1 . Human faces cut into stone up to 2,000 years ago have again been found on a rocky area along the Amazon River in northern Brazil. The stone carvings (雕刻品) appeared as a result of a big drop in water levels because of dry weather in parts of northern Brazil. The water level had dropped to the lowest level in the history of the river.
“People had reported some of the stone carvings before during periods when water levels were low. But now a greater number have been identified. That will help researchers establish the history of the carvings, and more secrets of historical relics will come to light,” researcher Jaime de Santana Oliveira said recently.
One area shows smooth marks in the rock thought to be where natives once sharpened their tools such as arrows and spears before European settlers arrived.
“The carvings are prehistoric, or precolonial (殖民地时期前的). We can’t be sure of their precise date but based on the evidence of human living places of the area, we believe they are about 1, 000 to 2, 000 years old.” Oliveira said.
The rocky area is on the north shore of the Amazon River near the place where the Rio Negro River joins it.
Oliveira said the carvings were first seen in 2010, but this year’s drought has been more serious than earlier dry periods. The Rio Negro’s levels have dropped 15 meters since July, uncovering large areas of rocks and sand where there had been no beaches.
“This time we found not just more carvings, but the statue of a human face cut into the rock,” said Oliveira, who works for the Brazilian government’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute. The organization watches the care of historic places in Brazil.
1. What plays a key role in finding the stone carvings?| A．People’s report. | B．Natural disaster. |
| C．High technology. | D．Researchers’ effort. |
| A．Explore the history of historical sites. | B．Move the valuable carvings to safety. |
| C．Discover more underwater stone carvings. | D．Make the carvings popular among visitors. |
| A．Fixed. | B．Exact. | C．Best. | D．Future. |
| A．The human face stone carvings. | B．The number of stone carvings. |
| C．The real value of stone carvings. | D．The place where stone carvings were found. |
Pan Yuzhen, a master of embroidery (刺绣), was embroidering flying butterflies and flowers with her back
“As you can see, Miao embroidery is not only the
Zhang Yanmei, Pan’s daughter, having difficulty
It was a busy morning and I had several things to do before it became too hot to be outside the house.
As I was walking by the side of a busy road, I saw an old lady, maybe in her 80s standing dangerously close to the traffic. Although my mind was preoccupied (心事重重的), I thought to myself that I should warn her not to stand so close to the disordered traffic rushing by.When I reached the place where the old lady was standing, I noticed that she was trying to get the attention of passers-by who of course were too busy to take note of her. She kept pointing to the middle of the road. When I tried to gently move her back further away from the busy road, she said that she was standing there because she had dropped her house key in the middle of the road and was unable to open her house without the key. I looked around and no one seemed to be interested in the two of us. I knew I was getting late but decided to help.
The traffic was busy on the road with people on their bikes and office goers in cars as well as school buses rushing with school children. It was the worst time of the day to cross a busy road without a traffic light. I asked the old lady to stay at a safe distance, took a deep breath, and I myself carefully stepped onto the road waving my hands madly almost expecting to be hit by an oncoming vehicle. At first one lane (车道) stopped and then I moved further on to the middle of the road continuing to wave my hand. Just then a school bus was approaching me and I bravely stepped in front of it to stop it.
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。
The driver seemed so angry that he shouted at me.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I carefully helped the old lady leave the crowded street.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . This is a story about a heart-warming rescue. A lucky cat was
Mowgli, a lovely cat, had been
Daisy guided her master along a footpath
“Daisy is a hero; she’s an amazing dog,” Rose said. “Without Daisy’s behaviors, Mowgli might still be
Following the exciting
Rose said Daisy shares a
| A．raised | B．fed | C．saved | D．bought |
| A．playing | B．missing | C．travelling | D．hunting |
| A．determination | B．worry | C．anger | D．confusion |
| A．hope | B．doubt | C．problems | D．signs |
| A．hungry | B．wrong | C．quiet | D．mad |
| A．leading to | B．cutting off | C．making up | D．breaking through |
| A．new | B．smooth | C．deep | D．wet |
| A．attacked | B．beaten | C．found | D．trapped |
| A．moment | B．place | C．goal | D．level |
| A．discovery | B．change | C．process | D．rescue |
| A．expected | B．made | C．paid | D．received |
| A．surprisingly | B．obviously | C．absolutely | D．actually |
| A．limited | B．strong | C．common | D．strange |
| A．grew | B．gathered | C．arrived | D．disappeared |
| A．master | B．partner | C．observer | D．mother |
5 . Tips for Closing the Gaps in Relationships
Be curious, not angry
Ask in a spirit of real curiosity and openness. After you ask the question, be concerned only with understanding the other person’s story. Be ready to listen to the other person’s views and experiences.
