1 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.

Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.

These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.

So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.

1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?

A．About 9.6 hours.	B．About 12 hours.
C．About 15.9 hours.	D．About 21.2 hours.

2. What can we know from the new study?

A．Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids,

B．Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days.

C．Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education.

D．Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do.

3. How long did fathers with college education spend with kids a month before 1995?

A．About 4.5 hours.	B．Less than 9 hours.
C．About 13.5 hours.	D．About 18 hours.

4. What do kids care about according to the text?

A．They care about how much money their parents can make.

B．They care about how much time their parents spend with them.

C．They care if their parents are really with them.

D．They care if their parents can give them a better life.

2 . 阅读下面短文，根据Wonder故事情节或括号内的提示，在空白处填入1个适当的单词。

J. Palacio bases Wonder on August or “Auggie” Pullman, a ten-year-old boy born with a deformed (残缺的) face that made him usually discriminated (歧视) against. Due to the twenty-seven     1    , he was forced to be homeschooled. Before learning officially in Beecher Prep, August went to meet the principal, Mr. Tushman, who invited three kids in the same grade to take him on a school tour.     2     (a boy’s name) and Charlotte were nice, but Julian was noticeably rude. Then August struggled in the first few months of school, especially when he realized there existed a rumor (谣言) that touching him would catch the “     3    ”. Luckily, he still befriended Jack and     4     (a girl’s name) who sat with him at lunchtime. Things, however, got a lot worse on     5     typically August’s favorite day. He overheard Jack badmouthing him while he was disguised in Bleeding Scream costume. August’s fragile world came tumbling (坍塌) down with this betrayal, and he stopped going to school. Eventually,     6     (August’s sister’s name) convinced (说服) him not to let the bullies (霸凌) win. August returned to school and later learned that Jack stood up for him by     7     Julian who made the entire class against Jack. But Summer, August, and Jack grew closer as real friends. Later during a school     8    , a group of older kids assaulted (袭击) August when Henry, Miles, and Amos protected him. It was at that time that August realized that he had more friends than he thought. With time, Auggie fit in within the school system and other students began to notice how brilliant he was. At the graduation ceremony, August received an     9     for bravery and kindness. Now, everyone knew him for who he was as a person and not for what he looked like. At the end of the narrative (叙述), August’s mom thanked him for being such “a     10    ” to others.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the speaker go on the tour?

A．It was the prize of a competition.

B．John asked her to go with him.

C．It was her travel plan.

2. What did the speaker dislike about the hotel?

A．The drinks.

B．The food.

C．The waiters.

3. What did the speaker think of the trip to the museum?

A．Disappointing.

B．Amazing.

C．Terrible.

4. What did the speaker do in the second week?

A．She rode an elephant.

B．She went to the mountains.

C．She relaxed in the hotel.

4 . Dragons, a famous imaginary beast born from fantasy, are often present in stories in the west and east. In both cultures, dragons are generally recognized as massive creatures capable of flight. They have great power and are often associated with magical abilities. However, due to their different cultural roots and images, there exist significant differences in the way dragons are regarded in the west and east, particularly in China.

Chinese dragons most resemble snakes, and have four claws and no wings. They often have features of other animals, including carp, tigers, and eagles. In the contrast, Western dragons look like huge lizards with big claws and large bat-like wings, and are often shown with spines or rough scales.

In traditional Chinese culture, a dragon is a symbol of luck, power and high status. They can cause weather changes and bring rainfall to the fields to ensure rich harvests. They are considered divine (神圣的) creatures, which hold an important position as the head of the four spirits. Therefore, to symbolize their power, ancient Chinese emperors decorated their clothes with dragon patterns. These clothes are known as dragon robes. Many Chinese view the dragon as a national symbol, proudly referring to themselves as “descendants of the dragon”. In the west, however, a dragon symbolizes an evil creature that spreads violence and terror throughout the land. They are believed to be transformed by the devil, with the ability to breathe fire or spit poison. Many western tales show dragons being defeated and killed to protect people from danger.

Today, dragons continue to evolve, exceeding traditional boundaries and finding new significance in global culture. They are no longer associated with evil or good, but rather as complex characters with their own unique personalities and motivations. For example, Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon begins as a dangerous dragon but evolves into a misunderstood being with love and compassion. This challenges the idea of dragons as naturally evil, presenting them as complex beings with emotions and motivations.

1. What do western dragons and eastern dragons have in common?

A．They have rough skin.	B．They are huge and powerful.
C．They are in the shape of snakes.	D．They have big claws and wings.

2. What do we know from paragraph 3?

A．Western dragons are a symbol of authority.

B．Dragons in China can protect people from danger.

C．Chinese dragons can control rainfall and breathe fire.

D．Dragons are believed to cause chaos in western culture.

3. What is new about dragons in today’s global culture?

A．They are regarded as adventurous creatures.

B．They are closely associated with evil or good.

C．They have more diverse emotions and personalities.

D．They tend to represent human spirits facing challenges.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．The Dragon Elements in Global Culture

B．The Origin of Dragons in Chinese History

C．The Magical Animals in Different Countries

D．The Images of Dragons in Western Traditions

5 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.

As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.

However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external specialists,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone — not just those with low EI—would benefit everyone.”

1. What surprised the researchers most during MacCann’s study?

A．Intelligence mattered more than EI for academic success.

B．EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages.

C．College students benefited more from EI than pupils.

D．Personality affected academic performance greatly.

2. What can be a reason for the conclusion of MacCann’s study?

A．High-EI students hardly experience negative emotions.

B．High-EI students seldom develop social relationships.

