1 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.

Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.

These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.

So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.

1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?

A．About 9.6 hours.	B．About 12 hours.
C．About 15.9 hours.	D．About 21.2 hours.

2. What can we know from the new study?

A．Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids,

B．Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days.

C．Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education.

D．Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do.

3. How long did fathers with college education spend with kids a month before 1995?

A．About 4.5 hours.	B．Less than 9 hours.
C．About 13.5 hours.	D．About 18 hours.

4. What do kids care about according to the text?

A．They care about how much money their parents can make.

B．They care about how much time their parents spend with them.

C．They care if their parents are really with them.

D．They care if their parents can give them a better life.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where was the woman when the accident happened?

A．At a bus stop.

B．At a restaurant.

C．At a store.

2. When did the accident happen?

A．Around 1:00 p.m.

B．Around 1:10 p.m.

C．Around 1:15 p.m.

3. What does the woman say about the car?

A．It moved fast.

B．It crashed into a walker.

C．It was brought to a sudden stop.

4. What is the man probably?

A．A doctor.

B．A reporter.

C．A policeman.

3 . He had run for 208 hours and 35 minutes in ten days. So, when Pan Junfan managed to cross the finish line in Guazhou, Gansu Province, on Sept. 18, the tears began to flow.

The 513 kilometers he had completed over rough terrain (地形)in northwestern China would challenge the greatest athletes in the world. The challenge was all the greater for Pan, who pulled off the remarkable feat (功绩) after having part of his right leg amputated (截肢) following a car accident in 2015.

Pan’s challenge was originally the Ultra Gobi, which is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many marathon runners. Unfortunately, the 400-km race was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. After careful consideration, Pan contacted the race’s organizers and they agreed to reschedule the route and allow him to undertake solo challenge.

During the challenge through the Gobi Desert and the Altun Mountains, the 40-year-ad faced temperatures ranging from—20℃ at right to 30°C by day, wild animals and even a hurricane. Carrying a backpack containing the hare minimum of equipment he would need, Pan battled sleep deprivation(缺乏) and very low body temperature during the journey.

Beginning from the “Mars Camp”in Qinghai Province, the ultra extreme course was expanded to more than 500 km over sand dunes (沙丘), dry valleys, stony plateaus and snowy mountains, finishing in Guazhou.

“I hope that by completing the challenge I can inspire people and tell them that life has limitless possibilities and not to stop trying,” Pan said.

In the last few years, Pan has established a dozen firsts for below-the-knee amputees (被截肢者). These included completing the 2018Ironman 70. 3 Xiamen’s 113 km triathlon (铁人三项) in 7 hours and 26 minutes, finishing the Gangshika Xtrial’s 100 km race in 27 hours and 40 minutes, and successfully conquering the Ironman Western Australia in 2019 which involves swimming for 3. 8 km, cycling for180 km and running for 42. 2 km.   As a result, he has been dubbed “the Chinese blade runner”.

1. When did Pan Junfan start his 513-kilometer challenging race?

A．On Sept. 3.

B．On Sept. 9.

C．On Sept. 15.

D．On Sept. 19.

2. What happened to Pan Junfan in 2015?

A．He had part of his left leg removed.	B．He established a hi-tech company.
C．He was involved in a traffic accident	D．He participated in the Ironman Australia.

3. Which of the following difficulties did Pan Junfan meet during the journey?

A．Losing touch with his team.	B．Getting lost in the desert.
C．Having a high fever.	D．Lacking enough sleep.

4. Which of the words can be used to best describe Pan Junfan?

A．Strong-willed.

B．Warm-hearted.

C．Quick-minded.

D．Cold-blooded.

4 . With over 70% of the country blanketed in forest, Bhutan is rich in outdoor activities and charming villages that showcase a distinctive culture found nowhere else on the Earth. Here are our picks for the best places to add to your Bhutan traveling list.

Paro

Less than 10 minutes away from the airport, the historic riverside town of Paro is known for the National Museum, Rinpung Dzong and symbolic Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Wander along Paro’s streets and the Paro Weekend Market to explore shops and stands offering handmade souvenirs. When you’ve worked up an appetite, step into any restaurant for fresh, handmade momo dumplings.

Thimphu

In Bhutan’s capital city, spend the day creating your own stamps at the Bhutan Postal Museum, touring the massive Thimphu’s museums and watching policemen manually direct traffic(there are no traffic lights in the entire city). When the sun sets below the mountains, enjoy yourself at bars like Grey Area, a popular art bar with live music where you can shout “tashi delek!”, a Xizang’s expression for good luck and health.

