1 . They don’t call Vusi Sindane “the crazy cyclist” for nothing. The software engineer _________ a 3, 000 km bicycle journey in June, all to _________ money for 10, 000 pairs of school shoes for children in need.

When he worked in Limpopo, he saw _________ the poverty faced by _________ kids. “My biggest cause is education, and when I saw barefoot children walking to school in Limpopo, I knew something had to be done,” he says. He _________ with a non-profit organization which supplies school shoes to children in _________ areas.

However, the pandemic _________ his plans to do his cross-country cycle in 2020 and 2021, and a(n)_________ injury last year meant he could only get going in April this year. Prior to his 13 April departure, he _________ his training with six weeks of __________ cycling with his mentor and training partner. But Vusi quickly discovered that nothing could’ve __________ him for what he would encounter and have to __________. “The first day was like a reality __________. Although I’d been planning and considering this for nearly six years, the reality is that there’s __________ on the road, there’s climbing, you must use your body physically, and it’s hot-especially in Limpopo. I was almost __________ by many high mountains. I tried to __________, but the bike isn’t moving. My hands were hurting, and my injured knee was constantly in pain. My muscles __________, and my mind was like, ‘This isn’t worth it’,” he said.

To __________ himself, he began thinking about the people who inspire him. He shared his __________ on social media, many people __________ to him and more encouragement came.

1.

A．completed

B．assigned

C．connected

D．admitted

2.

A．invest

B．borrow

C．raise

D．leave

3.

A．nowhere

B．overnight

C．firsthand

D．overhead

4.

A．disciplined

B．disadvantaged

C．appointed

D．abandoned

5.

A．kept up

B．raced up

C．put up

D．teamed up

6.

A．public

B．rural

C．wide

D．urban

7.

A．ceased

B．followed

C．assisted

D．designed

8.

A．hand

B．head

C．knee

D．arm

9.

A．quitted

B．left

C．drove

D．increased

10.

A．intense

B．subjective

C．responsible

D．logical

11.

A．asked

B．prepared

C．apologized

D．begged

12.

A．generate

B．acknowledge

C．operate

D．tolerate

13.

A．friend

B．gain

C．check

D．luck

14.

A．traffic

B．police

C．attack

D．hope

15.

A．returned

B．presented

C．recognized

D．defeated

16.

A．win

B．cycle

C．stand

D．bend

17.

A．ached

B．interrupted

C．reacted

D．stretched

18.

A．respect

B．test

C．cure

D．motivate

19.

A．exchange

B．struggle

C．confusion

D．benefit

20.

A．set off

B．lived up

C．reached out

D．gave way

2 . Seven-year-old Everett Botwright is a bright, imaginative kid. Like many children on the autism spectrum (自闭症), he also _________ with the smell and taste of many foods. So when the boy showed great interest in Star Wars Kraft Dinner, his parents were _________. “It was amazing,” father Reed Botwright says. “My wife cried. She hadn’t seen him _________ in, not to mention addicted to a new _________ in a long time.”

There was only one _________ . After buying all the _________ they could find in their hometown of Nanaimo, B. C., the family _________ needed more. In February, Botwright _________ a request on Facebook, asking for _________ tracking down the limited-edition pasta.

The __________ went viral. Thousands shared Botwright’s post on __________ media, including Star Trek legend William Shatner. Star Wars Kraft Dinner __________ from across North America. “People have reached out and many thanked us for __________ our struggle,” Botwright says.

Kraft Heinz Canada donated $10,000 to autism charities, __________ 144 boxes to the Botwrights and even asked Everett to select the __________ Kraft Dinner shape. On his birthday, March 7, he __________ the Minions (小黄人). Nanaimo’s Real Canadian Superstore donated 411 packages, and a class of Ouebec teens sent a shipment; __________ boxes came from as far away as Florida.

The __________ number: over 800 boxes, and Botwright says, “We’re still counting.” Everett is __________ thank-you cards for every donor, and Botwright says the outpouring has taught his four kids, ages three to eight, a lesson: “There is __________ in the world.”

1.

A．starts

B．deals

C．struggles

D．agrees

2.

A．thrilled

B．annoyed

C．satisfied

D．worried

3.

A．engaged

B．interested

C．disappointed

D．involved

4.

A．food

B．idea

C．book

D．movie

5.

A．goal

B．reason

C．solution

D．problem

6.

A．toys

B．boxes

C．cards

D．packages

7.

A．still

B．obviously

C．actually

D．probably

8.

A．denied

B．received

C．answered

D．issued

9.

