1 . The UK is experiencing a boom in book clubs, according to new data from event listing companies. Book club listings on the ticketing site Eventbrite increased by 350% between 2019 and 2023. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, book club listings on the site rose by 41%. Another event listing site, Meetup, reported a 14% increase in the number of RSVPs to book clubs between January 2023 and January 2024, compared with a 4% increase in RSVPs for all UK-based events.

Victoria Okafor, who co-runs the book club Between2Books, said the heightened interest in reading may be partly the result of a general “shift in hobbies”, as GenZ (the generation around 00s) turned to other ways to spend their free time. Besides, during the global health crisis period, many people were forced to slow down and pick up or reignite hobbies, and online book clubs provided a platform to connect with others.

Social media may be helping with the visibility of book clubs, too, said Okafor. “People may come across your page accidentally, but from there people have the knowledge to attend should they wish. I think this makes a big difference compared to just hearing things from word of mouth.”

Many of the book clubs listed on Eventbrite carry specific themes — Sheffield Feminist Book Club, Bring Your Baby Book Club, and Modern Chinese Literature Online Book Club.

Okafor’s club, Between2Books, focuses on books by writers traditionally excluded (排除) from the classics. She thought she began seeking out such stories “embarrassingly late”. “Reading authors of color brought back a joy to my reading that came from not only seeing elements of myself and culture reflected in novels but also reading stories that could be funny or empowering as opposed to the accounts of struggle that can often surround stories of people of color,” she said. “The variety of books makes reading and discussion so rich and I think that’s what attenders are drawn to.”

1. How is paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A．By giving examples.	B．By listing figures.
C．By analyzing causes.	D．By presenting theories.

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

A．Return.

B．Reward.

C．Regain.

D．Reconnect.

3. Which is one of the reasons for the boom of book clubs?

A．The influence of social media.	B．The recommendation of old generations.
C．GenZ having a stronger thirst for knowledge.	D．Some people shifting the focus of their lives.

4. What attracts people to join Okafor’s club according to the last paragraph?

A．The diversity of books.	B．The reputation of writers.
C．The humor of the works.	D．The suggestion of the organizer.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What could the man most probably be?

A．A police officer.

B．A taxi driver.

C．A bank employee.

2. What was the woman doing when the accident took place?

A．Walking on the street.

B．Standing outside the bank.

C．Crossing the road.

3. How did the accident happen?

A．A truck hit a car.

B．A car crashed into a truck.

C．A man rushed into the street.

4. What did the man ask the woman to do at last?

A．Sign the paper.

B．Read the statement.

C．Tell him her address.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman’s mother live with her?

A．To give her some help.

B．To look after her first daughter.

C．To buy a bigger house for her.

2. What does the man say about the situation in the future?

A．Much better.

B．Even worse.

C．As good as before.

3. What problem are the speakers talking about?

A．The medical problem.

B．The aging problem.

C．The housing problem

4 . 假如你是杭州外国语学校的学生会主席李华，请你用英语给杭州娃哈哈进出口有限公司总经理宗馥莉女士写一封信，表达对她刚刚痛失她的“民族企业家父亲——宗庆后老先生”的慰问。内容包括：
1.表达哀思；
2.对娃哈哈集团的希望和建议。
condolences—慰问；吊唁
Dear Ms. Zong,

I’m Li Hua from Hangzhou Foreign Language High School.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . With the rising cost of living, a growing number of adult children are moving back in with their parents. While lots of parents will enjoy the chance to spend more time with their grown-up children, having them move back in can also cause some problems.     1     ?

Sit down and talk

While the situation is clearly hard for the parents, Counselling Directory member Octavia Landy advises them to take a step back. “     2     ,” says Landy. “Talk with your kids. Parents need to find out: How are they? What would they like to happen in their life?”

    3    

When things get heated, it can be easy to just storm off and not really hear each other out. But every effort needs to be made, on both sides, to properly listen. “As parents, you need a cool head,” suggests Landy. “Bring the conversation back to the matter at hand, and listen to your kids.”

Set clear boundaries (界限)

“Boundaries and communication lie at the heart of this difficult situation,” says Landy. “At the moment, it feels as if no boundaries will lead to a sense of anger on your part. Consider what your boundaries look like.     4     . It’s important to check in with your kids on how things are going.”

Ask yourself what you need to feel happy in your home

Landy suggests parents ask themselves what they need to feel happy and safe in their home—and the answer might be a difficult one to come to terms with. “It might mean that you need to ask your kids to leave,” she says. “    5    .”

A．So, what can parents do

B．Put everything in good order

C．Be prepared to listen patiently

D．Are they cheered by the news from home

E．You’d better set a proper time for a family meeting

F．Work together to set basic rules and a timeline to be reviewed

G．If you fear your kids get homeless, then address these fears directly

6 . 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。

In recent years, shared vegetable plots     1    (find) in the city’s suburban (郊区的) districts in Shanghai as more white-collar workers turn to farming     2    (escape) the pressures of city life.

