3 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. wonder   B. regular   C. doubt D. physically E. breathing F. wealth G. functioning   H. flexibility I. flow J. generally K. mood

Sometimes it’s the simplest daily practice that can have the biggest impact on your health, and yoga is proof of that. Although most forms of yoga aren’t considered to be as intense as other workout regimens, practising yoga on a daily basis has been scientifically demonstrated to help you mentally and     1    . Through breath work, meditation and holding poses that increase strength and     2    the body and mind gain benefits from yoga that positively impact your long-term health. It’s no     3    people have been practising yoga for over 5000 years, and that the number of Australians practising yoga doubled between 2008 and 2017 to over two million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Yoga teacher, Jenni Tarmar, shares, “we have a     4    of research demonstrating that a regular mindfulness practice - the act of paying attention to the sensation in the body, thoughts and emotions without judgment - can reduce stress and help us to feel calmer, more productive, and     5    more even-keeled in our daily lives.”

After evaluating yoga history and research, one 2014 review published in Frontiers in Human Neouroscience concluded that     6    yoga practice can help facilitate self-regulation. Another study of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 found that practising yoga positively benefited emotional regulation and self-esteem. “Movement releases beneficial neurotransmitters (神经转发器) in the brain, which helps us feel good as well as assist in     7    regulation,” says yoga instructor, Evan Lawrence. “One of the things that I like about yoga specifically is that there is, at the same time, a focus on physical movement and     8    .”

According to associate professor of psychiatry, Dr Gail Saltz, “practising yoga improves overall blood     9    to the body, including the brain, which is helpful for cognition and memory.”

One 2019 review published in Brain Plasticity concluded that behavioural interventions like yoga can help “mitigate age-related and neurodegenerative decline” due to the positive effects a daily practice has on different parts of the     10    brain, like the hippocampus (which plays a major role in learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (cognitive control functions).

4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. allowing   B. detectable   C. hazard     D. irresponsible E. linked    F. optimism   G. punishing   H. routes     I. sowed     J. unavoidable   K. widespread

Time for a clean-up

You are probably aware of the term “forever chemicals”, if not entirely clear on the specifics. What they are is a class of around 16, 000 artificial compounds called PFAS that break down very slowly, if at all in the environment and our bodies. They are extremely useful, but also a potential     1     to wildlife and human health. After more than 80 years of     2     and often unlimited use, PFAS pollution is more or less everywhere, from the soil on our farms to the rain that waters them. In all likelihood, you have a(n)     3     amount of these chemicals in your body.

A growing body of research has     4     exposure to some types of PFAS to harmful effects, such as kidney disease, immune dysfunction and certain types of cancer. Just a few parts per trillion of some forms accumulated over time is enough to be damaging. Moreover, exposure is more or less     5    . Skipping greaseproof (防油的) packaging or filtering tap water may limit acute exposure, but there are many other pollution     6    . In any case, for most of us, it is already too late.

How did we let it come to this? To some extent, society is reaping what it     7     by permitting so many novel chemicals to be released without a proper system to test their safety first. That has to change, and not just for PFAS. Time and again we find, too late, that industrial chemicals are harmful—as now seems the case with those in some climbing shoes—while     8     the firms that make them to carry on business as usual. There is nothing illegal in that. Nevertheless, the PFAS industry has been extremely     9    . There is good evidence that some producers have known for decades that the chemicals could cause harm, but actively confuse that knowledge. As the science of PFAS advances, there is     10     that they can be replaced, as well as rounded up (聚集) from the environment and destroyed.

5 . Directions: Complete the following paragraphs by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. peaked          B. faintest          C. factor          D. accumulating        E. masked F. expands          G. lighten          H. tricky          I. phenomena            J. unimaginable K. emitted

Astronomers measure total starlight

All the light from all the stars that have ever existed. It is a quantity of     1     magnitude (数值), but now astronomers have put a number on it.

From the earliest,     2     stars, to the largest galaxies, an international team has managed to measure the total amount of starlight     3     over the entire 13.7bn-year history of the universe.

