1 . There was once a modest village nestled in the heart of the mountains. The villagers lived a simple life, relying on the land for their _______ and being close-knit with one another. However, their peaceful existence was soon _______ when a terrible drought struck the region.

With each passing day, the villagers grew more _______. The once verdant fields transformed into desolate lands, and the formerly sparkling river rushed _______ in the absence of rain, it no longer has the crisp, clattering sound of the past. The village elder called for a meeting to discuss _______ they should do. After great deliberation, they came up with a plan.

They made the decision to _______ each and every able-bodied villager to undertake a journey in search of a mythical treasure that is concealed deep within the mountains. Legends say that this treasure possessed the power to _______ rain and break the drought. And this treasure has never been found. With hopeful hearts, the villagers set off into the unknown.

The journey was _______, with treacherous paths and dangerous obstacles. Along the way, they encountered fierce storms and soaring temperatures that tested their resolve. Yet, they remained _______ and persevered through the hardships.

After days of tireless searching, they finally ________ the hidden treasure in a hidden cave. As they cautiously approached, they realized that their discovery held no material wealth but instead presented a daunting enigma — an intricate and ________ inscription etched into the wall. Its mysterious symbols seemed to taunt them, beckoning them to uncover the secrets they fiercely guarded. It read, “The real treasure lies in the unity and resilience of everyone.”

The villagers were ________. They realized that the journey itself was the treasure they sought. Through their unity and determination, they had ________courage and hope in the face of adversity. Encouraged by this newfound ________, they returned to the village and worked together to overcome the drought, relying on their collective strength.

From that day forward, the villagers cherished their unity and ________their bond, never forgetting the true treasure they had discovered.

1.

A．entertainment

B．survival

C．education

D．advancement

2.

A．embraced

B．enriched

C．maintained

D．disturbed

3.

A．excited

B．fearful

C．frustrated

D．satisfied

4.

A．silently

B．relentlessly

C．turbulently

D．effortlessly

5.

A．when

B．why

C．what

D．where

6.

A．encourage

B．force

C．convince

D．allow

7.

A．summon

B．forecast

C．attract

D．gather

8.

A．pleasant

B．perilous

C．simple

D．predictable

9.

A．focused

B．puzzled

C．discouraged

D．determined

10.

A．uncovered

B．lost

C．pursued

D．discovered

11.

A．cryptic

B．vibrant

C．significant

D．lucrative

12.

A．bewildered

B．terrified

C．overjoyed

D．indifferent

13.

A．abandoned

B．doubted

C．gained

D．lacked

14.

A．insight

B．inspiration

C．rivalry

D．favoritism

15.

A．cherished

B．underestimated

C．neglected

D．weakened

2 . When temperatures rise, humans sweat, dogs pant, and cats ... don’t move enough to overheat? Well, partially. Cats, who need to maintain an internal body temperature of 101°F to 102°F, have several methods for keeping cool in sweltering (酷热难耐的) weather.

It’s a misconception that cats sweat through their paws to cool themselves off. As summer wears on, you might see moist paw prints, but as veterinarian (兽医) Kimberly May told The Washington Post, “any secretions there or from their nose, mouth, or tongue are not for sweating; they’re for protection and moisture and are insufficient to cool the blood.”

Instead, cats recreate the sweating process — which works to cool humans via evaporation (蒸发) — by grooming themselves regularly. The saliva from their tongues acts like sweat that cools their body when it evaporates — which is why you can also help cool your cat down by using a damp washcloth to lightly wet their fur. In extreme weather, cats will also pant, but unlike dogs who pant regularly to keep themselves cool, a panting cat is a sign of more dangerous over-heating or other serious diseases.

And if you’re tempted to shave your feline (猫科的) friend to help keep him cool — don’t!

“Fur acts as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption,” James H. Jones, an expert in comparative animal exercise physiology and thermoregulation (体温调节) at the University of California at Davis, told The Washington Post.

Fur coats are highly evolved — in the winter they keep animals warm, but in the summer, they work both to protect delicate skin from the sun and slow dehydration (Jones notes that, according to research, shaved camels fared worse in the deserts than those with their fur intact).

But even with these methods for keeping cool, cats also rely on the perks of domesticity to stay comfortable. So even though they evolved from wild ancestors and are able to tough it out, leave the A/C (or a fan) on for your cats when you go out, and make sure to leave them plenty of water.

1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?

A．Temperature affects humans and dogs more than cats.

B．Cats need to keep cool while the temperature is high.

C．Cats have more methods for keeping cool than humans and dogs.

D．Cats need to keep an internal temperature so they don’t have to keep cool.

2. Cats cool themselves down by____.

A．grooming themselves	B．sweating like humans
C．panting like dogs	D．sweating through paws

3. We couldn’t shave the cats to keep them cool because____.

A．fur can speed up the process of cooling down

B．cats with fur can be sold at a better price

C．fur can protect the cats both in heat and cold weather

D．cats with fur can survive in the deserts

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Why cats need to keep cool.	B．The importance for cats to keep cool.
C．How fur works in the process of cooling down.	D．How cats keep cool in hot weather.

