1 . My 13-year-old daughter sent a postcard to us while we were still away on our most recent trip to California. It ______ our house about a week later. The touching ______ nearly brought me to tears.

“Even though we ______ have two days of adventures ahead of us, I am just so ______ for everything we have experienced together on this trip,” she writes.

Our youngest daughter is just about to ______ 11 years old. In those years, we have never taken a true ______ as a family of four to a place we’ve never been. Like most ______, I have no idea where the time has gone. But I also think these are some of the best ages to ______ with kids.

This vacation to California was our very first ______, long-distance trip together. The kids helped ______ the trip with input on things they might like to see and do. They reached for our hands in crowds. I can’t remember the last time they held our hands ______.

One of our family bonding moments came when we took a family surfing lesson. It was the first time any of us had tried surfing, although it was something the girls had been ______. The smiles on the girls’ faces were everything. They were so ______ when they stood up on the board and rode the waves one by one.

Those are memories I’m going to ______. And yes, I will remind them of these times the next time I reach for their ______.

1.

A．left

B．mentioned

C．passed

D．reached

2.

A．note

B．diary

C．journal

D．report

3.

A．never

B．already

C．ever

D．still

4.

A．inspired

B．sorry

C．grateful

D．nervous

5.

A．dislike

B．match

C．turn

D．remain

6.

A．vacation

B．picture

C．walk

D．look

7.

A．visitors

B．parents

C．writers

D．educators

8.

A．discuss

B．work

C．travel

D．celebrate

9.

A．extended

B．unexpected

C．busy

D．temporary

10.

A．plan

B．recall

C．imagine

D．judge

11.

A．hopefully

B．willingly

C．peacefully

D．curiously

12.

A．tired of

B．interested in

C．involved in

D．good at

13.

A．terrified

B．sad

C．proud

D．careful

14.

A．take up

B．hold onto

C．carry out

D．know about

15.

A．faces

B．souls

C．hands

D．letters

2 . Many years ago, a teenage boy named David arrived at a children’s institution in England. He was referred to me, a (an)_________, by his head teacher. David had lost both his parents and was understandably sad and_________. I met with him twice, but he _________ silent.

I recognized the limitations of psychology in _________ his deep pain but found that empathetic listening and shared activities like chess provided a safe space for David to _________. So we played every Wednesday afternoon in _________ and without any eye contact. I _________ to ensure he won once or twice, providing a sense of _________ and success.

Gradually, David began to _________. He arrived early and __________ participated in setting up the chessboard. It seemed as if he enjoyed my __________. I thought David needed someone to share his pain with, and he sensed my respect for his __________. Months later, I watched David __________ over the chessboard. Suddenly, he looked up at me and said, “Your __________.” After that, he started talking and making friends. He wrote to me about his bike rides and plans to get into university. Later, he really started living his own life.

David showed me how one can reach out to another person without __________, just with a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or an ear that listens.

1.

A．doctor

B．tutor

C．adviser

D．psychologist

2.

A．ashamed

B．depressed

C．disappointed

D．annoyed

3.

A．remained

B．seemed

C．fell

D．became

4.

A．feeling

B．understanding

C．addressing

D．causing

5.

A．relax

B．heal

C．speak

D．play

6.

A．peace

B．chaos

C．silence

D．pain

7.

A．backed

B．expected

C．struggled

D．cheated

8.

A．comfort

B．security

C．direction

D．belief

9.

A．open up

B．show off

C．break down

D．fit in

10.

A．regularly

B．slowly

C．actively

D．curiously

11.

A．communication

B．company

C．contact

D．recognition

12.

A．suffering

B．loss

C．participation

D．progress

13.

A．thinking

B．turning

C．bending

D．tripping

14.

A．chance

B．favor

C．duty

D．turn

15.

A．limitation

B．hesitation

C．regret

D．words

3 . Many of our family traditions centered around food. We’d gather in the kitchen for every birthday and holiday and enjoy delicious food. My grandparents always held Christmas dinner, which included chicken cacciatore, sausage, meatballs and salad. But right before we sat down to eat, my grandmother would pull me aside to show me the dish she made just for me: fresh pasta (意大利面) with tomato sauce.

It was a simple dish, but to me it was warm food that filled me with happiness. But more than that, it made me feel like I belonged. I was a shy kid and, in many situations, I felt ignored. And here was my grandmother, showing me that I mattered.

Years went by; I moved away and got married. I’d visit throughout the years and my grandmother would serve up a plate of pasta.

When my daughter was born in 2020, for the first time in my life I wasn’t about to make the trip back home for Christmas. I cooked my family’s traditional foods and my husband and I had a big meal that included, of course, fresh pasta. I had a video call with my grandmother and showed her the pasta. Shortly after the holidays she passed away unexpectedly.