The astronomers based their calculation on measurements of the extragalactic background light (EBL), a cosmic fog of radiation that has been     4     since stars first illuminated (照亮) the dark, vast expanse of space. More than 90% of starlight ends up surviving in this dim backdrop of radiation. Since it was     5     by the light from nearby stars, though, the EBL has proved     6     to investigate.

The latest observations, collected over nine years by Nasa’s Fermi space telescope, use the light from blazars—super—massive black holes that emit powerful jets of gamma rays—as beacons (信号灯) to     7     the cosmic fog. They are so bright they can shine across almost the whole observable universe.

One added complication was that, while starlight is accumulating over time, the cosmic fog is simultaneously being diluted as the universe     8     and space itself is stretched out. Overall, the fog is still getting denser. This, and other complex     9     were factored in using a computer model.

The measurements suggest that star formation     10     about 11bn years ago and has been on the decline ever since. About seven new stars are created in our Milky Way galaxy every year.

6 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. alternative       B. astonishing             C. computerized       D. contribution             E. developing F. rate             G. modified             H. perfect          I. reject          J. relevance          K. sufficient

Using animals to test drugs intended for humans is controversial, with critics arguing there are other ways to ensure new medicines are safe and effective. But the scientists who carry out the research say animal studies remain necessary. Statistics indicate that in the UK around three million mice are being used for research and tens of millions worldwide.

Despite the difference in appearances, the genetic similarities with humans are     1    . The mouse genome (基因组) shares over 95% of its genes with humans. The animal acts as a “model”, genetically     2     to develop a human disease. But the use of mice, like any animal, in research is criticized by some.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) is one of the groups that campaigns for an end to the use of animals in research. “We would argue that it is extremely outdated, and not very good science for humans,” says Fleur Dawes of ADI. Ms. Dawes believes the suffering that the animals go through does not legalize their     3     to science and medicine for humans.” There is a big problem with that because there are huge differences between the species. And even though there are similarities with humans and mice, they react very differently to each other when experimented on. So what works in one animal is not an indication that that is how things work in other animals.”

However, Dr. Wells from Mary Lyon Centre (MLC) says they are constantly trying to     4     the process to reduce the suffering of mice.” If it’s a procedure where you can anaesthetize (麻醉) the mice, then you do it to reduce their stress. And if there is a (n)     5     method that doesn’t involve mice, you are not legally and normally allowed to do the procedure.”

If we     6     animal research, are there alternatives? Dr. Wells says, “There is a massive field     7     on alternatives, and we are very supportive of that field and we always keep track of what is going on in that field, because maybe we can replace one of our models. “Those alternatives include chips on human organs to study their function, micro-dosing treatments in humans and     8     models.” Lots of people say that there is a computer now to model what is going to happen in diseases,” Dr. Wells adds, “But we still don’t know enough to program those computers with     9     knowledge to be able to model what’s happening in every disease.”

Fleur Dawes agrees one alternative is not enough. But she says, “By combining the different alternatives, you can actually get a much better picture that is of much better     10     to humans.”

8 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. admiration B. vital C. equipping D. involves E. opportunity F. controversial G. undergo H. qualities I. denying J. drawing K. distinctive

In life’s journey, maturity plays a significant role in guiding individuals towards success. It encompasses     1     like wisdom, responsibility, and the ability to adapt to change. Financial maturity is about making wise decisions regarding money. It     2     understanding the importance of saving, investing, and managing finances for long-term stability. Adaptability is another key aspect of maturity. It enables individuals to     3     life’s ups and downs with resilience and flexibility,

Mature individuals often exhibit     4     features such as confidence and firmness, which command respect and     5     from others. In society, mature individuals are often seen as leaders and mentors,     6     upon their experiences to guide and inspire others. Acknowledging tiny and learning from challenges is a typical mark of maturity. Instead of     7     difficulties, mature individuals face them head-on, using them as stepping stones towards personal growth.

The impact of maturity on personal and professional development is     8    . It requires self-reflection, discipline, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures. As educators, it is our responsibility to ins till the value of maturity in our students     9     them with the skills needed to undergo the complexities of life and achieve their goals.

