1 . When I was a high school student. I was faced with the world with the innocence that only comes with youth. I had always been fascinated by the idea of learning a new language, but I had never truly understood the challenges involved. That was until one day, when I decided to take the risk and learn Spanish.
It all started when I visited my cousin in Spain, Watching her effortlessly communicate with locals in their native language, I was filled with envy. I realized that, despite my ability to speak English and a little French, I was still missing an important tool: a deep understanding of another major language.
So, I did what any determined teenager would do; I set out to learn Spanish. I downloaded language-learning apps, bought textbooks, and even signed up for private classes. Actually, it was not easy. The grammar rules were different, the vocabulary unfamiliar, and the pronunciation challenging.
But I refused to give up. I spent hours listening to Spanish music and watching Spanish language movies. I role-played with my teacher, speaking aloud and making mistakes. Gradually, the language started to feel more natural. Months passed, and my hard work began to pay off. My Spanish improved, and I felt confident enough to try speaking it in real-life situations. The first time I ordered a meal in Spanish in a restaurant, I felt like an explorer conquering a new land.
Now, when I look back on that version of myself, I can’t help but feel proud, It might have taken months of hard work and late-night study sessions, but in the end, the journey was more than worth it. It has given me a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me.
1. Why did the author decide to learn Spanish?| A．She felt a deep connection to Spanish culture. |
| B．She was inspired by the cousin’s language skills. |
| C．She was influenced by a friend’s recommendation. |
| D．She wanted to impress people with fluent Spanish. |
| A．She engaged in various activities. |
| B．She quit learning Spanish halfway. |
| C．She sought help from native speakers. |
| D．She adopted her teacher’s study methods. |
| A．Positive and helpful. | B．Determined and hard working. |
| C．Gifted and curious. | D．Generous and easy-going. |
| A．A travel story. | B．A research paper. |
| C．A news website. | D．A personal blog. |
2 . Janet Kelly and her husband, DaQuan Davis, were out shopping one afternoon when DaQuan’s brother, Demetrius, called in a panic. Some children playing with a lighter in the downstairs apartment
That’s when Janet
The family were especially
| A．found | B．started | C．fought | D．stopped |
| A．As a result | B．In addition | C．On the contrary | D．Worse still |
| A．safe | B．healthy | C．panic | D．hungry |
| A．assumed | B．learned | C．decided | D．predicted |
| A．rescuing | B．persuading | C．contacting | D．adopting |
| A．ordered | B．took | C．picked | D．pointed |
| A．looked out | B．made room | C．went back | D．brought food |
| A．gone | B．mild | C．detectable | D．thick |
| A．checked | B．threw | C．followed | D．cheated |
| A．staring | B．praying | C．listening | D．barking |
| A．wake | B．locate | C．comfort | D．direct |
| A．grateful | B．rude | C．familiar | D．generous |
| A．news | B．incident | C．conflict | D．change |
| A．Similarly | B．Occasionally | C．Apparently | D．Surprisingly |
| A．babysitter | B．housekeeper | C．manservant | D．firefighter |
3 . What you believe in has a magic way of shaping your reality. The concept of “you can become what you believe” is more than just a motivational quote. It’s a truth that stresses the remarkable influence of your mindset (心态) on your journey through life. At the heart of this idea lies the distinction between two fundamental mindsets: the growth mindset and the fixed mindset.
The growth mindset is a mindset that embraces the idea that abilities and intelligence can be developed through devotion, effort, learning, and perseverance. Those with a growth mindset grow better on challenges, viewing them as opportunities to learn and improve. Effort is seen as a path to mastery, and setbacks are viewed as stepping stones on the journey to success. Criticism is taken constructively as a chance to improve skills, and the success of others serves as inspiration and a blueprint for one’s own progress.
In contrast, the fixed mindset is characterized by the belief that your abilities, intelligence, and talents are fixed characteristics that cannot be changed. People with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, fearing that failure might reveal their limitations. They avoid pushing themselves because they see it as a sign of their weakness. Criticism is frequently interpreted as a personal attack, and envy or anger can be stirred up by others’ achievement. In nature, a fixed mindset limits individuals to their current abilities and limits their potential for growth.
