1 . In 2019, after retiring from her career as a social worker, Ane Freed - Kernis decided to build a home workshop and devote all of her free time to stone carving. “I might be covered head to to e in dust but I’m happy — it was something I needed more of in my life when I hit 60,” she says.
This appeal has its origins in Freed - Kernis’ childhood. Growing up on her father’s farm in Denmark, she used to wander through the fields with her eyes fixed on the ground, looking for stones to add to her collection. “I’ve always been drawn to the shapes and textures (质地) of stones,” she says.
After moving to England in 1977 and training as a social worker, Freed - Kernis soon became occupied with her busy career and the demands of raising her son. Stones were the last thing on her mind, until her father died in 2005. “He took a stone carving course in his retirement, and I always thought stone seemed so fun but never had the time to look into it myself,” she says. “After he died, I became determined to learn in his honour.”
Signing up for a week-long stone carving course at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Freed-Kernis began to learn how to turn a block of rock into well-designed shapes. “It was really scary at the start because you would spend hours just hammering (锤打).”
Now 65, Freed-Kernis has a thriving small business built largely through word of mouth. She creates 12 to 15 pieces a year that can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to complete, while her prices range from £ 200 to £ 3,000. “I’m making smaller ones,” she says. “I don’t have to depend on the money much, so I want to keep prices in the range that people can afford, mainly just covering costs and labour (劳动力).”
1. Freed-Kernis was first attracted by stones when ______.| A．she was 60 | B．she was a child |
| C．her father died | D．she moved to England |
| A．She never cared about her father. |
| B．She led a disappointing life in Denmark. |
| C．She spent lots of time studying stone carving. |
| D．She learned stone carving under the influence of her dad. |
| A．Hopeful and proud. |
| B．Confident and satisfied. |
| C．Nervous and frightened. |
| D．Impatient and unprepared. |
| A．They are easier to move by her. |
| B．They are more affordable to people. |
| C．She wants to save costs and labour. |
| D．She is too old to focus on making large ones. |
2 . In San Francisco, a large group of sea lions move themselves out of the bay waters and hang out on PIER 39, which is a popular tourist destination. According to dock (码头) officials, this is the most sea lions seen in the region in 15 years.
“Over 1,000 sea lions have been counted this week,” PIER 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor told many different media. “The surge in sea lions is usually a good sign of their strong population and healthy living environment,” said Adam Ratner, Director of Conservation Engagement at the Marine Mammal (海洋哺乳动物) Center in Sausalito, California.
“California sea lions are sentinels (哨兵) of the ocean,” Ratner said. Their population to some extent reflects the health of the ocean. Therefore, seeing a large number of California sea lions is clearly a good thing.
For nearly 35 years, the slippery (滑的) residents have been a star attraction for tourists. That autumn in 1989, PIER 39 had just been repaired, but the ships had not yet been moved back. At that moment, the sea lions unexpected arrival not only attracted fans but also created enemies. According to a website, some dock residents and workers were scared away by the strong and very unpleasant smell and noise of their new neighbors, while others saw these animals as a bright spot after the destructive Loma Prieta earthquake.
The officials sought help from the Marine Mammal Center to find a way to deal with sea lions. Ratner said that the final decision is to let the sea lions stay and coexist with humans. “The fact proves that this is really a good thing,” he said. “This is just a proof of how we can truly work together and think about how we can share our coasts with marine mammals and other wildlife in a way that benefits all the parties involved.”
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By describing a situation. |
| B．By answering a question. |
| C．By holding a conversation. |
| D．By comparing different opinions. |
| A．Sharp increase. | B．Tight control. |
| C．Slow development. | D．Sudden movement. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uninterested. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Sea lions are pretty cool animals. |
| B．Animals and humans can live in harmony. |
| C．Watching sea lions might not be a proper action. |
| D．Sea lions should be driven out of PIER 39. |
3 . At some point, something will have to be done about the stuffed toys (毛绒玩具). I haven’t counted them because, truthfully, I’m not prepared to know how many there are. Lately, our neighborhood’s message boards are filled with posts about parents trying to make space, to clear out the things their kids no longer need. The tone of some of these posts can best be described as “emergency”. “Help!” they sometimes begin. “I have to get this out of my house.”
“The proliferation (激增) of children’s toys is the outcome of a long, gradual cultural change,”says Gary Cross, a professor at Pennsylvania State University. To understand how we got here — drowning (淹没于) in all those stuffed toys and bricks — it helps to look as far back as the late 19th century. “Parents were no longer passing their jobs on to the children,” Cross says. “Instead, they connect across generations through the gifting process. From the early 20th century on, goods became the things that define relationships between family members, and the way of marking success as a family.”
