2 . The suburb I live in backs on to a large nature reserve. One morning I saw a koala (考拉) sitting in a palm tree in my front yard. I phoned around to ask what I could _________ this koala, but no one wanted to know. I ended up _________ the koala out of my tree and we crossed the road _________ for him to return to the nature reserve.

I’ve always been befriending animals. As a young kid I used to pick up lizard eggs and _________ them. It stimulated my interest as to why there wasn’t anyone wanting to come and _________this koala in my tree. After that, I signed up for all the _________I could find.

Once I had accreditation (合格证 ), I volunteered with the RSPCA in 2019, rehabilitating (使康复) wildlife. I was an ambulance driver, _________ overnight rescues. We rescued hundreds of animals and _________ more.

One day, I thought why not _________ my own rescue group focusing on my backyard? I purchased a two-acre property and built enclosures on it to __________ injured animals. Last year, I planted 300 eucalyptus trees (桉树), with seven varieties to __________ the koalas.

I cut the leaves of the eucalyptus trees for the koalas to eat and look after the __________ wildlife at our centre. If they recover, they are __________ back to where they come from.

As a kid I would never have imagined doing this. I feel like I’m the __________ girl on the planet that I get to do what I love. I believe it’s my __________.

After Japan discharged nuclear wastewater, people are terribly worried about more animals, especially marine animals. Any animal has the right to survive and the Earth is our common home. Please care for our animal friends.

1.

A．learn from

B．do about

C．require of

D．save for

2.

A．kicking

B．shooting

C．coaching

D．blowing

3.

A．together

B．illegally

C．angrily

D．guiltily

4.

A．roll

B．sell

C．break

D．hatch

5.

A．rescue

B．admire

C．purchase

D．identify

6.

A．courses

B．races

C．fairs

D．shows

7.

A．watching

B．recording

C．attending

D．assessing

8.

A．made out

B．ran across

C．gave up

D．cared for

9.

A．leave

B．start

C．dismiss

D．advertise

10.

A．house

B．hunt

C．train

D．amuse

11.

A．confuse

B．direct

C．feed

D．test

12.

A．aggressive

B．hungry

C．deserted

D．injured

13.

A．sold

B．released

C．thrown

D．dragged

14.

A．quietest

B．greediest

C．noisiest

D．luckiest

15.

A．guess

B．calling

C．treat

D．fault

4 . When continent splits occur, they usually leave traces in ancient rocks, fossils, and mountain ranges. However, around 155 million years ago, when a 5,000-kilometer land broke away from Western Australia and began its drift, it only left behind a basin deep below the ocean known as the Argo Abyssal Plain and scientists have been unable to find where this lost continent, Argoland, disappeared to until now.

The seabed structure suggests that the continent drifted northwestward, potentially towards present-day Southeast Asia. But surprisingly, there is no large continent hidden beneath those islands, only small continental fragments. Using this theory, geologists discovered that Argoland hadn’t really disappeared but survived as a “very extended and fragmented collection” under the islands to the east of Indonesia. Unlike other continents like Africa and South America, which broke neatly into two pieces, Argoland split into many smaller fragments that were dispersed (分散的). With advanced technology and the discovery, scientists can now piece them together.

Tracing the continents is vital for understanding processes like the evolution of biodiversity. It could help explain something known as the mysterious Wallace Line, which is an imaginary boundary that separates mammals, birds, and even early human species in Southeast Asian islands. The boundary has puzzled scientists for long because it clearly separates the island’s wildlife. To the west of the line are mammals like apes and elephants. But these are almost completely absent to the east, where you can find marsupials and cockatoos — animals typically associated with Australia. Researchers have theorized that this may be because Argoland carried its own wildlife away from Australia before it crashed into Southeast Asia, which helps explain why different species are found on one land.

The story of Argoland is not one of complete disappearance but of transformation. As the world continues to evolve, this lost continent serves as a powerful symbol of the fragility (脆弱性) of life on this planet, and a reminder of the importance of respecting and protecting the world that we live in.

