Yucun and Xidi, two villages in eastern China,
The village of Yucun, located in Anji County of east China's Zhejiang Province, is often referred to as a “beautiful town” as its
Xidi
2 . My future happiness
When I imagine my future, I see myself as an adult who is confident in my abilities, doing a job I love and living my life responsibly. When I grow up, I will be enjoying more convenience brought by the advances in technology, with more time to pursue hobbies and enjoy the company of family and friends.
I will feel the happiest in the future because I will learn more about life and develop into the best person I can be.
Thanks to new technology, my future life is sure to improve in various ways. Homes will become smarter to the extent that they might be programmed to learn about our needs and monitor our health and activity. I can imagine hearing an AI voice remind me to buy groceries or do more exercise! There will also be enormous advancements in transport options. I will be riding in a self-driving car, and other new means of transport may be developed in the future.
My development into a mature adult and access to advanced technology will provide me with more free-time opportunities.
| A．I might be able to ride a flying bike to quickly meet up with my friends. |
| B．I will become more knowledgeable about the world and myself. |
| C．When I think about the future, I realize my happiest days are still ahead of me. |
| D．For these reasons, I look forward to the future as the happiest moment in my life. |
| E．With less work-related stress, I will also have more time and energy to do volunteer projects. |
| F．The working day will be only four hours long thanks to robots. |
| G．Technological advances will guarantee that I will be in good health and find true happiness. |
Music is all around us. Music plays
Music
Why do so many people like music? Music can be a part of our identity — the set of qualities and
Chinese scientists have developed a kind of plastic that degrades in sea water and could help slow down the
The new plastic can degrade in sea water over a period ranging from a few days to several hundred days,
For a long time, people focused
Scientists combined water dissolution and biodegradation processes
The research
China has given top attention to
5 . Research on the effects of age on language learning often leads to claims that it’s impossible to learn a language after the age of 18, yet these claims lack scientific evidence. While certain language processing functions peak during childhood, others develop later, with some even experiencing a new growth between the ages of 50 and 75.
The definition of language learning and its goals also play a significant role. If the aim is to participate comfortably in daily social interactions, research suggests that fluency in a new language can be achieved at any age with sufficient study and exposure.
Learning a language at different stages of life comes with advantages and disadvantages. Starting before the age of 10 allows for the potential of acquiring a native-like accent. However, introducing a second language to children late in verbal(言语的)development may pose challenges.
Between the ages of 10 and 18, there is a unique opportunity to intuitively(直觉地)understand grammar and develop a comprehensive and unconscious understanding of a new language’s rules. Language acquisition during this period can also boost confidence and encourage a reflective attitude towards language changes.
Studying an additional language in adulthood involves more translation and a tendency to think in one’s native language first. Language anxiety and hesitation may also arise. However, adulthood offers advantages such as peak communication skills, literary knowledge, and socio-cultural understanding.
Learning a new language at the age of 50 and above may be advantageous in terms of certain mental skills that continue to improve until the mid-to-late 70s. This age group can quickly grasp the basics of a language, although more research is needed to confirm this theory.
In summary, learning a language is a lifelong process. While certain aspects may become more challenging with age, there is no age limit that makes language learning futile. Achieving an intermediate level in a target language can be rewarding, even if some mistakes are made. Starting early can enhance phonology and grammar skills, but continued exposure and usage throughout life are vital for becoming a comfortable speaker. Ultimately, it’s never too late to start or relearn a language.
1. In which situation can one achieve fluency in a new language at any age?| A．In grammar class. | B．In writing practice. |
| C．In vocabulary research. | D．In everyday communication. |
| A．Early learning delays children’s language development. |
| B．Learning during teenage years helps build up confidence. |
| C．Learners beyond fifty can gain literary knowledge quickly. |
| D．Learning in adulthood helps to acquire peak translation skills. |
| A．Fruitless. | B．Complex. | C．Time-consuming. | D．Painful. |
| A．Why Language Learning Has Age Limits |
| B．Why Age Plays a Vital Role in Language Learning |
| C．How Language Learning Occurs at Different Life Stages |
| D．How Learning a Language Changes Depending on Your Age |
6 . An elderly woman is crediting (归功于) her neighbor’s 4-year-old dog with saving her life during last week’s dangerously cold temperatures.
