1 . Sports offer so many great benefits not only to our physical health but to our mental health.     1    . So allow me to help you count the ways:

·Playing sports improves our mood.

Any form of physical activity excites the release of chemicals called endorphins (脑内啡), which make you feel happier and more relaxed as well. This explains why you feel so great after playing a pick-up game of basketball or throwing a football. It doesn’t have to be an intense session.     2    .

·Playing sports gives us a promotion of confidence.

    3    , which can be extremely rewarding. These goals might be to win the game, to score agoal, to perform your best, or to simply have fun. Whatever the case, setting these team or individual goals can provide heightened feelings of self-worth and confidence.

·    4    .

Exercising regularly can improve skills like critical thinking, learning, and concentration abilities. And on top of that, engaging in physical activity such as playing sports or cycling may help prevent development of certain cognitive disorders (认知障碍). So pick up a bat, a ball, or a glove and get out there!

·Playing sports provides means for socialization.

Playing team sports provides the perfect opportunity for social interaction. It allows you to spend time and bond with old friends, as well as meet new ones!     5    , whether that should be volleyball, football, hockey, gymnastics, or any others. You’ll harvest many health benefits and have fun doing it.

A．Playing sports keeps you energized

B．Playing sports improves our mental skills

C．These mental health benefits may be less obvious

D．Physical activity is certainly a good way to manage stress

E．Sports are about setting, working towards, and accomplishing goals

F．So don’t wait a second longer to tackle your favorite sport or try a new one

G．It’s just about getting on your feet, increasing your heart rate, and having fun at the same time

2 . On Tuesday, Virgin Atlantic flew a large passenger jet from London to New York using 100% “Sustainable Aviation（航空） Fuel（SAF）”. The flight was meant to show that it’s possible to fly using cleaner fuels.

The fuel used on the flight was mainly made from used cooking oils and animal fats. A small part of the fuel was made from corn waste. Virgin Atlantic says that using SAF cuts the flight’s pollution by 70%. SAF still pollutes when it’s burned, just like regular jet fuel. However, the difference is in how the fuels are made.

SAF is made from plants （and related animal products） that once absorbed carbon dioxide （CO₂） from the air. When SAF burns, it just releases this same CO₂ again. That’s different from jet fuel, which is made from oil exploited from underground, releasing CO₂ that was deeply buried.

SAF may sound great, but it still has many problems. For one thing, SAF costs five times as much as regular jet fuel. That helps explain why only one-tenth of 1% of the fuel airlines currently use is SAF. Virgin Atlantic is hoping that its flight will encourage more companies to produce SAF and that this will bring the price down.

But even if the price of SAF drops, critics say there are still big problems with it. They say it’s easy to make small amounts of SAF out of plant waste. But to make as much SAF as the airlines really need would require farmers to grow plants for fuel instead of for eating. This could also lead to more forests being cut down for farmland.

Airlines like SAF because it can be used now in existing planes with no changes. They hope it will help quickly reduce airplane pollution until non-polluting fuels are developed.

Governments seem to agree that SAF is a step in the right direction. Both the United States and the European Union have set targets that will sharply increase the use of SAF in coming years.

1. What makes SAF superior to regular jet fuels?

A．Its production method.	B．Being pollution-free.
C．Its storage technology.	D．Being easy to burn.

2. What does the underlined word “exploited” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Destroyed.

B．Replaced.

C．Drawn.

D．Checked.

3. Why are only a few fuel airlines using SAF?

A．SAF is heavy.	B．SAF is expensive.
C．SAF needs new equipment.	D．SAF may cause safety issues.

4. What is governments’ probable attitude towards using SAF?

A．Unclear.

B．Negative.

C．Doubtful.

D．Approving.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the talk mainly about?

A．A lecture on success.

B．A graduation ceremony.

C．A school award ceremony.

2. What kind of school is it?

A．A girls’ school.

B．A boys’ school.

C．A mixed school.

3. Who is quoted in the talk?

A．A sportsman.

B．A teacher.

