1 . If you look at the dynamic “Global Temperatures” map on NASA’s website, you can see the historic temperature change over time across the planet as the timeline goes from 1880 to the modern day. By 2019, the entire planet is in red, orange, and yellow colors, indicating temperatures much higher than the historical average in every country and human inhabitance.

If the timeline went to 2023, the map would look even worse. That’s because the summer of 2023 was the hottest ever, according to ocean monitors. July was the hottest month in recorded history. Next July could be worse. Unless we do something quickly, we face dealing with more and more dangerous and expensive natural disasters in the future.

Forest fires sent smoke from Canada across the North American continent, causing New York City to have the worst air quality in its recorded history. Heavy rainstorms fell on Vermont and the Northeastern United States in just a couple of days in the middle of July, which exceeded the amount that area would usually receive in two months and caused extreme damage to homes and businesses. Around the same time, flash flooding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — north of Philadelphia — killed nearly a dozen people.

Erich Fischer, a researcher specializing in climate studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, is concerned that natural disasters could get much worse in the future—and in ways we cannot predict. He called for a “strike for climate justice,” which actually took place on Sept. 15, 2023. “The strategy needs to be twofold (双重的) . We need to decrease carbon emissions as much as realistically possible. That is already happening with people using electric cars and other green technologies. At the same time, we also need to find ways to predict the risk of natural disasters ahead of time,” said Erich Fischer.

1. Why does the writer mention the data on NASA’s website in paragraph 1?

A．To explain a concept.	B．To introduce a topic.
C．To provide a solution.	D．To make a prediction.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The severity of natural disasters.	B．The worst air quality in New York City.
C．The extreme damage by flash flooding.	D．The cause of the forests fires in Canada.

3. What did Erich Fischer suggest to deal with the current situation?

A．He advocated a twofold strategy.

B．He suggested forbidding carbon emissions.

C．He required people to use more electric cars.

D．He emphasized the awareness of climate changes.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Hottest Month in History	B．Natural Disasters in the World
C．Extreme Weather Could Get Worse	D．Green Technology Would be Needed

2 . Top 4 must-see ancient villages in Beijing

Beijing is a world-famous historical and cultural city with a history of more than 3, 000 years. The rich and profound ancient village culture found in and around the city remains an important part of the capital’s history and culture. Below we recommend 4 must-see ancient villages in the Beijing area as the 2024 May Day holiday approaches.

Lingshui village

Located in the northwest of Mentougou district, Lingshui village was formed in the Liao and Jin dynasties. The ancient dwellings in Lingshui village are a model of rural residential buildings during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) in northerm China, and their original appearance is well preserved. Tourists can explore over 120 folk houses, alongside many cultural relics in the village.

Shuiyu village

Shuiyu village is in Fangshan district. The village was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With 600 houses and more than 100 sets of courtyard houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the original cultural ecology of the village has been well maintained. Facing both north and south, the village is laid out in a circular shape, forming a unique architectural style.

Sangyu village

Sangyu village lies in the north of Mentougou district, Beijing, next to Lingshui village. Prior to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) , Sangyu village was called Sanyu or “encountering” in English, named for the three water channels that meet in the village. Dense mulberry tree forests surround the entire village, and when they bear fruit, purple mulberries light up the village valley.

Malan village

Malan village, which means “horse stable” in English, had a history of keeping horses that dates back to the Ming dynasty. The ancient buildings in Malan village are made of stone and mud. When building and repairing houses in the village, people try their best to maintain their original appearance. There is also an exhibition hall, a row of old houses, as well as 12 gate bridges in the the village.

1. Which village is designed round according to the text?

A．Lingshui village.	B．Shuiyu village.
C．Sangyu village.	D．Malan village.

2. What does Lingshui village and Malan village have in common?

A．They are models of rural buildings.

B．The houses are made of stones and mud.

C．Their original appearance are well maintained.

D．They were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

3. From which column of a newspaper can this passage probably be taken?

A．Nature.

B．Agriculture.

C．Geography.

D．Tourism.

3 . Defeating Daniil Medvedev in New York on Sunday, Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis player, bagging 24 Grand Slam (大满贯) singles titles, equalized the record held by Australian Margaret Court, the same number of singles titles in the all-time count.

With the victory, Djokovic became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open Era. In total, he has 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens and three Roland Garros titles, making him the only man to win all four majors at least three times. “When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new goals. I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams,” he said afterwards.

