1 . Italy’s oldest man Tripoli Giannini, who credited “light meals and no stress” for his longevity, has died at the age of 111, on New Year’s Eve. He was the second oldest man in Europe, after André Ludwig, a Frenchman 75 days older.
His son, Romano, wrote on Facebook: “He believed he was immortal …instead, at 9.30 am, December 31, 2023, my father Tripoli Giannini died. He was 111 years and 133 days old — a record! He joins his wife, Tosca, my mother, who has waited for him for over 40 years.”
There are a record number of centenarians (百岁老人) in Italy. According to the national statistics agency, there were 22,000 people aged over 100 in 2023. The vast majority are women.
His life is like a living history textbook. Giannini, who belonged to the Italian army infantry corps, was born in Cecina in 1912. He not only witnessed the changes of the two world wars, but also experienced the election of about ten popes (教皇). The more admirable thing is that he has successfully withstood the multiple pandemic s from Spanish flu in his childhood to COVID-19 in his later years, demonstrating his unyielding energy. He is not only known for his longevity, but also a sports enthusiast.
During celebrations, he said the secrets to his longevity were light meals — always accompanied by wine — no stress, being a non-smoker and treating each day as a gift.
The Italian island of Sardinia has been identified as one of five regions in the world that have high concentrations of centenarians, while the Italian city with the most people over the age of 100 is Genoa in Liguria. The Mediterranean diet has long been considered to be the main ingredient for longevity among Italians. The country’s ageing population is a challenge for the government, especially as it coincides with a reducing birthrate, placing pressure on the pension and healthcare systems.
1. How old might Tripoli Giannini be when he lost his wife?| A．In his 50s. | B．In his 60s. | C．In his 80s. | D．In his 90s. |
| A．Wine drinking and smoking. | B．Light diets and no pressure. |
| C．Wine drinking and his wife. | D．Light diets and healthcare. |
| A．He might get involved in politics. |
| B．He might be optimistic towards life. |
| C．He might be the oldest in both Italy and Europe. |
| D．He might have suffered from many illnesses in his long life. |
| A．To advertise the diet of Italy. | B．To promote the anti-smoking campaign. |
| C．To highlight the ageing situation in Italy. | D．To publicize Italy’s oldest man’s death. |
2 . On July 28, I retired from my position. After teaching for many years, I looked forward to kayaking (划独木舟) with my grandsons, seeing friends and traveling for leisure with my husband. But my body had other plans for me. A broken spine (脊椎) in my back took me down a path that upended my plans.
I have long had back pain. However, I pushed through the pain to do my work, which worsened my condition. Doctors urged an operation when increased disability meant I could not sit, stand or walk for a long time. But I wanted to see whether physical therapy (治疗) could create an easier option.
Indeed, hard work with a great physical therapist has let me improve my mobility, sitting and standing. But X-rays told a different story. My spine was unstable and bending. After careful consideration and a second opinion from another professional, I agreed to surgery yet in the near term. Needless to say, the past months have been tough and the way ahead will be even tougher. Kayaking with my grandsons in the peacefulness of the lake is all out of reach, for now.
When I met my physical therapist for the first time, I was a mess. He listened to me outline my history with tears and then calmly said, “You have to make friends with your body.” I have repeated that line to myself daily and worked to embrace my body. I have focused on gratitude. I’m grateful that I do not have a fatal disease. I’m grateful that the body I have remains alert to the world, loved by family and friends. I’m grateful that I am still myself.
I don’t know exactly how the future will play out. The surgeon assures me that I should be able to get in my kayak by summer. But I may have to make friends with a different body, one that is mine regardless of the shape.
1. Why did the author’s condition become worse?| A．She disliked physical therapy. |
| B．She hurt her back when kayaking. |
| C．She still worked despite back pain. |
| D．She was unwilling to have an operation. |
| A．She forgot to kayak with her grandsons. |
| B．She decided to accept an operation right away. |
| C．She completely recovered after physical therapy. |
| D．She asked another doctor for advice on the operation. |
| A．Her wish to enjoy retirement life. |
| B．Her physical therapist’s advice. |
| C．Her worsening physical condition. |
| D．Her love for her family and friends. |
| A．Learning to accept my body |
| B．Enjoying my retirement life |
| C．Fighting against my back pain |
| D．Being grateful for what I have |
3 . In the dead of winter, a small village in a valley found itself in extremely low temperature.
The townspeople huddled (蜷缩) in their homes, protecting themselves against the cold wind and never-ending snowfall.
