1 . Once upon a time, there was a shepherd (牧羊人). He _________ dozens of sheep. He tended (照料) the sheep in the daytime, and kept them in the sheepfold (羊圈) at night.

One morning, the shepherd found that one sheep was _________. His neighbor helped him check the sheepfold. “There is a hole in the wall of your sheepfold. A wolf went in through the hole, and took the sheep away at night. You should _________ the sheepfold quickly and fill up the hole,” the neighbor said.

However, the shepherd was _________ to the neighbor’s advice. He replied, “I have already lost the sheep. It is no _________ repairing the sheepfold.” The next morning, the shepherd found that another sheep was gone.

The neighbor said, “If you had _________ my advice, you wouldn’t have made the same mistake. Aren’t you going to take action right now?”

The shepherd filled up the hole _________ at once. After that, _________ of his sheep was taken away by the wolf.

If there is a mistake, we should _________ it as soon as possible. In this way, we can avoid more __________.

1.

A．raised

B．produced

C．searched

D．hired

2.

A．sick

B．thirsty

C．sleepy

D．missing

3.

A．mend

B．check

C．block

D．tidy

4.

A．married

B．deaf

C．used

D．thankful

5.

A．good

B．excuse

C．use

D．doubt

6.

A．received

B．followed

C．ignored

D．heard

7.

A．immediately

B．carefully

C．hopelessly

D．hardly

8.

A．neither

B．any

C．each

D．none

9.

A．make

B．save

C．correct

D．recover

10.

A．efforts

B．wastes

C．chances

D．losses

2 . Zhang Shuo became a winner of Labor Day Medal of this year. Before that, he was _________ with the title of “the Most Beautiful Worker” on April 30, 2022.

Zhang Shuo got a job of designing advertisements in Harbin in 2015. Two years later, he decided to return to his hometown, Dongsheng Village in Hegang, to help his aging parents with their rice farm. He started his job as a food deliveryman (快递员) in 2018. “I just wanted to use the off season of farming to _________ some money, and I didn’t plan on it becoming a permanent ( 长 期 的 ) job,” he said. “I found the _________ development space, so I decided to _________ and do better.”

Zhang Shuo was always attaching more importance to the quality of service than the quantity of orders. In late December 2018, a snowstorm _________ deliverymen to take food to customers on foot. To prevent the food from getting cold, Zhang Shuo _________ the food with his coat. Around two hours later, the customer received his food and it was still _________. Every time Zhang Shuo finished a(n) _________, he would take away the rubbish outside his customer’s door, which brought him lots of good reviews.

In June, 2019, Zhang Shuo became the manager of the delivery operations of Meituan in Hegang City. Since then, he began to find more ways to help young villagers get out of poverty (贫穷) and increase their _________. “I hope to recruit (招募) more excellent young people and double the size of my team in the future,” he said. “__________, I hope to lead more local people to a better life.”

1.

A．brought

B．lost

C．greeted

D．honored

2.

A．pay

B．earn

C．win

D．spend

3.

A．narrow

B．limited

C．huge

D．little

4.

A．put up

B．stay on

C．watch out

D．hold back

5.

A．forced

B．encouraged

C．warned

D．allowed

6.

A．provided

B．decorated

C．served

D．wrapped

7.

A．cold

B．warm

C．burning

D．freezing

8.

A．order

B．challenge

C．dinner

D．review

9.

A．pressure

B．safety

C．income

D．degree

10.

A．However

B．Otherwise

C．Moreover

D．Therefore

3 . Henry remembers the day well. It was a day that would change his life. He was sitting at the kitchen table, watching his ten-year-old granddaughter, Sophia, do her homework. She had asked him a question about history and was now _________ him with big brown eyes, waiting for an answer. Henry looked at the kettle and then out of the kitchen window. Henry can still hear himself say, “I’m sorry, my dear. I don’t know.”

Henry had spent forty years working as a librarian in a school. He was now _________ and spent his days looking after Sophia. However, he felt that he should be doing more with his life, though he was in his seventies with grey hair and _________ wrinkles in his forehead (额头). As Sophia continued her homework, he read an article in the newspaper about the health _________ of older people going back to university. The article said that it kept the brain _________ and helped prevent loneliness. He made the _________ there and then. The next morning, he would go to Birkbeck, University of London and take a _________ in history.

After four years, Henry got his degree in history. “_________ the course has given me such a sense of achievement,” he says. “It has also made me _________ about doing all the other things that I’ve never had the courage to try before. It’s __________ too old to learn.”

1.

A．pointing to

B．looking for

C．caring about

D．staring at

2.

A．admitted

B．experienced

C．retired

D．educated

3.

A．deep

B．soft

C．high

D．low

4.

A．risks

B．benefits

C．services

D．topics

5.

A．dull

B．calm

C．active

D．secret

6.

A．mistake

B．speech

C．interview

D．decision

7.

A．turn

B．seat

C．picture

D．course

8.

A．Completing

B．Organizing

C．Planning

D．Preparing

9.

A．doubtful

B．confident

C．silent

D．puzzled

10.