Djokovic reached all finals in the Grand Slams in 2023, and the only loss was at Wimbledon, when Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, 20, brought home the champion after an intense battle lasting four hours and 43 minutes.

Djokovic, at 36, shows few signs of losing physical edge. He stays healthy, keeps exceptional skills and always desires to win more. Capturing his first Grand Slam in 2008, Djokovic bagged half of his 24 major titles after he turned 30.

“One of the biggest lessons I have learned probably mentally throughout my career is that even if you find a formula (方案) that works, it’s not a guarantee, and actually most likely it’s not going to work the next year, so I keep reinventing myself and always trying to find better ways to win,” said Djokovic.

For Djokovic, who always gets tough when the going gets tough, 24 is just a number that he can go beyond. “I’ll continue to prioritize Grand Slams as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs,” he added, “So, let’s see.”

1. What does the underlined word “equalized” in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．Set.

B．Broke.

C．Levelled.

D．Approached.

2. What can we know about Djokovic according to the passage?

A．He won 12 Grand Slams in his thirties.

B．He won all the finals in the Grand Slams in 2023.

C．He attached the same importance to all the matches.

D．He is the oldest men’s singles champion in the open era.

3. What seems the “secret” of Djokovic’s great achievement?

A．Losing physical edge.	B．Attending more Grand Slams.
C．Following a good formula.	D．Finding flexible and proper strategies.

4. Which of the following can best describe Djokovic?

A．Confident and emotional.	B．Ambitious and devoted.
C．Aggressive and stubborn.	D．Enthusiastic and generous.

4 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Chinese movie Pegasus 2 is a 2024 sports comedy-drama     1     (write) and directed by Han Han and it hit screens during Spring Festival in 2024. The film,      2     is a sequel (续集) to 2019’s Pegasus, narrates the former champion driver Zhang Chi played by Shen Teng became a driving school     3     (instruct) in troubled times,      4     (live) a life of relying on his reputation to make     5     (end) meet. Unexpectedly, the director of Laotoule Automobile Factory offers to sponsor Zhang Chi to form a team to re-enter     6      famed rally race. Faced     7      this overwhelming wealth, Zhang Chi is ready to make a move,      8     no one knows the real purpose behind the factory director. Zhang and his friends formed a team at last. The grass-roots team overcame many difficulties and     9     (rush) to the stadium with a lot of laughter. This time he will cross the finish line that has appeared in countless dreams.  Five years    10     (late), with the release of Pegasus 2, the director stated that both the film's story and visuals have all undergone a comprehensive upgrade.

5 . People are flying more than ever. From short trips to traveling around the globe, many are on the move. But finding the way at the airports has never been easy in the US, due to crowding and a lot of tasks like checking in, taking care of baggage, screening and finding your gate. It is often difficult to get to where you are going. If you are in a wheelchair or visually (视觉地) challenged, it’s even harder.

The new terminal (航站楼) at the Kansas City International Airport is designed to fix many of these shortcomings. The new facility features indoor play areas, changing rooms, and a quiet room for people who cannot handle the noise or activity of a busy airport. There is even a pet relief area for people traveling with their fury family members. One innovation (创新) is the glass-walled jet bridge for people who are worried about getting on and off planes. And for people who are uncomfortable with the whole airport and flying process, there are simulators (模拟器) that allow travelers to go from boarding to taking off virtually.

Justin Meyer, with the Kansas City Aviation Department, said the new terminal sets a level of inclusivity that passengers will expect in other airports. “The goal isn’t that we’re forever at the head of the line,” Meyer said. “My goal was just to raise the bar, so if someone else wants to build the most accessible airport in the world, they’re going to have to start from where Kansas City stopped. In the end, passengers win.”

While making airports more accessible to people with different abilities may seem to be expensive or difficult, the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. Accessible airports mean that more people and their families will be able to travel and then the skies will be friendly to all.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To call on airports to improve their services.

B．To explain the background to the new terminal.

C．To stress the annoyance of frequent air travelers.

D．To show the complexity of boarding procedures.

2. Who are most likely to use the glass-walled jet bridge?

A．People who take a pet.	B．People who use a wheelchair.
C．People who travel with their families.	D．People who have flight anxiety.

3. What can we know about the new terminal according to Justin Meyer?

A．It needs further improvement.	B．It has the best passenger services.
C．It sets a higher standard for airport services.	D．It aims to lead the world in accessibility.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the Kansas City International Airport’s practice?

