1 . Mental health is something individuals should be taking care of, and here we recommend the following apps for you.

Meru Health

The app offers coaching and therapy programmes, which consist of 8-12 weeks of one-on-one consultations, ongoing chats with a personal coach or licensed doctor, and daily activities including mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices. The chat feature in the app offers users a mixture model where they can engage in texting, phone calls, coaching or clinical support. The app is free, but a referral (推荐) from a healthcare professional is a must to register for the programme.

Insight Timer

This meditation (冥想) app features a wide range of free meditation libraries, and offers guided meditations, music tracks and talks by leading researchers, psychologists and mindfulness experts. It also has live events like yoga, mood tracking, private mentoring, and workshops available. The advanced version, Member Plus, is $60 per year with a 30-day free trial if you sign up on their website.

Headspace

The app offers guided meditations, sleep meditations and breathing exercises that help users deal with stress and anxiety. It includes user-friendly content and appealing animations that help attract users from all meditation expertise levels. Headspace features a free ten-day introductory programme, but it also has two subscription choices: 12. 99 per month or $69. 99 per year.

Calm

The app offers “Sleep Stories” narrated by famous speakers, ten-minute Daily Calm sessions as well as a music library, short videos and mindful movement activities. Calm also provides a range of guided meditations with lengths of 3-25 minutes to fit the user’s schedule. The platform offers a seven-day trial programme at no cost and then has the choice of an annual subscription costing $ 69. 99 or a one-time purchase of $ 399. 99.

1. Which app can be used only through an expert’s recommendation?

A．Meru Health.

B．Insight Timer.

C．Headspace.

D．Calm.

2. What is the benefit of using the app Headspace?

A．It can receive users’ texts.	B．It can help users to feel relaxed.
C．It makes users enjoy music tracks.	D．It provides users with stories.

3. What do the four apps have in common?

A．They are totally free for users.	B．They provide outdoor activities.
C．They focus on our mental health.	D．They teach people how to use apps.

2 . Thousands of workers in the UK have a shortened week ahead of them as a large-scale four-day workweek pilot gets underway. Beginning this week, more than 3. 000 workers at 70 companies across diverse industries will get an extra day off every week. The six-month trial organized by 4 Day Week Global, is considered the largest experiment of its kind in the world.

“What is most exciting about the pilot is that we have a wide range of fields of economy participating.” said Joe Ryle, campaign director for the UK arm of 4 Day Week. “We’re hoping it will show that the four-day workweek is possible across the economy in the longer term. ”

Participating employers range from firms in the education sector to banking. IT. marketing, retail and hospitality businesses. The schedule is based on the 100-80-100 rule, which allows workers to earn 100%of their pay for 80%of their time for delivering 100% of output.

Employers have been eager to test programmes that offer workers more flexibility and a better work-life balance after workers quit their jobs at record rates. It has forced companies to find new ways to employ and retain(留住)talent, including bumping up pay and allowing more remote work. Cutting a full day off the workweek is yet another option companies can use to induce job seekers to work for them.

“We’ve seen a growing appetite for reduced work time,” said Joe O’Connor, CEO of 4 Day Week Global. “Employers are drawn to this idea as they see it providing them with a competitive advantage. Because of the pandemic(大流行病)，managers are more open-minded.”

For the workers’ part, expectations have also shifted dramatically since the start of the pandemic. “People’s expectations about what forms a reasonable life-work balance have changed,” O’Connor said.

“The four-day week is generally considered to be a triple-dividend policy-helping employees, companies, and the climate,” said Juliet Schor, a sociology professor at Boston College.

1. What is the purpose of the pilot according to Joe Ryle?

A．To test the effectiveness of the four-day workweek.

B．To help develop the economy during COVID-19.

C．To improve cooperation between different industries.

D．To increase employees'productivity within four days.

2. What are workers expected to do according to the schedule?

A．Work hard to get a pay raise.	B．Improve their productivity.
C．Keep a record of what they do.	D．Spend more time with their family.

3. What does the underlined word “induce” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Expect.

B．Force.

C．Allow.

D．Persuade.

4. What is Juliet Schor’s attitude towards the four-day workweek trial?

A．Negative.

B．Unclear.

C．Favourable.

D．Doubtful.

3 . Construction of Project Nexus is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. The 5-megawatt project will consist of three sites along canals in central California with widths ranging from 20 feet to 100 feet.

