2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Luban lock is a traditional Chinese folk educational toy that was believed to be invented by Lu Ban,     1     structural engineer from the Spring and Autumn Period (770—476 BC). Lu was later became known as the “father of     2     (carpent)” in the country.

The concave and convex parts within the toy dovetail (吻合) perfectly. Luban locks come     3     different shapes and sizes, and with different internal structures. They are known for being easy to take apart     4     difficult to reassemble.

The interlocking burr puzzle with the simplest construction uses three rods (杆)     5     can be assembled into a three-way cross, in which each rod is perpendicular (垂直的) to the other two.

Its structural integrity relies     6     (sole) on its internal arrangement, removing the need for nails or cords. Similar to folding a piece of paper to create a standing shape, this seemingly simple yet ingeniously     7     (craft) toy encapsulates (概括) a reservoir of extraordinary wisdom.

Beyond its role as a toy, the principles behind the Luban lock’s interlocking structures have been extended into the realm (领域) of     8     (architecture) design.

In 2020, the craft of making this toy     9     (name) a Shandong provincial intangible cultural heritage item. In Tengzhou, Zaozhuang, the birthplace of Lu Ban, this ancient craft has been passed down over the centuries. Many workshops in the city can still be found     10     (manufacture) this lock today.

3 . Ever wondered why deep-sea fish look so peculiar or how social media apps track your preferences? The answers to these questions can be found in the videos produced by “Chaizhidao”, a channel on multiple Chinese video platforms, including Bilibili and Douyin, dedicated to popularizing science.

Wang Zhenxing, the founder of “Chaizhidao”, was born in 1992. Recognizing the increasing trend of young people acquiring knowledge through video content, he started pursuing video creation in 2016. His team initially produced both knowledge-based videos and articles. But in 2019, Wang made the decisive commitment to focus solely on video production.

Comprising over a dozen members mainly from Generation Z, Wang’s team boasts diverse professional backgrounds in geophysics, engineering, and design, presenting knowledge in each area in a simple and accessible manner.

However, conveying a complex topic in a digestible 5 to 10-minute video format is not simple. To ensure a comprehensive dissemination of scientific insights, Wang’s team employs a variety of techniques tailored to the nature of the information at hand. For topics rooted in everyday life, they incorporate live-action or real-life footage to foster a sense of relatability with their audience. For more abstract principles, hand-drawn animations serve as an invaluable tool in visually conveying intricate concepts.

In a video discussing the existence of garbled (混乱的) characters in computers, Wang’s team chose to use purely animated illustrations to explain the underlying principles. “We spent nearly three months creating this 15-minute video,” he said. Their hard work has paid off. The channel has attracted over 10 million followers across different platforms.

Sharing knowledge through videos prompted the emergence of “niche knowledge” and “implicit knowledge” categories. Thanks to these video influencers, the implicit knowledge within these fields has now been more widely popularized.

1. What does the founder of “Chaizhidao” mainly focus on now?

A．Producing knowledge-based articles.	B．Creating knowledge-based videos.
C．Designing science-related products.	D．Conducting scientific experiments.

2. Why does the team of “Chaizhidao” use different techniques in video production?

A．To attract more followers.	B．To make complex topics digestible.
C．To improve their video-making skills.	D．To meet the needs of different generations.

3. What can we learn from the video discussing the existence of garbled characters in computers?

A．The video was produced to promote animation.

B．The video was watched by over 10 million people.

C．The video used animations to explain fundamental principles.

D．The video was produced by Wang Zhenxing alone.

4. What does the author mean by saying “the implicit knowledge within these fields has now been more widely popularized”?

A．These types of knowledge have become more fashionable.

B．These types of knowledge have been widely shared and understood.

C．These types of knowledge have attracted more experts’ attention.

D．These types of knowledge have been taught in more schools.

4 . Popular destinations boosted by films, TV dramas

Over the past year, several films and TV dramas have put their shooting locations into the public spotlight.

Dali in Yunnan province

With the premiere of the TV drama Meet Yourself earlier last year, the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Yunnan province emerged as a highly sought-after tourism destination.

The drama was filmed in Dali, showcasing main locations such as Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town, Fengyangyi village, Shaxi Ancient Town and Xizhou Town. The idyllic scenery and relaxing pace of life depicted in the drama proved to be a soothing balm for many, leading to a tourism boom in Dali during the Spring Festival holidays.

Jiangmen in Guangdong province

Thanks to the success of the hit show The Knockout, Jiangmen in Guangdong province soared as a prominent tourism destination last year, where the drama was filmed.

As a prominent hometown for many overseas Chinese, the city boasts historical cultural street scenes, exotic South Asian-style architecture, and a díverse array of flavorful snacks, attracting a throng of tourists and TV fans.

