1 . A brown and dry lawn is not something many gardeners would boast about. But that is exactly the kind of yard competition organizers in Sweden were looking for when they launched the prize for the “World’s Ugliest Lawn”. People from around the world were invited to post pictures of their dehydrated(脱水的)grass to social media in a bid to win the uncertain honor.

The intention, according to those behind the project, was to raise awareness of “saving water on a global scale by changing the norm for green lawns”. Lawns, which can require large amounts of water to maintain, are coming under increasing examination as climate change makes periods of drought more frequent and intense.

The global initiative was launched on the official website for Gotland in Sweden. “Huge amounts of water are used to water lawns for aesthetics(美学). As the world gets warmer, lack of water in urban areas is projected to affect up to 2.4 billion people by 2050. By not watering lawns for aesthetic reasons, we can protect the availability of groundwater,” the competition organizers said.

The unlikely title has been awarded to Kathleen Murray who lives in Sandford in Tasmania, Australia. According to the organizers, Murray’s lawn “boasts deep and dry divots created by three wild bandicoots(袋狸)and not one dust-covered decimeter is wasted on watering”. Murray said in the press release about her triumph, “I am terribly proud! I knew I would have my 5 minutes of fame, even if it was for having the ugliest lawn on the planet! I am now free of ever taking care of my lawn again.”

A press release by the Gotland, office added, “For the planet and its declining stockpiles of life-giving liquid, thank you, Kathleen, as well as those naughty bandicoots damaging your lawn for the greater good.” Organizers added, “Gotland aims to show to Sweden and the world that sustainable behavior doesn’t have to be dull.”

1. What can we say about the yard competition organized in Sweden?

A．People had even doubted its authenticity.

B．People worldwide were unwilling to join.

C．Its participants must be professional gardeners.

D．Its entries must agree with the existing aesthetics.

2. What is the purpose of this yard competition?

A．To call on people to protect lawns.	B．To encourage people to be creative.
C．To challenge the norm of aesthetics.	D．To remind people of water shortage.

3. What does the underlined word “triumph” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Ambition.

B．Success.

C．Sorrow.

D．Barrier.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．People’s Whelming Reaction To A Yard Contest In Sweden

B．Lawns And Rare Bandicoots Calling For Urgent Protection

C．A Lawn Named The Ugliest Globally All For A Good Cause

D．The World’s Ugliest Lawn Unaccepted By The Whole World

2 . Monet gets his place in the art timeline because of his leading role in the impressionist art movement, and through the lasting appeal of his artistic style. The painting he titled Impression: Sunrise, done early in his career, may not seem one of Monet’s best paintings, but the big deal about it is that it was the painting that gave impressionism its name.

Done with oil paint on canvas, this painting is characterized by thin washes of rather mild colors, on top of which he painted short strokes of pure color. Monet gave depth and perspective to an otherwise flat painting by the use of aerial perspective (空间透视法). Look closely at the three boats, and you can see how these get lighter in the tone, which is the way aerial perspective works. The lighter boats appear to be further away from us than the darkest one.

Monet exhibited the painting in what we now call the First Impressionist Exhibition, in Paris. Monet and a group of about 30 other artists, frustrated by restrictions and politics of the official annual art salon, had decided to hold their own independent exhibition, an unusual thing to do at the time. They called themselves the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Engravers, etc., which included artists who are now world famous such as Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Morisot, and Cezanne. Monet said he’d called the painting “impression” because “it really couldn’t pass as a view of Le Harve”.

Louis Leroy, an art critic, in his review of the exhibition used the title of Monet’s painting as the headline, calling it the “Exhibition of Impressionists”. Leroy had meant it ironically as the term “impression” was used to describe a rapidly finished painting of an atmospheric effect, and artists rarely, if ever, exhibited pictures so quickly sketched. The label stuck. In his review published on 25 April, 1874, Leroy wrote,“Wallpaper in its embryonic (萌芽期的) state is more finished than that seascape.” Then in a supportive review published a few days later, Jules Castagnary was the first art critic to use the term “Impressionism” in a positive way.

