1 . Here in eastern Spain, human towers are very popular. The tower sometimes falls because it’s so high. I used to ________ to be up there, but for the past year, I’ve been practicing ________. So today, I finally became a casteller — a castle constructor.

My friend Tomeu was also part of our team. Tomeu had been a casteller before. “What if I’m not ________ for this?” I asked him. Tomeu smiled, “We’re never ready, Jordi. Just trust those below who ________ you up and yourself. Have faith!”

It was our turn. We first made the ________ for our tower. My father and three of the strongest men formed a ________ facing each other as they held each other’s arms tightly. Four more strong men stepped behind, each wrapping his arms around the ________ of a man and giving him a bear hug. Four smaller men climbed onto the backs of the ________ group and stood on their shoulders.

Our base was solid, so my father ________ and we continued building. After the sixth tier (层) was set up, it was my turn.

“Have ________!” Tomeu said to me again. I passed the first two tiers ________ because the people were leaning forward. But the higher I went, the more unstable the tower became. By the time I reached the sixth tier, the tower below me ________ a bit. My heart began a crazy dance in my chest. I took a deep breath to ________ myself. Reaching deep inside to feel my ________, I rose slowly out of my crouch (蹲伏) and straightened my knees. I waved my hand to the judges, meaning our tower was ________.

Far below, I could hear the crowd’s cheering.

1.

A．promise

B．hesitate

C．intend

D．pretend

2.

A．climbing

B．jumping

C．running

D．rolling

3.

A．prepared

B．responsible

C．anxious

D．famous

4.

A．pull

B．call

C．lift

D．push

5.

A．rule

B．list

C．link

D．base

6.

A．screen

B．circle

C．queue

D．barrier

7.

A．head

B．hands

C．legs

D．chest

8.

A．original

B．local

C．general

D．typical

9.

A．relaxed

B．adjusted

C．signaled

D．appealed

10.

A．faith

B．pleasure

C．patience

D．purpose

11.

A．casually

B．firmly

C．wildly

D．smoothly

12.

A．grew

B．swung

C．changed

D．broke

13.

A．introduce

B．enjoy

C．calm

D．save

14.

A．balance

B．presence

C．connection

D．duty

15.

A．unique

B．large

C．round

D．complete

2 . When the people first came round, they were all sitting around drinking tea nervously and occasionally glancing at the cupboards. I didn’t like the atmosphere. I was beginning to wonder why I had asked these people round to go through my stuff and take what they wanted. This is what happens when you open your home to your family and friends, telling them they can help themselves to everything within it.

Last month, I moved abroad to study for two years, taking just a single suitcase with me. I couldn’t afford to keep my flat, so when it came to my possessions, I decided to offer them up for a long-term loan. It’s not recycling, or even freecycling: I’m calling it “share cycling”. It was my beloved tent that formed the premise (前提) of it. I made the decision as I thought about the pointlessness of putting stuff into storage for two years. Instead, I imagined someone I loved putting my tent onto their back and setting off into the countryside in the summer sunshine. I was moving to the other side of the world, but this made it feel as though I would still be with my friends. To get rid of it all, I had an open house, inviting everyone I knew to take my property.

Now I am sitting in a flat on the other side of the world as rain is pouring down outside, forcing the street sellers to shelter under doorways and umbrellas. I feel very far from my home and my stuff. That list made of the things I want back? I’m not sure how much I’ll need them. I don’t miss any of my belongings. Instead, my mind now is filled with thoughts of my family and friends.

My “sharecycling” plan ties me to them. A friend took my tent to a music festival. And my favourite picture ended up on the wall of my best friend’s flat back home. It’s like I’ve pressed “pause” on my city life rather than “stop”, making the move easier.

1. What’s the author’s feeling in paragraph 1?

A．Embarrassed.

B．Uncomfortable.

C．Passionate.

D．Insecure.

2. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The idea of “sharecycling”.	B．The experience of moving abroad.
C．The idea of putting stuff into storage.	D．The experience of living in the countryside.

