1 . Umar Fox searched his whole life to look for the firefighter who saved him and his sister from a house fire in 1978. The search _________ came to an end with a heartfelt reunion.

Umar was 3 when the _________ happened in their house. He and his sister were home for Christmas break. Joseph Gilmore was one of the first people on the _________. He rushed into the fire, risking his own _________, and took the children out. Photojournalist George Rizer happened to photograph the _________.

Umar had always hoped to _________ the man. But the picture taken by Rizer was all he had, which _________ his wish not being realized. Forty-five years later, that picture ended up being _________ thanks to social media. Once Umar _________ Joseph, he and the firefighter had an emotional reunion. Umar’s sister had planned to __________, but she canceled due to illness. Joseph __________ when strong-built Umar walked in, “Oh, man! I wouldn’t want to pick you up now.”

Umar said that he and his sister “wouldn’t be __________” if it weren’t for Joseph. He went on to __________ that his act “brought more into the world”. Umar is __________ to be a father of five. His sister also “has great kids” who are “all grown up and doing big things”.

As for Joseph, he considered he was __________ doing something he did every day for 38 years.

1.

A．finally

B．normally

C．really

D．easily

2.

A．change

B．action

C．accident

D．adventure

3.

A．scene

B．floor

C．surface

D．ground

4.

A．speed

B．power

C．distance

D．safety

5.

A．injury

B．rescue

C．loss

D．task

6.

A．interview

B．meet

C．assist

D．join

7.

A．related to

B．dealt with

C．resulted in

D．applied for

8.

A．relaxing

B．satisfying

C．similar

D．enough

9.

A．visited

B．found

C．accompanied

D．urged

10.

A．attend

B．organize

C．sponsor

D．chair

11.

A．listened

B．cared

C．joked

D．worried

12.

A．special

B．retired

C．alive

D．delightful

13.

A．explain

B．compare

C．believe

D．agree

14.

A．brave

B．proud

C．suitable

D．willing

15.

A．roughly

B．curiously

C．hopefully

D．simply

2 . I didn’t go to Santiago, Chile to look for friendship. In fact, Chile was not even on my wish list.

A mid-life crisis woman, I got a chance to study abroad. I only wanted to learn about global business, taste South American cuisine, and check “study abroad” off my wish list.

On the fifth day, I joined a group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty (扶贫) organization. Our tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. Upon arrival, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a horrible film. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such terrible living conditions. As advised, I showed no signs of the motional battle going on inside me.

Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help Nadia, a local resident who volunteered to cook for us. I raised my hand to help because I wanted spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.

Nadia had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. Even without speaking each other’s language we started to learn about one another. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, shared picture of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate in the other’s language, and laugh many times.

After we fed everybody and the dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness heart I would encounter, and it was moving.

As we were waiting for the car to pick us up, Nadia showed me her plants that are well-maintains. I could see that despite the hard conditions she was passionate about life. She made me long to be stronger person. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.

1. What was the author’s initial purpose of going to Chile?

A．To find new friends while traveling.	B．To participate in an anti-poverty project.
C．To fulfill the desire to study abroad.	D．To gain a graduate certificate in business.

2. What did the author do after seeing the living conditions in the neighborhood?

A．She decided to relieve the poverty.	B．She kept her emotions well hidden.
C．She comforted the shocked volunteers.	D．She refused to continue the present task.

3. Why did the author volunteer to work with Nadia?

A．She felt very sympathetic toward Nadia.

B．She longed to interact with the local residents.

C．She wanted to improve her Spanish speaking skills.

D．She preferred cooking to painting the community center.

4. What did the author learn from Nadia?

A．True friends are never apart in heart.

B．Happiness is defined by a positive attitude.

C．Language is not a barrier to great connections.

D．Unselfishness is putting others before ourselves.

3 . Given that cancer is one of the deadliest diseases out there, any new development in our fight against it is highly praiseworthy. The latest breakthrough was made by Heman Bekele in 2023, a 14-year-old student from Virginia. The student has created a bar soap to treat skin cancer. Now, his findings have earned him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.

Bekele remembers he always saw people who were constantly hit by the glaring sun as a child. As he grew up and began to realize the risks like skin cancer were associated with sun exposure, the boy decided to come up with solutions.

While similar treatments are available, Bekele hoped to work on a more affordable alternative, especially for those in developing countries. “I wanted to make my idea something that not only was great in terms of science but also could benefit as many people as possible,” Bekele says. It is often the simple solutions that are the most effective because soap is a daily routine for most people.

