Many Chinese people believe gods are living everywhere around us. There are three Chinese gods who often appear in the Chinese New Year. They are Zaoshen, Caishen and Menshen.

Zaoshen (the Kitchen God) is considered the most important family god in China, who takes charge (掌管) of people’s diet and watches the good or bad of each family. It is believed that on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zaoshen returns to heaven to report the activities of each family over the past year to the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝). The Jade Emperor either rewards or punishes a family according to it. Most of the Chinese people worship (敬拜) Zaoshen on that day, wishing that he will mention more good things and fewer bad things in front of the Jade Emperor.

Caishen (the God of Wealth) is the god in charge of money. In China, people believe there are several Gods of Wealth, among whom Zhao Gongming is the most popular. He has a black face, holds a gold ingot (金元宝) in his left hand and rides on the back of a black tiger. In some places, people believe Zhao’s birthday is the 5th day of the first lunar month. On that day, they will open their doors to welcome him.

Many Chinese people also believe in Menshen (the Door God). The representatives (代表) of Menshen are Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong. The Chinese believe that they can protect their homes and prevent bad things from entering their homes. Also, they are said to bring good luck to the whole family. During the Chinese New Year, people put up new pictures of Menshen on their doors to welcome the new year.

28. What does “it” refer to in Paragraph 2?

A．People’s diet.	B．Family’s wish.
C．Zaoshen’s report.	D．A Chinese god.

29. Which of the following pictures is the God of Wealth?

A．	B．
C．	D．

30. According to the passage, what is not true about the Door God?

A．He protects people’s homes.	B．He brings good luck.
C．He prevents bad things.	D．He puts up pictures.

31. What’s the purpose(意图) of the passage?

A．To tell people the importance of the Chinese traditions.

B．To introduce three Chinese gods in the Chinese New Year.

C．To talk about the history of the three Chinese gods.

D．To express people’s love for the three Chinese gods.

Do you like music? Can you play any musical instrument? Last year, a music school in the UK reported that there had been an 80% decline in young people playing the recorder (竖笛). However, many students do play a musical instrument as part of their lessons or as an after-school activity. Learning to play an instrument is hard work ________. Research shows that actively creating music by playing an instrument is like exercise for the mind, which can help some parts of the brain—especially in young people. For this reason, and many others, some people think that every child should play a musical instrument. Other people say that’s silly because not everyone wants to play or has any talent for it. So what do you think?

Some people think it’s impossible that every child should learn to play an instrument at school, because there aren’t enough teachers and lessons for everyone to learn the instrument they wanted. For example, if someone wants to play something unusual, it might be hard to find a teacher. Many young people simply aren’t interested in music or aren’t very good at playing an instrument. If they are forced to try, lessons become a chore and they’ll be put off music for life. Playing the violin or flute isn’t a life skill like maths or English. For that reason, children should be allowed to do something they enjoy or are good at instead.

However, others think differently. Studies show that children who play an instrument get lots of benefits (好处). One found that musical training improves children’s skills in maths, science and English. Another showed it can help to strengthen memories. Learning an instrument requires patience and a lot of practice, both of which are lifelong skills that build self-discipline (自律). Besides, learning to play music is not just about doing something because it’s good for you—it’s joyful and creative, and no one should miss out on that. Even students who don’t really want to learn an instrument might discover a hidden talent if they are given the chance to try.

32. Which of the following in the dictionary can best explain the underlined word “decline” in Paragraph 1?

Decline n. [C] declines; v. [VT] [VI] declined; declining ①A continuous decrease in the number, value, quality, etc. of sth. ②The period during which something is getting bad or coming to its end ③To become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. ④To refuse politely to accept or to do sth.

A．①

B．②

C．③

D．④

33. Which sentence can be put in the ________?

A．and no one can get anything from it	B．but it can be helpful and fun
C．and it does harm to young people’s brain	D．but every student has to learn it

34. How does the writer develop Paragraph 3?

A．By telling stories.	B．By giving examples.
C．By listing facts.	D．By comparing differences.

35. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Different ideas about children playing instruments.

B．Children in a music school playing the recorder.

C．Benefits children can get from playing instruments.

D．Disadvantages when children playing instruments.

①Between 245 and 66 million years ago, dinosaurs (恐龙) ruled the land. Some groups of dinosaurs evolved (进化) to be able to fly but, until now, experts thought that they never truly took to the water—apart from having a bit of a paddle (赤脚涉水). However, dinosaur bones that were discovered in Africa have now challenged this theory.

②The bones came from a group of dinosaurs called hadrosaurids (鸭嘴龙类). They first appeared in North America during a period known as the late Cretaceous (白垩纪)—between 100 million and 66 million years ago. They eventually spread into Europe and Asia, which were connected to North America at that time.

③However, scientists were confused by the bones appearing in Africa. Today, because the land has moved over many years, Africa is connected to Asia. But in the Cretaceous period, Africa was a huge island separated from Asia and Europe by sea, and it wasn’t connected to South America. So how did the hadrosaurids get there, across hundreds of miles of water, millions of years, ago?

④According to a new scientific study, the bones found—from a skull, an arm and a leg—came from three species (物种), one smaller and two larger. In fact, scientists think the skull belongs to a completely new hadrosaurid species, named Minqaria bata. They say the body structure of Minqaria bata was similar to European hadrosaurids.

⑤The study says the only possible conclusion is that the hadrosaurids must have swum to Africa. Dr Nicholas Longrich, one of the authors, said, “The Cretaceous lasted nearly 100 million years. A lot of strange things will happen in that time—including dinosaurs crossing seas.” Dr Longrich described the hadrosaurids in Africa as the most surprising find of his career. He said a hadrosaurid was the last thing he would have imagined finding in Africa.

36. When did the dinosaurs rule the earth according to the passage?

A．Between 265 and 100 million years ago.	B．Between 245 and 100 million years ago.
C．Between 245 and 66 million years ago.	D．Between 100 and 66 million years ago.

37. Which of the following might be the map of the world in the Cretaceous period?

A．	B．
C．	D．

38. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Hadrosaurids evolved to be able to fly.

B．Hadrosaurids were found in Asia for the first time.

C．Hadrosaurids were possibly good at swimming.

D．Hadrosaurids in Africa were the most surprising find.

39. Which group of the following words are the most suitable for the mind map?

A．Discovery; Map	B．Appearance; Map
C．Appearance; Explanation	D．Discovery; Explanation

阅读下面对话，从方框内7个选项中选择5个恰当的句子完成此对话，并把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。
A: Hi, Tom. What are you going to do in the summer vacation?
B:     40     What’s your plan?
A: I will go to Paris to watch the tennis games of the 2024 Olympic Games.
B: Amazing! I know you like tennis very much.     41    
A: On July 26th.
B: OK.     42    
A: No, they won’t. I am 18 years old. I’m old enough to travel alone.
B: How many days will you stay in Paris?
A:     43     The tennis games will last for 9 days. And then I’ll travel around France.
B: That’s a great plan.     44    
A: Thank you.

A．Will your parents go with you?

B．What can I do for you?

C．Fifteen days.

D．I have no idea.

E．I’ll take a plane to Paris.

F．Enjoy your trip!

G．When will the Olympic Games start?