1 . Rachel had a healthy life both physically and mentally till one unfortunate winter evening. It was raining cats and dogs; everything was wet. Rachel’s cat went outside in this cold weather. She
Rachel had to face such a (n)
Many people would lose hope.
Her optimism paved the way for a bright future. Her hard work
| A．held up | B．went after | C．handed over | D．put down |
| A．dangerous | B．convenient | C．enjoyable | D．hard |
| A．teach | B．hit | C．get | D．feed |
| A．caring | B．knowing | C．remembering | D．admitting |
| A．stopped | B．shocked | C．seen | D．saved |
| A．breaking | B．pressing | C．burning | D．squeezing |
| A．terrible | B．simple | C．strange | D．important |
| A．tired | B．astonished | C．depressed | D．frightened |
| A．problem | B．risk | C．possibility | D．fact |
| A．emotionally | B．completely | C．economically | D．amazingly |
| A．required | B．allowed | C．limited | D．stressed |
| A．report | B．assign | C．plan | D．perform |
| A．Instead | B．Meanwhile | C．However | D．Therefore |
| A．talk about | B．give up | C．believe in | D．search for |
| A．find | B．hide | C．improve | D．lose |
| A．practiced | B．pretended | C．refused | D．agreed |
| A．reading | B．dancing | C．writing | D．training |
| A．attempts | B．competitions | C．comparisons | D．memories |
| A．chose | B．passed | C．failed | D．missed |
| A．showed off | B．dropped off | C．took off | D．paid off |
When Gloria Estefan started primary school, she could not read, write nor speak English. She felt lost, unhappy and completely frightened. However, someone changed her life—her English teacher, Mrs Collins. Her family had left Cuba in 1959 when she was only a year old in the hope of finding a better life in America. Initially they moved to Miami where the family settled in a set of apartments with other Cuban women and children who had immigrated.
The women were close-knit and supportive. While she felt safe, she was also isolated. They all spoke Spanish, and she rarely heard English. On her very first day in school, which she was looking forward to, she was completely shocked. She came home and told her mother that she had learnt her first English word “stupid”. It was the nickname a boy had given her.
In every way possible, she was set apart from her classmates. She was the only panic and non-white student. She also found it difficult to grasp the English language as it was her second language. The culture, her school friends and the food they ate were different from hers. As such, she was set apart from her classmates.
One person made that year bearable for her, Mrs Collins. She was young and African American, so she understood how Gloria felt as she was the only non-white student in class. Mrs Collins never doubted that Gloria could catch up with the other students in time.
Still, the teasing continued. The boy who called her stupid would not stop laughing at her for her accent. He was a good student and the proud holder of the class’s reading award. It was an honour given periodically to a student, based on excellence in schoolwork, participation and homework. Gloria wanted that long-waited award.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Mrs Collins encouraged her to compete for the reading award.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The award ceremony was coming up.
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3 . As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins (企鹅) longing to say hello. These gentle, lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.
Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love for travel. Throughout her career (职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in the UK, but always longed to explore further. When she retired from dancing and her sons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.
After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travel the world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile. And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the South American mainland. “I just decided I wanted to go,” she says. “I had no idea about what I’d find there and I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to do it. And I wanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.”
In March 2008, Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before, to begin the journey towards Antarctica. “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the whole experience was amazing. Antarctica left an impression on me that no other place has,” Ginni says. “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it just rose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it was smiling at us. You could still hear the operatic sounds it was making underwater.”
The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected by humans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni.
1. Which of the following best explains “take the plunge” underlined in paragraph 2?| A．Try challenging things. | B．Take a degree. |
| C．Bring back lost memories. | D．Stick to a promise. |
| A．Lovely penguins. | B．Beautiful scenery. |
| C．A discount fare. | D．A friend’s invitation. |
| A．It could be a home for her. | B．It should be easily accessible. |
| C．It should be well preserved. | D．It needs to be fully introduced. |
| A．A childhood dream. | B．An unforgettable experience. |
| C．Sailing around the world. | D．Meeting animals in Antarctica. |
4 . While facial recognition technology continues to promote many aspects of human life, it's now being applied to aid the protection of giant pandas, Xinhua News Agency reported on 6 January 2022.