1. What is Argoland?

A．It is a basin deep below the ocean in Western Australia.

B．It is a large continent hidden beneath the islands of Southeast Asia.

C．It is a new land emerging from under the islands to the east of Indonesia.

D．It is a fragmented continent drifting from Western Australia to Southeast Asia.

2. Why is Wallace Line mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To introduce an imaginary boundary.

B．To support the assumed theory of the lost continent.

C．To show different species in Southeast Asian islands.

D．To explain the reason why scientists are puzzled about the boundary.

3. All of the following are the significance of this new discovery EXCEPT that ________.

A．it warns us to protect our planet.

B．it shows the creatures on earth are fragile.

C．it reminds us of the power of human activities.

D．it explains the biodiversity in Southeast Asian islands.

4. What is the main idea of this passage?

A．The mystery of a lost continent has been unfolded.

B．The fragments of Indonesia have been pieced together.

C．The formation of the Argo Abyssal Plain has been discovered.

D．The evolution of species in Southeast Asian islands has been traced.

5 . It was Christmas Day. For Antony, this was another day spent in a white-walled _______. His wife and son were enjoying the festival feast at home. But for Antony, he couldn’t enjoy the Christmas _______ with them. Instead, he was surrounded by flashes of red from roaring ambulances. He was saving lives.

About fifty years ago, Antony was born in a little village in Northern Greece, where traditions ran deep and religious festivities were _______ with the highest honor. However, he was a boy who _________ Santa. When asked the reason, he laughed out and said, “He was always there, but he never brought me Christmas presents.” He laughed even louder, trying to _______ his sorrowful feelings as he described how all the other children in the village received gifts except for him.

Antony further revealed that his parents’ inability to afford gifts unintentionally _______ his belief that Santa was an _______ magical man who deliberately overlooked him. While his peers enjoyed new toys, Antony felt the pain of exclusion. Yet, with time and maturity, his hatred towards Santa _______.

Instead of toys, Antony found _______ in exploring his older brother’s medical textbooks. His appetite for reading and the example his older brother set ________ him to study hard and eventually he became a respected cardiologist in the hospital close to his village, where doctors were especially needed. He worked ________ at the hospital, like Santa, faithfully ________ the greatest gift of all.

Antony’s story serves as a ________ that one’s upbringing does not ________ their future, but determination and diligence can pave the way for remarkable achievements. We can rise from ________ beginnings but we should never give up striving for excellence.

1.

A．restaurant

B．cinema

C．supermarket

D．hospital

2.

A．concept

B．prospect

C．delight

D．blessing

3.

A．awarded

B．observed

C．expected

D．presented

4.

A．hated

B．awaited

C．admired

D．declined

5.

A．accumulate

B．infect

C．convey

D．cover

6.

A．eased

B．fueled

C．restored

D．restricted

7.

A．attractive

B．aggressive

C．awful

D．ambitious

8.

A．revived

B．remained

C．faded

D．emerged

9.

A．comfort

B．breakthrough

C．identity

D．sign

10.

A．required

B．persuaded

C．forced

D．inspired

11.

A．tirelessly

B．tightly

C．urgently

D．literally

12.

A．trying out

B．drawing out

C．giving out

D．selling out

13.

A．assumption

B．response

C．motivation

D．reminder

14.

A．estimate

B．define

C．occupy

D．sustain

15.

A．humble

B．awkward

C．crucial

D．noble

6 . An Urban Farmer’s Garden of Eden

Ivy Lawrence-Walls didn’t set out to choose farming. But it chose her. She grew up on a five-acre farm in Houston and credits many ______ life lessons to her childhood. She remembers observing a bird build a nest as an inquisitive seven-year-old. She learned ______ as the nest gradually grew bigger overtime.

She didn’t know then that many of those childhood lessons would be ______ to her life now as a full-time farmer and enterpreneur. Now at 27, she has ______ the farm into a farm and vegetable garden ______ creating sustainable, healthy food access for neighborhood communities.

The garden grows carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, peppers, and delivers for free to local residents. It also hosts various plant pop-up events at local schools to ______ the next generation of farmers.

