1 . When reading, my mother likes to slice a paragraph or a sentence out and attach it to the wall of her kitchen. She picks boring sentences that puzzle me. But I prefer copying favorite bright lines into a journal in soft, gray No. 2 pencil, word by word.

She doesn’t know any of this. There's nothing shocking: for our chatting. we seldom begin certain conversations though we talk on the phone weekly, sometimes making each other laugh so hard that I choke and she cries. But what we don't say could fill up rooms. Fights with my father. Small failures in school. Anything that really upsets us.

My mother has never told me “I love you, Lisa.”—as if the four-word absence explains who I am—so I carry it with me, like a label on me. The last time she almost spoke the words was two years ago, when she called to tell me a friend had been in hospital. I said, “I love you, Mom.” She stopped for a while and then said, “Thank you.” I haven't said it since, but I've wondered why my mother doesn't until I've found a poem that supplies words for the blank spaces I try to understand in our conversations:

Don’t fill up on bread. I say absent-mindedly. The servings here are huge.

My son, middle-aged, says: Did you really just say that to me?

What he doesn’t know is that when we’re walking together, I desire to reach for his hand.

It's humble, yet heartbreaking. After copying it down in my journal, I emailed it to mom, adding “This poem makes me think of you.” My mother doesn’t read poetry—or at least, she doesn’t tell me, and I felt nervous clicking “Send”.

She never mentioned the poem. But the next time I went home for vacation, I noticed something new in the kitchen fixed to an antique board: the poem. The board hung above the heater, the warmest spot in the kitchen. The poem still hangs there. Neither my mother nor I have ever spoken about it.

1. What's the function of paragraph 1?

A．To stress the theme.	B．To establish the setting.
C．To represent the characters.	D．To create the atmosphere.

2. Which of the following best describes the mother daughter relationship?

A．Shaky.

B．Distant.

C．Reserved.

D．Intense.

3. Why did the author send the poem to her mom?

A．It reminded her of mom's love.

B．She wanted to apologize to mom.

C．It suited mom's taste of literature.

D．She needed an interpretation from mom.

4. What does the poem mean to mom?

A．A memory of golden days.

B．Daughter’s gratefulness to her.

C．A decoration in the plain kitchen.

D．Daughter's understanding of her.

2 . In southeastern Brazil, local fishers walk into dark waters in search of mullet (鲻鱼) On their own, it would be tricky to find the silvery fish. But the humans get help from an unusual partner: wild bottlenose dolphins.

With nets in hand, the fishers patiently wait as their cetacean (鲸类的) partners drive the fish toward the shore. A signal from the dolphins—usually a deep dive—indicates when they should cast their nets. This fishing partnership has passed down through the generations, lasting for more than a century.

While researchers knew humans profited from this pairing, they couldn't confirm whether it benefited the dolphins. Now, in a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers suggest cetaceans that hunt with humans have more chances to live than those that don't.

“Human-wildlife cooperation in general is a rare phenomenon at a global scale.” says Mauricio Cantor, a biologist at Oregon State University and leader of the study. “Usually humans gain the benefit, and nature pays the cost. But this interaction has been happening for over 150 years.”

Fishers were more successful when they worked with the dolphins. When dolphins were present, the fishers were 17 times more likely to catch prey (猎物) and netted nearly four times more mullet when they timed their casting with the cetaceans' signals. Eighty-six percent of all 4.955 mullet caught during the study period came from “synchronous (同时的) interactions”—when the allies organized their actions perfectly with one another.

The study also revealed dolphins hunting with humans had a 13 percent increase in survival rate over other dolphins. These cooperative dolphins are more likely to stay near the shore, reducing their chance of entanglement (缠绕) in illegal fishing equipment. Besides, the dolphins can take some fish directly from the fishers’ harvest.

1. What do the first two paragraphs talk about concerning Brazilian fishers?

A．They trick dolphins into fishing for them.

B．They harvest more fish with dolphins' help.

C．They have been training dolphins over a century.

D．They cast the fishing nets when dolphins surface.

2. What does Mauricio Cantor's research show?

A．Nature favors human beings at a huge cost.

B．Fishers benefit from cooperating with cetaceans.

C．Human-wildlife interaction is a new global trend.

D．Dolphins working with man have higher survival rate.

3. What does the underlined word “allies” refer to in paragraph 5?

A．Prey.

B．Mullet.

C．Partners.

D．Researchers.

4. What's the author's main purpose in writing the text?

A．To appeal for the protection of sea creatures.