If the pilot project proves solar canopies(檐篷) are a cost-effective way to produce clean energy and save water, scores of similar installations could be built atop California’s canal network-one of the world’s largest water distribution systems.

“This is a really exciting project,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said last month. “It connects our efforts in California to improve water conservation and build drought resilience(抗旱能力) with the clean energy transition we're driving across California.”

Project Nexus was inspired by a 2021 study by University of California researchers that was published in the journal Nature Sustainability. Typically, 1%to 2% of the water that circulates through California's canals evaporates(蒸发), a number that is expected to increase due to the climate crisis.

Using data from satellites, climate models, and automated weather stations, the peer-reviewed study estimated that covering all of the approximately 4, 000 miles of California’s canals could extremely reduce evaporation, saving 63 billion gallons of water annually —comparable to the amount of water required to irrigate 50, 000 acres of farmland or meet the water needs of more than 2 million people.

Governor Gavin Newson has allocated additional funds to help local communities cope with water scarcity and encourage Californians to use less water. “Research and common sense tell us that in an age of intensifying drought, it's time to put a lid on evaporation,” said Jordan Harris, CEO of Solar AquaGrid, the company that is building the solar canopies.

The study found solar canals would be able to generate 13 gigawatts of clean power, equal to approximately one-sixth of the state's current installed solar capacity. This additional generation could help California achieve its goal of supplying at least 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045.

1. What is the purpose of Project Nexus?

A．To enlarge the canal network throughout California.

B．To improve the quality of water used by local people.

C．To produce as much power as possible for California.

D．To help preserve California's declining water resources.

2. Where did the inspiration of Project Nexus come from?

A．A study published in a magazine.	B．A clean water distribution system.
C．A peer-reviewed study evaluation.	D．A sudden thought of the researchers.

3. How does the author show the benefit brought by Project Nexus?

A．By making a comparison.	B．By listing scientific data.
C．By clarifying the process.	D．By explaining the reasons.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Climate change has a great effect on the water conservation.

B．Large amounts of clean water were produced by Project Nexus.

C．Project Nexus is the first-ever solar panel development in the world.

D．California's “solar canals” will save water and produce clean energy.

4 . “Sorry, that’s incorrect.” Never had I thought that, with the simple word “substitute”, I would meet my Waterloo in a ______ competition. With the spotlight shining straight into my eyes, I could do nothing but walk off the stage, my mind was blank.

The spelling competition is ______ the most long-awaited event of the year for many students in our school. To have a wonderful stage debut (首次亮相), I devoted myself to learning English ______ for months. I ______ rather well in the first two rounds of the competition, making it to the final as ______ However, I found that I still had a long way to go. Therefore, I spared no effort trying to ______ as many words as possible before the big day.

Eventually, the day arrived. Seated onstage, holding my pen and paper   ______, I glanced breathlessly at the hundreds of eager-looking faces out there. With the clock ticking away, I felt my heart ______ wildly.

Watching the other contestants (选手) spelling out their words, I waited for my ______. Thankfully, my first word was an easy one. After another round of waiting, it was time for my second word. “Contestant No. 43, your word is ‘substitute’.” So ______ !

I wrote down the first four letters on my ______. “S-U-B-S-I-T-U-T-E, substitute,” I said confidently. But sadly, I didn’t realize the misspelling until the judge said, “ ______.”

Making such a ______ in the competition, I did gain a deeper understanding of the ______ : He who laughs last, laughs best. This experience has taught me that overconfidence might ______ our downfall. Only when we stay humble can we “laugh last and best”.

1.

A．spelling

B．shooting

C．sports

D．beauty

2.

A．impossibly

B．frequently

C．undoubtedly

D．initially

3.

A．poetry

B．pronunciation

C．vocabulary

D．grammar

4.

A．managed

B．performed

C．functioned

D．worked

5.

A．planned

B．promised

C．ordered

D．requested

6.

A．coin

B．memorize

C．use

D．write

7.

A．casually

B．loosely

C．patiently

D．tightly

8.

A．beating

B．aching

C．wondering

D．sinking

9.

A．call

B．signal

C．turn

D．count

10.

A．attractive

B．interesting

C．complex

D．easy

11.

A．paper

B．book

C．screen

D．desk

12.

A．Congratulations

B．Sorry

C．Yes

D．No

13.

A．fortune

B．decision

C．mess

D．mistake

14.