In the middle of this, a young woman named Lily was snowbound in her cozy cottage, feeling like a prisoner.
Frustration began to settle in, but then Lily decided to make the best of the situation. With a determined spirit, she welcomed the idea of breaking the ice with her neighbors.
Lily began inviting people in her village to her cottage. She hoped a welcoming atmosphere would create some warmth among people. The villagers accepted her invitations, curious to see what Lily had planned.
As the guests came and went, Lily’s home became a place of laughter and joy. Lily’s enthusiasm (热情) helped to melt the icy walls that had formed between people. They shared stories and played games, putting their worries on ice for a while.
Little did they know that their gatherings would have a snowball effect. Word of the heartwarming occasions spread throughout the valley to other villages. Soon other homes became retreats from the cold, with families gathering to enjoy one another’s company.
Villagers realized that the true beauty of winter wasn’t its frosty white snow. It was the opportunity to come together and support one another. They had only scratched the surface of the friendships that awaited them.
Days turned into weeks, and Lily’s cottage was snowed under with laughter and love. People found comfort in sharing meals, stories and dreams. The cold light of day seemed less daunting (令人生畏的) when they faced it together.
The villagers learned that human connection could warm a very cold heart. And so, the valley’s villages seemed better than ever from the cold. Everyone learned that there was power in uniting. They had created a world where warmth and compassion shone through in the darkest winter nights.
1. What is “snowball effect” according to the author?| A．The weather is getting colder and colder. |
| B．There were fewer and fewer people in the village. |
| C．More and more people came together and supported one another. |
| D．The snowball is getting larger and larger. |
| A．Lily began inviting people to her cottage because she felt too cold to stay alone. |
| B．Villagers went to Lily’s cottage to help her remove the ice. |
| C．People from other villages came to Lily’s village to exchange strategies for winter. |
| D．The relationship between villagers would become much better after the winter. |
| A．Over and Under the Snow. |
| B．Cold Winter, Warm Hearts. |
| C．Winter Comes. |
| D．Winter People. |
| A．The early bird catches the worm. |
| B．Always prepare for a rainy day. |
| C．Time reveals a person’s character. |
| D．Great things may be done by mass efforts. |
4 . Throughout a child’s life, there are several events that are very important to them.
In early September, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital found Megan, a 17-year-old student had a brain tumor (肿瘤). A few weeks later, Megan had an operation and needed to
However, the doctors and nurses at the hospital were not going to
“They
But what would a dance be without
Megan’s mother said her daughter was deeply
| A．Usually | B．Gradually | C．Regularly | D．Finally |
| A．frightened | B．confused | C．disappointed | D．shocked |
| A．study | B．stay | C．work | D．play |
| A．succeed | B．return | C．respond | D．recover |
| A．forget | B．miss | C．refuse | D．check |
| A．require | B．allow | C．advise | D．cause |
| A．painted | B．cleaned | C．decorated | D．opened |
| A．mad | B．sorry | C．angry | D．surprised |
| A．event | B．creation | C．operation | D．schedule |
| A．parents | B．teachers | C．friends | D．doctors |
| A．invited | B．memorize | C．investigate | D．visit |
| A．prepared for | B．looked forward to | C．held on to | D．took part in |
| A．curiosity | B．joy | C．confidence | D．intention |
| A．hurt | B．influenced | C．touched | D．admired |
| A．awareness | B．kindness | C．happiness | D．eagerness |
5 . Naima Souissi and Saida Chehbouni cried as they hugged for the first time in 16 years when they met up in New York City. Their daughters, Nissma Bencheikh, 19, and Roaya Jannatipour, 18, met when they were both freshmen (大一新生) at the University of California, Berkeley. The two became fast friends. “We hit it off right away. We’re both pre-med (医科大学预科班的) and Canadian,” said Nissma.
The two had such a great bond (联系) that they decided to share an apartment during their second year, and on the move-in day the pair made a surprising discovery. “I was having a video chat with my mom in my room, and I thought I’d bring her out to meet Nissma’s dad,” Roaya said. Nissma added, “They talked for only a few minutes ... but in that short time we realized that not only were they neighbors, but our moms were actually best friends 16 years ago.”
The two friends, who at first thought they had met for the first time at university, even found out that they had photos together as babies that their mothers took. The two even found out that their mothers went to college together.
Sixteen years ago, their life separated the two best friends after Roaya’s family moved from Canada to California, and Nissma’s family relocated to northern Virginia, putting a distance of over 2,000 miles between the families.
