1 . On the morning of Jan. 21st, 2023, I was taking the subway to work as usual. A quiet subway ride felt like a mini ________ from my busy life. Yet I found myself spending that ________ time browsing my endless messages on the phone.

One day, I put down my phone and started writing ________ notes to people who had contributed to a donation activity I had ________. When I got off the train, I was in a noticeably ________ mood. Then an idea struck me that I could write one for every day of that year. As an organizer and consultant, I had no ________ of people I could write to, so I picked out a different ________ for each month to keep on task. January was “charity”, February was …, and I thought of ________ names right away.

In July, my “________” month, I had become good at getting my memories back and ________ people to send my notes to. On the top of the list was Jenny, a(n) ________ chef. She had cooked at my favorite restaurant (It is now closed down). I thanked her and specially mentioned her biscuits ________ into the Roman number Ⅵ for our sixth wedding anniversary.

________, I received a note back from her, ________ “I have never received such a touching letter before. It was ________ expectation and unbelievably thoughtful. And so needed at a time when I’m ________ professionally. Your letter was a fantastic reminder that ________ back is a good motivation for moving forward.”

Part of the ________ of what I did was ________ with people like Jenny — people, who weren’t ________visitors in my life but made a lasting impact. And I wouldn’t have known if I had not reached out.

1.

A．activity

B．carriage

C．adventure

D．vacation

2.

A．nervous

B．temporary

C．precious

D．unforgettable

3.

A．apology

B．invitation

C．cheer-up

D．thank-you

4.

A．hosted

B．witnessed

C．attended

D．missed

5.

A．better

B．calmer

C．funnier

D．heavier

6.

A．resource

B．shortage

C．idea

D．awareness

7.

A．person

B．colour

C．theme

D．letter

8.

A．seven

B．twelve

C．thirty

D．thirty-one

9.

A．neighbour

B．family

C．trip

D．food

10.

A．requiring

B．identifying

C．encouraging

D．contacting

11.

A．gentle

B．responsible

C．considerate

D．honest

12.

A．shaped

B．filled

C．drawn

D．developed

13.

A．Luckily

B．Surprisingly

C．Finally

D．Hopefully

14.

A．writing

B．addressing

C．printing

D．reading

15.

A．out of

B．owing to

C．free from

D．up to

16.

A．struggling

B．thinking

C．hesitating

D．progressing

17.

A．moving

B．calling

C．stepping

D．looking

18.

A．task

B．magic

C．concept

D．praise

19.

A．reuniting

B．fighting

C．reconnecting

D．exchanging

20.

A．useful

B．important

C．frequent

D．necessary

2 . 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。

Atule’er village in southwest China’s Sichuan province, known     1     a “cliff village”, has become an Internet-famous tourist attraction.

In the past, villagers used handmade ladders     2     (climb) the cliff when they returned from the outside. According to locals, about eight people died on the “road” while there were more people who fell and     3     (injure). Among those who climbed the high handmade ladders almost every day were 15village children     4     attend the primary school on the lower mountain. Life was     5     (extreme) hard for the village’s 84 needy households.

Chen Jie, a photographer and a     6     (journal), released the report, A Village on a Cliff on May 24, 2016, which revealed the unsafe situation. This aroused concern from the     7     (centre) government and the local government. At the end of 2016, the local government invested over one million yuan in building a 2,556-step and nearly 3-km-long steel ladder,     8     (improve) the travel conditions for locals significantly. Since then, the “cliff village”     9     (witness) steady improvement in its infrastructure (基础设施).

After being covered by5G signals, Atuleer village has become more widely known through live-streaming shows and seen a growing number of tourists. Even the steel ladder becomes     10     must-see tourist spot. In the future, the “cliff village” will become more famous with the help of the government.

3 . After a heavy snowstorm, I ran outside excitedly to build a snowman. No matter how I rolled my snowball, it refused to grow. After resting for a while, I restarted the job. Then I noticed I had an audience-a prim-looking (古板的) couple with obvious disapproval. My face turned red as I tried to answer their unspoken question: Don’t you have anything better to do?

