1 . Is forgiveness against our human nature? To answer our question, we need to ask a further question: What is the essence of our humanity? For the sake of simplicity, people consider two distinctly different views of humanity.
The first view involves dominance and power. In an early paper on the psychology of forgiveness, Droll (1984) made the interesting claim that humans’ essential nature is more aggressive than forgiving allows. Those who forgive are against their basic nature, much to their harm. In his opinion, forgivers are compromising their well-being as they offer mercy to others, who might then take advantage of them.
The second view involves the theme of cooperation, mutual respect, and even love as the basis of who we are as humans. Researchers find that to fully grow as human beings, we need both to receive love from and offer love to others. Without love, our connections with a wide range of individuals in our lives can fall apart. Even common sense strongly suggests that the will to power over others does not make for harmonious interactions. For example, how well has slavery worked as a mode of social harmony?
From this second viewpoint of who we are as humans, forgiveness plays a key role in the biological and psychological integrity of both individuals and communities because one of the outcomes of forgiveness, shown through scientific studies, is the decreasing of hate and the restoration of harmony. Forgiveness can break the cycle of anger. At least to the extent the people from whom you are estranged (不和的) accept your love and forgiveness and are prepared to make the required adjustments. Forgiveness can heal relationships and reconnect people.
As an important note, when we take a classical philosophical perspective, we see the distinction between potentiality and actuality. We are not necessarily born with the capacity to forgive, but instead with the potential to learn about it and to grow in our ability to forgive. The actuality of forgiving, in real situations, develops with practice.
1. What is Droll’s idea about forgiveness?| A．People should offer mercy to others. |
| B．Aggressive people should learn to forgive. |
| C．Forgiveness depends on the nature of humanity. |
| D．People who forgive can have their own welfare affected. |
| A．To fight is to grow. | B．To give is to receive. |
| C．To forgive is to abuse. | D．To dominate is to harm. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Reserved. | C．Objective. | D．Skeptical. |
| A．Forgiveness is in our nature. | B．Forgiveness grows with time. |
| C．It takes practice to forgive. | D．Actuality is based on potentiality. |
2 . Long believed to have little social structure, giraffes actually are socially complex, University of Bristol scientists suggest. Their social organization is comparable to that of elephants, dolphins and whales.
Lead author Zoe Miller started research work on giraffes in 2005. “I had noticed that giraffe population numbers were decreasing, and I realized that the tallest of all land animals had hardly had any scientific work done on them, which I just found unbelievable. I decided to devote my career to understanding this species better,” said Muller.
Muller and her team looked at research work done in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Researchers then considered giraffes very unsociable and that they formed no long-lasting relationships. “However, this was not what I saw in Africa, and I started to question why they were described as having ‘little or no social structure’ when I could clearly observe them always together,” Muller said.
Muller was based in Kenya for five years, conducting research on giraffes and their social organization. She and her team found that giraffes are actually a highly complex social species that may live in matriarchal (母系的) social systems and include shared care of their young.
“Giraffes may take part in shared parenting of the young, and remain in groups of related females. These types of social organization are well-known in other species, for example elephants and whales, but nobody has ever before suggested that the same could be true for giraffes,” Muller said.
The grandmother giraffes stay in their family groups, passing on survival benefits in tough times to the younger members of the group. For example, they may know where there is water or where they can find food. “This is important information, as this means we should focus on protecting the older adult females, since they are important members to aid the survival of younger generations,” explained Muller.