3. What is the author doing now?

A．Seeking a more affordable flat.	B．Protecting street sellers from the rain.
C．Making a list of things she wants back.	D．Missing her family and friends far from home.

4. What’s the main idea of this text?

A．Moving on isn’t always a good option.

B．I got rid of nearly everything I owned.

C．Don’t stuff your house with useless things.

D．Giving away my belongings made my move easier.

3 . Workers at the National Galleries of Scotland recently experienced quite a surprise after they X-rayed a painting by Vincent van Gogh. Hidden on the back of the painting Head of a Peasant Woman, which Van Gogh completed in 1885, was a self-portrait (自画像) of the Dutch painter. No one had ever found it.

The hidden self-portrait had been covered by glue and cardboard that had been attached to the back of the painting. “It was absolutely exciting,” Lesley Stevenson, the museum’s worker, said about the discovery. “We weren’t expecting much of the little painting when we performed the scans,” she said. But museum experts quickly changed their expectations when they looked at the X-rays. “We didn’t see much of the peasant woman, but we saw the lead white that Van Gogh used for his face showing up after the X-ray went through the cardboard,” she added.

Van Gogh painted Head of a Peasant Woman as part of a series of works focused on the working-class residents of Nuenen, a small farming community in the southern part of the Netherlands where he lived briefly in the 1880s. The woman in the painting is Gordina de Groot, a farm worker. She wears a white headpiece. In a letter that Van Gogh penned about the series in 1885 to Anton Kerssemakers, a friend, he described his excitement at his working-class subjects. “I’m working with great pleasure these days, for I would rather paint people than paint anything else,” he wrote.

Van Gogh also loved creating self-portraits, producing about 20 paintings of himself by the end of his life while he was living in Paris. Recreating his own image was a cheap way for him to practice portraiture as he didn’t have to spend money hiring models, according to a report.

Art historians at the National Galleries hope that the hidden self-portrait may help us understand the life of the artist. The museum is currently considering how to best remove the unwanted protective materials without harming the painting.

1. What can be learned about the self-portrait on the back of the painting?

A．It isn’t in very good condition.	B．It describes a well-known woman.
C．It wasn’t known to exist for a long time.	D．It was sold to another artist by Van Gogh.

2. What do Stevenson’s words mainly show about the discovery?

A．It was a wonderful surprise.	B．It failed to meet her expectations.
C．It was the result of her great efforts.	D．It deepened her understanding of Van Gogh’s life.

3. What did Van Gogh tell his friend in the letter?

A．He was encouraged to try different subjects.

B．He was glad to find his love for figure paintings.

C．He was attracted by the lifestyle of people in Nuenen.

D．He wanted to improve the living conditions of the farmers.

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

A．X-rays can do harm to artworks

B．Van Gogh sent a secret message to his friend

C．Modern technology has a great influence on art

D．Van Gogh’s hidden self-portrait draws public attention

4 . Seba Stephens is only 10 years old, but he’s a very talented musician. Before he turned three, his parents asked him what he wanted for his birthday. “Drums!” (鼓) he answered. His parents weren’t sure, but after seeing him play the drums at a local music store, they decided he was serious. They bought him a set of junior drums. It was a huge step. “He didn’t stop playing-ever”, says his dad, Everett.

But soon Seba grew unhappy, he couldn’t get his junior drums to make the sounds that the famous drummer Copeland made. Therefore, his parents bought him a set of professional drums and sent him to a drum teacher. Just a few months later, his teacher reported that Seba was learning extremely quickly and needed a higher level of training. He was still four.

His father encouraged him to explore music in other ways. In 2020, Seba got special permission to join a summer guitar online program at Berklee College of Music as an 8-year-old. To keep up, he had to practice 36 hours a week. After the busy summer, Everett thought Seba might want a break. However, Seba asked his parents to home-school him so that he could continue the program during the school year. Seba did school work in the morning. In the afternoon he worked on music. And at night, he still worked on music.

Recently, Seba earned a professional certificate (证书) in music through the Berklee Online program.

1. What did Seba want for his birthday?

A．Drums.	B．Music lessons.
C．A guitar.	D．A music book.