Punakha

Beloved for riverside farms where cows eat among rice and pepper fields, Punakha is home to what is its most beautiful temple, which sits along the Punakha River. Punakha’s low altitude means it tends to be hotter and sunnier than nearby towns and districts, which means you’ll need to take precautions to avoid sunburn.

Khoma

Fashion lovers can expect to visit behind the curtain in Bhutan’s textile center, Khoma. In the eastern district of Lhuentse, this village is home to roughly 1,000 residents—and few cars. Khoma’s artisans spend their days weaving delicate patterns and designs on traditional Bhutanese looms (织布机), creating colors from the area’s minerals and plants.

1. What is recommended for visitors traveling in Thimphu?

A．Acting as a policeman.	B．Enjoying the nightlife.
C．Purchasing ancient stamps.	D．Trying handmade dumplings.

2. What should visitors carry while traveling in Punakha?

A．Food.

B．Life jackets.

C．Sunblock.

D．Warming clothing.

3. Which attraction best suits tourists who are interested in traditional crafts?

A．Paro.

B．Thimphu.

C．Punakha.

D．Khoma.

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

A．Attending a lecture.

B．Conducting an interview.

C．Holding a press conference.

2. What has the woman been planning to do?

A．Take photography classes in an art school.

B．Work as a photographer in the future.

C．Do multiple jobs at the same time.

3. What does a National Geographic kind of photographer do?

A．Develop photos of different colors and sizes.

B．Host photographic exhibitions to make money.

C．Present geographic features by photographing in various places.

4. What is the most important thing for commercial shooting?

A．To follow some set routines.

B．To satisfy the needs of customers.

C．To express the voices of some people.

6 . Imagine taking a flying taxi to the airport, or hopping over crowded city streets at rush hour, getting where you want to go far faster than you could in a car. Believe it or not, you might be able to do these things in an electric air taxi sooner than you think.

An air taxi is a small aircraft that can carry people from place to place. Air taxis don’t need a long runway like planes do. They can go straight up and down, like a helicopter.

In June, the FAA—the government group in charge of America’s skies—agreed to allow a company called Joby Aviation to start testing their new air taxi.

Joby has been making and testing flying taxis since 2017. But this is the first time that they’re testing a taxi that’s been built in a factory. Before that, all their taxis were made by hand.

By 2025, Joby hopes to start carrying passengers for money. They’ve teamed up with Delta Air Lines to create a program to fly people from their homes to the airport. Joby also expects their air taxis to provide a ride-sharing service in the air. Just like you might use an app to order a car to pick you up, you could use an app to order an air taxi.

Compared with helicopters, Joby claims their taxis are cheaper. The company expects to charge about $3 a mile (1.6 kilometers) at first. But over time, they hope to bring the price down to less than $1 per mile.

Joby isn’t the only company to develop air taxis. Companies around the world are working on similar vehicles. France even plans to use a few air taxis in Paris during next summer’s Olympic Games.

But there’s still a lot to do before air taxis become common. For one thing, governments need to make rules about where, when, and how these taxis can fly.

Still, it seems likely that air taxis will be part of the future of travel. The FAA says, “We could see air taxis in the skies by 2024 or 2025.”

1. What do the underlined words “hopping over” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Moving below.

B．Walking across.

C．Jumping into.

D．Flying over.

2. What can we know about Joby’s air taxis?

A．They are factory-made from the start.

B．They were developed several years ago.

C．They will offer service to passengers through the FAA.

D．They will be used during the next Olympic Games in Paris.

3. What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?

A．Joby’s plan about air taxis.	B．The history of Joby Aviation.
C．Air taxi team’s service promises.	D．Instructions for using a new app.

4. In what way are air taxis better than helicopters?

A．They are more comfortable.	B．They are more intelligent.
C．They are cheaper.	D．They are faster.

7 . 语法填空

The good news is that we can change, if we understand     1     habits work. To facilitate     2     positive change in our bad habits, we must first examine our bad habit cycles and then try to adapt them. We can do this by combining the information from our habit cycles     3     our own positive ideas. We can also use the habit cycle     4     (create) good habits.

