1 . Everyone deserves healthy meals. However, unfortunately, not everyone has
A teenager named Lauren Schroeder
“I wanted people to get the nutrition they needed from fresh vegetables,” Lauren said. This
To kick-start her project, Lauren got economic
But all her efforts
So far, she has spent over 1,000 hours working in the garden, producing 7,000 pounds of vegetables. “I want to
A.invitation | B.access | C.admission | D.ticket |
A.especially | B.actually | C.obviously | D.extremely |
A.confirmed | B.appreciated | C.recognized | D.identified |
A.Arranging | B.Determining | C.Struggling | D.Pretending |
A.musical | B.familiar | C.unique | D.low-income |
A.recommended | B.reminded | C.inspired | D.requested |
A.aware | B.confident | C.certain | D.free |
A.took up | B.looked into | C.applied for | D.went over |
A.guidance | B.support | C.pressure | D.benefit |
A.organizes | B.expects | C.promotes | D.demands |
A.amazing | B.specific | C.professional | D.tough |
A.worked out | B.paid off | C.broke off | D.wore out |
A.reward | B.rescue | C.honour | D.donation |
A.impact | B.impress | C.challenge | D.observe |
A.discovery | B.profit | C.difference | D.intention |
2 . The Music Educator Award, this year, went to Annie Ray, an orchestra(管弦乐队)director at Annandale High School.She was recognized for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and bring home a $10,000 prize.
Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their child.Ray also works with a local charity to give damaged instruments a second life in her classroom.
The orchestra is about much more than just making music.The most important is to give students a chance to develop their cooperation skills, make mistakes and learn the art of refining something.Ray pushes her students to be brave, go outside their comfort zone and realize they have to learn how to make bad sounds before learning how to make good sounds.And they teach her a lot in return.” They changed my educational philosophy.I understand what it truly means to meet a student where they’re at and apply that elsewhere,” she said.
The warm reception on the ceremony was meaningful.Actually, not many people understand what exactly music educators do or how much their work matters.While her administration is supportive, that lack of understanding is a problem facing the profession in general.Another is resources.She says her school “desperately” needs new instruments.She will use some of her prize money to buy more.
Ray also plans to put some of the money towards an ongoing scholarship for students who want to pursue music when they graduate.She knows of several, those particularly interested in music, and aims to offer financial support needed to realize their musical dreams” It is hard but truly satisfying,” Ray said.“And there’s nothing else like it for them.”
1. What can we learn about Ray from the first two paragraphs?A.She hosted the award ceremony. | B.She brought music to more people. |
C.She gave away instruments to the poor. | D.She founded a local charity for children. |
A.They acquire in-depth musical knowledge. | B.They make friends with the like-minded. |
C.They gain personal growth from playing music. | D.They improve their connections with educators. |
A.The reception on the ceremony. | B.Importance of music education. |
C.Challenges for music educators. | D.Plans to obtain resources. |
A.Winning a scholarship. | B.Developing interest in music. |
C.Making musical achievements. | D.Transforming dreams into reality. |
3 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.
The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.
One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.
One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.
Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.
1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?A.Habitat. | B.Shelter. | C.Community. | D.Destination. |
A.We recall the old experience. |
B.We think whether it is worth the risk. |
C.We evaluate our thirsty for the activity. |
D.We weigh the strengths and weaknesses. |
A.The definition of the comfort zone. |
B.The importance of psychological well-being. |
C.The process of learning a new musical instrument. |
D.The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. |
A.How to Identify Comfort Zone |
B.Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important |
C.Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning |
D.How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations |
4 . In the northernmost edge of Colombia sits the coastal town of Acandí. Access to the town is only by water or air; there is no road that leads there. The residents there are faced with the struggles of balancing livelihoods while protecting biodiversity.
In the past, traditional community fishing methods, passed down by the elders, focused on the reasonable fishing and management of resources. However, the introduction of large-scale trawling vessels(拖网渔船) decades ago gradually depleted the area’s fishing resources, leading to damage to marine(海洋的) life seriously.
