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。

Dragon boat master craftsman Xu Guisheng begins his work on simple wood blocks, but he expects them to emerge as brilliant creations reflecting grand Chinese tradition. “When a boat is ready, we hold a ceremony to illuminate it. The head is bathed in water according to our local customs. They     1     (transform) from wooden boats into dragon gods.” he said. Xu, 64, is a     2     (five)-generation dragon boat craftsman in Miluo, Central China’s Hunan Province, and     3     registered inheritor(继承人) of the intangible cultural heritage. The city is known     4     a production center for the boats, which are used in races during the Dragon Boat Festival. Craftsman Xu’s workshop produced nearly 150 dragon boats last year,     5     helped to bring in more than 3 million yuan.

    6     (meet) the evolving demands of modern boat races, Xu said he is also     7     (constant) improving and innovating his techniques. “Products are mainly made from     8     (tradition) wood and can also be made with reinforced fiberglass.” he said. “These boats,     9     (include) the ones used for professional races, are sold all over the country. We make dragon boats not only for our livelihoods, but also to better pass on our traditions and skills.” he added. “We have a     10     (responsible) to pass these on to the next generation.”

2 . ISA Summer Camps of Figure Skating in Prague 2023!

Thanks to our considerable experience in organizing international figure skating camps for children, we have again prepared special programs for our summer training camps. The summer figure skating program has been developed with the requirements of international standards in mind, taking into account the age and physical abilities of young figure skaters.

Training week schedule

Monday to Saturday

22 hours of training: 11 hours on ice and 11 hours of training off ice.

On Saturday-shortened program, demonstration performances on ice, awarding all participants with memorable diplomas (奖状) and cups   (costumes required).

* Group workouts on ice 2 hours a day.

* Group off-ice training 2 hours a day.

* The possibility of individual lessons on ice 2 hours a day (optional).

What you need to have with you at ISA Summer Camps

On ice: Tremo suit on the ice, a few gloves for a change.

For training off-ice: Air sneakers, sportswear for training off-ice.

Price

Package price for a week stay in ISA Summer Camps for a skater: € 550 (Price per day € 92)

Package price for a week stay in ISA Summer Camps for an accompanying (陪同的) person: € 350 (Price per day € 58)

Package price includes: 7 nights at the hotel, 3 meals a day.

Health insurance

Participants signing up for this event agree that the price does not include insurance and that the organizer is not responsible for any injuries. Each participant must have health insurance concluded with one of the insurance companies valid (有效的) in the Czech Republic and a certificate of good health provided by the parent. Participation in this event is at your own risk.

1. Which of the following is included in the schedule of the training week?

A．22 hours of training on ice.

B．Group off-ice training 3 hours a day.

C．Individual lessons off ice 1 hour a day.

D．Demonstration performances on Saturday.

2. How much should a child and his mother pay for a package for the camp?

A．€ 900.

B．€ 644.

C．€ 550.

D．€ 406.

3. What must participants of this figure skating camp have?

A．Professional diplomas.

B．A recommendation letter.

C．Health insurance provided by the camp.

D．A certificate of good health provided by a parent.

3 . The UK has a rich literary heritage, with cities packed with bookshops, literary landmarks and comfortable cafes. If you love books, try one of these city breaks.

York

Earning a remarkable “bookspiration” score of 9. 4/10, York has claimed the title of the best UK city for book lovers. Having the highest number of reading spots per 100, 000 people among all cities analysed, literary lovers will find themselves spoiled for choice in this city. Home to 20 libraries and 33 highly-rated bookshops, this serves as a significant literary resource for a city of its population size.

Books inspired by York include: The Secret Garden, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre

Bath

Bath comes second, receiving a final “bookspiration” score of 8. 1/10. Beyond its plentiful quiet reading spots, more than seven libraries and 16 bookshops per 100, 000 people, the city also offers sufficient green spaces, perfect for eager readers to dive into their favourite books. It’s a dream destination for those with a preference for Jane Austen’s works. It’s also host to the annual Jane Austen Festival in September, featuring many immersive(沉浸式的)Regency-themed experiences.

