1 . Apollo 15 was the first flight to the moon that included a spacewalk. On our return trip to Earth, we needed to recover film canisters (胶卷盒) from the service module. Because it was a new activity, an incredible amount of preparation went into it.

I evaluated the entire plan in terms of safety and results. During our pre-flight analysis, we installed a warning tone in the suit in case of low oxygen pressure. Once all this pre-flight work was accomplished, the actual spacewalk was easy and accomplished in a short time. I had the pleasure of being outside the spacecraft for 38 minutes, and here’s how we did it.

We started suiting up an hour or so before the actual spacewalk. I got a little rush as the Command Module was depressurizing because I was then completely dependent on the pressure in the suit to keep me alive. I had practised this procedure many times on Earth, but this was for REAL and I had to do it just right. Once the cabin pressure went to zero, we opened the hatch (舱口) and went out.

What a feeling to be free in deep space! I concentrated on reaching for the handholds as I made my way to the back of the service module so I would not float away. I had a small problem right away. The high-resolution camera was stuck out in its extended position. I reached the canister, put a safety clip (安全扣) on it, attached by a rope to my wrist. and pulled it out of the bay. Turning around again I made my way back to the hatch. So far, a piece of cake. After another two trips, I finished my task.

By turning my head just so I could position myself so that both the Earth and the Moon were in field of vision. I realized that no one in all of history had ever seen this sight before. What an honour it was.

1. What is the purpose of installing a warning tone in the suit?

A．To help recover film canister.

B．To assess the safety of the plan.

C．To improve the quality of the suit.

D．To inform astronauts of low oxygen pressure.

2. Why was the author feel nervous faced with his actual spacewalk?

A．His task was completely new for him.	B．He lacked full preparation in advance.
C．He was afraid to make any mistake.	D．He suddenly found his suit went wrong.

3. What happened when the author did his task in space?

A．He couldn’t find the canister.

B．He failed to handle the problem himself.

C．He experienced a narrow escape initially.

D．He met with some challenges when doing his task.

4. What does the author feel about his trip to the moon?

A．Tired.

B．Confused.

C．Proud.

D．Safe.

2 . Seasonality is a big part of business. For some industries, seasonal patterns are a defining feature. Agriculture is one obvious example; tourism another. Western toymakers notch up a huge proportion of their annual sales during Christmas. Construction is harder during cold weather, when that industry employs fewer people.

Firms less obviously tied to the seasons can still be deeply affected by them, as a recent review by Ian Hohm of the University of British Columbia makes clear. An analysis of social-media posts on the Internet found that dieting-related posts peak in the spring, as the season of body dysmorphia (变形) approaches.

Even when overall demand doesn’t vary greatly between the seasons, preterences change. Beef-eaters buy roasts in the slow-cooking winter season and plump for steaks during the summer months. Starbucks is among those firms that make seasonality a marketing event. The pumpkin-spiced latte is a reliable sign that autumn is on its way, along with falling leaves.

Seasonality also leaves a less obvious imprint (印记) inside organisations. This week, with so many bosses stuck on a mountain for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, productive employees can get on with some work and lazy ones can relax. School holidays offer an obvious form of seasonality, when employees without children are upset that they are covering for colleagues on holiday, and colleagues on holiday are upset that they have children.

Pay decisions are seasonal events, too. The time when employees find out their salary rises and bonuses sets off disappointment and happiness in all workplaces. In some, they are more like tsunamis. The actual date on which bonuses are paid matters too — once the money is safely put in the bank, people are more likely to move jobs.

There are other forms of corporate seasonality. While there isn’t much research on the impact of seasonality within firms, it’s certain that they have their own annual rhythms.

1. Why do people focus on dieting in spring posts according to the analysis?

A．They want to take time to get refreshed in spring.

B．They fear the summer heat will ruin their health.

C．They fear summer will reveal their body shapes.

D．They suffer a lack of proper food during winter.

