1 . 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。

Long Chenchen, the mascot for China’s upcoming Dragon Spring Festival Gala,     1     (release) recently, with a lot of design details showing the aesthetics of Chinese cultural elements.

    2     (celebrate) the year 2024, “Long Chenchen” has been designed as a cute yet lively dragon, colored orange and red and with a pair of doll eyes. The     3     (seem) cute-looking dragon takes inspiration from Chinese archaeological discoveries. The design of its nose was inspired by a dragon-shaped jade item that was discovered in the Erlitou Ruins,     4     major site in Luoyang, Central China’s Henan province that witnessed the rise and fall of the Xia and Shang dynasties. The fire shape pattern on its shoulder was inspired by a bronze piece with cloud patterns dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period,     5     multiple materials appeared and social changes were underway.

    6     receiving many likes, the mascot has also sparked criticism. Some netizen doubt the dragon character might have been synthesized (合成) by artificial intelligence.     7     (admit) that it has some “imperfections”, CMG, a design studio said it was created by designers “one stroke after another” and that “all the details about the dragon, including its patterns, colors and face, have been revised by designers through a lot of versions.”

Along with such verbal     8     (explain), a short video showing the design team working on the mascot has been posted on Sina Weibo by CMG. The media group’s response to the character’s design has become a     9     (trend) topic on Sina Weibo and has been viewed by more than 200 million netizen. “    10     it was created by AI or human beings, I think the mascot has successfully delivered the spirit of the dragon.” one netizen posted on Sina Weibo.

2 . One day, I was standing on the boat when a very large female leopard seal swam by. I put on my diving gear and got my camera. I was ___________. My mouth was dry. At first, I couldn’t even move. But I knew it was time to___________this mysterious creature.

I jumped into the freezing water. Immediately, the seal swam toward me. Then she put my entire camera—and much of my ___________— into her mouth. Although the seal was putting me at risk, I tried not to ___________ any fear. After a few seconds, she let go of my head. She ___________  me a few more times and swam away. Then she ___________ with a live penguin. She even tried to show me how to___________it. She tried to push the penguin into my camera — she thought the camera was my___________! The seal thought I was just another large animal, and she was trying to___________me, I realized.

By now, she didn’t seem very____________. She stayed by me for four days. One time, she noticed another leopard seal ____________ behind me. She made a deep, threatening sound and ____________ the other seal away.

Those four days were the most incredible experience I ever had as a wildlife ____________. I got some amazing pictures. I also learned that animals do not always behave the way we____________. My relationship with this powerful and ____________ animal will stay with me forever.

1.

A．amused

B．enthusiastic

C．cautious

D．frightened

2.

A．approach

B．rescue

C．treat

D．hunt

3.

A．leg

B．head

C．body

D．neck

4.

A．feel

B．arouse

C．reveal

D．overcome

5.

A．attacked

B．threatened

C．disturbed

D．confused

6.

A．disappeared

B．communicated

C．returned

D．competed

7.

A．digest

B．eat

C．seize

D．injure

8.

A．mouth

B．eyes

C．nose

D．stomach

9.

A．discipline

B．adopt

C．observe

D．feed

10.

A．powerful

B．dangerous

C．sensitive

D．gentle

11.

A．come across

B．come back

C．come over

D．come up

12.

A．drove

B．directed

C．took

D．waved

13.

A．manager

B．painter

C．advocate

D．photographer

14.

A．demand

B．work

C．expect

D．react

15.

A．intelligent

B．accessible

C．primitive

D．anxious

3 . Have you ever seen your cat or dog eating grass? They do so because it can help their digestion, and many wild species use natural substances to prevent and control diseases. This is called “zoo pharmacognosy” or, more commonly, animal self-medication.

Scientists have discovered that tamarin monkeys use a specific tree resin (树脂) as medicine. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, scientists followed several groups of them to collect data. During one of these daily studies, tamarin monkeys were observed rubbing their bodies on the trunk of a tree. At first, researchers thought that they were marking their territory, a common behaviour in this species. Botanical experts later confirmed that the tree was a species of cabreuva, which is well known for its medical properties.

Researchers decided to place camera-traps in different sites at the foot of the tree to record future visits by tamarin monkeys. The records surprisingly showed that many animals living in the forest visited it. Totally, ten species were observed. For many of them, it was the first time that behaviors similar to self-medication had been observed. More surprisingly, one species spread resin on each other’s fur in pairs. In general, the species seemed to specifically visit the tree to acquire the resin and seemingly benefit from it, either healing their wounds or fighting back parasites (寄生虫).

While further studies are needed to identify the properties of the resin and thus confirm that this is indeed self-medication, the use of it suggests that cabreuva represents a common and universal drugstore for the residents of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It is likely to be a valuable resource helping the species maintain their magnitude by improving their health.

This discovery could have an important protection influence, as the disappearance of some trees could potentially affect the survival of some animals.

