The Grammy Awards’ Music Educator Award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution and demonstrated a commitment to music education. This year it went to Annie Ray. who was honored for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.

Ray, who comes from a family of musicians, knows firsthand the impact that a great teacher can make on their students. She was inspired in large part by the diversity of the Annandale community, which represents over 60 countries, including many refugees (难民) and immigrants. “There are a lot of cultures that might typically conflict, and they come together in this very beautiful harmony,” Ray explained.

Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Crescendo Orchestra, which was born out of the pandemic (流行病), doesn’t necessarily share the social goals of a program like Best Buddies or the Special Olympics. The focus is on teaching students how to play an instrument, through one-on-one instruction tailored to their needs.

The orchestra is about much more than just making music, however. The program gives students a chance to develop their cooperation skills, make mistakes and learn the art of improving something. “They completely changed my educational philosophy and approach of what it truly means to meet a student where they’re at and apply that elsewhere,” Ray added. “I believe they have a truly powerful message to share with everyone.”

As for the Grammy Award, Ray said that it belongs to her students. She also plans to put some of the money towards an ongoing scholarship for students who want to pursue music when they graduate, in any possible way. “It is a hard profession, but that was really touching,” Ray said. “And there’s nothing else like it.”

1. Why did Annie Ray create the Crescendo Orchestra?

A．To settle social conflicts.

B．To help disabled children.

C．To promote social awareness.

D．To support people during the pandemic.

2. What can we learn about Annie Ray from the passage?

A．She created music for each performance.

B．She was rewarded for her great music talents.

C．She provided more than music to her students.

D．She donated all her money to her talented students.

3. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．Annie Ray: Bringing Home the Grammy for Musical Commitment

B．Crescendo Orchestra: A Symbolic Image of Great Musical Events

C．From Pandemic to Grammy: The Journey to Success of Annie Ray

D．Grammy Awards: A Recognition for the Best Musicians in the World

Situated along a river that winds through the mountains, surrounded by cedar (雪松) and bamboo forests, Nanmoku is about 70 miles northwest of the capital city. Once known for its silk, wood, and konjac root (魔芋根), Nanmoku is now Japan’s most aged village, with two-thirds of its residents over 65. Many buildings are abandoned and the population has dropped from 11,000 in 1955to about 1,500 today, according to town hall figures. At that rate, the village could be empty just over a decade.

Nanmoku is on the front lines of Japan’s rural depopulation, a trend seen in other Asian and European countries. However, some residents are working to change the trend by attracting young people. One such person is 24-year-old Satomi Oigawa, who moved to Nanmoku after graduating from college in Tokyo. She works for the village government, matching abandoned homes with potential new residents. Oigawa is learning about the village’s history as she integrates into the community. “Everything about this house is part of the village’s history,” she says.

Despite efforts to attract new residents, the village faces challenges. There are few jobs for young people, and the nearest hospital is an hour’s drive away. Some residents argue that instead of spending money to attract newcomers, the money should be spent on those already living in the village.

Mayor Saijo Hasegawa aims to keep the village’s population level in 15to 20 years’ time, hoping to maintain it at around 800 people. However, experts like Peter Matan le of the University of Sheffield say that while some villages may boom, they will still experience pushback against the overpowering trend. “Japan is currently losing 600,000 to 700,000 people annually, and that’s going to increase to more than a million by the 2030s,” Matan le says. “Under that situation, how do settlements maintain their populations, let alone increase them?”

4. Which of the following can best describe current Nanmoku?

A．Old and timeless.	B．Undamaged and charming.
C．Remote and developing.	D．Historic and declining.

5. Why did Satomi Oigawa move to Nanmoku after college?

A．To get job opportunities.	B．To learn about the history.
C．To refresh the village.	D．To experience the rural life.

6. What can be inferred about the efforts to beat Nanmoku’s depopulation?

A．They are facing significant challenges.

B．They are likely to succeed at the moment.

C．They are widely supported by all residents.

D．They need more support from the government.

Economic growth is often considered as a sure way of increasing the well-being of people in low-income countries, and global surveys in recent decades have supported this strategy by showing people in high-income countries tend to report higher levels of life satisfaction than those in low-income countries. This strong connection might suggest that only in rich societies can people be happy. However, a recent study conducted by ICTA-UAB and McGill University in Canada suggests that there may be good reasons to question whether this link is universal.

While most global surveys gather thousands of responses from the citizens of industrial and urban societies, they tend to ignore people in simple-and-tiny societies on the fringe, where social group has a limited number of members and where the exchange of money plays a minimal role in everyday life with natives and local communities depending directly on nature.

The research, published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), consisted of a survey of 2,966 people from local communities in 19 globally distributed sites. Only 64% of surveyed households had any cash income. The results show that “surprisingly, many populations with very low incomes report very high average levels of life satisfaction, with scores similar to those in wealthy countries,” says Eric Galbraith, researcher at ICTA-UAB and McGill University and lead author of the study.