A．song

B．saying

C．lecture

D．speech

15.

A．point out

B．insist on

C．subscribe to

D．lead to

5 . Everyone thinks that ADHD (多动症) is such a bad thing. I mean it can make things ________, but family and friends can make it a little easier.

In elementary school I thought I was ________ and wasn’t as smart as the other kids in my class. As I grew older, I slowly started to understand the ________ that I had ADHD. I still thought I was different but my parents said I wasn’t. And when I got to middle school, my ________ started going down, which was one of the hardest things for me. But when I got into high school, my grades were okay, but school was hard. Every time when I ________, my parents never blamed me. ________, they gave me hope and ________ me.

I still thought I wasn’t as smart as my ________. My family told me not to ________ so long as I did the best I could. There were times I wanted to give up. But I never did. I found that writing poetry could help me ________ and focus. My mum suggested that I submit (投稿) my poems to poetry.com and I did so. About two months later, I got a ________ saying my poem was the editor’s pick of the month. And all I could think was “Are you ________… my poem? Wow.” And I kept submitting poems and kept winning awards.

Now I’m a senior and I have some high goals. I want to ________ with high honours. If you give up, you will always wonder “what if?” But if you ________, you will be so happy and ________ of yourself and so will your family.

1.

A．dangerous

B．hard

C．meaningless

D．scaring

2.

A．curious

B．different

C．friendly

D．upset

3.

A．fact

B．information

C．problem

D．result

4.

A．confidence

B．fame

C．grades

D．weight

5.

A．appeared

B．failed

C．promised

D．shouted

6.

A．However

B．Instead

C．Otherwise

D．Thus

7.

A．decorated

B．excited

C．praised

D．supported

8.

A．classmates

B．friends

C．partners

D．relatives

9.

A．annoy

B．complain

C．fear

D．worry

10.

A．accept

B．benefit

C．learn

D．relax

11.

A．bill

B．letter

C．magazine

D．note

12.

A．addicted

B．drunk

C．serious

D．sympathetic

13.

A．begin

B．graduate

C．live

D．present

14.

A．check out

B．go through

C．look out

D．pull through

15.

A．afraid

B．fond

C．proud

D．typical

6 . Four North Island Gardens

Ayrlies (Private)

Ayrlies is a seasonal garden in New Zealand, where the owner has been challenged to have some plant at its best every week of the year.

Closed on Saturday except by arrangement; Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

An admission fee of 20 cash is payable to any of the gardening team. Group guided tour has a fee of $150. We regret that no dogs or children under 12 years old can be admitted. There is also a nursery from which you can purchase plants. Please note that we are unable to accept either credit cards or EFTPOS.

Address: 125 Potts Rd, Whitford

Butler Point (Private)

Butler Point in New Zealand hosts a quiet garden which sits between the harbour (港口) edge and a bank of native bush.

Open all year round by appointment only—charges apply (children free)

Address: 31 Marchant Road, HiHi, Mangonui

Monto Garden (Private)

Monto Garden in New Zealand surrounds the house and extends out across a lawn (草地) and planted terraces to a creek. Bold groupings of roses and palms frame the entrance to the house and a paved courtyard and pool area are contained by detailed plantings of palms.

Open from September to May by appointment only, charges apply

Address: 182 Puketotara Rd, Kerikeri

Kerikeri Mission Station (Public)

Enjoy the beautiful surrounds featuring an array of heritage roses, a riverbank orchard, and English “cottage garden” flowerbeds that encircle New Zealand’s oldest buildings, Kemp House and the Stone Store.

Closed on Christmas Day                         Free for all, children and adults

Address: 246 Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri

1. What can you do when visiting Ayrlies Garden?

A．Bring along your pet dog.	B．Pay with your credit card.
C．Visit it on public holidays.	D．Take your child aged 13 or over.

2. Where is Butler Point Garden?

A．On Potts Road.	B．On Marchant Road.
C．On Puketotara Road.	D．On Kerikeri Road.

3. What do the four spots have in common?

A．They are free for children.	B．They are near the harbour.
C．They are open all year round.	D．They are situated in New Zealand.

7 . Hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface, somewhere between the dark ocean floor and the bright blue shallows, lies the twilight zone. It’s a world of the unknown, and many assumed that the lack of light and cold temperatures meant few species could exist there.