A nature reserve has built an AI-enabled video monitoring system to better protect giant pandas. Installed with 300 infrared (红外线) cameras, the monitoring system helps ensure the health and safety of 110 wild giant pandas there. It was put into operation two years ago, and has captured numerous photos and videos of pandas engaged in activities such as eating, resting and fighting for mates. It provides scientific data to help us grasp pandas’ living conditions and establish conservation strategies. More importantly, it achieves real-time monitoring of the reserve so that we can discern the threats to the wildlife as early as possible.
A recent study found the facial recognition system can automatically recognize various wild animals caught in infrared cameras, allowing researchers to collect data on giant pandas while staying indoors. It's shown that by equipping the AI-aided system to retain the filed photos of giant pandas, we obtain a 98% success rate for species recognition. Its success rate of recognizing other wild animals can top 80%. In 2021 alone, this monitoring system captured 2, 896 photos of giant pandas and other rare animals and filmed 3,218 seconds of footage, showcasing the reserve's sound ecological environment as well as a gradual rise in panda population there.
Head of the reserve's administration, Liu Xingming, said researchers used the system not only to observe the dynamics and health of the giant panda population but also to learn about changes in the natural surroundings of their habitat. “The monitoring system has enabled systematic, scientific, and intelligent conservation of wildlife,” he added. “However, it is expected to be further improved and optimized in the near future.”
1. What does the underlined word “discern” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Solve. | B．Pose. | C．Attach. | D．Detect. |
| A．It precisely recognizes any species. | B．It makes panda population rise rapidly. |
| C．It contributes to species data collection. | D．It understands pandas' facial appearance. |
| A．Critical. | B．Objective. |
| C．Ambiguous. | D．Conservative. |
| A．Panda Facial Recognition Using Database |
| B．Functions of Facial Recognition Technology |
| C．AI Technology for Better Panda Protection |
| D．A Breakthrough in Video Monitoring System |
In my first attempt to get control over my technology use, I set my phone to vibrate rather than ring. Soon after, another problem appeared. The act of continually checking the phone became a habit. I knew then that using only tips to permanently reform digital life is difficult. We should go past the notification settings (通知模式) on our devices or apps and consider the more essential topic of why we use so many apps in the first place. What all of us who are struggling with these challenges need is a technology usage philosophy, something that explains from the ground up which digital tools we allow into our lives, why, and under what conditions.
Cal Newport, a professor of computer science, defines Digital Minimalism (极简主义) as a “philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support the things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.”
To do so, however, we cannot passively allow the tools and apps provided by the internet age to control how we spend our time or how we feel. Instead, we must take steps to draw the positive aspects of these technologies while sidestepping the negative aspects.
1. What does “its danger” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Feeling depressed. |
| B．Getting distracted in a discussion. |
| C．Giving up private moments. |
| D．Losing control of your digital life. |
| A．To make a comparison. |
| B．To explain a phenomenon. |
| C．To bring in a better solution. |
| D．To clarify misunderstandings. |
| A．Ignoring the side effect of digital tools. |
| B．Devoting your screen time to valuable things. |
| C．Spending more time selecting information. |
| D．Getting away from entertainment apps. |
| A．Reforms in life. |
| B．Technology challenges. |
| C．Apps and social media sites. |
| D．Technology usage philosophy. |
6 . The United Kingdom is a land of natural beauty and history, with many of its finest attractions discovered through hiking. Now, dust off your boots, plan according to the following routes presented by a survey of senior hikers and an incredible experience will wait for you.
Wales Coastal Path
Wales is the only country in the world that has an official walking path covering its whole borders. The Wales Coastal Path is a footpath stretching 870 miles from Chester to Chepstow. Walking the whole thing might be demanding, but there are plenty of stretches that can be enjoyed over a day or two.
Southwest Coast Path
You need a fair amount of annual leave, a casual 52 days or so, to undertake this in one go. The route runs from Somerset all the way to Dorset, via rugged cliffs, cute fishing villages and surfing spots along the coastline. You can surely jump on to any point as you like, but you can't afford to miss all the pubs full of jokes and laughter on the way!
