2 . When reading, my mother likes to slice a paragraph or a sentence out and attach it to the wall of her kitchen. She picks boring sentences that puzzle me. But I prefer copying favorite bright lines into a journal in soft, gray No. 2 pencil, word by word.

She doesn’t know any of this. There's nothing shocking: for our chatting. we seldom begin certain conversations though we talk on the phone weekly, sometimes making each other laugh so hard that I choke and she cries. But what we don't say could fill up rooms. Fights with my father. Small failures in school. Anything that really upsets us.

My mother has never told me “I love you, Lisa.”—as if the four-word absence explains who I am—so I carry it with me, like a label on me. The last time she almost spoke the words was two years ago, when she called to tell me a friend had been in hospital. I said, “I love you, Mom.” She stopped for a while and then said, “Thank you.” I haven't said it since, but I've wondered why my mother doesn't until I've found a poem that supplies words for the blank spaces I try to understand in our conversations:

Don’t fill up on bread. I say absent-mindedly. The servings here are huge.

My son, middle-aged, says: Did you really just say that to me?

What he doesn’t know is that when we’re walking together, I desire to reach for his hand.

It's humble, yet heartbreaking. After copying it down in my journal, I emailed it to mom, adding “This poem makes me think of you.” My mother doesn’t read poetry—or at least, she doesn’t tell me, and I felt nervous clicking “Send”.

She never mentioned the poem. But the next time I went home for vacation, I noticed something new in the kitchen fixed to an antique board: the poem. The board hung above the heater, the warmest spot in the kitchen. The poem still hangs there. Neither my mother nor I have ever spoken about it.

1. What's the function of paragraph 1?

A．To stress the theme.	B．To establish the setting.
C．To represent the characters.	D．To create the atmosphere.

2. Which of the following best describes the mother daughter relationship?

A．Shaky.

B．Distant.

C．Reserved.

D．Intense.

3. Why did the author send the poem to her mom?

A．It reminded her of mom's love.

B．She wanted to apologize to mom.

C．It suited mom's taste of literature.

D．She needed an interpretation from mom.

4. What does the poem mean to mom?

A．A memory of golden days.

B．Daughter’s gratefulness to her.

C．A decoration in the plain kitchen.

D．Daughter's understanding of her.

3 . In southeastern Brazil, local fishers walk into dark waters in search of mullet (鲻鱼) On their own, it would be tricky to find the silvery fish. But the humans get help from an unusual partner: wild bottlenose dolphins.

With nets in hand, the fishers patiently wait as their cetacean (鲸类的) partners drive the fish toward the shore. A signal from the dolphins—usually a deep dive—indicates when they should cast their nets. This fishing partnership has passed down through the generations, lasting for more than a century.

While researchers knew humans profited from this pairing, they couldn't confirm whether it benefited the dolphins. Now, in a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers suggest cetaceans that hunt with humans have more chances to live than those that don't.

“Human-wildlife cooperation in general is a rare phenomenon at a global scale.” says Mauricio Cantor, a biologist at Oregon State University and leader of the study. “Usually humans gain the benefit, and nature pays the cost. But this interaction has been happening for over 150 years.”

Fishers were more successful when they worked with the dolphins. When dolphins were present, the fishers were 17 times more likely to catch prey (猎物) and netted nearly four times more mullet when they timed their casting with the cetaceans' signals. Eighty-six percent of all 4.955 mullet caught during the study period came from “synchronous (同时的) interactions”—when the allies organized their actions perfectly with one another.

The study also revealed dolphins hunting with humans had a 13 percent increase in survival rate over other dolphins. These cooperative dolphins are more likely to stay near the shore, reducing their chance of entanglement (缠绕) in illegal fishing equipment. Besides, the dolphins can take some fish directly from the fishers’ harvest.

1. What do the first two paragraphs talk about concerning Brazilian fishers?

A．They trick dolphins into fishing for them.

B．They harvest more fish with dolphins' help.