2. What does the underlined part “plump for” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Throw away.

B．Decide on.

C．Rule out.

D．Turn up.

3. What troubles childless employees during school holidays?

A．Being unable to relax in the absence of the boss.

B．Staying in step with the change of the seasons.

C．Accompanying the children of their colleagues.

D．Sharing the work of the employees with children.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Companies Have Their Own Seasonal Rhythms

B．School Holidays Have an Effect on Companies

C．Corporate Seasonality Has Vast Social Effect

D．Employees Must Watch Beyond the Seasons

3 . My mother was born on a farm in Wisconsin in 1897. She attended college in Milwaukee.

One of my earliest memories, when I was about 3, was on a bitter cold day in 1932, the middle of the Great Depression. A man knocked on our back door and asked my mother for something to eat, as he hadn’t eaten for three days. Mom gave him a plate of stew (炖菜) plus two slices of bread. When he took the plate and fork, tears streamed down his cheeks.

At age 21, in 1918, my mother began employment with a local charity in northern Georgia. She was assigned alone to create valuable programs for a small community. She often told us the stories about those old days after she retired. In her later years, my mother established Georgia’s Garden Club, the Professional Women’s Club, the town’s first lending library and other “firsts”.

There were quite a lot of people at her funeral in 1990, when she passed away at 93. My sister and I moved among her many friends, exchanging memories about her. At one point, we saw a stranger with tears on his face. We approached him and my sister asked, “Did you know my mother well?” He replied, “I owe my life to her!” He told us that when he was a young child, in 1918, his family of seven all came down with the flu. The “new lady from the charity” heard about their illness and came to help. He said, “We’d never have made it without her loving care.”

Amazingly, the night before I had read a brief account of that very incident in one of my mother’s diaries. I’m certain I have a responsibility to inform the world of what my mother’s life in northern Georgia was like.

1. Why does the author mention the story that happened in 1932?

A．To complain about the Great Depression.

B．To explain there were many poor people.

C．To prove his family was so wealthy then.

D．To show his mother was very sympathetic.

2. What can best describe the author’s mother in her later years?

A．Ambitious and active.	B．Traditional but brave.
C．Determined and humorous.	D．Demanding but straightforward.

3. How might the author and his sister feel after hearing what the stranger said?

A．Puzzled.

B．Grateful.

C．Proud.

D．Sad.

4. What is the author likely to talk about next regarding his mother?

A．Her education experiences.	B．Her childhood memories.
C．The challenges in her career.	D．The stories in her programs.

4 . 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。

My 16-year-old son, Jacob, is the center of my universe. He’s always been a kind, bright, and generally well-behaved child. So, you can imagine my shock and heartbreak when, a few weeks ago, I faced every parent’s nightmare.

It started when I received a call from Jacob’s school. His teacher, Mrs. Henderson, who’s been teaching for over 25 years, sounded upset. She informed me that Jacob was involved in an incident—he had been laughing at a classmate, Andy, for his poor background and worn-out clothes. I was shocked. This behavior was so unlike the son I thought I knew.

I spent that night thinking of how to address this. I knew I had to teach Jacob a lesson, one that he wouldn’t easily forget, one that would help him develop empathy and understanding towards others, regardless of their financial status.

The next morning, I sat Jacob down for a serious talk. I explained how-his actions were hurtful and unacceptable. He seemed regretful, but I knew words alone wouldn’t be enough. So, I decided to take a severe step.

I took away all of his prized possessions: his laptop, designer clothes, and other luxuries. I explained to him that if he wanted them back, he’d have to earn them. My intention was not just to punish him but to teach him the value of hard work, money, and, most importantly, to understand the struggles of his classmate.

Jacob’s reaction was as expected. My action angered him. He couldn’t believe I would do something like this. But as days passed, his anger gave way to understanding. He started a part-time job at a local grocery store. The work was hard and tiring. During this period, Jacob began to change. He learned how challenging it can be to earn money and the effort it takes to afford even the basic luxuries of life.

