1 . In 1999, David Dunning and Justin Kruger did a series of studies evaluating people’s competence in certain areas, including grammar, humor and logic. The people in the studies were asked to evaluate their own abilities in each area. Dunning and Kruger found that people who scored low on the tests have the tendency to overestimate their abilities, indicating that people who lack skills tend to lack the ability to realize their shortcomings.

This principle has become known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. It occurs because only when people have skills in a given area are they equipped to evaluate their own skills. Admittedly, most people are overconfident in their abilities. They want to believe that they are more capable, knowledgeable and even superior to others, and when someone really wants something to be true, it can be hard for them to admit that it isn’t. By the way, the opposite of the Dunning-Kruger effect also happens: capable people have a more accurate view of their own abilities, and sometimes they even underestimate themselves.

It’s tempting (吸引人的) to think of the Dunning-Kruger effect as a problem. People may even laugh at those who think themselves more competent than they truly are, but everyone has areas where they lack competence, and the Dunning-Kruger effect means they may be relatively bad at self-evaluation in those areas. Even if someone is very intelligent in general, there are still things they don’t know much about. Expertise in one area cannot always be transferred to other areas.

That’s why it’s important to keep digging for information even when you think you’ve found answers. It can also be helpful to check your ideas with other people. Receiving negative feedback can hurt, but if you’re willing to listen, it can help you grow. Even just keeping in mind that the Dunning-Kruger effect exists can help you stay modest, accept criticism and, thus, keep learning throughout your life.

1. What did Dunning and Kruger find in their research?

A．Unskilled people tend to think too much of themselves.

B．Skilled people are usually more humorous and logical.

C．Self-evaluation makes people more logical in some areas.

D．Knowledgeable people sometimes think they are superior to others.

2. What does the author think of the Dunning-Kruger effect?

A．Complicated.

B．Problematic.

C．Universal.

D．Dismissive.

3. What can we do to avoid the Dunning-Kruger effect according to the text?

A．Evaluate yourself on a regular basis.	B．Remain humble and eager for knowledge.
C．Be yourself and ignore negative feedback.	D．Make friends with intelligent individuals.

4. Where is this text probably from?

A．A biology textbook.	B．A book review.
C．A feature report.	D．A. psychology journal.

2 . Hidden Gems: Underrated National Parks Worth Exploring

Many travelers flock to popular national parks like Yellowstone for their family vacations or adventurous getaways. However, there are some lesser-known gems that often go unnoticed despite their remarkable beauty and attractions.

Isle Royale National Park

Nestled in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of effort to reach, but the journey is rewarded with breathtaking scenery. Accessible only by daily ferries, this park sees far fewer visitors compared to larger destinations like Yellowstone. Hikers are treated to sightings of wildlife such as wolves along the park’s picturesque trails.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Situated 68 miles southwest of the Florida Keys, the Dry Tortugas is a secluded (偏僻的) island park accessible only by boat or plane. Despite its small size, it boasts rich history, abundant marine life, and stunning coral reefs. At its center stands Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Covering over 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. park system. Remote and largely undeveloped, this park challenges visitors with limited access—only two roads lead into it. However, those who venture here are rewarded with a profound connection to nature unparalleled elsewhere.

Big Bend National Park

For travelers seeking a truly rugged (崎岖的) experience, Big Bend National Park is a must-visit destination. Renowned for its whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking opportunities, this park can be excessively hot during the summer months, deterring many tourists.

These hidden gems offer unique experiences and breathtaking landscapes, making them worthy contenders for any adventurer's bucket list.

1. Why does Isle Royale National Park receive fewer visitors?

A．It is located in a remote area and is difficult to reach.

B．It lacks wildlife and natural landscapes.

C．It has no historical or cultural significance.

D．Its climate is extremely hot.

2. What is Dry Tortugas National Park renowned for?

A．Its white sand beaches.	B．Its ancient ruins.
C．Its abundant marine life and coral reefs.	D．Its mountainous landscapes.

3. Which national park is particularly notable for its vast size and profound connection to nature?

A．Isle Royale National Park	B．Dry Tortugas National Park
C．Big Bend National Park	D．Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

3 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. When did the museum reopen?