8 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

My carriage     1     (drive) me through the night and all was in thick darkness when I reached my home town. By then the city gates were locked so I was not able to go straight to the house. I therefore decided to walk out and see for myself the fateful spot     2     poor William had died. As I walked, thunder rumbled and rain began to fall in heavy drops. When I reached the place, the storm was at its fiercest and the countryside was lit up by wild flashes of lightning. With the rain     3     (stream) down my face, I clasped my hands together and looked up into the darkness.

9 . When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to save the world and make everyone happy. But I knew that I’d need superpowers to make my dreams come true. So I used to embark on these imaginary journeys to find intergalactic (星系之间的) objects from planet Krypton, but didn’t yield much result. When I grew up and realized that science fiction was not a good source for superpowers, I decided instead to embark on a journey of real science, to find a more useful truth.

I started my journey in California, with a UC Berkeley 30-year longitudinal study that examined the photos of students in an old yearbook, and tried to measure their success and well-being throughout their life.By measuring the students’ smiles, researchers were able to predict how fulfilling and long-lasting a subject’s marriage would be, how well they would score on standardized tests of well-being, and how inspiring they would be to others.

Another aha moment came from a 2010 Wayne State University span research project that looked into pre-1950s baseball cards of Major League players. The researchers found that the span of a player’s smile could actually assist to predict the span of his life. Players who didn’t smile in their pictures lived an average of only 72.9 years, while players with beaming smiles lived an average of almost 80 years.

British researchers found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate. Wait — The same study found that smiling is as stimulating as receiving up to £16,000 in cash. That’s like $25,000 a smile. It’s not bad. And think about it this way: 25,000 times 400 — children smile as many as 400 times per day — quite a few kids out there feel like Mark Zuckerberg every day.

So whenever you want to tap into a superpower that will help you and everyone around you live a longer, healthier, happier life, smile.

1. Why did the author shift to pursuing scientific research?

A．Because he discovered galactic objects during childhood.

B．Because he realized sci-fi couldn’t bring superpowers.

C．Because he dreamed of global happiness since youth.

D．Because he embarked on these fictional journeys.

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Every child smiles 400 times per day.

B．Kids who smile are as rich as Zukerberg.

C．Smiling is equal to eating 2,000 bars of chocolate.

D．Smiling can gain stimulation alike receiving cash.

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards the effect of smiles on people?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Neutral.

D．Indifferent.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The journey to find the truth.

B．The hidden power of smiling.

C．The secret to a long and healthy life.

D．The significance of superhero studies.

10 . “My Story of Chinese Hanzi” International Competition Kicked off

The 2023 “My Story of Chinese Hanzi” international competition kicked off on June 12, 2023. This year’s theme is “Homeland”. We invite people to participate and share stories of exchanges, understanding and friendship among civilizations.

Who can participate in the competition?

Foreigners who work, live or study in China and neither they nor their parents speak Chinese as their mother tongue. Foreigners residing overseas who are also non-native speakers of Chinese.

How will the competition be held?

The competition consists of an online preliminary round, online semi-finals and offline finals. The online preliminary round includes two parts. Contestants (竞争者) will answer questions online. Upon completing the questions, they will be directed to a new page where they should write their favorite Chinese character. A poster image showcasing their handwritten Chinese character will be generated to share on WeChat. They must send a one-minute self-introduction video. The video should meet the following criteria: Format: MP4; Quality: 1080p; Duration: Not longer than one minute. The top 40 contestants will advance to the semi-finals. In the second round, contestants will participate in a video conversation where they will each take turns speaking on the spot. The top 10 contestants with the highest scores will advance to the finals.

At the finals, the finalists will each deliver a seven-minute speech. Judges will evaluate and score the speeches based on several criteria: the core message, their expressiveness, their proficiency (熟练) in the Chinese language and the effectiveness of their speeches in promoting cross-cultural understanding. These scores will be used to determine the final champion and other awards.

Awards

Each winner will receive a certificate, a souvenir and a cash prize that could be as high as 10,000 yuan. There will be a special award for the champion of the overseas competition zone.

1. Who can take part in the competition?

A．A Chinese student studying overseas.

B．A foreigner speaking Chinese as his native language.

C．A foreign student whose parents are Chinese-speaking.

D．A foreigner working in China not using Chinese as his mother tongue.

2. Which is one of the criteria to evaluate speeches at the finals?

A．The background of the story.	B．The main idea the story conveys.
C．The participants’ pronunciation.	D．The participants’ enthusiasm.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To educate.

B．To advertise.

C．To introduce.

D．To advise.