Books inspired by Bath include: Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Vathek

Belfast

In third place is Belfast, scoring a respectable 7. 3/10. The Northern Irish city has 18 libraries and 55 charming bookshops to choose from. Serving as the backdrop of inspiration for CS Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, Belfast also has a bookish culture as it plays host to an annual book festival drawing in the nation’s biggest bookworms.

Books inspired by Belfast include: Eureka Street, Mystery Man, The Star Factory

Bristol

Bristol with a score of 6. 8/10 secures fourth place to be a literary lover’s paradise. Thanks to its treasure of bookshops from independent to second-hand, over 17 bookshops per 100, 000 people, the lively South West city makes an incredible destination for book-shopping.

Books inspired by Bristol include: Shadow Dance, Birdcage Walk, Keep Him Close

1. Which city is the source of the inspiration for Wuthering Heights?

A．York.

B．Bath.

C．Belfast.

D．Bristol.

2. What can you do during Jane Austen Festival?

A．Rate bookstores of the city.	B．Attend theme-based activities.
C．Dive into CS Lewis’s books.	D．Take a South West city tour.

3. What is a feature of Belfast?

A．The best green reading spaces.	B．The highest “bookspiration” score.
C．The most attractive book festival.	D．The biggest second-hand bookstore.

4 . A career in comics (漫画) is a dream for many talented, creative artists. It’s an opportunity to express one’s imagination through powerful stories. Traditionally, it was difficult, and sometimes expensive, to make it in the comic world. However, webtoons, comic platforms for viewing on the web and mobile devices, are changing the situation for independent artists. Artists can gain a following on webtoons platforms without having to depend on large publishing agents (代理商). It’s a fantastic opportunity for comic book lovers to find exciting new stories.

WEBTOON is the largest and most well-known webtoons platform, and it offers creators the chance to gain deals with famous agents and publishers. Some creators who got their start on WEBTOON have seen their stories adapted (改编) for TV series or movies. American Netflix has published two live-action adaptations of webtoons. WEBTOON has also worked with brand-name comics. For example, DC Comics, one of America’s oldest and largest comic book producers, produced a comic book series Batman: Wayne Family Adventures with WEBTOON. The popular DC series got more than 76 million views on WEBTOON.

In addition to all that, webtoons have helped independent artists and writers make it in the comic world. Azumi was a webtoons follower, who even won a webtoons competition, but he had no means to continue comic book writing full-time. In 2021, a WEBTOON producer found his great work and employed him to write. This opportunity allowed Azumi to give up his job and focus on his art. Azumi explains, “Many groups and stories that have not been shown in traditional publishing can have a voice and space on WEBTOON.”

“WEBTOON creators are some of the most talented and creative people the history of comics. In a time when comics have never been more popular, we’re proud of the growing Creator Economy and the ecosystem we’ve built to celebrate and support WEBTOON creators,” said CEO, Ken Kim.

1. What can we learn about webtoons from the first paragraph?

A．They push artists to attract mobile viewers.

B．They enable artists to show their works easily.

C．They will take the place of traditional publishing.

D．They encourage users to recommend creative artists.

2. What does the author suggest by mentioning Netflix and DC Comics in Paragraph 2?

A．WEBTOON is competing with big agents.

B．Creators are full of curiosity about adapted works.

C．WEBTOON achieves development through partnerships.

D．Creators hope to publish their works on different platforms.

3. What enabled Azumi to work as a comic book writer?

A．His familiarity with webtoons.

B．WEBTOON’s recognition of his talent.

C．His excellent performance in a competition.

D．WEBTOON’s close contact with its followers.

4. Which word best describes Ken Kim’s attitude to WEBTOON’s work?

A．Surprised

B．Worried

C．Unclear

D．Satisfied

5 . Whether you’re searching for a relaxing beach break, a cultural journey, or an active adventure, there are several must-see destinations offered to content you in 2024.

Cyprus

Cyprus is an attractive island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and has been noted since ancient times for its mineral wealth, superb wine and produce, and natural beauty. Cyprus is home to a number of ancient archaeological (考古的) sites, peaceful beaches and lively cities. With a diverse range of experiences, Cyprus invites you to uncover its cultural treasures.

