1 . In recent years American society has become increasingly dependent on its universities to find solutions to its major problems. It is the universities that have been to blame for developing the expertise to place men on the moon; for dealing with our urban problems and with our worsening environment; for developing the means to feed the world’s rapidly increasing population. The effort involved in meeting these demands presents its own problems. In addition, however, this concentration on the creation of new knowledge significantly impinges on the universities’ efforts to perform their other principal functions, the transmission and interpretation of knowledge-the imparting of the heritage of the past and the preparing of the next generation to carry it forward.

With regard to this, perhaps their most traditionally acknowledged task, college and universities today find themselves in a serious situation. On one hand, there is the American commitment, especially since World War Ⅱ, to provide higher education for all young people who can profit from it. The result of the commitment has been a dramatic rise in enrollments(登记入学) in our universities, coupled with a striking shift from the private to the public sector of higher education.

On the other hand, there are serious and continuing limitations on the resources available for higher education. While higher education has become a great ”growth industry“, it is also at the same time a tremendous drain(耗竭) on the resources of the nation. With the vast increase in enrollment and the shift in priorities away from education in state and federal(联邦的) budgets, there is in most of our public institutions a significant decrease in expenses for their students. One crucial aspect of this drain on resources lies in the persistent shortage of trained faculty(全体教师), which has led, in turn, to a declining standard of competence in instruction.

Intensifying these difficulties is, as indicated above, the concern with research, with its increasing claims on resources and the attention of the faculty. In addition, there is a strong tendency for the institutions’ organization and functioning to fulfill the demands of research rather than those of teaching.

1. According to Paragraph 1, what should be the most important function of American universities?

A．Sparing no effort to create new knowledge for students.

B．Enhancing students’ competence of tackling social problems.

C．Making experts on advanced industries out of their students.

D．Preparing their students to transmit the knowledge of the past.

2. In American universities, there is a contradiction between________.

A．more students and less investment	B．education quality and economic profit
C．low enrollment rate and high education demand	D．private ownership and American commitment

3. A serious outcome brought about by the shortage of resources is that________.

A．many public institutions have to cut down enrollments of students

B．teachers are not competent enough to perform satisfactorily in class

C．some institutions are forced to reduce the total expenses on research

D．there is keen competition for resources between public and private institutions

4. What worsened the severity of the problems faced by American universities?

A．The improper distribution of American universities’ resources.

B．The increasing argument over American universities’ primary task.

C．The inability of American universities’ organization and fulfillment.

D．The growing focus on American universities’ function of research.

3 . My Day of No Plastic

Since its invention, plastic has affected every aspect of our lives. It has made possible thousands of conveniences, but it has come with downsides, especially for the environment. In a 24-hour experiment, I tried to live without it to see what plastic stuff we can’t do without and what we may be able to give up.

At the start of my no-plastic day, I made my way toward the bathroom, only to stop myself before I went in. “Could you open the door for me?” I asked my wife. “The handle is plastic.” She opened it for me, letting out a “this is going to be a long day” sigh (叹气).

My morning routine was a headache. I couldn’t use my toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo or soap, all of which were made of plastic or put in plastic containers. Getting dressed was also a challenge, given that so many clothing items include plastic.

When I went out, I brought along two glass containers and cloth bags of various sizes. I walked to a sandwich shop. “Can you make the salad in this glass container?” I asked. The manager said OK but then rejected my request to use my steel spoon.

After lunch, I took the subway to Central Park, which scored me more violations (违规), since I need a MetroCard and the trains themselves have plastic parts. But at least I didn’t sit in one of those plastic seats.

Back home, I recorded some of my impressions. By my count, on my day of no plastic, I had made 164 violations. I felt defeated. And also uncertain. The next day I called Gabby Salazar, a scientist who studies what motivates people to support environmental causes, and asked her for advice.

“You can drive yourself crazy,” she said, “but it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.” Believe it or not, individual behavior matters. It adds up. “Remember,” she continued, “it’s not about plastic being the enemy. It’s about single-use as the enemy.”