A．Supportive.

B．Conservative.

C．Unprejudiced.

D．Doubtful.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How long did Zara Rutherford spend in flying around the world?

A．Around three months.

B．Around four months.

C．Around five months.

2. What did Zara Rutherford encourage more females to do?

A．Become pilots.

B．Enter art field.

C．Support Girls Who Code.

3. What caused Zara Rutherford to stop in California?

A．Her visa difficulty.

B．A natural disaster.

C．Her health condition.

4. How many countries did Zara Rutherford fly over?

A．32.

B．41.

C．52.

7 . Peter worked at a grocery store. Recently, he _______ a second job to help pay for his sick friend Dan and his own son’s _______.

Although the job was boring, there were times Peter especially _______. At that time the supermarket was _______, being full of customers. One day, a young woman named Angela caught Peter’s _______ when she turned to her two children, “Sorry, babies. Mommy can’t _______ to get your sweets and snacks, so please put them back, okay?”

The children began to cry and Angela tried to _______ them. Then Peter quickly swooped (接近) in, _______ to help her to pay for the _______. Peter was glad to see the children happy and Angela a little at ease.

The next day Angela returned to the store and explained to Peter, “Thanks for your kindness. It really ________ a lot. I’m a single mother and lost my job, so things are a bit ________.”

“Well, I am ________ aware of your situation. I need help with my friend’s medical bills and my kid’s college. Nothing comes cheap.”

Angela was grateful for Peter’s help. Peter’s actions and ________ touched Angela, and she thought to herself, “This man had his share of ________, yet he was still kind enough to________ and help me. I should pass this kindness on.”

1.

A．watched over

B．put aside

C．took up

D．gave up

2.

A．shopping

B．schooling

C．travelling

D．housing

3.

A．enjoyed

B．expected

C．deserved

D．imagined

4.

A．quiet

B．noisy

C．dirty

D．crowded

5.

A．interest

B．impression

C．attention

D．feelings

6.

A．decide

B．afford

C．promise

D．expect

7.

A．calm

B．save

C．encourage

D．protect

8.

A．continuing

B．preferring

C．offering

D．preparing

9.

A．toys

B．food

C．clothes

D．drinks

10.

A．improves

B．wastes

C．changes

D．means

11.

A．tough

B．positive

C．unique

D．natural

12.

A．hardly

B．basically

C．slightly

D．completely

13.

A．efforts

B．words

C．requests

D．suggestions

14.

A．troubles

B．rights

C．styles

D．choices

15.

A．impress

B．rescue

C．remind

D．comfort

8 . Jennifer DeStefano answered a call from an unknown number only to hear a man threatening her 15-year-old daughter’s life and demanding money, as well as the sound of her daughter crying for help. But while she kept him on the phone, her friends managed to reach her daughter, discovering that she was, in fact, free and well on a skiing trip in Arizona. The voice used on the phone was cloned.

A brief sample (样本) of a voice can be used to train an AI model, which can then speak any given text sounding like that person. Now the dangers are starting to be talked aloud.

ElevenLabs, an AI start-up, offers users the chance to create their own clones in minutes and the results are disturbingly accurate. When generating a playback, the system allows users to choose between variability and stability (稳定性). Select “variability”, and the voice will have a lifelike intonation (语调), including pauses like “er...”. Choose “stability”, and it will come across more like a calm and unemotional newsreader. Taylor Jones, a linguist and consultant, took a careful look at the quality of ElevenLabs’s clone of his voice in a video. A low-tech test, a “conversation” with his own mother, fooled the woman who raised him.

For several years, customers have been able to identify themselves over the phone to their bank and other companies using their voice. This was a security upgrade, not a danger. Not even a gifted voice actor could fool the detection system. But now the banks are forced to change in order to prevent crime.

Creative industries could face trouble. Voice actors’ skills, trained over a lifetime, can be copied in seconds. But some actors may, in fact, find cloning congenial. One actor, who has lost much of his voice to throat cancer, was delighted to have his voice restored for his new movie. Others may be spared the trouble of heading for the studio for retakes. Another industry that will have to deal with the rise of clones is journalism. Secret recordings have long been the contributor to the big news. Now who will trust a story based on an audio clip (音频片段)?

1. How does the author lead in the topic?

A．By telling a story.	B．By explaining a concept.
C．By making a guess.	D．By making a comparison.

