1 . I went to get a coffee this morning. A lovely lady came up to me and said, “You’re so pretty and I love your dress.” It made me feel _________.

Then I dropped my car off for repair, and the girl _________ me had attractive nails, so I said, “Your nails are _________ painted.” She said thank you.

I then got an Uber back with a middle-aged Asian man, and on the way, we _________ a very weak elderly man, and the Uber driver was so kind. Not only did he _________ to me but he got out and _________ the old man to the car, fastened him in, made sure he was _________, and comforted him. When he dropped me off, I said, “What a kind man you are!” I left him a big _________. He then messaged me later and said _________.

Later today, I got an Uber back to get my __________. When I got in, I praised the lady for her perfume (香水), saying how __________ it was. We talked for a while. Then half way through the journey, she __________ in her bag and gave me her perfume. She said, “It’s a __________ from me to you.”

I left her a huge tip, too, just as a reminder that sometimes a simple __________ can make someone’s day. Never be afraid to __________ something beautiful to someone. You may just make their day better.

1.

A．worried

B．peaceful

C．nice

D．strange

2.

A．comforting

B．serving

C．cheering

D．admiring

3.

A．beautifully

B．simply

C．thickly

D．completely

4.

A．calmed down

B．called on

C．watched over

D．picked up

5.

A．speak

B．apologize

C．refer

D．turn

6.

A．walked

B．sent

C．forced

D．drove

7.

A．healthy

B．energetic

C．grateful

D．safe

8.

A．smile

B．tip

C．message

D．card

9.

A．goodbye

B．yes

C．thanks

D．sorry

10.

A．car

B．groceries

C．bicycle

D．awards

11.

A．familiar

B．common

C．lovely

D．expensive

12.

A．checked

B．reached

C．rooted

D．brought

13.

A．gift

B．prize

C．reminder

D．wonder

14.

A．honor

B．encouragement

C．chat

D．praise

15.

A．teach

B．lend

C．say

D．introduce

3 . 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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

Over eighty years ago, the internationally praised Chinese-French painter     1     (begin) his artistic journey of Zao Wou-Ki in the beautiful city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, where his     2     (creative) was carried forward.

Now, on the 10th anniversary (周年) of his death, Zao’s famous art works have found their way back to their home before.

Exhibition of Zao Wou-Ki opened at the Art Museum of China Academy of Art in Hangzhou last month. Divided    3     six units, the exhibition shows around 200 of Zao’s most important works, including oil paintings, Chinese ink-wash paintings, watercolors,     4     works of literature.

As     5     important cultural program, held as part of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, the exhibition is also linked with the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and a key project     6     is supported by the Zhejiang Culture and Art Development Fund.

“His works create a modern Eastern style by     7     (bridge) the distance between Eastern and Western cultural traditions, and it allows the spirit of Chinese culture     8     (develop) quickly in the rich soil of modern painting,” Gao says.

Zao’s work has found a proper place in the collections of 150 major     9     (museum) and art galleries around the world.

In 2017, Zao’s painting “29.01.64” (1964)     10     (buy) for around HK $200 million (US $25.6 million) at Christie’s in Hong Kong, setting a new record for his works and the world record for an oil painting by an Asian artist.

4 . In the early part of his life, Seiichi Sano was a busy business owner. Later in life, he took on other difficult activities. At the age of 80, he climbed Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. Soon after, he started surfing.

Sano turned 90 this year. After being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest male to surf, he’s considering trying other activities. “Maybe I’ll try bouldering,” he said, suggesting he might do it first in a gym. “Outside it might be a bit dangerous.”

But maybe he will just stick with what he knows. “I think it would be interesting to surf until I’m 100,” Sano said. “I think I can take better care of myself when I have goals like this. Even now, I take better care of myself than I did before.”

Sano said he got the idea to try surfing from a worker at his local bank. The man’s skin was always dark but healthy. He did not look like a usual banker. His secret, he said, was surfing. So Sano found a teacher.

“I don’t consider myself an old man,” he said in his wet suit, board standing next to him. “I have never thought of myself as an old persona. I always feel that I can still move forward. I can still do it. I can still enjoy it.”

Sano joined hundreds of other surfers recently at Enoshima. All the surfers were younger, of course. Several young students who also worked with Sano’s surf teacher, 46-year-old Kazuto Shimizu, talked about Sano.

“To be honest, I was surprised by his age,” said Shimizu. “I was most worried that he would get injured. I did not know how fit he was, physically.”

Sano still runs a business that supplies wood to building companies. He works 9-to-5 at the job. Surfing reduces tension for him.

1. What made Sano get a Guinness World Record for surfing?

A．His age.

B．His wonderful skill.

C．His fast speed.

D．His competition result.

2. What is the reason for Sano’s beginning surfing?

A．The idea of enriching his life.	B．The decision to improve his health.
C．His dream of becoming world-famous.	D．The unusual appearance of a bank worker.

3. Which of the following can best describe Sano?

A．Creative.

B．Adventurous.

C．Careful.