A．help

B．treatment

C．advice

D．permission

10.

A．advertisement

B．photo

C．request

D．video

11.

A．local

B．traditional

C．social

D．technical

12.

A．broke in

B．took off

C．came off

D．flooded in

13.

A．sharing

B．broadcasting

C．composing

D．printing

14.

A．sold

B．packed

C．collected

D．delivered

15.

A．next

B．classical

C．regular

D．special

16.

A．bought

B．designed

C．chose

D．released

17.

A．heavy

B．other

C．limited

D．beautiful

18.

A．daily

B．final

C．monthly

D．official

19.

A．paying

B．translating

C．printing

D．signing

20.

A．luck

B．Internet

C．good

D．dream

4 . If seven days of living with noisy dogs seems like a lot, imagine being there for 400. That’s how long a little dog named Queen lived inside a shelter. When Queen was 3 years old, she’d still somehow been _________ time and again during those long months. Then Scott Poore decided to _________.

Scott runs a(n) _________ that creates fundraisers to help animal shelters. Once he heard about how _________ Queen had become from living in the shelter for so long, he decided to do what he could to draw some attention to the _________ dog.

After he met her, he was even more determined to help her find her forever _________. He ended up spending plenty of one-on-one time with her after he publicly _________ into Queen’s kennel (狗窝).

As you can _________, animal shelters are not a great place to get any rest. Scott admitted he barely _________ during his days in the kennel. But all of Scott’s efforts were __________ when a father and son saw a report about Queen and her new roommate and decided to __________ and take her home.

As for why he didn’t __________ Queen himself, he reminded people that his charity came in contact with so many __________ animals every single day. Once Queen had found her people, this dog __________ moved on to find the next animal that __________ needs him.

“What helps me get through the emotional __________ of my work is I move very quickly to the next animal that needs my help,” he explained.

We’re so __________ to people like Scott Poore for __________ those without voices. Being willing to give up your own __________ for an animal’s happiness is the ultimate good __________. Thank you, Scott!

1.

A．cared

B．ignored

C．visited

D．admired

2.

A．help

B．quit

C．leave

D．wait

3.

A．shelter

B．hospital

C．zoo

D．organization

4.

A．fierce

B．depressed

C．noisy

D．old

5.

A．brave

B．scared

C．unfortunate

D．disabled

6.

A．partner

B．friendship

C．home

D．memory

7.

A．moved

B．broke

C．transformed

D．looked

8.

A．tell

B．describe

C．imagine

D．see

9.

A．changed

B．slept

C．engaged

D．declined

10.

A．witnessed

B．recorded

C．reported

D．rewarded

11.

A．give up

B．step up

C．come back

D．hold on

12.

A．protect

B．fetch

C．train

D．adopt

13.

A．poor

B．energetic

C．rare

D．unusual

14.

A．owner

B．expert

C．follower

D．advocate

15.

A．desperately

B．continuously

C．initially

D．gradually

16.

A．injury

B．hunger

C．side

D．burden

17.

A．familiar

B．devoted

C．grateful

D．friendly

18.

A．apologizing to

B．cheering up

C．listening to

D．speaking for

19.

A．dream

B．comfort

C．career

D．hobby

20.

A．deed

B．goal

C．cure

D．choice

5 . Once upon a time, the villagers in a small village lived their poor lives. Very few people could read _________ one girl named Hannah. She loved to explore and would spend hours in the woods away from the village, looking for new things.

One afternoon, when Hannah was on one of her adventurous _________, she came upon a (n) _________ cottage. The cottage looked very old in its condition. She _________ opened it and she was left amazed. In front of Hannah was a room full of _________! She realized that she found a hidden _________, which could satisfy her love of reading.

She _________ the books for many days. They were very _________, filled with different stories. The little girl was so _________ by one of the characters from books who strove for good that she determined to learn from him. She learned that the true __________ of good lies within one’s own heart and makes people change! With the __________ in heart, she decided to share the stories with the villagers.

Making this her mission, Hannah started telling stories every day at the __________. At the start, only very few villagers came for the stories. But she didn’t __________ and the word of her telling stories spread rapidly, causing more and more __________ to come. Soon, the word of Hannah’s __________ spread to far-off towns. People traveled from different places to just listen to her stories. The villagers helped her rebuild the cottage for __________ more people to enjoy the stories.

She later __________ workshops there in which she taught her fellows how to read. Hannah was their mentor (导师) and everyone __________ her.

Hannah continued her __________ throughout her life. She was __________ for the good she did even after she was long gone.

1.