C．A singer.

4. What does the speaker say is the most important?

A．Confidence.

B．Success.

C．Trying.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the speaker go on the tour?

A．It was the prize of a competition.

B．John asked her to go with him.

C．It was her travel plan.

2. What did the speaker dislike about the hotel?

A．The drinks.

B．The food.

C．The waiters.

3. What did the speaker think of the trip to the museum?

A．Disappointing.

B．Amazing.

C．Terrible.

4. What did the speaker do in the second week?

A．She rode an elephant.

B．She went to the mountains.

C．She relaxed in the hotel.

5 . 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。

Jennifer, a middle school student, was in Mr Green’s class. After only a month at school, she began to be home on a regular basis asking for plenty of crayons, paper, etc. At first, her mother, Sophia, just dutifully provided whatever she needed, never questioning her.

After ongoing requests for the items for several weeks, Sophia became concerned and asked her, “Jennifer, what are you doing with your stationery (文具)?” However, Jennifer would always respond with an answer that satisfied Sophia.

One day, after supplying the same things to Jennifer, Sophia seriously asked her once again, “Jennifer! What is exactly going on with your stationery?” Knowing her excuses would no longer work, Jennifer bent her head and kept silence. With her mind filled with confusion, Sophia lifted her daughter’s chin and looked into her eyes, asking, “What is wrong? Are you making money by reselling school supplies?” Sophia waited for what seemed like a long time for Jennifer to answer.

“Mom,” Jennifer said, “I’ve known a boy, called Jack, who is a student in the nearby school sponsored by a charity. He is an immigrant and has two brothers. He doesn’t have enough stationery to do his work. He only has two crayons to color with, and his art paper is messy. I have been putting the new stationery you bought me in his desk before the others came in, so he still doesn’t know I gave it to him. Our teacher, Mr Green, always told us to be an honest person. I knew I didn’t do it. Mom, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to tell you a lie, but I didn’t want anyone to know it was me.”

Sophia stood there in disbelief. Jennifer had took on the role of an adult and tried to hide her good intentions. Sophia hugged Jennifer tightly, saying, “Baby, I will never get mad at you for wanting to help someone, but why didn’t you just come and tell me?” This time, Sophia did not have to wait for her quick answer, but decided to act.

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。

The next day, Sophia told Mr Green what Jennifer had said, and invited him to visit Jack’s family together.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The acts of Sophia and Mr Green unexpectedly set off a wave of donations in Jennifer’s school.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . 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。

It is reported     1     the International Lantern Festival “Lanternia” opened on December 8 at the Fairy Tale Forest in central Italy, and a large collection of handmade Chinese lanterns lit up one of     2     major theme parks in the city of Cassino.

    3     (divide) into six areas, this large-scale display covered about 110, 000 square meters, all lightened with giant Chinese lanterns. “The lanterns are popular with Italians,” says Domenico Durante, director of the exhibition. What was extremely     4     (amaze) was that the lantern attracted plenty of visitors into the park every day.

The success of the exhibition is due to the fine handiwork of craftsmen in Zigong, Sichuan Province, a city known for     5     (it) lantern culture. The lively lanterns are made of silk, an eco-friendly material,     6     is lightweight and nonpolluting. They were very attractive to Italians, who came from the north and south of the country     7     (see) them. Durante drove over 50 minutes from Beneventoto to the park with his family. His son     8     (particular) loves dragon lanterns for their wonderful colors and the dragon’s moving head.

The exhibition originated in a trip that Durante took to Zigong, where he     9     (impress) by this traditional art and decided to bring it to his hometown. “Next year, we might do more lanterns with Chinese     10     (characteristic) and bring the exhibition to other cities, or even all over the world,” he says.

7 . This morning, before I left for the airport, I had hurt my back. And I could _________ lift my bag off the floor, let alone _________ it into the overhead locker. Luckily, one of the flight attendants put it along with two cases for me.