A．rarely

B．seldom

C．never

D．only

4 . Down comforters (羽绒被) are frightening pieces to wash. They’re huge, expensive and filled with delicate material.     1    .

Start with a spot treatment. If you’re washing your comforter because it’s dirty, spot-treat it first. Most food and dirt spots should respond to regular washing agent. But for old or tough spots, soak the area and leave it overnight. Whichever remover (去污剂) you choose, please remember: “    2    ”. Usually, this will involve spraying them, twisting and rubbing to push the spot treatment into the fabric.

Wash it at least twice.     3    . Then load your comforter into the washing machine, and run it through a delicate cycle with cold or warm water. Wash it a second time on a quick cycle to clean from the down inside. If your comforter seems a little tight in your washing machine, and you’re not positive it had enough room to move around and expose every gap to the second wash cycle, an additional wash could help.

Dry it well. Thoroughly drying your comforter helps ensure the down inside stays fluffy (蓬松的). You don’t want to cook the down with high heat and damage it, though.     4     and remove it from the dryer throughout the cycle (every 20 minutes or so) to redistribute and fluff the down fill.

    5    . A good cleaning every few years will help your comforter last a long time, but you’ll still want to refresh a deflated comforter between washes. Use the dryer for about an hour every three to four weeks to kill dust mites and dry out any moisture. Low heat is ideal. To address dust mites, use high heat for 20 minutes and then lower the heat for the rest of the cycle.

A．Run it through the dryer

B．Keep your comforter fresh

C．Follow the directions on the bottle strictly

D．But you can wash your comforter yourself

E．Dry your comforter on low or medium heat

F．Washing it many times may actually help you

G．Confirm your comforter is machine washable first

5 . My earliest reading memory takes me back to being five years old, sitting in my grandfather’s cozy study. He would read to me from his French-translated copy of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. I was so familiar with the stories that I could correct him word-for-word if he tried to change something.

Growing up, my favorite book was Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. It was a treasure for an imaginative and lonely child like me. The book was filled with magical elements: a magical carousel, monsters, and the charming scent of autumn leaves lying in the sun. The language was as crisp and sweet as an October apple, awakening in me a deep passion for words and the magic they could bring out. I’ve reread it regularly and it never fails to satisfy me.

In my adult years, I revisited Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. When I first read it at 16, I perceived it as a love story. However, rereading it as an adult, I was struck by how different it seemed to me, and how much of the humour I’d missed. Now I love its poetry. And the love story not only exists between the characters but between Brontë and the North York Moors.

James Joyce’s Ulysses was a book I came back to after 40 years. Initially, at 15, I found it ugly, depressing, and dull, and I hated it. It took me four decades to return to it, and this time, I found myself understanding and beginning to appreciate it. I could see the details, the mythic parallels, the references to different writing styles, and the groundbreaking technique.

Though some exceptional books can develop and grow alongside us, others fall by the wayside. I’ve revisited so many childhood favourites only to find the magic gone, but I’m usually happy to leave the book behind. I’ve taken from it what I need.

1. What was the author’s earliest reading memory?

A．Copying the stories of Rudyard Kipling.

B．Reading Something Wicked This Way Comes.

C．Studying Ulysses for writing styles.

D．Listening to The Jungle Book in French.

2. Which part of Wuthering Heights gave the author a different feeling as an adult?

A．The complex plot.	B．The characters.
C．The humour and poetry.	D．The love story.

3. What do the underlined words “fall by the wayside” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Remain unchanged over years.	B．Lose their original attraction.
C．Gain widespread popularity.	D．Are left by the side of the road.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Changing Power of Reading

B．The Development of Reading Taste

C．The Lifelong Journey of Rereading Classics

D．The Childhood Memories in Reading Habits

6 . Quite often my mother would _________ me to set the family table with the “good china.” Because this _________ with such frequency, I never _________ these occasions. I assumed it was just my mother’s desire.

One evening as I was setting the table, Marge, a neighbor woman, _________ unexpectedly. She _________ on the door, and mother, busy at the stove, invited her to come in. Marge entered the kitchen and, _________ at the beautifully set table, remarked, “Oh, I see you’re expecting _________. I’ll come back another time.”

“No, it’s all right,” replied my mother. “We’re not expecting company.”

“Well then,” said Marge with a(n) _________ look on her face, “why would you have the good china out?”

“Because,” my mom answered, “I’ve prepared my family’s favorite meal. If you _________ your best table for special guests when you prepare a meal, why not for your own __________?”

“Well yes, but your beautiful china will get chips,” responded Marge.

“Oh well,” said Mom __________, “a few chips in the china is a small __________ to pay for the way we always feel as we gather as a family at the dinner table. Besides, all these chips have a story to tell, now don’t they?”

Mom walked to the cupboard and __________ a plate. Holding it up she said, “See this chip? This plate was broken the day we brought our newborn son home. Trying to be __________, my six-year-old daughter dropped that plate as she carried it to the sink. I’ll never forget that day.”

We all laughed. At that moment, I knew for sure that the china held for mother a number of love __________ about our family.

1.

A．beg

B．request

C．push

D．stop

2.

A．occurred

B．started

C．covered

D．exchanged

3.

