1 . 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。

Nanjing is a city that has played an important role in Chinese history for thousands of years. Nanjing     1     (name) the capital city first in 229 AD during the Three Kingdoms period. It has been a capital city many times. It’s a place that is relatively unknown     2     foreigners yet very popular with local tourists.

When Dave and I got the chance     3     (travel) to it, we jumped at it. We hadn’t known anything about Nanjing before going, but hearing that it was a popular destination from Shanghai, we were excited to explore it. It turns out that Nanjing is one of our favourite     4     (place) to visit in China.

We first went to Nanjing Niushoushan Cultural Park. A trolley (电车) took us to the top of the mountain     5     we could view the immaculate(圣洁的) Buddhist Palace that was built into the side of the mountain.     6     (open) in 2015, it is an example that proves the traditional and the modern can co-exist.

But soon we     7     (realize) that a real treat was inside the palace when we took the escalator (自动扶梯) 6 stories underground to see the Thousand-Buddha Hall. With a height of 28 metres, the golden hall is     8     (impress).

We highly recommend     9     (take) a full day to explore the Niushoushan Cultural Park to visit all the sites on the mountains. And do remember visiting the Usnisa Palace is     10    must.

2 . A new song by the famous band The Beatles has been released despite half of the band members no longer being alive, thanks to the help of AI.

The Beatles was a legendary British rock band that remained second to Elvis Presley from the 1960s. It was made up of four musicians—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The new song, titled Now and Then, is unique because it combined the singing of McCartney and Starr with Lennon, who passed away in 1980, and the guitar skills of Harrison, who passed away in 2001.

The song was initially written and partly recorded by Lennon in the late 1970s and further developed by band mates years later but as technology then was limited, they didn’t release it due to the sound quality not being satisfying.

Peter Jackson, most famous for directing The Lord of the Rings, directed the music video for Norw and Then and it can be watched now online. It was thanks to new Al audio restoration (音频修复) technology that Peter Jackson allowed the four band members to “come together” one last time.

Since its release last week, the song has been well received in the UK. Beatles fans around the world favoured this historic musical event.

”Now and Then is an absolutely heart-warming piece of work, “posted Liam Gallagher, whose hits were affected by The Beatles’ musical style.

Of course, there are those who are not totally interested in the song. ”Now and Then is not terrible. But honestly, it’s kind of boring, “Geoff Edgers wrote in The Washington Post.

The Times in the UK said the song showed Al being used to its best advantage.

1. Why was the song “Now and Then” not released at first?

A．The song was not completed.	B．The sound quality was not good enough.
C．The band members did not like the song.	D．The song was let out before its official release.

2. How did Peter Jackson contribute to the song?

A．He wrote and recorded the song.

B．He invented new audio restoration technology.

C．He restored the band members’ sound using AI.

D．He played the guitar on the recording.

3. What is the attitude of The Times towards the release of Now and Then?

A．Supportive.

B．Curious.

C．Unfavourable.

D．Unclear.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．The Beatles Remains Second to Elvis Presley

B．Beatles Fans Welcome the New Song of The Beatles

C．Peter Jnckson Directed the Music Video for The Beatles

D．The Beatles Released a New Song with the Help of Al

3 . Sierra Leone Tour

Sierra Leone is a country on the rise, with new flights, a first-ever ecotourism journey, and national park accommodations coming in 2024. Visit before everyone else you know catches on. Perhaps the most exciting development is Sierra Leone’s push to protect and show its wildlife, with new experiences for travellers.

It will offer first-ever accommodations at two important sites: A pair of lake hotels have opened at southeastern river island of Jaibui; you can also choose tent stay at Loma Mountains National Park.