Tim Curfman was
Noreen, who didn’t have serious injuries, was lucky to
Noreen was
| A．sending out | B．taking out | C．picking out | D．handing out |
| A．sound | B．attention | C．behavior | D．appearance |
| A．normally | B．suddenly | C．actually | D．obviously |
| A．awkward | B．formal | C．confusing | D．wrong |
| A．trained | B．drove | C．walked | D．followed |
| A．lying | B．moving | C．playing | D．standing |
| A．guessed | B．feared | C．debated | D．explained |
| A．time | B．space | C．strength | D．courage |
| A．view | B．hold | C．taste | D．command |
| A．save | B．call | C．find | D．visit |
| A．face | B．fight | C．avoid | D．suffer |
| A．car | B．garden | C．yard | D．home |
| A．dry | B．clean | C．old | D．beautiful |
| A．grateful | B．close | C．rude | D．polite |
| A．expects | B．intends | C．waits | D．deserves |
7 . In a world ruled by hard exercise and complex fitness programs, the simple act of walking is often ignored(忽略).
Heart Health and Weight Management
Walking is light heart exercise that helps improve heart health by increasing blood circulation(循环).
Pressure Drop and Clear Mind
Taking a relaxing walk or quick walk has been shown to give off endorphins, the body’s natural ”feel-good” materials. This leads to lower pressure levels, improved feelings, and improved mental health. Walking outdoors in nature or in a peaceful environment can provide a refreshing escape from the daily tasks.
Joint(关节)Health and Free Movement
Unlike active sports, walking is soft on the joints, making it a perfect choice for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Social Communication and Connection
| A．It helps oil joints and make them stronger. |
| B．It’s a cheap way to lead a healthier lifestyle. |
| C．So taking a walk can make your mind relaxed and fresh. |
| D．A quick walk after meals has been shown to benefit the stomach. |
| E．It cuts down the risk of heart disease and brings down blood pressure. |
| F．Walking is useful exercise that can easily be turned into a social activity. |
| G．However, walking remains one of the easiest and most useful forms of exercise. |
8 . Having worked at a 7-Eleven store for two years, I thought I had become successful at what our manager calls “customer relations”. I firmly believed that a friendly smile and an automatic “sir”, “ma’ma”, and “thank you” would see me through any situation that might arise, from comforting impatient or unpleasant people to apologizing for giving out the wrong change. But the other night an old woman shattered my belief that a simple and plain response could smooth over the rough spots of dealing with all kinds of customers.
The moment she entered, the woman presented a sharp contrast to our shiny store with its bright lighting and neatly arranged shelves. Walking as if each step were painful, she slowly pushed open the glass door and hobbled (蹒跚) down the nearest aisle. She coughed dryly, wheezing (气喘吁吁) with each breath. On a forty-degree night, she was wearing only a faded dress, a thin sweater too small to button, and black slippers with the backs cut out to expose calloused (满是老茧的) heels. There were no stockings or socks on her blue-veined legs.
After wandering around the store for several minutes, the old woman stopped in front of the rows of canned vegetables. She picked up a can of corn and stared with a strange intensity at the label. At that point, I decided to be a good, polite employee and asked her if she needed help. As I stood close to her, my smile became harder to maintain; her red-rimmed eyes were partially closed by yellowish crusts (痂); her hands were covered with layer upon layer of dirt, and the stale (陈腐的) smell of sweat rose from clothes.
“I need some food,” she muttered in reply to my bright “Can I help you?”
“Are you looking for corn, ma’am?”
