1 . Age is truly just a number if our hearts are young. Lee Minor, an 85-year-old retired psychologist, has________this by finishing his 600th marathon race with 32 members of his family by his side. “Runners don’t have a________line. We just keep going,” he toldGood Morning America. “I felt________running with my family.” Minor has been running three days a week since 1969, and his heart is filled with enthusiasm for running.

“I like to run in all kinds of________. It is so childish as the rain touches your face. And I love to come here after snow and you watch your________as you go along.” he concluded.

Minor’s enthusiasm for running is________. “It is my joy. And I want to live as long as I can. And I mean live, not________.” His words ring true for Ron Robert, a man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who decided to ________ a three-year bachelor of artsprogram at King’s University College in London, Ontario. “I was always taught early in life that the brain is like the most ________instrument we have in our body,” said Robert.

Last fall, Robert graduated from the university, despite the challenges of his illness. “When I went across the stage, and as I’m getting my________, the kids all stood up andyelled and clapped,” he________. “I had to hold back the tears. It was something else, just wonderful.” He hopes that his story will give hope to others facing________difficulties. “There will come a time when I won’t be able to, and I fully________that. Butin the meantime, I’m living a full life.”

The stories of Minor and Robert are reminders that age and illness need not________us. We can choose to pursue our________and live life to the fullest, no matter whatchallenges we may face.

1.

A．proven

B．approved

C．won

D．imagined

2.

A．starting

B．center

C．finishing

D．bottom

3.

A．depressed

B．thrilled

C．calm

D．uneasy

4.

A．weather

B．zones

C．illness

D．phases

5.

A．position

B．footprints

C．reflections

D．route

6.

A．infectious

B．temporary

C．blind

D．restricted

7.

A．wait

B．abandon

C．exist

D．run

8.

A．award

B．suspend

C．quit

D．pursue

9.

A．powerful

B．visible

C．boring

D．accurate

10.

A．uniform

B．application

C．certificate

D．license

11.

A．slid away

B．gave up

C．broke in

D．choked out

12.

A．emotional

B．identical

C．financial

D．abstract

13.

A．enjoy

B．reject

C．doubt

D．expect

14.

A．save

B．define

C．distinguish

D．witness

15.

A．scholarship

B．fitness

C．passion

D．career

2 . Recently, I accidentally found a set of Hanfu l only wore once from the bottom of the cupboard. I remember buying them simply to match the ancient-style hair accessories (配饰) a friend gave me. It occurred to me that 1 had been trapped in the “birdcage effect”.

“Birdcage effect” means that when you get an item one day, you will prepare more things to match it. Weeks ago, I was in the company of friends engaged in shopping. One said that she wanted to buy a good writing pen to match the delicate notebook that her sister gave her, so that she would fall in love with taking notes on reading, and thus love reading, not just reading. I joked that she must have fallen for the “birdcage effect”. But the friend said with a smile: “Why not use the ‘birdcage effect’ instead?”

For the first time, I heard that the “birdcage effect” can be used in reverse (逆向). However, this can’t help but remind me of middle school, and I seem to have used the “birdcage effect”. Passing by a bookstore one day, I purchased a magazine and saw the call for contributions published in the magazine, so I started writing with eager hands, and then I fell in love with writing.

After shopping with my friends that time, I began to proceed to use the “birdcage effect”. I bought a small fresh tablecloth to decorate my desk, and a beautiful notebook to record my inspiration. When everything was ready, I started writing again.

But how can we get rid of the “birdcage effect” in many things, and even use the “birdcage effect” in the opposite way? Various “birdcages” unavoidably appear in life, but we can distinguish them. If it is not in line with the actual situation, it is a “negative birdcage”, then we must learn to stop losses in time and maintain a heart of abandonment and separation. If it is a “positive birdcage” that motivates us to develop upward, we can clarify our goals, shop or decorate appropriately, and motivate ourselves to move towards our goals. At this time, you will find that the “birdcage effect” is actually not so terrible!

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The application of the “birdcage effect” in life.

B．The necessity of using the “birdcage effect” in life.

C．The turning point of the author’s idea on the “birdcage effect”.

D．The author’s conflict with her friend over the “birdcage effect”.

2. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning her middle school experience?

A．To recall her delightful days at school.

B．To explain the reason for her love with writing.

C．To confirm the positive of the “birdcage effect”.

D．To prove her knowledge of the “birdcage effect”.

3. How can we make use of the “birdcage effect” positively?

A．By realizing this effect has two sides.

