2 . One thing that has always attracted us is the food taboos (禁忌). There is one that seems to be acknowledged in the West: the idea that seedless (无籽) fruits are dangerous.

For those unfamiliar with this belief, it seems to go like this. The basic function of fruit in nature is to spread the seeds of the plant to ensure the survival of the species. When fruits are seedless, however, it is meant to be a sign that they want to give up their basic function. According to more extreme views, these fruits not only have fewer vitamins and minerals, but also are actually harmful to humans.

In fact, from the view of science, seedless fruits are the result of a biological development. While it is true that this development can be the result of human actions, it also happens in nature all the time. Often, it is a combination of both.

What effect does the absence of seeds have on nutrition (营养)? Well, seeds do often contain nutrients like fibre, which can mean seed-containing fruits are a little bit higher in fibre. They can also contain potentially beneficial nutrients. This, however, will make a difference only when you eat up the seeds, bite them with your teeth and break the seeds in a digestible form.

Then there is the question of popularity. It doesn't matter how nutrient-packed a crop is if people are unwilling to eat it. While the nutritional difference between seeded and seedless is very small, we know that the sale of seedless fruits has greatly increased since seedless forms were introduced to the market. So when seen in this wider viewpoint, rather than being a loss for nutrition in our diets, seedless fruits have been a gain for us human beings.

1. What do western people with extreme views believe?

A．Seedless fruits are the result of a biological process.

B．Seedless fruits could actually do harm to human beings.

C．Seedless fruits could have more vitamins and minerals.

D．Seedless fruits could spread seeds to ensure survival of the species.

2. Which of the following is true according to this passage?

A．Seedless fruits existed due to human actions rather than nature.

B．Biting seeds of fruits can be helpful to your teeth more or less.

C．Seedless fruits have no difference from fruits with seeds in nutrition.

D．Many people choose seedless fruits after its presence at the market.

3. What is the author's attitude towards seedless fruits?

A．Uninterested

B．Positive

C．Negative

D．Cautious

4. Which of the following is the best title of this passage?

A．Well, Seed Or Seedless, That Is a Question

B．Yes, Fruits with Seeds Always Win Your Heart

C．No, There's Nothing Wrong with Seedless Fruits

D．Surprise! A New Study Supports Fruits without Seeds

3 . Biar Kon, a 17-year-old student, whose parents were working in neighboring Sudan, moved to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to attend school. Once he _______, he needed to get some documents from the Sudanese embassy(大使馆). But when he went to look for the embassy, he couldn’t find it. He asked a few people for _______, and no one knew where it was. Then an older woman tapped him on the back.

The woman told Kon that she had seen him asking questions of multiple people as they _______, and she wondered if he needed money for food, or a place to stay. Then Kon realized that the woman thought he was _______.

They cleared up the _______, and the woman was able to offer her help. The woman’s _______ left a deep impression on Kon. And it inspired him to _______ five years later, when he moved to Boston, Massachusetts. One day, outside a coffee shop, he _______ a man who was begging for change. Kon _______ that moment five years earlier, when the woman in Nairobi had ________ him for a homeless person. So he went up to the man to see what he could do. “He told me why he was on the street—because he made a（n） ________ mistake when he was in high school, and he couldn’t get a ________ now,” Kon recalled. Kon bought the man some breakfast, and gave him a little bit of money.

Today, it’s an encounter he ________. For him, it is a ________ that you never know what people are going through unless you talk to them ________ — the way the woman in Nairobi made an effort to talk to him.

1.

A．worked

B．arrived

C．changed

D．graduated

2.

A．permission

B．comments

C．explanation

D．directions

3.

A．passed

B．watched

C．struggled

D．hesitated

4.

A．awkward

B．homeless

C．careful

D．shy

5.

A．evidence

B．difficulty

C．confusion

D．conflict

6.

A．generosity

B．wisdom

C．responsibility

D．confidence

7.

A．put it aside

B．take it easy

C．kick it off

D．pay it forward

8.

A．persuaded

B．spotted

C．questioned

D．inspired

9.

A．witnessed

B．reported

C．recalled

D．shared

10.

A．praised

B．thanked

C．blamed

D．mistaken

11.

A．common

B．unintended

C．serious

D．similar

12.

A．clue

B．rise

C．job

D．solution

13.

A．creates

B．expects

C．deserves

D．values

14.

A．reminder

B．protector

C．challenge

D．practice

15.

A．secretly

B．actively

C．loudly

D．anxiously

5 . Tian Wangui and his wife Lu Min are villagers in Qiantian Village, Liaoning Province. They began planting trees over forty years ago. With their hard work, the two barren (贫瘠的) mountains are covered by trees now.