1. What did Zoe Muller think of researchers’ work done in the 1950s-1970s?| A．Questionable. | B．Inspiring. | C．Reliable. | D．Creative. |
| A．Their population numbers are dropping. |
| B．They remain in groups of related males. |
| C．They have been well protected in the wild. |
| D．They take part in shared raising of the young. |
| A．They can help keep the balance of nature. |
| B．They can help researchers learn about giraffes. |
| C．They can pass on life skills to the younger generations. |
| D．They can help younger giraffes get on well with each other. |
| A．Secrets of Giraffes: The Older, The Smarter |
| B．Social Structure: A Gap in Animal Research |
| C．Giraffes: More Socially Complex than Imagined |
| D．Survival of Giraffes: The Role of Older Members |
3 . Ralph Street loves maps. Appropriately (相称) for someone with his surname, he studied geography and town planning. And well before that, his parents
“I don’t really remember a time before orienteering,” Street
Street
People who grew up outside cities, or in more spatially (空间的) complex cities, also appear to be better able to navigate. “Even as adults, we have good
Misconceptions
For people who can’t imagine wayfinding without a phone app, there are still ways to
| A．hardly | B．recently | C．regularly | D．typically |
| A．recalls | B．repeats | C．regrets | D．responds |
| A．travels | B．competes | C．visits | D．runs |
| A．ambition | B．purpose | C．skill | D．task |
| A．took over | B．took up | C．took on | D．took away |
| A．confusion | B．confidence | C．happiness | D．sorrow |
| A．insight | B．news | C．information | D．evidence |
| A．appear | B．happen | C．consist | D．exist |
| A．aids | B．aims | C．destinations | D．means |
| A．situations | B．protections | C．measures | D．signs |
| A．perform | B．evaluate | C．practise | D．motivate |
| A．comments | B．suggests | C．states | D．decides |
| A．obvious | B．same | C．different | D．abundant |
| A．aged | B．aging | C．to age | D．ages |
| A．was filled with | B．was satisfied with | C．was linked to | D．was compared to |
4 . For the first time in its 100-year history, Walt Disney Animation has cooperated with an outside animation studio on a project. The result is lwájú, an interesting and original six-part series set in a futuristic version of Lagos, Africa. It was created with the Pan-African entertainment company Kugali and premieres (首映) on Disney+ on February 28.
lwájú is a story about Tola, a young girl from a wealthy family, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, and their discovery of the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds. The show explores inequality and the idea of challenging society’s standards. Like the Disney+ series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Marvel’s Black Panther films, and the Netflix animated series My Dad the Bounty Hunter, lwájú is part of a genre (体裁) called Afrofuturism. It combines elements of science fiction, the culture and history of Africa and Africans, fantasy, and a vision of a better future.
The series was directed by Adeola, “lwájú was born from my personal inspiration to tell a story about Lagos because one of the unique things I noticed is how the geography actually supports the societal divide in a way that is very obvious,” Adeola told in the interview, “In Lagos, the wealthy people live on the island, and the working class and poor people live on the mainland. So you literally see a body of water separating rich and poor. And so I thought that was a really interesting foundation upon which to build a science-fiction story.”
Adeola called lwájú “a love letter to Lagos” and said every frame praises the city’s diversity and spirit. The characters, he explained, represent typical types of Nigerian people and they wear clothing inspired by traditional African textiles (纺织品).
While the series of films questions the divisions in society, Adeola said it also highlights the bravery required to disrupt them. He added that he hopes lwájú inspires audiences to find strength in unity and the courage to dream of change.
1. What’s the similarity between lwájú and other Disney+ series according to the text?| A．They are adventurous stories. |
| B．They explore inequality and challenge society’s standards. |
| C．They combine African traditional culture and futurism. |
| D．They are produced by Walt Disney Animation independently. |
| A．The society is rarely divided by geography. |
| B．Generally, upper class live on the mainland. |
| C．Adeola’s friend inspired him to film lwájú. |
| D．The poor and rich are separated quite clearly. |
| A．Break. | B．Obtain. | C．Estimate. | D．Distinguish. |
| A．Imaginary and humorous. | B．Innovative and realistic. |
| C．Attractive and inspiring. | D．Critical and multicultural. |
5 . Susan Ellis, a devoted and fearless nurse at Arkansas, earned the title of a hero after a remarkable off-duty rescue.
The extraordinary chain of events
The emergency services had not yet made it to the
She
Months later, the man who had suffered a life-threatening injury
| A．came | B．unfolded | C．appeared | D．flashed |
| A．schedule | B．task | C．shift | D．training |
| A．exciting | B．threatening | C．endangered | D．horrible |
| A．approached | B．arrived | C．settled | D．sped |
| A．office | B．scene | C．hospital | D．base |
| A．intervene | B．investigate | C．interact | D．interrupt |
| A．held onto | B．warmed up | C．pulled over | D．backed up |
| A．cautiously | B．secretly | C．carefully | D．safely |
| A．controlled | B．pictured | C．assessed | D．revealed |
| A．passed | B．counted | C．encountered | D．calculated |
| A．across | B．through | C．above | D．underneath |
| A．employed | B．marked | C．swung | D．fetched |
| A．brought out | B．carried out | C．figured out | D．reached out |
| A．optimistic | B．courageous | C．amusing | D．effortless |
| A．achieves | B．fulfills | C．serves | D．provides |
6 . Zhang Xiqing is an outlier in Chinese society. At 33, she is happily unmarried, has no plans to have children with her boyfriend, and left her job at Tencent for a start-up because she wanted to “try something new”. But Zhang faces immense pressure from her family. She does her best to deal with the pressure to break convention but it can be a lonely path to follow. Now, however, she is drawing inspiration from a reality show that has become a hit on Chinese television.
