June 8 is Best Friends Day, a day to celebrate your best friends and let them know how important they are to you.
Best friends are the most understanding and thoughtful,
Whether you grew up with them
2 . When you hear the beginning of your favorite song from the radio, suddenly your neck is covered in goose bumps.
It's such a thing that a group of scientists call “skin excitement”—a feeling of cold caused not by a drop in temperature or sudden scare, but by the sense of beauty. “Skin excitement” can come from a song, a painting, a moving movie scene, or even a beloved memory-pretty much anything that causes the giving out of pleasure-soaked dopamine in your brain. But it does not come for all of us.
Your favorite music uncovers a lot about your personality，and so does how you respond to that music. Studies suppose that as few as 55 percent of people experience “skin excitement” when listening to music. And if you count yourself among this group, the goose bumps on your skin aren't the only giveaway—scientists can read it in your brain, too. In a new study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Harvard researchers performed brain scans on 10 students who said they reliably got cold when listening to music, and 10 students who didn't. They found that the cold-prone brains may really be excited by stronger emotions.
Cold-prone brains are generally more likely to show stronger emotional intelligence than no-cold brains. Cold-prone minds tend to have unusual active imagination, reflect more deeply on their emotions, and appreciate nature and the beauty of music and art to a stronger degree than no-cold brains.
So, what type of music causes the chills? It seems that the type is not so important; participants in the new study reported getting cold from songs of every kind. And any song connected with a strong emotional memory of the listener can produce the most reliable results. For me, that's the song Sailing to Philadelphia by Mark Knopfler, which I listened to as a kid in the car with my dad, on the way to the summer camp.
1. What can we learn about “skin excitement” in the text?| A．It helps to produce doparmine. | B．It is caused by the pain in the skin. |
| C．It can be experienced by every music listener. | D．It is the human body's reaction to something nice. |
| A．The percentage of music lovers in students. |
| B．The solutions to the goose bumps on one's skin. |
| C．The differences between cold-prone and no-cold brains. |
| D．The relationship between one's music preference and personality. |
| A．Beautiful and intelligent. | B．Emotional and dishonest. |
| C．Imaginative and sensitive. | D．Brave and strong-minded. |
| A．Responses to Music Vary among People | B．A Feeling of Cold Is Caused by Horrible Music |
| C．Your Favorite Music Reveals Your Personality | D．Favorite Music May Bring Forth Goose Bumps |
3 . Teachers in poor areas are always being asked to do more with less. They're given smaller budgets and larger tasks in schools that employ fewer teachers and take in more students. But none of these struggles can quite compare to the challenges faced by a computing teacher Akoto in Ghana who teaches his students how to use computers.
Akoto recently posted photos of his classroom, and they've gotten quite a response. Akoto is an information and communication technology (ICT) teacher who has been assigned to teach his students without using an actual computer. So like any good teacher, Akoto teaches them by drawing pictures of a computer on the blackboard.
Akoto recently shared images of one of his computer lessons, in which he can be seen using multi-colored chalk to draw the features of Microsoft Word software on the blackboard. In one of the photos, you can see his students drawing the same images in their notebooks.
One might ask, "Why do they bother to take such a challenging course?" But here's the reason: Even though the students at Akoto's school don't have computers, they are still required to pass a national exam that includes a section on computing skills before they move or to high school.
So Akoto does what he needs to do to ensure that his students understand the material He has drawn pictures many times for his students over his six years and just happened to share the pictures this time on Facebook. He says he has his own personal laptop, but it is different from the one Akoto is required to teach. He doesn't bring it to class for fear of confusing the kids with a computer that they have never seen.
The good news is that those Facebook pictures made their way to the right place. Microsoft Africa promised to give him some proper resources. Others also stepped up to the plate and helped out Akoto. NIIT Ghana, an information technology training institution, donated five computers to Akoto's school and one for Akoto himself. A PhD student at the University of Leeds in the U. K. inspired by Akoto also donated a computer.
1. Which of the following best describes the state of Akoto's school?| A．Well-funded. | B．Underdeveloped. | C．Full-equipped. | D．Unattended. |
| A．They model after his behavior in class. | B．They learn to identify multi-colored chalk. |
| C．They usually take photos of the computers. | D．They often share images of their lessons online. |
| A．He is unwilling to share it. | B．He is confused by its system. |
| C．He is uncertain about its function. | D．He is afraid to puzzle his students |
| A．To stand still is to move back. | B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．Great things can be achieved by joint effort. | D．A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
4 . An 85-year-old primary school constructed in 1935 in Shanghai has been lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated using new technology called the “walking machine.” The project marks the first time this “walking machine” method has been used in Shanghai to relocate a historical building.