In conclusion, maturity is essential for success and fulfillment. Let us embrace change as a（n）     10     for growth and celebrate the growth of maturity in ourselves and others as we go through life.

9 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. adoringly   B. charging   C. exhausting   D. festive   E. gifting   F. packaged G. physically   H. registry   I. stress     J. transfer   K. venue

Wedding Bills

Growing up, little girls are brainwashed into believing that their wedding is the most important day of their lives. You’re supposed to dream about it since childhood and when your big day finally arrives, walk like a princess with all your friends and family dressed to the nines, watching     1     in the audience. But real life isn’t directed by Disney and in reality, weddings are anything but the fairy tale day that we were taught to believe. In China, weddings are     2     and more often than not, it’s a money-making event not just for the wedding planner, but also for the bride and groom. It’s all a transaction     3     in a white veil (面纱).

So how’s a typical wedding in China different? First of all, in China, the groom’s family is expected to pay for the wedding. Weddings in China tend to be massive events, and the     4     culture and local belief that the more people come to celebrate the more luck the couple will have plays a huge part in that. In the US, it’s common for the couple to have a gift     5    . But in China, you bring cash in red envelopes. In recent years some bridesmaids have even been seen wearing QR codes around their necks for wedding guests to scan to     6     their wedding gift money. Online, some have praised this trend as providing safety and convenience for the couple. Others call it tacky (俗气), comparing it to     7     an admission fee to watch a spectacle (壮观的场面). One bride admitted to me that her guest list for 40 tables consisted of friends, family and acquaintances she knew would be generous. It’s also an unspoken custom in China that even if you can’t     8     attend someone’s wedding, your money is expected to make an appearance.

Moving on to the wedding photos. In China when you arrive at the     9    , you’ll most likely see a giant poster of the couple in their wedding clothes. Here, there’s no such thing as bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the big day so most couples would take their wedding photos in advance. To be frank, I find this the most reasonable way to do it. There’s already enough     10     on the wedding day, so why add to it by throwing a photo shoot in there too?

10 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A．excelled                    B．typically                    C．burning             D．struggled             E．surely F．barriers                    G．winding                    H．convention       I．matter                    J．essentials K．obsession

The Art of Blooming Late

In his teens and early twenties, Mozart had to work as an organist and concertmaster in his native Salzburg to make ends meet. Though a celestial genius, he     1     like a mere mortal. Underpaid and unfulfilled, he felt a(n)     2     desire to devote more time and energy to his art. So after a period of doubt and deliberation, that’s exactly what he did. He quit his job and embarked on what turned out to be the most productive and creative period of his life.

Even if you never hope to reach Mozart’s level of mastery, you may relate to his need to break free from     3    . Maybe you’ve done everything right—     4     at school, worked hard, and landed a good, high-paying job—but you’re tired of being just like everyone else. Maybe you yearn to do more personally fulfilling work, like founding a start-up or turning a hobby into a full-fledged career.

However, drafting a plan of action can be daunting. What, then, is holding you back? Rich Karlgaard, the publisher of Forbes magazine and author of Late Bloomers, argues that our culture’s     5     with early achievement discourages us from pursuing our passions. Instead of having varied interests, studying widely, and taking our time—     6     for self-discovery—we’re encouraged to ace tests, become specialists right away, and pursue safe, stable, and lucrative careers. As a result, most of us end up choosing professional excellence over personal fulfillment, and often we lose ourselves in the process.

To prompt a revolution in your own life, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, it’s never too late to “become” yourself. Aristotle, for example, didn’t fully devote himself to writing and philosophy until he was nearly 50. There are also benefits to taking a long,     7     path to self-fulfillment. Remember that age     8     brings wisdom ,resilience, self-knowledge, and creativity. Citing the work of developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, Karlgaard writes, those “ages 40 to 64 constitute a unique period where one’s creativity and experience combine with a universal human longing to make our lives     9    .”

That said, once you’ve decided to embark on the journey, it may take years, if not longer, to reach your destination. But as research has shown, small daily changes can have a compound effect and slowly but     10     lead you closer to the person you think you ought to be.