B．By promoting our personal consumption.

C．By recognizing this effect is not so terrible.

D．By guiding our acts to go with reasonable goals.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Getting Rid of the Birdcage Effect Confidently

B．Motivating Ourselves to Move Towards Our Goals

C．The Birdcage Effect: Influence on Consumer Behavior

D．The Birdcage Effect: How to Use It to Your Advantage

3 . In many ways, Gitanjali Rao is an ordinary 11-year-old, lively and chatty, yet her scientific spirit makes a huge difference. Last month, she ___________ the top prize at the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her invention.

What ___________ Gitanjali’s work was that her city faced a water emergency with too much lead in its water. “The idea didn’t ___________ to me until I saw my parents try to do water tests. The test strips may show inaccurate results, which weren’t very ___________.”

She recalls. She then searched for suitable materials with continued efforts and ___________ found that carbon nanotube (纳米管)sensors can be used to sense chemicals. Gitanjali ___________ to build a small blue housing using the 3-D printer at her school with computer chips and a battery inside. A free app, which Gitanjali designed under ___________ from her computer science teacher, gives instant ___________ and sends the data to a linked phone through an attached device.

The process of designing her project wasn’t always ___________, though. Kathleen Shafer, a scientist paired with Gitanjali as her teacher in summer, ______________ along the way. In the award ceremony, Gitanjali also ______________ her parents with constant support and ______________ to try “crazy ideas”. Gitanjali received $25, 000 to further develop her program along with the great ______________ of winning the contest. According to Shafer, who ______________ Gitanjali, “she shows a lot of motivation to solve ______________ issues through science”.

1.

A．earned

B．designed

C．offered

D．made

2.

A．exposed

B．improved

C．defined

D．inspired

3.

A．stick

B．belong

C．occur

D．apply

4.

A．simple

B．reliable

C．predictable

D．creative

5.

A．initially

B．immediately

C．temporarily

D．eventually

6.

A．managed

B．promised

C．pretended

D．happened

7.

A．observation

B．command

C．instruction

D．control

8.

A．access

B．results

C．decisions

D．approval

9.

A．optional

B．complete

C．continuous

D．smooth

10.

A．changed

B．risked

C．helped

D．followed

11.

A．stresses

B．credits

C．impresses

D．provides

12.

A．encouragement

B．request

C．struggle

D．pressure

13.

A．fortune

B．intention

C．honor

D．potential

14.

A．keeps up with

B．gets along with

C．takes care of

D．speaks highly of

15.

A．commercial

B．practical

C．academic

D．systematic

4 . Most young people are always on their phones, which may upset many people. ___________, a group called Girl Scouts are receiving _________ for setting up their first walk-in clinic for elderly people, who have difficulty understanding how to ___________ the secrets of their smart phones.

Each teen spent at least an hour of one-on-one time with their oldsters. Based on their _________ knowledge, each Girl Scout was assigned to ___________ different aspects of Android and Apple phones.

Some of the oldsters actually wanted to take part in e-commerce (电子商务), and needed help to _________ a payment account on their smart phones while others simply had _________ when learning how to send messages to their family members. "I was teaching this older woman how to _________, and the first thing she did was to send a message to her daughter,” one of the Scouts said. “How ___________ it was! It just made me feel really, really happy.”

In addition to arranging group lessons for all of the seniors to ____________ together at the end of the clinic, the youngsters even printed out brochures and guides for the seniors to take home in case ____________ seniors would encounter problems with their smart phones in the future.

The eighth graders earned their “Silver Award,, for their job. After experiencing the ____________ of their project, the girls hope to organize more ____________ in the near future. “Those girls were just great,” said Nancy, a great-grandmother who once ____________ the clinic. “They were ready for us and had a very mature attitude about answering our questions, and they ______________ the praise.

1.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．However

D．Besides

2.

A．service

B．praise

C．invitation

D．donation

3.

A．keep

B．untie

C．share

D．unlock

4.

A．technological

B．medical

C．psychological

D．physical

5.

A．record

B．teach

C．recall

D．investigate

6.

A．get back

B．set up

C．check out

D．pay off

7.

A．patience

B．luck

C．fun

D．trouble

8.

A．write

B．phone

C．text

D．read

9.

A．sweet

B．simple

C．rare

D．common

10.

A．play

B．live

C．talk

D．review

11.

A．amazed

B．experienced

C．confused

D．respected

12.