Huludao

Located in the southwest coastal area of Liaoning Province, China, Huludao neighbors the Bohai Bay to the south, and is bounded on the west by Shanhaiguan Pass. The continuous coastline provides not only rich seafood but also many sun-kissed beaches. There are many cultural landscapes, including Xingcheng Ancient City and Jiumenkou Great Wall. Xingcheng Ancient City is one of the four most complete ancient cities from the Ming Dynasty with many ancient buildings.

Maldives

In the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a dream destination with greenish-blue waters and pure white sands. Whether you’re in search of relaxation or romance, the Maldives has it all and more. Be sure to explore the colourful coral reefs (珊瑚礁) and the amazing surroundings, or simply just relax on the sands.

Dubai

On the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai has grown to become a global centre for tourism, business, and cultural experiences. Home to a typical skyline with the tallest building in the world, Dubai has world-class attractions and inviting shopping malls. Head to the untouched beaches to relax or be shocked at futuristic architecture and design. You could even take a bit of a risk in the desert.

1. What do Cyprus and Huludao commonly share?

A．Ancient culture.	B．Lively cities.
C．Research sites.	D．Superb wine.

2. Which destination would an adventurous person choose?

A．Cyprus.

B．Huludao.

C．Maldives.

D．Dubai.

3. Where might we find the text?

A．In a history book.	B．On an adventure poster.
C．On a travel website.	D．In a scientific journal.

6 . Candace Nicoleau is no stranger to overcoming struggle. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she saw it as a barrier to _________.

In 2017, Nicoleau was six months pregnant (怀孕) when she felt _________. So she went for a(n) _________, where doctors discovered a tumor(肿瘤). “She needed surgery immediately because the cancer _________ too far. After the surgery, her follow-up treatment was complicated, for she had the second child _________. “During that time, she was still working toward a master’s degree in _________,” her husband, Marc said.

A few months later, her baby was born. But doctors gave a(n) _________ of 9 months for her to live. “I’ve always been _________, ‘If I’m going to die, I’m going to do everything I want to do,” Nicoleau said. The realization of her death gave her a sense of _________ and purpose, and Nicoleau __________ to finish school and open her own practice as soon as possible. “Her __________ are so high, and it’s almost a blessing that we can __________ forget that she has cancer,” Marc said.

In 2019, Nicoleau earned her master’s degree in nursing and she also developed the idea for a(n) __________. Through her efforts, Nicoleau became the owner of Be Totally Well, a health center in East Meadow.

Her faith and her family’s support have helped her make it to __________ the tough times. “I wanted to set a(n) __________ for my kids, so one day they can say, ‘Mommy did everything __________,’ and __________ them to do better for themselves,” Nicoleau said.

Nicoleau, a woman who realizes her dreams despite __________ diagnosis, is an inspiring reminder of the __________everyday women make as mothers, business __________ and much more.

1.

A．avoid

B．cross

C．reach

D．build

2.

A．helpless

B．relieved

C．anxious

D．sick

3.

A．exam

B．visit

C．operation

D．reservation

4.

A．restored

B．improved

C．recovered

D．progressed

5.

A．within reach

B．out of place

C．on the way

D．beyond doubt

6.

A．nursing

B．medicine

C．psychology

D．economics

7.

A．diagnosis

B．glimpse

C．suggestion

D．introduction

8.

A．fearful

B．modest

C．positive

D．cautious

9.

A．guilt

B．urgency

C．loss

D．responsibility

10.

A．managed

B．applied

C．pretended

D．decided

11.

A．grades

B．voices

C．spirits

D．salaries

12.

A．evidently

B．occasionally

C．purposely

D．carelessly

13.

A．cure

B．business

C．apartment

D．charity

14.

A．forget about

B．set aside

C．get through

D．reflect on

15.

A．word

B．promise

C．note

D．example

16.

A．heartily

B．mercifully

C．casually

D．gratefully

17.

A．persuade

B．motivate

C．advise

D．allow

18.

A．depressing

B．accurate

C．wrong

D．timely

19.

A．profits

B．appointments

C．contributions

D．comments

20.

