1 . Tai chi, a traditional, slow-moving form of Chinese physical exercise, is known to increase flexibility and improve balance. New research has been conducted to determine whether tai chi has an influence on lowering blood pressure in people with prehypertension (高血压前期).

In the study, Chinese scientists put 342 adults with prehypertension into two groups. The average age of people taking part in the study was 49. About half the participants (参与者) took part in aerobic exercise, including jogging, climbing stairs and cycling. The other half was trained to practice tai chi. Both groups got hour-long exercises four times a week.

Nearly 22% of the people who practiced tai chi saw their blood pressure fall to be normal, compared with nearly 16% of people in the aerobic exercise group. And fewer patients in the tai chi group went on to develop high blood pressure than patients in the aerobic exercise group.

So what is it about tai chi that helps lower blood pressure? “The practice tends to get more of a response from the parasympathetic (副交感的) nervous system, which is the network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger,” says Ruth Taylor-Piliae, a professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing.

“I think the beauty of tai chi is that you don’t have to have a special gym membership, you don’t have to have special clothing,” Taylor-Piliae says. “Once you learn tai chi, you can do it anytime and anyplace. And it does provide a calming and relaxing effect.”

Evidence suggests it can also help protect against cognitive fall and even improve memory. But you have to practice it continually to get the most benefit.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To offer some examples.	B．To explain a definition.
C．To introduce the topic.	D．To give people suggestions.

2. What can we know about the participants in the study?

A．They were divided into two groups.	B．They suffered from heart disease.
C．They were 49 years old.	D．They got exercises five times a week.

3. What might Taylor-Piliae agree with about tai chi?

A．It can make people calm down.

B．It requires training and specialized equipment.

C．It has no influence on the parasympathetic nervous system.

D．It is suitable for individuals with aerobic exercise experience.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．A Traditional Sport	B．The Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
C．Exploring Chinese Physical Exercise	D．Managing Blood Pressure with Tai Chi

2 . Jonathan Tiong came into the world with a rare disease that gradually damages muscles over time. A doctor _________ a prediction to his parents that he wouldn’t live beyond his second birthday.

Yet, Tiong not only surpassed (超出) the doctor’s _________ but also made great achievements. On the day of his 24th birthday in October, he gave a speech _________ at his graduation ceremony. What’s more, Tiong got a(n) _________ as an editorial writer at a famous wealth fund. However, all these amazing honors were not easily _________, for which Tiong went all out.

Beginning his _________ journey during the rise of remote work has also _________ the effect of his disability. Tiong finds _________ in the virtual field, stating, “Having everyone work online feels really great. Because when everyone is together online, I don’t feel like there’s actually much of a _________.”

Despite the __________ he has earned, Tiong remains a supporter for reshaping society’s opinion of success. “We must admit that living with a disability is a (n) __________ challenge in itself. Every day, countless individuals with disabilities __________ difficulties all over the world without media coverage, fighting their battles __________,” Tiong stresses.

His goal is not to lower expectations for individuals with disabilities but to __________ the traditional idea about success. “If we reconsider what it means to succeed, you’ll find that everyone out there who is doing their jobs quietly is __________.”

1.

A．required

B．organized

C．delivered

D．explored

2.

A．operation

B．prediction

C．dream

D．experience

3.

A．proudly

B．sadly

C．creatively

D．secretly

4.

A．joke

B．team

C．idea

D．position

5.

A．fought against

B．come by

C．shown off

D．figured out

6.

A．struggling

B．professional

C．unique

D．uncertain

7.

A．beat

B．meant

C．reduced

D．ended

8.

A．relief

B．fear

C．wisdom

D．anxiety

9.

A．responsibility

B．comparison

C．burden

D．difference

10.

A．loneliness

B．treatment

C．recognition

D．honesty

11.

A．unexpected

B．inspiring

C．terrible

D．amazing

12.

A．survive

B．overcome

C．observe

D．discover

13.

A．quietly

B．obviously

C．originally

D．regularly

14.

A．challenge

B．spread

C．define

D．confirm

15.

A．advancing

B．contributing

C．battling

D．succeeding

3 . Study Abroad Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

Found the perfect study abroad program, but don’t know how to pay for it? Fortunately, here are some study abroad scholarship opportunities for students looking to take their studies overseas!

Trenchard Cox Scholarship

All you have to do is write two 400-word reasoned descriptions: one on a work of art you love and one that you hate. The scholarship, established in memory of Sir Trenchard Cox, awards the winner an Art History Abroad 2-week summer course in Venice.

Requirement: At least 16 and no older than 18 years of age

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid

Did you know that Arcadia Abroad provides financial aid to around 70% of students who apply for it? It values equity, diversity, and inclusivity when awarding scholarships. Students who apply for scholarships will need to write a 300-word essay.

Requirement: Must be included in an Arcadia Abroad program

Award: $ 500-$ 2,500

Deadline: February 1, 2024

AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support

We believe a study abroad experience is an important part of well-rounded university education and we are committed to providing financial help to as many students as possible. AIFS also offers internship (实习期) and study abroad + internship mixed programs to support the development of personal and professional skills.

Award: $ 500- $ 5,000

Deadline: June 1, 2024

American Association of University Women(AAUW) Fellowships & Grants

The AAUW supports women searching for a variety of graduate academic opportunities. There are no barriers (障碍) to full participation in this organization. Preference is given to those who show great interest in the advancement of girls and women.

