2 . In the post-war era, re-gifting and returning gifts to shops were commonly occurring.My mother and Aunt Florence ran a_________. For them finding desirable stock (储备物) for the store was an adventure. But the greatest_________of all was getting the wanted items without taking too many_________ones ‘paired’ with them. This pairing resulted in a highly saleable item being paired with something that had to be heavily discounted just to move it off the shelves_________at a loss.

One item I particularly remember was an ugly ornament (饰物) framed in a horseshoe.My mother was shocked by its_________ . My aunt patiently explained she had to buy it to_________some attractive crockery sets (瓷器套装) in high demand. She had paid ten pounds for it and hoped to get five pounds for it. After briefly_________ it at ten pounds, she put it on our bargain table, expecting the crockery sets would sell quickly and cover the_________ on it.Several days later she managed to sell the ornament for three pounds to a value d customer who _________to give it to a neighbour, who loved horses.

The following Saturday, our family was invited to a 21st birthday party, and my father was     __________with buying a suitable gift from the jeweler in town. However, he delayed his __________because he had his car repaired. As a result, he __________a wrapped present from our own store’s stock. Little did he know that it was the __________ .

At the party, as the presents were__________, my mother held my shoulder tightly when she saw the ornament. The__________of our family, the gift’s original purchaser, and the recipient’s (接受者) family were a mix of shock and__________. My father, realizing his mistake,__________that he thought it was a collector’s item due to the ten pound price tag.

The next day, realizing my mother discovered the ornament which had been sold had been returned by Sheila, the recipient’s mother, who __________a ten pound refund , Aunt Florence burst into laughter, though the relationship between the__________owners of the ornament sourced.

          __________ this event, I learned the value of giving cash or gift cards.1.

A．company

B．department

C．market

D．store

2.

A．challenge

B．decision

C．secret

D．promise

3.

A．satisfactory

B．unaffordable

C．undesirable

D．cheap

4.

A．frequently

B．suddenly

C．occasionally

D．gradually

5.

A．advantage

B．colour

C．influence

D．appearance

6.

A．display

B．get

C．rent

D．appreciate

7.

A．selling

B．investing

C．pricing

D．charging

8.

A．expense

B．loss

C．figure

D．value

9.

A．planned

B．agreed

C．failed

D．hesitated

10.

A．impressed

B．satisfied

C．tasked

D．bored

11.

A．dating

B．shopping

C．meeting

D．riding

12.

A．borrowed

B．bought

C．designed

D．selected

13.

A．ornament

B．jewel

C．horseshoe

D．card

14.

A．unlocked

B．covered

C．unwrapped

D．dusted

15.

A．thoughts

B．reviews

C．mistakes

D．reactions

16.

A．disbelief

B．sadness

C．delight

D．anxiety

17.

A．instructed

B．explained

C．added

D．informed

18.

A．exchanged

B．donated

C．received

D．rejected

19.

A．mysterious

B．temporary

C．aggressive

D．optimistic

20.

A．Speaking of

B．Working on

C．Hearing of

D．Reflecting on

3 . Bird expert James Zook has been collecting records on nearly 430 kinds of tropical birds on farms and natural forests in Central America for 18 years. While birds do best in natural rainforests, Zook said some species usually found in forests can establish populations in “diversified farms”.

“In these diversified farms, you see growth over the long term in bird species with specialized needs, which include safe and protected areas from the sun for birds to build their homes and different kinds of food sources. Besides, that kind of farming is very different to industrial agriculture or agriculture where only one crop like pineapple or bananas are planted,” said Nicholas Hendershot in a recent study.

University of California environmental scientist Natalia Ocampo-Penuela, who was not involved in the study, notes that the research provides rare detailed data over a long period, demonstrating that diversified farming can support forest bird populations.

The study reveals that 75 percent of the 305 bird species found in diversified farms showed stable or growing populations over the study period. This includes birds like the collared aracari and members of the manakin family known for their complex mating dances.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientist Ruth Bennett, although not involved in the research, said, “It’s a huge contribution to have documented that some birds aren’t just going there, but staying there and populations are growing.”

       Still, such safe environments, called habitats, do not balance out overall population losses from the creation of large industrial farms from natural forests, the writers warned. Zook compared a large pineapple farm to a “bird desert.”

Increasingly, scientists say saving species will require paying attention to areas affected by humans, not just untouched areas. Ocampo-Penuela says that conservation efforts should extend beyond protected areas to areas where some species can live.

1. What does Nicholas Hendershot say about diversified farms?

A．They only provide protected areas for nesting.

B．They support the long-term growth of bird species.

C．They are more beneficial than natural rainforests for birds.

D．They are essential for the survival of endangered bird species.

2. What does Zook focus on in the study?

A．The impact of industrial agriculture on bird populations.