I promised to try, even after my not successful attempt. I’ll start with small things, building up habits. I can take cloth bags to the grocery. I might start packing my glass water bottle and steel spoon. And from there, who knows?

1. The author conducted the 24-hour experiment because ________.

A．he was tired of using plastic stuff in his daily life

B．he tried to call upon people to ban plastic products

C．he wondered how much plastic he consumed each day

D．he wanted to figure out how to use plastic stuff wisely

2. Why did the author’s wife sigh?

A． Because she didn’t know his intention.

B． Because she worried about her husband.

C． Because she thought it hard to avoid using plastic.

D． Because she didn’t realize the downsides of plastic.

4 . A New Chapter

The day I heard that the Rainbow Bookstore was closing after 50 years of business, I was heartbroken. The bookstore, which was a legendary fixture in the neighborhood, was a place where anyone could drop in and connect through their love of books.

When I hurried to the store, I saw that the books were al already being packed into boxes. I had a long chat with Casey, the store’s elderly owner. Sighing deeply, he told me how it was becoming difficult to run an independent bookstore. Most young people preferred reading e-books on tablets. More and more customers were being attracted by chain stores and online discounts. I tried to think of some words of sympathy, but I had to admit that the Rainbow Bookstore couldn’t stay in business much longer.

Childhood memories came back to me so clearly, as if the events had happened only yesterday. A bunch of us kids would frequently drop by the store after school. We’d look at the new books, or just chat with Old Casey. He knew every book in the store and would always pick the perfect one for us from a dusty shelf. We spent hours reading, seated on the store’s old but comfortable furniture. Casey encouraged us to share our ideas and comments on the books, by writing them on a large board in one corner of the store.

When I left the bookstore, it was becoming cold and dark outside. I turned to wave goodbye to Casey, but both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist. It made me realize that the bookstore and all that Old Casey had given to the community could soon disappear for good.

A few months later, I was back in the neighborhood during my spring break and was surprised to see that the Rainbow Bookstore was still there and open for business. Its old brick exterior hadn’t changed, but inside it was like a different world. In one area, a book reading was being delivered. Nearby, customers were poring over shelves selling stationery, posters and other best-seller-themed gifts. The large board in the corner had been replaced by a big screen, where customers comments on the month’s best-seller were being displayed. Clearly, the Rainbow Bookstore was in good, creative hands.

I was told that the community had decided to work together on a campaign to save the Rainbow Bookstore. The campaign had been led by Jennifer Oakley, a saleswoman who had grown up in the neighborhood and who had now taken over the bookstore from Casey.

Under Jennifer’s leadership, the bookstore was being turned into a place for literature-loving members of the community to get together. It had a café selling organic food, and there were now more community events such as book readings, poetry recitals and even jazz concerts and movie nights, where people could gather to share an experience that couldn’t be downloaded.

I joined Casey, who was looking up at the screen on which readers’ comments kept popping up. “Well, as you can see, corporate knowledge combined with creativity has brought my humble bookstore into the 21st century! I’m so pleased to see that everything I wanted it to offer to the community is still here.”

1. What caused the Rainbow Bookstore to be closing?

A．It was an independent bookstore.

B．It was affected by online reading.

C．People in the community didn’t support it.

D．Casey was too old to manage the bookstore.

2. Why did the bookstore matter so much to the author?

A．Because it was his family business.

B．Because he and the store's owner were friends.

C．Because there were many unforgettable childhood memories in the bookstore.

D．Because the bookstore offered him many new books.

3. Which of the following word can best describe Jennifer Oakley?

A．Creative.

B．Determined.

C．Ambitious.

D．Enthusiastic

4. Which of the following memories didn’t cross the author’s mind?

A．Children’s going to the library in groups.

B．Spending hours in the bookstore reading.

C．Children helping Casey clean the bookshelf.

D．Casey’s encouragement for children to share their opinions.

