My husband and I enjoy seeing life through the eyes of our children. It’s amazing to watch as they discover their world.
While we were outdoors last summer enjoying the sunshine, our oldest daughter, Kaytlin, called me to the doorway. Beneath the steps was a baby red squirrel.
We watched it from a distance, not wanting to disturb it or scare off its mother. But after a long wait—and looking all around our house for signs of a nest or a mother—we realized the tiny squirrel was lost.
Shaking terribly, he was weak, thin, and hungry. We tried to find an expert to help, but the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website showed that there were no wildlife experts in our area. After some quick research, we concluded that the best way to give the squirrel a fighting chance was to care for him ourselves. So a trip to the local store for milk and supplies was in order. More research taught us how much to feed him, how to estimate his age, how and when to wean (断奶) him, and that we should let him go as soon as he could survive on his own.
Our daughters and I took turns in feeding “Squirt.” Kaytlin took on the most responsibility. She taught him to eat from a bottle, and she woke in the night for his feeds.
To our relief, Squirt soon became healthy and strong. Within a few weeks he became more active. He would chatter (吱吱叫) for his next meal, playfully go around the girls, and lie down on them for sleep. It wasn’t long before he was weaned onto solid food and reintroduced to the wild.
His first few visits to the great outdoors were funny. Just like a child, he would play in the grass some and then run back to Kaytlin for safety. Soon she had him climbing trees and finding nest material.
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。
One day in the trees, Squirt met up with a family of gray squirrels.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One night, Squirt didn’t come back to our house and it rained hard.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . On a long trip to Brisbane we stopped into a service station in Kilcoy for a bathroom break and some fuel. We went into the shop to the bathroom first and then the
He told my son that he loved his moves and it was a
Not many people
| A．company | B．counter | C．apartment | D．hall |
| A．tending | B．pointing | C．singing | D．adapting |
| A．used | B．addicted | C．devoted | D．opposed |
| A．clear | B．change | C．read | D．cross |
| A．expanded on | B．concentrated on | C．commented on | D．insisted on |
| A．mistake | B．delight | C．pity | D．comfort |
| A．frustrated | B．pleased | C．annoyed | D．tired |
| A．thanked | B．accepted | C．invited | D．assisted |
| A．prize | B．treasure | C．treat | D．pleasure |
| A．tough | B．significant | C．typical | D．small |
| A．take | B．draw | C．waste | D．use |
| A．outgoing | B．willing | C．optimistic | D．energetic |
| A．hopefully | B．slightly | C．curiously | D．obviously |
| A．gesture | B．attitude | C．thought | D．determination |
| A．help | B．build | C．make | D．ruin |
3 . Some travelers are itching to escape the season’s bitter weather. If you want to find the locale that best suits your winter vacation, use these ideas to start planning your getaway.
Honolulu - Oahu
As temperatures begin to drop in other parts of the world, Hawaii’s capital city remains comfortable thanks to average highs in the low to 80 degrees. Visit Chinatown for festive Chinese New Year celebrations, or marvel at the Honolulu City Lights, a month-long Christmas display at Honolulu’s city hall. Keep in mind that winter is the island’s high season, so make your reservations early and expect to share the sand with lots of other sun-seeking travelers.
Sydney
Sydney’s summer begins in December and lasts through February, making this a popular destination for tourists escaping the Northern Hemisphere’s chilly winter weather. Average daytime temperatures hover between the mid-70s and low 80s. This time of year also features a packed events calendar, with can’t-miss sporting events and celebrations like the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix and Sydney’s famed New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Remember to book your tickets early, as this can be a pricey and popular time to visit Australia.
Galápagos Islands
Winter in the Galápagos Islands is marked by warm weather and ample opportunities to view wildlife, snorkel and scuba dive. Although this is technically the wet season, the sun shines most days and rain showers are brief. Plan on visiting in December to see newly hatched giant tortoises and male marine lizards displaying vivid colors. For a bit more action, arrive in February to celebrate Carnival on Santa Cruz Island. To read more, click here.
1. What do Oahu and Galapagos Islands have in common?| A．International sports events. | B．Warm sunshine. |
| C．Diverse wildlife. | D．Festive city lights. |
| A．Book your tickets early to Australia. | B．Arrive in Galápagos Islands by February. |
| C．Visit Chinatown in the city of Honolulu. | D．Make your reservations early to Hawaii. |
| A．An entertainment magazine. | B．A tourist brochure. |
| C．A travel agency website. | D．A pre-travel checklist. |
4 . The streets of Cotonou, Benin’s largest city, have been Domingo Soule’s workplace for 35 years. The 50-year-old motorcycle taxi driver spends his days driving for miles on roads blanketed in exhaust fumes (尾气), picking up customers and taking them to where they want to go. But Soule has developed a cough from breathing in air pollution, he believes, and at the end of each day his eyes hurt.