B．The life patterns of tropical birds in natural rainforests.

C．The population growth of bird species in diversified farms.

D．The complex mating dances of birds in natural rainforests.

3. What can we infer about large industrial farms in Paragraph 6?

A．They protect bird populations from human activities.

B．They have no negative impact on bird populations.

C．They offer bird populations safe environments.

D．They lead to the decline of bird populations.

4. Where does the passage go next?

A．Reasons for the loss of bird population in the forest.

B．Measures to save bird species in agricultural areas.

C．Ways to prevent human destruction to farms.

D．Facilities for all kinds of diversified farms.

4 . Now, Tenjen Sherpa, a Nepalese mountain guide, has set a new goal for himself; to become the youngest person to conquer all the peaks twice.

Last month, together with Norwegian climber Kristin Harila, Tenjen, 35 years old, broke the previous record for the fastest climb of the 8,000-meter-plus mountains. In just 92 days, they reached the final summit, K2, surpassing the previous record of 189 days.

Tenjen is now preparing for his next challenge, starting with a climb of Mount Shishapangma in China within the next two months. He has already successfully climbed seven of the peaks twice and aims to conquer the remaining seven by next spring.

His journey began in 2016 when he first climbed Mount Dhaulagiri in Nepal. Since then, he has made several similar climbs each year, including four trips to Mount Everest. Particularly, Tenjen and his three brothers also hold a record as the most siblings to summit Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-tallest mountain, behind Everest and K2.

Tenjen started working as a mountain guide to back his family. In April, he joined Harila’s expedition to Mount Shıshapangma, hired by the Kathmandu-based company Seven Summits Treks. Together, they continued their journey, conquering the rest of the peaks.

Tenjen plans to climb Shishapangma for the second time in the upcoming fall, carrying pictures of a deceased brother who never had the opportunity to conquer this mountain. He intends to bury these images at the mountaintop.

Tenjen told Associated Press that Sherpas do not get enough government recognition for their hard work.“It is not possible to just continue climbing mountains as you grow older, so what else is there than to think of migrating abroad,” Tenjen pointed out.

Tenjen never attended school growing up. He has difficulty reading and writing. But, living in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, his children are able to get an education. Tenjen thinks, though, that since more children will be growing up in cities in the future, they will not have the skills to become Sherpas.

1. What is Tenjen’s new goal?

A．To climb all the mountains twice.	B．To climb Mount Everest alone.
C．To break the record with Harila..	D．To set a new peak-climbing record.

2. Why did Tenjen become a mountain guide initially?

A．To support his family.	B．To break climbing records.
C．To explore the world’s mountains.	D．To join an expedition with Norwegians.

3. What does the underlined word“deceased”mean in Paragraph 6?

A．Injured.

B．Late.

C．Disabled.

D．Upset.

4. What is Tenjen concerned about?

A．Children will be lacking in Sherpas’ skills.

B．Children will have no access to education.

C．Children will face increasing competition.

D．Children will struggle for job opportunities.

5 . Tracy Anderson

Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are fans of the Tracy Anderson Method, which involves dance-based classes using body resistance and very light hand weights. Her online programme includes a new weekly workout, as well as access to existing classes, her digital magazine and meal planning guides. It’s at ￡69 per month, but you get a discount for annual membership.tracyanderson.com

Roar

The singer Ellie Goulding and the fashion designer Henry Holland are said to be fans of Roar’s daily live classes, which include the Overdrive—a high energy weights-based workout focusing on upper-body strengthening and cardiovascular fitness. Their founder, the three times Olympian speed skater Sarah Lindsay, has also trained the broadcaster Piers Morgan and the DJ Nick Grimshaw. There’s a 14-day free trial, then membership starts at โ12.50per month with live daily workouts and unlimited access to the library. roar-fitness.com

Centr

The Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and his personal trainer Luke Zocchi launched the Centr app in 2019. It features 20 and 40-minute session s of HIIT, Pilates, yoga, boxing and guided meditation, plus recipe ideas, a meal planner and stress and well being support. It’s offering a free seven-day trial, and starts from £7.83permonth. centr.com

Get It Done

The former professional footballer and celebrity trainer Bradley Simmonds launched his platform, Get It Done, in 2020. The app includes daily live streamed and on-demand classes featuring yoga, core fitness and strength. From ￡22 per month. Getitdone. fitness

1. What do Tracy Anderson and Centr have in common?

A．Dance-based classes.	B．Special magazines.
C．Meal planning guides.	D．A free trial period.

2. |Which can probably offer one-on-one classes?

A．Tracy Anderson.

B．Roar.

C．Centr.

D．Get It Done.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Professional athletes.	B．Fitness enthusiasts.
C．Famous celebrities.	D．Personal trainers.