“I need some food,” she repeated, “Any kind.”
“Well, the corn is ninety-five cents,” I said in my most helpful voice.
“I can’t pay,” she said.
For a second, I was tempted to say, “Take the corn.” But the employee rules flooded into my mind: Remain polite, but do not let customers get the best of you. Let them know that you are in control. For a moment, I even entertained the idea that this was some sort of test, and that this woman was someone from the head office, testing my loyalty. I responded dutifully, “I’m sorry, but I can’t give away anything for free.”
The old woman’s face collapsed a bit more, and her hands trembled as she put the can back on the shelf. She shuffled (拖着脚走) past me toward the door, her torn and dirty clothing barely covering her bent back.
Moments after she left, I rushed out of the door with the can of corn, but she was nowhere in sight. For the rest of my shift, the image of the woman haunted (萦绕) me. I had been young, healthy and proud. She had been old, sick and desperate. Wishing with all my heart that I had acted like a human being rather than a robot, I was saddened to realize how weak a hold we have on our better instincts.
1. How did the writer feel about his job at 7-Eleven before the old woman came?| A．He was quite satisfied with his service manner. |
| B．He found room for improvement in developing customer relations. |
| C．He considered himself successful in dealing with all interpersonal relations. |
| D．He thought himself experienced after working in the store for two years. |
| A．how she presented a sharp contrast to the other customers |
| B．how sick, poor and desperate for help she was |
| C．how she surprised the writer with her unusual appearance |
| D．how inappropriate it was for her to enter a place like this |
| A．To make the most of. | B．To bring out the best of. |
| C．To win an advantage over. | D．To bring into full play. |
| A．What If. | B．How Come. | C．If Only. | D．Never Ever. |
Poetry
What is being said may be something unforgettable or something funny, something deeply emotional or something that has just made the writer stop and think. Whatever it is, the theme of the poem will be something worth
However, two poems could easily have
10 . For high school leavers starting out in the working world, it is very important to learn particular skills and practise how to behave in an interview or how to find all internships(实习). In some countries, schools have programmes to help students onto the path to work. In the United States, however, such programmes are still few and far between.
Research shows that if high schools provide career-related courses, students are likely to get higher earnings in later years.The students are more likely to stay in school, graduate and go on to higher education.
In Germany, students as young as 13 and 14 are expected to do internships. German companies work with schools to make sure that young people get the education they need for future employment.
But in America, education reform programmes focus on how well students do in exams instead of bringing them into contact with the working world. Harvard Education School professor Robert Schwartz has criticised education reformers for trying to place all graduates directly on the four-year college track. Schwartz argued that this approach leaves the country’s most vulnerable(易受影响的)kids with no jobs and no skills.
Schwartz believed that the best career programmes encourage kids to go for higher education while also teaching them valuable practical skills at high school. James Madison High School in New York, for example, encourages students to choose classes on career-based courses. The school then helps them gain on-the-job experience in those fields while they’re still at high school.
However, even for teens whose schools encourage them to connect with work, the job market is daunting. In the US, unemployment rates for 16 to 19-year-olds are above 20 percent for the third summer in a row.
“The risk is that if teenagers miss out on the summer job experience, they become part of this generation of teens who had trouble in landing a job,” said Michael, a researcher in the US.
1. In the author’s opinion, American high school leavers .| A．have enough career-related courses | B．need more career advice from their schools |
| C．perform better in exams than German students | D．can get higher earnings in later years |
| A．there is no need for kids to go for higher education in the US |
| B．students should get contact with the working world at high school |
| C．education reform should focus on students’ performance in exams |
| D．teenagers in the US can’t miss out on the summer job experience |
| A．Unemployment rates for US teenagers remain high at the moment. |
| B．Students with career-based courses never have problems finding a job. |
| C．US companies work with schools to prepare young people for future employment. |
| D．High school leavers with no practical skills can’t find a job absolutely. |