D．Generous.

4. What do we know about Shimizu?

A．He has difficulty training Sano.	B．He prefers to teach young people.
C．He was concerned about Sano’s health.	D．He praised Sano for his love for work.

5 . 读后续写

In a coastal village named Seaford, lived a courageous young woman named Amelia. Amelia was known throughout Seaford for her adventurous nature. From the moment she could walk, she would eagerly run towards the crashing waves, feeling the sand between her toes and the cool spray of the ocean mist on her face. She was a woman with a strong will and possessed a heart full of kindness. Amelia’s love for the ocean was intense, and she spent most of her days exploring the beautiful beaches and sparkling waters that surrounded her house.

One sunny morning, while Amelia was walking along the shore, she noticed a group of restless seagulls abnormally circling above the crashing waves. Their unusual calls echoed (回) through the air. Concerned for their well-being, she followed their flight pattern, her instincts guiding her toward danger.

As she approached a towering cliff, Amelia gasped in horror. On a narrow ledge (岩架), high above the violent waves, was a young dolphin trapped in a thick fishing net. Its shiny body shone under the golden rays of the sun, but its freedom was cruelly limited by the trap. With each struggle, the net tightened around its delicate body, leaving painful marks on its skin. Its tail flapped helplessly, each movement a request for help, while its desperate cries for assistance echoed through the air.

A sense of urgency filled her, pushing her forward with determination and resolve. Realizing that time was tight, Amelia knew she had to act instantly to free this innocent creature from its difficult position before it submitted to exhaustion or the force of the tides.

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: Without hesitation, Amelia rushed back to the village.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: As the dolphin was released into the waters, it hesitated for a moment.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . The best literary festivals 2023 across the UK to book now

Kite Festival

9-11 June

New last year, this literary festival held in the grounds of spectacular stately home Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire is the first of its kind, combining music and breakthrough ideas to create a unique programme featuring live performances and interactive discussions. Over the Kite Festival weekend, you’ll find award-winning authors sharing their insights on crafting stories and electronic pop legends headlining on the Saturday night.

Primadonna

28-30 July

Held at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Suffolk, Primadonna prides itself on creating a space for works by women and those whose voices might not otherwise be heard. There are insightful workshops covering everything, including sessions on how to get your foot in the door of the publishing world. The family-friendly event also has plenty to keep kids occupied, from craft activities to entertaining talks from big-name writers.

Queen’s Park Book Festival

2-3 September

Queen’s Park Book Festival is the only one in the capital to be held in a public park, making it a low-key affair that feels more like a garden party than a full-blown festival. Alongside writers’ discussions on their latest works, you’ll find performance poetry events hosted by hip-hop verse maestro Poetcurious and nightly parties once the sun sets.

Henley Literary Festival

30 September-8 October

Henley is home to an impressive literary festival, which takes places over a week in October at various venues throughout the town, including the grand riverside private members’ club Phyllis Court and the historic town hall. Alongside main events featuring famous writers, there’s also a hugely popular children’s festival, where little bookworms get the chance to come face-to-face with their favourite authors.

1. Which festival promotes less-read writers?

A．Kite Festival.	B．Primadonna.
C．Queen’s Park Book Festival.	D．Henley Literary Festival.

2. Where can visitors enjoy performances?

A．Kite Festival & Primadonna.

B．Primadonna & Henley Literary Festival.

C．Kite Festival & Queen’s Park Book Festival.

D．Queen’s Park Book Festival & Henley Literary Festival.

3. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce a special book festival.

B．To promote local activities for families.

C．To inform readers of some literary events.

D．To provide introductions about famous authors.

7 . Some experts have been concerned lately about robots leaving humans behind, taking our jobs and possibly a lot more, as in sci-fi films. Christ of Koch, a famous neuroscientist (神经学家), has suggested a novel method. To keep up with the machines, we should increase our brainpower with brain implants (植入物).

Koch notes that brain implants are already helping the paralyzed or people unable to move control computers and robots, and they are being explored for the treatment of mental disorders. Future implants could help us download huge amounts of information instantly, he says, so we can learn “novel skills and facts without even trying”. “Another exciting aspect,” Koch says, “is combining two or more brains into a single conscious mind by direct neuron-to-neuron links.” Koch calls for a “crash program” in brain technologies to make us smarter.

But Koch ignores the obvious facts that bad persons can hack (侵入) into our smartphones and laptops. What if hackers could attack our brains? They may be able to spy on, change or control the memories of people implanted with brain devices. What’s more, we are nowhere close to being able to strengthen the brain in the manner that Koch imagines. Scientists have been experimenting with neuro-technologies for mental illness for more than half a century, and they have little to show for it.

Koch genuinely feared that science, far from addressing our problems, might exacerbate them. The use of robots in the workshop, for example, could cause mass unemployment. Do we just count the immediate job losses—without measuring any other potential positive effect on the economy? Despite losing some jobs to robots in the short term, the increase in productivity will help our overall economy grow faster, which, in turn, will create more, higher quality jobs than we had before.