“Starting the farm in the early stages of the pandemic was a leap of ______,” said Lawrence-Walls. Now her daily ______ is not working in the hospital but trading in her lab coat like a doctor to produce food full-time. ______, she is still ______ in public health. “Food is public health and we hope to ______ some of the issues that we do face in the neighborhood through food and community wellness, green spaces, and mental health awareness.” she stressed.

Lawrence-Walls said her biggest challenge ______ from her nine-to-five to a full-time business owner was ______ the news to her mom, who thought she was crazy to leave her corporate job to dig holes. Additionally, she had to mentally move past the ______ by which success traditionally gets defined in society. “It took a lot for me to realize that, yes, I am digging holes. Yes, I am dirty 90 percent of the time, but I’m happy and realizing that this work is ______” she said frankly.

1.

A．distinct

B．essential

C．internal

D．enormous

2.

A．patience

B．obligation

C．devotion

D．passion

3.

A．committed

B．exposed

C．employed

D．adapted

4.

A．linked

B．persuaded

C．integrated

D．expanded

5.

A．engaged in

B．comprised of

C．gifted in

D．combined with

6.

A．tailor

B．motivate

C．pursue

D．encounter

7.

A．intention

B．hesitation

C．resistance

D．security

8.

A．operation

B．routine

C．exercise

D．supply

9.

A．Therefore

B．Afterwards

C．Nevertheless

D．Otherwise

10.

A．occupied

B．involved

C．permitted

D．stuck

11.

A．tackle

B．detect

C．clarify

D．distinguish

12.

A．ceasing

B．expanding

C．fleeing

D．switching

13.

A．distracting

B．evaluating

C．breaking

D．citing

14.

A．assumption

B．conclusion

C．forecast

D．assessment

15.

A．amusing

B．secure

C．rewarding

D．intense

7 . Every order of takeout comes with a side of single-use plastics and each plastic fork. knife, spoon and straw-whether or not you wanted it or used it-ends up in the trash.

New research found that 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste was generated in 2021-six million metric tons more single-use plastics compared to 2019. A hunger for takeout meals during the pandemic contributed to the surge.

An estimated 60% of Americans order takeout or delivery at least once a week and online ordering is growing 300% faster than in-house dining; that means millions of single-use plastic utensils (餐具) are going out with every order.

New laws aim to address the problem. Some of the recent bills are thanks to The National Reuse Network, part of the environmental nonprofit Upstream, which launched a national Skip the Stuff campaign to work out policies that require restaurants to include single-use plastic utensils, straws, and napkins only when customers request them.

The bills also require meal delivery and online apps like Uber Eats, GrubHub and Door Dash to add single-use extras to their menus; customers can choose the items and quantities to have them included in the order. Customers that don’t order the single-use plastics won’t receive them. The goal of the bills is to reduce the 40 billion plastic utensils sent to the landfill (垃圾填埋场) every year.

“Most of the time, people are taking food home or to their offices where there are reusable utensils so these utensils wind up in a drawer or get thrown out,” says Alexis Goldsmith, national organizing director for a nationwide project Beyond Plastics. “Some people do need utensils, but for the most part, they’re not needed.”

To date, Skip the Stuff bills have been passed in several cities, including Denver, Washington, D.C. and Chicago, California and Washington state passed statewide bills that make single-use plastic “accessories” available with takeout orders only upon request.

Organizations like Upstream, Beyond plastics and NRDC have created toolkits to help additional communities launch their own Skip the Stuff campaigns.

1. What does the underlined word “surge” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Great desire.

B．Sharp decline.

C．Rapid increase.

D．Obvious panic.

2. According to the Skip the Stuff campaign, what can be done by restaurants?

A．Choosing green products.	B．Adding single-use napkins.
C．Recycling and reusing utensils.	D．Providing utensils only on request.

3. What’s the purpose of the recent new bills?

A．To reduce plastic waste.	B．To stop bad eating habits.
C．To encourage people to eat out.	D．To better the dining environment.

