1 . On an extremely hot summer day, my friend Shelia and I treated our children to some rides at Libertyland, an amusement park. Libertyland ________ finds talented teenagers who must put on four or more shows a day for their little pay in its theater.

By mid-afternoon, Shelia and I were ________ while the kids were still full of energy and ________ to continue riding the rides. With security assistants ________ them, we decided to look for a cool ________. After a long time, in the theater, we ________ found a bench. We just sat down, hoping for a few moments of rest.

Luckily, a show ________ soon. The performers put on a wonderful show. ________, their audience of about 20 people seeking to escape the ________ didn’t seem to care.

At the end of the show, the audience gave ________ applause. But Shelia jumped to her feet, ________ and oohed and aahed (叫好) as if she ________ the most amazing Broadway production in her life. She ________ and said to me, “They’re someone else’s ________. Since their moms aren’t here, we need to ________ them.” In that instant, Shelia gave me ________ I had never thought of! Then I stood, cheering those ________ kids.

That happened over six years ago, and Shelia’s ________ still stay with me now. When I’m in a fast-food place, they ________ me that the teen behind the counter is someone’s child, and so is the pizza delivery boy. I ________ those kids as I’d want other people to do to my own children.

1.

A．already

B．just

C．still

D．also

2.

A．worried

B．tired

C．addicted

D．excited

3.

A．unsure

B．happy

C．proud

D．nervous

4.

A．accompanying

B．teaching

C．assessing

D．questioning

5.

A．show

B．sight

C．place

D．time

6.

A．eventually

B．constantly

C．secretly

D．immediately

7.

A．finished

B．began

C．continued

D．changed

8.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

9.

A．noise

B．dust

C．heat

D．people

10.

A．familiar

B．comforting

C．embarrassing

D．half-hearted

11.

A．listened

B．observed

C．clapped

D．predicted

12.

A．demonstrated

B．saw

C．created

D．directed

13.

A．looked down

B．came along

C．turned over

D．stepped forward

14.

A．kids

B．co-workers

C．students

D．teachers

15.

A．attract

B．coach

C．impress

D．support

16.

A．insights

B．chances

C．challenges

D．memories

17.

A．cautious

B．hard-working

C．curious

D．warm-hearted

18.

A．stories

B．promises

C．words

D．concepts

19.

A．convince

B．inform

C．warn

D．remind

20.

A．educate

B．persuade

C．serve

D．treat

2 . Erinna’s son, Jackson, was an autistic (患自闭症的) child. One of the most _________ things for him was getting a _________. He would get so anxious that he would start _________ and crying. It was really hard for Erinna to _________, so she decided to _________ taking him to the barber.

Jackson went almost two years with no haircuts. _________, Erinna found a barber named Ree. For the past few years, Ree had been able to _________ things slowly with Jackson. But one day in early 2022, things _________.

“We got caught in traffic. He _________ his headphones behind. We hadn’t had lunch. It was just like a series of __________ events for him,” Erinna remembered. Ree was just trying to put the cape (斗篷) on Jackson when he was greatly __________ and started running __________ around the shop.

Erinna was about to __________ it a day. But Ree encouraged her to give it a few more minutes. The barber then made the haircut into a __________. She would shave a little hair off Jackson’s head; he would __________ it off and then run to a new __________ in the shop. “He doesn’t like the hair to get on him... so the game was a good distraction (分散注意力的事) for him. And she was able to cut his hair,” Erinna said. When the haircut was complete, Jackson was __________ and happy.

It meant a lot to Erinna that Ree took the time to __________ a way to give Jackson a haircut that day. “The patience and __________ that Ree took with my son seems like a __________ in the darkness,” Erinna said.

1.

A．simple

B．normal

C．free

D．difficult

2.

A．doctor

B．headphone

C．haircut

D．babysitter

3.

A．kicking

B．falling

C．dropping

D．throwing

4.

