As Valentine’s Day, a time for expressing affection through the exchange of presents, drew near, Kendra found herself seated at the kitchen table, carefully penning her name on Valentine’s cards for her classmates. She recognized her own hesitation; words didn’t come easily to her. While she envied the ease with which her peers talked and laughed, her shyness often kept her quiet.
Kendra grabbed another card. . Her eyes lit up at the phrase “You’re dynamite (引起轰动的人或物)!”—a term that would undoubtedly delight her Grammy, who frequently used the expression to praise their festive decorations. “Well, that looks dynamite!” Grammy would exclaim, her approval filling Kendra with warmth.
Just as Kendra was signing the cards, her mother came in, sharing the sad news of Elise, their neighbor, and her recent accident that led to a broken leg, restricting her to home schooling for the coming weeks. Kendra felt sorry for Elise, and quickly picked the most splendid valentine, hurrying to Elise’s home.
Upon arrival, Kendra’s look fell upon the life-sized deer statue decorating the front yard. She studied it, saying to herself, “Wouldn’t this deer look cool with a big heart around his neck? Elise could look out of the window and see it decorated for Valentine’s day.”
With this idea, Kendra got the sizable red heart her Grammy had given her, tied it with string, and hung it around the statue’s neck like a festive chain. The next day, she decorated the antlers (鹿角) with a variety of smaller hearts. It was during this act of kindness that Colin and Amy, Elise’s fellow classmates, happened upon the scene. “Are you decorating Elise’s deer for Valentine’s Day?” they asked. Kendra confirmed with a nod, explaining her intention to cheer up Elise. Despite her uncertainty about what to add next, Colin proposed adding some color, while Amy suggested putting decorations on the deer’s back and forehead. United by a shared purpose, they agreed to meet later.
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。
That afternoon, they met to decorate the deer with the materials they had sourced.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just then, Elise’s front door opened, and Elise stuck her head out.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jiangsu, known for its unique blend of innovation and preservation, is a true treasure. I was
My first stop was Suzhou.
Actually, the mindset of modernization with deep respect for the past isn’t only unique to Suzhou
3 . In October 2020, 71-year-old Bill Sumiel, battling kidney failure, found himself in an unlikely situation—a ride with Uber that would change his life. Little did he know that his
Having lived with a(n)
Now, Sumiel cherishes precious moments with his family. Letts, although relocated to another country for work commitments,
A.experiment | B.encounter | C.competition | D.appointment |
A.passengers | B.travellers | C.friends | D.strangers |
A.failure | B.infection | C.condition | D.loss |
A.bonded | B.debated | C.reflected | D.observed |
A.Naturally | B.Eventually | C.Normally | D.Directly |
A.delighted | B.puzzled | C.surprised | D.embarrassed |
A.requested | B.realized | C.predicted | D.hesitated |
A.consulting | B.treating | C.admitting | D.testing |
A.match | B.candidate | C.partner | D.supporter |
A.relieving | B.enhancing | C.freeing | D.rescuing |
A.estimated | B.shared | C.recognized | D.recalled |
A.interested in | B.cautious about | C.sympathetic to | D.grateful for |
A.acknowledges | B.maintains | C.explores | D.ends |
A.reunion | B.commitment | C.conversation | D.memory |
A.participation | B.transportation | C.transformation | D.interaction |
4 . In today’s digital era, social media users are increasingly coming across fake news online. This leads to the pressing issue: What causes people to fall for misinformation on the Internet?
According to researchers at the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, users can easily fall into an echo chamber (回声室)—a sort of virtual space where users consume only one-sided news, eventually distrusting any opposing views. “We all tend to agree with the group opinion. Hence, people naturally get together with others who hold the same opinion,” said Dongwon Lee, one of the researchers. “But if you’re not cautious, there is a high risk of falling into an echo chamber.”
To prevent this phenomenon, the researchers have crafted a novel tool, a game named ChamberBreaker, to help players resist echo chambers and reduce the rate of fake news spread. The fundamental approach employed by ChamberBreaker centers around a decision-making procedure that mirrors the creation of echo chambers. In ChamberBreaker, a player is tasked with trying to have community members fall into an echo chamber. To begin, the player is randomly assigned a situation that focuses on a health, political or environmental issue, and is presented with six pieces of news on that topic. Then, the player selects news that could cause the other members to fall into an echo chamber while at the same time maintaining their trust. If successful, the community members will fall into an echo chamber and the player will witness the resulting negative effects on the community.
After developing ChamberBreaker, researchers tested it with over 800 subjects to see if it raised awareness of echo chambers and changed news consumption behaviors. The researchers found that those who played ChamberBreaker were significantly more likely to state their intention to observe online information from more diverse perspectives and showed an increased awareness of the echo chamber phenomenon.
Ultimately, the researchers hope that their methodology can excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study related to information consumption. The application of tools like ChamberBreaker, which focuses on fostering analytical reasoning, may lead us towards a more informed online community.
1. What can be learned about an online echo chamber?A.It encourages well-judged views. |
B.It gathers like-minded individuals. |
C.It functions as a virtual reality platform. |
D.It serves as a tool for identifying fake information. |
A.Assignment of situations. | B.Trust-building exercises. |
C.News selection strategy. | D.Community impact assessment. |
A.The results of scientific testing. |
B.The theoretical framework of the game. |
C.The description of the game procedures. |
D.The common challenges faced during gameplay. |
A.Reducing news inquiry. | B.Encouraging passive reading. |
C.Strengthening prejudiced views. | D.Enhancing critical thinking. |
5 . At just 17, Lauren Schroeder has already made a significant impact on her community. Her voyage began at 14, volunteering at a food shelter. While packing boxes with canned goods for needy families, Lauren detected a substantial shortage: fresh vegetables. This observation sparked an idea that soon grew into a community-wide initiative.