4. What would Goldsmith probably think of the Skip the Stuff campaign?

A．Unimportant.

B．Damaging.

C．Much-needed.

D．Well-known.

9 . Moutai, China’s largest baijiu maker, and domestic coffee brand Luckin Coffee on Monday launched in China a latte advertised as containing the fiery Chinese spirit baijiu, as the Chinese luxury liquor maker aims to pull in younger consumers. And the truth is, once released, the drink quickly sold out.

The latte, decorated with the iconic Moutai logo, contains less than 0.5 percent (alcohol by volume) of 53 degree Moutai, and soon became one of the most discussed topics on Chinese social media with people curious about how traditional Chinese liquor would taste with coffee.

In Beijing, the Moutai-flavored latte sold out in some Luckin Coffee locations before midday. And many had to shut down their online ordering system as orders surged. “It seems that people prefer iced latte, so we quickly used up the ice in the branch. The number of orders is scary, ” said a barista (咖啡师) surnamed Zhang. She said she had no choice but to temporarily stop the online ordering system at around 1:30 pm because there were more than 200 orders still to be completed and almost all of them were for the Moutai-flavored latte.

People have been sharing their reactions after trying the latte on social media, with most agreeing that the aroma of the baijiu is very strong. Some people said they even felt dizzy after drinking the coffee due to its alcohol content.

Some also wondered whether they would be allowed to drive after drinking the latte. In response, Luckin Coffee stated that underage people, pregnant women, drivers and those who are allergic to alcohol are advised not to order the drink. On Monday, an officer from the Beijing Traffic Administration Bureau also asked people not to drive, no matter how much alcohol is actually in the latte.

1. What is the netizens reaction to the combination of liquor and coffee?

A．They are indifferent to the new latte.	B．They strongly support its update.
C．They have a strong desire to taste.	D．They think it is too tradition to try.

2. What does the underlined word “surged” mean?

A．Declined suddenly.	B．Moved quickly.
C．Emerged orderly.	D．Increased greatly.

3. Who is not recommended to try the Moutai-flavored latte?

A．Students who are in primary school.	B．Elders who are healthy enough.
C．Women who have given birth for years.	D．Passengers who are taking a bus.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To advertise.

B．To introduce.

C．To persuade.

D．To entertain.

10 . Gift Yourself Free Classes Today

Are you looking to bridge the gap between lifestyle and health, and start the positive journey of living longer and better? If so, then Goldster can help. Our friendly community embraces the challenges, the triumphs, and the expectations of ageing, through live online classes for all levels of abilities. Classes are science-backed, hosted by industry-leading experts and designed for the Over 50s.

What does it offer?

With up to 20 live classes daily, there’s always something to enjoy, from Pilates and Tai Chi to Resistance Training and Dance — there are even fitness classes suitable for all levels if you fancy something more energetic. Or if you prefer, develop your creativity with Creative Writing, Poetry and Art and sharpen your cognition (认知) with Brain Training classes and our well-received book club. You can even get some calm and melt into some meditation and mindfulness with classes that help to invite a peaceful night’s sleep.

How does it work?

Goldster classes are delivered online using Zoom, meaning you can join from anywhere in the world. Just find the class you want to join and click to participate. Plus, no payment details are taken upon registration.

Join Goldster now;simply log onto https://promo.goldster.co.uk/rd5 to claim your 5 free live and 5 free on-demand classes. Be inspired, keep active, healthy, and socially connected with Goldster.

1. What is Goldster mainly intended to do?

A．To enrich the lifestyle of the elderly.

B．To provide solutions to ageing challenges.

C．To promote healthy ageing in a scientific way.

D．To create a positive community for ageing people.

2. What can we learn about Goldster classes?

A．They can all be accessed free of charge via Zoom.

B．They are scientifically designed for people of all ages.

C．They range from fitness classes to brain-training classes.

D．They can be registered online with payment details needed.

3. Which section of a website is the text probably taken from?

A．Art and literature.	B．Health and lifestyle.
C．Sports and fitness.	D．School and education.