| Prepare (准备) breakfast Monday to Wednesday: Mrs. Smith Thursday and Friday: Mr. Smith Saturday: Sam & Bob Sunday: Linda | Help in the kitchen Mrs. Smith cooks dinners. Mr. Smith does the dishes. Sam sets the table. Bob clears the table. Linda cleans the kitchen. |
| Tidy the living room Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Mrs. Smith and Linda The other days: Mr. Smith and the boys. ●The kids clean their rooms every Thursday and Sunday. ●The kids take out the rubbish in turn (轮流). | |
1. When does Linda prepare breakfast?
| A．On Monday. | B．On Friday. | C．On Saturday. | D．On Sunday. |
| A．He cleans the kitchen. | B．He does the dishes. |
| C．He clears the table. | D．He cooks dinners. |
| A．Once a week. | B．Three times a week. |
| C．Twice a week. | D．Three times a month. |
2 . All students have bad times. What do they usually do when they get into trouble?
My mom is like my friend. I talk about everything to her. Whenever I have some trouble, I can get good advice from her. I have another good friend — my diary. It knows all my secrets. Talking with my two friends always makes me feel better.
—— Linda
Laughing helps me when I’m upset. I usually watch funny movies and TV shows. I also love spending my hard time with my best friend Dave. He is humorous and always makes me laugh.
—— Peter
Every time I feel bad, I go climbing alone. The study says exercising can help cheer one up (精神振奋). And the beautiful view at the top of the mountain makes me forget all my troubles. Sometimes I shout at the mountain top. It feels fantastic.
—— John
1. Linda’s ________ knows all her secrets.| A．sister | B．teacher | C．diary | D．computer |
| A．quiet | B．funny | C．careful | D．serious |
| A．goes climbing | B．watches movies |
| C．talks with his friends | D．reads books |
| A．Linda often asks her teacher for advice. |
| B．Dave often helps Peter with his homework. |
| C．John likes climbing mountains with his friends. |
| D．Exercising can help people feel good. |
3 . Two and a half months before the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins, and almost six months before it enters its peak (高峰), weathermen are already predicting (预测) that it could be particularly active.
Officially, hurricane season begins from June 1 and runs through November. One reason is that sea surface temperatures in the tropical (热带的) Atlantic are already at record highs.
Meanwhile, another significant potential factor in this year’s hurricane season is taking shape thousands of miles away in the Pacific. Over periods ranging from three to seven years, the waters of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean warm and cool in turn as a result of a repeating climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño makes Atlantic hurricanes less likely to form but La Niña does.
During the 2023 season, ENSO was in an El Niño period. However, by the time the 2024 season starts, it will have changed into a “neutral(中立)” period, but that by the peak months, it is likely to have changed fully into a La Niña.
“How quickly that change occurs can affect everything as well,” says DaSilva, a lead hurricane weatherman. “There’s a lag time. So, while we expect the change to occur in mid-summer, it may not be until late summer or fall where we really see those effects across the Atlantic basin.” As a result, he says, this year’s hurricane season could remain particularly active deep into November.
Of course, no report can predict when individual storms will come or the paths they will take, but DaSilva warns that those who live in areas likely to suffer hurricanes, especially around the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, should prepare. “If a tropical storm system comes into this area, it could rapidly strengthen, potentially close to land,” he also warns. “And that’s why people need to be careful and have their hurricane plans ready. Because any system with these kinds of conditions can explode very quickly. That’s what we’re concerned about.”
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To give advice. | B．To explain the season. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To inform a weather report. |
| A．The hurricane season has entered its peak. |
| B．A repeating climate has changed weather in summer. |
| C．The sea surface temperatures are the highest of all time. |
| D．El Niño makes Atlantic hurricanes more likely to form. |
| A．A time delay. | B．A time in a zone. |
| C．A time waste. | D．A time in advance. |
| A．It can be exactly predicted ahead of time. |
| B．People needn’t worry about hurricane season. |
| C．It may be eventually controlled by weathermen. |
| D．People can’t be more careful about hurricane season. |
4 . In many movies, the clothing the actors wear is an important part of the story. In Rome, there is a workshop that has been a big part of Italian and international film history for 60 years.