An adult playing by herself seems strange, but’ maybe it shouldn’t. New research suggests that modern adults have ignored their play instinct (本能). Most animals stop playing as adults. However, there are a handful of animals that never stop.

One possibility is’ that adult play is important and beneficial, -a theory supported by a study. Researcher Camilla Cenni from the University of Lethbridge left some puzzle boxes for some monkeys to solve. To get the food inside, they had to drop a rock into the container. The monkeys that previously had dropped rocks for fun were more likely to solve the puzzle. This finding also suggests somewhere in our evolutionary history—a playful human invented stone tools. Even today, the urge to play accounts for some of humans’ greatest inventions. Adult play is also about preparing for the unexpected. And biologists found its most important function is improving relationships and helping individuals get along.

Adult play promotes inclusivity, cooperation and creativity—all qualities that we humans could use. Unfortunately, social norms hold back our urge to let loose. “Generally speaking, we like to do the things that are necessary for our survival,” says Peter Gray, a play researcher at Boston University, Humans took one giant step away from fun when we started planting crops. Plowing (耕) fields is hard and boring. Then we invented factories and lost sight of play.”

With threats like climate change, it’s easy to get into seriousness. But we should understand the value of encouraging adult play. The next time I’m caught playing. I know what to say, “I’m playing for the benefit of all humankind. You’ re welcome.”

1. Why did the author’s face turn red?

A．She was considered too old to play.

B．She was ignored by a prim-looking couple.

C．She had difficulty making a snowman.

D．She couldn’t answer the couple’s question.

2. What can be inferred about adult play from Paragraph 3?

A．It is the natural need of humans.	B．It has slowed down human evolution.
C．It can contribute to useful creations.	D．It is particularly noticeable in animals.

3. What got humans to lose the fun of playing according to Peter Gray?

A．Climate change.	B．Modern science.
C．The arrival of agriculture.	D．The need to prepare for the unexpected.

4. Which of the following serves as the best title?

A．How adults can be more playful

B．Why adults need to make time for playtime

C．How to add more play to your grown-up life

D．What differences exist between human and animals’ play

4 . Our National Public Radio staff and trusted crities have made some recommendations about must-reads.

Rough Sleepers    Tracy Kidder

This uplifting book is about Dr. Jim O’Connell’s work of bringing health care to unhoused people for more than three decades, first in Boston and now in nearly every American city. His work might be a band-aid on the bigger problem of homelessness, but as he said, “This is what we do while waiting for the world to change.”

The Right Call       Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins has had a superb career recording the highest achievements in sports by individuals and by teams. With The Right Call, she captures what makes some athletes and coaches reach their peak. Whatever part of life you want to excel in, this book will have you rethinking what you do and how you might do it differently.

The Secret of Cooking       Bee Wilson

More than a cookbook, this is a guide to how to make cooking work for you — and even become a joy. What if you have picky eaters, a full time job and a kitchen with only half the ingredients the recipe calls for? This book has the answers, explaining everything from how to figure out what flavors go together, to how to get easy when everything goes wrong.

Land of Milk and Honey       C Pam Zhang

Set in a future where a mysterious smog has swallowed Earth, causing widespread crop failures and food shortages, the story follows an unnamed chef who finds herself in a world of cooking delights and unequalled sensory experiences among a landscape of despair (绝望). It’s an exploration of human nature, and the choices we make in the face of difficulties.

1. How does Dr. Jim O’Connell view his own work?

A．It doesn't help in solving the housing problem.

B．It shows a way to be excellent in life differently.

C．It will make a difference in caring about the homeless.

D．It offers a way to get food in times of shortage.

2. Whose book can get readers to think about how to be excellent in life?

A．Tracy Kidder.	B．Sally Jenkins.
C．Bee Wilson.	D．C Pam Zhang.

3. What do Bee Wilson’s and C Pam Zhang’s works have in common?

A．They tell readers how to reduce food waste.	B．They provide personal cooking experience.
C．They both have something to do with cooking.	D．They try to cover some aspects of family life.

5 . In Lulea, a city in northern Sweden, the sun only shines around three hours a day in the winter months. People tend to stay warm at home and that can be very lonely. To help ease winter loneliness, the local authority is asking everyone to just say hello to each other. The new campaign is called Sag hej.