The power of a growth mindset lies in its capacity to drive positive change. By believing in the potential for growth and improvement, individuals open themselves to a world of possibilities. “If you imagine less, less will be what you, undoubtedly deserve. Do what you love and don’t stop until you get what you love. Work as hard as you can, and think big, “Debbie Millman, a writer, designer, educator, artist and brand consultant said.
1. What is the author’s argument?| A．People’s mindsets are diverse. | B．One’s heart affects one’s mindset. |
| C．Mindset determines what one can be. | D．Mindset depends on one’s character. |
| A．Its limitation. | B．Its possibility. |
| C．Its disadvantages, | D．Its characteristics. |
| A．Giving examples. | B．Making comparisons. |
| C．Conducting analysis. | D．Quoting famous sayings. |
| A．Think carefully before you act. | B．Imagine less and practice more. |
| C．Stay true to yourself and never change. | D．Pursue your dreams and never give up. |
4 . They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. But when it comes to tackling a tricky task, researchers have found that getting angry can also be a powerful motivator.
The experiments suggest people who are angry perform better on a set of challenging tasks than those who are emotionally neutral.
The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, details how researchers at Texas A&M University conducted experiments involving more than 1,000 people, and analysed survey data from more than 1,400 people to explore the possible impact of anger on people in various circumstances.
In one experiment, students were shown images previously found to cause anger, desire, amusement, sadness or no particular emotion at all. Participants were subsequently asked to solve a series of anagrams (变形词).
The results reveal that for a challenging set of anagrams, those who were angry did better — although no difference was seen for easy anagrams.
The researchers say one explanation could be down to a link between anger and greater persistence (坚持), with the team finding those who were angry spent more time on the difficult set of anagrams.
In another experiment, participants who were angry did better at avoiding flags in a skiing video game than those who were neutral or sad, and were on a par with (同水平) those who felt amusement or desire.
“This pattern could indicate that general physical arousal (激起) had a benefit for game scores, as this would be greater in anger, amused, and desire conditions compared to the sad and neutral conditions,” the researchers write. However, no such differences in performance was found when it came to an easier video game.
“People often prefer to use positive emotions as tools more than negative and tend to see negative emotions as undesirable,” said Lench, the first author of the study. “Our research adds to the growing evidence that a mix of positive and negative emotions promotes wellbeing, and that using negative emotions as tools can be particularly effective in some situations.”
1. What tasks did the researchers set for the students?| A．Catching flies with honey. |
| B．Helping analyze survey data. |
| C．Putting tasks into different categories. |
| D．Performing tasks in various emotional states. |
| A．It brings team spirit into full play. |
| B．It promotes a deep insight into the tasks. |
| C．It increases effort toward attaining a goal. |
| D．It changes challenging tasks into easy ones. |
| A．Research result consistent with previous findings. |
| B．Potential application of the research finding. |
| C．A further explanation of the research method. |
| D．A reasonable doubt about the research process. |
| A．To present more proofs. | B．To draw a conclusion. |
| C．To make a comparison. | D．To criticize old practices. |
5 . “Keep staring! I might do a
People stare at me all the time so I thought this shirt would be funny. See, I’m a dwarf(侏儒). Most of the time people aren’t trying to be
I was born with achondroplasia(软骨发育不全症), the most
I’m not going to pretend my height isn’t a
But everyone faces challenges. You have to face them with a good attitude. So, I have a long barbecue fork to
My shirt shows people the
| A．favor | B．magic | C．trick | D．survey |
| A．rude | B．nice | C．indifferent | D．hospitable |
| A．avoid | B．evaluate | C．appreciate | D．object |
| A．common | B．special | C．scary | D．outstanding |
| A．hardly | B．particularly | C．awfully | D．practically |
| A．challenge | B．symbol | C．milestone | D．barrier |
| A．stars | B．ceiling | C．counters | D．ladders |
| A．break away from | B．keep up with | C．draw back | D．bring along |
| A．legs | B．steps | C．pants | D．distance |
| A．pull down | B．pick up | C．drag along | D．stab into |
| A．brakes | B．extensions | C．devices | D．stands |
| A．something | B．little | C．anything | D．enough |
