1 . You’re officially graduating high school seniors two years later! Are you ready for higher education? But before you get too excited, the top thing you should do is to apply for college scholarships!

Travel Is Education Scholarship

Deadline: 8/30/2023 Award Amount: $500-$1.000. You must hand in a paper (no more than one page) on the theme of “Becoming a Global Citizen”. Related topics are available on the website provided. You must be traveling on an ACIS (American Council for International Studies) tour in order to have the right to apply for it.

“Be Bold” Scholarship

Deadline: 7/30/2023 Award Amount: $25,000. Write a short description to show your goals and achievements. The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-article scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest description. To us, being bold means being serious, determined and moving. The scholarship will be awarded to the student whose description is the boldest.

Anthem Writing Competition Scholarship

Deadline: 7/29/2023 Award Amount: $2,000. You must present an article of between 600 and 1,200 words based on Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem. You must choose one of the three topics provided on the website. Articles will be judged on styles and contents.

Triumph Over Difficulties Scholarship

Deadline: 7/31/2023 Award Amount: $10,000. The Triumph Over Difficulties Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors, or law program students. You must have a GPA (Grade Point Average) of at least 3.0 and hand in a 750-word passage that discusses “an experience that you had while overcoming challenges related to a disability you personally have or helped a friend overcome”.

1. How can students be able to apply for Travel Is Education Scholarship?

A．Having a special travel.	B．Being brave and confident.
C．Owning a foreign nationality.	D．Having overseas study experiences.

2. Which of the following scholarships is available without an article?

A．Travel Is Education Scholarship.	B．“Be Bold” Scholarship.
C．Anthem Writing Competition Scholarship.	D．Triumph Over Difficulties Scholarship.

3. What can we infer about Triumph Over Difficulties Scholarship?

A．It has a tight deadline.	B．Its award amount is the highest.
C．It offers a specific topic to applicants.	D．It is only available to disabled students.

2 . The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. JASNA is a nonprofit organization, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius. We have over 5,000 members of all ages and from diverse walks of life. Although most live in the United States or Canada, we also have members in more than a dozen other countries.

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to promote the study and appreciation of Jane Austen’s writing in new generations of readers. Students worldwide are invited to compete for scholarship awards.

2023 Contest Topic: Marriages and Proposals(求婚)

The 2023 Essay Contest topic is inspired by the theme of our upcoming Annual General Meeting: Pride and Prejudice.

Submissions

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, June 1, 2023. We will begin accepting submissions in February 2023.

Essay Contest Awards

First Place: $1, 000 scholarship, plus free registration and two nights’ lodging (住宿) for JASNA’s 2023 Annual General Meeting in Denver.

Second Place: $500 scholarship.

Third Place: $250 scholarship.

Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

Essay Format

Entries that do not follow the following requirements or arrive after the deadline will be disqualified.

·The essay must be written in English.

·The title of the essay should appear at the top of page one; further pages should be numbered on the top right; the student’s name must not appear on the essay.

·The essay must be 6-8 pages in length.

1. Which of the following is NOT correct about JASNA?

A．It is intended to encourage readers’ appreciation and understanding of Jane Austen’s works.

B．Its members of staff work on a voluntary basis with a shared mission.

C．It appeals to readers of different ages and from all walks of life.

D．Readers with JASNA membership all hold American or Canadian nationality.

2. What will each of the winners be awarded?

A．$500 scholarship plus free meals.

B．A set of Jane Austen’s novels.

C．Free accommodation for two nights in Denver.

D．Opportunities to take part in a meeting.

3. Which of the following will result in disqualification?

A．Essays without the student’s name.

B．Essays written in two languages.

C．Essays submitted on May 31st, 2023.

D．Essays covering 7 pages.

3 . Nowadays, with the popularization of science and technology, people seem to have a painless, cost-effective new way to become pretty-photo retouching, currently a universal way to beautify photos through digital devices.