But one scientist has been diving into the inky depths to show there’s much more to life there than was first thought. Rocha, a researcher from the California Academy of Sciences, was attracted to twilight zone reefs because of their mystery (神秘). “Every dive we do to those depths leads to a new discovery,” he says. To date, he has identified over 300 new species.

Entering the twilight zone is no easy feat. Recreational diving is capped at 130 feet for safety reasons, but Rocha dives as far as 500 feet. To do this requires deep concentration, intense technical training and a strong dose of bravery. Rocha usually dives in a group with two scientists and one safety officer. They spend hours preparing the kit, ensuring every piece of equipment is functioning well and that they are equipped to deal with underwater emergencies.

While the twilight zone has been explored by very few people, the effects of human activity are still apparent. One of their first discoveries is that those deeper reefs are really not a shelter for shallow reef organisms. They are almost as impacted as the shallow reefs are. They find plastic waste and fishing gear in some of the deepest reefs and has observed the impact of overfishing and climate change.

Rocha hopes that his research can help to educate people about the twilight zone and inspire action to protect it. “I don’t think it’s enough just to do the science. We take many, many photographs… and we bring those stories back up to the surface and we share it with as many people as possible. For the most part, I’d like to let people realize that those creatures are under threat,” he says.

1. Why do many people think there is few species at the twilight zone?

A．It isn’t far from the ocean’s surface.	B．It is cold and lacks light.
C．It is completely dark all day.	D．It is a world that people cannot get to.

2. What can we know about the twilight zone?

A．There are only a lot of reefs there.

B．People have much knowledge about it.

C．There are a large number of various living things.

D．There aren’t as many species as people think before.

3. How is Rocha’s journey to the twilight zone?

A．It is risky.

B．It is easy.

C．It is comfortable.

D．It is lonely.

4. What can be inferred from Rocha’s words in the last paragraph?

A．His scientific research is hardly inspirational.

B．Taking pictures underwater is enjoyable.

C．Humans are responsible for protecting the twilight zone.

D．The research at the twilight zone is now under threat.

8 . The Canada goose is the largest species of true goose. Its scientific name, Branta canadensis, means “black or burnt goose from Canada”. While Canada goose is the bird’s official and preferred name, it is also known colloquially (通俗地) as the Canadian goose.

The Canada goose has a black head and neck and a white “chinstrap (下巴)” that distinguish it from other geese. Its body is brown. The average Canada goose ranges from 75 to 110 cm in length and has a wingspan of 1.27 to 1.85 m. Adult females are slightly smaller and lighter than males, but they are visually indistinguishable. An average male weighs from 2.6 to 6.5 kg, while an average female weighs from 2.4 to 5.5 kg.

Canada geese are mostly herbivores (食草动物). They eat grass, beans, corn, and aquatic plants. They sometimes also eat small insects and fish. In urban areas, Canada geese will pick food from garbage bins or accept it from humans.

Fresh water is a primary need for these geese, and they seek it nearby wherever they happen to be. They will flock to lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and even swimming pools! This is the perfect habitat for Canada geese, and they take advantage of these areas commonly.

Originally, the Canada goose was native to North America, breeding in Canada and the northern U.S. and migrating further south in the winter. Some geese still follow the usual migration pattern, but large flocks have established permanent residences as far south as Florida.

Where you can find Canada geese varies based on what time of year it is. In some areas, the geese are becoming permanent residents, when they used to migrate south for the winter. The southern United States is their home during the winter, the northern United States has a year-round population, and Canada has a summer population.

1. What is characteristic of the Canada goose?

A．Its black head and neck and white chinstrap.

B．Its length and weight.

C．Its average wingspan.

D．Its brown body.

2. What is known about the Canada Goose from the text?

A．Its scientific name is the Canadian goose.

B．Its length varies based on where they live.

C．Adult females are usually larger and heavier than males.

D．It is hard to distinguish a female from a male in appearance.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Fish.

B．Food.

C．Corn.

D．Garbage.

4. Which aspect of the Canada goose is mainly discussed in the last three paragraphs?

A．Habitat and distribution.	B．Diet.
C．Migration.	D．Life Cycle.

9 . SF or sci-fi, short for science fiction, is a form of fiction that deals mainly with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals. It appeared in the West, where the social transformations brought about by the Industrial Revolution first led writers and intellectuals (知识分子) to think of the future impact of technology, and was popularized in the 1920s by the American publisher Hugo Gernsback. The Hugo Awards, given annually since 1953 by the World Science Fiction Society, are named after him.