| A．adjusting | B．changing | C．perfecting | D．testing |
| A．tall | B．different | C．strong | D．real |
| A．ashamed | B．aware | C．capable | D．proud |
6 . My father was one of the most intelligent people I knew, but his mind was so focused on big issues that he often forgot about daily matters. He’d have to be
He was so thrifty (节俭的) that he never
One year on Halloween, my
Just imagine how
| A．encouraged | B．reminded | C．invited | D．warned |
| A．cheer up | B．take up | C．show up | D．grow up |
| A．threw | B．sorted | C．checked | D．taken |
| A．official | B．deadly | C．economic | D．powerful |
| A．debates | B．solutions | C．comments | D．efforts |
| A．responsibility | B．admiration | C．preference | D．impression |
| A．flooded | B．trapped | C．credited | D．packed |
| A．hair | B．nose | C．bone | D．face |
| A．compete | B．attract | C．wrestle | D．transport |
| A．brother | B．mother | C．father | D．teacher |
| A．paired | B．compared | C．designed | D．mixed |
| A．explored | B．removed | C．wrapped | D．arranged |
| A．straight | B．shiny | C．dirty | D．wild |
| A．demanding | B．typical | C．graceful | D．unique |
| A．embarrassed | B．frightened | C．disappointed | D．worried |
7 . Coral reefs in Florida have lost an estimated 90% of their corals in the last 40 years. This summer, a marine heat wave hit Florida’s coral reefs. The record high temperatures created an extremely stressful environment for the coral reefs, which are currently also experiencing intense coral bleaching (白化).
A coral is an animal, which has a symbiotic relationship with a microscopic algae (藻类). The algae gets energy from the sun and shares it with the coral internally. The coral builds a rock-like structure, which makes up most of the reef, providing homes and food for many organisms that live there. Coral bleaching is when the symbiotic relationship breaks down. Without the algae, the corals appear white because the rock skeleton becomes visible. If the bleaching continues for an extended period, the corals can starve to death without the energy.
Florida is on the front lines of climate change. It is also on the cutting edge of restoration science. Many labs, institutions and other organizations are working nonstop to protect and maintain the coral reefs. This includes efforts to understand what is troubling the reef, from disease outbreaks to coastal development impacts. It also includes harvesting coral spawn (卵), or growing and planting coral parts. Scientists moved many coral nurseries into deeper water and shore-based facilities during this marine heat wave. They are digging into the DNA of the coral to discover which species will survive best in future.
There are some bright spots in the story, however. Some corals have recovered from the bleaching, and many did not bleach at all. In addition, researchers recorded coral spawning. Although it’s not clear yet whether the larvae (幼虫) will be successful in the wild, it’s a sign of recovery potential. If the baby corals survive, they will be able to regrow the reef. They just have to avoid one big boss: human-induced climate change.
1. What does the underlined word “symbiotic” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Reliable. | B．Opposite. | C．Harmonious. | D．Contradictory. |
| A．The rock skeleton. | B．The microscopic algae. |
| C．The high temperatures. | D．The symbiotic relationship. |
| A．Transferring coral nurseries. | B．Growing and planting coral spawn. |
| C．Researching the DNA of the coral. | D．Figuring out the reasons for problems. |
| A．Identifiable. | B．Predictable. | C．Far-reaching. | D．Effective. |
8 . If you’ve reached the end of the year feeling as though you didn’t read enough, we’ve got you. Here are some of the best books of the year according to notable artists, image-makers and other cultural taste makers.
Emily Ratajkowski, model: Ghost Lover’“This collection of nine short stories probes into many of the same themes in Lisa Taddeo’s beloved ‘Three Women’, but discusses them in a sharper, more disagreeable way. She ruthlessly explores jealousy relationships between women, aging, revenge and, of course, desire. Taddeo never lets you come up for air -- making you laugh while simultaneously horrifying you all when you least expect it.”
Hans UIrich Obrist, artistic director: ‘I Always Knew’“This is a portrait of artist and writer Barbara Chase-Riboud, through the letters she wrote to her mother, Vivian Mae, between 1957 and 1991. In this remarkable title, Barbara Chase-Riboud tells her mother about her development as an artist, her love stories, and her trips around the globe, from Africa to China. In these memoirs (回忆录), Chase-Riboud frankly and passionately describes her aspirations, her ambitions and creative inspiration，while also showcasing love and tenderness to her mother.”