Jesús Antonio Julio Cuestas, who serves in the region’s conservation and management of marine resources, stresses the bad impact of these developments and calls for new fishing techniques. “Fishing and conservation co-exist as long as we have good management practices and reasonable use of our fishing resources,” says Cuestas. He and other officials actively monitor fishing activities in Acandí. Each morning, they visit the fish markets to gather data on fishery resources—including prices and sizes—to monitor the state of the local fishing industry.
Along with Cuestas, the fishers work to reduce their impact on the marine ecosystem. By changing fishing methods and adopting new practices, they aim for a more balanced approach to fishing. “This year the local fishermen have not used the trawl net s that were causing the death of the leatherback sea turtles,” explains Cuestas proudly. Changes include the efforts of boats to protect the seagrass that serves as feeding grounds for marine life and an end to fishers throwing net s where turtles lay their eggs.
This marine reserve in Acandí, Cuestas believes, is their greatest treasure. He attaches great importance to working together with local residents to improve the quality of life while preserving the marine ecosystem. By doing so, he imagines a picture where individuals from the fishing community can pursue various careers, such as engineers or lawyers, proudly stating that they are the products of the fishing tradition in Acandí.
1. What does the underlined word “depleted” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Reused. | B.Restored. |
C.Explored. | D.Reduced. |
A.To cut down on the costs of fishing. |
B.To improve the income of local residents. |
C.To promote the well-being of marine wildlife. |
D.To spread traditional community fishing methods. |
A.The aim of the changes to fishing methods. |
B.The efforts to preserve marine ecosystem. |
C.The results the trawl net s have brought about. |
D.The impact of fishers on the local environment. |
A.Confident. | B.Uncaring. |
C.Concerned. | D.Doubtful. |
5 . A few days before New Year 1944, Patricia Krueger received a telegram from the U. S. Army. She hoped it would contain a belated birthday greeting from her husband, an army flight engineer, Charles Krueger, whom she had not heard from for 2 weeks. Instead, the message said he wasn’t coming home: His B-29 had been lost and he was later declared MIA (missing in action). Their son, John Krueger from Middleton, Wisconsin, is still in tears when he recounts this story.
Decades later, the military continues to work to bring back the remains of soldiers like Charles Krueger. The job of finding them falls to DPAA (Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency), created in 2015 after critics charged that the previous MIA search process was slow, and behind on innovations in science and technology. Between 1973 and 2014, the remains of only 1,849 missing service member s were returned to their families; in 2021, the agency accounted for the remains of 141 MIAs; according to DPAA figures.
To accelerate the work, Congress gave DPAA the authority to develop public-private partnerships with scientists and groups outside the government. “Teaming up with academic scientists introduces new ways of thinking,” says military historian Michael Dolski. “Working with partners allows us to tap into their technologies and capabilities in ways that we just can’t maintain.”
For scientists, the work is more than technically satisfying. “It’s the most rewarding aspect of my career,” says Mires, a scientist working with the agency. “In other archaeology sites I’ve worked on, the history is remote,” he says. “Here, you’re doing something not for a thing, but for a person, and all the people they touched.”
1. What was the telegram about in paragraph 1?A.A New Year dinner. | B.Krueger’s disappearance. |
C.A birthday greeting. | D.John Krueger’s memory. |
A.Because DPAA wants to continue the search. |
B.Because it took long and lacked creativeness. |
C.Because the work was stopped by the military. |
D.Because 141 MIAs’ remains were found in 2021. |
A.Patient. | B.Critical. | C.Doubtful. | D.Approving. |
A.A long search for MIAs. | B.Achievements of DPAA. |
C.Assistance from science. | D.Consequences of wars. |
6 . I was halfway across Indiana headed home to Kentucky when my car broke down. My phone was
I sat alongside my car for several hours trying to
Right then and there, this total
A.busy | B.loud | C.dead | D.secure |
A.mechanic | B.policeman | C.manager | D.guide |
A.washing | B.parking | C.purchasing | D.maintaining |
A.feel | B.beat | C.absorb | D.produce |
A.promised | B.refused | C.stopped | D.volunteered |
A.solved | B.noticed | C.escaped | D.explained |
A.surprise | B.regret | C.amusement | D.disappointment |
A.called up | B.pulled out | C.put down | D.threw away |
A.liar | B.beginner | C.stranger | D.loser |
A.free | B.ready | C.uncertain | D.unable |
A.pronounced | B.agreed | C.discovered | D.doubted |
A.Tiredness | B.Kindness | C.Loneliness | D.Carefulness |
A.Folding | B.Drying | C.Soiling | D.Mending |
A.saved | B.called | C.judged | D.banned |
A.friend | B.daughter | C.coworker | D.customer |
7 . For lots of kids, toddlerhood (幼儿期) is an important time for friendship. Studies show that the earlier kids learn to form positive relationships, the better they are at relating to others as teenagers and adults. Playing together also helps these kids practice social behaviors, such as kindness, sharing, and cooperation.
