drugs will substantially solve the weight issue once and for all.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the development of GLP-1 drugs?

A．Doubtful.

B．Critical.

C．Objective.

D．Hopeful.

10 . I have been a healthcare assistant with Marie Curie for four years. What led me to join this remarkable organization was a deeply personal experience.

Seven years ago, my father was in the hospital, and I was informed that he was in the end-of-life stage. He had wanted to be at home during his final moments, so I arranged for him to return home. He spent only one more night there, but he wasn’t alone. A Marie Curie nurse was by our side. Facing the emotions that come with knowing a loved one is at the end of their life can be heartbreaking. Having a nurse with us made it easier to deal with these feelings. That’s when I made the decision to join Marie Curie.

Working for the charity, I find myself on duty during most Christmases. We operate every single day, including holidays. You might assume that being with families during their last Christmas, knowing it’s a difficult time for the person they’re caring for, would be a sad experience. But what may surprise you is that it’s not. The families, in my experience, are not sad. They make the most of the time they have left and they remain positive for everyone knows what’s coming. They understand that their loved one is dying, but it’s not a time for sorrow, it’s a time of togetherness and warmth. I remember one particular family — three sisters — and the fourth was in the end-of-life stage. When I arrived, she was in a critical condition, and I knew she might not make it through the night. But sitting with the sisters, talking about their childhood, recalling what happened in the past was a special time. They mentioned that their sister had asked for peaches and cream earlier that day, and they made sure she got what she wanted. She went to sleep, and we lost her that night.

We can’t change what happens to us, but we can make a difference. We provide support through the stages of sadness and struggles. And, surprisingly, people may not suffer that much.

1. What can we learn about Marie Curie from the passage?

A．It is a remarkable healthcare organization for benefit.

B．It is one of the most volunteer organizations in the world.

C．It won’t offer the service during some important festivals.

D．It can be a big comfort to those facing their beloved ones’ death.

2. Why does the author call the family mentioned in paragraph 3 “particular”?

A．Because of the special relationship between them.

B．Because of their unusual and abnormal behaviour.

C．Because of the countless hardship the family has suffered.

D．Because of the family’s courage and calmness facing misfortune.

3. What message does the author convey in the last paragraph?

A．Actions speak louder than words.	B．Misfortune might be an actual blessing.
C．Where there is action, there is difference.	D．All things are difficult before they are easy.

4. Which of the following can best describe the volunteers in Marie Curie?

A．Devoted and caring.	B．Gifted and generous.
C．Hardworking and honest.	D．Sensitive and determined.