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 a few weeks of this, I realized it was time for another heartfelt conversation.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jacob did eventually earn back his belongings.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . A homeowner is puzzled by two dolls moving into his mailbox one day. Don Powell said the two dolls ________ in his mailbox last summer with a ________ that read: “We’ve decided to live here. Mary and Shelley.”

He asked his neighbors if anyone else had ________ dolls in their mailbox but no one had. It’s important to note that Powell has a mailbox that looks ________ to his actual home. So, he could see why a doll family might want to ________ .

His first thought was to ________ the couple and their belongings into the garbage can. But then, ________, he changed his mind. He pushed the couple and their belongings to the ________ of the mailbox and started doing his own business.

But this was just the ________. Soon after, someone dropped off a dog for the doll couple living in the mailbox. Over time more ________ started to appear inside the mailbox including a carpet, chair, and a bed.

By Christmas time, Shelley and Mary ________ some wrapped presents and a little Christmas tree. After a while, Powell turned to social media to see whether anyone would ________ they put the dolls in his mailbox, or if they ________ who did. But no one came forward.

“I’m kind of enjoying the mystery,” he said. “I look forward to ________ things being added to the mailbox.” Powell said although the dolls have found a home inside his mailbox, it doesn’t disturb his mailman from ________ his letters.

1.

A．grew

B．married

C．arrived

D．quarreled

2.

A．book

B．note

C．order

D．request

3.

A．found

B．lent

C．kept

D．made

4.

A．strange

B．proper

C．close

D．similar

5.

A．sign up

B．move in

C．carry on

D．come along

6.

A．throw

B．warn

C．force

D．drive

7.

A．absolutely

B．actually

C．obviously

D．suddenly

8.

A．top

B．side

C．back

D．outside

9.

A．attempt

B．beginning

C．excuse

D．joke

10.

A．furniture

B．adventure

C．fortune

D．wealth

11.

A．bought

B．created

C．received

D．expected

12.

A．admit

B．promise

C．refuse

D．declare

13.

A．blamed

B．considered

C．knew

D．feared

14.

A．new

B．valuable

C．unique

D．terrible

15.

A．getting

B．writing

C．sending

D．delivering

6 . There Are 4 Types of Anger: Which One Is Yours?

You’re passive-aggressive (被动攻击型)

    1     when a colleague asks for a favor, but then oh, forget to do it—or do it late and not well. You say "it's fine" when it's really not or 'whatever' when you really mean no. These are all classic passive-aggressive behaviors-or patterns of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them.

You make mountains out of molehills (小题大做)

You find the fault in every situation, and regard each conversation as an argument you have to win. Maybe you were made to look or feel inferior（卑微的） growing up. To pay off, you become more aggressive. Instead of feeling like a victim, you learn to be the "rejecter".     2    . And you create conflict or deliver the first blow in an argument so it gives you the chance to be heard, to prove you are smarter, and to show you're right.

Your fuse (保险丝) is short and you burst into anger

When you lose the ability to control a situation, it may set off aggression, violent behavior or explosive outbursts that are not necessary to the situation.    3    . This type of anger can also put people at risk for harm, so it's important to seek professional help.

    4    

When it comes to your religious, political or other beliefs—yours are right, the others are wrong; yours are good, the others are bad. So when others go against your beliefs, you're on the offensive because your beliefs are correct, and therefore your anger is reasonable. Even if your intentions are good, anger gets you in trouble when you allow it get out of control.    5     because you think your morals back the behavior.

A．Your morals fuel your anger

B．Anger itself is not a bad emotion

C．You give an enthusiastic "sure, no problem!"

D．It's how you use your anger that makes it good or bad

E．And you feel you have the right to do whatever you want

F．You put down or reject others first before it can be done to you

G．Getting stuck in traffic, for example, may lead you to yell at other drivers

7 . American Jason Stark’s two young sons talked excitedly for months about seeing the The Super Mario Bros. Movie. When the film opened this month, Star k decided to make a special event of taking his boys to the show.

