1 . Shrewsbury is an ideal getaway with visitors.

Shrewsbury eBike Hire
BEST FOR: SEEING THE SIGHTS AT A GENTLE PACE

Set off on a self-guided tour of Shrewsbury on one of the town’s new e-bikes. The route is easy to follow with lots of stops along the way, including the Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and the Victorian-era Shrewsbury Prison. It’s most suitable for ages 14-plus.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
BEST FOR: INSPIRING ARCHITECTS

This was the world’s first iron-shaped building when it was built in 1797-a forerunner of the modern skyscraper (摩天大楼). A new visitor centre opened in September-it’s also the end point of the Heritage Trail e-bike tour. An exhibition explores how the building has grown and been repurposed over the years.

Shrewsbury Market Hall
BEST FOR: FOOD AND SHOPPING

Situated in the centre of town, this was an innovative example of modern architecture when it opened in 1965. Recent upgrades mean it’s now home to more than 70 independent businesses, including traditional market stands, artisan producers, craft shops and antique dealers.

Riverside Cabins
BEST FOR: QUIET STAYS

Opened in 2020, Riverside Cabins is a rural collection of wooden cottages built in18th century, a 20-minute drive from Shrewsbury. Cabins sleep between two and six guests and each come with their own hot baths, as well as Wi-Fi and smart TVs. Try your hand at boating along the river, with equipment available to borrow on site. From £ 135 for a minimum of two nights for a family of four.

1. What is an advantage of e-bike tours?

A．They organize architecture lessons.

B．They provide professional guides.

C．They offer a relaxing way of travelling.

D．They are accessible to all ages.

2. Which best suits a family tour?

A．Shrewsbury eBike Hire.	B．Riverside Cabins.
C．Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.	D．Shrewsbury Market Hall.

3. Shrewsbury is made an attraction probably because of its_________________.

A．history

B．food

C．transport

D．fashion

2 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration ________ .

It was a _______ summer camp ping pong tournament where I was not only down I set, but 7 points behind my opponent (对手), who had only 3 points left to ________ the set, and the tournament. For a comeback, I had to win at least 10 points, without making ________ !

Facing the desperate situation, I could ________ it a day and let my opponent win. Perhaps my opponent had already focused on the ________, but failure wasn’t an option! Thus, I ________ it out, hoping for the best. I told myself, “Let’s just try and win the next point, nothing else.” ________ deep, I stared at the ball with a clear mindset and keen ________. I took it, hit it back and scored!

5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly ________ and made mistakes. Point by point I was getting closer to being even.7-8. I was one point away from doing the ________. My mouth was shut and my eyes stayed ________ the entire set. He made another error. 8-8. The comeback was complete. The crowd went ________! Winning the next 3 points, I managed to win that set. In the last set, my opponent turned restless again. ________ the flow, I ended up winning the final set, and the tournament.

Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can _______ how to react. Don’t be there, where you are not. Instead, be here and now! Stay in flow! Be concentrated!

1.

A．limits

B．decreases

C．heightens

D．changes

2.

A．tough

B．competitive

C．crazy

D．close

3.

A．lose

B．win

C．tie

D．restart

4.

A．adjustments

B．reservations

C．efforts

D．mistakes

5.

A．call

B．make

C．leave

D．take

6.

A．defense

B．attack

C．celebration

D．relief

7.

A．figured

B．tried

C．pointed

D．stuck

8.

A．Sighing

B．Breathing

C．Regretting

D．Struggling

9.

A．attention

B．interest

C．insight

D．appreciation

10.

A．confused

B．desperate

C．exhausted

D．uneasy

11.

A．right

B．impossible

C．opposite

D．previous

12.

A．swollen

B．bright

C．sharp

D．bloodshot

13.

A．wild

B．silent

C．mad

D．deaf

14.

A．Going against

B．Cutting off

C．Holding to

D．Recovering from

15.