	Single 1 room	2 people 1 room
Lake hotel	$350/per room	$550/per room
Tent stay	$200/per room	$400/per room

The sun shines down on Sierra Leone throughout the year! Set in the southern hemisphere (南半球), Sierra Leone can be quite cold in the dry winter months, with temperatures often dropping below the freezing point (冰点). The time between June and October is best for Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is home to Mount Bintumani, the tallest peak (顶峰) in West Africa west of Mount Cameroon with a great number of endangered animal and bird species like the bizarre-looking White-necked Rockfowl, perfect for birdwatchers. But please note that there is no way for you to request changes to the accommodations. And tourists must be above 3 years old.

1. How much shall a person pay for one room in the Lake hotel?

A．$200.

B．$350.

C．$400.

D．$550.

2. When is the best time to visit Sierra Leone?

A．April.

B．May.

C．September.

D．November.

3. What can we learn about the tour?

A．It accepts tourists of any age.

B．It is suitable for observing birds.

C．Tourists can request changes to the accommodations.

D．Tourists have a chance to admire the tallest mountain in Africa.

4 . International Travel

International travel can be a fantastic way to see the world. However, even if you want your journeys to be as exciting as possible, you don’t expect any unhappy things to happen.     1    

Health is the most important thing when you are planning to travel abroad. When you’re going to travel abroad, you may need to get special vaccines (疫苗) to protect you from diseases. If you’re going to any out­of­the­way areas, remember to bring the commonly used medicines with you.     2     So you don’t run out of them while you’re abroad.

    3    For example, if you plan to drive on trips, find out how driving rules may differ. Some countries may have unusual rules or laws that you might break by mistake.So try to learn more about the countries you’re going to visit.

Learn some local language. It’s important to learn something basic (基本的) like “Hello” “Thank you”, and “Where is the bathroom?”.     4    You can check the dictionary first and then ask people simple questions.

Copy your travel documents (文件). All your travel documents should be copied. We live in a digital (数字的) world now.    5    You’d better have the digital copies handy. But make sure to protect your personal information.

A．Good travel is the result of good planning.

B．Basic rules and laws differ in many countries.

C．It’s easy to get digital copies of these documents.

D．Consider buying travel insurance before you travel.

E．There are things you should know about international travel.

F．If you can’t remember them, bring a small dictionary with you.

G．If you take some medicine every day, make sure you pack enough.

5 . 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。

In many ways, friendship     1     (natural) comes to kids. However, it is also a skill to learn and manage, particularly as kids get older.

It is important for teens to choose friends wisely. They might choose friends with shared interests or look for people     2     have different backgrounds. The most important things are whether or not the person will be a good friend and whether they enjoy     3     (spend) time with each other. If it’s a yes on both counts, then that person is likely     4     (play) the role of a friend.

It can take time to make a good friend, but it is often worth the effort. Doing things together, whether it’s homework or kicking a soccer ball,     5     (build) closeness. Considering the other person’s     6     (feeling) in different situations is also important. It’s true that you should stand by good friends in the hard times, but you don’t want to give and give without anything     7     return. Healthy friendships are     8     two-way street.

    9     (honest) and trust are important in friendships. Teens need to learn about the importance of being frank (坦率的) with their friends. Friends sometimes hurt each other, but they can always apologize (道歉) and forgive each other. Good relationships are worth the work to repair the damage     10     (cause) by any miscommunications.

6 . 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。

When I was in high school, my art teacher asked me to participate in a regional painting competition. I hesitated at first. Although I loved art, I had always painted for myself, not for contests or recognition. My family, who had moved from Mexico, encouraged me to express our culture through my art, but I was unsure about exposing my work to the public. Painting was a personal journey for me, a way to connect with my roots and express my emotions.

But my teacher saw something in my paintings that I hadn’t. She said, “Your work tells a story, a vibrant narrative of your heritage and dreams. You should share it with the world.” Motivated by her confidence in me, I decided to take the leap.

I chose the theme of ‘Migration’ for my painting. It was a tribute to my family’s journey from Mexico to the United States, a blend of colors and emotions depicting both the struggles and hopes of moving to a new land. I poured my heart into that canvas, each stroke representing a piece of my story.