1. Why do tamarin monkeys rub themselves against the tree?

A．They would like to digest what they eat.

B．They are trying to cure diseases.

C．They are attracting companions’ attention.

D．They feel like occupying the land.

2. What do researchers find through camera-traps?

A．Animals can help each other clean the fur.

B．Many animals copy monkeys’ behaviors.

C．Resin can be used as medicine for some animals

D．The cabreduva is the habitat of tamarin monkeys.

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

A．Characteristics.	B．Populations.
C．Flexibilities.	D．Similarities.

4. What is the possible significance of the discovery?

A．Increasing the production of resin.

B．Promoting evolution of creatures.

C．Motivating the study of monkeys’ diet.

D．Contributing to forest conservation.

4 . Benefits of Personality Tests

Can identifying one’s personality type using the MBTI and other personality assessments really help? They may.     1    

Better understand others

After taking a personality test and seeing our results, we can gain a better understanding of all the different perceptions and reactions that others might have to the same situation.     2     . No personality type is “better” than any other — just different. Each perspective brings something new and interesting to the table.

Identify our likes and dislikes

Maybe we’ve always hated talking on the phone but never really understood why.     3    . By using personality tests like the MBTI, we can learn more about where we lie on the extroversion/introversion and thinking/feeling continuum (连续性). This helps us better understand why we prefer certain things and dislike others.

    4    .

Learning more about our personality type can also help us discover new ways to approach challenges. Knowing what might work best for our personality type can give us new ideas on how to solve problems, deal with stress, cope with conflict, and manage our work habits.

Recognize our strengths and weaknesses

Knowing what we are good at can be important in a wide variety of situations, whether we are picking a college major or thinking about running for a seat on our local school board. For example, if we know that we are an ISTJ (introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging) on the MBTI, we might recognize that certain aspects of our personality might qualify as strengths in some situations and weaknesses in others.    5    , it can sometimes trip us up in situations where we need to let other people take control.

A．Know which situations are ideal for us

B．Hold on to ideas about who we are

C．While they reveal truth that showcases different aspects of personality

D．Here’s an overview of the many benefits of personality tests

E．This is important because we all have different ways of seeing and interacting with the world

F．While our organizational skills and carefulness can be a major strength in our work

G．Or perhaps we’ve always needed much time to think about a problem before making a decision

5 . Eradajere Oleita thinks she may have a partial solution to two of her country’s problems: garbage and poverty. It’s called the Chip Bag Project. The 26-year-old student and environmentalist from Detroit is asking a favor of local snack lovers: Rather than throw your empty chip bags into the trash, donate them so she can turn them into sleeping bags for the homeless.

Chip eaters drop off their empty bags from Doritos, Lays, and other favorites at two locations in Detroit: a print shop and a clothing store, where Oleita and her volunteer helpers collect them. After they clean the chip bags in soapy hot water, they slice them open, lay them flat, and iron them together. They use padding (衬垫) and liners (衬里) from old coats to line the insides.

It takes about four hours to sew a sleeping bag, and each takes around 150 to 300 chip bags, depending on whether they’re single-serve or family size. The result is a sleeping bag that is “waterproof, lightweight, and easy to carry around”, Oleita told the Detroit News.

Since its start in 2020, the Chip Bag Project has collected more than 800,000 chip bags and, as of last December, created 110 sleeping bags. Sure, it would be simpler to raise the money to buy new sleeping bags. But that’s only half the goal for Oleita—whose family moved to the United States from Nigeria a decade ago with the hope of attaining a better life —and her fellow volunteers. “We are devoted to making an impact not only socially, but environmentally,” she says.

And, of course, there’s the symbolism of rescuing bags that would otherwise land in the trash and using them to help the homeless. It’s a powerful reminder that environmental problem and poverty often go hand in hand. As Oleita told hourdetroit. com: “I think it’s time to show connections between all of these issues.”

1. What did Oleita ask the snack lovers to do with their empty chip bags?

A．To turn them into sleeping bags.

B．To give them away to her.

C．To donate them to the homeless directly.

D．To throw them into the trash.

2. Which of the following is true about the sleeping bags?

A．They can be different in size.

B．They can be made with ease.

C．They are made by machines in the workshop.

D．They are far from overweight.

3. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A．Poverty results from environmental problems.

B．Oleita started the project mainly to raise money.

C．The aim of the project is more than social issues.

D．Oleita’s project made 110 sleeping bags per month.

4. Which words can best describe Oleita?

A．Talented and social.

B．Responsible and creative.

C．Selfless and modest.

D．Hardworking and loyal.

6 . Here’re some of the excellent inventions in 2023. Which one do you like most?