It seemed so unfair that my grandmother passed away soon after I became a parent. I’d hold my daughter and think about how I could tell her what an amazing great-grandmother she had.

In my sadness I came to an answer: food. Late at night after my daughter had gone to bed, I’d go to the kitchen and learn how to make fresh pasta, cooking my grandmother’s recipes. Before long I started experimenting, making a bit changes to classic recipes. When my daughter got a little older, I began making special dishes for her with my grandmother’s flavors in mind.

I know that no matter how hard I try, my daughter will never have a bowl pasta with sauce exactly like the ones my grandmother would make for me. While that makes me sad, she’ll still get to have my pasta sauce. I know there’re two things she’ll never lack for in this life: pasta and love.

1. What did the author say about her grandmother’s homemade pasta?

A．It was a special birthday gift for her.	B．It brought her a sense of belonging.
C．It was loved by every family member.	D．It took a lot of time and energy to prepare.

2. What made the author’s 2020 Christmas dinner different from previous ones?

A．She didn’t share pasta with her husband.

B．She didn’t give her grandmother a call.

C．She didn’t prepare many traditional family foods.

D．She didn’t have a chance to eat her grandmother’s pasta.

3. Why did the author learn to make fresh pasta late at night?

A．To honour her grandmother.	B．To give her daughter a surprise.
C．To meet her grandmother’s wish.	D．To be a role model for her daughter.

4. What can we learn about the author’s pasta sauce?

A．It isn’t easy to make.	B．It isn’t to her daughter’s liking.
C．It tastes exactly the same as her grandmother’s.	D．It shows her love for her daughter.

5. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Different types of pasta	B．The origin of pasta
C．Love through pasta	D．Pasta for Christmas

4 . A recent global study, which surveyed 10,000 young people from 10 countries, showed that nearly 60 percent of them were extremely worried about the future state of the planet. The report, which was published in The Lancet, also showed that nearly half of the respondents said that such distress affected them daily, and three quarters agreed with the statement that “the future is frightening.” This, along with many other studies, shows clearly that climate change is not just a threat to the environment that we inhabit. It also poses a very real threat to our emotional well-being. Psychologists have categorized these feelings of grief and worry about the current climate emergency, a common occurrence among youth today, under the label of “eco-anxiety”.

Eco-anxiety doesn’t just affect young people. It also affects researchers who work in climate and ecological science, burdened by the reality depicted by their findings, and it affects the most economically marginalized (边缘化的) across the globe, who bear the damaging impacts of climate breakdown.

In 2024, eco-anxiety will rise to become one of the leading causes of mental health problems. The reasons are obvious. Scientists estimate that the world is likely to breach safe limits of temperature rise above pre-industrial levels for the first time by 2027.

In recent years, we’ve seen wildfires tear through Canada and Greece, and summer floods ruin regions in Pakistan that are home to nearly 33 million people. Studies have shown that those impacted by air pollution and rising temperatures are more likely to experience psychological distress.

To make matters worse, facing climate crisis, our political class is not offering strong leadership. The COP28 conference in Dubai will be headed by an oil and gas company executive. In the UK, the government is backtracking on its green commitments.

Fortunately, greater levels of eco-anxiety will also offer an avenue for resolving the climate crisis directly. According to Caroline Hickman, a researcher on eco-anxiety from the University of Bath, anyone experiencing eco-anxiety is displaying entirely natural and rational reactions to the climate crisis. This is why, in 2024, we will also see more people around the world join the fight for climate justice and seek jobs that prioritize environmental sustainability. Campaigners will put increased pressure on fossil fuel industries and the governments to rapidly abandon the usage of polluting coal, oil, and gas.

It’s now clear that not only are these industries the main causes for the climate crisis, they are also responsible for the mental health crisis, which is starting to affect most of us. Eco-anxiety is not something we will defeat with therapy, but something we will tackle by taking action.

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The cause of eco-anxiety is emotions existing in our mind.

B．People in developed countries are more likely to suffer from eco-anxiety.

C．Eco-anxiety is a new kind of psychological disease due to climate change.

D．The author is disappointed about government behaviour towards climate crisis.

2. What does the underlined word “breach” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．Break.

B．Reach.

C．Raise.

D．Affect.

3. As for Caroline Hickman’s opinion on eco-anxiety, the author is         .

A．puzzled

B．favourable

C．suspicious

D．unconcerned

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

A．Who Is to Blame for Eco-anxiety?

B．How Should You See Eco-anxiety?

C．How Will Eco-anxiety Be Resolved?

D．Why Do People Suffer from Eco-anxiety?

5 . Artificial intelligence is almost twice as accurate as a biopsy (活组织检查) at judging the aggressiveness of some cancers, experts say. Cancer kills 10 million people globally every year, according to the WHO. But for patients the disease can be prevented if detected instantly and dealt with quickly.