While the world is experiencing an increase in loneliness following the Covid-19 pandemic, in places that do not get a lot of sunlight during the winter months, the issues are exasperating.

“Loneliness and isolation are major problems at any time of the year and almost everywhere in the world right now,” Micael Dahlen, professor of wellbeing and happiness at the Stockholm School of Economics, said. “It comes with the times that we live in, with the lifestyles that we have, where we don’t necessarily encounter each other to the same extent that we used to. This increases in winter when we are outside less and socializing less,” he added.

While most people believe that loneliness is most common amongst seniors who tend to live alone, the opposite is true. It is actually rising in young people. A recent study published in the International Journal of Adolescence and Youth found that loneliness in young people has been increasing and this negatively impacts mental and physical wellbeing. Research about Lulea found that 45 percent of 16-to-29-year-olds were experiencing problems due to being lonely.

Asa Koski, who works for the city, came up with the idea of the Sag hej! campaign. She wants the city, which is undergoing rapid growth due to green industry jobs, to be a friendlier, more welcoming, and less lonely place for newcomers. “We don ’t just want that Lulea is going to grow as a city; we want Lulea to be a pleasant and safe and friendly city as well where there’s culture, leisure activities, and sport,” said Koski.

Many people agree that saying hello should be encouraged and believe that the more international the city becomes, the more people will become friendlier too.

1. Which word can replace the underlined word “exasperating” in Paragraph 2?

A．annoying

B．interesting

C．inspiring

D．surprising

2. What does Micael Dahlen agree with?

A．Loneliness and isolation dominate people’s feeling.

B．Saying hello helps people deal with winter loneliness.

C．A lack of sunshine in winter contributes to loneliness.

D．People ’s lifestyles in winter increase their feeling lonely.

3. What can you infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Seniors suffer more from loneliness.

B．There are more young people feeling lonely than seniors.

C．The phenomenon of loneliness is common in different age stages.

D．45 percent of 16-to-29-year-olds have problems because of loneliness.

4. What makes Asa Koski come up with the idea of the Sag hej?

A．Her job is connected with the city.

B．She has confidence in Lulea ’s culture.

C．She wishes the city to develop rapidly.

D．She expects the city to be a better place for newcomers.

6 . High school is a time filled with memorable events such as graduation proms (舞会). For Josephine, her high school experience ________ due to financial difficulties, before she had the ________ to go to prom in the tough 1961. However, her grandson, Michael Ganczewski, decided to give her a magical ________ during his own senior prom.

When Michael asked Josephine to be his prom partner, she initially ________ his idea, ________ saying she was too old for a prom and Michael would have many young girls to choose from. She was not going to the prom, but she was just ________ for feeling loved. But for Michael, his grandmother was the perfect ________, and then he ________ her. On prom night, Josephine wore a beautiful dress.

Though ________ about her dancing skills initially, she soon discovered that the true ________ of the evening lay in simply being with her grandson.

Josephine admitted she wasn’t too ________ with this generation’s latest dance trends, but she ________ to do her best. Her grandson’s desire to make her feel cherished ________ her deeply. As she remarked: “For the rest of my life, I will never ________ that he wanted to show me a good time. That to me is very ________.”

As if the gesture itself wasn’t ________ enough, Josephine’s prom night ended with a ________—Josephine was crowned (加冕) prom queen, fulfilling a(n) ________ she had waited for since 1961.

This wonderful night, filled with ________ and joy, just showed the importance of the ________ between a grandson and his grandmother.

1.

A．extended

B．repeated

C．concluded

D．happened

2.

A．ability

B．chance

C．application

D．desire

3.

A．reward

B．concert

C．graduation

D．night

4.

A．turned down

B．worked out

C．passed on

D．put off

5.

A．jokingly

B．obviously

C．exactly

D．anxiously

6.

A．hopeful

B．grateful

C．doubtful

D．regretful

7.

A．wonder

B．purpose

C．choice

D．result

8.

A．protected

B．convinced

C．refused

D．reminded

9.

A．satisfied

B．puzzled

C．scared

D．worried

10.

