1 . Roosters (公鸡) act differently when faced with another chicken rather than just their own reflection. This may mean that the birds can recognize themselves in a mirror, a key indicator of self-awareness. In the traditional mirror self-recognition test, which originated in1970, researchers place a mark on an animal’s body in a spot that it only see when seeing its reflection. They note if the animal touches the mark while examining its mirror image, which suggests it understands that what it sees represents its own body. Few non-human species have passed this test, but they include some great apes, dolphins, elephants.

However, results from the test are often variable.Sonja Hillemacher and her colleagues from the University of Bonn in Germany wondered if this was because there is little natural reason for many animals to find out such marks. So, they have tried to adapt the test to the natural behaviour of roosters. Roosters usually make loud noises to warn other chickens when they see predators (捕食者) but generally stay quiet when they are alone.

In the lab, they tested 68 roosters one by one in an arena divided by a wire net. They placed a bird on one side, and either left the other side empty or put another rooster in it. Then they added a mirror to the divider for some tests. The results showed that when a rooster was paired with another rooster, it raised the alarm more often than when it was alone, regardless of whether it could see its own reflection. When another rooster was present but hidden behind a mirror, few alarms were raised, showing that roosters can distinguish between reflection and reality through vision rather than smell or sound.

Since the birds acted similarly when alone and with a reflection, they may realize their reflection is of themselves, say the researchers. While the research suggests that roosters may recognize themselves in mirrors, it is too early to claim that chickens possess this ability.

1. What can we learn about the traditional mirror self-recognition test?

A．The test was improved in 1970.

B．Elephants failed to pass the test.

C．Most non-human species have passed the test.

D．Animals touching the mark show self-awareness.

2. What made Sonja target the roosters in her test?

A．Their sharp vision.

B．Their poor smell.

C．Their loud sound.

D．Their native behavior.

3. What did Sonja’s test suggest about roosters?

A．They sent fewer alarm before another rooster.

B．They showed more interest in their reflection.

C．They used vision to tell reality from reflection.

D．They were unable to recognize their reflection.

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

A．Roosters: Quiet Reflection-observers

B．Roosters: Possible Self-recognizers

C．Roosters: Clever Mark-checkers

D．Roosters: Brave Alarm-raisers

2 . 近年来，中国的交通发展极大地改善了人民的生活。你校将举办以“Transportation Development Is Changing Our Life”为主题的英语演讲比赛，请写一篇演讲稿参赛。
注意：词数100左右。

Ladies and gentlemen,

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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。

The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven did not inherit much musical talent from his ancestors, according to a new study. Researchers say the findings are a good example of how     1     (we) DNA doesn’t determine what talents will be developed in life.

The researchers examined Beethoven’s DNA using a hair sample     2     (collect) during a separate study last year. Their goal was to explore his genetic predisposition(倾向) for music,     3     is closely tied to musical ability.     4     (do) this, they compared Beethoven’s DNA with that of nearly 14,500 other individuals in database. With his genetic information, they calculated a polygenic(多基因的) score     5     a sign of his predisposition for musical talent.

“Interestingly, Beethoven, one of the     6     (well-known) musicians in history, had an unremarkable score for general musicality —     7     (rank) around the top 10% of people based on modern samples,” said Tara Henechowicz from the team.

The authors who published the study in Current Biology said it would be wrong to conclude that Beethoven had little talent, but it does highlight the problems in making predictions based     8     (pure) on DNA.

“The mismatch between the DNA-based forecast and Beethoven’s musical genius     9     (provide) a valuable teaching moment because it demonstrates that DNA tests cannot give us a final answer about     10     a given child will end up being musically gifted,” said Ms. Henechowicz.

4 . Almost 40% of all global employment may be affected by AI, according to analysis by the International Monetary Fund. But don’t be alarmed. That doesn’t mean 40% jobs will disappear altogether. Instead, we’re talking about humans working alongside AI tools, not being replaced by them.

Speaking at the 2023 World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, economist Richard Baldwin said, “AI won’t take your job. It’s somebody using AI that will take your job.” This means that if you don’t know how to work with AI, you’re in a much riskier position — certainly compared to someone who knows how to use it to improve their job efficiency.

So, consider how you could start integrating AI into your everyday work. Can you use it to polish an email, for example? Can you use it as a productivity tool… If not, try your best to get to g rips with it. There are tons of free （and paid） courses out there that can help you.