C．They have been training dolphins over a century.

D．They cast the fishing nets when dolphins surface.

2. What does Mauricio Cantor's research show?

A．Nature favors human beings at a huge cost.

B．Fishers benefit from cooperating with cetaceans.

C．Human-wildlife interaction is a new global trend.

D．Dolphins working with man have higher survival rate.

3. What does the underlined word “allies” refer to in paragraph 5?

A．Prey.

B．Mullet.

C．Partners.

D．Researchers.

4. What's the author's main purpose in writing the text?

A．To appeal for the protection of sea creatures.

B．To show a unique human-dolphin relationship.

C．To applaud for development in fishing research.

D．To encourage fishers to better draw on dolphins.

4 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.

Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).

Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.

Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Life is full of ups and downs.

B．People are at the mercy of changes.

C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction.

D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties.

2. What is Nicole’s original career commitment?

A．To conduct her duty well and better the society.

B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs.

C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time.

D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones.

3. Why did Nicole leave her police post?

A．Because of the arrangement of the office.	B．Because of the injury she got at work.
C．Because of the change of interest.	D．Because of the danger of the job.

4. What brought Nicole to her new career?

A．The appeal of the people in sorrow.	B．The push of getting a new job to survive.
C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones.	D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family.

5 . Every 40 days a language dies. This “catastrophic” loss is being intensified by the climate crisis; according to linguists. If nothing is done, conservative estimates suggest that half of all the 7000 languages currently spoken will be extinct by the end of the century.

Speakers of minority languages have experienced a long history of persecution (迫害) , with the result that by the 1920s half of all indigenous (土著的) languages in Australia, the US, South Africa and Argentina were extinct. The climate crisis is now considered the “final nail in the coffin” for many indigenous languages and the knowledge they represent.

“Languages are already endangered,” says Anastasia Richl, director of the Strathy language unit at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Huge factors are globalization and migration, as communities move to regions where their language is not spoken or valued, according to Richl. “It seems particularly cruel,” she says, “that most of the world’s languages are in parts of the world that are growing unpleasant to people.” Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation measuring 12,189km², has 110 languages, the highest density (密度) of languages on the planet. It is also one of the countries most at risk of sea level rise, she says. “Many small language communities are on islands and coastlines easily subject to hurricanes and sea level rise.” Others live on lands where rising temperature threatens traditional farming and fishing practices, leading to migration.

In response to the crisis, the UN launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022. Promoting and conserving languages of indigenous communities is “not only important for them, but for all humanity”, said Csaba Korosi, the UN general assembly president, urging countries to allow access to education in indigenous languages.

1. What is the writer mainly concerned about?

A．The disappearance of languages.	B．The challenge of climate change.
C．The reaction to the language crisis.	D．The trend of the speedy globalization.

2. Why is Vanuatu mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To explain the main reason for language density.

B．To show the common features of endangered languages.

C．To stress the impact of geographical position on migration.

D．To illustrate the situation of minority language communities.

3. What does the International Decade of Indigenous Languages aim to do?

A．Support migrants to access local education.

B．Discourage people from massive migration.

C．Improve the living conditions of minority groups.

D．Preserve the languages of indigenous communities.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Faced with Disasters: Communities Have to Leave

B．Lost for Words: Rising Seas Bring Threat of Catastrophe

C．Upset at Extinction: UN Urges International Cooperation

D．Involved in Action: Experts Seek Solutions to Climate Crisis

6 . Marcus is a handsome and athletic kid. He plays tennis and _________ the state tournament every year. Marcus’s neighbor, Conrad, is also _________ to compete, but he has rheumatoid arthritis (类风湿性关节炎). Although it pains him just to walk, he _________ painful days at school walking to the sports field. He loves watching his school compete so he doesn’t _________ a game.

Marcus has known Conrad since primary school. They’ve always been _________. He sees Conrad in pain and his _________ at not being able to play sports. So, every day alter school, Marcus _________ his classmates to go to Conrad’s for a moment of discussion about the game competition. The discussion is as _________ as a real high school game, which makes Conrad forget the hurt.

