1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does the woman think of the local train?

A．Crowded.

B．Cheap.

C．Fast.

2. What kind of train is the man most curious about?

A．The local train.

B．The express train.

C．The through train.

3. What type of seat does the man choose?

A．Coach.

B．Business class.

C．First class.

4. In which city is the man now?

A．Chicago.

B．New York.

C．Washington.

2 . Recently, I took him for a classic English afternoon tea at The Ritz Hotel. The thought of showing him a piece of authentic British life excited me for weeks, so when we finally sat down in the Ritz’s elegant tearoom, with the sound of a pianist in the background, I was thrilled.

I looked at the polished silver tea stand topped with finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones (烤饼), and mouthwatering pastries and teacakes. I was ready to dig in. Then I looked at Dad and a trace of nervousness flashed across his face. He carefully copied what I ate and how to use the knife and fork, and from time to time anxiously looked up at the waiter in his bow tie who was serving our table.

When we got to the scones, Dad took a big bite and remarked how delicious it was. He asked me to explain how the British eat scones, so I supplied him with details about the custom of breaking scones into small pieces, spreading cream and strawberry jam on top, before consuming each piece in one mouthful.

“Oh, why did you not tell me earlier?” Dad’s face turned red in embarrassment, suddenly realizing his mistake. For the rest of the scones session, he busied himself with neatly spreading the cream and jam like an obedient (听话的) child.

Suddenly, I felt a complex mixture of happiness, sadness and loneliness. Growing up, Dad was my hero, my mountain. I still remember flying into his arms after school at the kindergarten gate. Through the sound of his voice, I learned to feel and understand the world.

After moving to London alone, I have learned to achieve academic grades, found a job, and started a new life all by myself. But I did not fully realize how much I had grown up, until I saw how dependent Dad was on me in London. Although he is still a mountain in my heart, I realized I have in the meantime built a strong mountain of my own. And by being away from Dad’s protective wings I have come to understand more of myself and to find my own place in the world.

1. Why did the author take her father for a classic English afternoon tea?

A．The food in the restaurant was delicious.

B．She wanted her father to experience real British life.

C．Her father was deeply attracted by the elegant tearoom.

D．She intended to introduce an excellent restaurant to her father.

2. Which of the following best describe the author’s father when eating scones?

A．Disappointed and painful.	B．Embarrassed and desperate.
C．Nervous and cautious.	D．Sorrowful and helpless.

3. What did the author realize after the experience?

A．She had a happy childhood.	B．She had achieved a lot in academic area.
C．Her father was not her mountain any more.	D．She should be the person for her father to rely on.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．An eating experience changed a father.	B．Eating with Dad strengthened our relationship.
C．Dining environment was vital for a restaurant.	D．Living alone enhanced a person’s independence.

3 . Tickets are now on sale for Walt Disney World’s latest holiday event. Disney Jollywood Nights, abrand new holiday event, will run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for 10 nights: Nov. 11, 18, 20, 27 and 29 and Dec. 4, 6, 16, 18 and 20. The after-hours holiday event officially runs from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., but event guests are usually allowed to enter the park 90 minutes early.

What to expect from Disney Jollywood Nights?

A live holiday special hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy at Theater of the Stars

The return of the impressive nighttime firework show

A jazz bar at The Hollywood Brown Derby

An “other-worldly party” at The Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard

A “Latin street fair” along Commissary Lane

A “spirited sing-along” at Hyperion Theater

Exciting photo opportunities with Mickey Mouse and his friends

How much are tickets to Disney Jollywood Nights?

Ticket prices range from $159 to $179 for guests aged 3 and up. Please note that children youngerthan age 3 don’t need a ticket. Guests with tickets to this event don’t need a theme park reservation in orderto enter the park at 7 p.m. or later. If you plan to arrive earlier than 7 p.m., valid park admission as wellas a theme park reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be required.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each night, and they are non-transferable (不可转让的), non-refundable and may not be resold.

1. What do we know about Disney Jollywood Nights?

A．It is a newly returning event.

B．It continues for 4 hours each night.

C．It lasts for 10 days in a row.

D．It requires guests to arrive in advance.

2. What can guests do at Disney Jollywood Nights?

A．Enjoy live jazz in a bar.

B．Sing along at Theater of the Stars.

C．Join a Latin street party.

D．Take pictures with Mickey Mouse.