Then, how can parents deal with the proliferation of children’s toys at home? Naeemah Ford Goldson, a professional organizer, is also a mom of two. In her own home, Goldson likes to include her kids in the work of sorting out their toys. They know that the items they don’t need anymore will be given to people who can use them, to families who might not be as fortunate as theirs. “Doing so helps them build those habits of letting go,” she says, “so then they don’t become adults who are too dependent on material things instead of experiences, or people, and the memories we make with people.”
Her idea made sense. She told her 5-year-old they should pick some to give to kids in their community who came from another country and had to leave their toys behind. She immediately took a pink bear from the pile.
1. Why does the author present the posts in paragraph 1?| A．To show the popularity of children’s toys. |
| B．To offer suggestions about choosing children’s toys. |
| C．To praise the role of social media in buying children’s toys. |
| D．To introduce the influence too many children’s toys bring about. |
| A．Children’s demands. | B．The growth of technology. |
| C．The traditions in the 18th century. | D．The practice of gifting among family members. |
| A．Involve her kids in organizing toys. | B．Put away toys for her kids. |
| C．Buy her kids fewer toys. | D．Sell unwanted toys to neighbors. |
| A．The Rise of Toy Stores in Neighborhoods | B．The Importance of Choosing Proper Gifts |
| C．The Challenge of Managing Children’s Toys | D．The Joy of Collecting Children’s Toys |
4 . In order to survive trips to Mars, humans need oxygen. Now, a team of scientists has designed a robot that could extract oxygen from water on the Red Planet.
The robot, which is called “AI chemist”, used a machine learning model to find a compound that could ignite an oxygen-producing chemical reaction on Mars. The compound, known as a catalyst (催化剂), is made entirely from elements found in Martian meteorites (陨石) — which means, if such a system could work reliably, space travelers would not need to bring oxygen or even the catalyst needed to produce it.
Mars’ atmosphere contains only trace amounts of oxygen. But scientists have detected evidence of liquid water beneath the planet’s southern ice cap. To create the breathable gas, researchers wanted to find a way to break down this water into its hydrogen and oxygen molecules using materials found on Mars.
Their robot analyzed five meteorites that either came from Mars or had a composition similar to that of the Martian surface. Using a laser, it identified significant amounts of iron, nickel, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and manganese in the samples. From these six elements, the robot’s algorithm (算法) deter-mined it could produce more than 3.7 million possible molecules to break down water and form oxygen on Mars. According to the researchers, finding the best one from this extensive list would take roughly 2,000 years of human labor, but for the AI chemist, it took only weeks.
“On the Earth, we don’t use these six elements,” Yi Luo, a co-author of the study says. “They are not the best choices for catalysts, but it’s only what you’ve got on Mars.”
With its chosen catalyst, the system could produce oxygen from the Martian materials at around - 37℃, demonstrating the chemical reaction could be possible on the cold Martian surface.
Notably, the robot was able to carry out the entire process — analyzing the rock samples, identifying the Jest possible catalyst and producing it without human intervention.
1. What inspired the scientists to design the robot that could extract oxygen?| A．Surviving on the Earth. | B．Trips to Mars. |
| C．Traveling on the Moon. | D．Water shortage. |
| A．The existence of water and catalyst on Mars. | B．The oxygen that Mars’ atmosphere contains. |
| C．The scientists’ previous study on meteorites. | D．The low cost of “AI chemist”. |
| A．The finding of six elements. | B．The advantages of the robots. |
| C．The process of producing oxygen. | D．The formation of the meteorites. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Unclear. | C．Favorable. | D．Indifferent. |
5 . Today I am working with Sim on for starting a mobile repairing shop. His
My memory stretches back very
Simon has a
He made us
Needless to say, he was selected for the training program and also
| A．motive | B．sorrow | C．enthusiasm | D．league |
| A．monthly | B．easily | C．bravely | D．unluckily |
| A．conducted | B．canceled | C．conveyed | D．rewarded |
| A．advertise | B．polish | C．read | D．walk |
| A．manned | B．serious | C．precise | D．dynamic |
| A．turn down | B．decide on | C．test out | D．rely on |
| A．started | B．regretted | C．forgot | D．abandoned |
| A．melt | B．laugh | C．tease | D．compose |
| A．labour | B．mixture | C．power | D．struggle |
| A．success | B．violence | C．determination | D．absence |
| A．interviewed | B．sponsored | C．warned | D．abused |
| A．completed | B．crushed | C．designed | D．purchased |
| A．players | B．astronauts | C．participants | D．leaders |
| A．guaranteed | B．held | C．framed | D．cued |
| A．reputation | B．kindness | C．mistake | D．attitude |
6 . You know that short walk to the shops and back? It’s about 10 minutes each way and you don’t know if you can be glad to make the trip, but that one short walk could save you from an early death, a new research by Cambridge University shows. In fact, as many as one in ten early deaths could be prevented if everyone managed at least half the recommended level of physical activity.
