1 . Only positive thinking is not enough to attain our goals. Our _________ act as beacons (灯塔) that tell us where we want to go, but we need some “negative” thinking to light up that _________ and to expose the obstacles we will face along the way.

In the 2008 summer Olympics, Michael Phelps was ready to _________ his own record for the 200-meter butterfly swimming race. After Phelps’s first turn, his goggles (游泳镜) _______ water and he couldn’t see. To stop and _________ his goggles would mean disqualification. _________ without his sight, how was he supposed to know exactly when to turn? This misfortune could cost Phelps _________ seconds each lap (圈). So, what did he do? Had he done anything to _________ him for this moment? Yes. Phelps had been practicing something he _________ for himself: negative visioning. During his training. Phelps had already imagined in __________ how he would respond in this moment of crisis. He already knew __________ how many strokes (划水) he would take before he reached the next wall. So, though unable to see, he __________ his strokes and made quick turns. And at last he won the gold medal.

In psychology, the __________ of balancing learned optimism with practical realism — or acting against the __________ thought with the “negative” one —is called “mental contrasting”. It __________ us to lower our strong expectations about a (n) __________ outcome. So we can make wiser __________ and maintain motivation while working toward our goals.

Mental contrasting can make sure we consider realistic obstacles when __________ our plan for the future. In this way, the obstacles in our way __________ us to think more critically and __________ become the means by which we achieve our goals in the first place.

1.

A．concepts

B．evaluations

C．dreams

D．wishes

2.

A．life

B．night

C．situation

D．path

3.

A．break

B．establish

C．hold

D．write

4.

A．shut off

B．stood against

C．filled with

D．took on

5.

A．neglect

B．adjust

C．update

D．remove

6.

A．and

B．but

C．as

D．if

7.

A．slow

B．memorable

C．precious

D．short

8.

A．prepare

B．rescue

C．refresh

D．control

9.

A．contributed

B．discovered

C．kept

D．created

10.

A．fact

B．turn

C．detail

D．addition

11.

A．partly

B．precisely

C．generally

D．rapidly

12.

A．counted

B．imagined

C．designed

D．remembered

13.

A．trial

B．task

C．effort

D．practice

14.

A．original

B．deep

C．positive

D．strange

15.

A．requires

B．allows

C．urges

D．commands

16.

A．unrealistic

B．accidental

C．desired

D．delayed

17.

A．reforms

B．decisions

C．budgets

D．progressions

18.

A．supporting

B．explaining

C．transforming

D．developing

19.

A．warm

B．lead

C．remind

D．forbid

20.

A．eventually

B．astonishingly

C．abruptly

D．secretly

2 . The British accent of Cary Gran has finally been revealed after a fellow actor tracked down a secretly tape recording of the Bristol-born big screen superstar.

Jason Isaacs, who plays Cary Grant in a coming ITV biopic (传记片), said that although setting his mind on figuring out the actor’s real accent, he had become upset by the absence of interviews with Cary Grant.

The star, whose death aged 82 in 1986 brought to an end one of the 20th century’s greatest screen careers, rarely spoke in public and would always adopt a mid-American accent for the cameras

Isaacs, 60, said this week that after some “detective work”, he found out about an interview Cary Grant gave to a student from the University of Iowa months before his death. The student’s classmate secretly recorded the interview in which Cary Grant spoke about his hatred (厌恶) of being approached by fans. The secret recording reveals Cary Grant’s true accent.

At the launch of the ITV drama Archie-after Cary Grant’s birth name Archibald Leach — Isaacs said that when he landed the role, “the first thing I did was look for interviews of Cary Grant.” Isaacs added; “He didn’t want to be seen and he didn’t want to be known. There was nothing at all. Only the films. And that’s not what he spoke like. His accent changed a lot in the films.

Isaacs said of listening to the tape: “I felt like I’d finally made a real connection with him and that’s the voice you hear on screen in Archie. It’s more English than he is in the movies. People think they remember Cary Grant’s voice but what they remember is Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot.”

The ITV biopic focuses on Grant’s troubled family relationships. Jennifer Grant, Grant’s daughter, said her father had rarely spoken about his childhood. “Sadly I think there was so much shame wrapped up in it,” Jennifer Grant said.