A．In 2004.

B．In 2008.

C．In 2012.

2. Which exhibit will focus on Asian culture next year?

A．“World View”.

B．“Moving Arena”.

C．“Life on Earth”.

3. What attracts visitors most in the museum?

A．The interactive exhibit.

B．The periodical shows.

C．The expert talks.

4 . On July 29, 10-year-old Mayah Zamora went home after being hospitalized for 66 days. Mayah was a survivor of the May 24 shooting rampage at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

The little girl had more than 20 surgeries and underwent weeks of physical therapy after being shot in her hands, chest and back during the school shooting. Mayah’s doctors have called her survival miraculous.

On August 24, she was honored as the Hero of the Month for August by MLB’s Houston Astros at a game against the Minnesota Twins, where she threw out the first pitch. While there, Mayah also met former Astros shortstop (游击手) Carlos Correa, who shared some incredible news with her family.

The Zamoras learned during the game that the Correa family Foundation and other donors are funding the construction of a new home for the family in a location they chose. The trauma (创伤) of living just blocks from the gunman’s house had been taking a toll on (给……造成重大损伤) the young survivor.

“I could never begin to imagine everything she has gone through, and we feel that this is one thing we could do to try to alleviate some of her pain,” Correa said. “I’m thankful to both teams for being a part of this effort.”

His foundation shared a statement and some great photos of Mayah’s special night at the ballpark on its Facebook page.

“We are so proud of you. Mayah, and we are honored to recognize you as our Hero of the Month,” wrote the Correa Family Foundation. “We hope this will be an opportunity for Mayah and her family to rebuild their lives, make new memories, and look towards a bright future.”

1. Why did the Correa family Foundation and other donors fund a new home for the Zamoras?

A．Because the Zamoras didn’t want to live in their home.

B．Because Correa wanted to reward Mayah for her bravery.

C．Because the Zamoras’ home was near the gunman’s house.

D．Because the Zamoras’ home had been destroyed by the gunman.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “alleviate” in Paragraph 5?

A．Ease.

B．Suffer.

C．Delay.

D．Confirm.

3. Which of the following can best describe Correa?

A．Selfish.

B．Caring.

C．Determined.

D．Responsible.

4. What is the text?

A．A diary entry.

B．A news report.

C．A book review.

D．A moving story.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many times did the Mediterranean diet win the Best Diet?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

2. What does the Mediterranean diet put great emphasis on?

A．High-quality olive oil.

B．Fruits and vegetables.

C．Whole grains and seeds.

3. What do people often do in Mediterranean areas?

A．Eat at small tables.

B．Eat out alone.

C．Have a meal for hours.

6 . Sharaine Caraballo and her husband Wilson met 82-year-old Paul Callahan in March last year when Wilson began working on their recently purchased home. Paul offered Wilson a ladder to work with. From then on, it didn’t take very long for the family of eight and their new neighbor to become _______ .

A retired Texas Instruments manager, Paul’s wife sadly passed away six months before the family moved into the neighborhood. Sharaine thinks her family _______ an important refuge (慰藉) for Paul.

“One of my biggest _______ was meeting our new neighbors. I was _______ who they were going to be and what they were going to be like,” said Sharaine, who is _______ from Pawtucket, New England. “When Paul welcomed us into the neighborhood, I knew I had made the right _______.”

Paul’s warm welcome really helped put the couple at _______ , offering the new homeowners advice and help with all kinds of _______ they were facing with their new home.

“He was coming over with tools. He’d bring screwdrivers (螺丝刀) and teach Wilson how to fix up the garage and Wilson _______ all his advice,” explained Sharaine. “He’s always coming over with little trinkets (小玩意儿) for the kids. They play with him a lot.”

Paul has ________ the role of de-facto (实际的) grandpa.

Sharaine’s kids love Paul as much as she does and the elderly man makes great ________ to make them feel at home too. As much as Paul has helped the family, Sharaine thinks her family played an important role in the months that followed the passing of Paul’s wife.