A．wonder

B．determine

C．predict

D．consider

3 . When it comes to high-proof fathering lessons, few adventures can compare with the motorcycle trip I shared with my 20-year-old daughter Ewa.

In 2023, we _________ a one-week motorcycle trip in the southern part of British Columbia. Each _________ a motorcycle, we headed north on the Sea-to-Sky highway. What made this trip so _________ was that Ewa took it on herself to be the planner. We didn’t even have a _________ about it. As a father, wasn’t I supposed to plan it?

My old Harley had no gas gauge (汽油表). So, when the main gas tank was empty, the motorcycle _________. After all, these years I hadn’t known whether I would _________ it. But on the first day of our annual trip, when we were on a lonely highway leading to the US border in Sagna, Ontario, it came to a _________ after some time.

Ewa headed into the distance_________ that she was riding alone. When she _________ noticed that I wasn’t in her rearview (后视镜) mirror, she stopped and waited as I pushed my Harley to meet with her. In my adult life, while __________ children, I always followed my parents’ __________: I stood by and provided support. When Ewa __________ her own way of life, I seldom said ‘no’. But when she said she wanted to __________ with the out-of-fuel motorcycle on the side of the country road while I was going for gasoline, I said “no way”. I wouldn’t let her stay there on her own. She insisted, but I was very __________. Ewa finally __________ and went looking for gasoline with me.

I learn from the trip that however old my child is, I will never stop being a father.

1.

A．shared

B．started

C．expected

D．treasured

2.

A．riding

B．winning

C．testing

D．desiring

3.

A．long

B．simple

C．special

D．familiar

4.

A．request

B．debate

C．theme

D．conversation

5.

A．fell

B．slowed

C．began

D．continued

6.

A．claim

B．sell

C．use

D．check

7.

A．stop

B．conclusion

C．solution

D．decision

8.

A．unsure

B．unaware

C．considering

D．confirming

9.

A．fortunately

B．gradually

C．happily

D．eventually

10.

A．requiring

B．raising

C．comparing

D．accompanying

11.

A．heart

B．talent

C．comment

D．lead

12.

A．found

B．seized

C．introduced

D．quit

13.

A．play

B．deal

C．assist

D．wait

14.

A．reliable

B．confident

C．firm

D．regretful

15.

A．gave in

B．turned up

C．got through

D．broke down

4 . The recent spread of “fake news” may make it seem like misinformation is a relatively modern invention. But falsehoods (假话) and wild claims have been part of human culture for about as long as it’s existed. This is because misinformation originates with, and is spread by, fellow humans.

When you’ve ever had to communicate an important, but complex, issue to a general audience, you may have a sea of the most reliable data, the most elegant PowerPoint slides and the full backing of every famous expert in the relevant field. And yet, you can still be less persuasive than someone whose entire argument is: “A guy I met down the pub told me something different.”

In a perfectly sensible, logical world, someone who is loosely connected with a certain field or industry wouldn’t have the same influence as actual data, or the leading experts in the field. But humans aren’t perfectly sensible, logical creatures and neither is the world we live in.

The ability to think rationally and analytically is a relatively recent addition to our mental abilities (in the evolutionary sense). And it costs our brains a lot of energy and effort, The more established, fundamental systems in our brain, which shape memory and learning, are heavily reliant on emotion. The more emotionally stimulating something is, the easier it is to remember. That’s why we can spend months revising the material for a crucial school exam, but struggle to remember any of it once we’ve passed. Meanwhile, the embarrassing tine we slipped and landed on our backside in the school canteen. that memory will last until our dying day.

The most determined sceptics (无神论者) will often say, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” which is correct. But feelings don’t necessarily care about facts either. And ultimately, feelings have more of a say in what we think and do. And that’s why your mate down the pub can seem more believable than a pile of published research.

1. What contributes to the spread of “fake news”?

A．People factor.	B．Human culture.
C．Modern invention.	D．Information accuracy.