Urbanization（都市化）has continued to significantly threaten architectural heritage. In the capital Beijing, for instance, more than 1,000 acres of its historic hutongs and traditional courtyard homes were destroyed between 1990 and 2010.
In the early 2000s, cities including Nanjing and Bejjing-due to the critics’ protest about the loss of old neighborhoods-drew up long-term plans to preserve what was left of their historic sites, with protections introduced to safeguard buildings and restrict developers.
These conservation efforts have taken different forms. In Beijing, a near-ruined temple was transformed into a restaurant and gallery, while in Nanjing, a cinema from the 1930s was restored to its original form, with some additions providing it for modern use. In 2019, Shanghai welcomed Tank Shanghai, an arts center built in renovated（重修的）oil tanks.
“Relocation is not the first choice, but better than destroying,” said Lan, the Shanghai primary school’s project supervisor. “I’d rather not touch the historical buildings at all.” Building relocations he said however, are “a workable option.” “The central government is putting more emphasis on the protection of historical buildings. I’m happy to see that progress in recent years.”
Shanghai has arguably been China’s most progressive city when it comes to heritage preservation. The survival of a number of 1930s buildings and 19th-century “shikumen” （or “stone gate”） house have offered examples of how to give old buildings new life.
“We have to preserve the historical building no matter what, ” Lan said. “The relocation has challenges, but in general, it is cheaper than destroying and then rebuilding something in a new location.”
1. How did cities respond to the loss of historical sites?| A．They criticized the developers. | B．They rebuilt the historic hutongs. |
| C．They ended the significant threat. | D．They proposed the protection project. |
| A．All original form. | B．A new addition. | C．A cinema. | D．A temple. |
| A．Provide strong evidence. | B．Introduce different opinions. |
| C．Summarize previous paragraphs. | D．Add some background information. |
| A．Walking Machine: a New Technology | B．Rebuilding: a New Option for Relics |
| C．Old Building Torn down for Modern Use | D．Historical Site “Walks” to New Life |
One June evening, Sylvia, 8, was driving her cow home through the woods. Suddenly a clear whistle broke the peace. Before she could hide into the bushes, she was stopped by a young man, who carried a gun over his shoulder. “Hello, little girl. I am hunting for some birds but I have lost my way,” he said kindly. “Can I spend the night at your house?” Sylvia hesitated for a while and agreed to take him home at last.
Sylvia’s grandma was really kind. She cooked for the young man and chatted with him. “Sylvia is very shy but she is popular with birds,” Grandma said proudly. “Birds come and feed right out of her hands, and all sorts of birds.”
“So Sylvia knows all about birds?” he asked excitedly. “I am making a collection of birds myself.”
“Do you cage them up?” asked Grandma.
“Oh no, they’re stuffed (制作标本) and preserved,” said the young man. “I came here for a white heron (鹭), a tall white bird with long thin legs. It would have a nest perhaps in the top of a high tree.” He looked at Sylvia, hoping for some answers. Sylvia’s heart gave a wild beat. She knew the bird, but she said nothing.
“I would offer ten dollars to any helper,” the man added desperately. Ten dollars was really a big sum. Sylvia agreed with a nod.
The next day they started early, the young man going first and Sylvia following. He proved to be really kind and told her many things about birds. She could not understand why he killed the very birds he seemed to like so much. In the evening, they returned, empty-handed.
Lying in bed, Sylvia suddenly thought of a great pine-tree, which stood at the farther edge of the woods and towered far above the others. “If I climb it at daybreak, maybe I could easily discover from where the white heron flew, and mark the place, and find the hidden nest.” she thought. What a big secret!
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。
Sylvia stole out of the house before daybreak.
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Seeing Sylvia back in dust, Grandma and the young man were surprised.
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I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand.
Anil was about 25—a tall, thin fellow—and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I might be able to get into his confidence.
I gave him my most appealing smile. “I want to work for you.” I said.
“But I can't pay you.”