A．remembered

B．admitted

C．questioned

D．observed

4.

A．settled down

B．came across

C．dropped by

D．passed on

5.

A．knocked

B．beat

C．lay

D．hit

6.

A．aiming

B．laughing

C．glaring

D．glancing

7.

A．company

B．delivery

C．cooks

D．strangers

8.

A．annoyed

B．puzzled

C．exhausted

D．depressed

9.

A．buy

B．set

C．polish

D．repair

10.

A．guest

B．neighbor

C．family

D．boss

11.

A．coolly

B．calmly

C．cautiously

D．casually

12.

A．mistake

B．trouble

C．debt

D．price

13.

A．turned in

B．tidied up

C．took down

D．threw away

14.

A．helpful

B．harmful

C．grateful

D．graceful

15.

A．accidents

B．stories

C．explanations

D．dishes

7 . As I write this, a Bob Seger song is stuck in my head. It’s been playing on repeat ever since I heard it in a movie. I hated it a lot when it first came out years ago, and I still really hate it now. Why, oh why, does an earworm happen? This phenomenon, known as an earworm, is both fascinating and annoying. Earworms are a type of auditory imagery, where we perceive a tone without actually hearing it. When a familiar song is heard and suddenly stopped, some areas of the brain become overly activated in expectation of hearing the rest of the song, and then it fills in the missing pieces.

Anyone can experience earworms, but certain personality characteristics, like openness to experience, may increase their frequency. You may have seen a popular TikTok recently of a guy saying earworms aren’t normal but are instead symptoms of ADHD (多动症) or OCD (强迫症). That’s generally not the case. “It is entirely normal to experience earworms: Over 90% of participants in large-scale surveys report having had earworms at least once a week, and they are not a symptom of any other underlying mental condition,” says Jakubowski. Interestingly, earworms aren’t all bad. Research indicates that they can enhance our ability to recall past events, as the repetitive nature of the song strengthens our memory.

There are several strategies to get rid of earworms. Listening to the entire song can help resolve the unfinished loop. Alternatively, distracting yourself with another melody or engaging in activities that require focus can also be effective. Chewing gum or eating something crunchy may interrupt the song playing in your head. Despite these strategies, sometimes the best approach is to simply accept the presence of the earworm and let it fade away naturally. In my case, trying to actively rid myself of the song only made it more persistent. It seems patience is key when dealing with these stubborn musical guests in our minds.

1. What is an earworm?

A．A type of insect that affects hearing.	B．A song that gets stuck in your head.
C．A medical condition related to the ears.	D．An element missing in a song.

2. Which of the following statement is true about earworms?

A．They cannot be controlled or stopped.	B．They indicate underlying illness.
C．They only occur in certain individuals.	D．They are normal phenomena.

3. What benefit can be expected of earworms?

A．To enhance memory recall of earlier incidents.

B．To increase musical creativity and imagination.

C．To expand openness to new experiences.

D．To improve focus and concentration.

4. How does the author feel about earworms?

A．Concerned and worried.	B．Scientific but negative.
C．Annoyed but accepting.	D．Excited and fascinated.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When did the man’s boss call Jeff?

A．In the morning.

B．In the afternoon.

C．In the evening.

2. How did Jeff explain everything?

A．Over the phone.

B．By e-mail.

C．In person.

3. Why didn’t Jeff come to the office on Tuesday?

A．He was sick.

B．He was off the day.

C．He was working somewhere else.

4. How does the woman sound in the end?

A．Excited.

B．Angry.

C．Surprised.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the speakers doing?

A．Discussing their schedule.

B．Packing for a journey.

C．Deciding on a present.

2. What does Jacques like doing?

A．Swimming.

B．Playing basketball.

C．Reading books on modern art.

3. What will the speakers most probably do next?

A．Find a basketball.

B．Leave home.

C．Call a taxi.

10 . How to Survive Senior High School Life

Anxious about Senior High School (SHS) life?     1     .

Be decisive and self-aware

    2     . You may like the Humanities track but see the Sciences track to be more employable when you graduate. However, your first choice may not end up being what you like after a year. Be self-aware to think if you can still go through or shift to another track that will be better for you in the long run. Be decisive on things before it is too late.

    3    

A basic rule of physics is that you cannot be at two places at the same time and a basic rule of time management is that you cannot do everything all at once. You may regret not going to some activities in exchange for another, but that is life—a series of hard decisions that are equally as important as the other.

Take notes and organize everything

Having many subjects every day and many commitments weekly is hard.     4     . That is why it is important to take notes and have a physical copy of your lessons or meetings, which you can go back to.

Ask for help

In SHS, you will face many challenges in life and school. Getting help and support is important when it comes to adjusting to it.     5     . They are experienced and willing to help you.

A．Remind yourself of your strengths

B．Know that you cannot have and beat everything

C．Instead, think about how you can make it more interesting

D．You can ask teachers, friends or parents for advice and help

E．Here are some pieces of advice on how to make SHS life easier

F．A realistic problem of this is that you may forget the details of some things

G．Your first major decision after becoming a SHS student is which track to choose