Instead of giving young girls a shot at fame, Sisters Who Make Waves, produced by Hunan Television, has invited established actresses and performers over 30, and some in their 50s, to compete for a spot in a five-member band. The show has been a hit, especially among women, since it started airing in June. For women like Zhang, the attraction is that it shows more experienced women using their confidence and expertise—rather than youth—to get what they need.
“Seeing them on stage, I am no longer anxious about my age,” one viewer, who is attracted by the show commented on Weibo. A blogger who goes by the pen name Shaoxi said the overwhelming popularity of the show reflected the desperate need for women in China to see themselves pictured in a different light. Other viewers resonated (共鸣) with the setbacks of some of the stars, who battled personal and professional difficulties with the images of sparkling versions of themselves.
But some critics say the show falls short of its ideals. Wu Changchang, an associate professor of journalism at East China Normal University, wrote that the show was “hollow feminism (空洞的女权主义)”. However, Shaoxi said, “judging an entertainment show on what degree of feminism it contained was missing the point.” It’s popularity said something about the female audience. “It means that compared with the past, more are favoring strong, independent women. I hope I can be more like them”, she said.
1. Why does the author mention Zhang Xiqing in paragraph 1?| A．To express a view. | B．To make an argument. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To provide the evidence. |
| A．Its winners would form a band. | B．It was produced in Hunan TV in June. |
| C．It invited famous actresses in the country. | D．It attracted little attention at the beginning. |
| A．The various suggestions for the show. |
| B．The positive comments from viewers. |
| C．The negative influence of the show on the society. |
| D．The close connection between the show and the reality. |
| A．It spoke highly of feminism and self-discipline. |
| B．It highlighted the importance of beauty and experience. |
| C．It inspired women to be themselves and pursue their dreams. |
| D．It stressed the courage to fight against professional difficulties. |
7 . Even with the heated water splashing on my shoulders, a chill (寒意) still ran through me. My son was swimming
I just couldn’t trust my body to
But my son George wouldn’t
I couldn’t say no. “Try to swim to me. It’s not very far.” he said,
After more false starts, I knew I must
I swam farther.I swam.
1.| A．bravely | B．skillfully | C．carefully | D．nervously |
| A．willing | B．ambitious | C．gifted | D．adorable |
| A．bend | B．float | C．extend | D．swing |
| A．knowledge | B．potential | C．freedom | D．chance |
| A．goal | B．result | C．decision | D．belief |
| A．realize | B．change | C．accept | D．consider |
| A．special | B．basic | C．common | D．hard |
| A．turned up | B．passed by | C．slipped away | D．broke in |
| A．feared | B．missed | C．enjoyed | D．expected |
| A．standing | B．towering | C．stretching | D．adjusting |
| A．comforted | B．surprised | C．puzzled | D．amused |
| A．continue | B．act | C．win | D．quit |
| A．blindly | B．quickly | C．elegantly | D．freely |
| A．lost | B．took | C．caught | D．held |
| A．relief | B．sorrow | C．joy | D．gratitude |
8 . When I was a boy, we lived right next to a forest. I spent a lot of time
That was why it was so hard for me
One afternoon after a long day’s work, I was feeling particularly
In this life we all start out as an acorn, but whether we
| A．working | B．playing | C．studying | D．watching |
| A．mountain | B．yard | C．forest | D．park |
| A．when | B．until | C．if | D．unless |
| A．unfair | B．tiring | C．poor | D．dangerous |
| A．thrown away | B．carried off | C．cut down | D．turned over |
| A．available | B．promising | C．lovely | D．concrete |
| A．depressed | B．amazed | C．ashamed | D．frightened |
| A．walk | B．picture | C．lesson | D．risk |
| A．school | B．team | C．childhood | D．farm |
| A．survived | B．attracted | C．surprised | D．convinced |
| A．message | B．sentence | C．letter | D．story |
| A．uncovered | B．pocketed | C．planted | D．swallowed |
| A．discover | B．protect | C．search | D．become |
| A．reason | B．ability | C．courage | D．chance |
| A．Leave | B．Explain | C．Introduce | D．Apply |
9 . Few humans have had the opportunity to see Earth from space. And for astronauts living in the International Space Station like Loral O’Hara, that view never gets old. “You know, you see it in photographs, but that doesn’t compare at all to seeing it in person for the first time in 3D,”O’Hara said in a recent interview. “I just saw the ocean and the clouds — this blue and white marble against the blackness of space — and it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.”