2. Who does the underlined word “his” refer to in Paragraph 2?

A．Seba’s.	B．Copeland’s.
C．Seba’s parent’s.	D．Seba’s teacher’s.

3. Seba needed a higher level of training because

A．he grew very worried	B．he failed to hear the sounds
C．he bought a new drum	D．he was learning extremely quickly

4. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Seba joined a summer camp.	B．Seba worked hard on music.
C．Seba did school work at home.	D．Seba graduated from a college.

5. How did Seba earn a professional certificate in music?

A．By going to a famous college.	B．By getting special permission.
C．Through the Berklee Online program.	D．Through the lessons given by his parents.

5 . Come and join us in the project. You’ll learn diving (潜水) to improve your existing skills and you’ll be volunteers for the international ocean clean-up operation at the same time. After you’ve made contributions to removing rubbish from the ocean, you’ll be rewarded (奖励) with the opportunity to enjoy the best beach of Barcelona.

The project includes the following activities :

Activity 1 You’ll practice diving in the shallows for beginners, and challenge deeper waters for the advanced divers.

Activity 2 You’ll be tasked with carryingthe net bags to collect plastic waste and old fishing nets in the ocean.

Activity 3 You will analyze (分析), weigh, and document the rubbish, then record the data in the diving station.

In the morning you will go to the marina (头) to join the diving team. You’ll dive for the majority of the morning, then look for plastic waste, old fishing nets and any other rubbish. In the afternoon, you’ll work on the rubbish you collect for about an hour. The rest of the day is free for you to relax on the beach of Barcelona.

1. What is the aim of the project besides diving?

A．To learn swimming skills.	B．To clean up the ocean.
C．To experience the life on the sea.	D．To take a visit to Barcelona.

2. What will you do in Activity 1?

A．Practice diving.	B．Go fishing.
C．Collect waste.	D．Weigh rubbish.

3. How many activities are there for the project?

A．2.	B．3.
C．4.	D．5.

4. When will you go to the marina to join the diving team?

A．In the morning.	B．In the afternoon.
C．In the evening.	D．At night.

5. What will you do on the rest of the day?

A．Challenge deeper waters.	B．Carry the net bags.
C．Analyze your findings.	D．Relax on the beach.

6 .

The Mobile Phone Museum Date: October 15-19 Age:15-17 Have you given a call with a mobile phone? Here are all kinds of mobile phones at a different time. You can learn about their history and even give calls with certain mobile phone in a special DIY room.	The Tea Art Museum Date: October 23-29 Age:17-20 Do you enjoy drinking tea? It’s a relaxing place for enjoying tea and its art. Here you can learn how to make a perfect cup of tea with beautiful sets. And you are sure to know about the history of tea and watch the tea preparation! Tel:768-4030
The Clothing Museum Date: November 15-19 Age:9-14 Whether you are a boy or a girl, you are serious about your dressing. Here you can know how clothing is made of and what clothes around the world are mostly like. If you like, you may learn how to color some kinds of cloth in a special class. Tel:376-9060	The Science Museum Date: November11-25 Age:8-11 You can experience many high-technology products here, such as IT, robots, VR games video arts and so on. And you can explore what   a future city will be like. Here are some science classes for you to choose. It’ll be wonderful. Come for fun! Tel:376-9060

1. The program at the Mobile Phone Museum lasts for ________.

A．five days

B．a week

C．ten days

D．two weeks

2. If you’re interested in the program about clothes, you can phone________.

A．856-3050

B．768-4030

C．568-7080

D．376-9060

3. An eighteen-year-old student can take part in the program at________.

A．the Mobile Phone Museum	B．the Tea Art Museum
C．the Clothing Museum	D．the Science Museum

4. In the Science Museum, you can________.

A．use certain mobile phones	B．enjoy tea and its art
C．learn about dressing	D．experience many kinds of high-technology products

5. From the passage, we can know________.

A．all four programs happen in summer.

B．three programs are about high-technology.

