1 . It all began on a cold, rainy day．
Sarah, a poor single mother, was
Sarah
A man, who saw the heartwarming
Reflecting on this unbelievable journey, we can
| A．helping | B．continuing | C．struggling | D．seeking |
| A．left behind | B．came across | C．looked for | D．turned to |
| A．clean | B．cheap | C．fancy | D．thin |
| A．followed | B．approached | C．respected | D．caught |
| A．complaining | B．staring | C．suffering | D．surviving |
| A．Attracted | B．Confused | C．Moved | D．Shocked |
| A．connection | B．appreciation | C．duty | D．kindness |
| A．exchange | B．invitation | C．option | D．performance |
| A．story | B．symbol | C．chance | D．hit |
| A．generosity | B．courage | C．curiosity | D．patience |
| A．change | B．support | C．direct | D．educate |
| A．creativity | B．strength | C．significance | D．description |
| A．quick | B．main | C．different | D．extra |
| A．recognize | B．expect | C．remember | D．admit |
| A．regularly | B．obviously | C．eventually | D．slightly |
2 . If humans were truly at home under the light of the moon and stars, we would go in darkness happily, the midnight world as visible to us as it is to the vast number of nocturnal (夜间活动) species on this planet. Instead, we are diurnal creatures, with eyes adapted to living in the sun’s light. This is a basic evolutionary fact, even though most of us don’t think of ourselves as diurnal beings. Yet it’s the only way to explain what we’ve done to the night: We’ve engineered it to receive us by filling it with light.
The benefits of this kind of engineering come with consequences — called light pollution — whose effects scientists are only now beginning to study. Light pollution is largely the result of bad lighting design, which allows artificial light to shine outward and upward into the sky. Ill-designed lighting washes out the darkness of night and completely changes the light levels — and light rhythms — to which many forms of life, including ourselves, have adapted. Wherever human light spills into the natural world, some aspect of life is affected.
In most cities the sky looks as though it has been emptied of stars, leaving behind a vacant haze (霾) that mirrors our fear of the dark. We’ve grown so used to this orange haze that the original glory of an unlit night — dark enough for the planet Venus to throw shadows on Earth — is wholly beyond our experience, beyond memory almost.
We’ve lit up the night as if it were an unoccupied country, when nothing could be further from the truth. Among mammals alone, the number of nocturnal species is astonishing. Light is a powerful biological force, and on many species it acts as a magnet. The effect is so powerful that scientists speak of songbirds and seabirds being “captured” by searchlights on land or by the light from gas flares on marine oil platforms. Migrating at night, birds tend to collide with brightly lit tall buildings.
Frogs living near brightly lit highways suffer nocturnal light levels that are as much as a million times brighter than normal, throwing nearly every aspect of their behavior out of joint, including their nighttime breeding choruses. Humans are no less trapped by light pollution than the frogs. Like most other creatures, we do need darkness. Darkness is as essential to our biological welfare, to our internal clockwork, as light itself.
Living in a glare of our own making, we have cut ourselves off from our evolutionary and cultural heritage — the light of the stars and the rhythms of day and night. In a very real sense, light pollution causes us to lose sight of our true place in the universe, to forget the scale of our being, which is best measured against the dimensions of a deep night with the Milky Way — the edge of our galaxy — arching overhead.
1. According to the passage, human beings .| A．prefer to live in the darkness |
| B．are used to living in the day light |
| C．were curious about the midnight world |
| D．had to stay at home with the light of the moon |
| A．The night. | B．The moon. | C．The sky. | D．The planet. |
| A．provide examples of animal protection. |
| B．show how light pollution affects animals. |
| C．compare the living habits of both species. |
| D．explain why the number of certain species has declined. |
| A．The Magic Light. | B．The Orange Haze. |
| C．The Disappearing Night. | D．The Rhythms of Nature. |
3 . Selecting gifts for your beloved ones can be one of the most difficult parts. But don’t worry! We can help! Here are some gift ideas to suit all pockets.
Air purifierDo you have a loved one who suffers from allergies (过敏) or other skin diseases? Why not gift him or her an air cleaner? Research has shown that air purifiers can help reduce allergy reactions, remove asthma (哮喘) causes such as dust by improving air quality in your home. Look for purifiers with more than one filter and, especially, a high efficiency air filter.