As I worked, I found myself lost in the memories and experiences of my family. The more I painted, the more I understood the sacrifices they had made for me. My doubts turned into determination. I wanted this painting not just to be seen but to be felt. I stayed up late for several nights, perfecting every detail, ensuring that every color and every line conveyed the emotions I felt so deeply.

When I finally finished, I was no longer concerned about winning. The painting was a part of me, a representation of my family’s journey and my growth as an artist.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The day of the competition arrived, and my heart was racing as I displayed my painting among the others.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the competition, I walked up to my art teacher, filled with a mix of gratitude and pride.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . A taxi driver specially gave a free ride to a mother and her little boy Tyler who had a sudden attack of an illness on the road.18 years later, a touching ________ followed.

66-year-old Carl booked a taxi to the hospital. He had ________ from work and had developed health ________ due to old age. He was waiting outside his house when a taxi approached him ________ . Carl waved at the young driver. He got in and ________ the driver to drop him off at the hospital.

They didn’t ________ much during the half-hour drive. When Carl ________ his wallet, he found he had no cash. “Hey, do you accept cards?” he broke the silence, only to be ________ to tears by the young driver’s reply. “Sir, you don’t have to pay me. All the trips I make to the hospital are free!” Carl was greatly ________ and asked, “Free? But why?”

The driver smiled, “When I was little, I suffered from an attack in need of ________ treatment on the road, and a kind taxi driver drove me to the hospital for free and ________ my life. My mother told me the driver never ________ for trips to the hospital. His ________ inspired me, so I do the same!”

Carl’s heart felt lighter and happier. “What’s your name, young man?” he inquired the driver. And tears of joy ________ his eyes when the driver said, “My name is Tyler.”

Be the light that helps others ________ the darkest of times.

1.

A．memory

B．encounter

C．photo

D．movie

2.

A．concluded

B．escaped

C．recovered

D．retired

3.

A．problems

B．characteristics

C．concerns

D．tendencies

4.

A．secretly

B．desperately

C．unexpectedly

D．slowly

5.

A．encouraged

B．appointed

C．reminded

D．warned

6.

A．struggle

B．communicate

C．cooperate

D．worry

7.

A．checked

B．received

C．bought

D．recognized

8.

A．frightened

B．saddened

C．moved

D．excited

9.

A．disappointed

B．astonished

C．annoyed

D．ashamed

10.

A．emergent

B．special

C．effective

D．painless

11.

A．witnessed

B．affected

C．controlled

D．saved

12.

A．provided

B．charged

C．wished

D．prepared

13.

A．bravery

B．patience

C．kindness

D．politeness

14.

A．lit

B．hurt

C．narrowed

D．fogged

15.

A．clear away

B．get away

C．get through

D．look through

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。

The Xuanyuan Mirror is a special ancient Chinese mirror made of bronze. It was created during the Han Dynasty,     1     lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. This mirror     2     (consider) one of China’s most important archaeological     3     (discovery) and can be seen at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The Xuanyuan Miror is big and round, about 51 cm in diameter. It has a curved surface that bulges (凸起) outwards     4     (slight), making it look unique. The mirror is decorated     5    many patterns and designs, such as dragons, phoenixes, and other imaginary creatures.

One thing that makes the Xuanyuan Mirror so interesting is its writing, called an inscription (铭文). It says “Xuanyuan” in ancient Chinese characters. People believe this refers to Emperor Wu of Han, who     6     (rule) from 141 BCE to 87 BCE. The mirror might have been made during his time     7     (show) his power and authority.

Not only is the Xuanyuan Mirror important for history, but it is also     8     beautiful work of art. The detailed designs show how talented and     9     (create) ancient Chinese craftsmen were. Today, it remains one of the most popular exhibits at the Palace Museum,     10     (attract) visitors from all over the world who come to appreciate its beauty and learn about its exciting history.