For most people, adopting (收养) a pet is one of the best decisions that they can ever make in their lives. In addition to giving an animal a home and a loving family, the owner will find the company of a pet brings more happiness than expected.
For someone like Maria, having a pet was very suitable. She was all alone after moving to a new apartment in Brazil, which made her feel lonely.
So when she found a cute black puppy named Chips, she knew she had to take him home. Maria thought that Chips would be able to fill the emptiness that she had been experiencing from living all alone.
Maria was right. Once she took the puppy home, they immediately bonded. However, as Maria had to work during the day, she was worried about leaving Chips home alone in her apartment. She was also worried that his crying would upset her neighbors.
One night, when she returned home, outside her door was a package with a folded note attached to it. Maria knew that she was in trouble. She hoped that she would not be evicted (驱逐) from her new apartment because of Chips. She loved Chips so much, and she was afraid that she might have to get rid of him because he made too much noise whenever she was away. Maria was frightened and wondered who could have left it at the door because she had little contact with the people in the building except her neighbor, Angelia. In fact, they only said hello few times.
However, when she noticed the names on the folded note, she found that it wasn’t addressed to her but to her dog, Chips, and that it was “written” by another dog named Corote. Maria opened the package first and found a few toys for pets.
注意：续写词数应为150个左右。
Curious, Maria opened the note and started reading it.
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With Chips following her, Maria knocked at Angelia’s door.
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2 . Are you a fan of outdoor adventures? Do you enjoy scenic views to relax? Look no further, as the following destinations offer all that and more.
Athabasca Falls
Alberta, Canada
Water from the Canadian Rockies flows down into the waterfalls of Jasper National Park, creating a flow with wild energy. The falls are wheelchairs accessible, with a paved path taking admirers to a number of viewpoints. If visitors leave the path, they can explore both the upper and lower regions of the trail.
Akaka Falls Trail
Hakalau, Hawaii
A short half-mile hike is big on sights and low on hard activity. The well-kept ring like trail guide visitors around to see a number of waterfalls, including the 442-foot main attraction, and beautiful local flora (植物群) among the famous landscape. Though there are no hills to climb, there are a number of stairways to go.
Nugget Falls
Juneau, Alaska
Located in Tongass National Forest about 12 miles from Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier has produced Nugget Falls, a fan-like waterfall that leads into a lake. A series of short hikes allows for different views of the waterfall and icy surrounds, which are also known for frequent brown bear sightings.
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, California
Yosemite National Park is one of the oldest national parks in America and home to the fifth tallest waterfall in the world. Hikers can reach it by taking a 1-mile trail from the lodge or the 7.2-mile round-trip Yosemite Falls Trail route. Late spring is best, with the highest water flow. In the winter, the temperatures dip below freezing. A park admission fee applies.
1. Where can visitors expect to see frequent brown bear sightings?| A．Athabasca Falls. | B．Akaka Falls Trail. | C．Nugget Falls. | D．Yosemite Falls. |
| A．Winter. | B．Spring. | C．Summer. | D．Fall. |
| A．In a travel magazine. | B．In a novel. | C．In a history book. | D．In a diary. |
At noon that day, I drove back to my house after the performance. Just as I entered the living room, I heard a gentle sound coming from the bedroom upstairs — it was the sound of my favorite violin.
“Thief!”
I rushed upstairs. Sure enough, as expected, a boy of about 11 years old was petting my violin. The boy had messy hair and a thin face, his over-sized coat seemingly filled with something. At first glance, I found a new pair of shoes missing. It seemed that he was surely a thief.
Then, I saw his eyes full of fear and despair. My anger was immediately replaced by a smile. I asked, “Are you Mr. Tom’s nephew, Michael? I’m his housekeeper. Two days ago, I heard his nephew living in the countryside will come. It must be you. You’re really like him!”
On hearing my words, the boy was first astonished, but then quickly said, “Has my uncle gone out? I think I’d better first go out for a walk and visit him again in a little while.”
I nodded and asked the boy who was preparing to put down the violin, “Do you like to play the violin so much?”
“Yes, but I’m so poor that I can’t afford it.” the boy replied.
“Then, I can give this violin to you.” The boy looked at me questioningly, but he picked up the violin.
Going out to the living room, he suddenly saw on the wall my huge color photo in which I performed in the Sydney Opera House. He involuntarily trembled for a moment and ran out without looking back.
I was sure that the boy had understood what happened, because no one would decorate the living room with the housekeeper’s photo.