A．pressure

B．honor

C．delight

D．pity

11.

A．familiar

B．nervous

C．popular

D．patient

12.

A．pretended

B．happened

C．hesitated

D．intended

13.

A．hurt

B．touched

C．shocked

D．embarrassed

14.

A．forget

B．realize

C．recognize

D．understand

15.

A．awful

B．necessary

C．special

D．impossible

16.

A．risk-taking

B．terrifying

C．relaxing

D．heartwarming

17.

A．surprise

B．record

C．promotion

D．mercy

18.

A．appointment

B．promise

C．schedule

D．dream

19.

A．treasure

B．fashion

C．love

D．interest

20.

A．gap

B．bond

C．conflict

D．conversation

7 . 下面短文中有10处语言错误。请在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：（1）每句不超过两个错误；（2）每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

As science fiction offers surprise and exciting, I had a strong urge to read The Three- Body Problem written by Liu Cixin. The book, first releasing as a series in Science Fiction World magazine in 2006 in China, turned out to be a hit.

The book described the story of Ye Wenjie and Wang Miao, two scientists on the not distant future. Ye joins a secret project to contact aliens. Meanwhile, Wang registers or logs on to an online video game called “Three Body”. It has influenced minds deeply that people are worried about the possibility of the earth being invaded by an advanced civilization.

Curiously, I was referred to an online forum and concluded that the concern is necessary, at least for now. Which is declared by scientists, the chance of life beyond the earth develops into superior intelligence is quite slim.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Which benefit of exercise is mentioned?

A．Gaining weight.

B．Building muscles.

C．Improving sleep quality.

2. When do human bones stop growing in strength?

A．At the age of 18.

B．In their late 20s.

C．At the age of 40.

3. Who is probably the speaker?

A．A teacher.

B．A trainer.

C．A doctor.

4. What ’s the advice for people to keep bone healthy?

A．Doing regular exercise.

B．Staying in a good mood.

C．Keeping their brains active.

9 . Rich in culture and steeped in tradition, winter in Budapest not only feels like a fairy tale but also looks like one. Here are 4 top things to do in Budapest during winter.

City Park Ice Rink

Budapest’s City Park Ice Rink is by far the most famous skating destination in the region. Skaters flock (蜂拥) to the rink each winter between late November and mid February. First opened in 1870, this ice rink is one of the oldest and largest in Europe.

Hungarian State Opera House

The Hungarian State Opera House, which was completed in 1884, remains exactly the same as when it was constructed. Each season thousands of visitors arrive in Budapest to take in the extreme beauty of the opera house, while the lucky ones are able to secure a ticket for a show.

Andrassy Avenue and Fashion Street

Shopping in Budapest during winter is a magic al experience. Andrassy Avenue and Fashion Street are two of its most popular tourist destinations at any time of year. Covered with thousands of lights, the tree-lined avenue comes to life during the winter months, offering up many attractions. The shops here are usually open from 10 am to 9 pm in the winter months.

Spas and hot spring baths

Budapest is quite rightly nick-named the “City of Spas”. The baths of Budapest are astonishingly beautiful, famous the world over for their relaxing and medicinal benefits. Taking a dip in the famous baths during winter is an experience like no other.

1. What do we know about City Park Ice Rink in Budapest?

A．It has a long history.	B．Visitors flock there each season.
C．It was built in 1870.	D．It’s the most popular in the world.

2. What do Hungarian State Opera House and Andrassy Avenue have in common?

A．They are popular in any season.	B．They offer visitors many attractions.
C．They ensure visitors of magical lights.	D．They haven’t changed since being built.

3. Which destination can provide visitors with health benefits?

A．City Park Ice Rink	B．Spas and hot spring baths
C．Hungarian State Opera House	D．Andrassy Avenue and Fashion Street

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where did the woman stay?

A．At a campsite.

B．In a guesthouse.

C．In a hotel.

2. How did the woman spend most of her time?

A．By swimming.

B．By having walks.

C．By taking short journeys.

3. What was the extreme thing for the woman?

A．Step dancing.

B．Water skiing.

C．Bungee jumping.