Put body language together with intentions
Listen for understanding
Our good intentions for asking questions are not enough.
Of course, how the other person reacts will determine the conversation that follows, which may require a good deal of openness, presence, and skill. Our reaction to whatever the person says will require continued openness, trust, kindness, clarity, and honesty. As you speak, clarify the gap between your experience of the relationship and your opinion or expectations of a healthy relationship. Noticing the gaps is helpful since it defines the problem.
| A．Mind the gaps |
| B．Ask when we care |
| C．And be willing to be interested |
| D．This is a step towards settling the problem |
| E．How we ask this question makes a big difference |
| F．We express our purposes not only with our words |
| G．At the moment, our most important job is to listen carefully |
6 . With the arrival of winter, the world is covered in a sheet of shining snow, and it brings an invitation to take part in exciting snow sports. Beyond the great wonderland and the great joy of sliding down hills, attending winter sports offers many physical, mental, and social benefits.
Taking part in winter snow sports is an excellent way to stay physically active during the colder months. Whether you’re skiing down a mountainside, or skiing along peaceful paths, these activities provide a full-body workout. Downhill skiing, for example, is known as a way to burn a lot of calories, making it an effective cardiovascular (心血管的) exercise. The combination of cardiovascular fitness and strength training can help keep a healthy weight, improve cardiovascular health, and keep overall physical health.
The connection between outdoor activities and mental health is well-established, and winter sports are no exception. The fresh mountain air, the amazing snowy hills, and the excitement of rushing down the hill all help to improve the feelings. Snow sports also get you in natural sunlight, which helps increase vitamin D levels.
Winter sports offer more than just personal physical and mental benefits—they create chances for social interaction (交流) and community building. Whether you’re hitting the hills with friends, joining a ski club, or taking a family snowboarding trip, these activities form a sense of friendship. Shared experiences on the mountain create lasting memories and strengthen social ties, developing a sense of belonging and connection.
The benefits of winter snow sports spread far beyond the excitement of downhill drops. Winter activities not only keep you physically fit but also benefit your mental well-being and provide chances for social communication.
Winter wonderland is waiting for you, promising a season full of joy, health, and unforgettable experiences. So, when the snow arrives, consider putting on your skis and enjoying the benefits winter sports bring to your body and mind.
1. What is the benefit of downhill skiing?| A．Keeping fit. | B．Reducing stress. |
| C．Improving athletic ability. | D．Building friendships. |
| A．Attending winter sports has lots of fun. | B．Social interaction is very important. |
| C．Winter sports are good for relationships. | D．Outdoor activities improve mental health. |
| A．To give advice on winter sports. | B．To teach methods of doing winter sports. |
| C．To encourage people to join in winter sports. | D．To introduce different kinds of winter sports. |
| A．The Beauty of Winter Snow Field | B．Pleasure Created by High Speed |
| C．Winter Snow Sports and Mental Health | D．The Benefits of Winter Snow Sports |
7 . After successfully selling his software company to a tech giant (大公司), Canadian businessman Marcel LeBrun started a project to deal with homelessness in New Brunswick. Now, he’s using his wealth to make a great difference.
LeBrun’s latest project, “12Neighbours”, is a tiny home village providing cheap and safe housing for homeless residents in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
12 Neighbours contains about 75 tiny homes custom-made under LeBrun’s direction. Despite their small size, these homes are fully provided with the necessary amenities (便利设施), including a kitchen, bathroom, and dining/living area, making sure that residents have a comfortable and honorable living space. “They’re all rather small tiny homes, but they have everything in them,” LeBrun explained in an interview with CBC.
What sets 12Neighbours apart is its promise to offer cheap housing. Residents are only required to pay 30% of their pay to live in the village, allowing them to own a new home and work towards a brighter future.
