1 . Dreams of world peace are as old as wars. But as the women of Wales were recovering from World War I, they demanded peace in droves.

Still sorrowing the husbands, sons, and loved ones who fought in the war, in 1923 the Welsh League of Nations United (WLNU) drafted a petition (请愿书) at Aberystwyth University calling for a warless world.

The petition was signed by roughly three quarters of all the women in Wales and was said to be seven miles long. The document was then packed in a large oak chest and sent across the Atlantic.

It was the WLNU’s hope that America would join in their mission for peace, and so they toured with the petition across the country before President Calvin Coolidge gave it to the Smithsonian for preservation.

As the centennial anniversary of World War I approached, a plaque was found in the archives at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff mentioning the petition, but nobody knew what it was, says Mererid Hopwood, chair of the Women’s Peace Petition Partnership.

So in 2017, an email was sent to the Smithsonian inquiring about the status and location of the chest and its petition.

Having arrived at the National Library of Wales on March 29 this year, Hopwood received it along with other members of the Peace Petition Partnership and described opening the chest and finally getting to see its contents (内容) as an emotional moment.

Hopwood is hoping more Welsh citizens will have similar experiences now that the petition has returned to its original home. The petition will be digitized, along with all signatures and addresses, so the public can view it online and see if their grandmothers or previous tenants of their homes signed 100 years ago.

Clearly the world has not yet achieved the petition’s great goals, but Hopwood said the signatures gave her hope.

1. What was the petition meant for?

A．A thirst for peace.	B．An end to WWI.
C．A fight for Wales.	D．A call for apology.

2. What can we infer about the petition from Paragraph 3?

A．Most Welsh signed on the petition.	B．Welsh asked for Americans’ help.
C．Welsh women wished for peace.	D．Welsh women honored the war.

3. How did Hopwood like the reappearance of the petition?

A．She could lead the petition.	B．Her hope for peace is on fire.
C．Welsh could be free of wars.	D．It would cause a big storm.

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

A．To memorise World War I.	B．To remind to value peace.
C．To prove Welsh bravery.	D．To inform reappearance of a petition.

2 . Someday, you may no longer need to brush your teeth by hand. Instead, billions of nanoparticles(纳米颗粒)could automatically do all that work for you. The nanoparticles are very tiny. Magnets(磁铁)can make them move. If you set up a magnet in just the right way, says Ed Steager, “You can arrange them into any shape you want.”

Steager is an engineer at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, he and his colleague Hyun Koo found a way to form the nanoparticles into long, skinny bristles(鬃毛), a lot like the ones on a toothbrush. But these bristles shape-shift to fit whatever surface they encounter. They can even squeeze between teeth.

The scientists tested the robotic bristles in the lab. But the device isn’t yet ready for people to use. The magnets and nanoparticles will need to fit comfortably and safely inside a person’s mouth. The researchers are working with a company to accomplish this safely and effectively. But if these inventors can perfect the device, a lot of people will benefit, especially the disabled.

The tooth-cleaning robot works thanks to two magnets. One goes on each side of the teeth. The nanoparticles sit in a water-based solution between the magnets. All of this may fit into something the size and shape of a mouthguard, though the researchers haven’t settled on a design for the device yet.

As a bonus, the nanoparticles also kill those harmful bacteria in the mouth. The water-based liquid that holds them contains a substance commonly added to toothpaste(牙膏)and mouthwash. It kills some bacteria on its own. But when these nanoparticles react with it, powerful germ-killing substances get created.

The new device is just a proof of a notion. The researchers still need to turn it into a product that people will want to use. It must fit comfortably and safely in people’s mouths. It can’t draw too much power or cost too much. “There’s a lot of engineering to get from here to there,” says Steager. But, as Melo says, “every good idea needs to have a start.”

1. What are the researchers doing now?

A．Putting the new invention into the market	B．Carrying out surveys about the new device.
C．Testing the robotic bristles on the disabled.	D．Making the device suitable for a person’ mouth.

2. What mainly operates the new device?

A．The nanoparticles.	B．The toothbrush.
C．The magnets.	D．The bristles.