A few years later, I was invited to be a judge at a music competition of senior high school students. Fascinated by the gentle sound of one participant, I was wholeheartedly impressed by his wonderful performance and solid strength. As I flicked my eyes up to glance at the performer, I was so astonished to see a thin face, so familiar, yet now lit up with joy and confidence. The “thief”! For an instant, I was amazed that the kindness I offered to cover the boy’s misconduct would make such a big difference!
注意：1.续写词数应为 80 词左右；2.请按如下格式在以下位置作答。
After the competition, “Michael” ran to me, holding a violin box.
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4 . Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.
As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).
With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.
The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.
“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.
“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”
1. Why do polar bears move further south?| A．To create hybrids. | B．To expand territory. |
| C．To relieve hunger. | D．To contact grizzlies. |
| A．Broader habitats. | B．More food options. |
| C．Climate preference. | D．Improved breeding ability. |
| A．A rare chance. | B．A critical stage. |
| C．A positive factor. | D．A constant change. |
| A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change. |
| B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change. |
| C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming. |
| D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming. |
5 . Four Interesting Festivals Around the World
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia
Noosa is one of the world’s best surfing destinations. Big waves crash onto the sunny and expansive beaches, backed by bars, cafes and the Noosa National Park, attracting talents even from the world’s greatest surf spots like Hawaii, California and New Zealand. Lighthearted activities such as art shows, live music and dog surfing competitions accompany the more serious competitions.
Hangout Music Festival, Alabama, the USA
For a celebration of some of the finest creators reaching the highest position in the music charts, head to the coast of Alabama for the start of the summer festival season. The annual music festival on the white-sand beaches of the city of Gulf Shores in the southeastern US state is an all-out musical feast, with some huge names in the music world singing live.
Cartagena International Film Festival, Colombia
As the oldest film festival in Latin America, Cartagena International Film Festival will enter its 64th year in 2024. The colourful streets of the Caribbean coastal city, Cartagena, come to life with screenings. The city becomes an attraction for fans every year during the festival. Celebrating creative freedom and expression, the film festival is the best opportunity to dive into filmmaking culture.
Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark
The Danish capital hosts the largest photo festival in Northern Europe, showing international photography of present day in a surprising setting at the water’s edge in an urban coastal wilderness, formerly an industrial shipyard site. The 10-day festival appeals to photographers around the region, with the 2023 festival turning the lens(镜头)to the idea of “rewilding”.
1. Which festival is likely to attract an adventurer?| A．Noosa Festival of Surfing. | B．Cartagena International Film Festival. |
| C．Hangout Music Festival. | D．Copenhagen Photo Festival. |
| A．Learn about the surfing culture. |
| B．Enjoy live music performances. |
| C．Appreciate amazing photography. |
| D．Watch an excellent creative movie. |
| A．They last more than ten days. |
| B．They attract the sports lovers. |
| C．They are related with art shows. |
| D．They take place in coastal areas. |
“I will never forget you,” Meryl said to his pet dog with tears rolling down his cheek (脸颊). With his head leaning to one side, Thone watched his master, “Woof, woof! Woof, woof!” He wagged his tail back and forth, seeming to understand what Meryl was talking about.
“I can’t take care of myself anymore, let alone take care of you,” Meryl cleared his throat. “Soon, I’ll move to an old people’s home, and I’m sorry to say that you can’t come along. They don’t allow dogs there, you know.” “Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll find a nice new home for you. I’ve known the owners of the new home, and they like dogs very much,” Meryl added. “With your good looks, we’ll have no trouble at all. Anyone will be proud to own such a fine dog.”
Thone wagged his tail really hard and walked proudly up and down the kitchen floor. For a moment, the familiar delicious food gave him a feeling of happiness. But then a sense of fear struck again. Thone’s tail hung between his legs and he stood very still.
“Come here.” With great difficulty, Meryl knelt down on the floor and lovingly pulled Thone close to him. He tied a ribbon (丝带) around the dog’s neck with a huge red bow, and then he attached a note to it, which said “Happy New Year! My name is Thone. For breakfast, I like bacon and eggs — even corn will do. For dinner, I prefer mashed potatoes and some meat. That’s all. I eat just two meals a day. In return, I will be your most loyal friend.”
“Woof, woof! Woof, woof!” Thone was confused and his eyes begged. The old Meryl blew his nose into his handkerchief once more. Later, hanging on to a chair, he pulled himself up from the floor. He buttoned his overcoat, reached for the dog’s leash (皮带) and softly said, “Come here, my friend.” He opened the door against a wave of cold air and stepped outside, pulling the dog behind.
As they were walking in the empty street, dusk was beginning to fall.
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。
After a very long time, they stopped before a large house with tall trees in its front.
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Through teary eyes, the old Meryl watched from behind the tree as the boy’s mother took the note.