With the guidance of Deborah Isabelle, a product engineering specialist, Bekele made his soap by mixing regular soap with compounds (化合物) that slowly reactivate dendritic (枝状的) cells. When the soap is applied, it releases toll-like receptors into our skin. These receptors attach onto dendritic cells which reactivate them. The reactivated dendritic cells then join with TN io12 cells to fight cancer cells. Rather than a cure, Bekele’s soap aims to help people’s immune cells stay active while fighting skin cancer.

For now, the young scientist hopes to improve his invention and create a non-profit to distribute the soap among those who need it most. “I believe that young minds can make a positive impact on the world,” Bekele said. “I have a strong desire to know how the physical world works and how to improve the lives of its inhabitants, and this challenge gives me the perfect platform to showcase my ideas.”

1. Why is Bekele’s childhood experience mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．To show his genius for scientific creation.

B．To express people’s eagerness for his soap.

C．To explain his motivation to create the soap.

D．To remind people of their similar memories.

2. What does Bekele expect about his soap?

A．It can be admirable for the design.

B．It can be available to more people.

C．It will be effective in curing any cancer.

D．It will be pioneering in terms of science.

3. What is paragraph 4 centered on?

A．The treatment principle of the soap.

B．The damage caused by skin cancer.

C．The prevention measures of skin cancer.

D．The professional evaluation of the soap.

4. Which of the following can best describe Bekele?

A．Creative and loyal.	B．Ambitious and plain.
C．Curious and adaptable.	D．Sympathetic and curious.

4 . Keeping plants at home is a healthy and comfortable way of life. The following houseplants can create a most beautiful piece of green for your home.

Bird’s Nest Fern (蕨)

The bird’s nest fern is a good choice for anyone with a house that wouldn’t support sun-loving species. It’s a hardy fern variety adapting to living on forest floors, where the air tends to be cool and damp. It likes to be misted as well, but this doesn’t always mean you need a misting bottle—spraying (喷洒) it in the sink or hanging it near a shower often works as well.

Chinese Money Plant

This is a flowering species that might be most appropriate for experienced plant gardeners looking for a new challenge. It prefers a moderate amount of indirect light, and tends to dry out slightly between watering sessions. It produces new plants easily without any input, directly from its root system. These can coexist in the same pot for a time.

Resurrection Plant

This native of the Mexican desert has adapted to surviving in extreme drought by curling (蜷缩) into a ball and remaining in seemingly lifeless state for years, if necessary. In this form, it can be transported by the wind across the dry landscape to areas with water. It will revive within hours in a shallow bowl of water, unfolding and transforming into a fresh and green moss (苔藓).

Snake Plant

This is a striking houseplant that can be an especially good option for new plant owners who you might not trust to keep a plant alive. It grows happily in almost any condition. While it prefers bright light, it doesn’t mind shade or even artificial light. Plus, thanks to its thick, fleshy leaves, it stores water with remarkable efficiency, which makes it survive without water in the earth.

1. What is special about the bird’s nest fern?

A．It prefers shade.	B．It is sun-loving.
C．It tends to grow in the sink.	D．It can return to life after death.

2. Which plant will test its owner’s gardening skill most?

A．Bird’s nest fern.	B．Chinese money plant.
C．Resurrection plant.	D．Snake plant.

3. What do resurrection plant and snake plant have in common?

A．They demand attentive owners.	B．They are very drought-tolerant.
C．They will curl for self-protection.	D．They can store water for drought.

5 . Last year, my younger brother Darrin tore the old engine out of his Dodge Challenger. Then he ________ it piece by piece, and put it back together again all by himself. He was 16. All he ________ was a Chilton’s shop manual (使用手册) for the car, his own curiosity, and a strong desire to ________ how things worked.

Later, I asked him about this ________ and how he made it. His answer was ________ — he just did it. He wanted a new car and couldn’t afford to buy another one, so this was really his only ________. He had nothing to lose and was highly ________ to make the engine work. He ________ with it, paid close attention to how he took it apart, made a lot of mistakes, and reached points where he wasn’t ________ what to do next. When that happened, he asked a friend or a friend’s dad for ________, tried this and tried that, until he finished the work. To me it was a (n) ________ achievement.

Our ________ to do hard things increases when we try doing those hard things. It is ________ limited by our own will and imagination. We learn by trying, by making mistakes, and by ________ help from those who know more sometimes just a little more-than we do.

Never ________ trying new things. The more one does, the more one can do.

1.

A．discovered

B．rebuilt

C．donated

D．reserved

2.