Avan Jogia, actor and director: ‘Who is Wellness For?’“‘Who is Wellness For?’ is a book that works as part social observation and part memoir. It explores the commercialization of healing and ritual and asks questions about the industry of wellness I found the read insightful, thoughtful, and unafraid. Wellness isn’t for anyone if it’s not for everyone.”
1. What sets “Ghost Lover” apart from “Three Women”?| A．The focus on themes. | B．The setting of stories. |
| C．The structure of books. | D．The tone of narration. |
| A．Barbara Chase-Riboud. | B．Hans Ulrich Obrist |
| C．Vivian Mae. | D．Avan Jogia. |
| A．They bring laughter to readers. | B．They share the same writing type |
| C．They center on the theme of love | D．They stand out as the best reads of the year. |
9 . Though fireworks (烟花) on bonfire night bring joy to many people, it is likely to be a night of fright and pain for the UK’s geese (鹅).
Research by Anglia Ruskin University has found that fireworks displays (表演) cause wild birds to suffer significant pain, and researchers have recommended that displays should not take place in areas with large wildlife populations. A study, published in the journal Conservation Physiology, is one of the first carried out into the effects of fireworks on wildlife. It found that the heart rate (率) of geese increases by 96% when they are influenced by fireworks displays.
The study involved 20 wild grey lag geese fitted with recorders to record their heart rate and body temperature, which are measures of physiological stress. Claudia Wascher, who led the research, found that the average heart rate increased from 63 to 124 beats per minute, and their average body temperature increased from 38℃ to 39℃, in the first hour of fireworks displays. It took the geese about five hours before the birds displayed normal body temperatures, with average readings returning by 5 am.
“Ours is one of the first scientific studies to examine whether fireworks disturb wildlife. There have been previous studies showing that fireworks can cause anxiety in pets, for example in dogs, but little research has been done into how animals in the wild react. We need to carry out further research to conclusively tell whether the geese are reacting to the noise or the light pollution from the fireworks, or a combination of both. Many people get a lot of enjoyment from fireworks but it’s important that we consider animals both pets and wildlife — whenever planning a display,” Wascher said.
1. What advice do researchers give according to the findings of the study?| A．Geese should be protected especially at night. |
| B．Great attention should be paid to the UK’s geese. |
| C．Fireworks displays should be held without harming wildlife. |
| D．Fireworks displays should take place to bring joy to people. |
| A．To compare the heart rates between them. |
| B．To make them safe and sound in the wild. |
| C．To keep their body temperature normal. |
| D．To measure their physiological stress. |
| A．About five hours. | B．About four hours. |
| C．About two hours. | D．About one hour. |
| A．The relations between light pollution from fireworks and geese. |
| B．The effects of noise and light pollution from fireworks on geese. |
| C．Whether fireworks influence other wild animals. |
| D．The influence of a display on pets and wildlife. |
10 . In September 1789, the government of the US was only a few months old. George Washington was president — the nation’s first. Congress (国会) was
One aim was to help
In the end, Washington did formally
In the years that followed, some presidents
| A．new | B．abnormal | C．ready | D．concerned |
| A．option | B．question | C．hesitation | D．target |
| A．identify | B．protect | C．unify | D．change |
| A．goal | B．stage | C．process | D．way |
| A．contributed | B．admitted | C．stuck | D．objected |
| A．use | B．allow | C．remind | D．expect |
| A．relief | B．law | C．tradition | D．belief |
| A．strength | B．action | C．power | D．influence |
| A．sign up | B．make up | C．call for | D．get through |
| A．satisfy | B．cheat | C．rid | D．warn |
| A．lawmaker | B．instructor | C．leader | D．supporter |
| A．decided | B．chosen | C．found | D．ordered |
| A．insisted | B．agreed | C．existed | D．operated |
| A．issued | B．highlighted | C．stressed | D．considered |
| A．religious | B．independent | C．special | D．legal |