The average life satisfaction score across the studied simple-and-tiny societies was 6.8 on a range of 0-10. Although not all societies reported high satisfaction levels, four of the sites reported average scores higher than 8, despite many of these societies having suffered histories of neglect and control. The results are consistent with the opinion that human societies can support very satisfactory lives for their members without necessarily requiring high degrees of material wealth.

“While the reasons behind these findings remain unclear, the study provides valuable insights into how diverse communities achieve satisfying lives. It offers hope that understanding these factors can help others improve their well-being while addressing sustainability concerns.” Galbraith concludes.

7. What does the research focus on according to the passage?

A．The impact of cash income on locals’ well-being.

B．Income-satisfaction connection in industrial societies.

C．Economic growth’s concerns in low-income countries.

D．Relation between wealth and happiness across societies.

8. What does the underlined word “fringe” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Edge.

B．Surface.

C．Horizon.

D．Scene.

9. What’s the purpose of the numbers listed in paragraph 3 and paragraph 4?

A．To indicate the research’s limitations.

B．To prove the reliability of the findings.

C．To emphasize high satisfaction scores.

D．To show the number of people surveyed.

10. What is Galbraith’s attitude toward the research?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Unclear.

C．Promising.

D．Critical.

How to Make Exercise a Habit

The new year is a time when it seems like everyone makes goals to work out and get fit. But by the third week of January, that all seems to go out the window. I’ve seen this happen almost every year: my workout classes are packed with fresh faces.     11     So I will share some tips on how to make exercise a habit, helping you stay healthier in the long run.

Focus on the routine and not the results

These days it feels like everyone is looking for a quick fix or fast results, particularly when it comes to health and fitness.     12     Focus on creating and enjoying the habit. Try scheduling your works alongside one of the other routines you already have in place.

    13    

Everyone seems to want to set big goals of working out 4 times a week with 60-minute sessions. But realistically, if you’re not used to this, it will just be overwhelming and lead you to quit. Given this, doing workouts even as small as5-10 minutes is a good place to start.

Forget the “all or nothing” view

When it comes to exercise, the all or nothing approach does not serve you. Say you plan a workout for today, but say things get crazy at work and you miss your scheduled time. Well that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.     14     Even if you miss your workout, that doesn’t mean you’ve given up. Just remember your results are from your every effort, not matter how small.

Find joy in your workouts

    15     Don’t let yourself be boxed into a certain type of workout just because it’s trendy or everyone is doing them. A workout that suits you will promote your drive and enjoyment.

A．Life happens sometimes.

B．Start with mini workouts

C．Build yourself workout time-zone

D．But in reality, it takes time for results to show.

E．Explore until you find a workout that feels like fun.

F．There is something magical that makes your plan work.

G．But after just a few weeks, they return to the regular number of people.

Bobby and I had been friends right when we were five. I had a natural talent and _________ for painting, but Bobby’s life was marked by sorrow. While he had lost his parents, we _________ through our youth together, playing, chatting, loving and studying, until we graduated from college.

I was fortunate enough to find a job that allowed me to _________ my passion for painting. Bobby, on the other hand, seemed to wander _________ in his search for employment. Having heard his situation _________ when he fell ill, I decided to put my career on hold to look after him. When I stepped into his house, _________, a single room that he lived in, I saw it was covered with a layer of dust. Bobby’s only _________ during his days at home was a tree outside his window, holding desperately on to a single leaf.

Bobby would often pour out to me, “If that last leaf falls, I probably won’t _________ either.” Determined to lift his spirits, one early morning, I drew a leaf and tied it to one of the branches. It was so _________ that it appeared as if it belonged to the tree. This leaf never fell; it became Bobby’s symbol of hope.

As time passed, under the silent encouragement of the leaf, Bobby’s health began to __________. Eventually, he was hired as a clerk in a bank close to his home and __________ his enthusiasm for life. It turned out that the leaf I had drawn was more than just an artistic creation — it was an unbreakable __________ of our friendship.

Our experience taught us that sometimes, a simple __________ can have far-reaching effects. Friendship proves to be the most __________ power along our path, even when faced with all challenges. This is the very __________ of life.

16.

A．passion

B．treasure

C．courage

D．shortage

17.

A．spent

B．struggled

C．searched

D．sailed

18.

A．increase

B．appreciate

C．pursue

D．abandon

19.

A．aimlessly

B．cheerfully

C．carelessly

D．energetically

20.

A．lessened

B．worsened

C．strengthened

D．appeared

21.

A．other than

B．or rather

C．rather than

D．let alone

22.

A．despair

B．entertainment

C．company

D．choice

23.

A．make it

B．get it

C．have it

D．lose it

24.

A．beautiful

B．green

C．interesting

D．real

25.