3 . Over 1 in 10 young adults in the United States regularly use e-cigarettes, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study, conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, provides a snapshot (大致印象) of e-cigarette use in 2021. Based on data from the National Health Interview Survey, the report identified that e-cigarette use generally declined as family income increased. Adults under 44 were more likely to be dual users of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

Previous findings from the National Health Interview Survey have shown that cigarette use has fallen to record lows. E-cigarettes, however, have flared in popularity.

From 2020 to 2022, e-cigarette sales jumped in the United States, to 22.7 million products sold each month, according to previous CDC research. More brands — particularly of disposable e-cigarette products — entered the market, while fruit and candy flavors that appeal to younger audiences surged in popularity.

The new data indicates that a little under 1 in 20 adults reported in 2021 that they were current e-cigarette users, with slightly higher rates among men than women. Young adults, between the ages of 18 and 24, used e-cigarettes the most, with 11% indicating that they actively consumed the products.

As people got older, the study found, rates of e-cigarette use dropped — but traditional cigarette use steadily climbed. About 11.4% of survey respondents over 45 said they currently smoked cigarettes.

For Dr. Joanna Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at Johns Hopkins University, the young demographic (人群) of e-cigarette users is worrying. Young people who have never smoked cigarettes — rather than older cigarette users trying to break the habit — make up the bulk of e-cigarette consumers.

“If e-cigarettes were being used as we would hope, the only people who should use them are those who are using them to quit smoking,” said Cohen, who was not involved with the new research. “You will see very different patterns.”

1. The study conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics shows that____.

A．most of the young adults in the US often use e-cigarettes

B．high-income are families inclined to use e-cigarettes

C．both e-cigarettes and cigarettes are used by adults over 44

D．cigarettes have failed in popularity

2. According to new data, what do we know about e-cigarettes?

A．E-cigarette sales slightly increased from 2020 to 2022.

B．More choices of e-cigarettes for young adults appeared in the market.

C．Previous male e-cigarettes users outnumbered the female ones.

D．The majority of the aged 18 to 24 indicates that they were active e-cigarettes consumers.

3. What can be learned from Dr.Joanna Cohen’s statement?

A．Young e-cigarettes users worry about the development of cigarettes.

B．Older cigarette users often use e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

C．E-cigarettes can be used to quit smoking.

D．E-cigarettes are being used as Cohen hoped.

4. What will the author discuss in the following paragraph?

A．The proper use of e-cigarettes.	B．Different patterns of e-cigarettes.
C．Tips on how to quit smoking.	D．Further criticism towards e-cigarettes.

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。

Recently, the Chinese     1     (animate) film Chang’an has been a smash hit. The film is like a love letter to Chang’an and the stars in the Tang Dynasty poetry, magnificent and touching.

The story of the profound friendship between poet Gao Shi and the master of romantic poetry Li Bai offers a taste     2     the star-studded history of the Tang era,     3     is often seen as     4     golden age in Chinese history due to     5     (it) economic prosperity and cultural integration and advancement.

The Chinese language is extensive and profound, and the ancient poems are even more mysterious. The words are often extremely concise and brief,     6     they contain profound cultural background and the     7     (beautiful) of Chinese characters.

The 48 Tang poems featured in the movie     8     (present) a panorama of the most excellent poets of that time as well as their political aspirations and ideals. The movie is     9     (undoubted) a masterpiece     10     (show) the characteristics of Chinese culture to the world.

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。

“Mom, where do you suppose they are?” my ten-year-old son Danny asked for the twentieth time as he stared out of the window at the range (牧场). “They” were our horses, Ginger, and her three-year-old son, Charcoal, both of whom had been missing for days.

Our range and woods offered plenty of grass for six horses. However, spring thunderstorms during the past ten days had forced the nearby river out of its banks. The other horses had come to the barn (畜棚) during the downpour, but not Ginger or Charcoal.

When the rain stopped, I took Spot, our dog, to do some first-hand searching. We went through trees and brush in wet lowlands near the river. All my calling and Spot’s smelling were in vain.

The next morning, the sun struggled to shine through gray clouds, but dampness filled the air. Suddenly, Danny shouted, “Mom, come quick! There’s Ginger!” The horse stood at the range gate crying impatiently and moving back and forth as if to say “Follow me”.

“Hurry, Danny,” I said, “get the pot with some oats (燕麦). I will bring a rope.” Ginger walked in front and we followed. “I see him! I see him!” Danny shouted. Charcoal was lying on his side, not moving. His right back leg was badly injured.

“Oh, Mom. How long do you think he’s been lying here with no food and nobody to care for him?” Tears formed in Danny’s blue eyes. “Probably several days, but we’ll never know. Ginger took care of him, though, protecting him from attacks from hungry wolves or other wild animals,” I said.