A．notice

B．ignore

C．review

D．watch

5.

A．try

B．stop

C．keep

D．begin

6.

A．Suddenly

B．Finally

C．Generally

D．Constantly

7.

A．find

B．send

C．take

D．finish

8.

A．came true

B．faded away

C．broke down

D．went wrong

9.

A．lost

B．stayed

C．left

D．missed

10.

A．bad

B．nice

C．hard

D．funny

11.

A．relieved

B．alarmed

C．inspired

D．embarrassed

12.

A．quickly

B．eagerly

C．noisily

D．crazily

13.

A．end

B．call

C．quit

D．change

14.

A．trick

B．task

C．game

D．pleasure

15.

A．wipe

B．wash

C．brush

D．bathe

16.

A．spot

B．exit

C．path

D．block

17.

A．crying

B．leaving

C．whispering

D．smiling

18.

A．turn out

B．carry out

C．work out

D．give out

19.

A．care

B．duty

C．hope

D．effort

20.

A．trust

B．light

C．warmth

D．comfort

3 . Having been based in Thailand for seven years, I was informed my visa was no longer legally acceptable, which meant that I had to quit the job that I was succeeding in and leave behind this wonderful life I had built. I felt very, very down. Then, a friend, aware of what I was going through, messaged: “I can see you walking around Great Britain and then writing a book on it.”

Three weeks later, I did just that. Another friend suggested that I set up an Instagram account to document my journey, which I did, and so I set off with just a sleeping bag. When I took those first steps, I knew this journey would change my life, but not in the way it did. All of a sudden, I started to feel better, clearer and happier out in nature, walking. I remember what the first days were like. I walked the southwest coastal path for 635 miles. Its rough land and beautiful scenery were in equal measure, and it challenged me every day.

I met so many people who became my friends very quickly and supported me in many ways. Mentally, I felt stronger at this point. Of course, with the enormous amounts of miles walked and the challenging weather conditions that I faced, I had the occasional hesitation. But when this did happen, I’d just remind myself of what I’d achieved and the overwhelming support that I’d had to get me through. Finally, in April, I finished my walk around the UK.

I was cheerful, I felt proud, and I never imagined in my wildest dreams I could do it. But quickly after, I realized I had more in me. The walk had changed my life so much that I wanted to pay it forward and help people like the previous version of me that had been left in the past. So I decided to do it again — this time in 12 months, and for 12 charities. And that’s what I’m doing now.

1. Why did the author walk around the UK?

A．To find inspiration.	B．To remove depression.
C．To meet a friend’s request.	D．To escape from reality.

2. What can we know about the author’s journey from paragraph 2?

A．It was refreshing.	B．It was documented by a friend.
C．It turned out smooth just as expected.	D．It proved more challenging than satisfying.

3. Which word best describes the author?

A．Modest.

B．Outgoing.

C．Smart.

D．Determined.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Step Out of Your Comfort Zone	B．Something beyond Walking in Life
C．Walk around the UK for Charities	D．A Life-Changing Tour around the UK

4 . A survey of 2,000 parents of primary and secondary school children found 34 percent were out of their depth with primary school homework and unable to help their child.

Trigonometry (三角学) provided the biggest headache, with 52 percent of parents unable to help, followed by algebra (代数), which left 46 percent confused. 39 percent of parents could not calculate Pi (π) and 35 percent did not understand the periodic table. Foreign languages stumped many, with 31 percent unable to ask for directions in French. The English language also proved a struggle, with 21 percent no longer knowing the difference between a noun, verb and adjective.

As for history, 19 percent said they did not know the beginning and end dates of the world wars. On average, parents spent four hours a week attempting to tutor (辅导) their children, according to the survey by MyTutor, a company that links families with private tutors. About 73 percent ended up arguing with their children over homework and 87 percent believed schoolwork had become more challenging than the work they completed when they were at school.