A．delay

B．improve

C．fail

D．ignore

26.

A．recalled

B．replaced

C．regained

D．released

27.

A．connection

B．barrier

C．duty

D．witness

28.

A．word

B．look

C．life

D．gesture

29.

A．demanding

B．inviting

C．comforting

D．amusing

30.

A．pain

B．core

C．hardship

D．fun

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。

When it comes to using winter tourism to boost its economy, Harbin seems to have already taken the first step. No one had expected such     31     (crazy) to occur in this far northern city. During the three-day New Year’s holiday, more than three million tourists crowded into the city. And the snowball effect of social media has suddenly turned the “ice city”     32     a hot spot.

The Zhongyang Street is an old street     33     (locate) in the center of Harbin. These Russian-style architectures reflect the diverse history of the city. The most famous snack here is ice cream,     34     during the holiday of the New Year’s Eve, 100,000 pieces     35     (sell). Obviously, no freezer is needed.

The winter wonderland is a symbolic tourist attraction of Harbin. Here, excitement is the     36     (easy) thing to find. This year’s seasonal theme park covers an area of over800, 000 square meters.     37     (stand) at the top of the Ice and Snow World, I realized that the reason Harbin could have such a success story was just that it is Harbin. It is the Harbin     38     local residents will give free rides to tourists, where the     39     (authority) would prepare public warming shelters and where you can     40     (total) enjoy yourself with no worries at all.

从词汇框中选择合适的单词完成句子。

assigned   cruel   emerge   blanketed   policy   decent complicated   envy   restoring   precisely   respectively   subsequent

41. It’s difficult to know ______ how much impact the changes will have on us.
42. The talented young artist is starting to ______ as a promising figure in the art world.
43. With a 3D printer, a cook can print ______ chocolate sculptures and beautiful pieces for decoration on a wedding cake.
44. In their final exams, Alice scored 92%, Bob scored 85% and Claire scored 78% ______.
45. The whole village was ______ with heavy snow.
46. According to the school’s ______, all students should wear uniforms during school hours.
47. Mr. Smith stayed in his room alone, ______ those ancient paintings.
48. The rate of population growth reached its highest point in 1999 and declined in ______ years.
49. His many talents were the ______ of all his classmates.
50. Leaving pets in a locked car during hot weather is ______ and dangerous.

51. 人体由各种器官、系统和组织构成。
The human body is made up ______ various organs, systems, and tissues.

52. 他请她去澳大利亚旅行，但她拒绝了。
He offered her a trip to Australia, but she turned him ______.

53. 经过一段时间的考虑，我最终决定辞职创业。
After thinking it over for a while, I’ve finally made ______ my mind to quit my job and start my own business.

56. 我谨代表全体同学向你表示真挚的感谢。
______ behalf of all the students, I’d like to express my genuine thanks to you.

58. 虽然回家后感到很疲惫，我还是觉得这次活动意义重大且收获颇丰。
Although worn ______ back home, I thought the event significant and rewarding.

59. 我与其他选手不同之处在于我对此话题有着独特的见解。
What set me ______ from other candidates was my unique ideas about the issue.

60. 土地散发着新鲜泥土的芳香。
The land gave ______ the fragrance of fresh earth.

61. 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。

As I opened the door, my two little girls squeezed past me, and hit the fridge for their after-school snack. A bag full of research papers begging to be graded fell down heavily from my shoulder onto the table. After a tiring day’s work, I still had to face the mess that was bothering me, including my husband’s doing-nothing and my daughters’ constant talking noisily. While scolding them, I reached for a cup of leftover morning coffee. As I turned towards the coffeepot, I noticed that the morning dishes weren’t in the sink and the counter was clear except for an envelope with my name on it. My heart pounded, as my husband hadn’t written me a love letter since we were engaged. Then I replayed the casual comment I had made that morning “Since you’re working evenings this week, it would be nice if you’d do something to help out around the house while you’re home.”

I picked up the letter, expecting an apology. But when I read the first line, my heart sank. “I’m tired of being accused of not helping around the house. I am tired of you scolding children every day. Yesterday, I washed the windows. Did you notice? I also picked up your car from school and took it for an oil change. I bet you didn’t notice that either, did you? Of course nor did you notice our daughters prepared coffees well every morning.”

The letter continued in the same tone—a little anger, a lot of hurt—and I deserved every word. The truth was when he worked evening shift, I envied the solitude (独处) he enjoyed by day. He spent hours alone in a quiet house while I took on the parenting role for both of us at night—dinner, homework, baths, bedtime. Then I graded papers or made lesson plans while losing my temper occasionally before I collapsed into bed. But who had time for clothes washing? For dirty floors? Not me, because my husband did.

注意：
1. 写作词数应为150左右；
2. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I folded the letter and slid it inside the envelope to hide his words and my shame.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hardly had I finished writing the letter when our younger daughter skipped in.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________