Risks of diseases such as heart disease, strokes(中风) — which were responsible for 17.9 million deaths in 2019 — and various cancers are all reduced with this simple short walk. This easy lifestyle change was also noted in an earlier study in January, 2023, so you really should give it a go.
By carrying out studies among a total of over 30 million participants, the latest Cambridge research found that just 75 minutes of exercise a week can reduce the risk of cancer by 7%. It was also enough to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular(心血管的) disease by 17%.
Professor James Woodcock from the MRC Epidemiology Unit said, “We know that physical activity, such as walking or cycling, is good for you, especially if you feel it raises your heart rate. But what we’ve found is that there are many benefits to heart health and reducing your risk of cancer even if you can only manage 10 minutes every day.”
It goes without saying that doing the recommended 150 minutes per week is more beneficial than just 75 minutes. Around one in six early deaths would be prevented with the two plus hours of exercise, while 11% of cases of cardiovascular disease and 5% of cases of cancer would be avoided.
So what are you waiting for? Boots were made for walking.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The simplicity of a short walk. | B．The reason for people’s death. |
| C．The change in people’s lifestyle. | D．The benefits of doing exercise. |
| A．Walking can always raise people’s heart rate. |
| B．People need at least 75 minutes’ exercise a day. |
| C．10 minutes’ exercise a day can make a difference. |
| D．Physical activity is not that necessary for people. |
| A．By listing numbers. | B．By telling stories. |
| C．By describing the processes. | D．By quoting famous sayings. |
| A．In a science fiction. | B．In a health magazine. |
| C．In a geography book. | D．On a website for language learning. |
7 . It’s very necessary for you to make a plan in advance before travelling abroad. An important part of the plan is probably to find the right
Now consider another
If you are a contributor, use Wish Trip from the beginning of your tour to
You can use Wish Trip in any country where you want to travel. Now the sharing economy is rapidly
| A．custom | B．route | C．companion | D．routine |
| A．offer | B．share | C．convey | D．gather |
| A．experienced | B．adventurous | C．energetic | D．respectable |
| A．abundant | B．limitless | C．typical | D．precious |
| A．run out of | B．live up to | C．fall short of | D．look forward to |
| A．situation | B．event | C．option | D．function |
| A．boring | B．attractive | C．necessary | D．complex |
| A．tracking | B．handling | C．following | D．watching |
| A．develop | B．publish | C．print | D．upload |
| A．simple | B．right | C．short | D．straight |
| A．lately | B．automatically | C．extremely | D．currently |
| A．solution | B．sign | C．promotion | D．reaction |
| A．reporter | B．learner | C．guide | D．visitor |
| A．exchange | B．memorize | C．record | D．communicate |
| A．order | B．give | C．adapt | D．attach |
| A．begin | B．set | C．keep | D．finish |
| A．generate | B．invent | C．perform | D．copy |
| A．save | B．imagine | C．catch | D．edit |
| A．building | B．breaking | C．gaining | D．ruining |
| A．ability | B．technology | C．power | D．information |
8 . Jodi and Chase’s family liked to kayak (划皮艇) out to a small cabin down the river. Each summer the parents always
Today, Jodi and Chase were allowed to paddle ahead alone. They put on life jackets and started their
Jodi stared at him as she ate. “Not funny.”
“I never
Shortly, they arrived at the usual stop: a cove (小河湾). Stepping out of their kayaks excitedly, they
“You go ahead,” Jodi said. “I need to grab some berries.” Then she got off the road. Walking alone, suddenly, Jodi sensed
Then, a giant creature came out from the shadows. At that moment, Jodi was
“How did it go?” Dad looked
| A．robbed | B．cured | C．informed | D．reminded |
| A．adventure | B．party | C．ceremony | D．project |
| A．across | B．under | C．above | D．behind |
| A．put up with | B．get rid of | C．keep an eye on | D．stay away from |
| A．discuss | B．complain | C．joke | D．talk |
| A．waved | B．passed | C．dragged | D．stretched |
| A．movement | B．loss | C．warmth | D．wind |
| A．jump up | B．race back | C．hang around | D．step forward |
| A．dog | B．snake | C．lion | D．bear |
| A．disappointed | B．impressed | C．inspired | D．frozen |
| A．heavily | B．slightly | C．suddenly | D．hardly |
| A．lake | B．stream | C．road | D．sea |
| A．excitement | B．complaint | C．relief | D．sorrow |
| A．curious | B．puzzled | C．tired | D．energetic |
| A．gift | B．message | C．lesson | D．story |
9 . The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer’s (阿尔茨海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep each night when she was young. She thought about hirıng a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa’s best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
“Why do this?” Steve wondered.