At that time, a man _________ in front of me must have noticed that I was asking for _________. When the plane _________, he instantly stood up and got my bag down. He also _________ to carry one of my cases down the _________. And then he waited at the bottom of the stairs for me to _________ to get my bag.

A lady walking beside me carried my other case full of things for me. It was obviously _________ for her, but she managed it. She seemed not to want her kindness to be __________, so I silently accepted it. Then I saw her again at the carousel (行李传送带), and she took my bag off the __________.

I would have managed to do all of these things on my own, but these well-meaning humans sensed that I needed help and just __________ in without me needing to ask. It was one of the most __________ experience I had ever had. I couldn’t feel __________ enough to those persons who had taken time out of their lives for a (n) __________. I was so appreciative of their kindness that I would remember it forever.

1.

A．exactly

B．eventually

C．rarely

D．regularly

2.

A．divided

B．placed

C．slipped

D．turned

3.

A．sitting

B．talking

C．walking

D．standing

4.

A．assistance

B．money

C．reputation

D．food

5.

A．started

B．flew

C．delayed

D．landed

6.

A．preferred

B．offered

C．declined

D．failed

7.

A．courts

B．doors

C．floors

D．stairs

8.

A．get off

B．watch out

C．watch over

D．get back

9.

A．luxurious

B．crucial

C．weighty

D．representative

10.

A．requested

B．remarked

C．denied

D．kept

11.

A．airport

B．plane

C．pump

D．belt

12.

A．checked

B．stepped

C．gave

D．cut

13.

A．common

B．splendid

C．ambitious

D．difficult

14.

A．proud

B．ashamed

C．suspicious

D．grateful

15.

A．stranger

B．partner

C．attendant

D．applicant

8 . Traveling on foot in Thailand is an amazing experience. While you get ready for a thrilling experience of a lifetime, take a look at some of the best places for your adventure.

Chiang Mai

The trails in Chiang Mai are perfect for amateur hikers. Hiking here is a superb choice as there are beautiful forests, valleys and rivers as well as various tribal (部落的) villages with ethnic minorities that you can explore.

Tips: Pick up a hiking option from an experienced operator that has in-depth knowledge of the area because it is a fairly large one.

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is also one of the most beautiful places with three impressive waterfalls that flow down quickly. As you travel along the 47-kilometre road to the top, you will pass a few small villages of the Karen Hill Tribes and rice fields.

Tips: Make sure to have an experienced guide.

Hua Hin

One of the most incredible things to do is hiking in Hua Hin. The area features its elephant camps. You can care for the elephants, like feeding and bathing them. It must be a special experience to ride on the back of a tall elephant while exploring this beautiful region.

Tips: Make sure to pack extra clothes if you plan to bathe the elephants.

Kamphaeng Phet

As a historically significant part of Thailand, Kamphaeng Phet is a quiet and charming province with many cultural and natural attractions. You can explore the ancient ruins that are scattered throughout the province.

Tips: Be respectful of the statues and other religious monuments.

1. What do Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon have in common?

A．They are suitable for professional hikers.

B．They have 3, 000-meter waterfalls.

C．They are located in the urban areas.

D．They have some tribal villages.

2. What can travelers do in Hua Hin?

A．Look after the elephants.	B．Set up the animal camps.
C．Design minority clothing.	D．Visit religious monuments.

3. Which place should you go to if you are interested in historic culture?

A．Chiang Mai.	B．Doi Inthanon.
C．Hua Hin.	D．Kamphaeng Phet.

9 . We never know when our paths with long-lost friends come together. It can happen anywhere and usually when most ________.

Last month, a friend’s mother ________, and I attended the memorial service. While consoling (安慰) her, I suddenly ________ my two friends with whom I was no longer in contact. They were ________ with one another on the other side. It didn’t take me more than an instant to know the ________ thing to do. So I walked to them and said hello.

I knew it could go either way. They might not be ________ talking. Or maybe one would and not the other. As it turned out, all three of us chatted for over a (n) ________. We shared news about the latest things that were happening in our lives. There was so much to let each other ________ wonderful things, ________ things, losses, lost loves, and even health issues.