A．along with

B．except for

C．as long as

D．instead of

2.

A．tasks

B．attempts

C．explorations

D．experiments

3.

A．lost

B．shiny

C．splendid

D．abandoned

4.

A．curiously

B．anxiously

C．hurriedly

D．carelessly

5.

A．books

B．weapons

C．money

D．gold

6.

A．puzzle

B．treasure

C．measure

D．condition

7.

A．owned

B．brought

C．enjoyed

D．borrowed

8.

A．strange

B．common

C．boring

D．interesting

9.

A．confused

B．inspired

C．thrilled

D．misguided

10.

A．fuel

B．face

C．power

D．encouragement

11.

A．good

B．glory

C．knowledge

D．responsibility

12.

A．town

B．room

C．shelter

D．cottage

13.

A．give up

B．take off

C．calm down

D．move on

14.

A．writers

B．kids

C．students

D．villagers

15.

A．tale

B．storytelling

C．reading

D．legend

16.

A．forcing

B．seating

C．providing

D．begging

17.

A．conducted

B．attended

C．repaired

D．established

18.

A．knew

B．invited

C．admired

D．accepted

19.

A．plan

B．hobby

C．career

D．mission

20.

A．replaced

B．renewed

C．remembered

D．reconsidered

6 . Few people realize it, but glaciers (冰川) are full of tiny air bubbles (气泡). They form as snow, accumulating over thousands of years, slowly packs into ice under its own weight — squishing the air that was trapped between snowflakes into tiny holes. Erin Pettit, a scientist, and her colleagues had suspected that bubbles could be important. To test this idea, they undertook a series of laboratory experiments.

They find that as the ice melted, the resulting fresh water rose, because it was less dense than the surrounding sea water. This created a rising current along the vertical face of the ice — a proof of what occurs at the front of a real tidewater glacier. When the glacial ice melted, the current that it produced was six times faster than what was seen with the bubble-free ice because the rising bubbles pulled the water up more quickly. The glacial ice melted 2.25 times more quickly than the bubble-free ice. “That’s a very powerful effect. If that’s the reality in nature, then it’s quite serious.”

The newly discovered bubble effect could explain some of that extra melting, says Mathieu Morlighem, a scientist. “It’s improving our understanding, but it’s not painting a darker picture of what’s happening today,” he says.

Pettit notes that in Alaska, many bays with tidewater glaciers have large populations of harbor seals. The animals shelter there while molting and raising babies. But in Glacier Bay, where the tidewater glaciers retreated (后退) many miles inland, the seal populations have declined. Pettit now suspects that the roaring rhythm of exploding bubbles provides a hiding place where seals can avoid detection by killer whale, which often find their victim by listening. The bubbles may mask the seals’ sounds — at least until the ice retreats out of hearing. This may turn out to be yet another way in which these tiny bubbles have surprisingly large-scale effects.

1. What does the underlined word “squishing” in paragraph I mean?

A．Absorbing.

B．Pressing.

C．Adding.

D．Reducing.

2. What did Pettit and her colleagues find about the bubbles?

A．They produce a warm current of water.

B．They result in releasing more fresh water.

C．They have formed for thousands of years slowly.

D．They cause the ice in glaciers to melt more quickly.

3. What is Mathieu’s attitude towards the discovery?

A．Doubtful.

B．Favorable.

C．Disapproving.

D．Cautious.

4. What effect does the last paragraph reflect?

A．The frog effect.	B．The bucket effect.
C．The butterfly effect.	D．The broken windows effect.

7 . 18-year-old Lilly Baker was driving when an elderly woman in a wheelchair caught her eye. The woman was ________ to cross a train track but got stuck. Without ________, Lilly stopped to rescue her. Little did she ________, however, that doing so would ________ a narrow escape for them both.

With all of her ________, Lilly tried to pull the elderly woman to safety, but she faced difficulties. ________, in their attempt for freedom, they ended up ________ twice. Still, Lilly remained ________. She got an added rush of this determination when she saw a train coming right at them.

“He was honking (按喇叭) wildly and the lights started ________,” Lilly recalled. Soon after, Lilly managed to pull her and the woman out of the ________ way. Had they been much closer to the train, neither of them would have ________ it. “It’s a near-death ________,” Lilly said. “The railroad company told me that I was 18 inches away from getting ________.”

Ardmore Police Chief Jereme Robison was sent to the ________ to help. Despite his experience, he was ________ by the risky rescue. He took this moment to stress the fact that anyone can be a hero, no matter who they are. “________ comes in all shapes and sizes,” Jereme said. “You don’t have to be a 6’5 guy that’s ________ to get out and do something.”