Even those who believe themselves to be unattractive can become easy on the eye with the push of a button. Some may say that retouching allows people to see a better side of themselves sand can help people build their confidence. However, it is more likely to deepen people’s anxieties regarding their appearance.

After you have taken a selfie and used a retouching program such as Photoshop or Meitu to glamorize yourself, you may finally see the more perfect self you’ve always desired to be. As a result, you may be boastful about yourself for a while, but when you turn your head and look at your real, imperfect self in the mirror, you will soon suffer from a strong sense of loss. Even though retouching can bring you short-term happiness and self-confidence, it can never change your actual appearance in real life. Eventually, the fantasy you had created for yourself by retouching your images will only come to make you feel more depressed after you are once again faced with the reality of how you actually appear.

Photo retouching may also lead to personal anxiety and low self-dignity. Before retouching technologies were invented, only a few celebrities and bloggers looked appealing on social media. Most people posted pictures of themselves on the internet that were very close to how their real, ordinary, everyday selves would appear in reality. They didn’t have to worry about whether their nose was delicate enough or whether they had any acne (痤疮) on their face because most of the others didn’t look flawless in pictures, either.

However, with the continuous emergence of retouching technologies, you may one day suddenly discover that all of the selfies of the people around you have become stunningly gorgeous. The delicate body curve, the doll-like enormous eyes and the supermodel-sized long legs are no longer exclusive to beauty-pageant (选美比赛) winners or movie stars.

Imagine yourself lying on the sofa while idly checking your WeChat Moments. You can’t take your eyes off these charming photos that have been posted by your colleagues, friends and classmates. Then you may have a glance at your own chubby belly and dark skin. Shame, anxiety and self-doubt begin growing in your heart. You plunge into deep fear and self-blame since you cannot figure out why everyone else looks so beautiful, while you are not. But actually, deep down in your heart, you know why, but you just can’t shake off this envy that’s going to drown you.

1. What does the underlined word “glamorize” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．make somebody appear attractive	B．beautify oneself with more make-up
C．publicize the image that one is good-looking	D．present somebody’s image in a reasonable way

2. What can we infer from in Paragraph 4?

A．Becoming beautiful was an exclusive right for celebrities and bloggers.

B．There is no tolerance of one’s imperfection in contemporary society.

C．People posting selfies online used to enjoy the life without trouble.

D．Retouching causes an unhealthy mentality in one’s appearance.

3. According to the passage, what are the disadvantages of retouching?
① a sense of seeming happiness and temporary confidence
② ever-worsening depression, anxiety and fear
③ inability to change one’s actual situation
④ bad influence on social relationships and information distribution

A．①②

B．①②③

C．②③

D．②③④

4. What is the best possible title of the passage?

A．Ways to Decode the Retouching	B．Retouching: Causes and Treatment
C．Navigating Life without Retouching	D．Retouching: A Lift or a Lie?

4 . You probably get your eyes tested to protect your sight, maybe have a yearly hearing test to check your ears—but, protecting your nose... eh? Recent research has discovered more than 600 genes in the human body associated with the sense of smell and that it’s actually important to the human body.

Smell can help keep us alive by warning us of dangers such as food that might make us sick or the threat of fire, and it does this within only 100-150 milliseconds of breathing. “Smell also helps create the flavour of food and plays a role in controlling the variety of our diet and the nutrients we consume,” says Jeanne Hort, a professor at News Zealand’s Massey University.

In fact, each of us has a unique sense of smell and the strength of our unique smell is related to the genes you inherit (遗传) from your parents which determine which smell receptors (感受器) are expressed in the nose. Other factors further determine how sensitive your sense of smell is. Women generally have a stronger sense of smell than men, while damage from air pollution means people who live in highly polluted cities have a less sensitive sense of smell than those in rural areas. “We also know the sense of smell declines with age,” says Professor Hort. “And if you’ve damaged your nose through head injury, illness or breathing in something that causes pain and discomfort, your sense of smell can also be negatively affected.”