Star k took a day off from work and drove his boys, ages 9 and 6, about a half-hour from their Connecticut home. They went to watch the movie at an AMC theater with a large special screen called an IMAX.

“We got lunch, we went to the movies and had a fun day together,” said Stark. “They loved it. They were amazed by how big (the screen) was.”

Filmmakers and theater business leaders say movie watchers are seeking such new, interesting experiences. American and Canadian ticket sales of traditional movies this year are 16 percent below 2019. However, people have attended movies in large numbers for films and showings that use special effects, including Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Theaters are employing technology to create improved experiences. Changes include larger screens, special sound systems, seats that move in connect ion with action in a film and other environmental effects.

Market researcher Comscore visualizes these special shows will make up 16.7 percent of U. S. movie ticket sales. The company says that number was 9.2 percent in 2019.

Theater companies continue to build large, special viewing screens known as premium format (高级格式). The total number of premium format screens in North America reached 1,940 in 2022, says Omdia, another research company. It says the new number represents an increase of 4.4 percent over the year before.

The average ticket price to see a movie in the U. S. is around $11. Premium screenings usually cost five to seven dollars more.

B&B Theatres operates 531 screens in 14 states and offers large format screens as well as heated chairs that can be raised and lowered, immersive (亲临其境) audio and seats timed to move with a movie’s action.

1. What impressed Star k and his two sons most about the movie?

A．Its large screen.	B．Its moving story.
C．Its famous actors.	D．Its excited audience.

2. What’s the problem with traditional movies?

A．They are out of date.	B．They will disappear in the future.
C．They are less popular now.	D．People no longer like to see them.

3. What does the underlined word “visualizes” mean in paragraph 6?

A．Warns.

B．Expects.

C．Doubts.

D．Announces.

4. What do we know about the new technology movies?

A．They are costly and difficult to build.	B．They have lost their traditional style.
C．They only attract the young to watch.	D．They cost more for people to enjoy.

8 . Scientists have discovered fossils that might have belonged to the heaviest animal in Earth’s history. The blue whale holds the current record as the largest creature to live on Earth. But a collection of bones found in Peru might break that record.

Mario Urbina discovered the bones in 2012. He is with the University of San Marcos’ Natural History Museum in Lima. An international team spent years digging them out from the side of a rocky hill in the Ica desert. The large fossils date back to around 39 million years ago.

After the digging operation, the researchers used 3D scanners to study the surface of the bones and also looked inside. The researchers used the huge but incomplete skeleton to estimate the whale’s size and weight.

The team estimates the ancient creature weighed somewhere between 85 and 340 metric tons. The biggest blue whales found have been within that range, at about 180 metric tons. This means the newly discovered whale was possibly the heaviest animal ever. Bu it was most likely not the longest animal ever.

The research team said one reason the animal weighs more is because its bones are much denser and heavier than a blue whale’s bones. Those super-dense bones suggest the whale may have spent its time in less deep, coastal waters, the scientists said. Other animals that stay close to the coast have heavy bones to help them stay close to the seafloor.

Amson, from the State Museum of Natural History in Germany, said that without the skull, it is hard to know what the whale was eating to support such a huge body. It is possible that the large creature sought food along the seafloor, the researchers said. Or it could have eaten up tons of smaller sea life in the ocean.

1. What did the researchers want to know by using 3D technology?

A．How big and heavy the whale was.	B．What environment the whale faced.
C．What caused the whale to die.	D．How long the whale lived.

2. What do heavier bones mean for this ancient whale?

A．The strength it had.	B．The area where it lived.
C．The way it hunted for food.	D．The speed it swam in the sea.