The elderly woman has major leg injuries but, ________, she’s in the hospital and is expected to be okay ________. As for Lilly, she said she couldn’t be more grateful for the ________ to help someone.

1.

A．pausing

B．choosing

C．attempting

D．promising

2.

A．hesitating

B．doubting

C．agreeing

D．hurrying

3.

A．admit

B．know

C．show

D．approve

4.

A．cheer for

B．learn from

C．lead to

D．look into

5.

A．weight

B．attention

C．height

D．strength

6.

A．In brief

B．In return

C．In turn

D．In fact

7.

A．backing

B．jumping

C．falling

D．escaping

8.

A．insistent

B．concerned

C．energetic

D．satisfied

9.

A．trembling

B．flashing

C．moving

D．withdrawing

10.

A．dangerous

B．wide

C．winding

D．strange

11.

A．confirmed

B．made

C．received

D．missed

12.

A．permission

B．example

C．independence

D．experience

13.

A．stuck

B．delayed

C．hit

D．lost

14.

A．scene

B．border

C．harbor

D．station

15.

A．puzzled

B．inspired

C．amused

D．shocked

16.

A．happiness

B．bravery

C．relief

D．pride

17.

A．well-organized

B．strong-built

C．ever-changing

D．self-centred

18.

A．thankfully

B．curiously

C．hopefully

D．carefully

19.

A．again

B．too

C．soon

D．only

20.

A．guidance

B．trust

C．option

D．chance

8 . As an insurance(保险)agent, I have to visit clients(客户)at their homes. I had a(n) ______ client named Ms. Gooden. She is a sweet lady and always does her best to keep me at her home as long as she can. One day, she told me that her children lived far away from her and she felt ______. As I was leaving, she ______ the flowers she wished she had in her yard. She said that when she was a child the ______ flowers she could remember seeing were the ones ______ on the large flour sacks (面粉袋). I asked her, “If you had flowers what ______ would you have?” She answered me back that any color would be ______ to her.

One day when I knew she had a(n) ______ with her doctor, I went to a flower shop and bought many colorful flowers. I went to her home and ______ them in an area of the yard ______ when she looked out of the window, she would ______ different kinds of beautiful flowers.

The next time I visited her home, she asked if I knew anything about the ______. I told her no and we both smiled ______ at each other. While I was sitting there she began to tell me about all of the butterflies and bees that came to ______ her garden. She continued to talk about her ______ “friends” in her life.

As I was about to leave I ______ she was watching over her garden and its visitors ______. She didn’t even try to keep me from ______. I realized at that moment that Ms. Gooden had been suffering from what a lot of elderly people suffer from — ______. The few dollars spent on the flowers were well worth the ______ those flowers brought to her face and to my heart.

1.

A．elderly

B．honest

C．embarrassed

D．annoying

2.

A．upset

B．worried

C．helpless

D．lonely

3.

A．forgot

B．mentioned

C．referred

D．watched

4.

A．beautiful

B．expensive

C．only

D．unusual

5.

A．described

B．written

C．stuck

D．pictured

6.

A．price

B．shape

C．size

D．color

7.

A．important

B．favorite

C．suitable

D．special

8.

A．quarrel

B．discussion

C．appointment

D．lesson

9.

A．planted

B．dropped

C．buried

D．hung

10.

A．in fear that

B．so that

C．in case that

D．even though

11.

A．see

B．search

C．touch

D．smell

12.

A．trees

B．lawns

C．gardens

D．flowers

13.

A．mysteriously

B．satisfyingly

C．knowingly

D．unnaturally

14.

A．destroy

B．find

C．visit

D．appreciate

15.

A．new

B．common

C．noisy

D．huge

16.

A．heard

B．noticed

C．told

D．judged

17.

A．carefully

B．quickly

C．unconcernedly

D．peacefully

18.

A．enjoying

B．entering

C．exploring

D．leaving

19.

A．illness

B．loneliness

C．weakness

D．headaches

20.

A．darkness

B．calm

C．joy

D．sadness

9 . In 2017, Barbara and Jean decided to spread the holiday spirit with Christmas gifts. Little did they know that this simple act of _________ would develop into a heartwarming tradition and, _________, the creation of their nonprofit organization, Resident’s Hope.

In their _________ year, they spent around $120 to provide Christmas gifts for 13 individuals at Nurses Helping Hands. The joy and _________ they witnessed inspired them to _________ a more ambitious mission — to bring the _________ of Christmas to as many nursing home residents as possible.