A．success

B．arrangement

C．change

D．pressure

13.

A．performances

B．clinics

C．clubs

D．competitions

14.

A．organized

B．managed

C．visited

D．funded

15.

A．needed

B．refused

C．enjoyed

D．deserved

5 . Goldfish may seem like simple creatures swimming in a glass tank, but they possess a rather complicated navigation system, as discovered by researchers at the University of Oxford Led by Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux, the study aims to shed light on our understanding of how fish, and potentially humans, estimate distances using what could be described as an internal GPS.

Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Sibeaux and colleagues report how they created a tank in their experiment with 2cm-wide black and white vertical stripes (条纹) on the walls, connected by similar stripes across the floor. The team trained nine goldfish to swim a set distance of 70cm and then return to their starting point when waved at. The experiment aimed to investigate how the fish would estimate this distance without any gestures, under different patterns.

Over multiple trials, the goldfish averaged a swim distance of 74cm, give or take 17cm, when presented with the vertical 2cm-wide stripes. However, when the stripe pattern was altered to either narrower vertical stripes, checked patterns, or horizontal stripes, the fish’s behavior changed significantly. Narrower vertical stripes led them to overestimating the distance by 36%, while horizontal stripes resulted in highly inconsistent estimations.

According to the researchers, the goldfish appeared to be using an “optic (光学的) flow mechanism” based on the visual density of their environment. They kept track of how frequently the vertical pattern switched between black and white to estimate how far they had traveled. The study suggests that different optic flow mechanisms are used by mammals, including humans, based on angular (有角度的) motion of visual features. The study implies that the use of visually based distance information could have emerged early in the evolutionary timeline.

“This study is novel because, despite knowing that fish respond to geometric information regarding direction and distance, we don’t know how they estimate distances,” Professor Colin Lever, although not involved in the study, said, “it’s exciting to explore fish spatial mapping because fish navigation evolved earlier and better than most mammals.”

1. Why did Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux conduct the study on goldfish?

A．To test the accuracy of goldfish’s internal GPS.

B．To create an advanced navigation system for humans

C．To uncover how an inbuilt GPS helps calculate distances.

D．To explore the relationships between goldfish and humans

2. What can we learn about the experiment?

A．People gestured the goldfish throughout the experiment

B．The tank was decorated with colorful background patterns

C．Goldfish tended to underestimate distances with horizontal stripes.

D．The change in the tank setting led to the goldfish's incorrect judgment.

3. It can be concluded from the fourth paragraph that ____________.

A．optic flow mechanism is unique to humans

B．mammals developed flow mechanism long before goldfish

C．goldfish evaluated the distance with multidimensional visual information

D．visual density of the environment strengthened the locating ability of goldfish

4. What attitude does Professor Colin hold towards the study?

A．Neutral.

B．Ambiguous.

C．Disapproving.

D．Favorable.

6 . When looking for some vacation ideas to spread out and get some time and space to yourself, check out these great resorts (度假胜地) options.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

Located in Punta Cana, this family-friendly vacation at an all-inclusive resort offers something for everyone in your party. Parents can enjoy relaxing by one of the resort’s swim-up bars in an infinity pool or head out for some deep-sea fishing. Kids, meanwhile, can head over to the kids’ club for a number of activities. Plus, all of the drinks and food across the 14 restaurants and bars is included.

Beaches Turks & Caicos

This resort has become the Caribbean’s popular go-to when it comes to all-inclusive family vacations that provide great value since there’s so much to do for guests of all ages. There’s a 45,000-square-foot water park, 24 restaurants, unlimited PADI-certified scuba diving and water sports, a 12-mile beach, a spa, 10 pools—whew!

The Alisal Guest Ranch

If you live in the city and want to get back to nature, this luxury farm over nearly 11,000 acres in California’s Santa Ynez Valley is a perfect fit for a family. All that wide-open space means activities like horseback riding, scenic cycling, hiking, fishing, kayaking and, for the body-and-spirit-minded traveler in your group, yoga.

Montage Palmetto Bluff

The 20,000-acre community includes a nature preserve with walking trails, but the real stars of the show here are the over 300 species of birds. The resort’s resident naturalist takes families on walks to Bird Island, sharing a history of the area. Plus, kids will love the kayak tours that get up close to the dolphins that live there year-round.

1. Which attracts those interested in horseback-riding?

A．Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.	B．Beaches Turks & Caicos.
C．Montage Palmetto Bluff.	D．The Alisal Guest Ranch.

