1 . Fu Lei’s Family Letters is a book of letters written by Chinese translator and writer Fu Lei to his elder son Fu Cong, who is a famous pianist. Between 1954 and 1966, Fu Cong spent a lot of time away from home training as a piano player. As a result, writing letters became Fu Lei’s usual way of communicating with his elder son. Fu Min, Fu Lei’s younger son edited the letters and the book came out in 1981.

The book shows Fu Lei’s family tradition and value. To Fu Lei, the purpose of education of a person, is to make that person useful to the society. Fu Lei praised his son Fu Cong after winning a piano competition. Fu Lei wrote, “We are happy because you make your country proud. I am so excited when I think about your future. You will make great progress and serve more people, encourage them and heal them.”

In the family letters, Fu Cong was also advised to read famous Chinese texts. When reading these books, Fu Cong was told to connect ideas and feelings together, for that would help him become a better person. To Fu Lei, learning to be a good person comes before any academic training.

Fu Lei’s Family Letters has a great impact on people in China because it helps many young students understand how they should live their lives.

1. Who edited Fu Lei’s family letters?

A．Fu Lei.

B．Fu Cong.

C．Fu Min.

D．A translator.

2. What can we learn from Fu Lei’s Family Letters?

A．Fu Lei’s family tradition and value are shown in the book.

B．People in the 1950s communicated with each other by books.

C．It’s difficult for parents to make their children well educated.

D．Praising children after taking part in a competition is important.

3. What did Fu Lei think of Fu Cong’s future?

A．It would be uncertain.

B．It would be hopeful.

C．It would be difficult.

D．It would be interesting.

4. Why was Fu Cong advised to read famous Chinese texts?

A．To be a richer man.

B．To do more academic training.

C．To help more people.

D．To become a better person.

2 . 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

5 . Do you love fossils and dinosaurs? I’m lucky enough to be a fossil preparator (化石制备师), which means I work with fossils, like removing rocks from fossils and gluing fossils together to make sure they’re not broken. Sometimes, we have dinosaur bones that need to be arranged and put back into place.

I like the job from the bottom of my heart. When we make “jackets” — these are things that store the fossils — we have to accurately and scientifically figure out how to make them for specific bones or fossils, which can be different shapes and artistic expression.

Since I was a kid, it’s been my dream to be a paleontologist (古生物学者). When I was 12, I went to this kind of event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science called Dinosaur Day. I got a chance to meet paleontologists. At the end, I asked, “Hey, can I volunteer?” And somehow, they let me, as long as a parent came with me. At 12 years old, I got to go to a fossil excavation (挖掘), and I got to work with dinosaur bones and fossils in the lab for the first time.

Fossils are very old. We don’t always get all the pieces. We’re working with something that’s incomplete, sometimes. We do our best to fit the pieces we know back together. And as for the pieces we don’t know, we don’t try to make anything up. But sometimes, we have a gap in a specimen (标本) and it needs support. We’ll put some material in there that’s clearly not fossil, so when people go to study it, they know not to study that part.

People would wonder how I find other kids, especially girls, who shared my interests when I was growing up. As a matter of fact, in my friend group, I was the only dinosaur girl. My friends were interested in other things, but they were all super supportive of my love for fossils.

1. Why does the author like her job?

A．It is not a demanding job.	B．It combines both art and science.
C．It is more artistic than scientific.	D．It is about collecting dinosaur bones.

2. Why does the author mention her visit to her local museum?

A．To show her path to follow her dream.	B．To prove her parents supporting her job.
C．To present the barrier of achieving her dream.	D．To tell her easy access to achieving her dream.

3. How does the author deal with the incomplete fossils?

A．By burying them back in the ground.	B．By breaking and reconstructing them.
C．By making them up with similar materials.	D．By filling their gaps with distinct materials.

4. What kind of girl was the author when she was growing up?

A．Cautious.

B．Understanding.

C．Independent.

D．Entertaining.

6 . 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.

7 . If you’re in search of some botanical inspiration for the summer, just look to the following!

Sky Garden — London

Situated on the 35th floor of the iconic “Walkie-Talkie” building in central London, this stunning garden consists of over three stories, combining Mediterranean and South African plantings. The garden temperature here is monitored around the clock to mirror the conditions these plants would experience in a warm temperate climate.

Bambalan — Bristol

Bristol’s Bambalan restaurant appeared in 2016. Known for its leisurely atmosphere, it’s located right in the middle of the city centre. Hidden in plain sight above Bristol’s busy and noisy city centre, the roof terrace is a true hidden garden. With Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food on the menu, this is the ideal place to bring a group, and enjoy the views and tasty treats.

Library of Birmingham — Birmingham

Hidden away on the seventh floor of Birmingham’s public library is a scenic rooftop garden offering an extremely quiet spot to enjoy a good book in the sun. Created entirely by volunteers and reached via glass elevator, the bright garden offers visitors spectacular views over the city. 3, 500 varieties of plants in this garden have been carefully selected to ensure the terrace will offer blooms all year round, so that visitors to this unique library can enjoy the inspiring views.

New Lanark Roof Garden — New Lanark

With impressive views from the roof of an old mill (磨坊) building in the heart of the New Lanark World Heritage Site, this garden isn’t one to miss. Created on the 9, 000 square feet roof of our historic mill, the New Lanark Roof Garden is the largest of its kind in Scotland. Imaginatively designed, the garden contains decorative planting with over 70 different plants and shrubs, a water feature and animal sculptures.

1. What can you do in Bambalan?

A．Make special flower gifts.	B．Buy beautiful jewels.
C．Walk in the countryside.	D．Enjoy tasty food.

2. Which place appeals to book lovers?

A．Sky Garden.	B．Bambalan.
C．Library of Birmingham.	D．New Lanark Roof Garden.

3. What do all the four places have?

A．Plants.

B．Food.

C．Books.

D．Animals.

8 . As Teachers’ Day approached, I received an interview assignment to talk with a very special figure about teaching. President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam talked with me about life’s toughest lessons and his mission of being a teacher to the Indian youth. He was now a leader and a wise old man. There was still a child in him though, and he was still curious about learning new things. To this day, he still remembered his first lesson in life and how it had changed his life.

“I was studying in fifth grade and must have been 10 years old. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramanialyer was telling us how birds flew. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, drawing the wings, the tail, the body and the head and then explained how birds flew into the sky. At the end of the class, I said I didn’t understand. Then he asked the other students if they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds flew.” he recalled.

“That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameshwaram shore by our teacher,” the President continued. “My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw wonderful formations of them flying and how their wings waved. Then my teacher asked us, ‘Where is the bird’s engine and how is it powered?’ I knew then that birds are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. At last, he said to us with relief that we were very good.”

“That day from not understanding to the final understanding, as well as the gratitude to the teacher, has always impressed me. A proper education would help develop a sense of dignity (尊严) and self-respect among our youth,” said President Kalam.

1. What does the author probably do?

A．A reporter.

B．A president.

C．A teacher.

D．A painter.

2. What can we infer from the recalled lesson?

A．It was a drawing class.	B．The teacher’s diagram was not complete.
C．What the teacher taught was quite difficult.	D．The students were too stupid to understand it.

3. How did the teacher deal with the confused children?

A．By asking other teachers for help.	B．By taking them to see the real birds.
C．By bringing a bird to explain again.	D．By drawing another diagram for them.

4. How did Kalam feel about his teacher?

A．Disappointed.

B．Stressed.

C．Angry.

D．Grateful.

9 . 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.

10 . 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.