1. What do we know about Monet’s Impression: Sunrise?

A．It was universally acknowledged as Monet’s best painting.

B．Leroy was deeply impressed by the painter’s remarkable skill.

C．The different tones of the three boats gave depth to the painting.

D．It was exhibited in the official annual art salon with 30 other artists.

2. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 4 mean?

A．The label met strong opposition from other art critics.

B．The label was stuck to the surface of Monet’s painting.

C．The label was not regarded as a positive image.

D．The label stayed and became widely used after that.

3. Who is the first to use the term “Impressionists”?

A．Monet.

B．Leroy.

C．Renoir.

D．Castagnary.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Impression: Sunrise gave Impressionism its name.

B．Critics had a disagreement over Monet’s painting.

C．Monet is a leading artist of Impressionism.

D．Impressionism is an appealing artistic style.

4 . If you look at the dynamic “Global Temperatures” map on NASA’s website, you can see the historic temperature change over time across the planet as the timeline goes from 1880 to the modern day. By 2019, the entire planet is in red, orange, and yellow colors, indicating temperatures much higher than the historical average in every country and human inhabitance.

If the timeline went to 2023, the map would look even worse. That’s because the summer of 2023 was the hottest ever, according to ocean monitors. July was the hottest month in recorded history. Next July could be worse. Unless we do something quickly, we face dealing with more and more dangerous and expensive natural disasters in the future.

Forest fires sent smoke from Canada across the North American continent, causing New York City to have the worst air quality in its recorded history. Heavy rainstorms fell on Vermont and the Northeastern United States in just a couple of days in the middle of July, which exceeded the amount that area would usually receive in two months and caused extreme damage to homes and businesses. Around the same time, flash flooding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — north of Philadelphia — killed nearly a dozen people.

Erich Fischer, a researcher specializing in climate studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, is concerned that natural disasters could get much worse in the future—and in ways we cannot predict. He called for a “strike for climate justice,” which actually took place on Sept. 15, 2023. “The strategy needs to be twofold (双重的) . We need to decrease carbon emissions as much as realistically possible. That is already happening with people using electric cars and other green technologies. At the same time, we also need to find ways to predict the risk of natural disasters ahead of time,” said Erich Fischer.

1. Why does the writer mention the data on NASA’s website in paragraph 1?

A．To explain a concept.	B．To introduce a topic.
C．To provide a solution.	D．To make a prediction.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The severity of natural disasters.	B．The worst air quality in New York City.
C．The extreme damage by flash flooding.	D．The cause of the forests fires in Canada.

3. What did Erich Fischer suggest to deal with the current situation?

A．He advocated a twofold strategy.

B．He suggested forbidding carbon emissions.

C．He required people to use more electric cars.

D．He emphasized the awareness of climate changes.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Hottest Month in History	B．Natural Disasters in the World
C．Extreme Weather Could Get Worse	D．Green Technology Would be Needed

5 . The sun was preparing to rest for the evening. Saying goodbye to the clan (氏族), I headed back to camp. I looked forward to setting my ________ aside for an evening to reflect on my time in Ethiopia.

I wasn’t long headed home when I heard a ________ behind me. “Photo, photo, photo.” A young Surma boy about 7 or 8 years old followed closely at my ________. I breathed a tired sigh. I hoped he would find someone else to ________ his photograph, but he kept following me. He managed to draw my attention. With eyes ________ open, full of hope, he asked me again with ________ on his face, “Photo?”

As I looked at him, half interested, an idea for a composition ________ into my mind. I prepared to take the photograph, but his energy suddenly shifted from eagerness to shyness to fear. No matter what I told him to do—how to stand, how to ________ — I just couldn’t get the shot. Struck by ________, I gave up. The boy looked alone and awkward. He’d wanted his photograph taken, but now he went camera ________.

To cheer him, others in his clan gathered around, clapping loudly. ________, the boy’s face immediately broke into a smile. I intuitively (凭直觉地) took a few shots of the moment.