Fast forward to Christmas Day in 2022, and the dynamic two _________ an incredible milestone. Through their nonprofit Resident’s Hope, they had the _________ of serving over 400 individuals across five different nursing home facilities. The _________ growth of their initiative (行动) was a ____________ to their consistent commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those often ____________ during the holiday season.

This heartwarming success ____________ Barbara and Jean to take their mission to the next level. In July 2023, they ____________ founded Resident’s Hope as a nonprofit organization. Their ____________ initiative, the Christmas Giving event, became the driving force behind their cause. “Our organization ____________ to nursing home facilities, shops for personalized gifts, elegantly wraps them with their signature bow, and ensures ____________ delivery so that residents can enjoy Christmas presents,” the founders ____________.

Resident’s Hope has become a ____________ for seniors in nursing homes, offering not just gifts, but a sense of community and connection during the holiday season. The organization’s impact ____________ to grow, and the founders are determined to make each Christmas brighter for those who may otherwise be ____________.

1.

A．kindness

B．bravery

C．wisdom

D．politeness

2.

A．probably

B．ultimately

C．entirely

D．obviously

3.

A．last

B．second

C．next

D．first

4.

A．gratitude

B．curiosity

C．commitment

D．sympathy

5.

A．sum up

B．cut in

C．kick off

D．find out

6.

A．custom

B．celebration

C．routine

D．magic

7.

A．described

B．searched

C．achieved

D．designed

8.

A．habit

B．privilege

C．impression

D．risk

9.

A．sharp

B．past

C．reliable

D．equal

10.

A．way

B．demonstration

C．chance

D．challenge

11.

A．deserted

B．ignored

C．stressed

D．received

12.

A．promised

B．invited

C．pushed

D．forced

13.

A．fortunately

B．casually

C．officially

D．exactly

14.

A．casual

B．temporary

C．spiritual

D．typical

15.

A．moves on

B．passes down

C．reaches out

D．gives in

16.

A．urgent

B．daily

C．direct

D．timely

17.

A．remarked

B．agreed

C．assessed

D．shared

18.

A．need

B．talent

C．hope

D．reason

19.

A．continues

B．stops

C．waits

D．chooses

20.

A．cheered

B．forgotten

C．praised

D．abandoned

10 . Household chores (家务活) may contribute to healthy aging, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Open. Researchers from Singapore found that regular physical activity, including tasks like dusting, scrubbing floors, and washing windows, can improve physical and mental health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and decrease falls, immobility, dependency, and mortality among older adults.

The study involved 249 participants aged 21 to 64 and 240 participants aged 65 to 90. Participants completed cognitive (认知) function tests and physical capability assessments. They were asked about their levels of physical activity, including light housework (such as dusting) and heavy housework (such as floor-scrubbing). The researchers found that older adults who engaged in high amounts of heavy housework had higher cognitive and attention scores compared to those who did low levels or no heavy housework at all. These participants also had lower sit-to-stand times and were at a lower risk of falling. Similarly, older adults who reported high levels of light housework had higher cognitive and memory scores compared to those who did low levels of such tasks.

Dr. Shiou-Liang Wee, co-author of the research, emphasized that health messaging on staying active should not only focus on recreational physical activities. He highlighted that housework is a purposeful activity performed by many older adults and is linked to sharper memory and better fall protection.

However, experts urge caution when interpreting the study’s findings. Professor Gill Livingston from University College London noted that people who are not well may be expected to do less housework, and the study did not establish a causal relationship between housework and health outcomes. Professor Charlie Foster from the University of Bristol highlighted that the study relied on self-reported levels of household chores, which may be inaccurate, and did not fully consider other factors that could influence the results. While the study suggests that household chore may have benefits for older adults’ health, further research is needed to better understand the relationship between housework and healthy aging.

1. How did the researchers measure the participants’ levels of physical activity?

A．By analyzing the participants’ daily routines.

B．By doing household chores with the participants.

C．By carrying out a test on the participants.

D．By listening to the participants’ spoken reports.

2. What can we know about the study?

A．Household chores, heavy or light, do help.

B．The more housework for the elderly, the better.

C．The subjects are of similar age.

D．Light housework improves health better.

3. What do Gill Livingston and Charlie Foster think of the result of the study?

A．Objective.

B．Meaningless.

C．Partial.

D．Successful.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Definite limitation of a study on healthy aging.

B．The introduction to a study on household chores.

C．Housework arguments among different experts.

D．Possible function of household chores for healthy aging.