2. Why did the general audiences think actual data less persuasive?

A．They prefer making sensible analyses.	B．They ae more likely to be emotional.
C．They have more trust in authority.	D．They overestimate themselves.

3. How does the author illustrate his idea in paragraph 4?

A．By listing figures.	B．By giving examples.
C．By explaining a concept.	D．By citing experts’ words.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To reveal secrets.	B．To share emotions.
C．To criticize a decision.	D．To describe a phenomenon.

5 . Since the mid-1990s, tourists have paid storm-chasers to take them to places in the American Great Plains where they expect to see tornadoes. Why, a reasonable follow-up question might go, would anyone want to get so close to something so disruptive? These tourists, a study found, characterized their relationship to severe weather as a “passion”, describing their feelings about tornadoes using words like “enjoyment”, “fascination” and “love”. Some people seem spiritually moved by tornadoes-one tourist called the storms “humbling” -but the main motivator seemed to be simple: Twisters are cool.

America has many more tornadoes than any other country, and its people have long regarded twisters with a mix of fear, awe and thrilled pleasure. Fast-moving and dramatic, tornadoes have been irresistible parts for popular entertainment. One needn’t be an extreme-weather enthusiast, however, to take a brief and far-less dangerous tour: of culture tornadoes have inspired and of the transformation of American society’s feelings about these storms from fear to excitement.

European colonists in the future United States were fascinated-and sometimes horrified-by their new land’s weather. In the Early Republic, the influence of romantic ideas about the terrible and wonderful power of nature became clearer in American tornado culture. Some people began to write about tornadoes in terms of awe, and to produce art that explored the phenomenon’s natural beauty, while also moralizing about its meaning. Since the 1930s, American tornadoes have been less deadly: the country has much better early-warning systems, fewer people live in rural areas and tornado activity has largely shifted from the southeast to the thinly-populated Great Plains.

Storm-chasing-a scientific, thrill-seeking activity that most Americans found out about via the1996 blockbuster film Twister, is still incomprehensible to many who don’t practice it. “I find it difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t chased what forces us to seek pleasure from risk,” wrote Jennifer Henderson, a scholar and crazy storm-chaser, characterizing her feelings while chasing as “a sense of exposure and revelation tightly coupled”.

1. What does the underlined word “disruptive” in the first paragraph mean?

A．Amazing.

B．Ruinous.

C．Costly.

D．Sensitive.

2. What do we learn about tornadoes in America?

A．They are small and have a slower moving speed.

B．They tend to be less common in American history.

C．They have aroused interest in weather tours in America.

D．The American people have suffered less damage from them.

3. Why did the harm of tornadoes in America decrease in paragraph3?

A．The population of America was declining gradually.

B．There was no tornado activity in the southeastern America.

C．America has made greater progress in natural disaster warning.

D．The natural environment in tornado areas has been damaged.

4. What is the best title of the article?

A．The thrill of storm chasing	B．The tour of watching tornadoes
C．The formation of tornadoes	D．A unique phenomenon in nature

7 . In a world driven by technological advancements, event professionals are accepting the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to push the boundaries of what is possible in the area of event planning and execution (执行). From attracting designs and personalized experiences to streamlined operations and data-driven insights, AI is emerging as a transformative force, letting event organizers to create extraordinary moments that leave attendees impressive.

I didn’t write the introduction paragraph. Chat GPT did, in response to the request: Can you help me write an introduction to an article that features different ways professionals use AI for events? If you’re using a generative AI tool to help you write session descriptions, marketing messages, or social-media posts, you may recognize that distinctive over-the-top tone.

But the hype (炒作) about AI itself is not overblown: McKinsey &. Company’s recent The Economic Potential of Generative AI report estimates that generative AI has the potential to generate $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion in value across industries.

We could cite all kinds of statistics about generative Al’s impact on knowledge work. explore its gloomy side, like the ethical (道德的) influences of the technology on society, or go the other way and publish mind-blowing predictions of its future use. We chose instead to focus on how the tool is being used by event professionals today in everyday and practical ways.