Lauren pictured transforming part of her family’s 150-acre farm into a garden committed to growing produce for local families. Her proposal was met with a hint of concern from her mother, Katie Schroeder. While supportive, she also foresaw the extensive labor involved. Despite the agricultural background—her family typically planted soybeans and corn—vegetable cultivation was a novel pursuit. Nevertheless, Lauren was eager to tackle the nutritional deficiency she had uncovered.
The hard work began in earnest. Not discouraged by potential obstacles, Lauren dived into research to be a seasoned vegetable cultivator and secured a grant (拨款) from the National FFA Organization to cover initial costs. Subsequently, she spent two to three hours daily watering her crops by hand through the hot Iowa summers, sandwiching this commitment between softball practices. Furthermore, she carefully tended to her garden, combating weeds and harvesting crops, with green beans proving particularly challenging.
Eventually, with assistance from her younger brothers and sisters, Lauren’s half-acre garden produced 15 varieties of vegetables. In its first year, the garden generated 40 pounds of produce, benefiting food banks, nursing homes, and soup kitchens.
Motivated by the early achievements, Lauren doubled the garden’s size. To date, she has donated over 7,000 pounds of produce, valued at approximately $15,000, commanding community respect. Her work has found a deep echo among others, notably a mother from a local shelter who was grateful for the fresh food that reminded her children of home.
Lauren’s inspiration is straightforward yet deep-seated. “I wanted to have something that would impact people,” she told KWQC. Her actions demonstrate her belief in the power of community and the joy obtained from helping others—a feeling that will undoubtedly shape her future initiatives.
1. Why did Lauren initiate the community garden?A.To pursue a new hobby. | B.To explore plant cultivation. |
C.To fill a food shelter’s vegetable gap. | D.To gain recognition in her community. |
A.By doing trial and error. | B.By conducting thorough research. |
C.By engaging in fundraising activities. | D.By maintaining consistent hard work |
A.She was passionate and determined. | B.She was inexperienced but creative. |
C.She was observant and popular. | D.She was concerned but hardworking. |
A.Garden to Table: a Solo Effort | B.Local Garden: Hope for the Globe |
C.Harvesting Hope: Community Growth | D.Farming Fundamentals: a Teen’s Journey |
6 . With such a strong artistic heritage, it’s no surprise that England knocks it out of the park when it comes to world-class art galleries. These are the galleries you need to add to your must-visit list.
Royal Academy of Arts (RA), London
Not your standard gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts is led by artists to promote not just the appreciation of art, but its practice. It is world-famous for hosting some exhibitions that get everyone talking. Besides, what sets the RA apart is its engagement with the public through participatory experiences, allowing visitors to not only view art but become part of it in innovative ways.
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
Sitting on the edge of the University of East Anglia’s campus, the Sainsbury Centre holds a collection of remarkable works of art spanning over 2,000 years. Inside the seminal Norman Foster building, you’ll find artworks from around the world, including some stunning pieces of European modern art by Degas, Francis Bacon, and Alberto Giacometti.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire
Tearing up the rulebook when it comes to how we traditionally view art, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park strives to break down barriers by showing works from British and international artists in the open air. Set in hundreds of acres of West Yorkshire parkland, you’ll see sculptures by some of the leading artists of the 20th century.
Whitworth, Manchester
After a sky-high £15 million development, the Whitworth is becoming one of the premier galleries in the north of England. Making full use of its picturesque park setting, the gallery has a beautiful art garden and a sculpture terrace (露台), all waiting to be explored. Inside the gallery, you can view an exciting programme of ever-changing exhibitions.
1. What is special about the Royal Academy of Arts?A.It offers interactive experiences. |
B.It displays works by senior artists. |
C.It occupies a vast space in the museum. |
D.It stages exhibitions in a traditional way. |
A.They are small in scale. | B.They offer outdoor settings. |
C.They feature long-standing works. | D.They host exhibitions on an annual basis. |
A.An art textbook. | B.An art student’s paper. |
C.A personal travel blog. | D.A travel guidebook. |
1. What is the main feature of LearnEnglish courses?
A.The fun. | B.The low prices. | C.The flexibility. |
A.Help choose a course. | B.Offer extra written work. | C.Guide the learners’ habits. |
A.As soon as you register. |
B.After you pass a language test. |
C.Before you take the taster lesson. |
A.Ways of learning English. | B.Special online courses. | C.Technology and English. |
1. What is the woman doing?
A.Hosting a program. | B.Chairing a meeting. | C.Conducting a job interview. |
A.In 2016. | B.In 2018. | C.In 2019. |
A.Satisfied. | B.Uncaring. | C.Disapproving. |
A.To earn adequate money. |
B.To expand the adoption center. |
C.To make sure adopters treat cats well. |
1. Why does the man look sad?
A.He will be out of work. | B.He will be far from home. | C.He will lose lots of money. |
A.A long-term service. | B.A lower-price service. | C.A service facing musicians. |
A.To run a company. | B.To form a band. | C.To be a musician. |
A.South Korea. | B.India. | C.Singapore. |