Electric toothbrushOne review of 56 studies has found that a powered toothbrush resulted in a 21 per cent reduction of plaque and an 11 per cent reduction in gingivitis (牙龈炎) after three months, compared with a manual toothbrush. It’s also a fun way for children to look after their dental hygiene.
Dark chocolateNothing screams a gift quite like chocolate. Good news is that dark chocolate is associated with several health benefits. Small amounts of this sweet treat may lower the risk of heart disease, improve brain function and give your immune system a boost, potentially reducing infection.
Your timeQuality time spent with your nearest and dearest is completely free, but is the most precious gift you could give them. If you’ve been too preoccupied of late, determine to put aside more hours to do fun things together, or if you have time to devote to others outside your immediate circle, consider volunteering with Age UK as a friend to an elderly person.
1. Which of the following is suitable for someone with a dental problem?| A．Air purifier. | B．Electric toothbrush. |
| C．Dark chocolate. | D．Your time. |
| A．They belong to tech presents. | B．They are non-physical objects. |
| C．They are intended for the elderly. | D．They help promote healthy living. |
| A．It is priceless. | B．It is worthless. |
| C．It is physical. | D．It is rare. |
4 . As an immigrant from China, my mother loves Chinese culture deeply. She
Why is American Chinese food not
My mother has a deep feeling for authentic Chinese food and restaurants, so I decide to open a restaurant where she and other immigrants can feel the
| A．orders | B．cooks | C．donates | D．receives |
| A．However | B．Therefore | C．Besides | D．Otherwise |
| A．alternatives | B．restrictions | C．meals | D．comments |
| A．unwilling | B．illegal | C．ambitious | D．quick |
| A．agreeable | B．contemporary | C．massive | D．complicated |
| A．complex | B．actual | C．expensive | D．previous |
| A．believe | B．find | C．deny | D．conclude |
| A．deserves | B．helps | C．hates | D．refuses |
| A．make | B．prepare | C．defend | D．distinguish |
| A．process | B．cuisine | C．mood | D．discount |
| A．differently | B．generously | C．abnormally | D．vividly |
| A．build | B．equip | C．accept | D．monitor |
| A．careers | B．platforms | C．ranks | D．tastes |
| A．decrease | B．atmosphere | C．reflection | D．duty |
| A．spied on | B．called on | C．handed down | D．broken down |
5 . How much salt is too much salt? Unfortunately, it’s most likely the amount you’re consuming.
A new study published Monday in the journal JAMA found that cutting one teaspoon of salt a day results in a decline in blood pressure comparable to taking blood pressure medication.
Humans need sodium (钠), which is found in salt, for our bodies to work properly. It plays an important role in nerve and muscle function by allowing nerves to pulse with electricity and muscles to contract. But too much sodium can be bad for our health. It contributes to high blood pressure, or hypertension (高血压)which is a major cause of stroke and heart disease.
One way it does this is by making the body absorb more water. Extra sodium in the blood pulls more water into blood vessels (血管), which increases the amount of blood in the vessels. This increases blood pressure and, in some people, leads to high blood pressure and can damage vessels and even organs like the heart, kidney s and brain.
In this latest study, participants who cut out their daily salt intake by one teaspoon had lower blood pressure in just one week. This was even true for people already on blood pressure medication.
But how much sodium is in one teaspoon of salt? A teaspoon of salt has about 2,300 mg of sodium in it. And according to the FDA, Americans eat an average of 3,400 mg of sodium. So cutting out a teaspoon would be equivalent to cutting two-thirds of a person’s daily sodium intake.
But the researchers say that cutting out any amount of sodium will help lower blood pressure-at least more than no reduction at all.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To describe an interesting fact. | B．To present a confusing question. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the text. | D．To provide background information. |
| A．By causing muscle disorders. | B．By bringing about hypertension. |
| C．By directly damaging our organs. | D．By absorbing the water in blood vessels. |
| A．Equal. | B．Relevant. | C．Beneficial. | D．Important. |
| A．The Recommendation on the Intake of Salt |
| B．The Less Sodium We Have, the Better We Are |
| C．Cutting One Teaspoon of Salt May Improve Health |
| D．The Relationship Between Salt and Blood Pressure |
6 . For most of December, Adele Adkins had the top-selling album in Australia, followed by Ed Sheeran, and then there was a collection of songs that took everyone by surprise.