3. How much should a couple with their 2-year-old daughter pay at least for the event?

A．$318.	B．$358.
C．$477.	D．$537.

4 . Nature’s beauty is all around you. Wild flowers shine in bright blues, yellows, and reds. Trees, with unique shaped branches, and leaves, decorate the horizon. Under your feet, pine needles, leaves, and grass give their natural beauty on the earth’s surface. But how many of you take the time to notice all of nature’s wonders?

Hannah Bullen-Ryner is an artist who not only takes the time to “smell the roses”, but she uses them as a medium to craft stunning portraits of birds. Bullen-Ryner, a photographer by trade, began her artistic hobby shortly after her twin daughters were born. The young mother suffered from depression and anxiety. To seek a solution, she turned to nature.

Bullen-Ryner started spending time alone in the woods, foraging for materials: flowers, branches, leaves, and grass. On an impulse (冲动), she started forming a portrait of a bird with the items she had gathered. When her picture was finished, Bullen-Ryner realized that she felt calmand hopeful. The process had been healing and therapeutic (有疗效的).

Bullen-Ryner tells My Modern Met, “Finding the medium of land art has allowed my art and soul to connect to the earth. As a full-time Mama of nearly three-year-old twin girls, and someone who suffers from anxiety, my art is my quiet time, my peace.”

When Bullen-Ryner creates her artwork on the forest floor, she never uses glues or any other material to bond the foraged items. This means that a single breeze is able to carry away or scatter her portrait.

“People often ask me why I don’t make something more permanent or they say it’s such a shame that it’s temporary,” Bullen-Ryner explains. “But for me,” she continues, “it is the short-lived nature of what I do that has become therapy for my soul. I get to put down all my anxieties, my fears, and all the chaos from my brain and turn it into something beautiful to honor Mother Nature. I take some photos and then walk or cycle away, leaving it all behind and feeling calmer, more connected, and truly lighter.”

1. Why did Bullen-Ryner take up her artistic hobby?

A．To kill time.	B．To make more profits.
C．To serve as a treatment.	D．To entertain her daughters.

2. What does the underlined word “foraging” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Making.	B．Answering.
C．Providing.	D．Seeking.

3. What do we know about Bullen-Ryner’s artwork?

A．It is well received with customers.

B．It cannot be preserved for a long time.

C．It stimulated the local tourism industry.

D．It won her widespread praise domestically.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Bullen-Ryner is grateful to nature.

B．Bullen-Ryner regrets what she has done.

C．Bullen-Ryner is into going to work by bicycle.

D．Bullen-Ryner persuades more people to participate.

5 . In an era of digital technology, the art of writing by hand has slowly been downgraded to a past entertainment. However, recent research suggests that this physical act is essential to brain health and development, having multiple cognitive (认知的) benefits. It is time we should reevaluate the potential benefits it may have on our mental capacities.

According to numerous studies, writing by hand stimulates more complex and diverse brain connections essential for encoding new information and forming memories. For instance, a recent investigation found that brain connectivity patterns were far more complicated and widespread for participants who wrote by hand compared to those who typed. Thus, it is clear that handwriting has a distinct and significant impact on our brain health.

Handwriting isn’t just good for our brains health—it also has clear, practical benefits. Research has shown that students who take handwritten notes score significantly higher on quizzes, demonstrating improved learning. This extends beyond the classroom too. People who recorded information on paper calendars demonstrated more brain activity and recalled information faster than those who used smartphones. The act of handwriting, therefore, could be a valuable tool for students preparing for exams and adults managing daily tasks.

Despite its clear benefits, handwriting has been on the decline. However, 25states in the US have reintroduced writing back into school curriculums. This is a step in the right direction, as previous research has also indicated that handwriting is essential in children’s brain development. Preliterate (未识字的) children who wrote by hand demonstrated brain activity in a circuit of the brain used in learning to read, further strengthening the link between handwriting and cognitive development.

It is clear that handwriting is a valuable activity that has the potential to enhance our brain health, learning, memory, and problem-solving skills. As we continue to navigate the digital age, it is important not to overlook the value of this seemingly simple activity. So, the next time you reach for your keyboard, remember the benefits of picking up a pen instead.

1. What do people usually think of handwriting at present?

A．It has become an old-fashioned skill.	B．It has many cognitive benefits in life.
C．It has been replaced by digital devices.	D．It has been a popular entertainment.

