1 . 
Growing up, we’ve heard a lot of views of how sex (性别) influences interests and jobs. For example, boys do math better than girls, while girls are better at learning languages. We usually think this is because of differences in how boys’ and girls’ brains work. But is it true?
According to past studies, some parts of our brains can be different in size. Scientists used to think these differences might affect how well men and women think and do things. They found this by scanning people’s brains. However, in most of the studies, researchers only scanned less than 100 people. As said in a 2022 study, for such research to be believable, you would need to scan the brains of thousands of people at least.
In 2023, the UK Biobank, a big database (数据库) used for research, scanned the brains of 40,000 people in the UK, providing new finding. It showed differences between men and women in the size of certain brain parts. About one-third of these parts were found to be larger in men, while another third were larger in women.
Also, our brains might change in structure (结构) and size according to our life experiences. For example, a man’s brain area use for math might be larger than a woman’s, simply because he works in a job requiring math skills. So, any brain differences between men and women could be a result, not a cause, of different roles in life and society, noted New Scientist.
1. In Paragraph 1, the writer explains views of how sex influences interests and jobs by ________.| A．telling a story | B．making a survey | C．giving an example | D．asking a question |
| A．the researchers scanned the people in an improper way |
| B．all the people researchers scanned are not from the UK |
| C．the researchers used wrong information to draw a conclusion |
| D．the number of the people researchers scanned was too small |
| A．a boy is born better at math than a girl |
| B．life experience can influence a person’s brain |
| C．the sex of a person leads to differences in the brain |
| D．there are no differences in the brain between sexes |
However, these differences were tiny, often just a size difference in percentage. They are not big enough to draw a conclusion from them, Camille Williams from the University of Texas at Austin, US, told New Scientist.
| A．Paragraph 1 | B．Paragraph 2 | C．Paragraph 3 | D．Paragraph 4 |
| A．Science | B．Fashion | C．Education | D．Technology |
2 .
| Eggshells (蛋壳) are very thin and are easy to break, but their shape enables them to support a surprising amount of weight. | |
| Want to have a try? Follow the steps in the experiment (实验) and see what will happen. | |
| 1 Lightly hit one end of an egg and pour out the content.
| 2 Draw a line at the widest point around the egg.
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| 3 Cut around the line with scissors. Prepare another three eggs in this way.
| 4 Put your eggs in a square. Carefully lay a brick or more on top of the shells.
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| __________ An arch is strong because its shape evenly (均匀地) spreads the weight that it supports. A dome is like a series of many arches arranged (排列) in a circle. Your halved eggshell s are mini domes. |
|
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
| A．How does this work? | B．Why are eggs put in a square? |
| C．How much weight can eggshells support? | D．Which shape is stronger, an arch or a dome? |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
3 . Zhang Ming, a college student, created a 9-page “WeChat guide”. With pictures and simple words, the step-by-step guide teaches people to send messages（信息）, take pictures and make video calls. Zhang made the guide for his parents. “My parents are getting old. They need an easy way to used new technologies,” he said.
Zhang’s experience is common today. Around the world, 40% of parents learn about new technologies from their kids. Parents used to teach kids about almost everything. Now for the first time, the teachers become the students, and the students turn into the teachers. The change of roles comes from the rapid development of the technology. The Internet gives kids ways to get more information besides from asking the older generations: So, in the age of the Internet, it’s possible for kids to know more than their parents.
According to（根据）a study, 56.7% of Internet users in China are under 30. The younger generation usually acts as a link between their family and the new environment. They teach their parents new technologies. Then their parents can better understand the new world.
“Teaching my parents about WeChat makes me closer to them. People can communicate more by surfing the Internet. Why do we keep our parents out?” said Zhang.
1. What cannot Zhang’s parents learn from the WeChat guide?| A．How to take pictures. | B．How to send messages. |
| C．How to make a family group. | D．How to make a video call. |
| A．Kids have a better memory. |
| B．Parents have no interest in the Internet. |
| C．Parents don’t ask the older generations for help. |
| D．Kids get more information by using technologies. |
| A．Wish. | B．Connection. | C．Treasure. | D．Conversation. |
| A．Closer. | B．Weaker. | C．More terrible. | D．More common. |
| A．Steps of Using WeChat | B．The Young Internet Users Need Help |
| C．Ways of Communicating With Kids | D．The Young Act as Teachers for Parents |
4 . Are video games good or bad for our children? Everywhere you look, you can see children playing these games. They play on buses and trains, in restaurants and even at school.
Video games are educational (有教育意义的). They make kids think and they have to move their hands and eyes quickly. And video games make children use their imagination. The player has to do many creative (有创造性的) things, like drawing, telling stories and building things.