3. What interested Amson about the ancient whale?

A．The way it moved in the sea.	B．The miss of its head bones.
C．The large amount of food it ate.	D．The threat it brought to other sea life.

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

A．Ancestor of Blue Whales Was Discovered

B．Huge Ancient Whale Bones Shock Researchers

C．Mysterious Giant Ancient Whales Puzzle Scientists

D．Ancient Whale May Be Heaviest Animal Ever Found

9 . 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。

An optional college course named Appreciation of the Jiangxi Opera has been taught in a packed house recently at Nanchang University. Waving water sleeves while     1     (wear) traditional makeup and costumes, Chen Li, the instructor of this course, displayed the charm of Jiangxi Opera,     2     several-hundred-year-old local opera, in front of the students this morning.

Many of students     3     (record) the performances and posted the video clips of the class     4     social media platforms, receiving millions of views and likes from netizens. Instead of adopting the traditional form of stage play, Chen devoted more attention to her students’ interactive experience. “I invite my students to come to the stage where they can experience the whole process of the performance by     5     (them),” Chen added.

The course has been open for many years, mainly introducing the history, tunes and performance characteristics of Jiangxi Opera. Originally this course was rarely attended but now is full of people. “    6     I used to focus on was the form of speech and lectures while the teaching effect was unsatisfying,” said Chen.     7     (arouse) the enthusiasm of students, Chen decided to put on a costume and turn the class into a stage to perform.

    8     (face) with the unexpected fame, Chen was satisfied but also realized that a     9     (great) responsibility rested on her shoulders than before. “I hope that even though the     10     (popular) of Jiangxi Opera decreases, this art can still be passed down through generations,” Chen said.

10 . It is hard to imagine humans spending their lives in virtual reality (VR) when the experience amounts to waving your arms about in the middle of the waiting room with a device fastened to your face. But this is where humanity is heading.

Chalmers, an Australian professor of philosophy and neural science at New York University, makes the case to embrace VR in his new book, Reality +. Well-known for explaining “the hard problem” of consciousness, Chalmers sees technology reaching the point where virtual and physical are the same in the sense and people live good lives in VR. In the decades ahead, Chalmers suspects we will replace the clumsy (笨拙的) headsets with brain-computer interfaces that allow us to experience virtual worlds with our full set of senses.

“A common way of thinking about VR is that it is somehow fake ability. I think that’s wrong,” Chalmers explained. “The virtual worlds we’re interacting with can be as real as our ordinary physical world.”

“But there are plenty of risks to be cautious of,” he notes. As fulfilling as virtual worlds may become, people will need real food, drink and exercise, and perhaps even the glimpse of daylight, to keep their bodies from fading away. These are not the only health problems. Some people have raised serious concerns about the risk of psychological damage: If we are better looking and have better clothes and a nicer home in the meta verse (元宇宙), how will we feel when we leave?

“The lure (诱惑) of VR might also cause neglect on a global scale,” Chalmers reveals. Would climate change and other crises facing the physical world lose their urgency? That would be a disaster. He says,“Physical reality is really important. We must maintain a connection to it and care for it responsibly.”

1. Why does the author mention “a device fastened to your face” in paragraph 1?

A．To offer a suggestion on improving virtual reality.

B．To introduce the latest advance in virtual technology.

C．To emphasize a physical barrier to enjoying virtual reality.

D．To demonstrate the necessity of wearing a virtual device.

2. Compared with general belief, what’s Chalmers’s view on virtual reality?

A．He considers that virtual reality has various definitions.

B．He argues that virtual reality is genuine reality.

C．He believes that virtual reality is fake reality.

D．He suggests that virtual reality is temporary.

3. What impact might VR have on fighting global warming?

A．It might speed up global warming.

B．It might offer an alternative solution.

C．It might encourage people to solve it.

D．It might make people neglect the issue.

4. What is the main topic of the passage?

A．The future of VR.	B．The worries about VR.
C．The professor’s insights into VR.	D．The public’s views on VR.