2. What do the four attractions share?

A．They promise good food services.	B．They include various kids’ clubs.
C．They provide parent-child activities.	D．They have large historic buildings.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To organize some family parties.	B．To highlight some tourist resorts.
C．To introduce some nature reserves.	D．To stimulate some domestic needs.

7 . Where to Eat in Kuala Lumpur

Great restaurants in Kuala Lumpur offer a genuine global dining experience. Whether you are looking to enjoy hearty comfort food or some local delicacies, the city’s dining scene satisfies all comers.

Mum’s Place

Nothing brings more comfort than mom’s cooking. With recipes inspired by the owners’ mother, this restaurant brings you Nyonya dishes that are truly Malaysian. Located in the district of Damansara Perdana, Mum’s Place is a neighbourhood restaurant with its main customers from residents nearby. Some of the best dishes include cencaru fish, devil curry chicken and beef rendang.

Cantaloupe

Located about 20 minutes from downtown Malacca, it is a home-based eatery with about 10 tables manned by four operators. Unlike most restaurants, food is self-service here, with dishes placed on catering pans for customers to choose from. It serves traditional Malaysian dishes with distinct Chinese influences. You will find rice dumplings and chicken rendang among the offerings. It has two branches in the city. Their dishes sell out fast, so it’d be best to head there before lunch time.

YumYum Restaurant

Situated in the beautiful Shangri-La Hotel, Yum Yum Restaurant is among the locals’ many favourite spots to dine at. It offers an interesting Nyonya and Thai food with Chinese influences that make them stand out. The classic dishes include sambal petai prawns, assam fish head and Yum Yum egg. It can get crowded here, so it’d be best to head there early or call ahead for reservations.

Troika Sky Dining

Offering fine dining, the impressive Troika Sky Dining undoubtedly stands out from the pack. Set on the 23rd floor of Tower B of The Troika, it goes without saying that the cloud-skimming views here are something else entirely. The food is what helped it stand out. It serves award-winning French, Italian, Greek, and Spanish food and adventurous menu of high-end pizzas and pasta.

1. What do Mum’s Place and Yum Yum Restaurant have in common?

A．They are based in hotels.	B．They serve Nyonya dishes.
C．They need prior reservations.	D．They offer breathtaking views.

2. Which restaurant serves western food?

A．Mum’s Place.	B．Cantaloupe.
C．Yum Yum Restaurant.	D．Troika Sky Dining.

3. What’s special about Cantaloupe?

A．It is a buffet restaurant.	B．It serves hard-to-find dishes.
C．It has branches throughout Asia.	D．It opens for lunch earlier than others.

8 . Recently I was very busy and I needed a timeout. So I decided to drive to the supermarket and pick up dinner instead of doing my usual ______.

In the supermarket, I took fat and juicy chicken and some warm cornbread. As the cashier began processing my items, I______my bag for my credit card. However, I realized my wallet was not there. In______, I told the cashier I had left my money at home and apologized sincerely, offering to______my items to where I______them. Just at that moment the supermarket owner appeared, saying “Please, take everything home and______the dinner. It’s on the house tonight!” I tried to______the lovely offer but he______a dark chocolate bar near the counter and said, “Here! Take this, too!” His act of______lifted everybody present. I thanked him______for making my day.

When I approached home, as I______into my driveway, I saw my next-door neighbor had just mowed my lawn (草坪). He was putting on the finishing touches, clearing the cut grass. Feeling______, I jumped out of my car and asked him how much he wanted for his ______, to which he replied,“Nothing at all. The lawn needed doing.” He______me off summarily as he returned to his home. A second scoop of good______had landed in my lap, which again reminded me kindness is everywhere in the world.

1.

A．walking

B．cooking

C．shopping

D．teaching

2.

A．reached into

B．stared at

C．put aside

D．watched over

3.

A．anger

B．amazement

C．satisfaction

D．embarrassment

4.

A．clear

B．show

C．pack

D．return

5.

A．bought

B．put

C．took

D．ate

6.

A．enjoy

B．prepare

C．donate

D．deliver

7.

A．appreciate

B．withdraw

C．decline

D．ensure

8.

A．looked at

B．picked up

C．showed off

D．put away

9.

A．courage

B．generosity

C．faith

D．bravery

10.

A．hurriedly

B．curiously

C．hesitantly

D．sincerely

11.

A．searched

B．dug

C．crashed

D．pulled

12.

A．regretful

B．excited

C．nervous

D．energetic

13.