“I asked what ________ him to us and he said he was a very ________ person and that he grew up around lots of kids,” Sharaine said. “That’s ________ I grew up. My house was always where everybody ________ out.” He’s also the last of his siblings (兄弟姐妹), who have all passed away.

The Caraballos and Paul now see each other every other day. They spend every holiday together, and this Father’s Day Paul received a present from the family.

1.

A．close

B．awkward

C．fragile

D．tense

2.

A．shared

B．searched

C．provided

D．permitted

3.

A．honors

B．fears

C．hobbies

D．decisions

4.

A．informing

B．asking

C．suffering

D．wondering

5.

A．generally

B．originally

C．simply

D．especially

6.

A．advice

B．behavior

C．choice

D．discovery

7.

A．ease

B．leisure

C．loss

D．random

8.

A．questions

B．ideas

C．risks

D．issues

9.

A．respected

B．followed

C．refused

D．agreed

10.

A．taken on

B．made up

C．come out

D．given in

11.

A．contribution

B．decisions

C．efforts

D．devotion

12.

A．drew

B．forced

C．invited

D．allowed

13.

A．cautious

B．selfish

C．humorous

D．social

14.

A．why

B．how

C．where

D．what

15.

A．stepped

B．went

C．hung

D．travelled

7 . XZERO, “World’s Most Walkable City” Will Be Built in Kuwait

Do you fancy giving up your car for good, but are worried you won’t be able to get around? Plans have been released for the “world’s most walkable city”.

Dubbed XZERO, the planned sustainable community in Kuwait would provide a net zero carbon lifestyle for 100, 000 residents, in balance with nature. All facilities and homes will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and will recycle all their water with smart water system.

UAE-based designers URB say the city will provide food and energy security while promoting a green circular economy. The estimated cost of the project is £13 billion, and URB are aiming to start construction in 2024, to complete by 2034.

The central area is surrounded by a series of “hubs” (枢纽) , each dedicated to education, entertainment and medical facilities. The hubs will reduce the walking distances required of residents, while the homes are densely spaced to promote a connected community. The green-tech hub will promote a collaborative innovative environment in food, energy, water and water tech. The medical hub will feature an autism (自闭症) village, wellness center and clinics. The educational hub will feature a nursery, school and an institute, while the commercial hub will include indoor mall and flexible office space. The green landscape is designed with engineered natural areas to provide a variation of habitats for wildlife as well as rain water harvesting, mitigating (和缓的) flooding, better air quality and cleaner water. The 1, 600 hectare development will provide 30, 000 residential units, as well as 30, 000 green jobs. These jobs will be created in the various hubs.

“The creation of sustainable cities that follow the highest standards of living with lowest impact on the environment is no longer a choice, it has become a necessity,” Baharsh Bagherian, the CEO of URB, said, “The heart of XZERO is the unique resilient (弹性的) landscape, which is multifunctional and designed to promote health, wellbeing and biodiversity.”

XZERO will promote sustainable tourism through its various eco-friendly hospitality assets, including a 5-star eco resort and eco lodges. “Edutainment” (寓教于乐型) facilities such as the utility park and nature conservation center are expected to transform the city into a unique visitor attraction.

1. What is XZERO intended to do?

A．Better residents’ life.	B．Save the limited energy.
C．Explore a challenging lifestyle.	D．Strengthen the power of Kuwait.

2. What can we know from Paragraph 4?

A．Wild animals can’t be found.	B．The hubs are closely connected.
C．Only indoor mall is available.	D．Residents have trouble finding a job.

3. What can be inferred from Baharsh Bagherian’s words?

A．People have the right to say no to XZERO.

B．Many other countries are expected to follow suit.

C．XZERO will promote the development of tourism.

D．XZERO can benefit both humans and environment.

4. Which of the following best describes the impact of XZERO?

A．Doubtful.

B．Short-lived.

C．Far-reaching.

D．Unidentifiable.

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Guangdong Lion Dance, a national tradition popular in Foshan and Guangzhou, is a typical Southern Lion Dance.