Coast to Coast Walk
This long-distance trail isn’t official, but popular in the country, taking hikers from the Irish Sea to the North Sea as it rolls into historic Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. Following local footpaths, the route takes you through three UK National Parks: the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Cleveland Way
You’ll want nine days to folly complete this hike, which explores both the North York Moors and the county’s world-famous coastline. Just make sure you allow enough time to properly enjoy spots like Roseberry Topping hill and pick up a gentle afternoon walk at Whitby’s clifftop church.
1. Who will be more interested in the routes?| A．Explorers in the UK. | B．Hiking lovers. |
| C．Nature photographers. | D．Field researchers. |
| A．Fishing villages. | B．Surfing spots. |
| C．Local pubs. | D．National parks. |
| A．They include cliffs worth visiting. | B．They are official and demanding. |
| C．They run along the coast. | D．They can be completed in a month. |
When the last customer left KFC, it was already 10:30 pm. Adam, an 18-year-old college student, dragged himself home. He had been working at KFC for over a month that summer vacation.
Entering his room, Adam found his younger brother Bill sitting on the edge of his bed with an uneasy expression on his face.
“Sorry, Adam. I … I did something wrong,” Bill sprang up and said nervously.
“What is it?”
“This afternoon I sneaked (溜) out for a ride on your motorcycle and accidentally hit our neighbor Osman Brook’s car. I was so scared and I … I hurried home in panic.”
“Is the car seriously damaged?”
“The left headlight got broken.”
“It’s truly your fault and it’s really dangerous to ride a motorcycle at your age. Besides, it’s illegal,” Adam raised his voice, obviously annoyed. Hearing this, Bill lowered his head and bit his lips hard.
“Anyway, it’s no use crying over spilt milk. I will deal with it tomorrow. Now you go to bed and have a good sleep.”
The next morning when Adam got up, Bill was still sleeping soundly. Adam was more determined about what he ought to do as an elder brother.
After breakfast, Adam took out all the money he had earned and went out of the house with it. In the yard he saw his motorcycle, on whose side the scratches (划痕) were clearly visible. Adam shook his head and sighed slightly. Then he squared his shoulders and quickened his pace to Osman’s house.
When he arrived, he was welcomed by Osman’s wife Mary, who told him that Osman had gone to the garage to have his car repaired.
“I have something important to tell him. Can I wait until he comes back?” Adam requested eagerly.
“Of course. He should be home soon,” Mary invited Adam in, served him a cup of coffee and began chatting with him.
After half an hour, the door opened and in came Osman. Having said hello to each other, Osman and Adam both sat down on the sofa.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Adam cleared his throat and began to speak.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just then, there came a knock at the door.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . During the outbreak, watching TV shows has become the most popular activity, according to a survey by Chinese market research company Guideline Research. The survey also points out that people have many ways to watch shows apart from cable TV. They include smartphones, computers, and tablets.
It’s true that TV is not usually watched on an actual TV anymore. Technology has not only changed where but also how we watch TV.
Streaming (流媒体) networks, rather than live TV, have helped viewers watch their favorite shows when it’s most convenient for them. In the US, content providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime keep people entertained. Users can choose which services offer the shows and movies they like.
Binge-watching (刷剧) has become a new trend due to some companies releasing entire seasons at once. Without having to wait for next week’s episode (集), viewers can watch the whole season in a day, or at whatever pace (速度) they choose. Netflix has also released a choose-your-own-adventure movie, where your choices can affect how the story ends, an idea not possible before with traditional TV.
User-generated (用户创造的) content apps like TikTok are also blurring (模糊)the lines of what is considered TV. This may be the biggest change to the TV landscape, as anyone can compete with professional, big-budget (大制作的) TV shows. This trend shows no sign of slowing down.
1. What does “They” refer to in Paragraph 1?| A．Research companies. | B．Means of watching shows |
| C．People. | D．TV shows. |
| A．Cable TV. | B．TV shows. |
| C．Technology. | D．Tablets. |
| A．Users can watch shows free. |
| B．Users can change the content of a movie. |
| C．Users can enjoy a whole season at once. |
| D．Users can enjoy clearer pictures. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A magazine. |
9 . At 74 James Patterson has sold more than 425 million copies of his 200 novels globally, making him one of the highest paid authors in the world. “I do not work for a living. I play for a living. I love doing it,” Patterson tells CNBC. But Patterson’s road to success didn’t happen overnight. He started writing as a side hustle and he faced a lot of rejection before getting his first book published.