3. What is a function of the new invention?

A．It can help adjust teeth.	B．It can work as toothpaste.
C．It can replace liquid in the mouth.	D．It can change the mouth shape.

4. What does the underlined word “notion” probably mean in the last paragraph?

A．Prediction.

B．Existence.

C．Product.

D．Concept.

3 . The Negative Impacts of Volunteer Tourism

Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, is an increasingly popular form of altruistic travel. Its appeal lies in being an experience that allows visitors to feel good by being a part of some kind of meaningful change. But despite good intentions from participants, volunteering abroad has been the target of heavy criticism over the past few years.

Voluntourists only have a limited amount of time, and the ability to change the systems and provide support for the places they visit. Being volunteers, they also simply don’t have the skills to do so. And they can sometimes inadvertently perpetuate unhelpful and even patronizing(自视高人一等的)ideas about the places they visit. A number of studies have shown that volunteer tourism can have negative impacts, ___________benefiting the local communities.

*Unskilled labor creates more work

Previously, volunteering opportunities were often___________to skilled professionals, but this is not the___________of volunteer tourism. Anyone can become a voluntourist, which brings a series of problems. Though___________, they are often unskilled, especially when it comes to work such as construction and digging. This can often lead to locals being forced to take on the added responsibility for rebuilding homes and schools that would have been___________inadequate.

*Volunteers take local jobs

In the meantime, this takes jobs away from locals who would have been paid to do the same work. It also prevents them from learning or being taught the skills that could then be used to___________the community. As a famous proverb says, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The time and efforts of volunteers could be better___________making local communities more economically independent and self-sufficient, allowing them to improve___________even after they depart.

*There is no long-term commitment

Lots of communities do need the help and assistance of volunteers, but what are they able to address in the few short weeks of their “___________”? Most places tend to benefit more from long-term engagement, and often the largest number of meaningful volunteers come from the communities themselves, rather than from____________eager to fix things. While short-term volunteers can do a lot of good, it is often so only when they have skills and training that____________the specific needs, such as medical aid, construction, conservation, teaching, or even religious work; as well as having experience doing the required work and with different cultures.

* There is a lot of focus on__________the volunteer

Voluntourism tends to place a lot of emphasis on the volunteers, sometimes even at the expense of the community they are looking to help. Travel companies attract individuals with promises of____________but immediately-rewarding experiences. This, in turn, can lead to large numbers of volunteers who, instead of helping create a change, can actually____________local communities from becoming more economically independent due to their very presence.

What Can We Do Instead?

Short-term volunteers, especially students, also need to be given the opportunity to explore various different cultures and destinations. But they should take the time to learn about the socio-cultural backgrounds of the places they visit. Short-term placements thus become more about experiences and____________exchange, where they may gain knowledge and respect other cultures, rather than go on trips that “help the poor”.

This kind of cross-cultural engagement can do a lot of good in a world that is increasingly leaning towards violence and xenophobia.

1.

A．let alone

B．in terms of

C．rather than

D．thanks to

2.

A．transmitted

B．restricted

C．appointed

D．delivered

3.

A．cast

B．concern

C．agreement

D．solution

4.

A．well-understood

B．well-organized

C．well-bred

D．well-meaning

5.

A．seemingly

B．unexpectedly

C．otherwise

D．extremely

6.

A．serve

B．survive

C．sustain

D．support

7.

A．invested in

B．removed from

C．devoted in

D．set aside

8.

A．immediately

B．continuously

C．carefully

D．incredibly

9.

A．appeal

B．campaign

C．efforts

D．visit

10.

A．locals

B．organizers

C．foreigners

D．technicians

11.

A．overshadow

B．match

C．deserve

D．pair

12.

A．rewarding

B．cultivating

C．praising

D．motivating

13.

A．cost-effective

B．energy-boosting

C．short-lived

D．long-term

14.

A．distinguish

B．suspend

C．shelter

D．prevent

15.

A．stock

B．cultural

C．idea

D．information

4 . San Francisco Park ranger Amanda Barrows, who registered in City College of San Francisco (CCSF)’s Poetry for the People class, began to place a nightstand (床头柜) in Golden Gate Park with a note “take a poem, leave a poem” in December 2022. Since then, over 100 handwritten poems have been placed in the nightstand. “It’s completely unexpected,” said Barrows. “I’m really taken aback by the outpouring of support.”