C．all four programs are about high-technology

D．There’re science classes at the Science Museum

7 . Jerry was always in a good mood and had something positive to say. If someone was having a bad day, Jerry would tell them how to look on the positive side of the situation.

One day, I asked him, “I don’t get it! How can you be positive all the time?”

Jerry replied, “Each morning, I say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood.” Several years later, I heard that Jerry was shot by three robbers (抢劫者). Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the local hospital.

I asked him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. Jerry replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared?” I asked. “Yes, I got really scared when I saw the expressions on the face of the doctors.” “What did you do?” I asked.

“Well, when a nurse asked if I was allergic (过敏的) to anything, I shouted, bullets! (子弹)”

“Then they laughed, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me if I am alive, not dead’”

Thanks to the skill of his doctors, Jerry was saved, but also because of his amazing attitude. Attitude after all, is everything.

1. Jerry did everything in a ________ attitude.

A．opposite

B．positive

C．bad

D．terrible

2. During the robbery, ________.

A．three robbers shot Jerry	B．Jerry was in the hospital
C．Jerry fought against the robbers	D．Jerry caught the three robbers

3. The expressions on the face of the doctors shows that ________.

A．the doctors were sure to cure Jerry	B．Jerry was not hurt badly
C．the doctors were Jerry’s relatives	D．Jerry was hurt too badly

4. Through the story, we know that the writer ________.

A．was always in a bad mood, too	B．didn’t agree with what Jerry said and did
C．thought Jerry was brave and great	D．thought Jerry was funny, but foolish

5. Jerry’s story tells us that ________.

A．attitude is important for us	B．good mood may be dangerous sometimes
C．the doctor may be important for patient	D．allergic person can’t see bullets

8 . Each year, people are becoming more and more worried about the future of our planet. People are now starting to agree — global warming will certainly make a difference to the world’s weather. While some parts of the world may have more floods, some other parts might have long periods of dry weather. All of this will have a serious influence on the world’s agriculture (农业). And that could make it difficult for us to get enough food to survive.

This explains the idea behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (种子库). The Seed Vault is built into a mountain on an island near the North Pole (北极). The purpose is to protect the world’s agriculture from future disasters. This may not just be a question of global warming. Perhaps there will be a major nuclear disaster or war one day. These things won’t be a problem for Svalbard.

Some experts think that the population of the earth will probably go up by 50% in the next 40 years. Because of climate change, it probably won’t be easy for some plants to survive. Having many different types of plants will be necessary for agriculture to adapt to changes in the environment. In the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, there is space for 4.5 million types of seed. At the moment there are over 770,000 different types there.

Any country in the world can leave seeds in Svalbard without paying. The seeds of some plants, such as peas, only survive for 20 to 30 years. But others will last for hundreds of years.

In 2028, the Svalbard Vault will celebrate its 20th birthday. 200 years in the future, it’s possible that the ice caps will disappear. Even if this happens, Svalbard will be safe. That’s because it is on a mountain and will be above the sea level. And because it is so close to the North Pole, even if their electricity stops working, the ice will keep a cool temperature of -3.5℃ to keep the seeds in good condition. But the best protection is the fact that it is in such a faraway place. After all, maybe one day this will be the most important building in the whole world.

1. What does the first paragraph mainly introduce?

A．The role of agriculture.	B．The reason for global warming.
C．The future problems we’ll face.	D．The planet where we’ll live in the future.

2. What is the Seed Vault mainly used for?

A．Storing plant seeds.	B．Growing more plants.
C．Discovering new plants.	D．Providing humans with food.

3. What do we know about the Seed Vault?

A．It needs more space.	B．It provides service for free.
C．It is built above a mountain.	D．It will close in 200 years.

4. If there is an electrical problem at the Seed Vault, what will happen to the seeds?

A．They will be sent away.	B．They will still be safe.
C．They will be of no use.	D．They will be planted at once.

9 . Stella was 5 when she had a surgery that left her with casts (石膏) on both legs and a bar between them. It was impossible to wear ______ pants during the recovery.