Besides, the 12Neighbours community offers on-site job chances, creating employment (就业) choices for its residents. To increase safety, the village is built with gates that close at night and a network of safety cameras.
The village is positioned on a previously unused piece of land near a shopping center in Fredericton. LeBrun has greater plans to enlarge the village, with a goal of increasing to 99 homes on the site.
At present, LeBrun’s factory is producing one new tiny home per week to realize this goal. Marcel LeBrun and his wife have personally spent $4 million on the 12Neighbours project. In addition, government contributions have added another $8 million in funding, bringing the total money to $12 million.
1. What did LeBrun do before he started the project?| A．He built cheap houses. | B．He sold his company. |
| C．He served poor people. | D．He worked with a tech giant. |
| A．Those without children. | B．Those who are out of work. |
| C．Those who are homeless. | D．Those with physical disabilities. |
| A．Introduction to the tiny houses. | B．Costs to live in 12Neighbours. \ |
| C．Surroundings of the community. | D．Safety measures in the community. |
| A．Build a large shopping center. | B．Improve the quality of houses. |
| C．Let government take over the village. | D．Increase the number of houses. |
8 . Membership Levels and Benefits of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
$70 Individual/ $40 Student·Free year-round ALL ACCESS admission
·Invitation to members-only hours
·Free access to members-only lectures, programs and Saturday Members Tours
·Discounted tickets to MFAH Films
·Discounted parking at an MFAH garage (车库)
·12% discount when eating at Le Jardinier
·15% discount at Cafe Leonelli
·10% discount at the MFA Shop
$95 Double
All the Individual/Student benefits for two adults, plus:
·Invitation to the annual Members’ Holiday Party
$115 Family
·Benefits extended to all children 18 and under living in the member’s household
·Discount on children’s art classes at the Museum’s Glassell School of Art
·Invitation to family art-making programs just for members
$350 Supporting—Best Value
·Ten free ALL ACCESS admission passes for guests
·Invitation to special ArtSmart programs
·Free admission to 12 art museums throughout Texas, including the Blanton Museum of Art, McNay Art Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Chinati Foundation
·Two single-use guest passes for daytime previews
$800 Sponsor (赞助商)
All the Supporting benefits, plus:
·Unlimited ALL ACCESS admission for accompanying guests
·One free exhibition list of your choice
·Four single-use guest passes for daytime members’ previews
·Two free passes to MFAH Films
$1, 500 Benefactor (捐款人)
All the Sponsor benefits, plus:
·Invitation to Leadership Circle reception with private exhibition viewing
·Three free “staff-pick” lists
·Four free parking passes for the MFAH parking garages
·Six single-use guest passes for daytime members’ previews
·Invitation to special Behind-the-Scenes experiences
1. What can you do as a student member?
| A．Eat at Le Jardinier at a discount. | B．Attend ArtSmart programs. |
| C．See MFAH films for free. | D．Experience Behind-the-Scenes. |
| A．$40. | B．$70. | C．$115. | D．$350. |
| A．$115 Family. | B．$800 Sponsor. |
| C．$1, 500 Benefactor. | D．$350 Supporting—Best Value. |
9 . After thinking it over for several weeks, I finally decide to say yes to a big life decision. The woman (me) who hasn’t
Anyone who knows me will think this is just
I have
Now it is the perfect time to
| A．touched | B．bought | C．borrowed | D．acquired |
| A．run | B．walk | C．cycle | D．drive |
| A．talk | B．comfort | C．curiosity | D．recreation |
| A．celebrating | B．approaching | C．expecting | D．considering |
| A．clarify | B．arrange | C．achieve | D．confirm |
| A．due to | B．apart from | C．as for | D．along with |
| A．never | B．actively | C．partly | D．sometimes |
| A．searched for | B．ran after | C．cared about | D．cheered on |
| A．innocence | B．honesty | C．fairness | D．likelihood |
| A．admiration | B．doubt | C．surprise | D．concern |
| A．relief | B．belonging | C．security | D．pride |
| A．practical | B．effective | C．beneficial | D．remarkable |
| A．pity | B．urge | C．honour | D．joy |
| A．seize | B．donate | C．taste | D．invest |
| A．fortunate | B．content | C．qualified | D．determined |
| A．A talent show. | B．A movie. | C．A basketball match. |