A．detected

B．preferred

C．occupied

D．had

3.

A．figure out

B．give away

C．bring up

D．rule out

4.

A．property

B．campaign

C．guide

D．project

5.

A．correct

B．serious

C．simple

D．funny

6.

A．luck

B．option

C．requirement

D．relaxation

7.

A．expected

B．forced

C．convinced

D．motivated

8.

A．communicated

B．competed

C．experimented

D．disagreed

9.

A．sure

B．afraid

C．curious

D．satisfied

10.

A．permission

B．courage

C．advice

D．reward

11.

A．amazing

B．common

C．confusing

D．strange

12.

A．anxiety

B．capacity

C．income

D．impatience

13.

A．rarely

B．necessarily

C．originally

D．mostly

14.

A．seeking

B．offering

C．affording

D．avoiding

15.

A．admit

B．stop

C．fancy

D．keep

7 . When Sourabh Jain first became a father to his daughter, he struggled with bonding with her in the beginning. That’s when he realized that games and books are interactive and provide an opportunity to spend hours with her. Thus he began the hunt for games and toys that not only helped him bond with his daughter but also contributed to her cognitive (认知的) development.

During this search, he realized that not only are these toys and games hard to find, but they can also burn a hole in one’s pocket. Another realization was that there is always some amount of plastic in the toys and it is harmful to the environment and the little ones.

While he expected to give his daughter the world, he also wanted to leave behind a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for her. Today, he owns The EleFant—a toy rental company, or in Sourabh’s words, “a labor of love”.

Currently, the company has a customer base of more than 250 subscribers with over 2,000 downloads of the application per day. They also have collaborations with 70 toy companies where they source their toys.

Among these 250 subscribers is Rahul Bhauwala who rents toys for his 6-year-old son. “I am a working professional and I hardly get any time to go out and spend hours looking for and buying toys. I could use that precious time to play with my child instead. This is why I love using The EleFant app. They have a wide range of toys which are categorized by age group. The products are very well-packaged and my son loved opening them as it looked like a present to him,” he says.

As for the future, Sourabh says, “Our intention was not to make it an expensive and exclusive service (专属服务). Instead, we aimed to provide an opportunity for everyone to give their children everything in a sustainable manner. The value is kept in this way, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility for all.”

1. What did Sourabh find when searching for toys for his daughter?

A．Pockets often get damaged by toys.	B．Eco-friendly toys are hard to find.
C．Toys could bond him with his daughter.	D．Toys do good to cognitive development.

2. What aspect of The EleFant attracted Rahul Bhauwala most?

A．Its convenience.	B．Its delivery service.
C．Its popularity.	D．Its cheap rental price.

3. What will Sourabh focus on?

A．Producing more toys.	B．Expanding his company.
C．Making his service more accessible.	D．Donating toys to poor families.

4. Which words best describe Sourabh?

A．Successful and humorous.	B．Generous and modest.
C．Talented and creative.	D．Responsible and business-minded.

8 . Supermarkets, conservationists and farming groups have shown their concerns about pollution of the Wye, one of the UK’s longest rivers. “The pollution pressures upon the Wye are unacceptable and there was strong enthusiasm for cooperative action to resolve the problem.” said Craig Bennett, head of the Wildlife Trusts.

The pollution referred largely to runoff of the nutrient-rich waste matter produced by the 20 million-plus chickens near the river.

Bennett said: “We discussed how, if the Wye were a school or a hospital, we would be calling for it to be placed into ‘special measures’. We agreed the same level of urgency must be applied.”

Increasing concern led the local government to hold a discussion in May, when they promised to publish a plan for the Wye by the autumn. However, the local government’s push on the river was marred in June when the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a Wye video showing sea otters (海獺) rather than the river’s local European otters. The pollution of the Wye was not mentioned at all.

In July Bennett hosted a Wye round table in Powys, Wales, bringing together local groups, the Environment Agency, the chicken produce Avara Foodsr, regional branches of the National Farmers Union and local authorities. They agreed on a plan that included cutting the nutrient pollution “through a reduction in animal numbers” and other measures.

Bennett also wrote to Julie James, the Welsh Climate Change Minister, who said, “I share your concern for the health of the River Wye and other Welsh rivers.”

A supermarket chain said they are committed to protecting the river and engaging with their chicken suppliers to tackle water pollution. They have detailed management plans to make sure their suppliers are farming with care for the environment. A government spokesman said: “We are offering a wide range of support to farmers to speed up their transition to more sustainable practices and help protect this important site.”