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7 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.
They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin, ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.
The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.
The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.
1. What do we know about the Masai?| A．They don’t move in their lives. |
| B．They each have their own cows. |
| C．They don’t kill their cattle at all. |
| D．They are heavily dependent on cattle. |
| A．Designers. | B．Authorities. |
| C．Housewives. | D．Warriors. |
| A．Modern. | B．Lasting | C．Simple. | D．Safe. |
| A．Africans: Living a Moving life |
| B．Africans: Brave People in the World |
| C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa |
| D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle |
8 . Music is present in any part of the world, and it is appreciated and felt everywhere. Without its presence, life could be boring. Studies show that music is good for your body and mind.
Music can increase pain management. Listening to music can help increase your pain tolerance (耐痛性).
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●Music can reduce anxiety and depression
●Music can improve self-expression and communication. Self-expression and communication are an important part of the human experience, especially when it comes to basic emotional and mental health needs.
| A．Music can improve heart health. |
| B．Music can increase your heartbeat rate. |
| C．Here are some benefits of music treatment. |
| D．They are two common pains in your daily life. |
| E．It has been proved to be helpful for anxious and depressed people. |
| F．Listening to music can also help decrease the strength of your pains. |
| G．For kids weak in both areas, music treatment can help develop their relative skills. |
Collette was born in 1990 with Down syndrome (唐氏综合征). Her mother, Rosemary, promised to never treat her daughter differently or stop her pursuing dreams. Rosemary always supported her daughter’s ambitious pursuits. “I never feel the need to tell her she’s different. To me, it is just a label, and we all have strengths and weaknesses,” explained Rosemary. Despite being treated no differently at home, Rosemary could not control how others would regard Collette in the outside world. In high school, Collette endured years of loneliness and didn’t have many friends. She found comfort and a sense of achievement in her favorite hobby, baking.
After graduating from Clemson University, at age 26, Collette confidently went out into the job market. She had finished the three-year program a year early and posted good grades. Despite her excellent academic records, several potential employers rejected her, saying she wasn’t “a good fit”. It was too sad and hard for Collette to face. Some people saw her as a labeled individual with disabilities and they would not give her a chance. Collette recalled of her disappointing job search, “To me, it felt like they didn’t like me at all because of who I am. No one would hire me, so I decided to open my own business.” Collette started to take matters into her own hands by focusing on her strengths and her passions for baking.
Collette used rejection as fuel to build her baking business. With no business experience, but inspired by her encouraging family, she started her own cookie business. Rosemary helped guide Collette in the opening of her first business. With Collette’s drive combined with the support of family, friends and the community, the business met with a good start.
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。
Collette was determined to make a success of her new business.
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One day, Collette was interviewed by a reporter.
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10 . Whether your kid can count on a sizable inheritance (遗产) or your family is living pay period to pay period, a college degree is a must. Along with the invisible life skills you get from those formative years on campus, college comes with a bankable payout: A Georgetown University study found that, on average, college graduates make a million dollars more over a lifetime than people who stop at high school.
Recently, a Bronx nonprofit asked me to speak to a group of high schoolers whose families were struggling financially. The participants were (rightly) worried about taking on too much college debt. Here’s what I told them: Even when you subtract (扣除) tuition, lost earnings during the college years, and other factors, an average college grad will still take in $300,000 more than those without a college degree.
And while rising tuition fees are a serious worry, free college programs of one kind or another have sprung up in more than 20 states. My own home state, New York, boasts one of the most comprehensive efforts. The Excelsior Scholarship program guarantees that students at public institutions attend tuition-free if their family earns under $110,000 a year.
Even in Silicon Valley, where there are many successful people who don’t own a college degree, I asked a group of parents there if it’s true that kids are giving up a college degree because they’re sure they’ll be rich people. The answer was a resounding, unapologetic no.
The truth is that in this STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-centric age, any form of home-schooling or social education can’t replace the formal school education. Especially in an age when many low-end careers are being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI), a college degree can give your kid an edge.
1. In writing paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．propose a definition | B．make a comparison |
| C．give an example | D．present an argument |
| A．Free college programs are available all over the USA. |
| B．In the STEM-centric age, a college degree is essential. |
| C．In New York, all public school students are tuition-free. |
| D．Children from rich families don’t need a college degree. |
| A．They are developing very rapidly. |
| B．They are all being engaged by AI. |
| C．They are all depending on a degree. |
| D．They are disappearing because of AI. |
| A．Why do you need a college degree? |
| B．Where can you enjoy free education? |
| C．What is a must in the STEM-centric age? |
| D．How much do people with a degree earn in US? |