Perhaps I had misjudged the man. I asked, “Can you feed me?”
“Can you cook?”
“I can cook.” I lied.
“If you can cook, then I can feed you.”
The meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and old me to be off. But I just hung around smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn't help laughing.
Later he patted me on the head and said never mind, he'd teach me to cook. He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve.
One evening he came home with a small bundle of notes, saying he had just sold a book to a publisher. At night, I saw him put the money under the mattress (床垫).
It's time I did some real work, I told myself. After all, he doesn't even pay me.
Anil was asleep. I crept up to the bed. Anil was sleeping peacefully. My hand slid under the mattress, searching for the notes. When I found them, I drew them out without a sound. Anil sighed in his sleep and turned on his side, towards me. I was frightened and quickly crawled out of the room.
I began to run, holding the notes by the string of my pajamas (睡衣). But I slowed down and sat down in the shelter of the clock tower. I should go back to Anil, I told myself, if only to learn to read and write.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I awoke late next morning to find that Anil had already made the tea.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Aram and Rossi’s Bakery
Walking along the narrow brick sidewalk, Aram took a deep breath. The air smelled of lemons and baked bread and coffee, coming from Rossi’s Italian Bakery. He was almost there.
Aram still couldn’t believe his luck. All his friends were working boring summer jobs—waiting tables and babysitting. And here he was, about to start as an actual baker’s assistant, doing what he loved. It was all thanks to his Aunt Rita. She knew Mrs Rossi and had arranged everything. It was the perfect experience for his future career. Rossi’s Bakery, he was sure, would one day be known as the place where he got his start.
Ah, here he was—the bakery. A faded wooden sign over the door read “Rossi’s Bakery.” Aram straightened his shoulders and entered. Mrs Rossi was sitting at the counter, looking old and wise. Aram greeted her and stuck out his hand. Mrs Rossi looked at it for a second before turning around and waving him inside. “I’m ready to learn everything,” Aram said.
“Great. Let’s start with the cash register,” Mrs Rossi said, “because that’s what you’ll be doing.” She showed him how to use the cash register. It wasn’t hard. The pastry trays were all marked by price, and there weren’t that many choices anyway. “That’s it?” Aram said, his heart sinking. “But when do we bake?”
“Bake? I order wholesale now. No more baking. I’m too old.” Then Mrs Rossi silently held up her hands. Aram took in her knotted, swollen fingers, and he understood. A wave of disappointment struck him. Sadness overwhelmed him so suddenly that he couldn’t think of a word to say.
He sighed, and Mrs Rossi sighed, too. “I used to bake it all. Bread and cakes. And no one did it better than me. But that was when these things worked,” said Mrs Rossi holding up her hands once more and glancing across the shelves filled with empty bottles labelled with names of the various ingredients (配料) she once used. Suddenly she came alive, waving her arthritic (关节炎的) hands. “People used to line up around the corner. Everyone wanted my baked bread.”
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。
Then a thought occurred to Aram that he could ask Mrs Rossi to teach him.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mrs Rossi finally said, “Let’s buy the ingredients first.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . Twelve-year-old Lydia Denton was recently named the winner of CITGO's Fueling Education Student Challenge, where she earned $20,000 after creating the Beat the Heat Car Seat, which is a portable device placed in the car seat that not only senses weight over five pounds but monitors temperature when the baby is in the seat.
The soon-to-be seventh grader says she became inspired to make the invention after watching the news that babies were being left in hot cars, often by accident.“At first, I thought about raising money for the families, but that wouldn't fix the problem: I wanted to invent something that could prevent the deaths from happening.”
Lydia's device is started when it senses the weight of the child and the temperature setting reaches over 100 F (38℃). At that point, an alarm goes off and a warning is sent via SMS to the parents. If the parents don't reset the device within 60 seconds, a built-in GPS chip sends a message to local authorities with the vehicle's location. After many rounds of testing with her local 911, Lydia is proud to say that Beat the Heat Car Seat is a success.
Though many newer vehicles come with warning systems and smart seat systems, Lydia's goal was to create a device that would reach more people and that could also transfer from car seat to car seat as the child grew. She decided to use her prize money to continue making improvements on the device, which would sell for only about $40.
Lydia is now working with an instructor who is helping her with production and teaching her about business. Lydia hopes that her work will inspire more kids of her age to make their ideas come true. “Don't think that you have to accept things in the world. If there is something that bothers you, think of ways to make it better!”