Finally, the doctors found a new _________ to reduce the pain. Conrad walks without much pain, and then begins running, but he still has to learn the __________ of running. After a childhood of walking carefully and taking __________ steps, Conrad has to train his walking like a kid again and stay in shape. He pushes himself every day，building his lungs and doing leg lifts repeatedly for his leg __________. He knows what pain feels like, but running for Conrad is no longer __________.

To Conrad’s delight, he gets a chance to join the cross country team. Conrad doesn’t win, not once, but Marcus is there, __________ for him who always finishes in the middle of the competitors, breathing in wind and waving his hands __________.

1.

A．gives up

B．competes in

C．hears of

D．breaks through

2.

A．able

B．lucky

C．eager

D．calm

3.

A．bears

B．counts

C．forgets

D．escapes

4.

A．accept

B．enjoy

C．lose

D．miss

5.

A．strangers

B．enemies

C．friends

D．teachers

6.

A．surprise

B．sadness

C．impatience

D．tiredness

7.

A．promises

B．asks

C．drives

D．forces

8.

A．long

B．noisy

C．boring

D．interesting

9.

A．treatment

B．excuse

C．period

D．topic

10.

A．goal

B．style

C．speed

D．skill

11.

A．suitable

B．serious

C．small

D．comfortable

12.

A．strength

B．show

C．shape

D．advantage

13.

A．relaxing

B．beneficial

C．painful

D．meaningful

14.

A．queuing

B．arguing

C．running

D．cheering

15.

A．excitedly

B．curiously

C．anxiously

D．actively

8 . A mother and daughter in England have been putting smiles on strangers’ faces with random (随机的) acts of kindness.Every week, Sophie-Louise Corrigan allows her 5-year-old daughter Amina to choose random strangers to put a smile on their faces.

When Corrigan is with her daughter Amina, Corrigan will let the little girl go to whoever she is drawn. Later, Corrigan will ask why Amina opts for them. Her answer is always because she likes something about them, either their tops or their hair. Amina always takes her pick.

It’s a tradition that started with Corrigan’s own mother. “Mum and I used to do it. Whenever we had some money left from the weekly shop or if we really wanted to do it that week, we took out something from the shop to make sure we had the money. We would always do it,” said Corrigan.

“Now, we do it everywhere, even when we went on holiday to another city, we did a random   act of kindness there. We find flowers and chocolates whether it be in Ormskirk, Liver-pool or Wirral. Wherever we go, we do it,” said Corrigan.

“The reaction is amazing and is one of the reasons why we carry on. A number of people who spoke to us didn’t even know what to say. They were speechless. There were a lot of people who gave Amina a hug after it. She loves such a hug. There were others who had tears welling up. They said that they had such a terrible week either with bills or a family death. Amina will always say to me that although the person was crying, it was happy tears. She is in the process of understanding how acts of kindness work and how feelings work.”

1. What does Corrigan ask Amina to do every week?

A．Stay with her mother.	B．Be kind to strangers.
C．Make friends with others.	D．Buy something from shops.

2. What does the underlined phrase “opts for” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Respects.

B．Enables.

C．Chooses.

D．Avoids.

3. What does Corrigan mean in the last paragraph?

A．People need happiness.

B．Few people live a hard life.

C．Some people like being silent.

D．Most people are friendly to others.

4. What can we conclude from the text?

A．Only good people have friends.

B．Where there is life, there is hope.

C．Kindness is like a ray of sunshine.

D．A kind man can gain more from others.

9 . Warrumbungle National Park

Travel six hours northwest of Sydney, and you’ve reached the astronomy capital of Australia. Warrumbungle National Park is a nature and star-lover’s dream. This land is home to the Southern Hemisphere’s first Dark Sky Park, which means you’ll be treated to nights of no light pollution and out of this world stargazing. Besides, the Warrumbungles has several adventurous hikes. The Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk is considered one of the best in Australia!

Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park

Ku-Ring-Gai Chase is the second oldest national park in Australia. We love this park for its proximity (邻近) to Sydney (a quick 45-minute drive from the city), significant Aboriginal (澳大利亚土著的) sites and breathtaking scenic views. There are many walks you can do here. You can also go kayaking (皮划艇), stopping at some of the secluded beaches that line the park.

Bouddi National Park

Located on the Central Coast, Bouddi National Park is one for beautiful landscapes and beaches. Just 90 minutes from Sydney, Bouddi is a hidden treasure. The beautiful water makes this park an ideal destination during summer, but it also provides a fantastic point for whale watching over the winter. You can experience Bouddi National Park on a day trip. Pack your picnic goods and head on the 8.5 km (one-way) Bouddi Coastal Walk — it’ll give you a perfect taste of the best of what the park has to offer!

Dorrigo National Park

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dorrigo National Park is one to explore! Located just shy of four hours from Byron Bay, the park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests and has been made over millions of years. You’d be right then to expect some of the most stunning waterfalls here. For one of the best experiences, head to the Skywalk lookout. This elevated walkway will take you right into the heart of the rainforest, providing soaring views 21 meters over the rainforest all the way to the coast.

1. If you were a fan of stargazing and hiking, which park would interest you most?

A．Bouddi National Park.	B．Dorrigo National Park.
C．Warrumbungle National Park.	D．Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.

2. What can you enjoy at Bouddi National Park?

A．Going kayaking.	B．Watching whales.
C．Visiting Aboriginal sites.	D．Seeing breathtaking waterfalls.

3. What do you know about Dorrigo National Park?

A．It is the oldest national park in Australia.	B．It offers a perfect view of the Gondwana Rainforests.
C．It’s about four hours drive from Sydney.	D．It’s known for adventurous hikes along the coast.

10 . One day, a young man, Cesar Larios, visited a tall building to move something for his boss. The building is too tall, so taking the lift is quite _________.

_________, the lift stopped working. The young man was _________ inside the lift. Inside the lift, Rita Jung, an elderly _________, got into the same trouble as him. She knew it would be difficult for her since she could not stand for a long time and immediately _________ out her worry. Rita _________ she would feel very uncomfortable or even a(n) _________ in her knees if she stood there too long.

While waiting for the workers to make the lift _________, the old woman knew she had no choice but to endure (忍耐). What she didn’t know was that the person who was in the lift with her knew exactly what she _________ at the moment. Cesar worried she would feel uncomfortable if she had nothing to __________ while waiting for the doors to open. Without much thinking, he went down on his knees and did what he knew was the __________ thing.

Cesar offered to be Rita’s human bench, and the elderly woman felt so __________ for the guy’s kindness. She took the offer and sat on Cesar’s back to __________ her comfort and keep her knees from aching.

The story broke out when Cesar’s boss __________ the incident on the Internet. People are praising Cesar for his __________ heart and saying that chivalry (体贴) and kindness are definitely still alive.

1.

A．advanced

B．convenient

C．confident

D．average

2.

A．Luckily

B．Therefore

C．Unfortunately

D．Originally

3.

A．trapped

B．reminded

C．attacked

D．surrounded

4.

A．applicant

B．actress

C．man

D．woman

5.

A．voiced

B．set

C．made

D．worn

6.

A．recommended

B．observed

C．feared

D．proved

7.

A．pain

B．charge

C．achievement

D．access

8.

A．contact

B．run

C．follow

D．happen

9.

A．checked

B．fell

C．needed

D．recovered

10.

A．agree with

B．suffer from

C．bend down

D．sit on

11.

A．beneficial

B．right

C．likely

D．historic

12.

A．nervous

B．grateful

C．limited

D．equal

13.

A．inspire

B．measure

C．contribute

D．regain

14.

A．shared

B．balanced

C．tracked

D．arranged

15.

A．narrow

B．tough

C．generous

D．calm