Like any mother, Puzzo promised to do anything to give Stella ______ to dress. She decided to try it herself. Soon came the first-generation version: a pair of pants was ______ and then sewed in Velcro (尼龙搭扣). It was a simple fix, but a big ______ for Stella．

At the post-operative appointment, Stella wore them. Her doctors were ______ and advised Puzzo to _____ more. “Many parents ask us all the time what to dress their children in, and now you ______ solved that problem,” one doctor added.

When she ______ what the surgeon said with her friend Joanne DiCamillo, it ______ them that this was something missing from the market. It was there that the brand Befree was born.

Later, they worked on the second generation, eventually making a ______ from Velcro to zippers (拉链). They were granted design patents for their pants and ______ their website in 2022, which became an instant hit.

DiCamillo noted that ______ buyers are not limited to just children and adults with disabilities, but including other people ______ from surgeries. Their dream is that in five years, their ______ clothes will be sold alongside traditional clothes.

It is said that ______ is the mother of invention, and this invention came from two mothers with a need: clothing for those with disabilities.

1.

A．casual

B．short

C．traditional

D．loose

2.

A．freedom

B．advantage

C．belief

D．inspiration

3.

A．hung up

B．taken apart

C．given out

D．set aside

4.

A．change

B．problem

C．choice

D．project

5.

A．confused

B．impressed

C．ashamed

D．relaxed

6.

A．order

B．donate

C．make

D．purchase

7.

A．frequently

B．slightly

C．merely

D．basically

8.

A．argued

B．compared

C．shared

D．exchanged

9.

A．occurred to

B．happened to

C．cheated on

D．depended on

10.

A．profit

B．switch

C．contribution

D．mistake

11.

A．launched

B．linked

C．updated

D．visited

12.

A．mature

B．mysterious

C．reliable

D．potential

13.

A．shifting

B．recovering

C．benefiting

D．escaping

14.

A．fashionable

B．expensive

C．adaptive

D．colorful

15.

A．talent

B．courage

C．diligence

D．necessity

10 . If there was an app on your phone that claimed to improve your memory, would you be willing to try it? It’s hard to resist the idea of having a better memory. After all, our memories are delicate and can be affected by various factors such as diseases, injuries, mental health conditions, and aging.

In response to this perceived need, the brain training industry has grown rapidly, offering a wide range of accessible and affordable mental exercises through smartphone and tablet apps. Many researchers have found evidence suggesting that well-designed exercises can improve mental abilities and even lead to better scores on IQ tests. They compare the brain to muscles, suggesting that targeted repetition of memory exercises can strengthen and condition our memory processes, similar to how athletes engage in strength and conditioning by repeatedly exercising specific muscle groups.

In contrast to everyday activities like reading a detailed article or solving a complex puzzle, memory training apps are specifically designed to provide a more challenging workout for the brain. These apps typically involve tasks that require tracking a large number of objects while being distracted by a secondary task, such as mental calculations or exploring a game’s landscape. If this brain training proves effective, it could be beneficial for individuals with brain-related disabilities or those recovering from conditions like cancer.

Critics, though, argue that while the concept is appealing, the overall evidence fails to demonstrate significant improvement in core brain processes. Additionally, despite the claims made by many apps and brain training companies, scientists have yet to identify the key factors that make an intervention truly effective or determine the best approaches to address the diverse needs of individuals seeking help.

While the question is still open to debate, there is evidence suggesting that short-term working memory training can benefit high-functioning individuals, such as college students. However, it’s important to note that brain training, like diet and exercise, is unlikely to have identical effects on every individual.

1. In what way is the brain similar to muscles according to many researchers?

A．In testing results.	B．In work processes.
C．In bodily functions.	D．In training methods.

2. What is the main feature of the typical tasks in memory training apps?

A．Detailed.

B．Effective.

C．Demanding.

D．Complicated.

3. What do critics think memory training apps lack?

A．Legal claims.

B．Proven effects.

C．Tailored services.

D．Appealing concepts.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Can our memory be improved?

B．Does brain training actually work?

C．What have scientists found about memory?

D．What does the brain training industry bring?