2. Why is Taylor Jones mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To analyze the use of voice cloning.	B．To draw readers’ attention to AI.
C．To prove ElevenLabs’s achievements.	D．To show the danger of voice cloning.

3. What does the underlined word “congenial” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Annoying.

B．Shocking.

C．Suitable.

D．Inventive.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．AI Technology: Good or Bad?	B．AI-based Voice: A Potential Risk
C．Cloned Voice: Who to Blame?	D．Voice Cloning: A New Phenomenon

9 . Oaks Farms is a combination of experiences that are designed to keep your students engaged in fun and exciting learning opportunities. We are truly a classroom without walls, offering educator-developed programs and field trips. We invite you here to explore sustainability (可持续发展), which includes not only the environment but also animal welfare, safety and our community.

The Pig Adventure

This program will help you learn all about pork and its benefits and discover the growth cycle of pigs from little babies to full grown-ups. Monitor the development of baby pigs and see how the farm works at the Pork Education Center. You will get first-hand knowledge about how our feeding system works.

The Dairy Adventure

This program encourages you to play as you learn, by opening up a fun space for dairy discovery including learning how to use a “real” station. Understand the nutrition of the animal products, and how robots are used in the Voluntary Milking System. You can start at the entrance to the adventure, and then stop by our Birthing Barn, which is an independent education center, and take a look inside.

The Crop Adventure

Explore the Crop Adventure program to learn about the importance of working to feed

8 billion people, the many uses of corn outside of consuming it, and how we can be sustainable with limited resources. See how a tractor (拖拉机) can tell you about the nutrients in the soil. Explore how technology assists farmers and the amazing biodiversity on the Farmer’s Garden.

The Pig Adventure ($3/student)

The Dairy Adventure ($5/student)

The Crop Adventure ($4/student)

Whole Adventures — include admission to the Pig Adventure, the Dairy Adventure, and the Crop Adventure ($7/student)

1. What is Oaks Farms?

A．A special tour zone.	B．A creative program.
C．An educational base.	D．An adventurous activity.

2. What can people do in the Dairy Adventure?

A．Taste some delicious milk products.	B．Witness the smart milking process.
C．Explore the process of pigs’ growth.	D．Understand the importance of nutrition.

3. What is the minimum cost for visiting the Dairy Adventure and the Crop Adventure?

A．$7.	B．$8.
C．$9.	D．$10.

10 . The man who set a Guinness record for lipstick has flopped.

On the early morning of September 11th, Li Jiaqi apologized on Weibo for “hating netizens” during the live broadcast on the evening of September 10th. The reason was that when Li Jiaqi introduced a certain brand eyebrow pencil worth 79 yuan during a live broadcast activity, some netizens expressed that it was getting more and more expensive. He first asked back, “Where is it expensive? It has been this price for so many years, don’t talk nonsense with your eyes open.” Then he added, “Sometimes he finds his own reasons. After all these years of salary increase, have you worked hard?”

Li Jiaqi later apologized on Weibo, saying, “I was originally a makeup counter salesperson and know that everyone’s work is not easy. I’m really sorry what I said, which fell short of your expectations.” However, the highly praised comments in the front row of its comment section are no exception: all the apologies are not accepted. “Even a few words cannot stop your true arrogance during your live broadcast.” “You occasionally need to go out and take a look at the world as it is, rather than just sitting in front of the camera harvesting countless amounts of money.”

In addition to careful language, people are happy to see stories of a noble son from a humble family like Li Jiaqi who, through his own efforts, achieves a comeback in life and a rise in social status. The empathy and trust towards Li Jiaqi are also a projection of his own destiny.

1. What do you think is the fact of this incident?

A．The eyebrow pencil is really expensive.

B．Li’s attitude towards the netizens.

C．What Li sold in the broadcast was not the netizens needed.

D．The netizens dislike the brand that Li introduced.

2. Which word is closest to the underlined word “arrogance” in paragraph 3?

A．annoy

B．hauteur

C．pride

D．happiness

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The incidents happened on Nov. 11th.

B．People like Li because of his former work.

C．Li acquired his social status and wealth by his own efforts.

D．Li pretended to be a pity man after the incidents happened.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Li Jiaqi set a Guinness record for lipstick.

B．Li Jiaqi achieves a rise in social status.

C．Li Jiaqi apologized to the public for the eyebrow pencil incident.

D．People were hurt by Li Jiaqi and can’t buy his goods online.