Park ranger by day and poet by night, Barrows said she began writing and attending poetry workshops in 2020. The poetry course she attended was founded by Leslie Simon in 1975. The class advocates for a focus on the neighborhood, and the cultivation (培养) and public presentation of new poems. For Barrows, the idea that she could combine her job and her hobby by bringing poetry into parks was an inspiration. Barrows asked her friends to contribute their favorite poems to the nightstand as poems that could be taken.

Armed with an old nightstand, Barrows filled the stand with pens and paper. An added drawer at the bottom holds the poems that people “donate”. The concept reminded her of Little Free Libraries, which are fixtures across the city. “I was having anxiety. I had no idea what I was going to do; then it sort of just came to me,” said Barrows. “I was inspired by the little free libraries you see in SF, where you ‘take a book, leave a book’, and thought, ‘Maybe I could do this with poetry.’”

One of the teachers at the CCSF poetry course, Lauren Muller, told The Washington Post that “people need poetry now”, which she suggested as the reason for the success of Barrows’s project.

Past student projects included writing poetry on sidewalks in chalk and placing poems on the windshields (挡风玻璃) of cars. “It’s exciting to see the work that students are doing,” Muller continued. “My hope is that this will happen across city parks… elsewhere.”

1. What did Amanda Barrows do for her project?

A．She invited her friends to donate poems.

B．She gave a special poetry course by herself.

C．She read a lot of poems for people.

D．She equipped parks with many nightstands.

2. How did the little free libraries affect Amanda Barrows?

A．They made her interested in poetry.

B．They let her quit her job for her interest.

C．They gave her inspiration for her project.

D．They encouraged her to write more poems.

3. What did Muller think contributed to the success of Barrows’s project?

A．The benefits of writing poetry.

B．The public demand for poetry.

C．The help from her neighbors.

D．The large number of parks in SF.

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

A．The Impacts of a Park Ranger’s Poem-writing

B．San Francisco’s Unique Poems on a Nightstand

C．The Spread of Poetry Throughout the Libraries

D．A Park Ranger’s Powerful Poetry Project

5 . In the city of Lyon, hundreds of the world’s finest chefs gathered on 26 January for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, the man credited with the creation of innovative cuisine (菜肴). Meanwhile, in branches of the Intermarche supermarket across France, shoppers were _________to get hold of one-kilogram jars of Nutella, on special offer at just €1.41, down from about €4.50. One branch shifted 400 jars in 21 minutes. Videos showed shoppers stuffing jars of Nutella into bags. Some customers came the night before the promotion to _________the Nutella pots in other places in order to prevent them from being taken. Shoppers broke items in their _________ for the treat.

Thus, a dirty secret is uncovered: France has fallen in love with cheap, fast food. It’s tempting to think that perhaps France should _________its bright self-image along with the master.

McDonald’s, the leader of all things unpalatable (令人讨厌的) yet delicious, opened its first branch in France in 1972, but it operated so badly that the company _________from the country soon. In 1979, McDonald’s returned and succeeded by going _________, which extended far beyond renaming its food. It _________identified the French preference for eating at table or in family and made sure the environment of its outlets was the same to comfort as to speed. Since then, France has grown to become McDonald’s most profitable market outside the US, with more than 1, 400 branches at the end of 2016. Burger King, _________, came in waving stars and stripes high and left with its tail between its legs in 1997 though it returned in 2012 with a far more _________strategy. None of this has gone exactly unnoticed, especially when fast food __________traditional restaurants in 2012, leaving traditionalists angrily waving their ham-and-butter baguettes (法式长棍面包) at the newcomers.

Nutella has had a(n) __________ride in France. Developed in post-war Italy at a time of cocoa rationing (定量配给) and hazelnut glut (榛子过剩), the Ferrero company’s spread was an instant __________when introduced in France in the 1960s. Half of all French families have it on their breakfast table, and for adults it has come to represent a taste of childhood. Such is the __________that one French couple were prevented from naming their daughter Nutella only by legal act.