That photograph turned out to be better than the ________ I’d imagined. Reflecting on my experience with the Surma boy, I realized I had been ________ in my own ideas and wants. When I agreed to take the shot, I was looking for a ________ end result for myself. But all the boy had really wanted was to be seen for a moment. That was the moment that needed to be ________.

1.

A．budget

B．camera

C．essay

D．flame

2.

A．voice

B．quarrel

C．scream

D．whistle

3.

A．joints

B．fingertips

C．heels

D．cheeks

4.

A．blow

B．print

C．see

D．shoot

5.

A．largely

B．wide

C．straight

D．barely

6.

A．integrity

B．resistance

C．tolerance

D．anticipation

7.

A．knocked

B．spared

C．flashed

D．raised

8.

A．pose

B．sleep

C．pretend

D．cover

9.

A．urbanization

B．frustration

C．tiredness

D．convention

10.

A．sensible

B．curious

C．blind

D．shy

11.

A．In response

B．In panic

C．In comparison

D．In short

12.

A．guidance

B．potential

C．composition

D．technique

13.

A．kicked off

B．picked up

C．told off

D．caught up

14.

A．civilized

B．particular

C．successful

D．cooperative

15.

A．delivered

B．memorized

C．recorded

D．reserved

6 . Asli Samanci, a food scientist, was driven by her childhood dream of becoming a scientist, leading her to pursue a career in food science. “It ______ everything: biology, microbiology and chemistry all together,” Samancil said.

With this passion, she established a company that ______ health products made from propolis (蜂胶), a natural substance produced by bees. Samanci’s dedication to ______ is evident in every step. of her product development process. “All products are ______ by science,” Samanci said.

The ______ behind Samanci’s venture also lies in her son, who experienced frequent health issues during his early years. Upon a doctor’s recommendation, she ______ propolis as a means to help strengthen her son’s immune system. However, not ______ with the products on the market, Samanci worked ______ with a beekeeper to craft the ideal solution for her son’s needs. Gradually, Samanci has made her specialized products ______ to a broader range of consumers.

Meanwhile, Samanci and her beekeeping partners have witnessed a significant ______ in the bee population, Recognizing that 80% of all plants rely on bees for pollination (授粉), this development has proved to contribute to ______ nature. Samanci firmly believes in the concept of a win-win business model, where ______ can make a positive impact on the environment. And she urges all entrepreneurs and scientists to find that ______ . Samanci says, “To get something from nature in a(n) ______ way, we urge more food scientists and agricultural scientists to join us. ______ , nature will not give us anymore.”

1.

A．accomplishes

B．combines

C．processes

D．maintains

2.

A．took up

B．brought about

C．held back

D．put off

3.

A．purchase

B．delivery

C．quality

D．service

4.

A．limited

B．denied

C．revealed

D．backed

5.

A．regulation

B．inspiration

C．sample

D．mystery

6.

A．explored

B．exported

C．refused

D．permitted

7.

A．patient

B．consistent

C．cautious

D．content

8.

A．equally

B．violently

C．directly

D．temporarily

9.

A．accessible

B．similar

C．responsible

D．essential

10.

A．damage

B．rise

C．change

D．loss

11.

A．conquering

B．discovering

C．impressing

D．preserving

12.

A．scientists

B．beekeepers

C．entrepreneurs

D．consumers

13.

A．balance

B．opportunity

C．fault

D．reason

14.

A．extraordinary

B．sustainable

C．lively

D．decent

15.

A．Altogether

B．Anyhow

C．Moreover

D．Otherwise

8 . My school holiday routine usually involves sleeping in, but one morning, I woke up early for no particular reason. With nothing to do, I decided to _______ glance out of my window at the parking lot below, but unexpectedly witnessed something that greatly _______ my life.

As I _______ people coming and going, getting into their cars and driving away, my attention was drawn to a(n)_______ man busy washing and cleaning the cars near a bicycle with a bucket attached to its _______. The damp ground _______ that he must have started his work quite early.