Protecting your nose from such damage is therefore the first step in activating your sense of smell. Avoid breathing in strong scents like chemicals. Then, keep your nose busy. For example, sniff (唉) vegetables and fruit as part of determining ripeness before you buy them and sniff more different smells exposed to your nose. “The sense of smell is a bit like a muscle, you can train it to become stronger by exercising it,” says sensory expert Eugeni Roura.

1. Why does the author mention eye and ear protection in paragraph 1?

A．To compare different human senses.	B．To call attention to the sense of smell.
C．To clarify the concept of good health.	D．To show the importance of medical exams.

2. What does paragraph 2 focus on?

A．The advice on healthy eating.	B．The basic functions of the nose.
C．The important role of smell in life.	D．The ways to avoid hidden dangers.

3. Which of the following would the author most probably agree with?

A．There is sex difference in terms of smell.	B．The sense of smell doesn’t change with age.
C．Smell receptors decide the strength of smell.	D．Air pollution is very likely to cause loss of smell.

4. What does the quote from Eugeni Roura imply?

A．It is essential to protect your nose from damage.

B．Different parts of your body sometimes work the same.

C．Sniffing different smells helps to build up your strength.

D．The more you use the sense of smell, the more you sharpen it.

5 . Would you drive around the world on a motorbike? Would you do it with a dog ________ behind you the whole way? Jess Stone is doing just that with her dog Moxie.

Stone and Moxie are traveling the world together by motorbike. Their ________ started on March 5 from their home in Guatemala and their trip will ________ them through 90 countries.

Moxie is a German shepherd (牧羊犬)who weighs 34 kilograms and is perfectly comfortable ________ a motorbike. According to Stone, it took the dog just a single weekend to learn how to ________. Sitting in a motorcycle dog carrier, she looks fashionable with hot pink safety ________ to protect her eyes.

Stone could not ________ leaving home without her beloved dog, so she decided to travel the world with Moxie. Traveling with a dog, however, has its ________, such as being limited to dog-friendly ________and attractions.

But according to Stone, it’s totally ________ it. “I look at Moxie in my mirror ________. Her head is always right up against my side. Sometimes she even ________ her big nose on my shoulder with her chin up there. It makes me feel so happy that she’s really ________ everything.”

One thing Stone has noticed is that no matter which country or area they have gone through, the reaction to Moxie is ________. “She just puts a big smile on everybody’s face,” Stone said. “And that’s the part that really ________.”

1.

A．chasing

B．sitting

C．barking

D．walking

2.

A．meeting

B．friendship

C．story

D．connection

3.

A．take

B．cost

C．make

D．send

4.

A．on the back of

B．by the side of

C．in the front of

D．at the top of

5.

A．explore

B．ride

C．compete

D．perform

6.

A．gloves

B．belt

C．hat

D．glasses

7.

A．consider

B．imagine

C．avoid

D．miss

8.

A．limits

B．benefits

C．goals

D．risks

9.

A．companies

B．hospitals

C．accommodations

D．agencies

10.

A．beyond

B．against

C．behind

D．worth

11.

A．immediately

B．seriously

C．fearfully

D．frequently

12.

A．picks

B．turns

C．rests

D．sets

13.

A．experiencing

B．tracking

C．sharing

D．searching

14.

A．normal

B．crazy

C．universal

D．diverse

15.

A．works

B．matters

C．improves

D．challenges

6 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s _________. It was still in pretty good shape. I didn’t really _________ a new one but I wanted one and mentioned it to my daughter one day. A few weeks later she gave me a _________ of a bright red winter’s coat.

I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something _________ me. It seemed a (n) _________ that my still good, old coat should just sit there keeping no one warm. I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. Someone who couldn’t _________ a coat otherwise could get my old one. I dropped it off, chatted _________ with the staff for a bit, and walked out of the door. I saw a shaking man in a very _________ jacket walking in. I wondered if he would _________ my old coat. Then I smiled with a warm heart.