If there is a(n) __________in Nutella, it is its ingredient, whose production has been linked to deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats, pushing the French government to impose a special “Nutella” tax on products from palm oil. France’s Super U supermarket chain, a rival to Intermarche, has already __________palm oil from its own-label products, and the pressure on the big brands to do the same is likely to increase.

1.

A．fighting

B．threatening

C．hesitating

D．claiming

2.

A．hide

B．break

C．consume

D．select

3.

A．preparation

B．search

C．rush

D．desire

4.

A．impress

B．bury

C．present

D．retain

5.

A．benefited

B．recovered

C．suffered

D．withdrew

6.

A．native

B．sensible

C．realistic

D．influential

7.

A．roughly

B．urgently

C．accidentally

D．correctly

8.

A．for instance

B．in addition

C．after all

D．by contrast

9.

A．productive

B．modest

C．specific

D．aggressive

10.

A．disappointed

B．overtook

C．inspected

D．refreshed

11.

A．lengthy

B．free

C．bumpy

D．easy

12.

A．result

B．image

C．hit

D．relief

13.

A．affection

B．originality

C．observation

D．ignorance

14.

A．reduction

B．unchangeability

C．disadvantage

D．overproduction

15.

A．released

B．imported

C．distinguished

D．removed

6 . Self—acceptance leads to happiness

Finding acceptance is a natural desire of most people. When we are young, it is important to us to be_________by a group and to be seen as “cool” by our peers. To do this, we will often adopt the views and interests of the group_________develop our own.

Over time, _________, we have the opportunity to learn to accept ourselves. People who have done this are confident in their true abilities; they do not feel the need to create a facade(虚假的外表) to_________other people. They are concerned with whether their actions produce_________results rather than with how they are seen by others.

Less secure people are quite different. Instead of finding security in themselves, they look for other people to provide it. This kind of person_________agrees with everything others suggest, for fear of having their own ideas_________. Arrogant or defensive people are also usually insecure; in an attempt to hide their_________, they belittle or blame others.

Secure people do not_________when faced with a difficult situation; they say “I can” rather than “I can’t”. Knowing that each day is an opportunity to use their talents to acquire good health, good friendships, and great happiness, they always put their best foot forward. __________people do not judge others, nor do they judge themselves. They can__________ the differences between themselves and other people.

Recognizing the details that we cannot change about ourselves is also a sign of personal__________. We cannot change our height, so why waste energy complaining about being__________? Our energy would be better spent on more constructive projects. Instead of__________personal characteristics we are not satisfied with, we ought to focus more on what we are good at.

Such expressions as “love thyself” and “to thine own self be true” are about self-acceptance and confidence, as well as honesty and morality. We should consider them to be good advice, and treat them as__________showing the way to happiness within.

1.

A．accepted

B．invited

C．rejected

D．included

2.

A．other than

B．better than

C．more than

D．rather than

3.

A．however

B．therefore

C．moreover

D．still

4.

A．accept

B．persuade

C．impress

D．reject

5.

A．necessary

B．worthwhile

C．clear

D．satisfactory

6.

A．regularly

B．occasionally

C．rarely

D．constantly

7.

A．rejected

B．accepted

C．adopted

D．objected

8.

A．confidence

B．passion

C．insecurities

D．depression

9.

A．give up

B．give in

C．give away

D．give out

10.

A．Concerned

B．Contented

C．Related

D．Generous

11.

A．identify

B．clarify

C．appreciate

D．classify

12.

A．interest

B．qualities

C．experience

D．growth

13.

A．tall

B．short

C．sensitive

D．anxious

14.

A．dwelling on

B．depending on

C．focusing on

D．acting on

15.

A．short cuts

B．approaches

C．signposts

D．milestones

7 . Turning soil, pulling weeds, and harvesting cabbage sound like tough work for middle and high school kids. And at first it is, says Abby Jaramillo, who with another teacher started Urban Sprouts, a school garden program at four low-income schools. The program aims to help students develop science skills, environmental awareness, and healthy lifestyles.