Yang Hui is one of them. He has rented a 20-square-meter vegetable plot for 1600 yuan per year. The family tends radishes (白萝卜), lettuces and other vegetables they have planted. When they aren’t around during the week,     3    (professional) take over the work.     4     (found) by Chen Yougui     5     October 2022, the shared farm spans about 13.33 hectares (公顷) and comes with shared vegetable plots, barbecue pits and leisure areas. According to Chen, the monitoring system covers     6     entire farmland, allowing members to view their vegetables and fields remotely through their phones.

This farm has about 200 members, some of     7     even raise chickens and ducks running in the fields. Interestingly, each animal comes with its own QR code (二维码). The farm also uses technology to ensure that the chickens and ducks don’t go missing     8     run in someone else’s plot.

Those who wish to     9    (active) participate in the cultivation (种植) of their crops, mainly from the older generations, can opt (选择) for the package to plant by     10    (they). Meanwhile young customers, like Yang, usually choose a package that comes with additional services from the farm to care for their plants whenever needed.

7 . A recent report from a higher education advising organization says nearly 40 percent of American employers avoid offering jobs to recent college graduates.

They said members of Generation Z, or “Gen Z”, the group of Americans born between 1997 and 2012, make a lot of mistakes in job interviews. They say they would rather employ older workers who work harder and are dependable.

The report came out in December and noted that, of 800 directors, managers and executives asked questions, 38 percent said they favor older workers. About 20 percent of employers said young people brought a parent with them to a job interview. Almost 60 percent of those surveyed said recent college graduates are unprepared for work and about half said they had to dismiss, or fire, a recent college graduate. Others said the young workers do not take criticism well.

Because of bad experiences with younger workers, more than half of the business leaders said they are putting policies in place that older workers want. For example, they are offering benefits that are important to older workers, paying higher salaries and permitting older workers to work from home.

One respondent gave an example of a Gen Z job seeker who refused to turn on their camera during a video interview. Michael Connors is a recruiter in the Washington, D. C. area. He said he has not had a job candidate saying they will not use their camera for interviews. However, he has had some candidates choosing noisy places for calls.

Adam Capozzi is the career services director at Syracuse University in New York State. He said while many students are very good about online communication, and data management and have experience with spreadsheets, they need help with the “soft skills”. “You could be in an elevator at a specific office building or at a different establishment and bump into someone and strike up a 30-second conversation and not know who they are associated with and a positive first impression can lead to further conversation.”

1. Which of the following about some American employers’ opinions on Gen Z members is NOT true?

A．They don’t work as diligently as older employees.

B．They are less reliable than older employees.

C．They are not fully prepared in job interviews.

D．They make many errors in the workplace.

2. What can be inferred from paragraphs 3 to 5?

A．Of 496 directors, managers and executives are in favor of younger workers.

B．More than half of the business leaders are implementing policies older workers want.

C．Strange behavior of Gen Z job candidates in the interview s has dissatisfied recruiters.

D．Michael Connors doesn’t mind whether job seekers turn on their cameras.

3. Why “soft skills” are so important in the workplace?

A．Because there are many occasions where we need to use the skills.

B．Because the skills can help workers get promoted quickly.

C．Because the skills can establish a good relationship between you and others.

D．Because the skills can improve the workers’ experience in the workplace.

4. Which is the best title of the passage?

A．US Businesses Are Concerned about Hiring Young, “Gen Z” Workers.

B．“Gen Z” Workers’ Different Personalities in the Workplace.

C．Why Old Workers Are More Welcomed than “Gen Z” Workers?

D．American “Gen Z” Members Are Facing Unemployment Nowadays.

8 . Turning around corners, weaving through traffic, every second matters. It is neither a street race nor a 007 chase, but the risky journey of a sushi (寿司) roll.

The streets of China are filled with delivery drivers racing noodles, sandwiches and soups across cities. While the everyday consumer may find these services convenient, most do not realize the true cost of their delivery. How much is that late-night snack really worth?

Strict time limits are the main concern for delivery drivers. The Chinese delivery app Meituan decreased the maximum time allowance from 50 minutes to 30 or even 20. Time literally means money: Surpassing the limit can result in fines, which are paid to the firm rather than to the consumers. Yet, beyond fines, there is often a greater cost. According to Pandaily News, one delivery worker is injured or killed in accidents every 2.5 days in Shanghai and, sadly, companies seldom provide insurance claims when their time limits lead to these consequences. Drivers are pushed to break traffic rules and risk their lives so your sushi is not a minute late.

Furthermore, low wages and extensive working hours exacerbate these issues. Some companies in China take advantage of the economic inequalities between China’s large cities and less developed interior to offer extremely low pay to migrant delivery drivers while demanding long hours. Yet these long hours and low pay are common throughout the global delivery industry. In the United States, advertised earnings of $22 per hour are largely exaggerated while workers complain that food delivery apps rarely give them all their tips.

