1 . Utah business owner Ed Wertz was looking for a way to stay active after his gym closed early in the pandemic. His wife suggested they try pickleball for a date night one evening. “We’ve played two to three times a week ever since,” the 7l-year-old says.
The couple joins more than 36 million Americans playing what has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States for three consecutive(连续的) years. “In a relatively short time, pickleball has already reached the levels of running, basketball and golf in popularity and the wide age range of people now playing indicates its growth will likely continue,” says Jim Edwards, a physical therapist and rehabilitation(康复) manager at Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation &. Sports Therapy in Ohio.
Originating in the United States in 1965, pickleball is a racquet(球拍) sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Played either one on one or two on two on a 20×44-foot court, players use a solid paddle to hit a hollow, perforated(穿孔的)plastic ball back and forth over a net.
As fun as participants say pickleball is to play, the sport’s primary benefit may be that it’s good for the body and mind. “Pickleball truly is a whole-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, assists with weight loss, and can help with balance, coordination, and flexibility,” says Matthew Anastasi, a physician and sports medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic. “It also provides a great opportunity for socialization and can reduce stress and provide mental health benefits.”
The sport was once thought of as a leisurely backyard activity for seniors and retirees, but data shows the average age of participants is now 35—with younger and younger players joining every year. “We now have people of all ages engaging in it, including celebrities like Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Billie Eilish,” says Emily Hemendinger, a psychiatrist and outpatient clinical director at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Even star athletes like Patrick Mahomes, Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Tom Brady have publicly shown their love of the sport.
1. Which sports has pickleball matched in terms of popularity?| A．Football and basketball. | B．Baseball and soccer. |
| C．Running, basketball and golf. | D．Swimming and track and field. |
| A．It is primarily played in backyards. |
| B．Only elderly people enjoy playing it. |
| C．It requires expensive equipment to play. |
| D．It has become more and more popular among younger people. |
| A．Positive. | B．Worried. | C．Indifferent. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．Ed Wertz: Pickleball Pioneer at 71 |
| B．Pickleball: The New National Pastime |
| C．Pickleball: Americn’s Fastest-Growing Sport |
| D．Sporting Trends: Pickleball Sweeps Across America |
2 . It might sound like magic, but in February, a paralyzed (瘫痪的) patient was able to drink water on his own by controlling a special glove with his brain. The glove then acted as his hand. This was a success in brain-machine interface (BMI, 脑机接口) technology made by a team of Chinese scientists and doctors.
BMI refers to creating a connection between the human brain and external devices (外部设备), making communication between the brain and computers. For paralyzed people, BMI can allow them to move and do simple things by themselves.
On Oct 24, 2023, the team put a BMI chip (芯片) in the patient’s head. The chip can receive neural signals (神经信号) from the brain.
After three months of home recovery (康复) training, the patient can now use his brain signals to control a special glove powered by air pressure. This helps him do things like drinking water independently.
BMI technology usually means putting chips directly onto the patient’s brain. However, this project is minimally invasive (微创的), making sure the patient’s brain is not harmed. So it is an important breakthrough. It also uses a wireless power supply (无线电源), so the implanted (植入的) device doesn’t need a battery (电池)
Li Yuanning from ShanghaiTech University told CCTV News that BMT is now mainly used in the medical field to improve the lives of people with brain-related problems or speech difficulties.
In China, BMI technology is still in the early stages of research, with no products on the market yet. Some people are worried that tests may influence patients’ independence and even who they are. Ethical concerns (伦理问题) related to BMI also need to be addressed. These include whether the patient has a clear understanding of what is going on when they agree to take part in the test.