6 . Since the 1950s, some 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced globally, of which only about 10% has ever been recycled. Yet environmentally conscious companies and consumers continue to look to recycling as a way to ease the plastic problem. Manufacturing giants claim to be committed to making more of their products and packaging from recycled materials. However, this confidence masks (掩饰) a complex web of issues around plastic recycling. Recycling rates remain extremely low and critics argue that we should look at alternative ways to tackle plastic pollution.

While many plastics have the potential to be recycled, most are not because the process is costly, complicated and the resulting product of a lower quality than the original. Despite rising demand for recycled plastic, few waste companies turn a profit. Part of this is because virgin plastic-linked to oil prices - is often cheaper than recycled plastic, meaning there is little economic incentive to use it. Worse yet, much of our plastic waste is difficult to recycle. Lightweight food packaging, like a mozzarella packet, contains different plastics, dyes and toxic additives (添加剂). This dirty mix means plastic recycled through mechanical methods- the most common form- can only be melted down and moulded (浇铸,塑造) again a couple of times before it becomes too fragile to be reused. And the nature of the process means plastic recycling has a carbon footprint of its own.

Given all of these difficulties, environmental critics say recycling is not the solution-and argue that creating more products from recycled material to attract environmental consciousness merely worsens the problem. “The solution is to use less plastic and to stop misleading the public about the recyclability,” says Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a US campaign group with a mission to end single-use plastic. “They should stop making false claims about the recyclability of plastics since they know most will either be littered (乱扔) or burned or landfilled (填埋). Using less plastics means shifting to reusable products and relying more on paper, cardboard, glass and metal- -all of which should be made from recycled content.”

1. What is an environmentally conscious customer’s attitude towards recycling plastics?

A．Suspicious.

B．Favorable.

C．Indifferent.

D．Disapproving.

2. What does the underlined word “incentive” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．motive.

B．issue.

C．crisis.

D．policy.

3. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The recycling process of plastics.	B．Pollutants contained in recycled plastics.
C．Reasons why users dislike recycled plastics.	D．Contributing factors to low plastic recycling rates.

4. What will the environmental critics be happy to see according to the text?

A．Using metal or glass food containers.	B．Littering recycled plastics in a landfill.
C．Processing plastics in a mechanical way.	D．Launching campaigns to promote recyclability.

7 . A Chicago teen has made his mark in the world by helping the homeless. Jahkil Jackson started an organization after he helped feed the ____ with his family. That ____ was his first glimpse (了解) into how that population lives.

“I was really ____ , because at 5 years old I thought everybody had homes. Then I asked my parents if we could give them ____. Obviously we couldn’t do that. So, we had to think of something ____, something that we have for ____ use, that they don’t have, and we thought of blessing bags.”

Jackson collected soaps, toothbrushes, socks and so on to put into the “blessing bags”   for ____.     To ensure the bags suit each season, he also made some ____ . “We usually adapt to the ____. If it’s winter, there are hats and scarves in those bags. If it’s summer, we’ll ____water bottles.” said Jackson.

It quickly became Jackson’s mission to increase the ____ of homelessness and to help those in need by ____ “Blessing Bags”. In just a few years, Jackson’s efforts have ____over 50,000 people.

The 8th grader has his eye on ____ the offerings of the organization to help more people.   “My future goal is to build tiny homes,” he said. He plans to continue to lead a life of ____ and make the world a better place.

1.

A．aged

B．jobless

C．disabled

D．homeless

2.

A．problem

B．opportunity

C．experience

D．moment

3.

A．confused

B．anxious

C．scared

D．angry

4.

A．foods

B．houses

C．presents

D．clothes

5.

A．unexpected

B．valuable

C．interesting

D．different

6.

A．special

B．daily

C．temporary

D．medical

7.

A．discussion

B．comparison

C．consideration

D．delivery

8.

A．plans

B．preparations

C．adjustments

D．choices

9.

A．development

B．surroundings

C．climate

D．population

10.

A．add

B．collect

C．design

D．mail

11.

A．acceptance

B．knowledge

C．awareness

D．influence

12.

A．offering

B．selling

C．packing

D．producing

13.

A．attracted

B．reached

C．interested

D．rescued

14.

A．balancing

B．expanding

C．changing

D．advertising

15.

A．service

B．peace

C．victory

D．bravery

8 . Some wounds won’t heal by themselves. These chronic (慢性的) wounds cause long-term suffering and even become deadly if not successfully treated.   The existing treatments often require surgery or lead to worse situations.

For a study published in Science Advances, biomedical engineer Wei Gao and his colleagues used mice to test a “smart bandage” that could make chronic wound healing easier and faster. It consists of a flexible polymer sticker (聚合物贴片) that sticks to the skin, containing medication and a thin covering of electronics that monitors and wirelessly sends data about the wound’s condition. The sticker can carry out controlled delivery of two treatments: a drug and an electric current.