1. Why did Jason Isaacs attempt to get a recording of Cary Grant?

A．To recreate his accent for real.

B．To show sincere respect to him.

C．To get the role of Cary Grant easily.

D．To make the film more profitable.

2. What can we infer about Cary Grant from Paragraph 4?

A．He acted as a detective.

B．He worked in a university.

C．He hated being recorded secretly.

D．He disliked having his life disturbed.

3. Whose voice is familiar to the audience?

A．Cary Grant.

B．Tony Curtis.

C．Jason Isaacs.

D．Jennifer Grant.

4. What kind of person is Jason Isaacs?

A．Generous.

B．Ambitious.

C．Determined.

D．Knowledgeable.

3 . 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。

Wearing Hanfu and sitting in front of a Chinese zither (筝), Peng Jingxuan, a young Chinese student, moves her fingers gently along the strings on a street in Paris, France.

Peng has shared more than 200     1     (origin) videos online, with the most popular one featuring the theme song of the movie A Chinese Ghost Story viewed over 16.61 million times. “I love how she’s representing her culture in a     2     (set) where people are not familiar with it. You can tell she’s proud of her background and her music,” one of her fans commented.

Chinese zither (筝), or guzheng, is an ancient musical instrument with 21-26 strings and a length of 1.63 meters. Peng     3     (fall) in love with it when young and has been practicing it for years. Hardly finding Chinese instruments     4     (play) on the streets in Paris, she took along her guzheng     5     began her street performances to sharpen her skills. The more she performed, the more she felt a greater sense of responsibility     6     (spread) Chinese music and culture.

Considering her audience’s     7     (unfamiliar) with Chinese songs, Peng made adaptations, for     8     she received positive responses. She also performed Western pop songs that local people could relate     9    , entertaining them with beautiful melodies in a     10     (refresh) style.

4 . Oscar Wilde, a famous poet and playwright, is probably known for his conversation as much as for his literary works. There are some stories _________ the fact that the man, as well as being a great wit (说话诙谐的人), was also often rather wise.

When Wilde was studying Classics at Oxford, he took part in a(n) _________ once. As a result, he needed to _________ a chosen passage from the story of a famous person. After several minutes, the examiners were _________, and signaled him that he could _________. For most students, they would have _________ finished there, but Wilde ignored them and _________ to translate. Again the examiners attempted to give him a(n) _________, and this time succeeded, telling him that he did a good job and could leave. “Oh, do let me go on,” said Wilde, “I just want to see how it _________.”

On another occasion, Wilde __________ that one day he was hard at work __________ his poetry. “I was working on my poems all the morning and __________ a comma (逗号),” he said to his friend. “And in the afternoon?” his friend asked. “Well, I put it back again,” responded Wilde.

But it’s __________ that there is always someone who is much smarter than us. The renowned actress Sarah Bernhardt was once talking to Wilde when he went to __________. Wilde inquired, “Do you mind if I light up a cigarette?” Bernhardt shot back, “Oscar, I don’t mind if you burn.” Did the witty Wilde meet his __________?

1.

A．ignoring

B．suggesting

C．challenging

D．contradicting

2.

A．training

B．experiment

C．adventure

D．examination

3.

A．revise

B．assess

C．translate

D．adapt

4.

A．considerate

B．impatient

C．satisfied

D．confused

5.

A．stop

B．wait

C．question

D．repeat

6.

A．shamefully

B．angrily

C．gladly

D．nervously

7.

A．agreed

B．continued

C．hurried

D．promised

8.

A．interruption

B．explanation

C．punishment

D．judgment

9.

A．arises

B．improves

C．works

D．ends

10.

A．assumed

B．declared

C．expected

D．mentioned

11.

A．polishing

B．selecting

C．posting

D．memorizing

12.

A．came across

B．took out

C．searched for

D．went over

13.

A．appropriate

B．useful

C．true

D．rare

14.

A．rest

B．exercise

C．study

D．smoke

15.

A．match

B．partner

C．supporter

D．witness

5 . “The mountains are calling and I must go” — the famous quote is from John Muir(1838-1914), who is described as “the wilderness poet” and “the citizen of the universe.” He once jokingly referred to himself as a “poet-geologist-botanist and ornithologist (鸟类学家)-naturalist etc. etc.!” He is known as the Father of American National Parks.

Famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns recently said, “As we got to know him… he was among the highest individuals in America; I’m talking about the level of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Jefferson— people who have had a transformational effect on who we are.”

So where is the quote from? Well, John Muir was a productive writer. Whether he was writing poetry or simply letters to his family, John Muir was always putting pen to paper. The quote is from within one of his many letters written to his sister:

September 3rd, 1873 Yosemite Valley Dear sister Sarah, I have just returned from the longest and hardest trip I have ever made in the mountains, having been gone over five weeks. I am weary, but resting fast; sleepy, but sleeping deep and fast; hungry, but eating much. For two weeks I explored the glaciers of the summits east of here, sleeping among the snowy mountains without blankets and with little to eat on account of its being so inaccessible. After my icy experiences, it seems strange to be down here in so warm and flowery a climate. I will soon be off again, determined to use all the season in carrying through my work—will go next to Kings River a hundred miles south, then to Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains, and in winter work in Oakland with my pen. Though slow, someday I will have the results of my mountain studies in a form in which you all will be able to read and judge them. The mountains are calling and I must go, and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly (永不停息地). I will write again when I return from Kings River Canyon. Farewell, with love everlasting. Yours, John

1. What can we learn from John Muir’s self-description in paragraph 1?

A．He longed to expand his own career.

B．He enjoyed his involvement in nature.

C．He wanted to find his real advantage.

D．He valued his identity as a poet most.

2. What did Ken Burns mainly talk about?

A．Muir’s political influence.	B．A documentary film on Muir.
C．Muir’s historic significance.	D．The social circle around Muir.

3. How did Muir feel when writing the first paragraph of his letter?

A．Relieved but regretful.	B．Exhausted but content.
C．Excited but lonely.	D．Defeated but hopeful.

4. Why must John Muir go into mountains again?

A．To go on with his mountain studies.

B．To seek freedom from social connection.

C．To attend an appointment in Oakland.

D．To experience the hardship of wilderness.

6 . NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORERS

Anand Varma

In the woods near his childhood home in Atlanta, Varma discovered his passion for being immersed in the natural world. Then he picked up his father’s camera and found a way to share that enthusiasm. Now living in Berkeley, California, Varma has spent years developing innovative photography techniques to reveal aspects of science and nature, such as the rapid motions of hummingbirds that normally go unseen.

Katie Orlinsky

During almost a decade of living in and visiting Alaska, Orlinsky has been examining the effects of climate change on the Arctic. Her images of its melting permafrost appeared in the September 2019 issue of National Geographic, and for this issue she hiked solo for days in a remote stretch of Alaska to document migrating caribou. The June 2023 cover story featured her photographs of the world’s first designated wilderness area, in New Mexico.

Neil Shea

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Shea is an award-winning writer who works in print, film, television, and audio. His first book Frostlines: Dispatches From the New Arctic will be published by Ecco in 2025. It covers cultural and environmental shifts in places from Iraqi Kurdistan to East Africa.

Emma Lira

A travel writer and specialist in Spain, Lira has authored historical novels, A Lonely Planet Granada Guide, and A National Geographic Story On Tenerife’s Mummies. She’s a resident of Madrid and the Canary Islands and leads small group tours for women throughout the Islamic world.

These contributors have received funding from the National Geographic Society, which is committed to protecting the wonder of our world.

1. What is unique to Anand Varma?

A．His exploring passion.	B．His adventurous experiences.
C．His environmental awareness.	D．His new photography techniques.

2. What did Katie do for the images chosen by National Geographic in 2019?

A．She covered a long distance in Alaska alone.

B．She investigated the impact of climate change.

C．She explored the wildness area in New Mexico.

D．She spent 10 years living in and visiting Alaska.

3. What do Neil and Emma have in common?

A．They are both travel enthusiasts.	B．They are both expert in writing.
C．They have both published their books.	D．They both care about climate changes.

7 . To mark International Women’s Day, we asked Dezeen Awards judges to nominate (提名) a woman in architecture and design who should have greater recognition.

Shefali Balwani

Nominated by Kamna Malik

“Shefali Balwani is an Indian architect. Her projects have a certain voice that goes beyond the conventional definitions of architecture and design. Whenever I look at her work, I see mindfulness on so many levels, whether it is through the use of materials or the sensitivity shown towards the surroundings.”