A recent study suggested an AI algorithm (算法) was far better than a biopsy at correctly grading the aggressiveness of sarcomas (肉瘤), a rare form of cancer. Researchers hope AI will improve outcomes for patients by giving doctors a more accurate way of grading tumours (肿瘤). Because high-grade tumours can indicate aggressive disease, the tool could help ensure those high-risk patients are identified more quickly and treated instantly. Low-risk patients could also be spared unnecessary treatments, follow-up scans and hospital visits.

Researchers say the algorithm could be applied to other types of cancer in future. The team specifically looked at retroperitoneal sarcomas, which develop at the back of the abdomen and are difficult to diagnose (诊断) and treat due to their location. They used CT scans from 170 patients with the two most common forms of retroperitoneal sarcoma — leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma. Using data from these scans they created an AI algorithm, which was then tested on 89 patients in other countries. In grading how aggressive the tumour was, the technology was accurate in 82% of the cases, while biopsies were 44%.

AI could also recognize leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma in 84% of sarcomas tested, while radiologists were able to identify them in 65% of the cases. Christina Messiou, the study leader, said: “We’re incredibly excited by the potential of this state-of-the-art technology, which could lead to patients having better outcomes through faster diagnosis. As patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma are routinely scanned with CT, we hope this tool will eventually be used globally, ensuring that not just specialist centres can reliably identify and grade the disease.”

Richard Davison, chief executive of Sarcoma UK, said the results looked “very promising”. He added: “People are more likely to survive sarcoma if diagnosed early. One in six people with sarcoma cancer wait more than a year to receive an accurate diagnosis, so any research that helps patients receive better treatment and support is welcome.”

1. According to the passage, AI is capable of        .

A．grading the risk of sarcomas

B．measuring the scale of sarcomas

C．providing cancer treatment for clinicians

D．classifying cancers with its advanced algorithm

2. What can be inferred from this passage?

A．More sarcomas can be detected with the help of AI.

B．Biopsies will be replaced by AI algorithm in identifying cancers.

C．More patients suffering from cancers will benefit from AI algorithm.

D．AI algorithm has been applied in hospitals for detecting most cancers.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．AI has a profound market in curing cancers.

B．New treatments for sarcomas are well underway.

C．AI helps identify high-risk and low-risk patients.

D．AI does better in assessing some types of sarcomas.

6 . I didn’t go to Santiago, Chile to look for friendship. In fact, Chile was not even on my wish list.

A mid-life crisis woman, I got a chance to study abroad. I only wanted to learn about global business, taste South American cuisine, and check “study abroad” off my wish list.

On the fifth day, I joined a group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty (扶贫) organization. Our tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. Upon arrival, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a horrible film. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such terrible living conditions. As advised, I showed no signs of the motional battle going on inside me.

Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help Nadia, a local resident who volunteered to cook for us. I raised my hand to help because I wanted spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.

Nadia had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. Even without speaking each other’s language we started to learn about one another. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, shared picture of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate in the other’s language, and laugh many times.

After we fed everybody and the dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness heart I would encounter, and it was moving.

As we were waiting for the car to pick us up, Nadia showed me her plants that are well-maintains. I could see that despite the hard conditions she was passionate about life. She made me long to be stronger person. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.

1. What was the author’s initial purpose of going to Chile?

A．To find new friends while traveling.	B．To participate in an anti-poverty project.
C．To fulfill the desire to study abroad.	D．To gain a graduate certificate in business.

2. What did the author do after seeing the living conditions in the neighborhood?

A．She decided to relieve the poverty.	B．She kept her emotions well hidden.
C．She comforted the shocked volunteers.	D．She refused to continue the present task.

3. Why did the author volunteer to work with Nadia?

A．She felt very sympathetic toward Nadia.

B．She longed to interact with the local residents.

C．She wanted to improve her Spanish speaking skills.

D．She preferred cooking to painting the community center.

4. What did the author learn from Nadia?

A．True friends are never apart in heart.

B．Happiness is defined by a positive attitude.

C．Language is not a barrier to great connections.

D．Unselfishness is putting others before ourselves.

7 . We know that keeping an organized space is a key factor in overall mental well-being. So, how to tackle a big decluttering project?

    1    

Much like closing down a restaurant or retail store for the night, have a routine for the end of your day that involves some easy, satisfying tasks. Maybe it’s having the coffee pot clean and ready to help you wake up in the morning.

Notice your “problem” spots

Pay attention to areas in your home that constantly demand attention, like the bathroom shelf that always overflows with products.     2    . Notice what is taking up most of your attention, and then brainstorm easy solutions that can catch the issue before it gets too big.