He was just simply dressed. However, there was a _______ sense of pride in the way he went about his tasks — cleaning one window at a time,_______ to admire his work, and repeating the process. He seemed devoted to his small business, happily _______ at passers-by and occasionally stopping to chat with other old folks heading to the nearby market.

________ his simple life, he appeared content. This incident made me reconsider my ________. If we are willing to work hard,________ should not be a barrier to earning a living. I felt ashamed and ________ when compared with him. It ________ me that at any age, we should make the most of time and ________ the value of hard work.

1.

A．gradually

B．causally

C．constantly

D．regularly

2.

A．attracted

B．disturbed

C．touched

D．impacted

3.

A．observed

B．recognized

C．felt

D．heard

4.

A．adult

B．young

C．elderly

D．poor

5.

A．bicycle

B．handle

C．wheel

D．seat

6.

A．explained

B．concluded

C．indicated

D．described

7.

A．slight

B．visible

C．hidden

D．possible

8.

A．backing off

B．stepping forward

C．taking over

D．showing up

9.

A．pointing

B．looking

C．laughing

D．waving

10.

A．Due to

B．According to

C．In spite of

D．In view of

11.

A．attitude

B．principle

C．identity

D．standard

12.

A．sex

B．age

C．character

D．position

13.

A．grateful

B．sympathetic

C．exhausted

D．guilty

14.

A．confused

B．informed

C．warned

D．struck

15.

A．predict

B．reflect

C．appreciate

D．convince

9 . Joan Donovan was 84 years old when she finished her college degree, but the great-grandmother said she didn’t want to stop learning just yet.

“I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning to go to school. I met the most ________ people and fessors. Everyone surrounded me with ________ and support. And I learned that I had a ________ for writing,” Donovan said. “That’s when I found Southern New Hampshire University, which is a wonderful school. I just loved every minute of it.”

Four years later, on December 13, 2022, Donovan graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s ________ in creative writing.

Donovan said the university heard she was graduating when her son called the school to ________ a frame for her diploma as a Christmas present. ________, the school decided to send more than just a framed diploma, including a cap and gown, cupcakes, balloons and university spirit wear (印有大学精神的服装).

When she was young, Donovan’s mother called her “Brilliant”. She started first grade at the age of 4 and graduated high school by 16. The family couldn’t ________ college, but she was able to take some post-graduate classes for free at her high school.

Donavan always wanted a ________ education, but marriage, babies and a busy life ________ things a bit. But she never gave up on her dream.

“I’m a goal-seeker,” she said. “And it was a goal, and I________ it. It’s a dream come true, really.” Now, Donovan said she is using her new degree to write a novel as well as an autobiography.

“Well, I waited 60 years to ________ my dream. So I hope others don’t have to wait that long,” said Donovan, adding that her autobiography will be about ________ the “roadblocks” of life.

Donovan, who has 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, said the most important thing she’s learned in life is to be a “________ learner”.

“Don’t ever give up. I mean,________ something doesn’t work the first time, just try it again,” she said. “And ________, you’ll find your dream come true.”

1.

A．important

B．competitive

C．promising

D．intelligent

2.

A．curiosity

B．encouragement

C．admiration

D．congratulation

3.

A．love

B．trick

C．interest

D．hobby

4.

A．position

B．document

C．degree

D．grade

5.

A．apply for

B．ask for

C．care for

D．look for

6.

A．Still

B．Besides

C．However

D．Anyway

7.

A．attend

B．admit

C．approve

D．afford

8.

A．formal

B．valuable

C．special

D．flexible

9.

A．buried

B．delayed

C．permitted

D．expanded

10.

A．reached

B．established

C．searched

D．succeeded

11.

A．satisfy

B．challenge

C．discover

D．fulfill

12.

A．building

B．abandoning

C．overcoming

D．seizing

13.

A．hard-working

B．lifelong

C．well-known

D．selfless

14.

A．if

B．since

C．though

D．while

15.

A．fortunately

B．immediately

C．thankfully

D．eventually