A．efforts

B．talent

C．guidance

D．goods

14.

A．sent

B．drove

C．waved

D．turned

15.

A．appetite

B．deal

C．fortune

D．reputation

9 . Misty Copeland spends most days twisting, spinning and _______. She practices and _______ the graceful movements of her art. When she isn’t performing she is practicing. When she isn’t practicing, she is stretching. She takes classes almost every day. She takes care of her body so she doesn’t _______ it when she goes to work in a ballet theatre.

“I treat my body with the respect that any musician would to their _______.” says Misty. “I love my body,” she adds.

Was she _______ confident? Actually, she was a _______ girl and avoided the spotlight. But Misty loved music and movement. When she was thirteen, Misty’s teacher suggested she _______ a free ballet class at the Boys&Girls Club. For two weeks, Misty sat on the gym bench watching the class, afraid to _______. Finally, she gave it a _______. At first, she felt ________in the class. She didn’t know anything about ballet, and she was ________ than most of the students. Over time, ________, she began to enjoy the lessons. She discovered that her body — especially her long legs and flexible muscles — was just ________ for ballet. After the class season ended, Misty received a scholarship to a nearby dance studio. Most ballerinas (女舞者) start their training much younger than thirteen. But Misty’s natural abilities and hard work made her improve quickly.

Over the next five years, ballet was Misty’s ________. She practiced, performed, competed and attended ballet programs. “Performing was my favourite part because I felt ________ and open onstage,” she says. “For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged.”

1.

A．wandering

B．leaping

C．exercising

D．dancing

2.

A．perfects

B．conquers

C．examines

D．describes

3.

A．hurt

B．injure

C．spoil

D．abuse

4.

A．appearance

B．voice

C．techniques

D．instruments

5.

A．found

B．made

C．born

D．trained

6.

A．humble

B．quiet

C．cautious

D．shy

7.

A．attend

B．register

C．learn

D．watch

8.

A．stand up

B．catch up

C．cut in

D．join in

9.

A．rest

B．chance

C．try

D．thought

10.

A．out of place

B．out of order

C．out of mind

D．out of control

11.

A．younger

B．older

C．taller

D．shorter

12.

A．meanwhile

B．however

C．moreover

D．thus

13.

A．ready

B．good

C．right

D．qualified

14.

A．life

B．major

C．prospect

D．stage

15.

A．improved

B．calm

C．free

D．secure

10 . As a boy, John Kerr wanted to be a park ranger (护林员). ________, he spent four decades at a public broadcasting’s station in Boston. He ________ at the age of 65 without any particular post-career goal in mind.

After several lazy weeks, he drove to visit his family by Yellowstone. On the way he ________ stopped at the Yellowstone Park Foundation, which raised funds for the national park. As it happened, the foundation was ________ people to educate park guests on wolves. Kerr ________ for an internship (实习).

To say that Kerr stood out in the intern crowd is a massive ________. Most interns were college and even high school students. But, in a sense, he had been ________ for this since his youth. His outdoor adventures with his grandfather had given him a love of ________, and he once volunteered at the local fire department on ________ calls.

From his internship, he ________ a ranger sooner, educating park visitors, making for safe ________ between guests and animals, and responding to medical emergencies. He ________ his job of what he describes as one in the most beautiful places, and moments when he treats a visitor to an ________ look at one of the park’s wolves or bears through his telescope, an ________ that can move visitors to tears.

“These are ________ and all-too-rare moments,” recalls Kerr. “I never forget them.”

1.

A．Instead

B．Anyhow

C．Still

D．Hence

2.

A．retired

B．departed

C．graduated

D．resigned

3.

A．at random

B．on purpose

C．on time

D．by chance

4.

A．helping

B．requiring

C．training

D．hiring

5.

A．signed up

B．moved on

C．hang out

D．broke in

6.

A．honour

B．understatement

C．relief

D．overstatement

7.

A．delighted

B．determined

C．contented

D．prepared

8.

A．travel

B．nature

C．drive

D．freedom

9.

A．business

B．guidance

C．emergency

D．conference

10.

A．turned to

B．went with

C．moved up to

D．kept up with

11.

A．encounters

B．places

C．trips

D．experiences

12.

A．judges

B．treasures

C．admires

D．changes

13.

A．open

B．anxious

C．up-close

D．all-round

14.

A．effort

B．occasion

C．imagination

D．adventure

15.

A．rich

B．natural

C．urgent

D．easy