1. Why does Bennett compare the Wye with a school or a hospital?

A．To call for urgent measures.	B．To stress the impacts of the river.
C．To show the importance of the river.	D．To urge people to protect the environment.

2. What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “marred” in Paragraph 4?

A．Destroyed.

B．Boosted

C．Perfected.

D．Emphasized.

3. What is agreed on at the round table?

A．Making a careful plan.	B．Reducing animal numbers.
C．Arousing people’s awareness.	D．Asking the government for money.

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

A．Sea Otters Are under Attack for Possible Pollution

B．Cooperated Efforts Are Made to Protect the Wye

C．People Are Having More Environmental Awareness

D．More Measures Should Be Taken to Prevent Air Pollution

9 . NIH Summer Internship (实习生) Program in Biomedical Research (SIP)

This program is to provide a developmental training experience for promising high school students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences.

Applicants must be:

* 17 years of age or older

* high school seniors at the time of application

* able to pass the Federal background check

* within 40 miles of the NIH campus on which they will intern if they are 17 years of age (this requirement does not apply to applicants who are 18 and older)

* having American citizenship or permanent residency

For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required.

Complete your application

You must use the NIH Application Center to apply for this program:

1. After you complete the required sections of your profile, you will be asked to select a preferred program. Choose “Summer internships for high school students”.

2. You must select “Apply” next to “High School Summer Internship Program” for your application to be considered for this program.

3. To complete your application, import any relevant information from your profile.

You must also submit:

* Coursework & Exams—a list of coursework and grades

* CV/Resume (简历)—a list of your education, experience, and other relevant history

* Letter/Statement—a cover letter broadly describing your prior research experience, your current interests and career goals

* References—letters containing the names and contact information of two referees

1. What is the purpose of the program?

A．To provide training chances.	B．To offer teenagers job positions.
C．To inspire students’ interest in science.	D．To select promising high school students.

2. What is a requirement to participates in the program?

A．Having intern experience.	B．Majoring in biomedical science.
C．Living on or near the NIH campus.	D．Being U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

3. What must be included in the submission?

A．Application fee.	B．Reference books.
C．Personal photos.	D．Recommendation letters.

10 . Many parents confused by how their children shop or socialize, would feel undisturbed by how they are taught — this sector remains digitally behind. Can artificial intelligence boost the digital sector of classroom? ChatGPT-like generative AI is generating excitement for providing personalized tutoring to students. By May, New York had let the bot back into classrooms.

Learners are accepting the technology. Two-fifths of undergraduates surveyed last y car by online tutoring company Chegg reported using an AI chatbot to help them with their studies, with half of those using it daily. Chegg’s chief executive told investors it was losing customers to ChatGPT as a result of the technology’s popularity. Yet there are good reasons to believe that education specialists who harness AI will eventually win over generalists such as Open AI and other tech firms eyeing the education business.

For one, AI chat bots have a bad habit of producing nonsense. “Students want content from trusted providers,” argues Kate Edwards from a textbook publisher. Her company hasn’t allowed ChatGPT and other AIs to use its material, but has instead used the content to train its own models into its learning apps. Besides, teaching isn’t merely about giving students an answer, but about presenting it in a way that helps them learn. Charbots must also be tailored to different age groups to avoid either cheating or infantilizing (使婴儿化) students.

Bringing AI to education won’t be easy. Many teachers are behind the learning curve. Less than a fifth of British educators surveyed by Pearson last year reported receiving training on digital learning tools. Tight budgets at many institutions will make selling new technology an uphill battle. Teachers’ attention may need to shift towards motivating students and instructing them on how to best work with AI tools. If those answers can be provided, it’s not just companies that stand to benefit. An influent in l paper from 1984 found that one-to-one tutoring improved the average academic performance of students. With the learning of students, especially those from poorer households, held back, such a development would certainly deserve top marks.

1. What do many parents think remains untouched by AI about their children?

A．Their shopping habits.	B．Their social behavior.
C．Their classroom learning.	D．Their interest in digital devices.

2. What does the underlined word “harness” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Develop.

B．Use.

C．Prohibit.

D．Blame.

3. What mainly prevents AI from entering the classroom at present?

A．Many teachers aren’t prepared technically.

B．Tailored chatbots can’t satisfy different needs.

C．AI has no right to copy textbooks for teaching.

D．It can be tricked to produce nonsense answers.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．An introduction to AI.	B．A product advertisement.
C．A guidebook to AI application.	D．A review of AI in education.