Not all of us are quick to accept AI, but we can’t afford to ignore it, either. And when it comes to its potential in the business world, McKinsey Senior Partner Lareina Yee seems to be speaking directly to the heart of our industry, “In general, workers can spend more time on the human connection and interaction aspects of their roles, which is something AI can’t take away.”

1. Why is Chat GPT mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．To stress the great function of AI.	B．To praise the author’s operation ability.
C．To prove the difficulty of writing.	D．To show the need of a generative AI tool.

2. What does the underlined word “gloomy” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Attractive.

B．Promising.

C．Single.

D．Dark.

3. What does Lareina Yee’s statement indicate?

A．Human connection is the core of an industry.

B．AI needs improving in human potentials.

C．AI can’t take over humans completely.

D．She is unconcerned about AI industry.

4. In which section of a newspaper does the text most probably appear?

A．Nature.

B．Technology.

C．Lifestyle.

D．Environment.

8 . 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。

March 8 is International Women’s Day. It’s a time to celebrate women’s achievements, demand equality and fight for basic rights and freedoms.

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March. It is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements     1     create positive changes for women and girls. All around the world, people are demanding gender equality and protesting about situations     2     women do not have basic rights and freedoms. International Women’s Day is a time to do this work together.

International Women’s Day started with a protest that     3     (take) place in New York City in 1908. Fifteen thousand women went out onto the streets to demand equal rights and working conditions.    4     particular, they wanted     5     (short) working hours, better pay and the right to vote.

At the International Conference of Working Women in Denmark in 1910, a woman     6     (call) Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an international day for women. Everyone agreed it was a good idea     7     (make) use of the same day every year to take action for women's rights. The first International Women’s Day happened the     8     (follow) year, in 1911.

    9     (general), people celebrate International Women’s Day in many different ways and for a     10     (various) of reasons, but a common goal is gender equality.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What will the competition try to find next year?

A．The best dancer.

B．The best actor.

C．The best singer.

2. When will the sports hall open this week?

A．At 10:30 am.

B．At 9:00 am.

C．At 8:00 am.

3. What can we learn about the swimming pool?

A．It will be free for the first week.

B．It will open earlier than expected.

C．It will be bigger than the old one.

4. Where does the conversation probably take place?

A．On a program.

B．In a gym.

C．At home.

10 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

On my son Andrew's 15th birthday, I took him to a shoe shop near our home in Toronto to get a pair of shoes. Andrew is nonspeaking autistic (自闭症) and prefers to go shopping when it's not busy.

Andrew got new shoes for his 15th birthday. As we headed toward the door, I told the sales assistants it was Andrew's 15th birthday today. "Happy birthday and have fun," the sales assistants replied.

Instead of having Andrew point to the "thank you" symbol on the picture chart he carried with him, I paused and held up his letterboard.

For ten years, we have carried around a picture chart, which Andrew uses to communicate. It contains images that match his most important and most used words: people, places, food, greetings and activities. Over the years, neighbourhood kids, friends, cousins and classmates have studied the pictures and the strips at the top of the chart that contain even more "representations" of Andrew's life.

Years ago, we discovered that Andrew could communicate more than his basic needs through the use of a letterboard—by pointing to individual letters on an alphabet grid (网格) to spell out words. It's a simple but profound tool. We have attached a letterboard to the back of his picture chart to spare us the trouble of carrying multiple charts and boards.

Using the letterboard requires significant time and effort for Andrew, but we persevere (坚持) because we know it gives him an opportunity to share more of who he is than what can be conveyed through basic pictures and words.

And so, instead of rushing out of the shoe shop door. I held up the letterboard and asked Andrew how he'd like to respond.

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。

After a moment of silent consideration, Andrew slowly pointed to the letters on the board.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On our way home, I thought a lot.

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