O’Hara is a flight engineer for NASA’s Expedition 70 crew, who launched into space in September 2023. She and her team spent the last six months researching a range of topics: How the human brain and body adapt to microgravity, 3D-printed human heart tissue and how space changes the immune (免疫) systems of plants. One of these investigations is the Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research program, or CIPHER, which is intended to help researchers understand how living in space changes human health and psychology.
On Earth, gravity keeps blood and other fluids relatively low in the body. But when astronauts live in microgravity, these fluids are pushed up towards the heart, which can cause swelling, congestion (淤血) and even vision and hearing changes. Onboard the ISS, O’Hara says astronauts keep tabs on these potential health risks, performing regular eye exams and ultrasounds to collect data. The hope is to use this data not only for microgravity research, but also for research on Earth. For example, researchers know astronauts lose about 1% to 2% of their bone density per month during spaceflight. So, O’Hara and her team are analyzing bone marrow stem cells in order to better understand both this bone loss and normal aging on Earth.
O’Hara says the changes aren’t just physical either. She’s even had new types of dreams since she boarded the ISS last September. She says she often finds herself in small, tight spaces, looking for things on the space station.
1. What does the word “that” underlined in the first paragraph refer to?| A．The blue and white marble. |
| B．The sight of space in pictures. |
| C．The chance to see Earth from space. |
| D．The life in the International Space Station. |
| A．Test the astronauts’ health conditions. |
| B．Understand the immune systems of plants. |
| C．Investigate the human psychological issues. |
| D．Study the impact of life in space on humans. |
| A．Astronauts can suffer hearing changes on Earth. |
| B．Researchers check their eyes to reduce health risks. |
| C．Microgravity leads to some physical changes. |
| D．Bone loss research is welcome among astronauts. |
| A．What’s It Like to Live in Space? |
| B．The Research of Microgravity in Space |
| C．Do You Dream of Living in Space? |
| D．An Extraordinary Woman Flight Engineer |
10 . Some people seeking meaning might read a self-help book, or perhaps volunteer a few hours a week. Sacks packed up her life and moved to Connecticut for three months to participate in Adamah, a Jewish farming program that focuses on sustainable living and growing sustainable food. When she returned to New York, it was with a new purpose and a variety of new skills to make her dreams a reality.
“One of the things about Adamah that really impressed me was how little waste they produced and how they handled the waste they did have,” she says. “And I just thought, ‘Why aren’t we doing that here?’ I’d walk around my neighborhood and was shocked at how many bags of waste were piled up. I began to wonder, ‘What is actually in all those bags and recycling bins on the curbs?’”
During trips around her neighborhood, Sacks, 31, picks through garbage to look for reusable items. Soon, her trash walks expanded to include corporate dumpsters (废料桶). Surprisingly, she discovered a wide array of really great stuff — like clothing, designer accessories, dinnerware, and food — all of which she documents on Instagram and TikTok. Under the name The Trash Walker, Sacks quickly gained popularity for her educational, funny, and surprising videos that highlight the problems with consumerism and share information about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. “The root issue is overproduction, which leads to over consumption, which leads to an immense amount of waste,” she says.
Think, for a moment, about your overcrowded closet. Fast fashion makes it easy to buy the latest trends for cheap, but those clothes can end up in the trash, even if you sell or donate them. It’s a point Sacks made in a TikTok video exposing a mountain of thrift store trash. In it, black trash bags filled with clothes crowd the sidewalk and hold the goods the store couldn’t sell.
The lesson from Sacks’s trash walking isn’t just that we need to produce less stuff. It’s that we need to stop throwing perfectly good items in the trash too. Dive through any retail store’s garbage, and you’ll soon agree.
1. What did Sacks learn from Adamah?| A．How to seek a new chance. | B．How to help oneself grow. |
| C．How to live a sustainable life. | D．How to handle recycling bins. |
| A．Sacks is responsible for picking garbage. |
| B．The videos are popular because of the name. |
| C．Many people will join in her trash walks. |
| D．Overproduction can cause piles of waste. |
| A．An environmentalist. | B．A trash collector. |
| C．A litter researcher. | D．A video producer. |
| A．Throwing real waste in the home. | B．Producing less items in the factory. |
| C．Stopping throwing out really good stuff. | D．Visiting the garbage in a retail store. |