Tirelli Costumes in Rome is a workshop that makes special clothing and costumes. It has earned the name the “Oscar tailor’s shop” for its work in film costume design.
In recent years, its workers helped create the costumes for Ridley Scott’s movie Napoleon. The film’s costume designers were nominated (提名) for an Oscar. “Maybe it will win! Let’s add another medal to the medal collection,” the shop’s current head, Dino Trappetti said. “Of course, the Oscar is not won by the shop. The Oscar is won by the costume designers. But the tailor’s shop has the honor of having participated to make it win.”
Umberto Tirelli started the shop in November 1964. It has been behind 17 Academy Awards for best costume design. The beginning of the workshop started with Tirelli’s passion for collecting old clothes. He searched for clothing in the markets worldwide. He slowly collected more than 15,000 real pieces of clothing that date from 1750 to 1980. At the start, the shop had a sewing machine and two cutters.
Tirelli could have accepted many international projects because the market was immediately interested. But Tirelli, who died in 1990, was not sure enough though the co-workers agreed on expanding the market. Dino Trappetti remembered him saying: “I’m not going to America. If America wants, America will come looking for me.”
Over 60 years, the tailor’s shop has created more than 300,000 costumes which feature hand-cut, hand-sewn creations. Costume designers come up with ideas from historical information.
1. Why is Tirelli Costumes called the “Oscar tailor’s shop”?| A．It makes contributions to film costume design. |
| B．Its costumes are popular with many Oscar actors. |
| C．It is a film workshop and shoots many Oscar films. |
| D．It offers interesting stories about costume designers. |
| A．To promote the film. |
| B．To praise Tirelli Costumes. |
| C．To show the film’s achievements. |
| D．To explain the importance of costume designers. |
| A．Time waits for no man. | B．Well begun is half done. |
| C．Hobbies make for success. | D．All roads lead to Rome. |
| A．His sudden death. | B．Trappetti’s opinion. |
| C．The co-workers’ protest. | D．His lack of confidence in the market. |
5 . Do you want to improve your English writing skills? Here is a chance for you. Our English writing courses are now open for enrollment (注册), welcoming students who like expressing themselves through words.
IntroductionOur courses focus on developing writing skills in various genres (体裁), such as narrative, descriptive, and expository writing. Whether you’re a beginner seeking to master the basics or an experienced writer wanting to improve your skills, our courses offer something for you.
Expert guidance for growthLed by experienced instructors who are devoted to developing your writing talents, our classes provide a supportive and inspiring environment for growth and learning. Through detailed writing guidance, positive feedback and interactive discussions, you will sharpen your writing skills and expand your creative view.
Unlocking more potentialJoining our English writing courses not only improves your writing abilities but also enhances your critical thinking and self-expression. Writing is not just about putting words on paper; it is about crafting attractive stories, expressing unique opinions, and connecting with your readers on a deeper level.
Join us and let your words connect with the world. Dare to dream, dare to write, and dare to be heard. Welcome to a world where your voice matters and your stories come to life. Click here to enroll now and let your writing journey begin.
1. Who will show special interest in the courses?| A．Pupils. | B．Doctors. | C．Engineers. | D．Drivers. |
| A．Athletic abilities. | B．Emotional control. |
| C．Expressing skills. | D．Social position. |
| A．To stress English writing. | B．To popularize the courses. |
| C．To introduce learning skills. | D．To share writing experience. |
6 . Young people are spending more time in digital spaces. The Internet allows us to connect with people, share ideas, be creative, have fun and discover new things. Unfortunately, young people also face risks online. Common problems include cyberbullying (网络欺凌), receiving unwanted messages, seeing images and content you don’t want to see, or having your private information or photos shared without your permission.
Safer Internet Day (SID) is organized in the second week of February every year, and over 180 countries take part. The aim is to raise awareness of online issues and make the Internet a safer place. SID invites everyone to be part of a big conversation about online issues. This is particularly important for teenagers because they often experience unpleasant situations online, but they don’t always feel they can talk about them.
Cyberbullying is when someone uses the Internet to embarrass, threaten or hurt another person. If you experience cyberbullying, talk to an adult you trust as soon as possible. Don’t reply to any messages but save the evidence.