Requirement: Women only

Award:$ 2,000- $ 50,000

Deadline: November 15, 2024

1. What is required to apply for Trenchard Cox Scholarship?

A．Being over 18 years of age.	B．Fluency in English and Italian.
C．Two 400-word essays on artworks.	D．A member of the Art History Abroad summer course.

2. Which of the four scholarship programs ends the earliest?

A．Trenchard Cox Scholarship.

B．Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid.

C．AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support.

D．American Association of University Women(AAUW)Fellowships & Grants.

3. Who is most likely to receive the AAUW Fellowships & Grants?

A．A freshman suffering economically.	B．A graduate needing internship abroad.
C．An art student from a developing country.	D．A female student devoted to women education.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does Robert do?

A．A golfer.

B．A club organizer.

C．A coach.

2. Why did the woman congratulate Robert?

A．She was a friend of his.

B．She admired him.

C．She wanted to get money from him.

3. What did Robert do after hearing the woman’s story?

A．He paid all hospital bills for her.

B．He gave his own prize to the woman.

C．He sent the woman’s son to the hospital.

4. How did Robert feel after knowing the truth?

A．Happy.

B．Angry.

C．Sad.

7 . 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。

It was after midnight last December and we were driving home from a party. The weather had been awful, with the rain pouring on our 40-minute journey there. Paul, my husband, was driving our Ford Ranger pick-up truck and my seven-year-old son, Silas, was in the back.

What was so frightening was the speed of water. One minute we were halfway home, the next there was water going up over the bonnet (汽车引擎盖). The rushing water lifted our car up and pushed it back against a hedge (树篱). I felt terrified of the power of the water, and Paul was trying to control the truck.

Water was instantly around my ankles. I reached my hand back and felt it around Silas’s too. Paul climbed out through a window, at which point Silas woke up, confused. I managed to pass him through the window to Paul, who was now on the truck’s roof.

Paul told me I needed to get out, but I couldn’t open my door. I attempted to push my body through the driver’s window and was left clinging on to the support between the windows. Paul grabbed my hood (兜帽) to help in vain and I could hear Silas crying, so I told him to let go—Silas needed him. He refused, but I insisted—I wanted to know Silas would be safe. As I saw his empty, outstretched hand, the water took me away. I was a strong swimmer but I had no option but to shoot down rapids. Shocked, I gasped for breath and tried to keep my head above water.

It was extremely dark but I could just make out trees. As I passed, I reached out and grabbed two slim branches, holding tightly. I hugged the tree with my knees. My plan was just to hold on. Not knowing if Paul and Silas were safe, I thought that if they did survive, they would try to save me. I wondered who would come to my rescue.

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。

After nearly 40 minutes, I saw a small boat spotlight.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As I rose to my feet, I hugged my rescuers.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . I was at the North Pole. I was wearing a warm overcoat, a cotton hat, thick gloves and heavy boots. However, I still felt that my hands and feet were _______. There was such a terrible snowstorm that I could _______ see.

I made my way back to the research camp. I had been out in the snow for three hours and I could not _______ my hands. I thought I needed a hot cup of coffee to warm me up and recover some _______. It took a long time to struggle through the thick _______, but I knew I was getting close to the camp, as I could _______ food. I shouted to find out whether there was anyone there, but there was no _______. As I slowly moved on, the snowstorm became worse. It became _______ to see where I was going. I almost believed that I would never find my way.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of _______ from behind. I turned around but there was nothing ________. Maybe it was the sound of the wind. I ________ walking anyway, but stopped when I heard the footsteps ________ again. My heart began to beat faster and faster. I was sweating with ________. All of a sudden, I heard a loud noise ring out through the cold air. It made my blood run cold. I wanted to run, but fear held me ________. A few seconds later, I felt my shoulder was being grasped by a hand. I turned around with my hair standing on end. Thank goodness! It was my friend Tim! What a false ________!

1.

A．tired

B．injured

C．cold

D．soft

2.

A．really

B．hardly

C．finally

D．probably

3.

A．touch

B．see

C．shake

D．feel

4.

A．strength

B．belief

C．time

D．confidence

5.

A．fog

B．forest

C．snow

D．smoke

6.

A．eat

B．smell

C．cook

D．order

7.

A．answer

B．word

C．action

D．option

8.

A．obvious

B．odd

C．unfortunate

D．impossible

9.

A．footsteps

B．guns

C．fights

D．cheers

10.

A．in store

B．in sight

C．in turn

D．in advance

11.

A．stopped

B．tried

C．enjoyed

D．continued

12.

A．escaping

B．changing

C．approaching

D．disappearing

13.

A．curiosity

B．fear

C．anger

D．relief

14.

A．still

B．quiet

C．afraid

D．flexible

15.

A．story

B．man

C．report

D．alarm

9 . 听下面一段独白，完成下面小题。
1. How many presidents are there before Lincoln?

A．15.

B．16.

C．17.

2. What do you think of Lincoln’s family when he was young?

A．Rich.

B．Poor.

C．Large.

3. What led to the American Civil War?

A．Lincoln was elected to the president of the U.S.

B．Some southern states wanted to break off.

C．Some slaves began to fight for their rights.

4. What did Lincoln contribute most to his country?

A．He was one of the greatest lawyers in the U.S.

B．He gave one of the most famous speeches.

C．He managed to keep his country together.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，完成下面小题。
1. How does the woman feel about the dance competition?

A．Excited.

B．Nervous.

C．Confident.

2. What is the woman looking forward to most?

A．Dancing in front of many people.

B．Watching good dancers on stage.

C．Making some good new friends.