Patterson grew up in the woods in Newburgh, New York with an insurance salesman father and a schoolteacher mother. Despite having dreams of being a writer, the idea “always seemed presumptuous”, Patterson says. But after reading books by James Joyce, “it really turned me on to reading, and then I started writing,” he says.
After college, Patterson got his first job as a junior copy writer at the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson. While climbing the corporate ladder, Patterson wrote his first book, The Thomas Berryman Number in the mid-70s. The book “got turned down by 31 publishers”, Patterson says. But after it was finally published in 1976, “then it won an Edgar Award for best first novel.” The Edgar Award, which is named after Edgar Alan Poe, honors the best writers in mystery fiction and non-fiction.
Despite publishing his first book at age 26, Patterson didn’t have a bestseller until he was 40. “It wasn’t like all of a sudden,” he says. In fact, Patterson kept his day job for decades and got promoted to CEO of J. Walter Thompson in 1988. During that time, Patterson says he would read well over 100 books a year to help spark his creativity. “I have a huge imagination and I’m constantly asking, what about this? What about that?” he says.
Despite his success, Patterson says he doesn’t like to give advice, especially about writing. But he credits his own success to his work ethic and passion. “I also don’t take myself too seriously,” he says. “Yeah, I sell a lot of books, so what?”
1. What do we know about James Patterson?| A．He produced a bestseller when he was 26. |
| B．He read a lot of books to get source of inspiration. |
| C．He worked as a full-time writer when he was young. |
| D．He got inspiration for his first book when climbing a ladder. |
| A．Unrealistic. | B．Contradictory. | C．Imaginative. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．He has sold a lot of books. | B．He doesn’t take his job seriously. |
| C．He values positive attitudes to work. | D．He is unwilling to give advice to readers. |
| A．The Secret to Career Success | B．A Tough Road to a Bestseller Writer |
| C．An Edgar Award Winner | D．A Not-to-be-missed Fiction |
10 . My favourite book is The Adventure of Tom Sauyer by Mark Twain. Tom lives with his aunt Polly in a quiet street of St. Petersburg, Missouri. He’s a lively and clever young boy, and he finds himself in many exciting adventures. He runs away with his two friends, Huck Finn and Joe, to an island in the middle of the Mississippi River for several days. With Huck he goes looking for treasure, with Becky he gets lost in a cave. And finally, they find a box of gold.
My favourite scene in the book is when everyone thinks Tom is dead. He decides to go to his own funeral(葬礼). He hides and watches for a time and then suddenly he appears. Everyone is surprised to see him but they’re also pleased to see him alive.
Tom is the hero of the story, but there are other important characters. Huck is an outsider and everyone is afraid of him. Becky is pretty with fair hair, Joe is Tom’s best friend. And Injun Joe is the bad man of the story.
The theme of the story is about children growing up. It describes how strangers are seen in small towns of America. Finally, it talks about freedom, social rules and how people are punished for bad behaviour.
Why do I think The Adventure of Tom Sawyer is a great book? Mark Twain wrote the story in 1876, but it’s still read and loved by people all over the world today. And although it’s only a story, Twain wrote it in the everyday English of the southern states of America in the 19th century, so it sounds very real. Today its thought to be one of the greatest books in American literature. Go on-read it! I know you’ll enjoy it, too.
1. Where does Tom run away with his two friends?| A．To a quiet street. | B．To a small town. | C．To an island. | D．To a forest. |
| A．Huck Finn. | B．Joe. | C．Becky. | D．Polly. |
| A．They were surprised and happy. |
| B．They were surprised and sad. |
| C．They were worried and excited. |
| D．They were frightened and happy. |
| A．To recommend the book for you. |
| B．To explain the history of America. |
| C．To tell us when Mark Twain wrote the story. |
| D．To explain why the story sounds very real. |