Going online often means spending time alone. When you feel down, social media can make you feel lonelier. Using social media might be related to higher levels of depression. So you need healthy social media use.
Whatever app you use, make sure you know who sees your posts and personal information. Limit what people can see, decide who can comment on your content and thwart other users’ comment. It may be illegal to share a photo or video of someone without their permission. The SID’s website has advice about what to do if someone shares pictures of you that you feel embarrassed about.
There is still a lot we don’t know about how time spent online affects people’s well-being. But talking about all the issues helps everyone understand common problems and know how to deal with them.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．The Internet has both good and bad sides. |
| B．The Internet is a safe place to share photos. |
| C．Young people should avoid going online. |
| D．Young people face more risks than adults. |
| A．What we can do on SID. | B．How to take part in SID. |
| C．The time of organizing SID. | D．Some information about SID. |
| A．Use other social media. | B．Turn to adults for help. |
| C．Reply to the messages. | D．Deal with it with classmates. |
| A．Admit. | B．Replace. | C．Prevent. | D．Change. |
7 . During my teens, I was the champion of the sports day every single year, and my mother won the moms’ trophy (奖杯) every single year. Why? Because she was always chasing me to
We had a very Tom and Jerry relationship. She was the strict disciplinarian; I was the
When I was little, she always caught me, but as I got older and faster, and when speed
Reflecting on those exciting days two decades later, I’ve come to understand that amid the
| A．discipline | B．defend | C．abuse | D．battle |
| A．occasionally | B．slowly | C．constantly | D．awkwardly |
| A．smartest | B．cutest | C．naughtiest | D．youngest |
| A．games | B．groceries | C．belts | D．books |
| A．change | B．protein | C．bonus | D．benefit |
| A．fade | B．slip | C．turn | D．back |
| A．magical | B．annual | C．unusual | D．typical |
| A．dominated | B．disturbed | C．failed | D．seized |
| A．out of place | B．out of breath | C．out of sight | D．out of balance |
| A．ultimate | B．casual | C．military | D．offensive |
| A．motivated | B．stuck | C．buried | D．involved |
| A．holds on | B．stands by | C．turns back | D．steps in |
| A．purchase | B．pursuit | C．crime | D．commitment |
| A．chaos | B．ruins | C．emergencies | D．comedies |
| A．touched | B．bound | C．hurt | D．enhanced |
8 . Handwritten notes in class might seem outdated as digital technology involves nearly every aspect of learning. But a steady stream of research suggests that compared with typing, taking notes with pen and paper is still a better way to learn. And scientists are zeroing in on why.
In a recently published study, scientists found that those writing by hand had higher levels of electrical activity across many interconnected brain regions. They added 256 sensors into a hairnet, which helped monitor 36 students’ brains as they wrote or typed words displayed on a screen. When students wrote by hand, the sensors picked up widespread brain connectivity including visual regions, regions that receive and process sensory information, and the motor cortex (运动皮层) . Typing, however, resulted in minimal activity in these brain regions.
Across many contexts, studies have shown that students appear to learn better when they’re asked to produce letters or other visual items using their fingers and hands. The educational neuroscientist Sophia Vinci-Booher says the recent study highlights the clear tie between motor action and conceptual recognition: “As you’re drawing a letter or writing a word, you’re taking this perceptual (感知的) understanding of something and using your motor system to create it. That creation is then fed back into the visual system, where it’s processed again — strengthening the connection between an action and the images or words associated with it.”
The new findings don’t mean technology is always a disadvantage in the classroom. Laptops, smartphones, and other such devices can be more efficient for writing essays and can offer fairer access to educational resources. But people now increasingly tend to “offload” mental tasks to digital devices, such as by taking a photograph instead of committing information to memory, says Yadurshana Sivashankar at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “If we’re not actively using these areas, then they are going to worsen over time, whether it’s memory or motor skills.”