Oana Stänescu

Nominated by Ingrid Moye

“Having met Oana Stänescu many years ago while working at SANAA in Tokyo, we have not only been following each other’s path but also become friends. I admire Oana’s curious perspective (视角) through which she observes the world. Her refreshing voice shows not only in her original architectural practice but also in her work as an academic, lecturer, and writer.”

Tatu Gatere

Nominated by Stella Mutegi

“Tatu Gatere is the co-founder and CEO of Buildher—an organization that seeks to empower women with skills needed in the construction industry, which is very male-dominated in Kenya. The skills that these women are empowered with at Buildher make a big impact on every aspect of their daily lives.”

Jessica Smulders Cohen

Nominated by Katie Treggiden

“Having studied sustainable design at Kingston University, Jessica Smulders Cohen decided not to become a designer or a maker, but instead to become a repair specialist. Jess and her work deserve more recognition because our whole industry needs to move away from pursuing newness and instead prioritize reuse and repair—it is the only hope we have for a circular future that will enable our species to live well on this planet.”

1. What do Balwani and Stänescu have in common?

A．Writing many books.	B．Being creative architects.
C．Working for SANAA in Tokyo.	D．Empowering construction workers.

2. What can we know about Ingrid Moye?

A．She is a writer.	B．She is a friend of Stänescu.
C．She once worked for Stänescu.	D．She thinks Stänescu has a beautiful voice.

3. Whose organization improves the lives of Kenyan women?

A．Shefali Balwani’s.	B．Oana Stänescu’s.
C．Tatu Gatere’s.	D．Jessica Smulders Cohen’s.

4. What is Cohen?

A．A designer.

B．A maker.

C．An architect.

D．A repair specialist.

5. Why does Treggiden nominate Cohen?

A．She excels at designing and making.	B．She contributes to a sustainable planet.
C．She promotes equal rights between genders.	D．She gets where she is through self-education.

8 . Must-see exhibitions of 2024

Cute at Somerset House, London

Explore the irresistible force of cuteness in contemporary culture. From emojis to Internet memes, video games to plush toys, cuteness has taken over our world, but how has something so charming and seemingly harmless gained such attraction? Somerset House brings together cultural ephemera and contemporary artworks, alongside a spotlight on Hello Kitty, to coincide with her 50th anniversary.

Tickets: £18.50 per person/Concessions (减价票) from £11 per person

25 Jan. 2024 — 14 Apr. 2024

Barbie at Design Museum, London

Running with 2023’s Barbie mania, and coinciding with Barbie’s 65th anniversary, London’s Design Museum will tell the icon’s story through a design lens in their major new show. The exhibition will trace the legacy that began in 1959 when Ruth Handler sought a new female narrative for her daughter, Barbara. It delves into Barbie’s evolution through fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicle design.

Tickets:TBC

05 Jul. 2024 — 23 Feb. 2025

Brâncuşi at Centre Pompidou, Paris

The Centre Pompidou presents an unprecedented Constantin Brancusi exhibition, featuring nearly 200 sculptures, photographs, drawings, films, archives, tools, and furniture from his workshop. This unique showcase, coinciding with the workshop’s relocation during renovation, offers a fresh perspective on the art of this immense 20th-century artist. The workshop, a jewel of the museum’s collection since 1957, forms the core of this retrospective, enriched by major loans from international museums.

Tickets: From €15 per person/Concession from €12 per person

27 Mar. 2024 — 01 Jul. 2024

Michelangelo: The last decades at The British Museum, London

In 1534, Michelangelo left Florence for Rome, never to return. This exhibition explores his final 30 years in Rome, showcasing new reunions with close friends, and his major works. It features numerous preparatory drawings for the Last Judgement fresco, the restored Epifania cartoon, and studies for St Peter’s Basilica’s reconstruction. Contrasting today’s youth-centric culture, the exhibition highlights lifelong practice, mastery, experience, wisdom, and experimentation, embodying Michelangelo’s enduring legacy.

Tickets:TBC

02 May 2024 — 28 Jul. 2024

1. How much will a couple pay for the first exhibition at least?

A．£37.

B．£11.

C．£22.

D．£18.5.