1. Why did Lydia make the invention?| A．To win 20,000-dollar prize. |
| B．To raise money for unlucky families. |
| C．To help stop babies dying in hot cars. |
| D．To guarantee babies' safety in a car crash. |
| A．How it works. | B．What it consists of. |
| C．Why it raises the alarm. | D．How parents respond to it. |
| A．It will be much stronger. | B．It will be more affordable. |
| C．It will be less problematic. | D．It will be more effective on older kids. |
| A．No competition, no progress. |
| B．It's never too late to go into business. |
| C．One should be open to any suggestion. |
| D．Creative thinking is the key to success. |
9 . A number of people hold an optimistic attitude toward artificial intelligence's ability to reshape education nowadays. However, many feel such claims are overblown.
Kentaro Toyama, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, is one of those doubtful about the idea of using AI in the classroom.
Toyama mentioned a situation he encountered while working in an after-school program in digital literacy（数字技术素养）. He said, “In trying to teach students to use technology, the greatest difficulty is the technology itself." As soon as he looked away from the students, they would “very quickly find the most fun games they could find on the computer and start playing them”. That reveals the problem with putting too much faith in Al for teaching. “There is great potential for it to be a distraction." he said.
Toyama once surveyed a large group of people about their preference for the following educational situations: a school with no teachers but powerful AI, one with bad teachers but strong computers, one with good teachers but no computers, or one with great teachers and many computers. The result showed that nobody would send their children to a school with powerful AI but no teachers, or one with bad teachers but strong computers. Toyama concluded, "Good teachers are what matters; everything else is secondary compared to that."
Toyama is also concerned that AI and technology may widen the gap between disadvantaged schools and wealthier schools. He said, "In the case of schools, well-resourced schools will find the best ways to use technology. But if you' re in a school district that is underfunded and parents are not involved, it doesn't make a difference how good the technology is, and it will not turn that situation around."
When asked when schools should adopt AI, Toyama suggested that they should wait until the basics are in place, teachers want it, and the technology is proved to have positive educational values.
1. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?| A．AI. | B．Faith. | C．Teaching. | D．Computer. |
| A．To emphasize the key factor in education. |
| B．To recommend his favorite school for parents. |
| C．To compare the differences between AI and teachers. |
| D．To prove that preference for schools varies among people. |
| A．Al has the potential to reshape teaching and learning. |
| B．A good school should put students and technology first. |
| C．AI will be able to educate students as well as real teachers. |
| D．Al and technology may unbalance educational resources. |
| A．Al Reshapes Education | B．Using Al in the Classroom? |
| C．Will AI Dominate School? | D．AI and Technology |
Over the years, I've been guilty of hurriedly shutting the front door to many strangers when they came to my home knocking with the intention of selling things. I hated it when they tried their best to persuade me to buy the things they promoted. But earlier this year, around Easter time, a dear friend of mine, Linda, had an experience that changed my mind and attitude towards these "intruders".
Last winter, Linda went through a very messy divorce and was very depressed. So she quit her job and left Los Angeles, where she encountered her ex-husband in college. She flew to Boston on the east coast of the US. Later, she settled in a new neighborhood in East Boston. However, shortly afterwards, the company where she worked went bankrupt（破产）. Suffering a series of bitter blows. she fell ill, a severe case of flu. She had to stay at home for the whole week, feeling extremely bad and hopeless.
Early one morning, Linda lay in bed, feeling painful all over. Then all of a sudden, there was an upsetting knock on her front door. Struggling out of the bed, she dragged herself to the window. There, outside, she saw a young lady carefully holding some leaflets（传单）and a TV set model. She knew of a large TV set establishment nearby and assumed a message was about to be gently delivered. "This is the last thing I need today." She muttered to herself and hesitantly opened the door.
Coughing bitterly, Linda stuck her head out. "Excuse me, madam…" the young lady said with a smile. "I'm sorry but I am not the slightest bit interested in any TV whatever." Linda interrupted her impatiently. "As a matter of fact, I am feeling terribly awful." "Is there anything I can do for you, madam?" the young lady asked with concern. "No thanks, just leave me alone." Linda then shut the door in her face. The young lady politely turned and left in silence.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
A few hours later, another knock.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
Linda was surprised by this lovely action.
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