My new coat is my old coat now. It too is getting a little worn. It has black __________ on the sleeves from where I repaired the roof last winter. It is in too bad of __________ to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon. Maybe I can find a few more things to give to the charity shop __________.

Perhaps the best way to deal with our __________ then is to give of ourselves. Love, after all, brings us the most __________. And the more of it you __________, the more of it you have.

1.

A．store

B．choice

C．use

D．goal

2.

A．need

B．design

C．sew

D．collect

3.

A．gift

B．hope

C．reward

D．selection

4.

A．surprised

B．encouraged

C．bothered

D．discouraged

5.

A．relief

B．shame

C．chance

D．honour

6.

A．wash

B．tailor

C．donate

D．afford

7.

A．guiltily

B．confidently

C．fearfully

D．happily

8.

A．new

B．thin

C．warm

D．dirty

9.

A．get used to

B．put up with

C．keep away from

D．end up in

10.

A．buttons

B．labels

C．spots

D．fabrics

11.

A．shape

B．size

C．colour

D．material

12.

A．likewise

B．otherwise

C．instead

D．indeed

13.

A．wants

B．dreams

C．promises

D．principles

14.

A．joy

B．courage

C．anxiety

D．challenge

15.

A．rely on

B．give away

C．talk about

D．put aside

7 . Have you ever found that you were able to sleep better with an air conditioner or fan running or perhaps with the sound of rain falling outside? If so, then you’re already familiar with white noise.

White noise refers to a noise that has a mixture of all the audible (听得见的) frequencies that the human ear can detect. It is a combination of all the frequencies of sound played at once. It can cover the sounds of other noises because of its various frequencies, leading many people to experience its calming effects.

Studies have that listening to white noise positively found affects sleep. For example, people living in a high-noise area of New York City fell asleep faster and spent more of their time in bed asleep while listening to white noise. In another study, listening to white noise through headphones improved sleep quality for seriously ill patients in a loud hospital room. However, more research is needed to confirm whether the characteristics of white noise itself improve sleep or whether the sound primarily helps by covering background noise.

However, a recent analysis of multiple studies looking at white noise’s effect on sleep has produced mixed results. The researchers are doubtful about the quality of existing evidence and conclude that further research is necessary in order to widely recommend white noise as a sleep aid. They also note that in some instances, white noise can disturb a person’s sleep and may affect their hearing.

Despite that, researchers are still optimistic that the steady hum of white noise might reduce a sleeper’s sensitivity to unpredictable noises from the environment, such as transportation sounds like cars and planes, which are considered a major contributor to poor sleep.

1. Why does white noise have calming effects?

A．It can absorb other noises.

B．It can help people sleep better.

C．It can be detected by human ears.

D．It can cover the sounds of other noises.

2. How does the author explain the benefits of white noise?

A．By giving examples.	B．By telling stories.
C．By asking questions.	D．By making comparisons.

3. Which statement may researchers agree with according to the last two paragraphs?

A．White noise should be strongly recommended as a sleep aid.

B．Harmful effects of white noise have become a major concern.

C．Poor sleep will make people sensitive to the unpredictable noises.

D．More researches are needed to confirm the effect of white noise on sleep.

4. Which of the following can be a suitable tile for the text?

A．How Does White Noise Work?	B．Is White Noise Harmful in Any Way?
C．Does White Noise Help You Sleep?	D．What Are the Benefits of White Noise?

8 . 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。

The Gift of Life

In August 1998, a big fire broke out in an apartment building in Chicago. Jacob, together with other firefighters, rushed to the scene to fight the fire. “It was already looking pretty hopeless when we got there,” said Jacob. Suddenly, a young woman came running up to them yelling at the top of her lungs, “My Kris is still on the fifth floor.”

