1 . 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。

If there was one thing more than another that Brenda wanted for her birthday, it was a pair of skates. How she hoped her parents would give her a pair!

In vain (徒劳) her mother explained that Brenda might not learn to use them as easily as other children, and that she might fall many times and perhaps hurt herself before she could skate properly. Brenda wanted skates and that was that. She thought about skates all day and dreamed about skates all night. She pictured herself skating to school and home, skating to the stores for Mother, and skating all over the yard.

Her birthday came at last, and with it the precious package which she had been eager for. Before she opened it, she guessed there were skates inside. And there were — beautiful new shiny skates. Just her size, too. Brenda was on cloud nine. She felt she had never been so happy in all her life.

And now it was time to practice with them. Hardly was breakfast over when she was out on the smooth concrete(水泥地).“At last,”she thought,“I am going to skate! Hooray!”

Excitedly she put on her precious pairs of skates and eagerly she stood up. But only for a moment. Suddenly, to her great surprise, away went both her feet from under her. Down she went. Brenda stood up again. But hardly had she put one foot forward, when the other started running backward, and down she went again. This really hurt, and Brenda felt very much like crying. Slowly she got up once more despite the pain and started to walk with great care. But before she knew what was going on, she was sitting on the concrete again. She felt very sad, tears filling her eyes. All her hopes of skating to school and town like the other girls disappeared. She began to wish she had never asked for skates for her birthday. She cried, taking off the skates from her feet and throwing them inside the back door.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；

Mother saw all this and asked Brenda what was wrong.

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Slowly Brenda put on the skates, got up and tried again.

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2 . I came across an image recently of a distance runner with a message that told readers to persevere (坚持) at all costs. It reminded me of a conversation I had. My colleague’s teaching assistant was asking for my advice. He wanted to know when to quit something. He described how he’d been playing an online game with people for some time. It hadn’t been very fun lately, but there was always that small chance of a reward (upgraded equipment, etc).

I inquired further about his relationship with the players and his gains from the game. I then discussed the sunk cost dilemma, a concept I studied in advanced school due to its personal impact. In high school, I applied to five universities, planning to choose the cheapest one. SUU offered the best scholarship, and after paying a $100 commitment fee, I heard back from another school with an even better scholarship. Despite the new offer, I stayed committed to SUU, believing that switching schools, even if it meant acknowledging the “wasted” $ 100, would have been the wiser financial choice.

A rational (理性的) decision maker is not ruled by past investments, but weighs future outcomes. I didn’t focus on future outcomes when weighing colleges. I focused on the money I sunk into SUU. Rather than evaluating future career options, I focused on the fact that I’d already taken elementary education courses.

I’m not the only one that’s fallen prey to this. I wear clothes I dislike simply because I spent money on them (and that money won’t come back). Unhealthy relationships last because of the invested time (leading to more unhappy years). However, time, effort, or money that you’ve invested doesn’t mean you should continue. Society often stresses perseverance — never quit, never give up, don’t waste. However, only you know your right path. Walking away can be the toughest choice. You might realize a path you’re on is no longer the right one or never was.

1. Why does the author introduce a distance runner’s image at first?

A．To make a contrast.	B．To give a definition.
C．To draw a conclusion.	D．To illustrate a theory.

2. What is the common characteristic of a rational decision maker?

A．Following suit as most people.	B．Taking elementary education.
C．Valuing the development in future.	D．Overlooking past investments.

3. What does the underlined idiom “fallen prey to” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Get benefits from.

B．Be harmed by.

C．Be interested in.

D．Get rid of.

4. Which is the best title of the text?

A．Perseverance is a virtue	B．The chosen path is the toughest
C．Cut your losses for your winners	D．Walking away means losing all

3 . Once a year, I give my two children money. The only _______ is, they have to give it away. I give them each $100. They know it is a lot of money, so they are _______ how they use it. It is their job to find out who in our _______ is doing things that they feel good about, and then_______ who will get the money, and why.

Giving away money, even if it is only ten or twenty dollars, is a wonderful way to learn about the _______ work people are doing right in your own neighborhood. It makes us get out of our_______ zone, ask around, talk to people we wouldn’t _______ talk to, and ask questions about what the problems are and what people are doing to make them better. Everyone _______. My kids learn about the community and the power of giving. And people in the community, who are often volunteering their own time and money, feel that their efforts are seen and _______ in some way.

Last year, they both chose to give their money to a shelter for runaway ________. They visited a few places that ________ suggestions or instructions to young people, and felt this place was especially welcoming. When they handed the ________ to the director, who had no idea these children were “philanthropists (慈善家)”, everyone was in ________ how good the day turned out to be.

This exercise may be ________ as often as possible. It cannot possibly fail. You do not need to________ holidays, and you don’t need children. You can do it yourself, on any day you like.

