Here are several not-to-be-missed events. Mark your calendar!

Flowers on the Mimosa Route

The Mimosa Route covers 130 km of wilderness and coastal towns in France, with stops and festivals in bloom to honour a flower that has become the symbol of the Cote d’Azur. This is the perfect opportunity to discover gardens with their feet in the water or the flower floats (花车) of the corsos.

* From 3 to 18 February

Nice Carnival

Mimosa, roses, lilies thrown to the public... The Battle of the Flowers is a highlight of the Nice Carnival and a nod to this France city’s gardening history. The biggest festival on the Cote d’Azur also includes a carnival-style parade, with floats competing in creativity, with dizzying figures up to twenty metres high. The theme of the 2024 edition is “Pop Culture”.

* From 17 February to 3 March

The Menton Lemon Festival

The programme of the Lemon Festival in Menton, France includes various floats. For 15days, the town celebrates its golden fruit with a touch of madness. With the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games just a few months away, the 90th edition of the Lemon Festival promises to be a great event with the theme “From Olympia to Menton”.

* From 17 February to 3 March

The Trail des Merveilles

The Roya Valley in France is the setting for the Trail des Merveilles, which starts in Breil-sur-Roya. Over a distance of around 30 kilometres, with a positive difference in altitude of 2,000 metres, the race takes competitors along wild paths with views of the snow-capped peaks of the Mercantour National Park and the Mediterranean Sea. A shorter, more accessible 17-kilometre route will delight lovers of running and beautiful scenery. Ready, set, go!

*5 March

1. What is the significance of the Battle of the Flowers?

A．To popularize the tradition culture.	B．To vote for the most creative float.
C．To prove people’s passion for flowers.	D．To show respect for the city’s gardening.

2. Which event appeals to sport lovers?

A．Nice Carnival.	B．The Trail des Merveilles.
C．Flowers on the Mimosa Route.	D．The Menton Lemon Festival.

3. What do these four events have in common?

A．They are around the theme of flowers.	B．They are of the same duration.
C．They take place in the same country.	D．They are to celebrate the end of winter.

Though Rob was born without limbs (四肢) due to a rare disease, he has spent his life concentrating only on what he can do. It’s what drove him for more than a decade toward fulfilling his dream — becoming head coach for the junior varsity (代表队) football team at Prospect High School in Saratoga, California.

In his first season, Rob taught his team the meaning of perseverance, leading them to an 8-2 record. And despite losing the league championship game, he won his players’ loyalty forever — and, recently, recognition for his incredible spirit.

This year, Rob received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, presented at the ESPY Awards to “a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination”. Nobody could have been a better fit.

As Rob accepted his award, he thanked a number of people for helping him get to where he is today, including his mother for planting the seed of optimism in him, his father for nurturing his passion for sports, and Prospect High School students and administration for giving him a chance. Then, true to his character, the passionate coach shared a piece of his unending wisdom.

“If there’s any message that I want to give you guys tonight, it’s to look at me and see how much passion I put into coaching and how far it’s gotten me. When you put yourself into something and open your mind to different possibilities and focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t do, you really can go places in this world.”

According to Rob, the best part of coaching is seeing someone’s potential and making them realize what’s possible. So for anyone out there not sure if they can do something, Rob said, believe that you can do it.

Rob may have been born without arms or legs, but he was clearly born with the amazing ability to motivate others. As he’s already well aware, there’s nothing this man can’t do!

4. What helped Rob realize his dream?

A．His talent.	B．His determination.
C．His knowledge.	D．His fortune.

5. Which words can best describe Rob?

A．Ambitious and honest.	B．Generous and optimistic.
C．Passionate and humorous.	D．Inspiring and grateful.

6. What is Rob most likely to do with the players?

A．Helping them to know about each other.

B．Encouraging them to create and seize opportunities.

C．Discovering their talent and inspiring them to do their best.

D．Focusing on those with potential and giving them confidence.

7. What message can we get from Rob’s story?

A．Nothing is difficult to a willing heart.

B．Everything is difficult at the beginning.

C．Opportunity comes to those who are prepared.

D．A hundred-mile journey begins with the first step.

Many people within the deaf community use sign language as a method to communicate visually. Unfortunately, the lack of signs about the climate had created a barrier for the disabled community. That has changed recently with the British Sign Language (BSL) updating its vocabulary with 200 new words.

There are nearly 300 sign languages around the world, with the famous ones being the American Sign Language (ASL), the British Sign Language (BSL), and the Australian Sign Language (Auslan) for native English speakers.

The use of hands in sign language to represent individual letters is called ‘fingerspelling’. While some common words like “car” have signs, a specific car like Tesla would need to be spelled out as “t-e-s-1-a”. Sign language has developed over the years as society and technology changed — the word for telephone, for example, is very different today than 100 years ago!

However, for deaf students, the lack of scientific terms has always been a handicap. They have felt held back from understanding and learning, simply because they did not have enough vocabulary to use in discussions. In 2012, researchers first developed 116 signs for scientific words such as “mass” and “X-ray” which were eventually added to the BSL.