Immediately, Jacob made his way up to the fifth floor. The fire had grown so fierce by then. “As a fireman I knew the chances of my surviving if I went there were slim,” said Jacob. “But I just kept seeing that mother’s face in my head.” So Jacob rushed up and finally found the boy lying on the floor in just about the only spot that wasn’t on fire. “I didn’t even have time to figure out if he was alive or dead,” said Jacob. “I just grabbed him and rushed out.”

Two weeks after the rescue, Jacob had two visitors—the young woman and her son Kris. “Thank you,” she said. “We are forever in your debt.” They have kept in touch with each other since then.

Jacob was a hero, but little did he know how his unselfish decision on that day would affect his own life some 20 years later.

At age 43, Jacob was suffering from kidney (肾) failure, and his doctor said there would be little chance of survival without a new kidney. “I really didn’t know where to turn. That’s when Kris came to my door,” said Jacob.

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。
Kris was the same blood type and he knew what he should do.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, Jacob was persuaded to have the operation and it turned out to be a perfect success.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 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。

A “plogging group” –     1     (compose) of young people - recently showed up in Changchun in Jilin province, to practice the novel new concept of environmental protection while running to keep fit.

Plogging is a new sport sweeping the globe, which is a     2     (combine) of jogging and picking up rubbish. It began as     3     organized activity in Sweden about three years ago and spread abroad in the wake of     4     (grow) concern about plastic pollution.

According to Liu Siwei, promoter of the sport in Changchun, every group member usually     5     (carry) a garbage bag and a trash clip while running. They collect garbage on the way and complete the rubbish sorting afterwards. Liu established the CC Plogging group on June 3rd with thirteen     6     (origin) members. Within one month, the number of group members expanded     7     180.

Now, every Saturday at 7 pm, more than twenty     8     (participate) gather at the Freedom Road Subway Station for a 5 km run lasting one hour. According to Liu, they include parents taking their children with them and students     9     have just finished their college entrance examinations. One of the members     10     (take) part in plogging for three times with her kid so far.

10 . Christmas was around the corner. Sitting at my desk surrounded by the gifts accumulated from the neighbors, I was about to _________ everything when Melissa called. She is the director of Kids Need More, a charitable organization which my family _________ for. The organization offers many _________ to critically ill and socially _________ children.

“Hi, can you add one more family to your _________? It’s near the other stops.” Melissa asked.

The organization always fills sacks with _________ gifts for the families on the Cheer Bus routes, visiting children in need. Each bus is _________ by a team of volunteers dressed as Santa and his elves. _________, it was our turn to do that this year.

“Of course. Can I have some _________?”

“There’s a young mother and her two children. The only thing she requested was a call to   __________ the Cheer Bus is coming to visit her family.”

So I __________ the young mom. When I told her I was calling from Kids Need More to assure her that a holiday Cheer Bus would be __________ her family, she began to cry on the phone. “Are you sure? Are you really, really going to come?”

I guaranteed that again and was __________ about the reason why she expected our arrival so much.

“Because my kids look forward to the bus and I don’t want to __________ them of the hope.” She replied, “It’s Christmas and Christmas should be __________, whatever happens.”

1.

A．sort through

B．look after

C．cut off

D．put away

2.

A．works

B．applies

C．volunteers

D．accounts

3.

A．jobs

B．opportunities

C．expenses

D．services

4.

A．silent

B．disadvantaged

C．desperate

D．lonely

5.

A．route

B．schedule

C．arrangement

D．plan

6.

A．deserted

B．documented

C．delivered

D．donated

7.

A．expected

B．checked

C．manned

D．played

8.

A．Surprisingly

B．Suddenly

C．Eventually

D．Officially

9.

A．details

B．tips

C．comments

D．ideas

10.

A．define

B．confirm

C．broadcast

D．state

11.

A．interviewed

B．called

C．consulted

D．met

12.

A．visiting

B．helping

C．saving

D．tending

13.

A．sorry

B．excited

C．curious

D．anxious

14.

A．inform

B．warn

C．rid

D．rob

15.

A．useful

B．hopeful

C．helpful

D．stressful