However, just knowing how to work effectively with AI is far from enough. It’s also important to position yourself in the organization in line with the things that AIs can’t do. Basically, think about how you can take on more responsibilities in the areas where human skills are still needed and will always be needed — areas like creativity, complex decision making, interpersonal relationships and so on. These are the areas where humans will continue to have the edge over machines. Anyone who wants to gain future workplace success should develop the relevant skills.

It’s not surprising that change is uncomfortable. But today’s workplaces are full of rapid and near-constant change. So, if change is something you struggle with, now is a good time to embrace and address that.

1. How may AI influence global employment in the future?

A．It may cause severe job loss.	B．It may threaten people’s safety.
C．It may change the way we work.	D．It may lessen peer competition.

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．AI helps us become more creative.

B．AI can hardly replace us in some areas.

C．AI is much less effective than we think.

D．AI is able to make complicated decisions.

3. What is the writer’s attitude towards the challenges caused by AI?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Disappointed.

D．Unconcerned.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To share experience of using AI in work.

B．To advise us to stay relevant in the age of AI.

C．To introduce different functions of generative AL

D．To explain why we should improve our productivity.

5 . The news cycle is driving us to the edge of madness, so why not switch off, unplug and pick up a book? We know you could use a laugh right now — and luckily, several thousands of you told us all about the books, stories and poems that make you laugh.

We took your votes and with the help of our panel (专家小组) of expert judges we created this list of 100 reads designed to make you laugh out loud. Want slice-of-life essays? Loopy poetry? Texts from famous literary figures? Scroll down — we’ve got it all.

As with all our reader polls, this is a curated (精心筹划的) list and not a straight-up popularity contest; unlike last year, you’ll see the books are grouped into categories rather than ranked from one to 100.

And, as always, there are a few things that didn’t make the list — surprisingly, Shakespeare didn’t get enough votes to make it to the semifinals. Then there were books that didn’t quite stand the test of time, or were so new we couldn’t tell whether they’d stand up.

Some of the authors on this list are incredibly popular, and you voted them in over and over again. Because space is limited, we try to hold each author to one spot on the list, but there are some exceptions such as Nora Ephron, who our judges thought was perfect.

And speaking of our judges, you will find a couple of their works on the list this year — we don’t let judges vote for their own works, but readers loved works such as Samantha Irby’s We Are Never Meeting In Real Life, so the panel agreed they should stay.

Laughter is the best medicine. Just click here and start reading!

1. How is the list of this year different from that of last year?

A．More books are included.	B．It is made all by readers.
C．It mainly focuses on poetry.	D．The listed books are classified.

2. What can we learn about Nora Ephron?

A．She fails to stand the test of time.

B．She is not so popular as other authors.

C．She gets more than one spot on the list.

D．She belongs to the panel of expert judges.

3. Why is We Are Never Meeting In Real Life kept on the list?

A．It is written by a judge.	B．It reflects real life.
C．It gets enough readers’ votes.	D．It attracts the experts.

6 . 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。

As night falls, the sound of drums fills the air as an 8-meter fish-shaped lantern swims through the streets of Wangmantian village, Huangshan, in East China’s Anhui province.

Within the crowd, Wang Lijun — a 27-year-old villager who serves     1     the “head fish” — leads the procession, sometimes cheering on those behind her. Traditionally     2     (hold) by respected elders, the position of “head fish” has attracted younger participants to take on the role     3     (voluntary).

Every year between     4     13th and 16th of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, villagers hold fish-shaped lantern     5     (parade). In old times, the mountain village,     6     (consist) of a lot of wooden structures, faced the risk of frequent fires. Therefore, villagers used to gather to parade with fish-shaped lanterns,     7     symbolic meaning is “water overcoming fire”.

With a history of over 600 years, the fish-shaped lantern     8     (recognize) as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in 2022. Villagers in Wangmantian have established     9     (profession) fish lantern performance teams. These teams have gone to cities such as Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province     10     (give) performances.

As fish-shaped lanterns continue to benefit local tourism and related industries, the future looks brighter than ever.

7 . Love has no borders when it comes to children’s birthday wishes. Zack Winton was ________ in his farm near the border between the US and Mexico when he came across a ________ site. A red balloon was caught in the grass and a note was ________ to it.