Lion dancing    1     (date) back thousands of years, to the Tang Dynasty, and a legend about the emperor having a dream    2    a lion saved his life. And later it    3     (introduce) to the south by migrants from the north. The Guangdong Lion Dance developed into    4     (it) modern form during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644). In Chinese tradition, people regard the lion as    5    symbol of braveness and strength, which can drive away evil and protect humans and livestock. Lion dancing    6     (main) focuses on the performance of the lion dance, attaching much attention to movements    7    scratching an itch (抓痒), shaking the mane (鬃毛) and licking (舔) the hair.

The Guangdong Lion Dance, a    8     (combine) of martial arts, dance and music, is popular not only in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, but also among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asian countries,    9     (make) it a cultural bridge for overseas Chinese keeping in touch with their national roots. It is considered to be a tradition with far-reaching cultural value. Lunar New Year is the perfect time    10     (share) and celebrate that culture and heritage.

9 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

For many, an act of kindness is its own reward. But Eva Hachey found her selflessness answered in ways she could never have imagined.

For weeks, Eva Hachey had imagined adopting a golden Chihuahua with a white spot on its forehead. And there he was, at her local SPCA in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The dog had been abused by his previous owners and was timid. “He’d come to me, then back away and growl, then come back to me,” Hachey said. “After 15 minutes, the attendant picked him up and put him in my lap. He started giving me kisses. He stole my heart in that moment.” She adopted the ten-month-old puppy on the spot and named him Bruno.

Bruno lived happily with Hachey and her 35-year-old daughter, Angel Hutchinson, for five months. Then, on the evening of September 26, 2016, Hachey, 52 at the time, returned home as usual at 8 p. m. from her job as a chiropractic assistant and office manager. And as usual, she ate supper in front of the TV in the living room. Around 10:30, a friend called, just as Bruno went into Hutchinson’s room to go to sleep for the night. Hachey and her friend chatted a bit, and as Hachey hung up, she noticed the time was 11:08.

“The next thing I remember was a male voice saying, ‘Eva, Eva, wake up.’ It was an emergency doctor,” said Hachey. “I looked around, and the room was just full of people. And I said, ‘What are you doing in my house?’”

What they were doing was saving her life. By the time Hachey had hung up with her friend, Hutchinson was fast asleep in her bedroom and Bruno was in his usual spot next to her under the blankets. Hachey believed Bruno heard something odd then and possibly went to the living room to investigate.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Unexpectedly, Bruno ran back to the bedroom and tried every means to awaken Hutchinson.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A year later, Hachey finally fully recovered.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。

The little country schoolhouse was heated by an old fashioned, pot-bellied stove. A little boy had the job of coming to school early each day to start the fire and warm the room before his teacher and his classmates arrived.

One morning, they arrived to find the schoolhouse engulfed (吞没) in flames. They dragged the unconscious little boy out of the flaming building more dead than alive. He had major burns over the lower half of his body and was taken to the nearby county hospital.

From his bed the dreadfully burned, semi-conscious little boy faintly heard the doctor talking to his mother. The doctor told his mother that her son would surely die—which was for the best, really—for the terrible fire had devastated (破坏) the lower half of his body.

But the brave boy didn’t want to die. He made up his mind that he would survive. Somehow, to the amazement of the physician, he did survive. When the mortal (致死的) danger was past, he again heard the doctor and his mother speaking quietly. The mother was told that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the lower part of his body, it would almost be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be a life-time cripple (瘸子) with no use at all of his lower limbs.

Once more the brave boy made up his mind. He would not be a cripple. He would walk. But unfortunately from the waist down, he had no motor (引起运动的) ability. His thin legs just dangled there, all but lifeless.

Ultimately he was released from the hospital. Every day his mother would massage (对……按摩) his little legs, but there was no feeling, no control, nothing. Yet his determination that he would walk was as strong as ever. When he wasn’t in bed, he was confined (限制) to a wheelchair.

Paragraph 1:
One sunny day his mother wheeled him out into the yard to get some fresh air.
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Paragraph 2:
Ultimately through his strong determination, he did develop the ability to stand up.
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