1 . Falcons are powerful birds that may be trained to hunt in cooperation with humans. The art of training falcons as “hunting dogs of the skies” is called falconry (训鹰术). It was developed in the ancient Arabian Desert around 4000 B. C. In the past, falconry mainly involved hunting with falcons to supplement one’s diet. But now, it has become the favorite sport and pastime in the Arabian Peninsula.

Falconry includes three major processes: acquiring the falcons, training them, and hunting with them. Every year, falconers begin capturing wild falcons in June and July, the migration season. The best birds to catch are the ones with naturally nurtured hunting skills, aged one or two years. Once the falcons are captured, their heads are immediately covered with a leather hood. This is essential because they imprint as their master whomever they see first after the hood is removed. Right after a bird is caught, the training process starts. It begins by depriving (剥夺) the bird of food to make it easier to tame. The birds are taught to know their own name and respond to their master when called. Arab falconers live with their birds day and night in order to build a strong relationship with them.

By the end of October or mid-November, the trained falcons are ready to hunt in the desert. They have excellent vision, 2. 6 times greater than that of a human. They are also the fastest divers on the planet. One hunting technique that sets them apart from other animals is that they can be trained to deliver their prey, without killing it first. This is vital in Islamic culture because animals used for food must still be alive to ensure that the meat is halal, that is, properly prepared according to Islamic law.

Falcons have played such a crucial role in traditional Islamic cultures that a number of countries in the Middle East have made them their national bird. Falconry has grown so popular that specialist hospitals have been established to take care of these magnificent birds. Falcons are even issued their own passports. They are the only animals in the United Arab Emirates that are legally allowed to travel inside planes, enjoying a level of luxury that some humans can only dream of.

1. What is the main reason for Arabic people to hunt with falcons today?

A．To serve as entertainment and exercise.

B．To supplement their diet.

C．To replace the practice of hunting with dogs.

D．To honor their national bird.

2. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Falconers don’t give food to falcons in order to capture them.

B．Falcons are not allowed to see their masters during the training process.

C．Wild falcons with natural hunting skills are ideal for falconers to catch.

D．The trainers’ names are written on the hoods covering the birds’ heads.

3. What especially makes falcons a unique species for hunting in Islamic culture?

A．Falcons keep their prey alive before delivering it to falconers.

B．Falcons can form a strong bond with their owners quickly.

C．Falcons’ vision is particularly suitable for hunting in deserts.

D．Falcons are relatively easy to train for specific hunting.

4. According to the article, what privilege do falcons enjoy in the Arab world?

A．Free air ticket.	B．Passports issued by the King.
C．Expensive meals.	D．Access to specialized medical care.

2 . At 13, I resolved to be an amazing teacher, overwhelmingly driven by a _________ desire for superpowers, which some of my gorgeous teachers had.

In fifth grade, Ms. Charlotte, an English teacher could magically _________ us to different worlds every day. She encouraged us to find something beautiful on our way home or to school. Perhaps, it could be a _________ of freshly baked bread drifting from someone’s house, or the sound of breezes slightly rustling leaves. She _________ curiosity into us. She guided us to bravely _________ joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, loyalty, duty, kindness, friendship, sympathy, generosity, creativity, truth and faith.

She told us stories from books we would otherwise never _________. Currently, I still remember highlights of the classic she shared, The Old Man and the Sea. After Santiago, an old fisherman came in empty-handed for eighty-four days, we couldn’t imagine what difficulty he had _________ a huge marlin. At the sight of the beautiful huge _________, he was unable to _________ his excitement, with a bright smile __________ to his face. Yet, a __________ battle lay ahead. He felt faint but held on the great fish with all his strength. “I moved him,” he thought, “Pull, hands. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. You never went.” For two days and nights __________, the huge fish dragged the boat drifting. The elderly was in danger. Once, twice more, once more he tried and he felt himself extremely __________ when he turned the fish. Finally, the fish was stabbed (刺，戳) and tied to the boat.

What a man! So Ms. Charlotte inspired us to fight for our own pride and defend it, __________ the fact that life will set obstacles on the way to future with challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which will take all of our courage. It is true that a man can be destroyed physically but cannot be defeated spiritually.

Now, dear teachers, we love you and thank you from the bottom of our heart! I will keep the __________ song you’ve taught us in mind.