“Because she cares.” Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tear in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home: She told Steve she’d love to hear him play Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano. Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
“It was beautiful.” Naomi said after listening to the recording. “The music was worth saving.”
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was still in Steve Goodwin. It was hidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn’t play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it “Melancholy Flower”.
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him “honey” and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi’s help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve’s songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: “Melancholy Flower.”
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve’s permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told, the family that Steve’s music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
1. Why did Melissa want to save her father’s music?| A．His music could stop his disease from worsening. |
| B．She wanted to please her dying old father. |
| C．His music deserved to be preserved in the family. |
| D．She wanted to make her father a professional. |
| A．It was slow but productive. |
| B．It was beneficial to his health. |
| C．It was tiresome for Naomi. |
| D．It was vital for Naomi’s career. |
| A．thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted... |
| B．didn’t expect the damage the disease brought about |
| C．didn’t fully realize the value of her husband’s music |
| D．brought her husband’s music career to perfection |
| A．The Kindness of Friends | B．The Power of Music |
| C．The Making of a Musician | D．The Value of Determination |
10 . Why does social media trigger feelings of loneliness and inadequacy? Because instead of being real life, it is, for the most part, impression management, a way of marketing yourself, carefully choosing and filtering (过滤) the picture and words to put your best face forward.
Online “friends” made through social media do not follow the normal psychological progression of an interpersonal relationship. You share neither physical time nor emotional conversations over the Internet. You simply communicate photographs and catchy posts to a diverse group of people whom you have “friended” or “followed” based on an accidental interaction. This is not to say that your social media friends can’t be real friends. They absolutely can, but the two are not the same. Generally speaking, there are no unfiltered comments and casually taken photos on our social media pages. And, rightfully so, because it wouldn’t feel safe to be completely real and honest with some of our “friends” whom we don’t actually know or with whom trust has yet to be built.
Social media can certainly be an escape from the daily routines, but we must be cautioned against the negative effects, such as addiction, on a person’s overall psychological well-being.
As humans, we are eager for social connection. Scrolling (滚动) through pages of pictures and comments, however, does not provide the same degree of fulfillment as face to face interactions do. Also, we tend to idealize others’ lives and compare our downfalls to their greatest accomplishments, ending in feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.
Social media can lead people on the unhealthy pursuit of perfection. Some people begin to attend certain events or travel to different places so that they can capture that “perfect” photo. They begin to seek validation through the number of people who “like” their posts. In order for it to play a psychologically healthy role in your social life, social media should enhance an already healthy social network. Pictures and posts should be byproducts (副产品) of life’s treasured moments and fun times, not the planned and calculated image that one is putting out into cyberspace in an attempt to fill insecurities or unmet needs.
Ultimately, social media has increased our ability to connect with various types of people all over the globe. It has opened doors for business and allowed us to stay connected to people whom we may not otherwise get to follow. However, social media should feel like a fun experience, not one that contributes to negative thoughts and feelings. If the latter is the case, increasing face to face time with trusted friends, and minimizing time scrolling online, will prove to be a reminder that your social network is much more rewarding than any “like”, “follow” or “share” can be.
1. What does the author imply social media may do to our life?| A．It may facilitate our interpersonal relationships. |
| B．It may filter our negative impressions of others. |
| C．It may make us feel isolated and incompetent. |
| D．It may help us make as many friends as we can.” |
| A．They do not find all their online friends trustworthy. |
| B．They do not want to lose their followers. |
| C．They want to avoid offending any of their audience. |
| D．They are eager to boost their popularity. |
| A．Learn Jessons from other people’s downfalls. |
| B．Strive for perfection whatever the cost. |
| C．Paint a rosy picture of other people’s lives. |
| D．Show their life’s accomplishments more impressive than reality. |
| A．Use social media to increase their ability to connect with various types of people. |
| B．Stay connected to those whom they may not otherwise get to know and befriend. |
| C．Try to prevent negative thoughts and feelings from getting into the online pages. |
| D．Strengthen ties with real-life friends instead of caring about their online image. |