C．High-EI students tend to easily focus on their study.

D．High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects.

3. What does MacCann suggest in the last paragraph?

A．Equipping teachers with emotional skills.

B．Designing tests to identify students with low EI.

C．Developing special programs for students with low EI.

D．Employing emotional specialists to give training to students.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Should EI be taught in school?

B．How can students develop high EI?

C．Students with high EI do better in school

D．Good students do better in managing emotions

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who use camels in their sports?

A．Americans.

B．The Arabs.

C．Chinese people.

2. Which sport listed below has the longest history?

A．Baseball.

B．Basketball.

C．Running.

3. How old is volleyball sport?

A．Below 200 years.

B．About 300 years.

C．Over 1, 000 years.

4. What often comes out of a game in the speaker’s opinion?

A．War.

B．Pride.

C．Friendship.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. In which place did Lisa find the wallet?

A．A park.

B．A parking lot.

C．A shopping mall.

2. What is inside the wallet?

A．A photo of a person.

B．Some paper and an ID card.

C．Some money and business cards.

3. Who does the wallet probably belong to?

A．A businessman.

B．An old lady.

C．A school boy.

4. How will Lisa get in touch with the wallet's owner?

A．By making a telephone call.

B．By asking the police for help.

C．By waiting where she found the wallet.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the speakers?

A．In a car.

B．At home.

C．At Grandma’s house.

2. What is Grandma’s specialty for Thanksgiving?

A．Roast chicken.

B．Apple pie.

C．Fried fish.

3. How does the boy sound in the end?

A．Excited.

B．Surprised.

C．Calm.

4. What do we know about the boy’s dad?

A．He will go to Grandma’s house by himself.

B．He made some cornbread for Thanksgiving.

C．He has just finished a business trip.

9 . Soap (肥皂) might seem like a reasonable way to avoid mosquito bites (蚊子叮) on the basis that if mosquitoes can’t smell you, they can’t bite you. However, a recent study has found that rather than protecting you, certain soaps might actually make you more attractive to mosquitoes.

In the study, conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, four volunteers were asked to wear a sleeve before and after washing with four different brands of soap. The researchers then watched female mosquitoes as only females feed on blood landing on the fabric sample to show their preference. They found that some people washing with some brands of soap, increased their attractiveness to mosquitoes, while washing with other brands of soap tended to repel (驱除) mosquitoes. The repellent effect of some soap may be due to its coconut scent, as coconut oil is known to act as a natural mosquito repellent. The reason behind this attraction is believed to be related to mosquitoes’ sugar intake. When mosquitoes are not feeding on blood, they add their diet with plant juice or sweet water from flowers, “The fact we are taking those flowery and fruity smells and putting them on our bodies means that now the same object smells like a flower and a person at the same time,” said Clément Vinauger, who led the study. It would be like waking up and smelling the smell of coffee and bread, very attractive.

Interestingly, the effects of the soap varied among people, possibly due to the interaction (相互作用) between the soap and each person’s unique body scent. “It’s remarkable that the same person that is extremely attractive to mosquitoes when he is unwashed, but he becomes even more attractive to mosquitoes with one soap, and then become repellent to mosquitoes with another soap,” said Vinauger. Further research is needed to better understand the interaction between different soap and body scents, as well as to develop more effective mosquito repellents.

1. What has the study found?

A．Soap attracts many mosquitoes.	B．Male mosquitoes feed on blood.
C．Some plants drive away mosquitoes.	D．Not all soap can stop mosquito bites.

2. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By observing the mosquitoes’ behaviour.	B．By exploring the history of mosquitoes.
C．By interviewing a lot of volunteers.	D．By examining old studies.

3. Why did Vinauger mention coffee and bread?

A．To stress the importance of breakfast.

B．To discuss their probable health benefits.

C．To compare the difference of objects used in the study.

D．To prove the attractiveness of some soap to mosquitoes.

4. In which section of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Health.

B．Chemistry.

C．Sports.

D．Tour.

10 . Keeping animals safe on the road

Roadkill is not a rare sight when driving down most highways and sometimes also on roadways in cities.     1    . A recent study has measured, for the first time, the damage that can be caused to animals in urban areas on China’s fast-developing road network.

    2    . Li Zhongqiu and his team from Nanjing University’s School of Life looked at the problem in cities, where roadkill could have an even larger impact.

They chose Nanjing as the study subject, where there are more than 9,700 kilometers of paved roads. A total of nine roads were chosen for the research, including three national highways.     3    . The researchers then monitored the roads every two weeks over a year. The team recorded a total of 293 individual roadkill cases. Birds made up nearly half the total, making them the most susceptible (易受影响的) group to roadkill.     4    . “This may be owing to the large number of stray (流浪的) cats and dogs in urban areas,” Li said. “Abandoned pets are more likely to wander into traffic.” Also, there are a large number of black birds in East China, and they can be attracted by flies or other insects, leading to further accidents.     5    . This may be owing to the fact that some warm-blooded animals have to go out and search for food during these times when food is hard to find. “Roadkill has resulted in the decline (下降) of urban animal populations and must be taken seriously,” Li said. The researchers also call on policymakers to put forward related traffic rules and animal protection rules, such as speed limits and traffic controls.

A．You may not feel good about seeing roadkill

B．The object is to educate people about road safety

C．The length of the roads combined was over 224.27 kilometers

D．It refers to animals being hit by cars or other vehicles by accident.

E．Cats, dogs and blackbirds were the three commonly killed animals

F．In the past, research in China focused on roadkill in nature reserves

G．Roadkill incidents are more likely to happen in November and January