A．customers

B．losers

C．partners

D．owners

7 . When Amelia thinks about her freshman year two years ago, she remembers being tardy to her 8 a.m. first period class from time to time. “It was so hard to wake up in the morning,” she said. “I had to bike to school and I lived on the other side of the island.”

Like other teens, mornings area struggle because she had several hours of homework and extracurricular activities the night before, but research shows that’s not the entire story. According to psychotherapists, Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright in their book Generation Sleepless, today's teens are sleepier than ever and earlier school start time is disturbing their body's circadian (昼夜节律的) rhythm.

“One of the things that happens somewhere around age 12 is that their brain clock becomes set to a later pace,” said Turgeon, which put sateen about two hours behind the sleep schedule of a young child or an adult. “That means they want to go to sleep later and they want to wake up later,” she said.

“We consider adequate sleep —the very lowest amount—to be about eight hours,” said Wright. However, the average sleep time for high school students is usually about 6.5 hours. And missing out on just a couple hours of rest each night has negative consequences for developing teenage brains.

When a teen is tired, the amygdala—which is the part of the brain that responds to danger—will become more active. And the parts of the brain that are in charge of judgment become less active. Sleep issues are commonly associated with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (双相情感障碍) and ADHD (多动症). “We see teens with very serious mental health issues and accidents and soon things that parents really worry about—and getting enough sleep addresses those issues.”

Even with research showing that letting students sleep well contributes to better academic performance, lower truancy (旷课) rates and improved mental health, there has been pushback from parents and school districts about delaying the start of the school day.

1. What does the underlined word “tardy” probably m can in paragraph 1?

A．Late.

B．Busy.

C．Tired.

D．Excited.

2. What do we know about the kids aged about 12 according to Turgeon?

A．They feel more tired than ever	B．They sleep later and wakeup later.
C．They have about 6.5 hours of sleep	D．They sleep about two hours later than adults.

3. What docs the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The teens are always feeling tired

B．The amygdala becomes more active.

C．The lack of sleep causes many problems.

D．The teenagers have trouble sleeping

4. What maybe the author's attitude to later school start time?

A．Favorable

B．Doubtful

C．Ambiguous.

D．Disapproving

8 . Movies we can’t wait to see

American Hustle (December 18)

What it’s about: Pulling inspiration from the FBI’s Abscam operation of the late 1970s, American Hustle is a good combination of criminals and the law in an effort to find out corrupt (腐败的) politicians.

Who it stars: A cast doesn’t get much better than this: Bradley Cooper (Richie DiMaso); Christian Bale (Irving Rosenfeld); Amy Adams (Sydney Prosser); Jeremy Renner (politician Carmine Polito); and Jenifer Lawrence (rving’s wife Rosalyn).

The comments: With so many attractive names, American Hustle looks to be all but a success with audiences and critics.

Inside Llewyn Davis December 20)

What it’s about: In the folk sccne of Greenwich Village in 1961, a musician by the name of Llewyn Davis is struggling to make something of his career. The film is in memory of him and his music.

Who it stars: Oscar Issac (Llewyn Davis); John Goodman; Garrett Hedlund; Justin Timberlake; and Carey Mulligan. The comments: Ethan and Joel Coen wrote and directed this humorous drama, and T Bone Burmett executive produced the music, which plays an important part in the film.

Saving Mr. Banks (December 20)

What it’s about: Saving Mr Banks records a true story about Walt Disney’s persistent persuasion of P.IL. Travers (the author of the novel Mary Poppins) that finally led to the famous novel being turned into a movie.

Who it stars: Tom Hanks (Walt Disney); Emma Thompson (P.L. Travers); Culin Farre; Paol Giamatti and Bradley Whitford. The comments: Directed by John Lee Hancock, critics have praised a lot the performances of Hanks and Thompson.

The Wolf of Wall Street December(25)

What it’s about: In the 1990s, stockbroker Jordan Belfort was living an extremely rich life won from his tricky plan- that is, until his plan began to fail and resulted in his arrest.

Who it stars: Adapted from Belfort’s autobiography (自传) and directed by Martin Scorsese, with Leonardo DiCaprio as the“wolf“ himself, it also stars Jonah Hill; Margot Robbie; P.J. Bymne and JonFavreau.