B．To show a unique human-dolphin relationship.

C．To applaud for development in fishing research.

D．To encourage fishers to better draw on dolphins.

3 . Best Places to Visit in England

As the largest part of the United Kingdom, England is home to many great places to visit. The following destinations are some of the best.

London

Of course, most visitors to England will arrive in London. It’s home to a long list of famous sights as well as beautiful green spaces. It also houses some of the best museums on the planet, many of which are free. See the city from above by riding the London Eye or run into famous people at Madame Tussauds (杜莎夫人蜡像馆).

Liverpool

Liverpool is well known as the place that started The Beatles, though you’ll find a lot more to do there than visit The Beatles Museum. Spend time in the pubs chatting with the locals, go shopping at Liverpool One and enjoy the beaches. Art lovers will enjoy Liverpool’s excellent art sight.

Bath

Some people say Bath is England’s most beautiful small city, named for its natural hot springs that served as ancient Roman baths (浴缸) 2,000 years ago. And, today, it’s the only place in the United Kingdom where you can bathe in naturally hot, mineral-rich waters just like the Romans did long ago. Enjoy rooftop baths with wonderful views over this Georgian city, dine in award-winning restaurants and stay in romantic hotels.

Dover

Dover, located in White Cliffs Country, offers a rich history as well as peaceful countryside and a breathtaking coastline. This area has a unique place in history. You could easily spend weeks experiencing this area’s castles, like Dover Castle as well as the Secret War Time Tunnels, once used as an underground hospital.

1. What can visitors do in London?

A．Have a bath in naturally hot water.

B．Visit The Beatles Museum for free.

C．Enjoy the city’s view from the London Eye.

D．Learn about its music at Madame Tussauds.

2. Which place is well known for natural hot springs?

A．London.

B．Liverpool.

C．Bath.

D．Dover.

3. What can we know about the Secret War Time Tunnels?

A．It is in Liverpool.

B．It is a 2,000-year-old art sight.

C．It looks like Dover Castle.

D．It was an underground hospital before.

4 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.

Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).

Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.

Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Life is full of ups and downs.

B．People are at the mercy of changes.

C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction.

D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties.

2. What is Nicole’s original career commitment?

A．To conduct her duty well and better the society.

B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs.

C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time.

D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones.

3. Why did Nicole leave her police post?

A．Because of the arrangement of the office.	B．Because of the injury she got at work.
C．Because of the change of interest.	D．Because of the danger of the job.

4. What brought Nicole to her new career?

A．The appeal of the people in sorrow.	B．The push of getting a new job to survive.
C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones.	D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family.

5 . Every 40 days a language dies. This “catastrophic” loss is being intensified by the climate crisis; according to linguists. If nothing is done, conservative estimates suggest that half of all the 7000 languages currently spoken will be extinct by the end of the century.

Speakers of minority languages have experienced a long history of persecution (迫害) , with the result that by the 1920s half of all indigenous (土著的) languages in Australia, the US, South Africa and Argentina were extinct. The climate crisis is now considered the “final nail in the coffin” for many indigenous languages and the knowledge they represent.

“Languages are already endangered,” says Anastasia Richl, director of the Strathy language unit at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Huge factors are globalization and migration, as communities move to regions where their language is not spoken or valued, according to Richl. “It seems particularly cruel,” she says, “that most of the world’s languages are in parts of the world that are growing unpleasant to people.” Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation measuring 12,189km², has 110 languages, the highest density (密度) of languages on the planet. It is also one of the countries most at risk of sea level rise, she says. “Many small language communities are on islands and coastlines easily subject to hurricanes and sea level rise.” Others live on lands where rising temperature threatens traditional farming and fishing practices, leading to migration.

In response to the crisis, the UN launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022. Promoting and conserving languages of indigenous communities is “not only important for them, but for all humanity”, said Csaba Korosi, the UN general assembly president, urging countries to allow access to education in indigenous languages.

1. What is the writer mainly concerned about?

A．The disappearance of languages.	B．The challenge of climate change.
C．The reaction to the language crisis.	D．The trend of the speedy globalization.

2. Why is Vanuatu mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To explain the main reason for language density.

B．To show the common features of endangered languages.

C．To stress the impact of geographical position on migration.

D．To illustrate the situation of minority language communities.

3. What does the International Decade of Indigenous Languages aim to do?

A．Support migrants to access local education.

B．Discourage people from massive migration.

C．Improve the living conditions of minority groups.