Taiyuan Ancient County in Shanxi province

Full River Red, the highest-grossing blockbuster during last year’s Spring Festival, has set the TaiyuanAncient County in Shanxi on fire with excitement. The film was directed by iconic director Zhang Yimou and draws inspiration from a famous poem by the patriotic general Yue Fei of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Filmed within a residential compound made up of five enclosed courtyards in an ancient town relic site in Jinyuan district, Taiyuan city, Shanxi province, the movie captures the essence of the country’s intricate, winding alleyways and distinctive ancient courtyards, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Shanghai

Shanghai has once again captured the public’s attention with the recent popularity of the TVseries Blossoms Shanghai. Key filming locations such as Huanghe Road, Peace Hotel, and Tai Sheng Yuan restaurant have emerged as highly sought-after tourist destinations. Dishes featured in the show, such as Spare Ribs with Rice Cakes and Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Beef, have become culinary favorites among tourists exploring Shanghai.

The iconic No. 27 on the Bund, where Miss Wang worked in the TV series, has transformed into JiushiArt Museum, while the Pujiang Hotel has found new life as the location of the China Securities Museum.

1. Why did the TV drama Meet Yourself make Dali in Yunnan province popular among tourists?

A．Because it showcased the beauty of Erhai Lake.

B．Because it provided a relaxing escape from daily life.

C．Because it was filmed in many ancient towns.

D．Because it featured the local culture and snacks.

2. What is the main inspiration for the film Full River Red?

A．A poem by a patriotic general.	B．An ancient town in Taiyuan.
C．The director Zhang Yimou.	D．The intricate alleyways of Shanxi.

3. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A personal travel blog.	B．A tourism promotion website.
C．A film press release.	D．A cultural journal.

5 . Soap (肥皂) might seem like a reasonable way to avoid mosquito bites (蚊子叮) on the basis that if mosquitoes can’t smell you, they can’t bite you. However, a recent study has found that rather than protecting you, certain soaps might actually make you more attractive to mosquitoes.

In the study, conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, four volunteers were asked to wear a sleeve before and after washing with four different brands of soap. The researchers then watched female mosquitoes as only females feed on blood landing on the fabric sample to show their preference. They found that some people washing with some brands of soap, increased their attractiveness to mosquitoes, while washing with other brands of soap tended to repel (驱除) mosquitoes. The repellent effect of some soap may be due to its coconut scent, as coconut oil is known to act as a natural mosquito repellent. The reason behind this attraction is believed to be related to mosquitoes’ sugar intake. When mosquitoes are not feeding on blood, they add their diet with plant juice or sweet water from flowers, “The fact we are taking those flowery and fruity smells and putting them on our bodies means that now the same object smells like a flower and a person at the same time,” said Clément Vinauger, who led the study. It would be like waking up and smelling the smell of coffee and bread, very attractive.

Interestingly, the effects of the soap varied among people, possibly due to the interaction (相互作用) between the soap and each person’s unique body scent. “It’s remarkable that the same person that is extremely attractive to mosquitoes when he is unwashed, but he becomes even more attractive to mosquitoes with one soap, and then become repellent to mosquitoes with another soap,” said Vinauger. Further research is needed to better understand the interaction between different soap and body scents, as well as to develop more effective mosquito repellents.

1. What has the study found?

A．Soap attracts many mosquitoes.	B．Male mosquitoes feed on blood.
C．Some plants drive away mosquitoes.	D．Not all soap can stop mosquito bites.

2. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By observing the mosquitoes’ behaviour.	B．By exploring the history of mosquitoes.
C．By interviewing a lot of volunteers.	D．By examining old studies.

3. Why did Vinauger mention coffee and bread?

A．To stress the importance of breakfast.

B．To discuss their probable health benefits.

C．To compare the difference of objects used in the study.

D．To prove the attractiveness of some soap to mosquitoes.

4. In which section of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Health.

B．Chemistry.

C．Sports.

D．Tour.

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。

What should have been a regular Sunday at the YMCA turned into a day one teenage lifeguard will never forget!

Eighteen-year-old Natalie Lucas has been working as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Longmont, Colorado, for the past three years. Recently, a couple entered the pool area while she was on duty. The woman was very pregnant, so Natalie kept a close eye on her as she eased herself into the shallow end of the pool.

Tessa Rider was nine months pregnant that day. She and her husband, Matthew Jones, came to the pool a few times that week to ease the discomfort of a nerve pain.

As Tessa was resting in the pool, she suddenly realized something was happening. Natalie noticed Tessa climbed out of the pool, so she went over to check on the couple. “I walk over and Matthew, the husband, says to me, ‘We’re having the baby right now.’ I’m like, ‘OK!’” Natalie recalled.

Matthew called 911, but as he spoke to the operator he knew it was too late. Tessa was already pulling her bathing suit off. Natalie helped Tessa and Matthew by bringing over the center’s medical supplies and towels, and calling for more assistance from the front desk. Throughout it all, she told herself to remain calm and focus on caring for Tessa.

“I knew I needed to stay calm,” Natalie said. “So I made sure to keep my head on and stay with them, keep asking them questions, and keep them focused on the baby and made sure that they were the most comfortable.”

Less than five minutes later, Matthew caught his newborn son as he was born on the pool edge.

After helping clear the baby’s airway and ensuring he was breathing, Natalie used her back to support the new mom until paramedic (护理员) arrived. Once there, baby Tobin Thomas Rider received a clean bill of health!