Songs Of Disappearance is a collection of calls from endangered Australian birds. Last month, it briefly reached No.3 on the country’s top 50 albums chart (排行榜) — ahead of Taylor Swift.
Anthony Albrecht, a PhD student at Charles Darwin University, produced the album with Professor Stephen Garnett. “I knew it was a crazy thing to suggest. But Stephen’s a little bit crazy like me and he let me do it,” Albrecht said.
Songs Of Disappearance was published with a university report which found that 1 in 6 Australian bird species are now threatened. The album records 53 of those species.
“Some sing what you might think of as bird songs, but not all of them,” said SeanDooley, who represents the conservation organization Bird life Australia. “Songs from the golden bowerbird sound like a death cry from some sci-fi series. And the love songs from Christmas Island frigate bird, which has a piece of skin hanging under its mouth that caninflate (膨胀) like a huge red balloon, sound as bizarre as its unusual looks.”
There’s also the Christmas Island pigeon. When people hear that pigeon, they might think that it’s a human making silly noises, Dooley added.
The Charles Darwin University and Bird life Australia report does document successes in protecting endangered birds, the hope being that the album will protect more species.
“The increased awareness can make a difference,” Dooley said. “When we have a community on board, that brings pressure to the government to do the right thing. We know that these conservation actions do work.”
1. Whose album reached No.1 on the chart in December?| A．Taylor Swift’s. |
| B．Adele Adkins’. |
| C．Ed Sheeran’s. |
| D．Anthony Albrecht’s. |
| A．About 53 bird species are threatened in Australia. |
| B．It has not found success in protecting endangered birds. |
| C．One sixth of Australian bird species are now endangered. |
| D．Music is very powerful in encouraging people to protect birds. |
| A．Strange. |
| B．Beautiful. |
| C．Loud. |
| D．Sharp. |
| A．Crazy. |
| B．Amusing. |
| C．Uncreative. |
| D．Helpful. |
7 . Dressed in a kachhad, a traditional Nepalese clothes, Umesh Balal walked into his meetings at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) on climate change in Dubai with a sense of determination.
Balal, who has physical disability, was there to publicly
As a student, Balal was
The more Balal
And it is even harder for people with
In an interview, Balal said, “
| A．control | B．achieve | C．measure | D．support |
| A．studied | B．ignored | C．respected | D．issued |
| A．curious | B．anxious | C．particular | D．worried |
| A．sold | B．lent | C．awarded | D．introduced |
| A．brought | B．complained | C．knew | D．quarreled |
| A．prepared | B．affected | C．organized | D．admitted |
| A．limited | B．changed | C．devoted | D．helped |
| A．coping with | B．resulting from | C．differing from | D．comparing with |
| A．warmer | B．cleaner | C．quieter | D．poorer |
| A．confidence | B．crisis | C．calmness | D．honesty |
| A．rights | B．degrees | C．advertisements | D．disabilities |
| A．access | B．objection | C．attention | D．gratitude |
| A．Similarly | B．Secretly | C．Fortunately | D．Naturally |
| A．allowed | B．forced | C．warned | D．ordered |
| A．occupy | B．blame | C．want | D．cheer |
8 . As a student,I heard the line “graduate school is stressful” so many times that it began to bear no meaning.
Sure,there were campus resources that encouraged healthy behaviors,including deep thought,and the benefits of self-care,but self-care sounded expensive and time-consuming to me;I had work to do.And I was not a fan of deep thought:The thought of sitting still for 30 minutes only caused me greater stress.But one thing I couldn’t stay away from was walking my dog.
Tessa is a six-year-old lovely coonhound that I got as a gift to myself,for completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.I first saw Tessa as a thin and little dog in a photo on the Internet.She was found,huddled up with her friends,in a deserted house in Alabama.
Because of Tessa,I took frequent walking breaks while studying for a master’s degree in public health at Yale University in New Haven,Connecticut.I discovered the best corners and crannies on campus,including the sloping grass land behind the school,filled with squirrels and sticks — a safe place for dogs.I found a tree accidentally with a swing,overlooking the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History,which offered the best sunset view in town.On our daily walks,I found calm in the woods and quiet in the early mornings enveloping the city streets.