The comments: The movie’s release recently caused a heated discussion when it looked like it was going to drop off the year calendar; thankfully, Paramount is sill trying to meet the December 25release date. It is still in doubt, but we are all waiting to see the film during Christmas with high expectation.

1. Who is the main character in the film Saving Mr. Banks?

A．Leonardo DiCaprio.

B．Tom Hanks.

C．Llewyn Davis.

D．Walt Disney.

2. What do the four films have in common?

A．They are all humorous films.

B．They all tell true stories about famous people or incidents.

C．They are all adapted from popular novels or autobiographies.

D．They are all bound to release around Christmas.

3. W here can you find the passage?

A．A book review.

B．A guidebook for tourists.

C．A science report.

D．An entertainment magazine.

9 . 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。

Team China bagged a total of 383 medals, including 201 gold, 111 silver and 71 bronze,     1    (rank) first in the medal tally (奖牌榜) during the 19th Asian Games,     2     concluded competitions on Sunday.

The first gold of the Games was awarded       3     China’s Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping, who paddled to victory in the women’s lightweight double sculls (双桨赛艇) rowing event with a time of 7 minutes, 6.78 seconds. China’s last gold       4    (take) by 10 artistic swimmers who delivered a great     5     (perform) to win the team free routine final on October 8. In total, China bagged two gold medals in artistic swimming. Japan and Kazakhstan took the silver and bronze medals,     6     (respective), in the two events of the sport.

The 19th Asian Games, which featured 40 sports, 61 disciplines, and 481 events,     7     (run) from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, along with five co-host     8     (city), namely Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing, and Jinhua, in east China’s Zhejiang Province.

Chinese swimmers Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang were jointly awarded the Most    9     (value) Player of the Hangzhou Asian Games, marking the first time that two athletes received     10    award.

10 . Do you have frightening dreams while sleeping? According to an email interview by clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, roughly 5 percent of the general population has at least one bad dream per week. Nightmares typically happen during REM sleep, during the middle and later parts of the night.

There is no exact explanation for nightmares, but Breus says it’s possible that they help the brain practise, prepare for and even predict difficult or dangerous experiences in waking life. Of course, it’s possible that nightmares, like dreams in general, don’t have a primary function — that they’re a by-product of other activities in the body. But most sleep scientists think that dreams and nightmares exist for some purposes.

One study found the most common nightmare was falling, followed by dreams of being chased, feeling lost, and feeling trapped. Then why do nightmares happen?

“Certain circumstances and characteristics make some people more likely to have nightmares than others,” says sleep medicine specialist Dr. Barry Krakow. He thinks people who’ve been traumatized (使受精神创伤) are certainly at a higher risk of nightmares Examples are offered of those who have suffered criminal attacks, or who have been in life-threatening accidents. People with some degree of sensitivity in their biological make-up are also more likely to have bad dreams, so they’re more common in people who suffer from anxiety or depression, or who use excess drugs or alcohol. The traditional belief often has it that nightmares are the result of eating too much rich food before bedtime, but it is still uncertain whether this is true. One study from 2015 did find a link between eating dairy or hot foods before bedtime and having disturbing dreams, but the study authors noted that this couldn’t be proven definitely because the data was self-reported and there were a lot of other factors to consider.

However, research in recent decades has shown that people who suffer from sleep disorders are also more likely to have nightmares.

1. What may Dr. Breus agree with about nightmares?

A．They happen for certain purposes.	B．They are similar to daydreams.
C．They possibly help predict future events.	D．They come true once in a while.

2. Who does Dr. Krakow think tends to suffer nightmares?

A．John who often stays up late.	B．Peter who has had terrible experiences.
C．Jack who is sensitive to alcohol.	D．Paul who sleeps soundly at night.

3. How does the traditional belief explain nightmares?

A．They are often caused by irregular bedtimes.

B．They are based on disturbing life experiences.

C．They are the consequence of negative feelings.

D．They are related to what is taken before bedtime.

4. From which section of a website is the text probably taken?

A．Mental health.

B．Life experiences.

C．Eating habits.

D．Popular culture.