1.

A．request

B．question

C．pity

D．action

2.

A．nervous

B．excited

C．careful

D．curious

3.

A．school

B．world

C．community

D．family

4.

A．record

B．decide

C．ask

D．remember

5.

A．physical

B．daily

C．hard

D．positive

6.

A．development

B．time

C．safety

D．comfort

7.

A．simply

B．normally

C．suddenly

D．accidentally

8.

A．gains

B．laughs

C．nods

D．talks

9.

A．impressed

B．honored

C．spared

D．made

10.

A．adults

B．teammates

C．teens

D．workers

11.

A．offered

B．collected

C．taught

D．created

12.

A．gift

B．box

C．list

D．money

13.

A．return

B．person

C．action

D．surprise

14.

A．spread

B．repeated

C．hosted

D．seen

15.

A．believe in

B．wish for

C．wait for

D．set aside

4 . Brent Ferguson owns Guitar Riot, a custom guitar store in Cleveland, Ohio. “I remember having music records when I was four or five years old,” says Brent Ferguson. “I was addicted to sitting in front of the music equipment and listening to music.”

Ferguson started Guitar Riot 12 years ago, after noting a lack of custom guitar stores in the area. A custom guitar is made carefully by a luthier, a person who makes guitars, violins and other stringed instruments according to a player’s exact requirements.

Ferguson has spent his life on music. He has played in bands and worked at other local guitar stores. He also was operations manager for Dr. Z Amplification, a store in nearby Maple Heights that sells musical instruments. He eventually decided to pursue (追求) is own business focusing on custom guitar sales.

Although Guitar Riot now sells mostly high-end custom guitars, that was not always the case. They had to achieve certain standards to become a high-end quality retailer (零售商).

“The guitar companies have requirements,” Ferguson said. “One is that we bring in a certain dollar amount. Another is the number of years a retailer has been in business.” Guitar Riot is now a retailer for respected guitar makers such as Gibson, Fender, Nash and Martin. The majority of the store’s business comes from online orders.

Over the years, many well-known musicians have bought their instruments from Guitar Riot. Jack White of the White Stripes, jazz musician Julian Lage, Tommy Henriksen of Alice Cooper, and Noel Gallagher of Oasis have all purchased custom guitars from the store.

Guitar Riot started out serving well-known guitarists, but Ferguson would like to reach new musicians, too. “When kids come in here who are interested in playing guitars,” Ferguson said, “we try to make it a positive experience for them. There definitely needs to be a younger generation interested in rock music.”

Guitar Riot is currently moving. Ferguson hopes that the new location will bring even more foot traffic to the store.

1. Why did Brent Ferguson start his guitar store?

A．To realize his childhood dream.	B．To learn to make guitars of high quality
C．To make music popular.	D．To meet the needs of people around.

2. What do we know about Ferguson?

A．He loves all his jobs.	B．He is a man of strong will.
C．He has gone through various hardships.	D．He has developed a close relationship with music.

3. How does Guitar Riot do its business?

A．It sells guitars mainly online.	B．It is targeted at young customers.
C．It sells other instruments besides guitars.	D．It provides creative ideas for respected makers.

4. What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 7 refer to?

A．Guitar teachers.	B．Kids.
C．Well-known guitarists.	D．Former musicians.

5 . About Scholastic Kids Press

Scholastic Kids Press is a group of talented kid reporters, ages 10-14, from across the country and around the world. Since 2000, our award-winning young journalists have reported “news for kids, by kids”, covering politics, entertainment the environment, sports and more in their hometowns and on the national stage. Their stories appear online and in Scholastic magazines, which reach more than 25 million students in classrooms nationwide.

Scholastic Kid Reporters have made headlines（头条）by interviewing Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, environmentalist Jane Goodall, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Dog Man author Dav Pilkey, actress Misty Copeland and more.

Contact Info

Email us at kidspress@scholastic.com.

How to apply?

We are now accepting Kid Reporter applications for the 2023-2024 program year. Learn more and download the application here.

The application to join Scholastic Kids Press includes writing a news story, story ideas and a personal article. Editors select Kid Reporters every year based on writing ability, interviewing skills and attention to detail.

To be considered, applicants must be between 10-14. Students in any part of the world are welcome to apply.

What do Scholastic Kid Reporters write about?

Throughout the year, Scholastic Kid Reporters cover issues and topics that matter most to them and their peers(同龄人). This includes current events, breaking news, entertainment, sports and more from their communities.

The Kid Reporter application is now open! Click here to learn more.

1. Why does the author mention some people in the second paragraph?

A．To show Scholastic Kid Reporters’ success.

B．To introduce Scholastic Kid Reporters’ various readers.

C．To prove Scholastic Kid Reporters’ effects on famous people.