Even so, how quickly your child develops into a social creature may also depend on his temperament(性格). Some toddler s are very social, but others are shy. In addition, the way that toddlers demonstrate that they like other children is markedly different from what adults think of as expressions of friendship. Research at Ohio State University in Columbus found that a toddler’s way of saying “I like you” during play is likely to come in the form of copying a friend’s behavior.
This seemingly unusual way of demonstrating fondness can result in unpleasant behavior. Regardless of how much they like a playmate, they may still grab his toys, refuse to share, and get bossy. But experts say that this is a normal and necessary part of friendship for kids this age. Through play experiences, toddlers learn social rules. That’s why it’s so important to take an active role in your toddler’s social encounters by setting limits and offering frequent reminders of what they are. When you establish these guidelines, explain the reasons behind them.
Begin by helping your child learn sympathy (“Ben is crying. What’s making him so sad?”), then suggest how he could resolve the problem (“Maybe he would feel better if you let him play the ball.”). When your child shares or shows empathy(同理心) toward a friend, praise him (“Ben stopped crying! You made him feel better.”).
Another way to encourage healthy social interaction is by encouraging kids to use words- not fists-to express how they feel. It’s also important to be mindful of how your child’s personality affects playtime. Kids are easy to get angry when they’re sleepy or hungry, so schedule playtime when they’re refreshed.
1. What does it indicate when toddlers copy their playmates’ behavior?A.They are interested in acting. | B.They are shy with the strangers. |
C.They are fond of their playmates. | D.They are tired of playing games. |
A.Design games for them. | B.Find them suitable playmates. |
C.Play together with them. | D.Help them understand social rules. |
A.Giving examples. | B.Explaining concepts. |
C.Providing evidence. | D.Making comparisons. |
A.How Children Adapt to Changes | B.How to Be a Role Model for Children |
C.How Your Baby Learns to Love | D.How to Communicate with Your Kid |
8 . In his 1936 work How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote: “I have come to the conclusion that there is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.” This distaste for arguments is common, but it depends on a mistaken view of arguments that causes problems for our personal and social lives — and in many ways misses the point of arguing in the first place.
Carnegie would be right if arguments were fights, which is how we often think of them. Like physical fights, verbal (言语的) fights can leave both sides bloodied. Even when you win, you end up no better off. You would be feeling almost as bad if arguments were even just competitions — like, say, tennis tournaments. Pairs of opponents hit the ball back and forth until one winner comes out from all who entered. Everybody else loses. This kind of thinking explains why so many people try to avoid arguments.
However, there are ways to win an argument every time. When you state your position, formulate (阐述) an argument for what you claim and honestly ask yourself whether your argument is any good. When you talk with someone who takes a stand, ask them to give you a reason for their view and spell out their argument fully. Assess its strength and weakness. Raise objections (异议) and listen carefully to their replies. This method will require effort, but practice will make you better at it.
These tools can help you win every argument — not in the unhelpful sense of beating your opponents but in the better sense of learning about what divides people, learning why they disagree with us and learning to talk and work together with them. If we readjust our view of arguments — from a verbal fight or tennis game to a reasoned exchange through which we all gain respect and understanding from each other — then we change the very nature of what it means to “win” an argument.