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。
Paragraph 1:

Matthew and Tessa are both grateful that Natalie was there to help them.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

Natalie said Tobin’s unexpected birth was all just part of her job.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Is going alone in an unknown area the right way to go, or do you want a tour guide to show you the highlights? I think that you can combine the two ways in one trip and have the best of both worlds.     1     The best purchase we made was for a bus tour that would take us around the capital and point out all the main sites. That allowed us the next day to travel on foot to the ones we especially wanted to see.

Let’s look at the San Francisco Bay Area which is another one of my favorite vacation spots. Some areas are so familiar to tourists that it’s possible to view the attractions on your own.     2     Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are good examples. Just by walking a few blocks, you can tour Aquarium of the Bay and the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39.

    3     If you go to Alcatraz Island, you have a choice of going alone, having a live tour guide or being guided by earphones. I would recommend the live tour guides. I went all three ways, and I received more enjoyment by someone telling me items interest I know I had missed on previous tours.     4     It gives you a behind-the-scenes look of colorful Chinatown. The tour covers history, traditions of the local people and culture that you probably wouldn’t know or see by travelling alone.

You can go alone to attractions or take a guided tour. It’s your choice and you can choose whichever would give you the most memorable experience.     5    

A．I recommend both.

B．It’s possible to drive to the area and go alone.

C．One trip we recently took was to Washington DC.

D．Some attractions are worth having a tour guide for.

E．Chinatown Walking Tours are a tour-guided must-see.

F．That allows you to take your time and go at your own pace.

G．The tour guides know what we have never found out on our own.

9 . Birmingham is the second largest city of the United Kingdom. It lies near the geographic center of England. It’s one of England’s major industrial and commercial areas. Here’re some places in Birmingham you may be interested in living in.

Solihull

Located 7.5 miles southeast of Birmingham, Solihull offers the best of both worlds for the perfect combination of city and country living. With several top-rated schools, Solihull is a perfect location for families, and with over 1,500acres of parks, there’re plenty of green spaces to keep the kids entertained as well. With easy transport links into Birmingham, it’s a great choice for commuters (通勤人员) and what’s more, Birmingham Airport is located in Solihull.

Erdington

Situated five miles northeast of the city center, Erdington has to be one of the best places to live in and around Birmingham. This is a very well-connected city suburb, with easy motorway access, great bus links and a railway station on the Cross City Line.

Digbeth

If you’re looking to buy your first home in Birmingham, Digbeth could be the perfect choice. The area is a hub for the creative industry, with the Custard Factory and Fazeley Studios both hosting a huge variety of digital and cultural businesses. It’s very tolerant of all kinds of culture, making it one of the most dynamic places to live in.

Edgbaston

Edgbaston is one of the richest areas in Birmingham, well-known for its green spaces and Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There’re many other attractions for those not interested in sports, including the pretty Victorian campus of Birmingham University and multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. It is a suitable place to live in.

1. What’s special about Solihull?

A．It is very suitable for the old.

B．It has the largest park in Birmingham.

C．It is the trading center of Birmingham.

D．It shows the mix of rural and urban life.

2. Which place presents cultural diversity?

A．Digbeth.	B．Erdington.
C．Edgbaston.	D．Solihull.

3. What is the author trying to persuade readers to do in Birmingham?

A．Attend university.	B．Go on a tour.
C．Buy houses.	D．Start businesses.

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。

It was a sun-kissed spring afternoon along the beautiful Maryland coast, and Jonathan Bauer, a 51-year-old former firefighter, was enjoying a rare moment with his 13-year-old daughter, Ava. The two of them were heading home across the Route 90 bridge, over the waters of Assawoman Bay.

However, the peace of their drive was suddenly disturbed by the noise of tires and a horrible crash just ahead of them. A black truck was out of control, running into a concrete barrier, and finally coming to rest over the bridge’s railing(栏杆).

In that heart-stopping moment, Bauer hit the brakes in time to avoid the vehicles in his path, narrowly avoiding a crash with the truck ahead. But his heart sank as he saw a red car sliding backward towards him. He turned left, but too late——the car ultimately crashed into the trunk of his car.

Bauer stopped the car. “Ava, are you OK?” he asked. Thankfully, Ava emerged from the chaos, but otherwise unhurt. Bauer, however, couldn’t stand by. Rushing to the red car, he checked on its driver. “Are you OK?” he asked the driver. She nodded, too shocked to speak.

Then, suddenly, a scream of “HELP” cut through the air, coming from the overturned truck. As the truck driver climbed out and pointed toward the water, Bauer raced to his side. In the shallow bay waters below, he spotted a car seat and a terrified two-year-old girl, dressed in a pink dress.

Without hesitation, Bauer instructed Ava to call the ambulance as he removed his shoes. He knew the situation was urgent, and he had to act swiftly to save the baby. He climbed onto the bridge’s railing, preparing to make a jump of faith into the water. He was not sure about his chances jumping from this height into such shallow water. And were there rocks this close to the concrete pillar(柱子) of the bridge?

注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Bauer jumped into the water.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As the ambulance left, Ava anxiously turned to her father.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________