Jaramillo’s students live in neighborhoods where fresh food and green space are not easy to find and fast food restaurants outnumber grocery stores. “The kids literally come to school with bags of snacks and large bottles of soft drinks,” she says. “They come to us thinking vegetables are awful, dirt is awful, insects are awful.” Though some are initially scared of the insects and turned off by the dirt, most are eager to try something new.

Urban Sprouts’ classes, at two middle schools and two high schools, include hands-on experiments such as soil testing, flower-and-seed dissection, tastings of fresh or dried produce, and work in the garden. Several times a year, students cook the vegetables they grow, and they occasionally make salads for their entire schools.

Program evaluations show that kids eat more vegetables as a result of the classes. “We have students who say they went home and talked to their parents and now they’re eating differently,” Jaramillo says.

She adds that the program’s benefits go beyond nutrition. Some students get so interested in gardening that they bring home seeds to start their own vegetable gardens. Besides, working in the garden seems to have a calming effect on Jaramillo’s special education students, many of whom have emotional control issues. “They get outside,” she says, “and they feel successful.”

1. What do we know about Abby Jaramillo?

A．She used to be a health worker.	B．She grew up in a low-income family.
C．She owns a fast food restaurant.	D．She is an initiator of Urban Sprouts.

2. What was a problem facing Jaramillo at the start of the program?

A．The kids’ parents distrusted her.	B．Students had little time for her classes.
C．Some kids disliked garden work.	D．There was no space for school gardens.

3. Which of the following best describes the impact of the program?

A．Far-reaching.	B．Predictable.
C．Short-lived.	D．Unidentifiable.

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

A．Rescuing School Gardens	B．Experiencing Country Life
C．Growing Vegetable Lovers	D．Changing Local Landscape

8 . Scientists have shown that humans seem to have an ability to understand the signs of apes (大猩猩). The result is a little surprising, since most people haven’t spent much time at all with apes.

Apes use about 80 different gestures (手势) to show what they mean. Scientists have learned the meanings of these gestures by studying them for years. Scientists have studied how apes use gestures. But until now, no one had studied whether humans could understand the gestures of apes. Researchers Graham and Catherine at the University of St. Andrews in Britain decided to test this idea.

They created a simple game for people to play online. People watched short videos of apes making a gesture. Then they had to choose the correct meaning of the gesture out of four possible answers. For the videos, the researchers chose 10 of the most common ape gestures. Thousands of people played the game.

The researchers found that people could choose the correct meaning of the gestures over 50% of the time. For some of the gestures, people chose the correct meaning about 80% of the time. One example of this was the gesture of wiping the mouth, which people correctly guessed to mean “give me that food”.

Humans and other apes all developed from an earlier kind of ape that lived long ago. One possibility is that the body language of these gestures has been passed down from this shared ancestor. “If humans understand them, then it seems like a great ape gesture ability that would have been used by our last common ancestors,” Dr. Graham said.

Another possibility is that the gestures are a natural result of humans and apes sharing similar body shapes and needing to communicate similar ideas. The researchers say that they need to study how humans are able to understand the gestures of apes. They’re also curious about how humans understand other animals, like dogs.

1. What did Graham and Catherine want to find out?

A．Whether humans understand apes’ gestures.	B．What gestures apes use in communication.
C．How apes’ gestures differ from humans.	D．Why humans can learn from apes’ gestures.

2. How was the research carried out?

A．By sending out questions online.	B．By doing interviews in the street.
C．By making online guessing games.	D．By starting a video-making contest.

3. How does Dr. Graham explain human understanding of ape gestures?

A．Humans and apes share similar body shapes and gestures.

B．It may be an ability passed on from our last common ancestors.

C．Humans have a born ability to understand animal gestures.

D．Apes and other animals can communicate similar ideas.

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

A．Wide Interest in Understanding Ape Gestures

B．An Online Game to Know Ape Communication

C．An Answer to the Puzzles of Ape Communication

D．Study Into Human Understanding of Ape Gestures

9 . Born in 1926, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was not originally chosen for the special position. However, that changed in 1936, when her father’s brother Edward Ⅷ gave up being the king and her father, George Ⅵ, took his place as the king. Suddenly, the 10-year-old was the heiress(女继承人).