On it was written one word — Myra — ________ inside, was a numbered list of things, which was a list of birthday gifts she ________. Zack guessed that the balloon had been ________ from the neighbour city, Nogales, in Mexico. As a soon-to-be grandfather, he ________ hoped he could do something for Myra.

He ________ the information on the Internet hoping to see if anyone would respond to it but drew a ________ there. With Myra’s birthday drawing near and time running out, Zack got in touch with the local radio station in Nogales, which then played the information out ________. Within 24 hours, the radio station ________ Zack back.

With the radio station ________ for the two to meet the next morning, Zack took the day off from work, rushed to a ________, and bought the items on the list — clothes, art supplies, and a doll — and some ________ stuff as well after finding that Myra had a 4-year-old sister.

Zack and his wife packaged all the ________, drove across the border and arrived at the radio station, carrying presents for two ________ girls. The couple watched the young children happily ________ the gifts. Myra’s parents thanked them for their amazing act of ________.

Although there is a 20-foot wall at the border which ________ the two cities, Zack and his wife prove that when it comes to a child having her birthday wishes ________, love has no borders.

1.

A．waiting

B．wandering

C．camping

D．chasing

2.

A．beautiful

B．steep

C．curious

D．familiar

3.

A．attached

B．connected

C．applied

D．committed

4.

A．once

B．while

C．although

D．if

5.

A．obtained

B．meant

C．shaped

D．desired

6.

A．bought

B．provided

C．ordered

D．sent

7.

A．passively

B．casually

C．desperately

D．rarely

8.

A．posted

B．added

C．updated

D．removed

9.

A．case

B．voice

C．notice

D．blank

10.

A．on air

B．on earth

C．on water

D．on fire

11.

A．invited

B．welcomed

C．called

D．followed

12.

A．arranging

B．preparing

C．searching

D．hoping

13.

A．farm

B．border

C．store

D．station

14.

A．expensive

B．helpful

C．new

D．extra

15.

A．lists

B．supplies

C．gifts

D．balloons

16.

A．disappointed

B．thrilled

C．embarrassed

D．moved

17.

A．tear off

B．shake down

C．turn over

D．knock on

18.

A．bravery

B．gentleness

C．kindness

D．will

19.

A．extends

B．separates

C．builds

D．completes

20.

A．afforded

B．identified

C．challenged

D．fulfilled

8 . Isabel Allende, born in 1942 in Peru, is a Chilean-American writer. When she was a young girl, her father Tomas was appointed to work in Chile, causing them to move from Peru to Chile. During the 1960s, she began work in television journalism and eventually became a television hostess. From 1969 to 1973, she was an editor of a children’s magazine.

Allende is the author of over twenty books which have been translated into numerous languages and sold over 65 million copies. In addition to writing novels, she has also penned short fiction, plays and stories for children. A letter to her sick, elderly grandfather became the manuscript of her first novel. She rose to prominence in Latin American literature after the success of this novel. Allende’s own experiences from Chile have filled much of her writing through the years, and her book Paula is a memoir of her childhood and youth in Chile and her departure from that country.

Allende has been a highly influential voice in Latin American literature, often providing an important female perspective on the world. Allende’s writing style combines realistic writing with surprising elements of magic. Her work is sometimes compared to the work of Gabriel Marquez, a famous Colombian novelist known for his work in the magical realist style — “magical realism”. However, her voice is also considered distinct with a style that combines concern for the inner, personal lives of her characters with their physical and social environments.

Two of Allende’s works have been adapted for feature films. She has won many awards, including the Dorothy and Lilian Gish Prize, which is given to whoever has contributed to the beauty of the world and to our understanding of it. Although she has an international reputation for writing, she states she doesn’t consider her books her greatest achievement, but her family and her time devoted to assisting others to be more vital.

1. Why did Allende move to Chile?

A．To live with her father.	B．To obtain more job offers.
C．To look after her grandfather.	D．To get more writing materials.

2. Which is closest in meaning to “rose to prominence” in Paragraph 2?

A．Became famous.	B．Gained wealth.
C．Remained unknown.	D．Changed a profession.

3. What can we learn about Allende’s works?

A．The topics basically focus on women’s world.

B．The materials come from her experience as a TV hostess.

C．The writing style can be considered as“magical realism”.

D．The content mainly highlights private lives of the characters.

4. What does Allende consider to be more meaningful?

A．Winning many awards.	B．Spending her time helping others.
C．Earning an international fame.	D．Adapting two works for feature films.