“What can we do now?” Danny asked anxiously. “There’s no way to drive a vehicle down here in all this mud.” “We just have to get him up and lead him out,” I said, keeping my voice confident. “Afterwards, we’ll have to call the vet (兽医) out.”

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。

With our encouragement and the attraction of oats, Charcoal struggled and managed to stand up.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Upon arriving at the barn, Danny started creating a bed for Charcoal.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . 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。

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (《世界遗产公约》), Beijing held    1     event titled “The Next 50 Years: World Heritage Where Challenges and Development Coexist”, during which experts discussed how    2       (make) the sites more accessible and sustainable for future generations.

Since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1985, the number of world heritage sites in China    3     (grow) to 56, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Grand Canal,    4     (allow) the nation to rank second in the world. And over the past decade, China has added 15 new world heritage sites, six of    5     have been included in the relevant lists of intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产).

Chinese experts said that the 56 listed world heritage sites reflect the country’s    6     (abundance) heritage and that China’s cultural heritage achievements over the past 10 years can be seen in many aspects.

For example, in 2013, the Tianshan Mountains    7     (list) on the World Heritage List. The beauty of Tianshan lies    8     its snow-capped mountains and glacier-capped peaks. It is really an outstanding example of a mountain ecosystem with a    9     (diverse) of landform features and ecosystems.

Experts said that the world heritage application is just a means to perform better protection. We should behave more    10     (responsible) to conserve the heritage of all humanity.

8 . For over a decade, Zubin Kanga, a pianist, composer and technologist, has changed the limits of the forms of musical performances. He has both organized and performed shows that have pushed barriers, with motion sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), live-generated 3D visuals and virtual reality among the technological advancements used to unlock new possibilities of music and performances.

Kanga’s approach to employing cutting-edge technology was first informed by the relative limitations of his chosen instrument. “The piano is a very accurate technology,” he says. “From the early 20th century till now it hasn’t really changed at all. It’s an amazing instrument, but it does have certain limitations in terms of the types of sound you can create.”

One of the early works is Steel on Bone, composed by Kanga himself. He performs the piece using MiMU multi-sensor gloves. “I can put up one finger, and that’ll produce a particular sound,” Kanga explains. “And then I can control that sound just by moving my wrist through the air — I can do that with lots of different gestures.”

“For Steel on Bone, I’m actually playing inside the piano with these steel knitting (编织) needles, and getting all these interesting effects on the strings. Then I’m using samples of them. Sometimes I’m using live delays and operating them. The sound can change depending on how my hands are moving. It allows me to make a very theatrical piece, and people can see this immediate connection between how I’m moving — these very big, almost conductor-like gestures through the air — and the way the sound is changing,” said Kanga.

This is just the start, and Kanga goes on to be enthused with the use of motion sensors to make music, the possibilities that AI offers composers as a tool, and how virtual reality could transform performances and more.

1. What do technological advancements do for music and performances?

A．Remove music barriers.

B．Bring new performance forms.

C．Popularize musical performances.

D．Make performances professional.

2. Why does Kanga talk about the piano in paragraph 2?

A．To indicate its stability.

B．To prove its rare accuracy.

C．To show it has a long history.

D．To clarify why he uses technology.

3. How does Kanga perform Steel on Bone?

A．By moving his hands in the air.	B．By pressing the piano keys.
C．By beating the steel knitting needles.	D．By making very small gestures.

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

A．Technology: When It Replaces Music

B．Virtual Reality: Future of Performances

C．Zubin Kanga: When Music Meets Technology

D．AI Music: From Composing to Performing

10 . According to research, about 21.5 million American children between the ages of six and seventeen are involved (参与的) in a team sport.     1     But regardless of the reasons for getting involved, children can gain a lot from sports.

A 2006 report shows that taking up sports can increase both emotional and behavioral well-being in teenagers. And increased well-being can lead to higher confidence, which results in better overall performance.     2     In addition, they usually get along well with people around them and are less likely to have bad or risky behavior.

    3     Through this process, children develop social and leadership skills and learn the value of teamwork. Children involved in sports usually have stronger and better relationships with their schoolmates and a better understanding of people from different backgrounds.

Actually, sports give children an opportunity to communicate with adults in valuable and positive ways, which can help them develop closer relationships with adults. This effect is especially great when children don’t get along well with their family members.     4    

Although most effects of sports on children are good, there can be disadvantages. If the pressure to win is overemphasized (过分强调) or the expectations of parents or coaches become too great, kids may experience lots of stress.     5     To avoid these bad effects, children should not overemphasize winning but focus on developing certain skills.

A．Being physically fit is linked to having a higher IQ.

B．They may take part in sports for fun or to develop some skills.

C．However, children hardly play sports when they become older.

D．It can cause worries, headaches, stomach aches, and muscle pain.

E．For example, children involved in sports are likely to do well in their studies.

F．Organized sports require children to work together to achieve a common goal.

G．Many children say sports have helped increase their conversations with parents.