Elizabeth’s royal(王室的)duties didn’t stop her interest in technology. During World War II, the princess wanted her father to allow her to do something for her country. Her father finally agreed to let her volunteer for the British Army, where she became a driver and trained in auto mechanics.

It was a pioneering move: Not only was she the first member of her family ever to serve in the military, but the sight of a woman taking apart engines and changing tires signalled a sea change in social and gender roles that would continue throughout the future queen’s lifetime.

In 1952, Elizabeth became queen of her country upon her father’s death. Her rule was modern from the very start. The new queen’s birth had roughly happened at the same time as the development of television, and during planning for her coronation(加冕礼)she broke with tradition and allowed the BBC to broadcast the event over live TV. It was the first coronation ever televised, and it literally created must-see TV.

Elizabeth came to power as the atomic age kicked into full swing, and she helped introduce the nation to those nuclear advances. In 1956, she opened the world’s first complete nuclear power station, Calder Hall. But the technology came with risk: The next year, a reactor at a nearby nuclear power plant, Windscale, caught fire, which was Great Britain’s worst nuclear disaster.

The queen also launched live broadcasts of royal addresses and permitted royal use of the Internet. Besides, she was one of the first people to ride through the Channel Tunnel, the undersea railway linking Britain to the rest of Europe.

1. After World War Ⅱ broke out, how did Elizabeth support her country?

A．By encouraging women to volunteer.	B．By using her influence to stop the war.
C．By getting away from her royal duties.	D．By joining the army to serve her country.

2. What does the author think of Elizabeth’s move during World War Ⅱ?

A．Normal.

B．Significant.

C．Unnecessary.

D．Unreasonable.

3. What does the queen’s decision about her coronation indicate?

A．She didn’t really want to be queen.

B．She loved watching TV very much.

C．She liked adopting new technology.

D．She didn’t consider her coronation modern.

4. What can we learn about Elizabeth in paragraph 5?

A．She considered nuclear power important for her country.

B．She was satisfied with her country’s nuclear advances.

C．She didn’t show much interest in nuclear power.

D．She considered nuclear power dangerous.

10 . Last May, my 15-year-old son, Benjamin, told my wife and me that he would attend a Kendrick Lamar concert. We ________ him that he was too young to go. But my son and his friend, Josh, ________ to take no for an answer.

Later I received a ________ from Josh’s father: “How about taking the boys to the Kendrick Lamar’ concert!?” While I felt ________ to attend a rap concert in my fifties, Josh’s father was as excited as the boys. He also knew how to get tickets and had started ________ the whole evening. By this ________ it was impossible to say no. I couldn’t imagine anywhere I would ________ less.

To learn about Mr Lamar and his ________, I downloaded and listened to all his songs days before heading down to the Scotiabank Arena.

The truth is the concert was really ________. The best part, of course, was how happy my son was. I stood when ________, I didn’t dance, and occasionally my son gave me an encouraging, accepting nod. ________ Kendrick Lamar is still not my favourite artist, I’m glad my son ________ me to him, and I’m glad I went.

It’s so easy to sit in our towers, ________ by age or upbringing background. ________, we have children, like Benjamin, to expose us to new experiences. If, of course, we have the ________ to listen to them.

1.

A．convinced

B．informed

C．comforted

D．promised

2.

A．refused

B．struggled

C．prepared

D．expected

3.

A．notice

B．ticket

C．message

D．gift

4.

A．relieved

B．guilty

C．embarrassed

D．confident

5.

A．singing

B．sharing

C．planning

D．welcoming

6.

A．rule

B．means

C．round

D．point

7.

A．fit in

B．benefit from

C．care for

D．complain about

8.

A．story

B．music

C．family

D．influence

9.

A．creative

B．formal

C．noisy

D．impressive

10.

A．appropriate

B．bearable

C．useful

D．convenient

11.

A．As long as

B．In case

C．Because

D．While

12.

A．compared

B．referred

C．introduced

D．recommended

13.

A．divided

B．threatened

C．broken

D．tested

14.

A．Eventually

B．Consequently

C．Gradually

D．Fortunately

15.

A．hobby

B．sense

C．right

D．freedom