D．To tell us the topics Scholastic Kid Reporters value.

2. What does Scholastic Kids Press pay much attention to about the applicants?

A．The place they come from.	B．Their age.
C．Their personal experience.	D．The language they speak.

3. What do Scholastic Kid Reporters mainly cover?

A．Skills in making delicious food.	B．Stories of their parents.
C．The most important things for kids.	D．Housework suitable for children.

6 . 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.     1    

Music can increase pain management. Listening to music can help increase your pain tolerance (耐痛性).     2     Listening to music can help you gain a sense of control over your ability to deal with pains. If you have a certain pain, for example, listening to music that you enjoy can help reduce the pain that you experience.

●    3     Listening to certain types of music, such as relaxing music, can naturally reduce both your heartbeat rate and breathing rate. Additionally, music has shown promising results as a treatment for heart disease. Whether it involves listening to music or composing music, the calming effect that music produces further improves your heart’s health by supporting it throughout the healing process.

●Music can reduce anxiety and depression     4     When it comes to anxiety and depression, music treatment can help to reduce the amount of stress hormones. For example, listening to music that you enjoy can naturally decrease the amount of cortisol (皮质醇) that your body releases.

●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.     5     By listening and singing along to music, kids who struggle to interact and communicate with others can practice using the very skills needed to do so.

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.

7 . On Oct. 11, hundreds of runners competed in a cross-country race in Minnesota. Melanie Bailey should have _________ the course earlier than she did. Her _________ came because she was carrying a _________ across the finish line.

As reported by a local newspaper, Bailey was more than two-thirds of the way through her _________ when a runner in front of her began crying in pain. She _________ to help her fellow runner, Danielle Lenoue. Bailey took her arm to see if she could walk forward with _________. She couldn’t. Bailey then _________ to let Lenoue climb onto her back and carried her all the way to the finish line, then another 300 feet to where Lenoue could get _________ attention.

Once there, Lenoue was _________ and later taken to a hospital, where she learned that she had serious injuries in one of her knees. She would have struggled with extreme __________ to make it to that aid checkpoint without Bailey’s help.

As for Bailey, she is more __________ about why her act is considered a big __________. “She was just crying. I couldn’t __________ her,” Bailey told the reporter. “I feel like I was just doing the right thing.”

Although the two young women were strangers before the __________, they’ve since become friends. Neither won the race, but the __________ of human kindness won the day.

1.

A．designed

B．followed

C．changed

D．finished

2.

A．delay

B．chance

C．trouble

D．excuse

3.

A．judge

B．volunteer

C．classmate

D．competitor

4.

A．race

B．school

C．town

D．training

5.

A．agreed

B．returned

C．stopped

D．promised

6.

A．courage

B．aid

C．patience

D．advice

7.

A．went away

B．stood up

C．stepped aside

D．bent down

8.

A．medical

B．public

C．constant

D．equal

9.

A．interrupted

B．assessed

C．identified

D．appreciated

10.

A．hunger

B．pain

C．cold

D．tiredness

11.

A．worried

B．ashamed

C．confused

D．discouraged

12.

A．game

B．problem

C．lesson

D．deal

13.

A．leave

B．cure

C．bother

D．understand

14.

A．ride

B．test

C．meet

D．show

15.

A．secret

B．display

C．benefit

D．exchange

8 . On March 7, 1907, the English statistician Francis Galton published a paper which illustrated what has come to be known as the “wisdom of crowds” effect. The experiment of estimation he conducted showed that in some cases, the average of a large number of independent estimates could be quite accurate.

This effect capitalizes on the fact that when people make errors, those errors aren’t always the same. Some people will tend to overestimate, and some to underestimate. When enough of these errors are averaged together, they cancel each other out, resulting in a more accurate estimate. If people are similar and tend to make the same errors, then their errors won’t cancel each other out. In more technical terms, the wisdom of crowds requires that people’s estimates be independent. If for whatever reasons, people’s errors become correlated or dependent, the accuracy of the estimate will go down.

But a new study led by Joaquin Navajas offered an interesting twist (转折) on this classic phenomenon. The key finding of the study was that when crowds were further divided into smaller groups that were allowed to have a discussion, the averages from these groups were more accurate than those from an equal number of independent individuals. For instance, the average obtained from the estimates of four discussion groups of five was significantly more accurate than the average obtained from 20 independent individuals.

In a follow-up study with 100 university students, the researchers tried to get a better sense of what the group members actually did in their discussion. Did they tend to go with those most confident about their estimates? Did they follow those least willing to change their minds? This happened some of the time, but it wasn’t the dominant response. Most frequently, the groups reported that they “shared arguments and reasoned together”. Somehow, these arguments and reasoning resulted in a global reduction in error. Although the studies led by Navajas have limitations and many questions remain, the potential implications for group discussion and decision-making are enormous.

1. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?

A．The methods of estimation.	B．The underlying logic of the effect.
C．The causes of people’s errors.	D．The design of Galton’s experiment.

2. Navajas’ study found that the average accuracy could increase even if ________.

A．the crowds were relatively small	B．there were occasional underestimates
C．individuals did not communicate	D．estimates were not fully independent

3. What did the follow-up study focus on?

A．The size of the groups.	B．The dominant members.
C．The discussion process.	D．The individual estimates.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward Navajas’ studies?

A．Unclear.

B．Dismissive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Approving.

9 . The goal of this book is to make the case for digital minimalism, including a detailed exploration of what it asks and why it works, and then to teach you how to adopt this philosophy if you decide it’s right for you.

To do so, I divided the book into two parts. In part one, I describe the philosophical foundations of digital minimalism, starting with an examination of the forces that are making so many people’s digital lives increasingly intolerable, before moving on to a detailed discussion of the digital minimalism philosophy.

Part one concludes by introducing my suggested method for adopting this philosophy: the digital declutter. This process requires you to step away from optional online activities for thirty days. At the end of the thirty days, you will then add back a small number of carefully chosen online activities that you believe will provide massive benefits to the things you value.

In the final chapter of part one, I’ll guide you through carrying out your own digital declutter. In doing so, I’ll draw on an experiment I ran in 2018 in which over 1,600 people agreed to perform a digital declutter. You’ll hear these participants’ stories and learn what strategies worked well for them, and what traps they encountered that you should avoid.

The second part of this book takes a closer look at some ideas that will help you cultivate (培养) a sustainable digital minimalism lifestyle. In these chapters, I examine issues such as the importance of solitude (独处) and the necessity of cultivating high-quality leisure to replace the time most now spent on mindless device use. Each chapter concludes with a collection of practices, which are designed to help you act on the big ideas of the chapter. You can view these practices as a toolbox meant to aid your efforts to build a minimalist lifestyle that works for your particular circumstances.

1. What is the book aimed at?

A．Teaching critical thinking skills.	B．Advocating a simple digital lifestyle.
C．Solving philosophical problems.	D．Promoting the use of a digital device.

2. What does the underlined word “declutter” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Clear-up.

B．Add-on.

C．Check-in.

D．Take-over.

3. What is presented in the final chapter of part one?

A．Theoretical models.	B．Statistical methods.
C．Practical examples.	D．Historical analyses.

4. What does the author suggest readers do with the practices offered in part two?

A．Use them as needed.	B．Recommend them to friends.
C．Evaluate their effects.	D．Identify the ideas behind them.

10 . When John Todd was a child, he loved to explore the woods around his house, observing how nature solved problems. A dirty stream, for example, often became clear after flowing through plants and along rocks where tiny creatures lived. When he got older, John started to wonder if this process could be used to clean up the messes people were making.

After studying agriculture, medicine, and fisheries in college, John went back to observing nature and asking questions. Why can certain plants trap harmful bacteria (细菌)? Which kinds of fish can eat cancer-causing chemicals? With the right combination of animals and plants, he figured, maybe he could clean up waste the way nature did. He decided to build what he would later call an eco-machine.

The task John set for himself was to remove harmful substances from some sludge (污泥). First, he constructed a series of clear fiberglass tanks connected to each other. Then he went around to local ponds and streams and brought back some plants and animals. He placed them in the tanks and waited. Little by little, these different kinds of life got used to one another and formed their own ecosystem. After a few weeks, John added the sludge.

He was amazed at the results. The plants and animals in the eco-machine took the sludge as food and began to eat it! Within weeks, it had all been digested, and all that was left was pure water.

Over the years, John has taken on many big jobs. He developed a greenhouse — like facility that treated sewage (污水) from 1,600 homes in South Burlington. He also designed an eco-machine to clean canal water in Fuzhou, a city in southeast China.

“Ecological design” is the name John gives to what he does. “Life on Earth is kind of a box of spare parts for the inventor,” he says. “You put organisms in new relationships and observe what’s happening. Then you let these new systems develop their own ways to self-repair.”

1. What can we learn about John from the first two paragraphs?

A．He was fond of traveling.	B．He enjoyed being alone.
C．He had an inquiring mind.	D．He longed to be a doctor.

2. Why did John put the sludge into the tanks?

A．To feed the animals.	B．To build an ecosystem.
C．To protect the plants.	D．To test the eco-machine.

3. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Fuzhou?

A．To review John’s research plans.	B．To show an application of John’s idea.
C．To compare John’s different jobs.	D．To erase doubts about John’s invention.

4. What is the basis for John’s work?

A．Nature can repair itself.	B．Organisms need water to survive.
C．Life on Earth is diverse.	D．Most tiny creatures live in groups.