After leaving the army in the 1980s, Tian got back home and began planting fruit trees on the hills. In 1982, the couple got the contract rights (承包经营权) of two mountains. At first, they planted some young fruit trees on part of the land. In order to water them, they had to carry water up to the top of the mountains many times a day by themselves.

Now, the two mountains are covered by more than 50,000 trees of over 20 kinds. More than 2,000 birds live in the trees in the mountains.

“We cared for the mountains and trees as we cared for our children,” said Lu. “Even as we grow old, our children will protect the woods, watch over the birds and keep our dream alive.”

1. What did Tian Wangui do before he began planting trees?

A．He served in the army.

B．He watched over the birds.

C．He cared for the children.

D．He carried water up to the mountains.

2. Which word can best describe the couple?

A．Determined.

B．Friendly.

C．Curious.

D．Brave.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A couple got the contract rights by planting trees.

B．A couple taught their children to plant trees for over forty years.

C．A couple kept planting trees on the mountains for over forty years.

D．A couple helped the villagers plant trees on the mountains for over forty years.

6 . Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have been working on a fascinating new way to identify people: using the ways of their breath. This idea could change how we unlock our phones and access secure places.

The key to this technology lies in the way we breathe out. Every person has a unique way of breathing air, which creates specific turbulence (涡流) patterns. The IIT Madras team, led by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, has developed a method of catching these unique patterns and using them as a biometric (生物特征识别的) signature, similar to how fingerprints are used today.

They conducted tests with breath samples from 94 people and found that their system could correctly confirm the person’s identity with an impressive accuracy of 97%. However, when it came to identifying someone without knowing who they were beforehand, the accuracy was around 50%. This means the technology is great at confirming if someone is who they claim to be, but it still needs improvement in recognizing people without any prior information. What makes this research exciting is its potential beyond just unlocking phones. It could play a significant role in personalized medicine. Since the way we breathe can give insights into our health, this technology could help doctors tailor treatments to individual patients more effectively.

In a similar study at Kyushu University in Japan, researchers developed an artificial system that identifies people based on how their breath smells. This system showed a high accuracy rate of 97.8% in identifying individuals. However, this method currently requires people to fast (禁食) for six hours before testing, indicating that it still needs to be improved to be more practical for everyday use.

These advancements in using human breath for identification are not just about adding another cool feature to our smartphones. They represent a significant step forward in biometric technology, which could have far-reaching implications in security, medicine, and personal technology. This research at IIT Madras and Kyushu University is pioneering a new way of using the unique patterns of our breath for identification purposes, potentially revolutionizing (变革) how we interact with technology and receive medical care.

1. What makes the new technology possible according to paragraph 2?

A．The distinctive breath smells.	B．The unique patterns of breath.
C．The different patterns of fingerprints.	D．The speed of taking in air.

2. What does the experiment by Kyushu University imply?

A．To eat no food for 6 hours is practical in everyday life.

B．To eat fast is a basic requirement for a higher accuracy rate.

C．The system is workable and will soon appear on the market.

D．Breath smells affected by food can decrease the accuracy rate.

3. How can the system by the IIT Madras team affect people?

A．It helps raise people’s awareness of health.	B．It will let people better understand their breath.
C．It makes unlocking our phones more easily.	D．It will introduce new ways to develop medicine.

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

A．Should We Still Use Fingerprints to Unlock Our Phone?

B．Fingerprint Patterns Can Identify Breath Types Easily

C．A Breath “Fingerprint” Could Be Used to Unlock Your Phone

D．Which Unlocking Method Is More Secure, Breath or Fingerprint?

7 . Courtney Rich is a mother of two, whose journey through the Big Cottonwood Marathon was a familiar marathoner’s battle. Her _____ was tested with each pace towards the uphill finish. The 1.7-mile race was a hard dance of patience and will, a dance Courtney knew well. Her legs, heavy with effort, threatened to betray (背叛) her ______.

Then, from the sidelines ______ the 10-year-old “dynamo” (发电机), Avery. Her sudden appearance put a burst of energy and emotion into the scene. Full of determination, her thin figure ran ______ towards her mother, who was visibly ______ from the marathon. The crowd watched in awe as this young dynamo took charge.

As Avery ______ Courtney, their hands held tightly and the marathon’s final act was suddenly rewritten. Avery, a burst of energy personified, became her mother’s anchor (精神支柱), and her small act of support was ______ in its impact. With a determined look, Avery grasped her mother’s hand. She didn’t say a word, but her actions ______ a lot. They started running together towards the finish line, their hands firmly held together.

The onlookers ______ them, inspired by the ______ of love and support between mother and daughter. It was a heartwarming moment, making everyone ______ that sometimes, unexpected ______ from the ones we love can ______ the strength to overcome even the most discouraging challenges.

As they approached the finish line, the crowd’s applause grew louder, and Avery’s mother’s tiredness began to ______, replaced by a renewed sense of determination. Together, they crossed the finish line hand in hand, sharing a ______ moment that they would remember forever.