When your dreams come alive you’re unstoppable

Take a shot, chase the sun, find the beautiful

We will glow in the dark turning dust to gold

1.

A．depressing

B．burning

C．living

D．entertaining

2.

A．transport

B．interpret

C．deliver

D．transform

3.

A．feature

B．factor

C．function

D．flavour

4.

A．attached

B．advocated

C．breathed

D．exposed

5.

A．pursue

B．contract

C．emerge

D．correspond

6.

A．pick up

B．put up

C．set up

D．get up

7.

A．catching

B．carving

C．casting

D．ceasing

8.

A．seal

B．seashell

C．fish

D．dolphin

9.

A．declare

B．contain

C．encounter

D．integrate

10.

A．drilled

B．soiled

C．nailed

D．covered

11.

A．genuine

B．identical

C．tough

D．internal

12.

A．right away

B．at once

C．on the spot

D．on end

13.

A．embarrassed

B．depressed

C．disappointed

D．exhausted

14.

A．in addition

B．despite

C．due to

D．given

15.

A．stick

B．hit

C．strike

D．rank

3 . 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。

Under the boundless blue sky, soft grasses wave in the breeze, herds of cows and sheep leisurely grazing on the plains, white round yurts (蒙古包) dotting throughout the endless green, and pearl-like rivers zigzagging to the mysterious distance. This is picturesque Hulunbuir Grassland, ideally     1    (locate) in Hulunbuir City of Inner Mongolia,     2     history can be traced back to 209 BC.

Hulunbuir’s name has been illuminated (照亮) on the national stage, with the 14th National Winter Games successfully drawing a close on Tuesday February 27, regarded as the most significant comprehensive winter sports event in China after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. In the past month, Hulunbuir,     3    (remarkable) employing its great geographical advantages,     4    (integrate) the Winter Games theme into its urban landscape through     5    (variety) ice and snow sculptures, transforming the region into a bustling (繁华的) center of sports and cultural activities.

This grand event not only leaves behind memories of thrilling moments but acts as an example of the power of sports in enhancing unity and celebrating diversity. Hulunbuir is home     6     diverse ethnic minorities such as the Mongolian, Daur, Evenki, and Oroqen ethnic groups, weaving its rich heritage into the fabric of this     7    (compete). The opening ceremony,     8    (feature) performances by noted artists from these ethnic groups, showcasing their traditional music, dance, and art,     9    (hold) with flying colors on February 17.

The Spring Festival holiday period witnessed an extraordinary surge in tourism, with Hulunbuir attracting     10     total of 1.67 million visitors. Hulunbuir, a magic wonderland, will continue to shine and bloom in the future.

4 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

A．Why the man gives up acting work.

B．What the man did after graduation.

C．How the man chose his present profession.

2. What did the man intend to do when he was in college?

A．Work in a company.

B．Set up his own company.

C．Continue to study business course.

3. What was the attitude of the man’s parents towards his decision?

A．They were angry.

B．They were satisfied.

C．They were open-minded.

4. What is the man’s present condition?

A．He is very rich and famous.

B．He gets lots of acting work.

C．He doesn’t have a full-time job.

5 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Chinese movie Pegasus 2 is a 2024 sports comedy-drama     1     (write) and directed by Han Han and it hit screens during Spring Festival in 2024. The film,      2     is a sequel (续集) to 2019’s Pegasus, narrates the former champion driver Zhang Chi played by Shen Teng became a driving school     3     (instruct) in troubled times,      4     (live) a life of relying on his reputation to make     5     (end) meet. Unexpectedly, the director of Laotoule Automobile Factory offers to sponsor Zhang Chi to form a team to re-enter     6      famed rally race. Faced     7      this overwhelming wealth, Zhang Chi is ready to make a move,      8     no one knows the real purpose behind the factory director. Zhang and his friends formed a team at last. The grass-roots team overcame many difficulties and     9     (rush) to the stadium with a lot of laughter. This time he will cross the finish line that has appeared in countless dreams.  Five years    10     (late), with the release of Pegasus 2, the director stated that both the film's story and visuals have all undergone a comprehensive upgrade.