D．Preserve the languages of indigenous communities.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Faced with Disasters: Communities Have to Leave

B．Lost for Words: Rising Seas Bring Threat of Catastrophe

C．Upset at Extinction: UN Urges International Cooperation

D．Involved in Action: Experts Seek Solutions to Climate Crisis

8 . Limiting your child’s candy this Halloween might be more of a trick than a treat, experts say. Once you’re a grown-up raising kids, that bag full of candy might be the scariest part of Halloween — whether it’s concern about a potential sugar rush, worries of parenting perfectionism or diet culture anxiety.

“It makes sense to be scared, because we’ve been taught to be scared,” said Oona Hanson, a parent coach based in Los Angeles. “Sugar is sort of the boogeyman in our current cultural conversation.”

But micromanaging your child’s candy supply can backfire (适得其反)，leading to an overvaluing of sweets，binge (暴食) behavior or unhealthy restriction in your child，said Natalie Mokari, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As stressful as it may be to see your child faced with more candy in one night than they would eat in an entire year, the best approach may be to lean into the joy, she added. “They are only in that age where they want to trick or treat for just a small glimpse of time — it’s so short-lived,” Mokari said. “Let them enjoy that day.”

Experts aren’t suggesting kids have sugar all day every day. The American Heart Association and the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee — groups charged with providing science-based recommendations every live years — have recommended lower daily levels of sugar. Too much added sugar has been associated with cardiovascular disease and lack of essential nutrients.

But a healthy relationship with food has balance, and you can keep your kids’ diets full of nutrients while allowing them lo eat sweets, Mokari said.

1. Why are the grown-ups raising kids scared at Halloween?

A．Because they don’t look perfect enough.

B．Because their children faced too much candy.

C．Because they’ve been taught to be.

D．Because they don’t know the diet culture.

2. Which of the following best explains “Sugar is sort of the boogeyman” underlined in Paragraph 2?

A．Sugar can make us scared.

B．Sugar is a sort of healthy food.

C．Sugar is harmful to our health.

D．Sugar is a sort of essential nutrient.

3. Which of the following statements will Natalie Mokari probably agree with?

A．Kids should have sugar all day every day.

B．It makes sense to be scared with that bag full of candy.

C．It’s a good idea to micromanage your child’s candy supply.

D．Kids would have much joy when treated to candy at Halloween.

4. What are the last two paragraphs mainly about?

A．Diseases associated with sugar.

B．The right attitude towards sugar.

C．Allowing your kids to eat sweets.

D．Keeping your kids’ diets full of nutrients.

10 . Mr. Smith, the professor at my business class, had a unique way of going over the answers to our weekly tests. For each question, he would ask a random student for their answer and then continue to grill(盘问追问) him/her, forcing him/her to defend that answer. It was certainly a memorable way to review. How I wished I’d been a more experienced student and got used to the professor’s grilling! I wasn’t, though.

But in my anatomy class, Dr. Cuddy introduced “high power” and “low power” body positions, saying “high power” positions involve taking up much space and making yourself look big, while “low power” poses, in contrast, involve making yourself look small, keeping your arms and legs crossed and held close. People tend to see others with high power poses as natural leaders, and are more willing to hire them. Her research finding was that spending just two minutes standing in a high power pose increased a person’s feeling of power and self-confidence. She wanted us to try it out.

On my next quiz-review day, instead of bending over my book studying quietly, I sat up straight and spread out my books and notebooks on the entire surface of my desk. When our teacher asked if anyone had any questions about the material before we began our quiz review, I raised my hand.

The effect was surprising. My professor answered my question as if talking to a colleague, and I had a wonderful feeling of calm. Suddenly, I realized that the important thing was that I was participating. I just needed to engage fully in the class and learn.

Today, before a presentation or a test, I spend a few minutes “thinking big”-taking up space and being seen. It calms me down and when I do, my best always turns out to be pretty good.

1. How did the author perform in his business class?

A．He was good at defending his answer.

B．He had difficulty getting used to the professor.

C．He did good memorization for his weekly tests.

D．He felt confident to question against the teacher.

2. What did Dr. Cuddy want her students to try out?

A．Keeping their arms crossed at a talk.

B．Keeping their desks clean in class.

C．Using low-power poses in class.

D．Taking a high-power pose briefly.

3. What will the author spend time doing before a test?

A．Discussing the content with his classmates.

B．Going over his lessons without being seen.

C．Making himself look big and get noticed.

D．Collecting things on his desk to make it clean.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards “thinking big”?

A．Favorable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Critical.

D．Indifferent.