Set a timer

Five, eight, ten, or twenty minutes are all acceptable amounts of time to spend chipping away at an untidy area in your home. Progress is progress, whether it’s regular or one-and-done.     3    . A decluttering project does not have to be finished in a day!

Get help

    4    . Define a specific job to take on, like clearing out a closet or dresser drawer, and bring in someone who will support you emotionally and even make it fun time together.

Embrace the physical activity

Maybe you are struggling to fit a regular workout into your routine. Lean into the physical aspect of clutter-clearing to feel like you’re meeting two goals at once by relocating books or bringing clothes to the donation bin.     5     — celebrate yourself for getting moving while you clean up.

A．Make cleaning an easy habit

B．Hire a home organizing professional

C．Even washing the dishes is a physical activity

D．Be patient with the big picture of your clutter-clearing needs

E．Don’t ignore the snack packages that never make it to the trash can

F．You do not have to be alone in your journey toward a clean home

G．You’ll feel fulfilled when you have a completely clutter-free existence

8 . The philosophy of minimalism advocates living with less.     1    . Whereas, living a minimalist (简约主义者) lifestyle helps reduce your attachment to physical things, improve your mental health and your satisfaction with what you do have. You can embrace such a lifestyle in the following aspects.

Physical space

At the heart of minimalist living lies the practice of clearing away clutter (杂乱) in your physical space. This includes a transformative process not only tidying but also developing a mindful relationship with possessions. You may start with the most frequently used spaces in your home.     2    . Keep those that carry some meaning, and get rid of those that don’t.

    3    .

This involves a shift from impulsive (容易冲动的) buying to intentional acquisition. Before making a purchase, clothing for example, reflect on whether the item agrees with your usual style and serves a genuine need. Consideration should be given to the longevity and quality of the item, promoting a mindset that prioritizes quality over quantity.

Time minimalism

    4    . Assess your commitments, identifying those that contribute positively to personal growth, fulfilment and well-being. This intentional approach to time promotes a sense of empowerment, allowing you to focus on what truly matters while letting go of non-essential engagements.

Mindful eating

Mindful eating begins with paying attention to hunger and satiety (饱足), allowing us to respond to our body’s needs rather than external stimuli like flavors and textures (口感) of each meal. Besides, mindful eating encourages us to enjoy each bite and appreciate the sensory experience of eating.     5    .

A．Minimalist clothing

B．Mindful consumption

C．It is about consciously investing your time

D．The result is a living space reflecting your personality

E．In a world that often celebrates abundance, it stands as a contrast

F．This matters especially in a culture often characterized by rushed meals

G．When doing it, you will find yourself questioning the necessity of each item

9 . Pingtan, the biggest island off the coast of Fujian Province, is popular with tourists these days. It has also attracted many ________ seeking a pleasant place to settle down. Among them is Italian fashion ________ Filippo Strada, who has lived on the island for four years.

Born in Milan, Strada has a well-developed ________ of fashion design. It is this love of fine clothing that led him to a career in the industry. Over the past decade, he has ________ his career in China, living in various cities. ________, due to his growing business and ________ travels, Strada spent a lot of time away from home. After his daughter was born, he made up his mind to go back to his wife’s hometown of Pingtan in 2018.

Strada ________ Pingtan with his family, determined to build a happy home on the island. But he also had a dream of building a successful business there, making the most of the local ________ development. Strada had a winning idea. He would ________ his heritage to provide goods and services with an authentic Italian ________. Starting from zero, Strada now ________ a high-end tailor shop, a cafe and an Italian restaurant in Pingtan, ________ exotic (异域风情的) experiences to both locals and tourists.

As for the future, Strada plans to ________ Chinese and English salons (沙龙) in his Italian restaurant to ________ more knowledge of Western culture. “I’m very willing to do my part to make Pingtan a (n) ________ and diverse community that is popular around the world,” he said.

1.

A．foreigners

B．businessmen

C．travelers

D．engineers

2.

A．model

B．stylist

C．critic

D．graduate

3.

A．application

B．system

C．appreciation

D．relationship

4.

A．boosted

B．improved

C．achieved

D．pursued

5.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．Besides

6.

A．urgent

B．frequent

C．recreational

D．exhausting

7.

A．contributed to

B．adapted to

C．settled in

D．believed in

8.

A．political

B．major

C．potential

D．economic

9.

A．make use of

B．get rid of

C．keep track of

D．take care of

10.

A．environment

B．flavor

C．fashion

D．record

11.

A．reopens

B．monitors

C．possesses

D．decorates

12.

A．awarding

B．announcing

C．offering

D．showing

13.

A．fund

B．evaluate

C．attend

D．organize

14.

A．spread

B．acquire

C．compare

D．discuss

15.

A．virtual

B．dynamic

C．intelligent

D．independent

10 . 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