However, video games can also be bad for children. First, children can download many games for free, but parents often don’t know what games their children are playing. That is to say, if it is a hazardous game, parents will have no chances to stop their children. Second, many children spend too much time playing games on computers and this can lead to health problems. Third, if children spend too much time playing games instead of doing homework, they can have problems at school and get bad grades. Finally, video games can affect (影响) children’s social skills. If children spend too much time playing video games by themselves, they might not learn how to play with their friends.
Video games have some advantages and disadvantages. Parents should know what games their children are playing and how long they spend on video games. Parents should also make sure their children get enough exercise and spend time with other children.
1. What happens to children when they are playing video games?| A．Their brains stop thinking. |
| B．They learn about all their subjects. |
| C．They don’t move their fingers or eyes. |
| D．They have to use their imagination to do some work. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Relaxing. | C．Boring. | D．Difficult. |
①have bad grades ②make kids feel bored
③lead to health problems ④affect children’s social skills
| A．②③④ | B．①③④ | C．①②④ | D．①②③ |
| A．Play the same video games. | B．Take their children to hospital. |
| C．Encourage their children to do sports. | D．Stop their children playing video games. |
| A．Ways to Make Video Games | B．Why do We Need Video Games? |
| C．Video Games, Good or Bad? | D．Let’s Say No to Video Games |
5 . There are many kinds of plants in the world. Now I’ll tell you two kinds of them. They are very special and they are quite different from other plants.
| Rafflesia arnoldii (大王花) People discovered this flower in Sumatra in 1818, and it is considered to be the largest flower in the world. It can grow up to one meter in diameter (直径), and weigh as much as 11 kg. Though Rafflesia arnoldii is a large flower, it is very difficult to find. It takes 9 to 21 months for the plant to develop, but its flower lasts for only five days. The flower can reach up to 6 meters tall and 4.8 meters wide, but it smells awful. |
| Dancing plant Have you ever watched a plant move all by itself? The dancing plant actually moves its leaves. It can grow up to 2 meters high. The period (时期) of its movements is from 3 to 5 minutes, and when all of the leaves move, it brings a very cool wind. The plant lives in Asia. People can also find it in the South Pacific. It is very wonderful. This plant is famous for being a favourite of Charles Darwin, and it is important in his book The Power of Movement in Plants. |
1. What can we know about Rafflesia arnoldii?
| A．It is about 20 metres wide. | B．People discovered it in 1922. |
| C．Its flower lasts for 9 to 21 months. | D．It is the largest flower in the world. |
| A．Wonderful. | B．Terrible. | C．Sweet. | D．Fresh. |
| A．In Sumatra. | B．In the North Pacific. | C．In Asia. | D．In Europe. |
| A．Amazing Nature. | B．Exciting Sports. |
| C．Colourful Cultures. | D．Interesting Places. |
6 . The Internet has changed the world. People are able to get and share information in seconds. Nowadays, people begin to wonder: Is the Internet good or bad? “It’s impossible to answer that question because the Internet is so many things,” says psychologist (心理学家) Patricia Greenfield.
Some are truly wonderful. In many ways it makes life easier and simpler. It helps us get things done more quickly. It opens up the world to us. And if a friend lives far away, the Internet makes it easy to stay in touch.
However, the issue (话题) isn’t black and white. Some can become real problems if we don’t take care. Spending too much time online is harmful to people’s health. It may even cause them to be less social with family and friends. Apart from (除……之外) that, some people attack the web or use the Internet to steal others’ personal information, even banking information. Most of the young students think the Internet is simply an icon on the screen. Kids won’t realize that the Internet is a network of millions of computers until about 10 years old.
The Internet can be a useful tool, but don’t let it take up all of your time. Use the Internet properly (适当地) and carefully and it can make your life more colourful.
1. What does Patricia Greenfield mean by saying “the Internet is so many things”?| A．The Internet is hard for people to master. |
| B．The Internet brings advantages as well as disadvantages. |
| C．The Internet has more advantages than expected. |
| D．The Internet has more disadvantages than expected. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Simple. | C．Difficult. | D．Everything. |
| A．Advantages of using the Internet. | B．Disadvantages of using the Internet. |
| C．How to stop using the Internet. | D．How to use the Internet wisely. |
7 .
We can know about the weather by listening to the weather report. We can also know the weather in some other ways. Let’s see what Tom and Wang Hong found on the Internet. | |
| When we see birds fly high out to the sea, we know it is a nice day because birds don’t like to fly out if it rains. When the weather is bad, the birds will come back to the beach. A big wind may come with a heavy rain. Birds do not like to fly in a big wind. They may sit in a tree when the rain is coming. |
| It is a cloudy day. The rain is coming. Chickens are not quiet and they run here and there. Frogs (青蛙) make a big noise in the pool. If it is a nice day, the frogs will come out of the water. |
1. When can we play beach volleyball?
| A．When birds fly back to the beach. | B．When birds fly high above the sea. |
| C．When birds hide in their nests. | D．When birds sit in a tree. |
| A．They run here and there. | B．They keep quiet. |
| C．They lay eggs everywhere. | D．They fight with each other. |
| A．Sunny. | B．Windy. | C．Rainy. | D．Warm. |
8 . What do you think is an important social skill? I think it’s being polite. It can help you make friends, show respect and achieve success. Here are some tips to help you be polite.