In the U. S., Mandy Houghton, a teacher at the School for the Deaf and Blind in Florida, attended a summer program for science. She noticed that it was difficult to participate as she felt unable to communicate accurate terms. Only 20% of the chemistry terms used were a part of sign language! Houghton acknowledged the gap in scientific vocabulary and has made it her mission to expand American Sign Language(ASL)to be more inclusive.

As climate change becomes increasingly obvious, so does the information and education surrounding it. Including new vocabulary that focuses on these topics, allows the deaf community to have access to valuable knowledge and empowers them to learn and take action.

In the fight against climate crises, the new developments in ASL and BSL have a huge significance in creating a better future for everyone.

8. What can we learn about the sign language according to the text?

A．There are three noted sign languages.	B．It has a history of exactly 100 years.
C．A sign language is made up of 200 words.	D．The same sign may have different meanings.

9. What does the underlined word “handicap” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Puzzle.

B．Barrier.

C．Preference.

D．Task.

10. How did Houghton feel in the summer program?

A．Satisfied.

B．Proud.

C．Ashamed.

D．Confused.

11. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．The ASL Is Changing With Time

B．The Sign Language Benefits the Deaf

C．The Sign Language Is Adapting to Times

D．The Deaf Community Fights Against Climate Change

A sperm whale (抹香鲸) surfaces. The baby whale comes in close to drink milk. When the baby has had its fill, mom moves her tail. Then, together the pair div e down deep. Gasper Begus watches from a boat. “You get this sense of how vast and different their world is when they dive,” he says. “But in some ways, they are so similar to us.”

Sperm whales have families and other important social relationships. They also use loud clicking sounds to communicate. It seems as if they might be talking to each other.

Begus is an expert majoring in languages. He got the chance, last summer, to observe sperm whales in their wild Caribbean habitat off the coast of the island nation of Dominica. With him were marine biologists and roboticists. There were also experts in other fields. All have been working together to listen to sperm whales and figure out what they might be saying.

They call this Project CETI. That’s short for Cetacean Translation Initiative. To get started, Project CETI has three listening stations. Each one is a cable (电缆) hanging deep into the water from the surface. Along the cable, several dozen underwater microphones record whale sounds. From the air, drones (无人机) record video and sounds. Robots do the same underwater. But just collecting all these data isn’t enough. The team needs some way to make sense of it all. That’s where artificial intelligence, or AI, comes in.

Now a type of AI known as machine learning can find patterns from vast amounts of data and you can open an app and use it to help you talk to someone who speaks Japanese or French. One day, the same tech might translate sperm-whale clicks.

Project CETI’s team is not the only group turning to AI for help. Researchers have trained AI models to sort through the sounds of prairie dogs, dolphins and many other creatures. Could their efforts crack the codes of animal communication? Let’s take a cue from the sperm whales and div e in head first.

12. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

A．To lead in the topic.	B．To introduce Gasper Begus.
C．To imply the danger of scientists’ work.	D．To show humans and whales’ similarities.

13. What can we know about the Project CETI?

A．It needs experts’ joint efforts.

B．It requires a good command of whales’ language.

C．It demands the knowledge of whales’ living habitat.

D．It calls for an understanding of whales’ social relationships.

14. What is Al used to do in Project CETI?

A．To collect sounds.	B．To analyze data.
C．To monitor whales.	D．To operate drones.

15. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The wide application of Al.	B．The sperm whales’ parenting styles.
C．The study of the sperm whales’ clicks.	D．The ways to track sperm whales.

Ways to Employ the Power of Your Strengths

If you have ever had a job interview, you have likely been asked what your strengths are. It’s a common question.     16     It’s often easier for them to focus on their weaknesses instead. Below are five ways you can identify your strengths and use them to help you.

    17     Take an online assessment of your character strengths. Once you have taken the assessment, brainstorm different ways that you can use your core strengths throughout the week, then document your experience each time you use your strength in a new way.

Identify times you’ve used your strengths in the past.     18     Write out these examples in a journal. Next, reflect on how these strengths have served you in different areas of your life.

Reflect on feedback (反馈) you’ve received from others about your strengths. Think back to times when others provided you with positive feedback about your strengths. Write out what the positive feedback was.

Use a strengths jar. Anytime you notice that you have used one of your strengths, write down what strength was used and put it in the jar.     19    

Engage in new activities and hobbies that test your strengths. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new activities, hobbies, or classes can help you get in touch with new strengths.     20     Contrary to what you may think, being good at the activity or hobby you try is not needed to get in touch with your strengths. For example, if you decide to try rollerblading (轮滑) for the first time and fall repeatedly, you may discover that humor is a strength.

A．Make full use of your strengths.

B．Identify your signature strengths.

C．What you find may surprise you.

D．Of course, not everyone has the same hobbies.

E．However, many people have a hard time identifying their strengths.

F．Reflect about previous times when you exhibited your signature strengths.

G．Once every few weeks, set aside some time to review what you have written.