5. The new Rainbow Bookstore________.

A．is going with the tide of the time

B．will not be more attractive than ever

C．is worthy of much sympathy

D．will disappear as the old one

5 . You’re never too old to achieve your dreams — or even break records. A 104-year-old woman named Dorothy Hoffner is such an example. She has just become the oldest person to skydive (跳伞), and she had the time of her life doing it. After touching ground following her jump with a US instructor, she proudly said, “Age is just a number.”

Hoffner took to the skies of Northern Illinois with the help of Skydive Chicago, making her way to the town of Ottawa for the jump. For all the excitement, this wasn’t her first time jumping out of the plane. Hoffner’s first skydiving took place a few years ago, when she was100. Although back then the instructor helped push them out together, this time she insisted on leading the jump from 13, 500 feet up in the air.

A video shared by Skydive Chicago shows Hoffner determinedly advancing towards the plane on her red walker (助行架) before being helped on board. Sitting among her fellow skydivers, she is all smiles as she waits for her turn. Once the door opens, the woman confidently jumps out of the plane head first.

Before Hoffner’s jump, the record for the oldest person to skydive belonged to 103-year-old Linnea Ingegard Larsson from Sweden, who set it in May 2022. Now, Skydive Chicago is requesting Guinness World Records to certify Hoffner’s jump as the new record.

As for Hoffner, she seems happy with having achieved this, describing the jump as an amazing experience. “It was wonderful up there. The whole thing was wonderful, and couldn’t have been better,” she says. Now that she has completed this achievement, she is now thinking of her next adventure. Since she is turning 105 in December, she is thinking of celebrating by riding a hot air balloon, saying, “I’ve never been in one of those.”

1. What do we know about Hoffner?

A．She set a world record in 2022.

B．She loved to meet new challenges in life.

C．She took up skydiving from an early age.

D．She improved her physical fitness through sports.

2. Why does the author mention Hoffner’s red walker in paragraph 3?

A．To show her determination despite physical difficulties.

B．To encourage people struggling in life to be brave.

C．To explore the reason why she took to skydiving.

D．To compare different types of walkers.

3. Which of the following best describes Hoffner?

A．Calm.

B．Thoughtful.

C．Responsible.

D．Courageous.

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

A．Woman Braves Difficulties to Achieve Success

B．104-Year-Old Woman Takes the World by Storm

C．Woman with Disability Stands Out with Hard Work

D．The Oldest Person Breaks World Record for Skydiving

8 . Today was my first day at senior high and it was hard. In high school, you have 4 minutes to get to your next class. My high school is very big and those 4 minutes to go from one class to another really isn’t a lot of time. Today I had to go from one end of the building to the other to get from science class to math class. I wanted to go to my locker first and leave my science book there, but that took time. I was worried about being late, and I was. The math teacher said, “Just be on time tomorrow, or you’ll have detention (放学后留校).”

After math, I went to art class. I like my art class a lot because I get to create things. The teacher there showed us how to make portraits (肖像). He explained, “A portrait is a way of communicating with a person. It does not just show how the person looks but what is important to understand the person.” We just did drawings today, but I know it’s going to be great. I like drawing.

I like my English class, too. I think the teacher is really supportive. Today we wrote about ourselves. The teacher said to just write what you think, and we’ll pay attention to punctuation (标点) later. We could write a paragraph or a poem, and I wrote a poem about myself. I thought it was a good poem, and the teacher said I had used good images (意象) to communicate my feelings.

Lunch was very hurried. I arrived at the dining room with 12 minutes to eat. I sat with people I didn’t know, and everyone was eating quickly. After lunch I signed up for a computer club. I need to learn how to use a computer well because my social studies teacher says it is the one skill you need in every class.

1. What happened to the author after science class?

A．He lost his science textbook.

B．He got lost on the campus.

C．He was late for math class.

D．He was given detention.

2. What did the author think of his art class?

A．Difficult.

B．Enjoyable.

C．Boring.

D．Easy.

3. What did the English teacher do after seeing the author’s work?

A．He praised the author.

B．He pointed out the author’s mistake.

C．He asked the author to check punctuation.

D．He encouraged the author to introduce himself.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Learn useful skills in high school

B．My new teachers in high school

C．Make plans for high school life

D．My first day in high school