1.

A．independance

B．courage

C．image

D．attraction

2.

A．assistant

B．principle

C．determination

D．reputation

3.

A．escaped

B．stretched

C．returned

D．emerged

4.

A．disappointedly

B．instantly

C．regretfully

D．proudly

5.

A．relieved

B．amused

C．worn

D．excited

6.

A．reached

B．congratulated

C．challenged

D．moved

7.

A．limited

B．significant

C．responsible

D．complicated

8.

A．meant

B．missed

C．differed

D．repeated

9.

A．chose

B．comforted

C．recognized

D．cheered

10.

A．search

B．display

C．demand

D．condition

11.

A．realize

B．predict

C．hope

D．explain

12.

A．treat

B．visit

C．help

D．respect

13.

A．practice

B．explore

C．match

D．provide

14.

A．take over

B．flood in

C．die away

D．blow up

15.

A．victorious

B．similar

C．painful

D．plain

8 . I was a smartphone addict. The first thing I did when I woke up was reach for my ___________. However, sometimes I sensed that I could have done something more ___________ than just looking at a tiny screen all day. Sliding into the habit was easy, but it was difficult to ___________ the habit.

Then the day came when I finally ___________ I had to make a change. Head down, eyes on my smartphone, I stepped into the road and a car shot past, nearly killing me! At that very moment, I made up my mind to spend a whole ___________ without my smartphone.

The first day was the ___________. I kept reaching for my pocket, for my smartphone that was not there. I felt lost and anxious. Then somehow I began to feel free. I _________ the classic novel I had always wanted to read. I kept a journal of my feelings, thoughts and daily activities to see how much progress I was making. _________, I began to appreciate the beauty in _________ with my own eyes, instead of through my smartphone camera.

By the end of the week, I almost did not __________ to turn my phone back on. Those seven days have given me a great appreciation for life beyond the screen- a life, richer and more beautiful.

1.

A．novel

B．smartphone

C．journal

D．camera

2.

A．meaningful

B．comfortable

C．difficult

D．stressful

3.

A．share

B．develop

C．quit

D．acquire

4.

A．realized

B．suggested

C．admitted

D．agreed

5.

A．hour

B．day

C．week

D．month

6.

A．happiest

B．best

C．busiest

D．hardest

7.

A．made up

B．picked up

C．gave away

D．took away

8.

A．Usually

B．Generally

C．Probably

D．Finally

9.

A．music

B．science

C．life

D．work

10.

A．want

B．agree

C．hesitate

D．fail

9 . “Leftover roast potatoes? There’s no such thing!” shouted people on social media when I shared a suggestion for using up remaining potatoes. This response is common whenever I propose ideas for ingredients (食材) considered “delicious” or a treat: wine, Easter eggs and cream. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and all that—but the way we handle leftovers has to change. Because of my work creating recipes, I am constantly dealing with leftover food. I live alone, work from home and enjoy the challenge of transforming leftovers into new culinary delights.

During lockdown, I witnessed in people a growing understanding of having to make do with what was already in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. This led to an increasing confidence around making substitutions and understanding food-safety issues (such as the difference between “best before” and “use by”). I learned everything I know about food safety during my professional life.

While sharing food with neighbors, friends and the wider community is one way to deal with remaining ingredients, managing random bits and open packets requires a different approach. So in May 2022, I started a series on social media called Rollover Leftovers, showcasing daily short videos of my home cooking. Simple concepts such as refreshing rock-hard bread, freezing leftover chips or creating a “clear out the fridge” tray bake gained millions of views — a much bigger audience than I would expect for anything using tricky methods or fancy ingredients.

Use your imagination and trust yourself, and you’ll discover that leftovers can be a joy, not a chore. And if you find you have the leftovers of a great big turkey but are fed up with the sight of it, or you have more cranberry sauce than you could possibly eat alone, why not try joining forces with neighbors or friends? Not so much bring a bottle as bring a loaf, because a post-Christmas leftovers sandwich is truly the best bite of the year. Isn’t it?

1. What do people think of the author’s suggestion for leftovers?

A．It is impractical.

B．It is typical.

C．It is valuable.

D．It is irresponsible.

2. What does the author intend to show in paragraph 2?

A．The new trend in cooking.	B．The concern about food safety.
C．The importance of professional life.	D．The change of household appliances.

3. What can we learn about the series of Rollover Leftovers?

A．It teaches cooking principles.	B．It is a community programme.
C．It focuses on fresh ingredients.	D．It has gained great popularity.

4. What should people do with the remaining turkey according to the author?

A．Reserve it in a bottle.	B．Share it with neighbors or friends.
C．Put it in the fridge for the next meal.	D．Use it to make sandwiches for charity.