What is the solution? First, consumers should recognize what is behind their impossibly cheap and fast delivery: exploitation. We should expect more from the delivery app companies and less from their drivers. That is, we should pay more and wait longer while only ordering from companies who offer their drivers fair wages, insurance and a safe working environment. In the end, your sushi is just not worth it.

1. Who will be paid the fines for a delayed delivery?

A．The delivery firm.	B．The delivery worker.
C．The sushi restaurant.	D．The ordinary consumer.

2. What does the underlined word “exacerbate” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Integrate.

B．Comprise.

C．Worsen.

D．Alleviate.

3. Why does the author mention the “earnings of $22 per hour” in the US?

A．To indicate that delivery drivers shouldn’t expect much.

B．To emphasize that delivery companies should provide insurance.

C．To prove that the pay and working environment are better in the US.

D．To show that low pay and overwork are common issues in the industry.

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

A．The Harm of Delivery Services	B．The True Cost of Convenient Deliveries
C．The Overrated Popularity of Sushi	D．The Benefits and Problems of Delivery Apps

9 . Younger generations of Chinese citizens have developed new methods to relieve stress, which include raising unconventional “pets”, hugging trees, watching stress relief videos and so on.

On social media platforms, a new toy called “mango dog” recently emerged.     1     In the eyes of some netizens, the “mango dog” has special meanings. “Every time I see it, it heals me,” “It’s fluffy (毛茸茸的) and cute.”     2     For example, college students have shared online their experiences of raising stones and paper box “dogs”. These “pets” share similar characteristics—they don’t cry, make noise or get sick.

Tree hugging has also become a new stress relief for young people. “You may think you are hugging the tree, but in fact, the tree is embracing you,” this is a feeling shared by a netizen. Many netizens with such experiences have expressed that their anxiety has been reduced, and they feel a sense of communication with nature.     3    

“I came across the idea online. I tried it and felt truly relaxed,” said a young office worker. “In those brief seconds, it felt like the tree released a lot of pressure and stress from me.”     4     “I especially enjoy watching stress relief videos, like washing blankets and cutting soap. After watching them, I feel like the stress of the day is relieved and it’s easier to fall asleep.”

    5     According to public data, there are currently more than 800 companies in China with names, business scopes, products, services or trademarks containing the term “stress relief”. In 2023 alone, more than 70 new registered companies with this focus were added.

A．Various “pets” are made to cater to different people.

B．It is claimed to bring a sense of calmness and give a healing effect.

C．This is not the first time that young people have raised novel “pets”.

D．A young media worker also finds the relief in watching short videos.

E．In some cities people have even organized “tree hugging interest groups”.

F．Other toys such as squeeze balls have also gained popularity as a way to relieve stress.

G．The popularity of these methods reflects an increasing need to release people’s pressure.

10 . The halo effect is a cognitive bias (认知偏见) that affects our opinions of quality in products, brands, businesses or people. It describes our tendency to judge a wider concept on our experience of a single moment or interaction. That is, your experience of using a product may colour your impression of an entire brand.

This is a very surface-level, quick-fire response that’s deep in our mind. If we see a good or bad quality, we really can’t help thinking this “thing” must flow through to the rest of the person, business or brand. Marketers understand this and have been using it against you for years.

Advertisers want to back winners, especially those on big stages. The Olympics, the World Cup and the Super Bowl all attract huge amounts of advertising spend. Why? Because when sports stars win big, they create huge amounts of feel-good factors and a brand can use the halo effect to project some of those feel-good factors onto themselves.

Studies have shown that when a product has a label that it is either fair trade, sustainably sourced or organic in nature, it will receive higher ratings in customer satisfaction and people will pay more for it. In a blind taste test though, that’s not necessarily the case. The product could be considered poor in taste or quality, but the act of adding a certain label to the packaging increases people’s liking for it.

The halo effect is a bias we cannot escape. It is in action everywhere in the modern world. Every high-end product you experience leaves a lasting impression and every advertisement that catches your eye is looking to direct your attention towards something you may not have otherwise been interested in. As a consumer, be careful. There are businesses that will go to any extent to influence your behaviour. Next time you find yourself really wanting something, stop and ask yourself why.

1. How does the halo effect influence our opinions?

A．It helps us see things in a better way.	B．It deepens our understanding of things.
C．It stops us from jumping to conclusions.	D．It works on us through former experience.

2. Why do advertisers back winners of big events?

A．To use halo effect to attract more audience.

B．To contribute to the development of sports.

C．To connect their brands with positive emotions.

D．To drive sports stars to create feel-good factors.

3. What can be inferred about the halo effect from Paragraph 4?

A．It leads to false advertisements.	B．It results in incorrect judgments.
C．It ensures the quality of products.	D．It improves environmental protection.

4. What is the purpose of the last part of the text?

A．To warn of unplanned buying.	B．To summarize the halo effect.
C．To expose the influence of advertising.	D．To show modern marketing strategies.