Science fiction writers, whose themes are around space travel, robots, alien beings, and time travel, etc., often seek out new scientific and technical developments in order to forecast freely the techno-social changes. Though writers in antiquity sometimes dealt with themes common to modern science fiction, their stories made no attempt at scientific and technological explanation, the feature that distinguishes (区分) science fiction from earlier imaginative writing, such as fantasies and horror works.

Science fiction itself comes in two main types: hard sci-fi and soft sci-fi. Hard science fiction is based on scientific accuracy and known facts, featuring “real” science. This approach can enhance the authenticity of the story and the idea that the plot’s event could, likely, happen. Examples of hard science fiction include Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Time Machine, etc. Soft science fiction places greater emphasis on the human aspects of the story, integrating sciences of human behaviour. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Robert A. Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness are all soft science fiction novels.

The purpose of this genre (体裁) is to explore the possible about the unknown. It gives readers an idea of what might happen in the future if certain events—such as scientific breakthroughs or technological advances—come to pass and how humans might respond accordingly. Given its imaginative nature, science fiction inspires readers to forecast a more advanced, innovative, and adventurous future.

Science fiction is creative ground for filmmakers. Besides, there are plenty of science fiction themes of popular small-screen programmes on television, as well as in graphic novels and comic books.

1. What’s mainly discussed in the first paragraph?

A．The origin of sci-fi.

B．An introduction of Hugo Awards.

C．The functions of Industrial Revolution.

D．The impact of writers and intellectuals in the 1920s.

2. Why does not earlier imaginative writings belong to sci-fi?

A．They are not created in modern times.

B．Their themes are uncommon to modern sci-fi’s.

C．They are based on neither science nor technology.

D．Their explanations cannot be understood by modern people.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “authenticity” in Paragraph 3?

A．Value.

B．Truth.

C．Reputation.

D．Calculation.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Sci-Fi Writers	B．Hard Sci-Fi and Soft Sci-Fi
C．Science Fiction	D．Sci-Fi Filmmakers

10 . Aughtry was at her home in Buffalo, NY, on Christmas Day when she heard someone screaming on the street. When she looked outside, she saw a man calling for______in the freezing cold.

She brought the man, 64-year-old Joe, into her home to______but she feared it was too late. His hands had frostbite (冻伤) and his body was looking worse and worse the______he stayed in her home.

In desperation, Aughtry ______to Facebook Live. “We have got some help,” she said on the live-stream. “He has gangrene (坏疽) on his hands. He’s going to lose his______. I don’t know what else to do.”

“I’m going crazy because I’m ______I’m starting to see his body change too much from the time that he______in.”

Aughtry said she called 911 but, due to the _______, emergency responders were unable to respond to calls for hours over the weekend. Ambulances were getting______in the thick snow.

______, her requests were answered. A group of men arrived and took Joe to the hospital on Christmas night. “I’m in the car with him and some nice Samaritans that came and______the snow for us,” she said in another Facebook live-stream.

His sister Yvonne told CNN her older brother is developmentally______and lives in a group home. His employer, Barker, said Joe______his group home on Christmas Eve morning during the snowstorm. Yvonne and Barker have both expressed their ______for Aughtry.

“We were all trying to help each other and it was wonderful,” Yvonne told CNN. “And now I feel like I have a sister and three nephews,” she added,______Aughtry and her sons.

1.

A．money

B．attention

C．water

D．help

2.

A．calm down

B．clean off

C．warm up

D．fit in

3.

A．safer

B．longer

C．quieter

D．quicker

4.

A．got

B．responded

C．applied

D．turned

5.

A．arms

B．eyes

C．legs

D．fingers

6.

A．scared

B．shocked

C．excited

D．pleased

7.

A．gave

B．came

C．dropped

D．took

8.

A．injury

B．Christmas

C．snowstorm

D．change

9.

A．stuck

B．washed

C．started

D．broken

10.

A．Eventually

B．Gradually

C．Unfortunately

D．Naturally

11.

A．piled

B．melted

C．cleared

D．drew

12.

A．stopped

B．limited

C．stricken

D．disabled

13.

A．missed

B．left

C．searched

D．forgot

14.

A．gratitude

B．apology

C．love

D．hope

15.

A．referring to

B．talking about

C．caring for

D．looking at