2. What does the author mainly show about handwriting in paragraph 3?

A．It is beneficial to brain health.	B．It helps students score higher on quizzes.
C．It stimulates diverse brain connection.	D．It has good effects on learning and memory.

3. Why is previous research mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．To make a comparison.	B．To add further evidence.
C．To show different opinions.	D．To explain the brain activity.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To illustrate a finding on handwriting.	B．To emphasize the importance of handwriting.
C．To show the wide application of handwriting.	D．To introduce the artistic value of handwriting.

6 . Talk to any “successful” person and you’ll quickly realize success doesn’t come suddenly. First comes _________, and it takes perseverance to _________ past the discouragement it brings.

Popular actress Meryl Streep has been winning awards since the 1980’s. Yet, she shares a story from before she _________.

Before she earned herself the _________ of “the best actress of her generation”, she had to _________her own insecurities and setbacks. Meryl says, “I didn’t have _________ in my beauty when I was young.” So, imagine how disappointing it was for a (an) _________ actress to be denied by a major role based _________ on her looks!

It was the mid-1970’s, and Meryl Streep was struggling to make a _________ for herself. Certainly the young actress was __________ excited when she was __________ to meet a major Italian film producer. But as Meryl walked into his office, he turned and asked, “Who brings me this __________ thing?”

Had she accepted this __________ opinion as fact and considered herself “too ugly” to ever succeed in Hollywood, Meryl Streep would have never become a __________ name. “I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to __________ myself from any concern with my looks,” Meryl says. “For an actress, worrying about appearance is a horrible, horrible __________.”

Meryl refused to __________ her dream, and she’s since enjoyed a __________ that’s spanned several decades. The actress has won 2 Emmy’s, 8 Golden Globes and 3 Oscars, among many others, and currently holds the __________ record for the most Academy Award acting nominations (提名).

Meryl bravely chose not to place her focus on her looks but on her __________. Failure is part of life. But when we do encounter it, it’s important to fight on.

1.

A．failure

B．trouble

C．recognition

D．prejudice

2.

A．soldier on

B．move on

C．take on

D．call on

3.

A．made it big

B．set it aside

C．put it down

D．got it over

4.

A．possession

B．reputation

C．fame

D．title

5.

A．tolerate

B．criticize

C．perceive

D．battle

6.

A．wisdom

B．confidence

C．trust

D．consideration

7.

A．courageous

B．premier

C．ambitious

D．learned

8.

A．previously

B．merely

C．randomly

D．subsequently

9.

A．fortune

B．living

C．name

D．difference

10.

A．incredibly

B．literally

C．hardly

D．secretly

11.

A．guaranteed

B．invited

C．suggested

D．motivated

12.

A．rare

B．rigid

C．ugly

D．proud

13.

A．misunderstood

B．misapplied

C．misguided

D．misaimed

14.

A．household

B．leading

C．relevant

D．optimistic

15.

A．free

B．stop

C．keep

D．prevent

16.

A．phrase

B．trap

C．quote

D．restriction

17.

A．give over to

B．give up on

C．give away at

D．give rise to

18.

A．lifetime

B．journey

C．property

D．career

19.

A．industry

B．world

C．respective

D．unrealistic

20.

A．personality

B．commitment

C．potentials

D．capabilities

7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

One cannot help but wonder     1     the man was holding, when looking up to the famous bronze standing man, in Sanxingdui,       2     archaeological (考古) site located in Sichuan province.

    3     the numerous bronze statues there, this giant standing bronze figure,     4    (measure) 260.8 centimeters in height, is the “highest” ruler. People argue over just about all     5    (aspect) of him, from identity and dragon-patterned clothing, to delicate headpiece. Yet nothing has aroused more interest than     6    (he) gestures. With arms raised in midair and fingers of both hands circled to form a hole in the middle, the man     7    (doubt) was holding something, something that is likely to have been lost or rotted away after countless years.

But what was it?

“It’s a gold scepter (权杖),” says Hu Jialin, who is behind a well-researched     8    (exhibit) at Shanghai Museum, which takes a deeper look at the myths of Sanxingdui.

The reason is simple: just a month before the unearthing of the bronze man, a 1.42-meter-long gold scepter was found at the same site, made up of a layer of gold foil (金箔) wrapped around a wooden stick.     9     initially mistaken for a belt as the wooden part long rotted away, this gold scepter     10    (prove) to be one of the biggest of its kind found in China and beyond.