6 . People are flying more than ever. From short trips to traveling around the globe, many are on the move. But finding the way at the airports has never been easy in the US, due to crowding and a lot of tasks like checking in, taking care of baggage, screening and finding your gate. It is often difficult to get to where you are going. If you are in a wheelchair or visually (视觉地) challenged, it’s even harder.

The new terminal (航站楼) at the Kansas City International Airport is designed to fix many of these shortcomings. The new facility features indoor play areas, changing rooms, and a quiet room for people who cannot handle the noise or activity of a busy airport. There is even a pet relief area for people traveling with their fury family members. One innovation (创新) is the glass-walled jet bridge for people who are worried about getting on and off planes. And for people who are uncomfortable with the whole airport and flying process, there are simulators (模拟器) that allow travelers to go from boarding to taking off virtually.

Justin Meyer, with the Kansas City Aviation Department, said the new terminal sets a level of inclusivity that passengers will expect in other airports. “The goal isn’t that we’re forever at the head of the line,” Meyer said. “My goal was just to raise the bar, so if someone else wants to build the most accessible airport in the world, they’re going to have to start from where Kansas City stopped. In the end, passengers win.”

While making airports more accessible to people with different abilities may seem to be expensive or difficult, the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. Accessible airports mean that more people and their families will be able to travel and then the skies will be friendly to all.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To call on airports to improve their services.

B．To explain the background to the new terminal.

C．To stress the annoyance of frequent air travelers.

D．To show the complexity of boarding procedures.

2. Who are most likely to use the glass-walled jet bridge?

A．People who take a pet.	B．People who use a wheelchair.
C．People who travel with their families.	D．People who have flight anxiety.

3. What can we know about the new terminal according to Justin Meyer?

A．It needs further improvement.	B．It has the best passenger services.
C．It sets a higher standard for airport services.	D．It aims to lead the world in accessibility.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the Kansas City International Airport’s practice?

A．Supportive.

B．Conservative.

C．Unprejudiced.

D．Doubtful.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How long did Zara Rutherford spend in flying around the world?

A．Around three months.

B．Around four months.

C．Around five months.

2. What did Zara Rutherford encourage more females to do?

A．Become pilots.

B．Enter art field.

C．Support Girls Who Code.

3. What caused Zara Rutherford to stop in California?

A．Her visa difficulty.

B．A natural disaster.

C．Her health condition.

4. How many countries did Zara Rutherford fly over?

A．32.

B．41.

C．52.

8 . Peter worked at a grocery store. Recently, he _______ a second job to help pay for his sick friend Dan and his own son’s _______.

Although the job was boring, there were times Peter especially _______. At that time the supermarket was _______, being full of customers. One day, a young woman named Angela caught Peter’s _______ when she turned to her two children, “Sorry, babies. Mommy can’t _______ to get your sweets and snacks, so please put them back, okay?”

The children began to cry and Angela tried to _______ them. Then Peter quickly swooped (接近) in, _______ to help her to pay for the _______. Peter was glad to see the children happy and Angela a little at ease.

The next day Angela returned to the store and explained to Peter, “Thanks for your kindness. It really ________ a lot. I’m a single mother and lost my job, so things are a bit ________.”

“Well, I am ________ aware of your situation. I need help with my friend’s medical bills and my kid’s college. Nothing comes cheap.”

Angela was grateful for Peter’s help. Peter’s actions and ________ touched Angela, and she thought to herself, “This man had his share of ________, yet he was still kind enough to________ and help me. I should pass this kindness on.”

1.

A．watched over

B．put aside

C．took up

D．gave up

2.

A．shopping

B．schooling

C．travelling

D．housing

3.

A．enjoyed

B．expected

C．deserved

D．imagined

4.

A．quiet

B．noisy

C．dirty

D．crowded

5.

A．interest

B．impression

C．attention

D．feelings

6.

A．decide

B．afford

C．promise

D．expect

7.

A．calm

B．save

C．encourage

D．protect

8.

A．continuing

B．preferring

C．offering

D．preparing

9.

A．toys

B．food

C．clothes

D．drinks

10.

A．improves

B．wastes

C．changes

D．means

11.

A．tough

B．positive

C．unique

D．natural

12.

A．hardly

B．basically

C．slightly

D．completely

13.

A．efforts

B．words

C．requests

D．suggestions

14.