Families turned to schools for extra help, with 19 percent of parents saying they had requested this from their child’s school. Thirty-nine percent said not enough support was provided. Florence Milner, a manager at MyTutor, said, “Even though most parents devote a significant amount of time weekly to helping their children with schoolwork, it’s not surprising that many find the task challenging.” Schools can use the National Tutoring Programme to support pupils they believe are most in need, but government funding has dropped this academic year from 60 to 50 percent of the cost.

Some studies have suggested that homework has little impact on a child’s progress at primary school, but helps at secondary school. The Education Endowment Foundation, which provides evidence to help improve teaching, said homework has a positive impact, particularly at secondary level, but warned that some pupils may not have a quiet space for home learning.

1. What does the underlined word “stumped” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Assisted.

B．Amused.

C．Inspired.

D．Confused.

2. What do we know about most parents from the text?

A．They resist too much homework.

B．They doubt their children’s ability.

C．They may have an unpleasant experience when tutoring.

D．They did study hard when they were young.

3. Which of the following may be a suggestion on homework according to the last paragraph?

A．Primary schools should assign more homework.

B．Middle school students should have proper homework.

C．Parents should provide more tutoring for their kids at home.

D．Pupils should improve academic performance by doing more homework.

4. The author develops the text mainly by ________.

A．quoting experts	B．making comparisons
C．listing figures	D．analyzing reason and effect

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman?

A．An athlete.

B．A hostess.

C．A coach.

2. Who influenced Noah to start horse riding?

A．His mother.

B．His brother.

C．His sister.

3. How has Noah benefited from horse riding?

A．Ho is fitter.

B．He is calmer.

C．He is happier.

4. What will Noah probably choose to do when he gets older?

A．Train horses.

B．Teach children.

C．Take part in more races.

6 . It’s often said that it’s better to give than to receive. You may feel too stressed and busy to help others with their burdens in your daily life. However, altruism (利他主义) is its own reward and can actually help you relieve stress.     1     Here are some ways that helping others helps you.

    2     More specifically, when people make altruistic personal sacrifices, they end up being repaid by what they have done in the form of favors from others. These individuals earn the reputation as altruistic people and end up receiving favors from others who they may not have even directly helped.

Altruism is good for emotional well-being. For example, one study on patients showed that those who offered other patients peer support actually experienced great benefits, including more pronounced improvement of confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, depression and daily functioning.     3    

The positive effects of altruism often go beyond just you and that other person, influencing your whole community.     4     Your family and your friends may see your good example and behave in more altruistic ways as well and thus you can contribute to a more positive community. Helping others in need, especially those who are less fortunate than you, can provide you with a sense of perspective on how fortunate you are to have what you do in life.     5     As a result, you can improve your level of life satisfaction.

A．It can improve your quality of life in various ways.

B．It can help you gain a more positive view on your life.

C．Studies show acts of altruism can be a great form of stress relief.

D．Altruism can improve physical and mental health in a variety of ways.

E．When it comes to altruistic acts, what goes around generally comes around.

F．They generally found that their lives were dramatically changed for the better.

G．When you do nice things for others, they may do the same and the kindness grows.

7 . A woman in a cap wanders calmly along. Except for the lava (熔岩) erupting behind her, she could be walking in the park. The woman turns to watch the molten rock flow for a moment then walks calmly toward the camera. The footage(镜头) is from Werner Herzog’s book to volcanoes and volcano hunters, Into the Inferno, and the woman pictured is perhaps one of the most important volcanologists of all time, Katia Krafft.

Born in France, in 1942, Katia developed an interest in volcanoes at an early age. Later, she met Maurice Krafft. The pair bonded over their shared love of volcanoes before marrying in 1970. The Kraffts wrote about 20 books on volcanoes across the globe.

Katia and her husband made great progress in educating the general public in volcanology. Their footage had more than scientific value. For instance, when Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines began to show signs of an eruption in 1991, the Kraffts were able to present Philippine President Cory Aquino with video footage of the effects of the 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, asking him to call for an evacuation of those in the danger zone.