1. What is China’s recent success in BMI?| A．A BMI chip was successfully put into a patient’s brain. |
| B．BMI helped a paralyzed patient drink water on his own. |
| C．A paralyzed patient can move freely with a BMI chip. |
| D．A paralyzed patient can communicate with computers. |
| A．A BMI chip. | B．A neural signal. |
| C．The brain. | D．An air pressure-powered glove. |
| A．mistake. | B．achievement. | C．experiment. | D．creation. |
| A．It doesn’t harm patients’ brains. | B．It doesn’t need any power. |
| C．It understands patients’ needs correctly | D．It helps people improve their speech skills |
| A．Many people are against BMI technology. | B．The tests of BMI are at high risk of failure |
| C．BMI technology is widely used in the medical field. | D．BMI technology is still under development. |
3 . Why do I travel? Why do people travel? These questions have
Travel for me has always been more than just the
Travel sparked my curiosity and led to a new
Travel has made me a better person. It is a vital source of inspiration and answers to life’s challenges. When it comes to travel, the sky is the
| A．inspired | B．challenged | C．puzzled | D．guided |
| A．naturally | B．especially | C．consequently | D．typically |
| A．event | B．situation | C．decision | D．topic |
| A．success | B．effort | C．reward | D．journey |
| A．addressed | B．served | C．combined | D．practiced |
| A．unhappy | B．satisfied | C．impressed | D．thrilled |
| A．celebration | B．adventure | C．escape | D．taste |
| A．break away from | B．make up for | C．take care of | D．catch up with |
| A．flights | B．standards | C．skills | D．destinations |
| A．career | B．place | C．level | D．understanding |
| A．Travelling | B．Blogging | C．Storytelling | D．Surfing |
| A．apply | B．abandon | C．present | D．develop |
| A．adventurous | B．imaginative | C．leading | D．curious |
| A．like- minded | B．warm- hearted | C．strong- willed | D．good- natured |
| A．dream | B．limit | C．adventure | D．path |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．The supply distribution. |
| B．The city marathon. |
| C．The changeable weather. |
| A．Around 10:00. | B．Around 8:00. | C．Around 12:00. |
| A．Windy. | B．Sunny. | C．Cloudy. |
| A．Work as a volunteer. | B．Run a race. | C．Join the law office. |
The 2024 Spring Festival Gala official mascot (吉祥物), “Loong Chenchen,”
The name “Loong Chenchen” contains the Chinese character “Loong,”
To say that I was shy was an understatement — I was basically afraid of people. Kids or adults, everyone made me nervous. I was also thought to be a “good kid”. I followed the rules and rarely questioned authority. But then one day, one single ride on a school bus changed all that.
The school bus that day was crowded and smelly. The windows were all rolled up because it was raining too hard to have them down. Most kids were engaged in conversations, arguments and games. Then the bus stopped, waiting for an accident to clear. The driver was particularly tense that day and had shouted at several kids who had been standing up in their seats, screaming or making faces at drivers in passing cars.
I sat alone as usual, speaking to no one and looking through the window. The road outside looked like a flooded stream. I could make out tree branches, bags, even an umbrella washing down the road. Then, I saw a cat struggling in the water. It was holding on to the slippery metal bars covering the storm drain (排水沟) in the street, with half of its body drawn into the black hole of the drain.
I wanted to go and get the cat, but I knew that the bus driver, Mrs. Foster, would never allow me off the bus. It was against the rules to even stand up, so I would get into trouble. I wasn’t sure whether some of the kids would help the cat.
The bus began to move forward; the accident traffic was finally in motion. The cat’s eyes locked on to mine. It was begging for help. Although the bus was noisy, I seemed to have heard its terrified cry. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I felt like I was drowning along with the little cat. I glanced around, but no one else seemed to have noticed.
注意：1．续写词数应为150个左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When Mrs. Foster shouted at me to sit down, I was astonished to realize I had stood up.
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Without saying a word, Mrs. Foster opened the door and rushed out into the rain.
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7 . You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you falls down on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people keep on walking.
“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed,” says a psychologist, “In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that stop you from helping.
●Why should I be the one? I'm probably not the most able person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.
●What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.
●No one else looks concerned. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.
“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”
1. According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?| A．They will call 110. | B．They will offer help. |
| C．They will go on walking. | D．They will laugh at him. |
| A．I’m not the very capable person. |
| B．It looks like we should do something. |
| C．No one else is concerned. |
| D．He doesn’t really need my help. |
| A．we should call the ambulance as soon as we can |
| B．we should turn away in no time |
| C．we should stop and try to make other people help together |
| D．we should take on the whole responsibility |
| A．to give others a hand | B．to be more able |
| C．to explain their inaction | D．to evaluate the situation |
8 . Exercise needs differ from person to person due to a number of reasons.