Things maybe about to change, however. In recent months, he’s seen more and more electric motorbikes on the streets of Cotonou. The Indian manufacturer (制造商) M Auto introduced its electric bikes in Benin in July 2022 and there are already 2,000 on the roads; an additional 2,000 people have paid deposits (定金) and are waiting for delivery.
Shegun Bakari, M Auto’s chief executive, has ambitions to get all moto-taxi drivers in Benin to switch to electric. This month he plans to launch a campaign to encourage them to swap (交换) their old bikes for new electric models.
The only sticking point is the battery. M Auto’s business model relies on “swap stations” throughout the city. When the battery runs out after about 60 miles, drivers must visit a station and pay to exchange the empty battery for a full one. Concerns about the battery are also preventing Soule form buying an electric bike. It could cost him 4,000 CFA ￡(5.40) a day to replace batteries, Soule says, whereas at the moment he can buy five litres of petrol (enough for one day) for 3,000CFA.
Bakari understands his concerns. In Beni, close to 40% of the population live under the poverty line, earning less than US$2 a day. “If I’m living with $2 a day, I can’t afford to pay more just because I want to save the planet,” he says.
He and his team are working to persuade governments in Africa to reduce taxes on electric vehicles, as well as putting plans in place to produce the electric bikes in Benin. They are also in talks with the government to build a solar plant to provide the extra energy that will be needed.
1. What does the author want to show by telling Soule’s story?| A．Air pollution becomes a health issue. |
| B．Road conditions badly need improving. |
| C．Taxi drivers find it hard to make a living. |
| D．Motorbikes area major means of transport. |
| A．Riding old bikes. | B．Building more roads. |
| C．Banning them on road. | D．Moving to electric bikes. |
| A．Short battery life. | B．Battery safety. |
| C．Insufficient charging points. | D．High battery replacement cost. |
| A．Create more job opportunities. | B．Make electric bikes affordable. |
| C．Cutback on fuel supplies. | D．Improve taxi drivers’ welfare. |
5 . Every community has an ice cream store, but not all of them have a mission. When Charles Foreman opened his store, Everyday Sundae, he had a goal in mind, “My objective is to make a positive impact in my community by treating people like family and remembering them,” he said.
With his business slogan,“A place for community,” Foreman’s store has quickly gained a devoted following. Customers visit to enjoy their favorite flavors; artwork and cards from them decorate the walls; and some purchase their paper napkins there to support the store. Foreman has also organized events like storybook readings accompanied by sweet treats for children. What truly sets this business apart is the free ice cream that Foreman generously gives out.
“You know when they come in, you can see it. It was natural to notice some of the kids have it and others don’t. So I’m going to sponsor them.” Foreman said as he talked about how he can tell when a visitor wants a treat they can’t afford.“I just want to do some positive things. I believe my community is missing a family-friendly ice cream shop.”
One day, Nicole Harkin, one of his regular customers, noticed Foreman give a free ice cream to children without money. For Foreman, this was a constant gesture that had just gone unnoticed, but Harkin reacted with surprise. She came back and handed him an envelope containing 100 dollars. Foreman was so touched by Harkin’s gift that he posted it on Instagram. Foreman and Harkin’s kind behaviors also moved other customers to cover Foreman’s free ice creams for people they didn’t know. Foreman’s ice cream fund has received many donations since then.
“When you see people doing their best, you want to do your best,” Foreman said. “Everything is contagious, whether you do something negative or positive. We’re supposed to do all we can to help each other.”
1. Why was Charles Foreman’s store so special?| A．It provides free goods to the community. | B．It offers children ice cream for free. |
| C．It is a place to show creativity. | D．It collects donations from others. |
| A．The motive for his generous action. | B．The sympathy for those poor children. |
| C．The urge for an ice cream shop. | D．The methods to help those in need. |
| A．A report on his unnoticed gesture. | B．An envelope with a letter in it. |
| C．A post of someone’s generous action. | D．A game between him and his customer. |
| A．Critical. | B．Influential. | C．Precious. | D．Optimistic. |
6 . Dan Mancina is a professional skateboarder known for being visually impaired and sharing clips of his skating on Instagram. He has a large following of fans, all
The Michigan native started skating at 7, and took it more
He stopped skating for a couple of years. This was the
One day, he wanted to see if he could still skate, so he
In order to help make skateboarding more
“I’m honored I can be a (n)
| A．eager | B．nervous | C．cautious | D．hesitant |
| A．gratitude | B．admiration | C．reflection | D．approval |
| A．exactly | B．severely | C．honestly | D．seriously |
| A．earn | B．check | C．affect | D．promote |
| A．fortune | B．temper | C．thought | D．sight |
| A．lowest | B．starting | C．finishing | D．highest |
| A．Other than | B．Apart from | C．Rather than | D．Regardless of |
| A．objected | B．returned | C．admitted | D．contributed |
| A．filmed | B．developed | C．watched | D．replaced |
| A．imitated | B．changed | C．shared | D．involved |
| A．achievable | B．affordable | C．bearable | D．accessible |
| A．permission | B．competition | C．assignment | D．campaign |
| A．raised | B．distributed | C．spent | D．wasted |
| A．examining | B．running | C．counting | D．exploring |
| A．signal | B．alarm | C．voice | D．surprise |
7 . How to prepare for a thrilling hike? Hiking needs mental and physical preparation weeks before the material day. If you’re a fan of hiking mountains. Here is a guide to help you.