In 1969, Katia was awarded the prize of the Vocation Foundation for her work on active volcanic sites.

The couple lost their lives, along with more than 40 others during the eruption of Mount Unzen in Japan on June 3.1991. when they were caught in a flow of rock, gas and ash moving at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, with temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Katia was 49; Maurice, 45.

Katia’s impact on volcanology has reached far beyond her death and has encouraged many young women to study our restless planet. “Katia Krafft is definitely the reason why I’m doing this job,” says Carla Tiraboschi, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minster, Germany. Carla first saw Katia in a documentary when she was just six or seven years old and has been crazy about volcanoes ever since.

1. What can we infer from the book Into the Inferno?

A．Its author is Katia Krafft.	B．It’s a biography of Katia Krafft.
C．It calls on protecting the environment.	D．It focuses on volcanoes and their explorers.

2. What do we know about the couple?

A．They prevented a natural disaster.

B．They served as a warning in Japan.

C．They helped spread volcano science.

D．They covered Mount Pinatubo’s eruption.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “evacuation” in paragraph 3?

A．Substance.

B．Departure.

C．Occupation.

D．Intervention.

4. How did Katia influence Carla Tiraboschi?

A．Katia’s death made her restless.	B．Katia helped her with her research.
C．Katia taught her to make a documentary.	D．Katia’s deeds inspired her career choice.

8 . Adding salt to already prepared meals is linked to dying prematurely, according to a new study. Researchers found always adding salt to food knocks 2.3 years off life expectancy for men and 1.5years for women.

The study did not rule out other factors, but researchers said the evidence was compelling enough that people should consider avoiding seasoning their meals. The findings were based on research involving over 500,000 participants, who were followed for an average of 9 years. Compared with those who never added salt, those who always seasoned their food had a 28% increased risk of dying earlier. “To my knowledge, our study is the first to assess the relation between adding salt to foods and earlier death,” said Prof Lu Qi, who led the work. “Even a modest reduction in sodium (钠) intake can result in remarkable health benefits.”

Salt intake is difficult to accurately track because many processed foods contain high levels of salt. Roughly 70% of sodium intake in western populations comes from processed foods, with 8-20% from salt added at the table. However, adding salt is a very good indicator of a person’s preference for salty tasting foods, so the team focused their analysis on this measurement.

Prof Annika Rosengren, a researcher who was not involved with the research, said that there is an ideal level for salt to different people. It’s hard to figure out the best level in terms of health for any given individual. “So far, what the evidence seems to indicate is that healthy people consuming normal levels of salt need not worry too much about their salt intake,” she said. However, those at high risk of heart disease should probably cut down. “Not adding extra salt to already prepared foods is one way of achieving this.”

1. What does the underlined word “compelling” probably mean?

A．Interesting.

B．Convincing.

C．Fascinating.

D．Stimulating.

2. What does paragraph 3 imply?

A．Adding salt can suggest a person’s favor.

B．Western populations prefer salty foods relatively.

C．The study centered on tracking salt intake accurately.

D．More than 70% of sodium intake comes from processed foods.

3. What does Prof Rosengren probably agree with?

A．There is an ideal level for salt to all people.

B．It’s appropriate to add more salt while cooking.

C．Occasional addition of salt has no effect on health.

D．Patients with heart disease should control their salt intake.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A biology textbook.

B．An official report.

C．A health magazine.

D．A science fiction.

9 . Beneath the blue waters of Trinidad and Tobago, plastic pollution is causing serious damage to marine ecosystems. Every year, over 88,600 tonnes of plastic waste is deposited(沉积)into the ocean around the Caribbean nation, harming marine life and impacting human health.