8 . Having thousands of photographs, songs, and films available at our fingertips would have seemed amazing just a few decades ago.     1     Could the digitalisation of cultural objects put a time limit on our memories?

The materials phones and computers are made of can decay (腐烂) over time, impacting the data that they store.     2     Yet when digital data is destroyed, it can quickly make it impossible to even open a file. Also, as formats and devices become out of date, it may become impossible to read files from previous decades.

    3     Large companies can still lose data. In 2019, social media platform MySpace admitted losing over 12 years’ worth of users’ music uploads. The widespread use of streaming services for music, TV, and film means people no longer own the content that they watch and listen to. They just pay for the right to access it, which is called licensing. If streaming companies decide to remove content, or go out of business, users will lose access.

Licensing rather than purchasing content is an example of how our behavior towards digital content has changed. Another example is that we take far more pictures than people did in the past.     4     And we must also consider what to keep and what to delete.

So, what can we do? Technology writer Jack Schofield said that “data doesn’t exist unless you have at least two copies of it”.     5     Academic Paul Royster suggests that we should all take time to consider what content we personally believe is worth saving. Perhaps the answer is just to avoid digital altogether. Science and Technology writer Chris Baranaiuk calls for a cultural movement towards buying analogue (实体的) copies of cultural content.

A．This adds to the challenge of keeping our data safe.

B．But how long will these files last for and be available?

C．Storing information in the cloud can also help preserve it.

D．Images can still be seen in discolored physical photographs.

E．Storing your uploads on a cloud service can present problems as well.

F．However, it’s common presently thanks to technological advancements.

G．So it’s important that we keep backup copies of what is important to us.

9 . The first transplant surgery to combine a mechanical (机械的) heart pump as well as a gene-edited pig kidney has recently been completed at NYU Langone Health.

The subject, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano of New Jersey, had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. But she couldn’t have a standard heart or kidney transplant because of certain medical conditions and an overall lack of donor organs in the US. According to the Organ Transplantation Network, roughly 27,000 kidneys were transplanted last year, but nearly 89,000 people were on the waiting list for those organs.

Pisano got the heart pump on April 4 and then, on April 12, received a pig kidney, which was gene-edited to help keep the human body from recognizing the animal’s organ as foreign and rejecting it. “The editing process was to disrupt a gene responsible for the production of a sugar found on the surface of animal cells called alpha-gal, which can be recognized by human antibodies (抗体) and attacked,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who led the surgery.

Montgomery noted that the gene edits used in the pig in this case are much simpler than those used in other transplants. “We’re going to have an opportunity to really address the problem that we’re trying to address, which is the scarcity of organs, and the more complex the gene edits, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to produce those edits into a pig group. You would have to clone every pig for each organ. That is not something that can be easily achieved. So, we feel like less is more in this case.”

“Pisano has a long way to go and we are watching out for rejections,” he said, “but her kidney is functioning beautifully, and her heart is in much better shape. What previously existed in science fiction is now a reality.” Doctors expect that she might be discharged within a month.

1. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The difficulties Pisano encountered.	B．The way of transplanting organs.
C．The significance of human antibodies.	D．The function of gene-editing.

2. What does the underlined word “scarcity” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Complexity.

B．Expense.

C．Shortage.

D．Simplicity.

3. How did Montgomery feel about the outcome of the surgery?

A．Worried.

B．Grateful.

C．Confused.

D．Optimistic.

4. What type of writing is the text?

A．A news report.	B．An academic paper.
C．A personal story.	D．Science fiction.

10 . 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。

Spring rolls, those crispy delights of golden pastry (油酥面团), featuring a mix     1     finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and sometimes meat, are among the most popular     2     (choice) for a quick and tasty snack. The rolls are fried to a perfect crunch and are     3     (typical) eaten when hot. To eat one, you have to decide     4     to dip it in a sweet and sour sauce first, adding an extra layer of flavor, or to enjoy it on     5     (it) own, letting the roll’s own taste shine through. While spring rolls     6     (serve) in many places, the classic version can be found in the busy street markets,     7     they are made fresh on the spot and provided straight from the fryer. Good spring rolls have a light crust, allowing them     8     (pick) up easily without breaking or becoming unpleasantly wet. The filling is carefully seasoned     9     (guarantee) a harmonious blend of tastes and textures (口感).

No matter where I get them, one is rarely enough, but two or three might be too much, so I am always left     10     (look) forward to my next spring roll experience.