Train hard and train in timeYou need to train your body at least three months before the challenge.
You must consider various factors before purchasing the most appropriate hiking shoes. First, mind the terrain (地形) of the hiking ground. A mild terrain will do fine with light shoes. On the other hand. A tough, hard and mountainous terrain require hardy hots to help navigate the rocky grounds.
Adequately pack your bagYour bag is your lifeline when hiking. Water is the most essential itch when hiking. The body performs best when you hydrate frequently throughout the challenge. Carry adequate clean water and sip often.
Hiking is a refreshing way of keeping fit, having fun and building resilience.
| A．Choose appropriate footwear |
| B．Search for the route you will he hiking |
| C．Carry a compass, a map and a gas with you |
| D．Adequate water can help you be in good con lit ion |
| E．create a regular schedule and be disciplined to follow it |
| F．Wear appropriate clothes that allow your free movement |
| G．Adequate planning will help have a fantastic experience of it |
Aside from teacups and rice bowls, China doesn’t do anything on a small scale. Sure enough, their recently-completed solar power array in Ningxia is huge.
The Ningxia array is the first of several giant renewable energy projects planned for
China Energy Investment Corp says it is the first solar farm in the country
Like most rural Chinese provinces, Ningxia, along with Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia — the provinces
An Outdoor Trip That Speaks Louder Than A Regular Class
One day, as Jack, a science teacher, stressed the pressing need for protecting Tangerine Darters, a kind of fish, students in his class seemed uninterested and bored. Jack continued, but his students showed little enthusiasm.
He paused for a moment, allowing the silence to settle in the classroom. Then he went on in a different way.
“Imagine,” Jack began, his voice filled with passion, “the feeling of wading (趟水) through the clear shallow waters of Pigeon River, surrounded by the gentle sunlight. Picture the colors of the Tangerine Darters as they gracefully swim through the currents, their orange bellies (肚子) shining like rays of sunshine, or in that moment, a Tangerine Darter in your hands, its orange belly shining in the sunlight.” He painted a vivid picture with his words. Curiosity lit in his students’ eyes as they bent forward, eager to know more.
Jack continued, “The darters are very picky about their habitats. The place where they live should be very clean, and slight pollution could drive them away or even endanger their very existence.”
As Jack spoke, his passion spread quickly among his students, who started to ask questions, wanting to know more about the Tangerine Darters. Inspired by their newfound interest, Jack had an idea. Why not take students to the Pigeon River, where they can witness the beauty of the Tangerine Darters firsthand?
A week later, they were on the trip to the Pigeon River in Canton, North Carolina, where the environment was well preserved in comparison with other industrial areas.
Sunshine bounced off the Pigeon River, and cool water flowed over rocks and boulders (卵石)—the preferred habitat of Tangerine Darters. With Jack, it was the first time that the students had stood in the shallow water, eager to see their target of this fish eco logy class field trip.
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。
Suddenly, Jack bent and quickly caught a fish.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Seeing the students’ interested looks, Jack raised a question.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Whether we notice it or not, our child is a little reflection of ourselves. They grow up looking more and more like us. They even have similar personalities and hobbies. And in some cases, the standard of choosing a good friend.
One day, my 10-year-old Jane said, “Mom, I made a new friend at school today. Can she come over tomorrow?” Her words made me extremely happy because Jane was a shy girl and I wanted her to make some friends to bring her out of her shell.
“Sure, honey, that sounds great.” I said, thinking back to my own childhood best friend, Susan. We lived across the street from each other in Washington Heights, New York. We met at the age of 10, too. Like my daughter. I was shy and had trouble making friends. But Susan drew me out. She was one of the friendliest people in school, with shiny black hair and a mile-wide smile. Thanks to Susan. I was happy every day.
In senior high school, Susan went on a trip to Florida. This was the first time we had to be away from each other for a few days. “I’ll be back soon and I will write to you as soon as I arrive.” she told me. But I didn’t get her phone call nor receive any mail from her. Soon, my family moved to New Jersey, making my hope of seeing Susan impossible.
Whenever I thought of him, tears came into my eyes.
The next day Jane brought her new friend home. “Hi, Mrs. Smith.” the little girl said. Her hair was so shiny and black and she gave me a big smile. “My name is Jo. My mom will pick me up 2 hours later.”
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。
Paragraph1:
I was puzzled because my daughter’s new friend looked so familiar.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
Two hours passed really quickly, and there was a knock on the door.
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