Whiter Paint

The paint on a white building reflects 80 to 90% of the sunlight that strikes it. The rest of the light warms the surrounding area, raising air-conditioning bills. But the Whiter Paint is made of chemicals that better reflect UV rays. It reflects up to 98% of the sunlight, which could reduce AC use by 40%. “The heat is reflected into deep space,” says Xiulin Ruan, who led the Purdue University team that created the paint.

Duolingo app

Now you can take music lessons on a smartphone, using this app, which uses an on-screen piano to teach basics such as harmony and beat. You learn by interacting with more than 200 popular pieces of music. Just match sounds to notes and play along. “You don’t need natural talent to learn music,” says Karen Chow, who’s a learning scientist at Duolingo.

Model A

Model A, developed by Alef Aeronautics, is a two-seat all-electric vehicle with a flight range of 110 miles. And it looks as if it were made to be parked in a garage. In July, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration gave Alef permission to take the vehicle on test flights. The company hopes to deliver the first Model A by 2026.

Moonwalkers

They’re actually battery-powered shoes with wheels. They let you walk normally—just faster and more easily. Moonwalkers, made by Shift Robotics, use AI to sense when you’re speeding up or slowing down, and adjust themselves accordingly. With it, you can walk at speeds up to seven miles per hour.

1. What is special about Whiter Paint?

A．It powers air conditioners.	B．It warms our buildings.
C．It absorbs more sunlight.	D．It makes us feel cooler.

2. Which one is being tested?

A．Duolingo app.	B．Whiter Paint.
C．Moonwalkers.	D．Model A.

3. What do the listed inventions have in common?

A．They can help us live an easier life.

B．They are supported by AI technology.

C．They are favored by the disabled.

D．They were created by college teams.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the relationship between the speakers?

A．Cousins.

B．Classmates.

C．Mother and son.

2. Which does the woman consider is the safest form of transport?

A．The car.

B．The motorbike.

C．The electric bike.

3. What does the man want to do?

A．Make his own decisions.

B．Pay the bills for his family.

C．Live with his parents.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the man forget to take to York?

A．A scarf.

B．A coat.

C．Gloves.

2. Which place did the man like best in York?

A．York Castle Museum.

B．The Shambles.

C．The old wall.

9 . 假定你是李华，你校公众号英语专栏正在开展“我最喜爱的一道年夜菜”征稿活动，请你根据以下内容投稿：
1．菜品介绍；
2．推荐理由；
3．年夜饭意义。
注意：
1．写作词数应为80左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

My Favorite Spring Festival Eve Dish

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10 . Plato believed that men are divided into three classes: gold, silver and bronze. Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, argued that “the vital few” contributed to most progress. Such viewpoints are taboo (禁忌) today in public life. Politicians avoid talking of a “leadership class” or “the vital few”. School recruitment turns away from picking winners. Universities welcome the masses: more people now teach at British universities than attended them in the 1950s.

In the private sector, things could hardly be more different. The world’s best companies struggle tirelessly to find and keep the vital few. They offer them fat pay packets, extra training, powerful instruction and more challenging assignments. Private-equity (私人股权) firms rely heavily on a few stars. Firms in emerging markets are desperate to find high-flyers who can cope with rapid growth and fast-changing environments competently.

Few people know more about how companies manage talent than Bill Conaty and RamCharan. Mr. Conaty led the human-resources department at General Electric (GE) for 14 years. Mr. Charan has spent the past few decades presenting proposals to some celebrated entrepreneurs. Their recent book, The Talent Masters, provides a nice mix of portraits of well-known talent factories, such as GE and Procter & Gamble (P&G宝洁).

Successful companies make sure that senior managers are involved with “talent development”. Jack Welch and A. G. Lafley, former bosses of GE and P&G, claimed that they spent 40% of their time on personnel. Andy Grove, who ran Intel, a chipmaker, obliged all the senior people, including himself, to spend at least a week a year instructing high-flyers. Nitin Paranjpe, the boss of Hindustan Unilever, recruits people from campuses and regularly visits high-flyers in their offices.

Elitism (精英主义) has its own drawbacks. In their rush to classify people, companies may miss potential stars. Those who are singled out for special treatment can become too full of themselves. It may also lead to social inequality and the concentration of power. Since elitism tends to focus only on the interests of a few, they may ignore the needs and voices of the majority, leading to discontent and resistance in society.

1. The change that occurred in British universities reflects that         .

A．more students enroll for schools	B．people of today are much cleverer
C．UK attaches importance to education	D．elitism in public organizations declines

2. Which people belong to “high-flyers” based on the passage?

A．Potential clients.	B．Faithful employees.
C．Capable managers.	D．Celebrated politicians.

3. How is paragraph 4 mainly developed?

A．By listing examples.	B．By classification.
C．By analyzing causes.	D．By describing a process.

4. Which statement can be inferred from the passage?

A．Discrimination in workplaces will get more serious.

B．Famous companies’ elitism management is worth trying.

C．The talented masters offer advice to some leading bosses.

D．Elitism may get some potential talented people excluded.