A new app is aiming to help young people in Trinidad and Tobago, along with other small island developing states, battle against the damage done by plastic pollution. Called Tide Turners, the app was developed by the United Nations Environment Programme with the help of young people. It challenges users to record their plastics consumption and develop an action plan to reduce their use of plastics. It also encourages young people to switch to reusable products and go plastic-free where possible: lifestyle changes that experts say can help stop the flow of plastic into the world’s oceans.

Reducing plastic pollution will take a joint effort from governments, businesses and, especially, youth. Children account for around 30 percent of the population in small island developing states in the Caribbean.

To tackle the plastic pollution challenge, the new app builds on UNEP’s Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Badge, which has so far engaged more than 500,000 young people in youth groups. Along with calling on youth to use less plastic, it encourages them to start campaigns and raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Sarah Sobrian, who tested an early version of the app and advised on its development, is keen to get started. “The Tide Turners app is an incredible tool that educates and empowers us to change the situation we face,” she says. “I am incredibly eager to be a part of this and share this experience with those in my life. With this app, we can and will work together to create the impact that we have long wanted to see.”

1. What is the purpose of the Tide Turners app?

A．To help youths to fight against plastic pollution.

B．To track marine life populations in the Caribbean.

C．To help the young to develop the small island states.

D．To encourage businesses to switch to plastic-free packaging.

2. Why is the participation of young people particularly important?

A．They have more free time than adults.

B．They have access to funding the new app.

C．They are the main contributors to plastic waste.

D．They make up about one-third of the population.

3. What is Sarah Sobrian’s attitude towards the app?

A．Suspicious.

B．Favorable.

C．Indifferent.

D．Objective.

4. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．A new app can turn the situation around.

B．Plastic pollution is a serious threat to marine ecosystems.

C．Governments make great efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

D．Trinidad and Tobago are suffering from serious plastic pollution.

10 . Chinese athlete Zhang Weili gave the world something to remember at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 292 in Boston. She kept her strawweight (草量级) champion title with an outstanding performance over Brazil’s Amanda Lemos, setting many striking records in the process.

Zhang, the women’s pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, arrived on the east coast of America as the favorite against the dangerous Brazilian striker, Lemos.

The superior advantage for Zhang began in the opening round. She landed an early strong low kick to put Lemos down. But just as Lemos appeared close to being stopped, she surprised Zhang with a D’Arce choke (达斯绞). When everyone thought it could be the end for Zhang, the champion’s strength carried her through, taking her out of the choke and into position to deliver a quick beating on the ground.

At the end of the battle, Lemos even got a second chance in the fourth round. But in the end, it was business as usual for Zhang, who nearly ended the fight with a knockdown in the final round, finishing as the winner with a scorecard of 50-43, 50-44, and 49-45.

During the exciting match, Zhang set many new records in women’s Mixed Martial Arts(MMA). She finished with 296 strikes, breaking the previous record of 249 held by Valentina Shevchenko. And with Lemos only connecting 29 times, Zhang also set the record for the largest striking differential in women’s MMA by 267 strikes.

In a post-fight interview, Zhang spoke through a translator to thank the Boston crowd for their energy. “My name is ZhangWeili,” then she said in English, cupping her hand to her ear to raise cheers from the crowd. “I’m from China. Do you remember me?”

1. What made Zhang Weili spotlighted by the world?

A．She donated all she had to UFC292.

B．She won world champion titles in a row.

C．She set many extraordinary records in UFC292.

D．She represented China to participate in the game.

2. How did Zhang Weili manage to escape Lemos’s D’Arce choke (达斯绞)?

A．She called for a time out.	B．The referee stopped Lemos.
C．She used a special technique.	D．She used her strength to get out.

3. How did the author illustrate Zhang’s exciting game in paragraph 5?

A．By listing statistics.	B．By explaining reasons.
C．By giving examples.	D．By making comparisons.

4. Which of the following can best describe Zhang Weili?

A．Easy-going.

B．Strong-willed.

C．Hard-working.

D．Warm-hearted.