Based on previous medical treatments, which use electricity to attract immune and skin cells to the wound and stimulate cell growth, the smart band age adds biochemical sensing capabilities. It can monitor the condition and provide information about infection and the healing stage. Gao and his colleagues also added a special gel (凝胶) to the band age that releases drug when activated by electricity.

The team tested the band age on mice and found that it accurately detected the changes at different stages of wound healing. Each individual treatment achieved at least partial healing within two weeks, and untreated animals did not heal.

“Requirements for the lifetime of the device are very different between mice and human subjects,”   Jiang says. As they head toward human testing, the team is working to improve accuracy. “We hope to apply this smart band age technology in humans in the next year,”   Gao says. “Hopefully the information we get can really benefit people with chronic wounds.”

1. What is Paragraph 2mainly about?

A．The benefits of the bandage.

B．The designers of the bandage.

C．The working theory of the bandage.

D．The operating procedure of the bandage.

2. What’s the function of the special gel?

A．It releases drug.

B．It senses biochemical changes.

C．It provides information on cells.

D．It monitors the wound’s condition.

3. What is Wei Gao’s attitude towards the future of the smart bandage?

A．Optimistic.

B．Doubtful.

C．Critical.

D．Unclear.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing this text?

A．To praise the creativity of scientists.

B．To introduce a new type of bandage.

C．To stress the importance of innovation.

D．To present the danger of chronic wounds.

9 . As an art graduate, I have always considered myself an artist. However, my journey as a jewelry maker began with an earring-making experience during the pandemic (疫情) when businesses were shutting down.

I struggled with large amounts of time, unemployed and unmotivated. I didn’t know what to do until my friends suggested we make something “cute” from clay (粘土). He was in a rut as well and was looking for an opportunity to get refreshed. While searching online, I was attracted by the photos of beautiful earrings. Thinking about my own possible designs, for the first time in so long, brought me excitement.

I began making my first pair once the materials arrived. I rolled, baked, and connected the clay pieces again and again, trying to make the combination perfect. It took me almost six hours to complete, leaving me with cuts all over my hands due to the repeated use of tools. While the earrings were still not perfect, I felt proud and eager to do better.

Afterwards, I officially started my jewelry-making journey by setting up an Instagram account to display my creations and to seek out other artists. Thanks to their help, I built upon my skills and found myself improving. Later on, I began receiving messages from interested buyers, which encouraged me much. Surprisingly, my creations were bought and worn by more and more people, shipped across the country, and carried in luggage as gifts or souvenirs.

Now I am lucky enough to have a full-time job where I have less time to create. But I’ll never give it up since it is creating jewelry that reminds me of my passion as an artist.

1. What does the underlined phrase “in a rut” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Stuck in self-criticism.	B．Leading a dull life.
C．Tired from a busy schedule.	D．Struggling for fame.

2. Which best describes the author’s earring-making experience in Paragraph 3?

A．Painful.	B．Perfect.
C．Rewarding.	D．Disappointing.

3. What helped the author improve her jewelry-making skills?

A．Recognition from buyers.	B．Lessons from the past.
C．Encouragement from friends.	D．Help from other artists.

4. What’s the main idea of this text?

A．Clay art won me great fame.

B．Making jewelry helped me out.

C．Making jewelry built my character.

D．Clay art fueled my passion for business.

10 . The Most Trending Professions in 2023

Referee (裁判) or other sports official

Average hourly wage: $24.86

Sports continue to be one of the nation’s favorite leisure activities. Sports officials who can keep the games fair are needed everywhere. Some on-the-job training is required, along with perhaps more than a little patience for fans and players.

Physician assistant

Average hourly wage: $57.43

Physician assistant is another health care role that has more responsibilities than a nurse but less than a doctor. Working with a physician, the workers can handle duties such as finding out patients’ disease, ordering medical tests and setting broken bones. These jobs require a master’s degree along with required certificates.

Project management specialist

Average hourly wage: $53.32

If you have experience helping others turn their great ideas into finished products, this could be the right role for you. A project management specialist needs a bachelor degree, but doesn’t have to follow a fixed working time.

Teacher

Average hourly wage: $33.43

Teaching has long been a popular job for older adults, whether they’ve been doing it for years or they choose it as a second career. While most public schools do require teachers to have a degree in education, many private schools are willing to hire teachers who come from other professions.

1. What can we know about physician assistants?

A．They need an on-the-job training.

B．They are paid the most on average.

C．They are less popular than doctors.

D．They need both certificates and experience.

2. Which of the following suits those who prefer a flexible timetable?

A．Teacher.	B．Referee or other sports official.
C．Physician assistant.	D．Project management specialist.

3. Who is this text intended for?

A．Job seekers.

B．Volunteers.

C．Employers.

D．Patients.