2. Which of the following exhibitions lasts the longest time?

A．Cute at Somerset House, London.

B．Barbie at Design Museum, London.

C．Brâncuşi at Centre Pompidou, Paris.

D．Michelangelo: The last decades at The British Museum, London.

3. What can we know about Michelangelo?

A．He passed away in Florence.

B．His works will be exhibited with objects from international museums.

C．He completed the Last Judgement fresco effortlessly.

D．His later years were spent in Rome.

9 . Zong Qinghou, the rags-to-riches founder of one of China’s biggest beverage makers, who was once China’s richest man, died of an illness on Sunday at the age of 79, his company Hangzhou Wahaha Group said in a brief statement.

In China, Zong was known as a legendary businessman who grew his soft drinks empire from a tricycle cart hawking (沿街叫卖) ice pops to school kids into a large company selling everything from milk drinks to bottled water and canned porridge.

Zong was also recognized as a national hero for wrestling the full control of Wahaha, which means “laughing child”, from its French partner Danone more than a decade ago. Victory in that bitter battle boosted Zong’s wealth to $8 billion, making him China’s richest man in 2010 and again in 2012, according to Forbes.

His death was mourned across China. Condolences (吊唁) poured in from remarkable Chinese entrepreneurs including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. Wahaha employees and residents in the eastern city of Hangzhou laid flowers outside the company.

The beverage giant’s rise came to represent the can-do spirit of China’s first generation of private entrepreneurs, who helped accelerate the country’s explosive economic growth in the years after they capitalized on market reforms in the late 1970s.

Despite his wealth, Zong was known for his simple lifestyle, which set him apart from many of China’s new rich. He was nicknamed “the richest man in cloth shoes” for always sporting plain black shoes.

In an interview with the state-run People’s Daily in 2010, Zong said the title and wealth had brought little change to his life. “Every day, I still smoke two packs of cigarettes that cost 12 yuan (then $1.80) each, have two cups of tea, and eat my three meals at the company canteen,” he said. He was known for starting work around 7 am and not leaving the office until 11 pm, working for more than 12 hours a day long before the tiring “996” work schedule became common.

1. Zong Qinghou was praised as a national hero because of his ______.

A．stimulating China’s economy

B．becoming China’s richest man in 2010

C．teaming up with the French partner Danone

D．completely dominating Wahaha by beating Danone

2. What can we infer from Zong Qinghou’s rags-to-riches legend?

A．His soft drinks empire was established overnight.

B．Embracing the changes in policies benefited him.

C．His perseverance played a decisive role in China’s economic growth.

D．His family background and people skills contributed to his success.

3. The interview with Zong Qinghou in 2010 can show that ______.

A．he stayed true to himself	B．he brought fame and fortune to people
C．he gave in to the temptation of wealth	D．he pioneered the “996” work schedule

4. According to the text, which of the following best describes Zong Qinghou?

A．Respectful and optimistic.	B．Influential and enterprising.
C．Generous and aggressive.	D．Talented and economical.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Wang De, who is a blacksmith by trade and an inheritor of the 500-year-old art of dashuhua that     1     (literal) means “creating tree flowers”,     2     (live) in Yuxian county of Zhangjiakou.

Wang and his assistants put     3     over a dozen dashuhua performances for villagers and tourists as part of Spring Festival celebrations each year. The folk artist hopes the revival of the tradition can bring more visitors to his hometown of Zhangjiakou.

Dashuhua is a traditional form of fireworks performance that takes place during certain festivals.     4     (create) molten iron fireworks, waste iron is melted to 1,600℃ and thrown against a cold wall. The mix bursts into sparks that look like glittering tree branches.

But the high-risk tradition is still only reserved for     5     brave. Due to the nature of the performance-handling superheated coal and molten iron, it’s easy for performers to suffer injuries. During a performance a few years ago, Wang suffered severe     6     (burn) on his leg and took two months to recover.

There are only four people     7     (leave) in China who have mastered the ancient practice, three of     8     are either middle-aged or elderly. Both Wang’s father and grandfather were blacksmiths. Wang said     9     was his responsibility to pass this craft on to the next generation. Otherwise, it will be lost.

The art of dashuhua requires extraordinary courage, skill and     10     (strong). Now, The molten iron fireworks performance has become a major tourist attraction.