A．troubles

B．rights

C．styles

D．choices

15.

A．impress

B．rescue

C．remind

D．comfort

9 . Jennifer DeStefano answered a call from an unknown number only to hear a man threatening her 15-year-old daughter’s life and demanding money, as well as the sound of her daughter crying for help. But while she kept him on the phone, her friends managed to reach her daughter, discovering that she was, in fact, free and well on a skiing trip in Arizona. The voice used on the phone was cloned.

A brief sample (样本) of a voice can be used to train an AI model, which can then speak any given text sounding like that person. Now the dangers are starting to be talked aloud.

ElevenLabs, an AI start-up, offers users the chance to create their own clones in minutes and the results are disturbingly accurate. When generating a playback, the system allows users to choose between variability and stability (稳定性). Select “variability”, and the voice will have a lifelike intonation (语调), including pauses like “er...”. Choose “stability”, and it will come across more like a calm and unemotional newsreader. Taylor Jones, a linguist and consultant, took a careful look at the quality of ElevenLabs’s clone of his voice in a video. A low-tech test, a “conversation” with his own mother, fooled the woman who raised him.

For several years, customers have been able to identify themselves over the phone to their bank and other companies using their voice. This was a security upgrade, not a danger. Not even a gifted voice actor could fool the detection system. But now the banks are forced to change in order to prevent crime.

Creative industries could face trouble. Voice actors’ skills, trained over a lifetime, can be copied in seconds. But some actors may, in fact, find cloning congenial. One actor, who has lost much of his voice to throat cancer, was delighted to have his voice restored for his new movie. Others may be spared the trouble of heading for the studio for retakes. Another industry that will have to deal with the rise of clones is journalism. Secret recordings have long been the contributor to the big news. Now who will trust a story based on an audio clip (音频片段)?

1. How does the author lead in the topic?

A．By telling a story.	B．By explaining a concept.
C．By making a guess.	D．By making a comparison.

2. Why is Taylor Jones mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To analyze the use of voice cloning.	B．To draw readers’ attention to AI.
C．To prove ElevenLabs’s achievements.	D．To show the danger of voice cloning.

3. What does the underlined word “congenial” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Annoying.

B．Shocking.

C．Suitable.

D．Inventive.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．AI Technology: Good or Bad?	B．AI-based Voice: A Potential Risk
C．Cloned Voice: Who to Blame?	D．Voice Cloning: A New Phenomenon

10 . Oaks Farms is a combination of experiences that are designed to keep your students engaged in fun and exciting learning opportunities. We are truly a classroom without walls, offering educator-developed programs and field trips. We invite you here to explore sustainability (可持续发展), which includes not only the environment but also animal welfare, safety and our community.

The Pig Adventure

This program will help you learn all about pork and its benefits and discover the growth cycle of pigs from little babies to full grown-ups. Monitor the development of baby pigs and see how the farm works at the Pork Education Center. You will get first-hand knowledge about how our feeding system works.

The Dairy Adventure

This program encourages you to play as you learn, by opening up a fun space for dairy discovery including learning how to use a “real” station. Understand the nutrition of the animal products, and how robots are used in the Voluntary Milking System. You can start at the entrance to the adventure, and then stop by our Birthing Barn, which is an independent education center, and take a look inside.

The Crop Adventure

Explore the Crop Adventure program to learn about the importance of working to feed

8 billion people, the many uses of corn outside of consuming it, and how we can be sustainable with limited resources. See how a tractor (拖拉机) can tell you about the nutrients in the soil. Explore how technology assists farmers and the amazing biodiversity on the Farmer’s Garden.

The Pig Adventure ($3/student)

The Dairy Adventure ($5/student)

The Crop Adventure ($4/student)

Whole Adventures — include admission to the Pig Adventure, the Dairy Adventure, and the Crop Adventure ($7/student)

1. What is Oaks Farms?

A．A special tour zone.	B．A creative program.
C．An educational base.	D．An adventurous activity.

2. What can people do in the Dairy Adventure?

A．Taste some delicious milk products.	B．Witness the smart milking process.
C．Explore the process of pigs’ growth.	D．Understand the importance of nutrition.

3. What is the minimum cost for visiting the Dairy Adventure and the Crop Adventure?

A．$7.	B．$8.
C．$9.	D．$10.