September 29, 2020, was a day that changed two women’s lives. The day they _________, Kayallah was interviewing for a job at Dakara’s _________. Dakara liked this 21-year-old because “she had good energy”. Kayallah left feeling she did _________ in the interview. With just the thought of being hired, her _________ nailed the job for her.

When leaving the restaurant, she took a breath and did a quick, happy _________. She didn’t know Dakara was watching on the restaurant’s closed-circuit TV. After that _________ interview, that happy dance convinced Dakara to make the _________. Dakara posted the security camera footage (录像) on the website, which collected more than 1.5 million views.

But that wasn’t the most amazing thing for these two women! They _________ after the interview and went on a tour of talk shows and news programs. It seemed like the entire nation was _________ with Kayallah.

Why did Kayallah’s response to being hired make a difference? If you remember, things weren’t so __________ in autumn of 2020 when the nation was just recovering from the economic decline. We __________ to see Kayallah’s happy dance response to being hired. It was giving the nation __________ for new beginnings.

Now, we __________ this moment to remind people that we all __________ a two-second happy dance on occasion. If you’re feeling __________, take a breath, and do a happy dance to inspire yourself!

21.

A．separated

B．quarreled

C．desired

D．met

22.

A．website

B．program

C．restaurant

D．tour

23.

A．normally

B．perfectly

C．meaningfully

D．proudly

24.

A．experience

B．knowledge

C．preparation

D．response

25.

A．dance

B．decision

C．shift

D．deed

26.

A．random

B．secret

C．online

D．positive

27.

A．hire

B．move

C．donation

D．difference

28.

A．returned

B．declined

C．bonded

D．quitted

29.

A．sharing

B．celebrating

C．competing

D．progressing

30.

A．great

B．strange

C．appealing

D．disturbing

31.

A．planned

B．agreed

C．proved

D．desired

32.

A．fund

B．hope

C．choice

D．support

33.

A．reflect on

B．respond to

C．make out

D．adapt to

34.

A．witness

B．watch

C．need

D．practice

35.

A．puzzled

B．stressed

C．embarrassed

D．astonished

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。

March has barely turned the mountains of the Qinling Range green, but Tianshui,     36     small city at the foot of the Qinling Range has already exploded in popularity for its spicy hot pot, or malatang. In recent days, Tianshui has welcomed approximately 40,000 visitors daily.

The     37    (explode)in popularity of the local spicy hot pot in Gansu is closely associated     38     the local eating habits. The local northwestern Chinese cuisine primarily     39    (consist)of boiled beef and mutton, as green leafy vegetables are hardly found in Gansu or its cuisine. In places like the Hexi Corridor, if one attempts     40    (find)leafy greens, the best option would be to visit a Sichuan restaurant.

However, the local spicy hot pot restaurants also provide diners with     41    (variety)vegetables to choose from. In places like Tianshui,     42     cuisine has been influenced by Sichuan and Chongqing traditions, the hot pot’s flavor     43    (enrich)using bean sauce and Sichuan peppercorns, adding a spicy fragrance(香味)to both meat and vegetables.

The history of Gansu’s spicy hot pot is     44    (relative)short. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was merely known as spicy noodles, later     45    (develop)to achieve its present form.

47. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Penny’s Present

The sun was shining when Penny woke up. Usually she jumped out of bed with a happy smile for the new day. But today she just lay there frowning (皱眉).

This was the day before Mother’s Day, and Penny still had no present for Mama. She had forgotten about Mother’s Day until she had heard her brother Peter and sister Elizabeth talking last night. “I made Mama an apron (围裙) in sewing class,” Elizabeth had said proudly.

“What are you going to give Mama?” Peter asked Penny. Penny had not answered. She had ducked her head, ashamed to admit that she had spent her pocket money. She had nothing at all to give Mama on her special day.

Penny got out of bed and dressed slowly. The bag of candies she had bought yesterday reminded her of her terrible mistake.

“Well, here’s our littlest sleepyhead,” Mama said as Penny walked into the kitchen. She gave her a good-morning hug, and the smell of baked apples floated up from her apron. In a way, that made Penny feel worse because it reminded her of all the good things Mama did for her.

She remembered a hot day last summer when Mama had spent a whole afternoon making strawberry jam, because she knew Penny liked it. She thought of the moment when Mama polished her shoes and taught her to cut and arrange flowers. Sometimes she also taught Penny to make paper flowers with colorful petals (花瓣).

“Penny dear, can you eat a little faster?” Mama was talking to her. With surprise Penny noticed that everyone else had finished breakfast.

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

“Well, finish up. I have to visit old Mrs. Logan and read for her. But first, I want to get this kitchen cleaned up.” Penny watched her mother hurriedly cleaning up the kitchen. Mama was a very busy person. It seemed to Penny that sometimes Mama could use an extra pair of hands and two more feet. Suddenly she had an idea! There was a present she could give Mama, and it might be better than anything she could buy.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The next morning, Penny slid into the room with a package.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Read the petals of the Promise Flower, Mama,” Penny said.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________