Now,as I work from home,Tessa continues to help me deal with a lonely existence.Just like in graduate school,she demands that I stop working,however briefly,and accompany her on a walk.These forced breaks throughout the day take me away from my computer and help me to stay active,greet my neighbors and come back to work refreshed.And although I certainly haven’t escaped from stress,and I am still trying to find my footing in research,I will continue to make time for walks every day.I recommend it very much.
1. How did the author feel about deep thought?| A．Anxious. | B．Time-consuming. | C．Disordered. | D．Encouraged. |
| A．Lovely. | B．Gifted. | C．Poor. | D．Courageous. |
| A．Tessa likes walking very much. |
| B．The Yale University is very beautiful. |
| C．The author likes both the city and the university. |
| D．Tessa is helpful for the author to get through graduate school happily. |
| A．The author often feels lonely at home. |
| B．The author works hard but exercises less. |
| C．Both the author and the neighbors like Tessa. |
| D．Walking with Tessa benefits the author much. |
9 . Following MidAutumn Festival dinner, my family was relaxing around the kitchen table. We were discussing the delicious meal we had just had. Dad had risen from his chair and was standing nearby.
My nephew began playing with his new basketball around the table. Upon nearing Dad, he stopped. With shaking, wrinkled hands, Dad had reached out for the ball. He did not speak, and the boy looked at us in confusion. After a few seconds, he carefully passed the ball to Dad. I watched my father closely to see what he would do. A playful smile appeared on his face. Holding the ball and reaching forward, Dad bounced it on the floor and then caught it.
This action was repeated. Smiling with satisfaction, he then turned towards us. Gently tossing (投掷) the ball away, Dad began a game of catch.
The ball continued to be passed through pairs of outstretched hands. Cries of “Over here!” rang through the warm kitchen. Dad’s active participation in this game was remarkable to me, since he had dementia (痴呆). This disease had robbed him of many memories and the recognition of people, places and points in time. Despite this, Dad clearly recognized the ball and what he could do with it.
In my younger years, playing with Dad was rare. He worked hard and provided for us, but never showed nor shared much emotion. His favorite game was chess, which he once taught me how to play. But after his illness, connecting moments between father and son had been few before he took the basketball.
I’m not sure how long we played the game. Watching the clock was not important. Dad happily led us until he began to tire.I know that moment will certainly last forever. This Mid Autumn Festival, Dad gave me a special memory—one that I will always treasure.
1. The method the writer uses to develop the second paragraph is .| A．offering analyses | B．providing details |
| C．giving examples | D．making comparisons |
| A．it was the first time he had taken part in such a game |
| B．he was able to recognize his family members clearly |
| C．he could have a rest and relax by playing the ball game |
| D．he could recognize the ball and react accordingly, despite his illness |
| A．His sickness made it difficult for him to recognize people. |
| B．When the author was young, he spent a lot of time playing with him. |
| C．He taught the author how to play basketball and the game of catch. |
| D．He worked hard and liked to share his feelings with his family. |
| A．A Son’s Love |
| B．A Father’s Smiles |
| C．The Happiness of a Sick Father |
| D．Unforgettable Memories at MidAutumn Festival |
10 . I was eleven years old standing outside in just my underwear (内衣) while I saw our house burnt to the ground. A few minutes earlier I had been sound asleep in my bed when a
I stood there
| A．ring | B．fight | C．noise | D．laugh |
| A．farm | B．store | C．house | D．bedroom |
| A．settled | B．jumped | C．searched | D．acted |
| A．snow | B．smoke | C．wind | D．storm |
| A．waking | B．asking | C．encouraging | D．serving |
| A．find | B．do | C．change | D．control |
| A．guessing | B．hiding | C．shaking | D．listening |
| A．angrily | B．carefully | C．calmly | D．helplessly |
| A．wondered | B．explained | C．recorded | D．accepted |
| A．missed | B．lost | C．repaired | D．damaged |
| A．remembered | B．imagined | C．realized | D．ignored |
| A．matter | B．disappear | C．recover | D．remain |
| A．help | B．chance | C．success | D．advice |
| A．training | B．holding | C．dressing | D．washing |
| A．tired | B．careless | C．poor | D．alive |