1. What is the function of the sensors in the recent study according to Paragraph 2?| A．To record brain activity. | B．To activate brain waves. |
| C．To connect visual regions. | D．To process sensory information. |
| A．One’s motor system boosts his creativity. | B．One’s writing action enhances his perception. |
| C．Learning performance relies on visual memory. | D．Concrete images contributes to comprehension. |
| A．Owe. | B．Link. | C．Shift. | D．Bring. |
| A．Note-taking: the key to a good grade | B．Digital learning: beneficial or harmful |
| C．Typing vs handwriting: efficiency counts | D．Handwritten notes: conventional but effective |
9 . Every Thursday afternoon, the food pantry (食品储藏室) at the local high school opens up to provide fresh food bags for families who can hardly make both ends meet to get their meals to last through the weekend. Nearly a hundred families rely on the extra food. Some are between jobs, some got hit hard with medical bills for a few months, and some are new to the neighborhood, placed there by refugee services.
On one breezy afternoon, two young mothers walked in together, each accompanied by a young child. There was nothing different about their dress, but their manner revealed a shyness that they struggled to overcome. When they spoke, it was clear why: Their accents were thick, even though they were trying hard to make their English sound American. They were uncertain of being understood. But the pantry is run by grandmothers who are never pressed for time when it comes to conversations. So they sat for a moment and told their story while the little ones were held in arms so very familiar with children.
The two lived in apartments in the basement of the Methodist Church. They had been in the United States for one month. Their husbands were well-educated but working labor jobs to pay for food and save for more typical apartments.
Both had fled the war in Eastern Europe, one family from Ukraine and one from Russia. They ended up in the same church basement and discovered that they needed each other. They became fast friends. Their children played together. They shared meals and navigated their new world together.
There were no bombs or soldiers or rations in their new neighborhood, only a chance to start over. Friendships are sometimes hard to come by, yet matter so much to each of us. A good friend gives us strength, love, laughter and the courage to keep trying.
These two families — worn down by uncertainty and war, thrown together in a new country, a new community with a new language — found so much in common. And isn’t that what we all need? A friend who faces the same life challenges, even if the forces above them have different political views. We are, after all, just mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors.
1. In the article, who primarily benefits from the services provided by the food pantry?| A．High school students. | B．People with disabilities. |
| C．Families with tight budgets. | D．Underpaid individuals. |
| A．Their clothing. | B．Their language. |
| C．Their children. | D．Their ID documents. |
| A．They both live in the basement of the same church. |
| B．They met at the same restaurant. |
| C．They are from the same country. |
| D．They both have similar professions. |
| A．Challenges of Life and New Friendship | B．The Story of the Food Pantry |
| C．New Life in America | D．From War to Peace |
10 . A team in Europe are working with wood, but not in the usual ways. They are not carpenters (木匠). Instead, they are scientists exploring how wood can lead to a greener electronic device, a transistor (晶体管) made from balsa wood, whose production releases less climate-warming gas into the air.
Transistors play an important role in computers and other devices. They act like tiny switches to control the flow of electricity. Engineers use them to process and store data. Today’s laptops may host billions of them. So they must be tiny — only a little wider than a strand of DNA.
The new transistor being built by physicist Isak Engquist and his team at Sweden’s Linkoping University isn’t as small as those. Big enough to see and hold, it can stand only an electric pressure that pushes electrons along. And it controls a current using charged particles (粒子) called ions.
This new technology shows a “proof of concept” that the idea can work, even if the new device is not yet ready to put into today’s electronics. “While it seems large by today’s standards, such a transistor still might prove useful for electronics that require low electric pressures,” says Engquist.
“The new transistor suggests that future electronic devices might be made in living plants,” Daniel Simon, a physicist in the team, says. “Imagine peeling away some bark from a living tree,” he says, “and stamping electronic circuits into the living wood.”
In fact, Engquist says, “There are so many ways we can use wood and the components of wood that we would never have thought of.” For instance, he can now imagine a wood-based sensor that could monitor crop health, measure pollution or survey a forest for fire risk.
1. Which can best describe the transistor?| A．Costly. | B．Widely used. |
| C．Time-saving. | D．More environmentally friendly. |
| A．It is much bigger. | B．It can’t stand electric pressure. |
| C．It can’t be seen. | D．It is made from metal. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Wood’s surprising roles in modern electronic design |
| B．Wood-made transistors: a step toward greener electronics |
| C．Scientists are researching the history of transistors |
| D．Scientists are working as carpenters to invent transistors |