We each showed an interest in the ________ of one another, asking questions and ________ full of attention. We were catching up, and most of all, we were _______ again.

Our mutual friend, whose mother died, overheard us stating our intentions to make an effort to rekindle (使恢复) the ________. Despite being in a state of grief, she was ________ to hear our discussion. She was the only one who had kept in contact with all of us lost souls.

I was glad to ________ have the opportunity to mend broken friendships. But I never imagined it would happen at a funeral.

1.

A．disappointed

B．disappeared

C．unconditional

D．unexpected

2.

A．gave up

B．showed up

C．passed away

D．took off

3.

A．understood

B．recalled

C．mentioned

D．noticed

4.

A．chatting

B．arguing

C．crying

D．fighting

5.

A．obvious

B．right

C．regular

D．strange

6.

A．surprised at

B．careful about

C．angry at

D．interested in

7.

A．distance

B．decade

C．hour

D．point

8.

A．know

B．guess

C．think

D．discuss

9.

A．abstract

B．terrible

C．national

D．fake

10.

A．works

B．schedules

C．happenings

D．crimes

11.

A．standing

B．nodding

C．explaining

D．listening

12.

A．belonging

B．staring

C．debating

D．bonding

13.

A．friendship

B．energy

C．experience

D．happiness

14.

A．pleased

B．indifferent

C．scared

D．shocked

15.

A．gradually

B．secretly

C．finally

D．frequently

10 . Joan Donovan was 84 years old when she finished her college degree, but the great-grandmother said she didn’t want to stop learning just yet.

“I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning to go to school. I met the most ________ people and fessors. Everyone surrounded me with ________ and support. And I learned that I had a ________ for writing,” Donovan said. “That’s when I found Southern New Hampshire University, which is a wonderful school. I just loved every minute of it.”

Four years later, on December 13, 2022, Donovan graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s ________ in creative writing.

Donovan said the university heard she was graduating when her son called the school to ________ a frame for her diploma as a Christmas present. ________, the school decided to send more than just a framed diploma, including a cap and gown, cupcakes, balloons and university spirit wear (印有大学精神的服装).

When she was young, Donovan’s mother called her “Brilliant”. She started first grade at the age of 4 and graduated high school by 16. The family couldn’t ________ college, but she was able to take some post-graduate classes for free at her high school.

Donavan always wanted a ________ education, but marriage, babies and a busy life ________ things a bit. But she never gave up on her dream.

“I’m a goal-seeker,” she said. “And it was a goal, and I________ it. It’s a dream come true, really.” Now, Donovan said she is using her new degree to write a novel as well as an autobiography.

“Well, I waited 60 years to ________ my dream. So I hope others don’t have to wait that long,” said Donovan, adding that her autobiography will be about ________ the “roadblocks” of life.

Donovan, who has 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, said the most important thing she’s learned in life is to be a “________ learner”.

“Don’t ever give up. I mean,________ something doesn’t work the first time, just try it again,” she said. “And ________, you’ll find your dream come true.”

1.

A．important

B．competitive

C．promising

D．intelligent

2.

A．curiosity

B．encouragement

C．admiration

D．congratulation

3.

A．love

B．trick

C．interest

D．hobby

4.

A．position

B．document

C．degree

D．grade

5.

A．apply for

B．ask for

C．care for

D．look for

6.

A．Still

B．Besides

C．However

D．Anyway

7.

A．attend

B．admit

C．approve

D．afford

8.

A．formal

B．valuable

C．special

D．flexible

9.

A．buried

B．delayed

C．permitted

D．expanded

10.

A．reached

B．established

C．searched

D．succeeded

11.

A．satisfy

B．challenge

C．discover

D．fulfill

12.

A．building

B．abandoning

C．overcoming

D．seizing

13.

A．hard-working

B．lifelong

C．well-known

D．selfless

14.

A．if

B．since

C．though

D．while

15.

A．fortunately

B．immediately

C．thankfully

D．eventually