Genetic (基因的) variability
Genes play a very big role in determining a person’s response to exercise.
Age
Personal goals
In between exercise
Activity levels between workouts will also influence a person’s exercise needs and how much they eat. If you’re in an active job, for example, you might not need as much exercise as someone who often sit. Recovery is also important, as this is where the majority of your gains are made.
Recognizing and accepting these differences is vital for tailoring effective and sustainable exercise programmes that meet a person’s needs.
| A．Not everyone wants to get faster or be stronger. |
| B．There are various ways to meet people’s needs. |
| C．So what are the factors that contribute to varying needs? |
| D．Motivation and stress level also affect your recovery often. |
| E．Exercise requirements change over the course of a person’s life. |
| F．Everyone has different recovery times, even after doing the same workout. |
| G．Gene influences factors such as muscle fiber composition and other capacities. |
9 . A real-world study by researchers at NTU Singapore has revealed that the application of cool paint coatings in cities can help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler, making the urban area more comfortable for work and leisure.
Cool paint coatings contain additives that reflect the sun’s heat to reduce surface heat absorption and emission. They have been regarded as a potential solution to cool down the urban area and combat the Urban Heat Island effect, a phenomenon in which urban areas experience warmer temperatures than their outlying surroundings.
Now, NTU researchers have conducted a pioneering real-world study to comprehensively evaluate how well cool paint coatings work in reducing city heat.
To carry out their real-world experiments, the NTU researchers selected four rectangular buildings that created two “street canyons” — narrow streets lined by buildings. One canyon, or “cool canyon” was coated with cool paints on the roofs, walls, and road pavement, while the other canyon remained as it was as a “control” for the experiment. Using environmental sensors, the NTU team monitored the conditions in the two canyons over two months, which included air movement, surface and air temperature, humidity, and radiation, to see how well the cool paint coatings worked in reducing city heat.
The researchers found that during a 24-hour cycle, the cool canyon saw up to a 30%reduction in heat released from the built-up surfaces, resulting in the air temperature in the cool canyon being cooler than the conventional canyon by up to 2°C during the hottest time of the day, at around 4 pm. As a result, pedestrians in the cool canyon can feel up to 1.5°C cooler. The NTU research team also found that air temperature in the cool canyon was lowered because less heat was absorbed by and stored in the building walls, roofs, and roads, which would subsequently have been released to either heat up the surrounding air or the building’s inside.
With global warming, people will increasingly look for ways to stay cool. The study shows how cool paint coatings can be a strategy to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect in future.
1. What is the function of paragraph 2?| A．To introduce the purpose of the study. | B．To illustrate the findings of the study. |
| C．To explain the theoretical base of the study. | D．To provide background information for the study. |
| A．To assess the effectiveness of cool paint coatings. |
| B．To investigate the effect of climate on urban areas. |
| C．To study the behavior of pedestrians in urban areas. |
| D．To analyze the impact of urbanization on the environment. |
| A．Increasing air quality levels. | B．Improving pedestrians’ comfort. |
| C．Enhancing surface heat absorption. | D．Saving energy consumption in winter. |
| A．The real-world study is a first of its kind study. |
| B．The cool paint coatings also have markets in rural areas. |
| C．The cool paint coatings have proved effective worldwide. |
| D．Many cutting-edge technologies are employed in the study. |
One young excellent person went to apply for a position in a big company. After he passed the first interview, the director did the last interview and made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth’s academic (学术的) achievements were excellent all the way, from high school to the postgraduate (研究生) research.
The director asked, “Did you get any scholarships in school?” The youth answered “No”. The director asked, “Was it your father who paid your school fees?” The youth answered, “My father passed away when I was one year old. It was my mother who paid my school fees.”
The director asked, “Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “My mother worked as a clothes cleaner.” The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
The director asked, “Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?” The youth answered, “Never. My mother always wanted me to study and read more books. What’s more, my mother can wash clothes faster than me”. The director said, “I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning”. The youth felt that his chance of getting a job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean his hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, and she showed her hands to the youth. The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. It was the first time that he had noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many cuts in her hands. Some cuts were so painful that his mother shivered (颤抖) when they were cleaned with water.
Paragraph 1: Tears streamed down his cheeks.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: The next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.
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