Greet people politely. You can be polite by offering a proper greeting. When first meeting or greeting someone, give him a warm smile. It shows that you are in good spirits and are happy to see him. Also, shake hands to show respect.
Make small talks. Instead of jumping right into business. You can make small talks first. Talk about their lunch or their day. Listen carefully and pay attention to what they are saying to you. Show them you’re interested by asking questions.
Congratulate other people on their success. When others do well, offer them your praise. If you meet a friend who has recently graduated, won a match, or got a new job, congratulate him.
Avoid uncomfortable topics. Some topics can make people uncomfortable. You might hurt other people’s feelings if you talk about them. Try to keep your conversation in the pleasant areas.
Make eye contact (接触). When in conversation with someone, look them in the eye when you’re speaking. Keeping eye contact shows that you are paying attention. However, don’t stare at people all the time.
1. How does the writer begin the text?| A．By giving examples. | B．By telling a piece of news |
| C．By asking a question. | D．By showing a saying. |
| A．Smile. | B．Ask questions. | C．Offer praise. | D．Shake hands. |
| A．Congratulating others is helpful. | B．Finding comfortable topics can be pleasant. |
| C．Keeping eye contact is necessary. | D．Staring at people all the time can show respect. |
| A．Introduce some tips to be polite. | B．Explain the ways of greeting others. |
| C．Teach us how to give small talks. | D．Discuss some hot topics. |
9 . My dear boys and girls, good morning. Today I’m going to talk to you about my suggestions about how to become stronger.
As the high school entrance examination is coming soon, you might feel a bit worried or nervous. These feelings may make you stressed out and fail to focus on your studies. But think about it. Would your favorite superhero have these same feelings?
Scientists have been studying what they call the “Spider-Man Effect” (蜘蛛侠效应) in children. They’ve found that if kids imagine themselves as a powerful person—such as a super hero like Spider-Man, they won’t feel so nervous and will be able to focus on their work.
For example, if you feel nervous during an exam, try to imagine that you are a Spider-Man. You may find that you can “remove” the stress from this situation and feel more confident. This can help keep you fight off bad feelings and focus on your task, just like a superhero would. Pretending to be a superhero makes us feel powerful and that will have an influence on how we act in real life.
But you don’t have to always choose a superhero like Spider-man. Anyone you admire can encourage you to get through hard times, or remind you of how you should act in certain situations. Favorite stars, famous painters, even our own parents—anyone can be our “Spider-Man”. For example, when it comes to how I communicate with others, I like to look toward my mom for inspiration. She is a middle school teacher who is always kind, thoughtful and brave. I try to act the same way like her.
Thanks for your listening. I hope you can find your own strength to deal with the difficulties in your life.
1. What’s the text probably be?| A．A story. | B．A speech. | C．A letter. | D．A diary. |
| A．It will help you keep calm and focus on your exam. |
| B．You will get superpower and get good results. |
| C．It will make yourself stronger and cleverer. |
| D．You will make fewer mistakes in exams. |
| A．Feeling. | B．Becoming. | C．Imagining. | D．Encouraging. |
| A．By telling a story. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By showing an example. | D．By giving some information. |
| A．Find Your “Spider-Man” | B．How to Be a Better Person |
| C．Achieve Your Goal | D．Overcome Difficulties |
10 . Today, AI robots play an important role in people’s daily lives. These robots work in many areas to help people.
I’m a teaching robot. My job is to spend time with children and teach them. I look like a human being because I want to get close to children. I can sing and dance. I can also know the needs of children by hearing their words and teach them knowledge on different subjects. |
I’m a medical robot. People often use me in the operating room (手术室). I can move to some hard-to-get-to places in the human body. I can help doctors work better during operations. |
I’m a security (安全) robot. I can recognize strangers and then call the police when strangers break into a house. I always keep my eyes on smoke in the house and can let people know if there is a fire. If the house catches fire, I can also help people put it out. |
1. Where is a teaching robot probably used?
| A．In a supermarket. | B．In a store. |
| C．In a school or home. | D．In a hospital. |
| A．It can sing and dance. | B．It can call the police. |
| C．It can help doctors do operations. | D．It can teach knowledge. |
| A．By fighting against strangers. | B．By catching a fire. |
| C．By welcoming guests. | D．By helping put out the fire. |