1. What is the author’s attitude toward Carnegie’s understanding of argument?A.Critical. | B.Supportive. | C.Tolerant. | D.Uncertain. |
A.They lack debating skills. | B.They may feel bad even if they win. |
C.They fear being ignored. | D.They are not confident in themselves. |
A.Defend. | B.Explain. | C.Conclude. | D.Repeat. |
A.Sense of logic. | B.Solid supporting evidence. |
C.Proper manners. | D.Understanding from both sides. |
9 . Parrots are prey animals, which means that other predators (捕食者) in the wild, such as hawks or snakes, are looking to make them into a meal. This one factor influences parrots’ behavior in your house more than any other.
Parrots are most easily hurt when feeding on the ground. Membership in a group plays an important function in ensuring their safety and improving their chances of survival from attacks by predators. The most common predators of parrots include hawks, snakes, cats, monkeys, and bats. Some predators make attacks only during the day while others hunt in the night.
As prey animals, parrots are constantly watching out for danger and they instinctively (本能地) react to risks. Their first choice is to take flight. However, if this is not possible, they will fight with their powerful beaks to defend themselves.
Because their biggest enemy is the hawk, parrots are especially reactive to quick movements from above and behind. For this reason, it is wise to avoid quick, sudden movements near your bird. This is a built-in reaction not subject to logic or reason. Simple and relatively harmless household objects can draw extreme fear responses from a bird. For example, a balloon may represent a hawk or a vacuum hose (吸尘器软管) may be the same as a snake in your bird’s mind.
As prey animals, parrots are often frightened by exposure to new household items or strangers. It is important to expose your bird to safe experiences and changes starting at a very young age to build flexibility and improve their adaptability. Variety in diet and toys, travel, and exposure to new people and places all help to make your bird more flexible and adaptable to change.
1. What is important for parrots to better survive from attacks in the wild?A.Living in a group. | B.Growing beautiful feathers. |
C.Feeding on the ground. | D.Avoiding coming out at night. |
A.To attack back. | B.To get away. |
C.To protect the young. | D.To play dead. |
A.It may explode suddenly. | B.It may be in a strange shape. |
C.It may have a strong color. | D.It may move around quickly. |
A.To explain wild parrots’ behavior. | B.To give advice on raising a parrot. |
C.To call for action to protect animals. | D.To introduce a study on bird ecology. |
10 . I’m a seventeen-year-old boy preparing for my A Level exams at the end of the year. In the society where my peers (同龄人) and I live, we tend to accept the rat race values. As students, we want to get good grades so that we can get good jobs. I enjoy studying and have consistently received A’s in my classes. There was a year when I finished first in my class in the final exams. It was a great accomplishment.
Another one I am pleased with is that I managed to improve the relationship between Mum and Dad. Dad was a successful businessman who was rarely at home. Mum was a housewife who always felt bored and constantly nagged (唠叨) him to let her go to work. Their constant arguing bothered me, so I advised Dad that Mum would be better off with a part-time job. He agreed, and their relationship has improved since then.
My most proud achievement, however, is my successful work in the local old folks’ home. My grandparents had raised me since I was a child. I wept (哭泣) bitterly when they died. Unlike many of my classmates, I do not take part in my school’s community service to earn points. I enjoy my voluntary work and believe I’m contributing to a worthwhile cause. This is where I can help. I talk to the elderly, assist them with their daily life, and listen to their problems, glory days and the hardships they experienced.
Last year, I hosted a successful New Year party for the elderly and they enjoyed a great time. Many expressed a desire to attend another party the following year. When I reflect on my accomplishments, I’m especially proud of my service at the old folks’ home, so I hope to study social work at university and work as a social worker in the future. I wish to be more skilled in attending to the less fortunate and find great satisfaction in it, after all.
1. What can be inferred about the author from the first paragraph?A.He is content with his learning achievements. | B.His good grades got him a good job. |
C.He refuses to compete with his peers fiercely. | D.His views on social values are well known. |
A.A bystander (旁观者). | B.A judge. | C.A helper. | D.A destroyer. |
A.The contribution to volunteering. | B.The success in exams. |
C.The recovery of confidence in life. | D.The work in school’s service. |
A.To gain a well-paid job. | B.To give his life a purpose. |
C.To better help the disadvantaged. | D.To meet his grandparents’ expectations. |