9 . Amazing Castles in Spain: Four of the Best

The Alcázar of Segovia

Fans of old Disney movies will know what Snow White’s castle looks like. But did you know that it’s said to be based on a real castle in Spain — the Alcázar of Segovia? This castle is almost the shape of the front of a ship — built on a rock between two rivers. First used by the Romans, its location made it a very difficult place to attack. It’s one of thousands of amazing castles in Spain.

Bellver Castle

Many people visit Mallorca for its bars and beaches, but if you’re on this island, take a trip to Bellver Castle, just outside the main city of Palma. This 14th century castle is known for the large ring at its center, something that is unusual in European castles. People can also walk around the top of the central ring, which offers views of the castle below, as well as over the town and out to sea.

The Alhambra

One of the most popular places in the country to visit, Granada’s Alhambra is a fortress (堡垒) built by the North Africans who ruled Spain for more than seven centuries. Visitors love the palaces inside known as the Palacios Nazaries, with their beautiful wooden ceilings. Travel website Lonely Planet says these palaces are the most beautiful Islamic buildings in Europe.

Coca Castle

From far away, this castle in central Spain looks a little like a wedding cake — if wedding cakes were brown - brick and in the Gothic style. This castle isn’t on the top of a hill but on flat land — it was protected instead by a deep moat (护城河). It’s not too difficult to get to by car from Madrid, the Spanish capital.

1. What can people do in Bellver Castle?

A．Watch old Disney movies.	B．Enjoy the wooden ceilings inside.
C．Have a good time on the beaches.	D．Walk around a large ring to enjoy views.

2. What do The Alcázar of Segovia and Coca Castle have in common?

A．They were built by the Romans.	B．They were made of brown brick.
C．They have distinctive appearance.	D．They are on the top of mountain.

3. Who will most probably be interested in the passage?

A．Those who like to surf the Internet.	B．Those who intend to take boat trips.
C．Those who are keen on natural landscape.	D．Those who plan to visit different buildings.

10 . “I spilled soup all over the table, but it wasn’t my fault”. “I got into trouble at school, but it wasn’t my fault.” Such statements are often heard. “It’s not my fault” is actually a common response for so many people and especially teenagers. Parents complain that they’re tired of the “excuses”.

The reason why variations of “it’s not my fault” are so popular is that they get us out of guilt, blame and anger. Those emotions may come from others’ reactions or our own self-talks. In the case of adolescents, they are often trying to escape responsibility and punishment for mistakes.

Some teens would benefit from decreasing their self-blame. Those who blame themselves for things that they can’t control tend to be highly self-critical and are more likely to be anxious.

Many teens overly rely on “it’s not my fault”. However, overuse of the phrase can result in feelings of helplessness to control their own lives. Besides, “it’s not my fault” focuses a teen’s attention on what is done as opposed to what needs to be done. In trying to get them to assume responsibility, many parents attempt to convince their children that something is their fault, but the approach tends to be ineffective. A more effective approach is to face up to drawbacks to find solutions to the drawbacks actively.

People may not have caused all their problems, but they have to solve them anyway. Getting stuck in sharing blame often keeps people from moving forward effectively. What does one do if he is pushed into a deep lake? One could certainly stay in water, yelling, “It’s not my fault.” However, that is not going to get him out of water. At some point, he needs to swim to shore, regardless of the fault.

Like most things in life, freeing ourselves from blame has its advantages and disadvantages. The question isn’t what is “right”, but what is most effective in moving forward.

1. Who is likely to rely on “it’s not my fault”?

A．A highly self-critical teenager.

B．A teenager unwilling to admit a fault.

C．A teenager facing up to his responsibilities.

D．A teenager anxious about uncontrollable things.

2. What is the author’s advice on getting teens to assume responsibility?

A．Letting them focus on what is done.

B．Persuading them to admit their fault.

C．Making them correct the mistake actively.

D．Helping them analyze the reason for the mistake.

3. Why does the author raise such a question in Paragraph 5?

A．To put forward a new solution to drawbacks.

B．To show handling problems should come first.

C．To explain why teenagers get stuck in sharing blame.

D．To analyze what kind of problem is caused by others.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To help teenagers out of self-blame.

B．To tell parents how to educate children.

C．To help teenagers face mistakes properly.

D．To tell children to do self-talks consciously.