The future is not as scary as we think. Perhaps we’ve got serious problems on our hands, and we have a lot of work to do to settle them. Brain implants are not the answer.

1. What leads to Koch’s optimism about future brain implants?

A．The great advance in AI research.

B．Their application in medical fields.

C．The breakthrough in surgical techniques.

D．Their easy adaptation to the human body.

2. How does the author feel about Koch’s “crash program” in brain technologies?

A．Disapproving.

B．Unconcerned.

C．Favorable.

D．Excited.

3. What does the underlined word “exacerbate” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Avoid.

B．Worsen.

C．Reduce.

D．Answer.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Are Brain Implants at Risk of Hacker Attack?

B．Will Robots Take the Place of Humans in Future?

C．Will Brain Implants Let the Disabled Live Normally?

D．Do We Need Brain Implants to Keep Up with Robots?

8 . Taylor Swift, US singer-songwriter known for hits such as Shake It Off and You Belong With Me, has earned a new praise-she now has a new species of millipede (千足虫) named in her honor.

The millipede Nannaria swiftae joins 16 other new species described from the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. They have a valuable role, for they break down leaf litter and release their nutrients into the ecosystem. They live on the forest floor, where they feed on rotten leaves and other plant matter, and in fact, they are somewhat tricky to catch, because they tend to remain buried in the soil, sometimes staying completely beneath the surface.

Because of their presence in museum collections, scientists long suspected that the millipedes included many new species, but these specimens (标本) went undescribed for decades. To fix this, the researchers began a multi-year project to collect new specimens throughout the eastern US. They traveled to 17 US states, checking under leaf litter, rocks, and logs to find species so that they could sequence (测定序列) their DNA and scientifically describe them.

Looking at over 1, 800 specimens collected on their field study or taken from university and museum collections, the authors described 17 new species, including Nannaria marianae, which was named after Hennen’s wife. They discovered that the millipedes prefer to live in forested habitats near streams and are often found buried under the soil, exhibiting more mysterious behaviors than their relatives.

The lead author of the study, Derek Hennen, a fan of Taylor Swift says, “Her music helped me get through the highs and lows of graduate school, so naming a new millipede species after her is my way of saying thanks.”

1. Why is it tough to seize the millipede?

A．It’s flexible.

B．It hides well.

C．It feeds on leaves.

D．It looks like litter.

2. What is the author’s purpose in writing the third paragraph?

A．To show scientists’ tough work.	B．To blame researchers’ carelessness.
C．To illustrate millipedes’ importance.	D．To emphasize invention in scientific studies.

3. In which aspect does the millipede differ from its relatives?

A．Habitat.

B．Diet.

C．Nutrition.

D．Mystery.

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

A．Taylor Swift Is a Famous Singer-Songwriter.	B．Scientists Conduct Research on the Millipede.
C．Research on the Millipede Amazed Scientists.	D．Millipede Species Named after Taylor Swift.

9 . On a tram smoothly pulling into the heart of Luxembourg City, Marck gives a smile and takes a look at the fabric of the seat next to him. For him, the city’s trams are more than just transport. More even than the focus of his job. They are about transforming his country and, perhaps, changing the world.

Marck is the director general of Luxtram, Luxembourg’s modern trams. It first started running services two years ago. Next year, Luxembourg will become the world’s only country to get rid of fares on all its forms of public transport. Luxembourg’s traffic problems come from its army of workers. The population of the capital city almost doubles during the working day, when more than 110,000 people travel in and out.

After three decades when its roads have become so crowded, Luxembourg is going to do something remarkable. Free fares, and a plan to persuade people to switch from cars to trams or trains. Marck, along with many others, is excited to see what happens next. “The fact that this is free means that everyone can use it — young or old, rich or poor,” he said. “Everyone can say to themselves it’s better to leave the car at home. We must continue to improve and extend the network. It must always be comfortable, well-connected, efficient.”

Lydie Polfer, the city’s mayor, says she hopes to reach the point where more than a third of people come into the city using public transport — at the moment, it’s less than one in five. She said, “It’s not practical to ban cars because some people, like the elderly, need them. But everyone has to be aware that he or she can do something to improve the situation. There is an expression in German — you are not in the traffic jam — you are the traffic jam, and that is true. I think that making it free will be the biggest arguments for people to use public transport. ”

1. Why does Marck think the city’s trams are more than just transport?

A．The trams are his goal that he strives for.

B．There are more means of transportation than trams.

C．City’s trams bring more changes beyond transport.

D．The trams are the heart of Luxembourg City transport system.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The cause of the traffic problems.	B．The means of public transport.
C．The development of running services.	D．The increase of working population.

3. What concerns people most when using the public transport?

A．The convenience.

B．The fare.

C．The comfort.

D．The efficiency.

4. What can be inferred from what Lydie Polfer said?

A．The elderly needn’t use public transport.

B．It’s possible to persuade most people to use the trams.

C．Everyone can do his part to improve transport situation.

D．Those who don’t take public transport cause traffic jams.