The United Kingdom (UK) Antarctic Heritage Trust is looking to hire five people — a base leader, a shop manager, and three general assistants — to work at the “Penguin Post Office” in Port Lockroy, Antarctica. The five-month stint is open to UK residents over the age of 18. It will begin in early November 2024 and last until March 2025.

Responsibilities will include sorting the over 80,000 letters and postcards sent by the 18,000 tourists who visit the world’s southernmost post office each summer. Employees will also help sell postage stamps, run the small onsite gift shop, and look after the aging building. But their most important duty will be to keep track of Port Lockroy’s colony of about 1,500 gentoo penguins.

Exciting as it may sound, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust warns applicants that the jobs are not for the faint of heart. Even during summer, temperatures on the icy continent can drop as low as -5℃. Additionally, the five people will live in a single bedroom with a tiny gas-powered kitchen. There is no flushing toilet either. Instead, staffers will use a camping toilet, which must be emptied daily.

There is limited phone and Internet access and no running water. Visiting ships provide water in cans and also offer staffers showers every few days. But in poor weather conditions, they may have to do without a shower for extended periods. With the closest hospital in Argentina, medical evacuations could take up to a week! However, the biggest challenge will be the smell of penguin poop (大便) that will surround them for five months!

Despite these drawbacks, the positions, which open up every summer, receive thousands of applications each year. Camilla Nichol, the Trust’s CEO, is not surprised. She believes that for the right individuals, the jobs provide “a unique opportunity to live in a landscape that makes you feel pure awe and wonder, where pioneering generations have gone before us, making groundbreaking discoveries about our planet.”

1.________ are qualified to apply for the applications.

A Weak middle-aged people

B Residents of the USA

C Middle school students

D Adults with a UK ID card

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第一段中的“The five-month stint is open to UK residents over the age of 18.”可知，年满18周岁的英国居民可以申请这些岗位。故选D。

2.Which of the following is NOT employees’ daily work?

A Replying letters and postcards.

B Taking care of the house.

C Selling stamps and gifts.

D Looking after penguins.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“Responsibilities will include sorting the over 80,000 letters and postcards”可知，该次岗位的职责包括分拣信件和明信片，未提及回复信件和明信片。故选A。

3.What does the underlined part “the faint of heart” probably mean?

A People who are not outgoing enough.

B People who prefer cold weather.

C People who are not brave enough.

D People who enjoy being challenged.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据划线部分后文的“drop as low as -5℃”“the five people will live in a single bedroom”“no flushing toilet”“a camping toilet”等可知，去南极邮局工作极其艰苦，如果不够“勇敢”，那么是肯定不适合的。故选C。

4.What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A Terrible natural environment.

B Extremely short of funds.

C Tough living conditions.

D Unfavourable weather.

解析：选C。C段落大意题。根据第四段关键词句“limited phone and Internet access and no running water”“water in cans”“showers every few days”“medical evacuations could take up to a week”“the smell of penguin poop”这些方方面面都在讲述艰苦的生活条件。故选C。