Roaya said her mother had recently been trying to find Nissma’s mother on Facebook, and that when the two first separated they both did not have a computer or even a phone, making it difficult to keep in touch.
Before their reunion, Nissma told ABC News that she was excited that the pair met again, saying, “A best friend is a best friend even when 16 years passed.”
1. Why did Nissma and Roaya become fast friends according to paragraph 1?| A．They knew each other as little girls. | B．They were roommates at college. |
| C．They were of the same age. | D．They had a lot in common. |
| A．Their fathers were once good friends. |
| B．Their mothers were long lost good friends. |
| C．Their mothers studied medicine at the same college. |
| D．Their fathers shared a common interest in photography. |
| A．Their families’ relocation. | B．Going to different colleges. |
| C．Their different personalities. | D．Misunderstanding between them. |
| A．She often has a video chat with her daughter. |
| B．She once lost hope of finding her good friend. |
| C．She now lives in New York City with her daughter. |
| D．She looked forward to the reunion with her lost friend. |
6 . Mother is a bit stooped (驼背的) with age, but her hair is only partially gray and her face has few old age spots. Her small and thin body however, is
When I was a child, I
Once, when I was a schoolboy, my
So, she bought a piece of gray cotton flannel (法兰绒) and
| A．fatter | B．shorter | C．taller | D．thinner |
| A．instead | B．besides | C．but | D．and |
| A．imagine | B．forget | C．describe | D．remember |
| A．gently | B．hardly | C．roughly | D．anxiously |
| A．anger | B．equality | C．humor | D．comfort |
| A．father | B．mother | C．teacher | D．friend |
| A．worried | B．liked | C．enjoyed | D．moved |
| A．herself | B．himself | C．themselves | D．myself |
| A．buy | B．make | C．borrow | D．lend |
| A．finished | B．continued | C．started | D．stopped |
| A．stood up | B．woke up | C．opened up | D．came up |
| A．eager | B．exciting | C．surprised | D．afraid |
| A．smilingly | B．alarmingly | C．passively | D．normally |
| A．took | B．counted | C．looked | D．tried |
| A．sleepy | B．sleepless | C．special | D．silent |
It was in the early morning of one summer holiday that I was flying to Bali, Indonesia to see volcanoes. And my best friend was waiting for my arrival there. When I got off the plane and stepped out of the airport, I was thinking how unbelievable it was to stand in front of the spectacular volcano mountain. The imaginary sights distracted me, for a moment, from my current problem.
Only when I stood by the bus station to Bali, did I realize that I had no enough cash on me. The only ATM nearby didn’t seem to have any power, and I nervously looked down at my credit card, my only lifeline. I hoped there might be a way to convince the bus driver to let me on and pay him once I reached the destination and got the cash from my friend.
When the bus door opened, I stood behind a young lady and her little girl. I started to worry, wondering what I’d do if the credit card didn’t make the cut. They boarded the bus, paid in cash and sat down in the first row. When I approached the driver and held out my credit card, he looked at me seriously and shook his head.
“I don’t have any money,” I said. I showed him my wallet to confirm that I was telling the truth. He stared back blankly and then said no. I still wanted to convince him again. I pulled up my flight information on my phone and showed it to him. I pointed to the nearby ATM and signaled that it didn’t work. This time, he looked at me and apologized to me. “I’m really sorry. Can you make way for the other passengers?”
I stood aside. “What should I do?” I hesitated. It was the first time that I had visited the city. I was unfamiliar with everything around me. I searched the locations of other ATMs in the area. They were too far away. It would take me at least two hours to get there on foot. I really didn’t want my friend to wait for me too long, but unfortunately, I had to.
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。
I was about to get off the bus when the young lady stood up.
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Once we arrived at Bali, I followed the young lady and her little girl off the bus.
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8 . In a world where acts of kindness often go unnoticed, a good story that has been discovered reminds us of the power of care and the effect it can have on someone’s life.
It all started with a “Kindness Week Challenge” given to Brennan by his 8th-grade teacher, Ms. Watkins. Little did he know that this challenge would lead to a wonderful friendship with 84-year-old Ms. Ann.
Brennan’s promise to send his little attractive things every day for a week developed a habit of checking up on Ms. Ann and sending gifts regularly(定期地), long after the challenge was over.
Their friendship has now lasted for over five years, and Brennan still visits Ms. Ann every month with flowers, cakes, chocolates, cards and more.
They talk about everything from his high school life to his college goals. The pair has found that they share a common love of chocolates. Ms. Ann always hopes to hear about what he’s doing and loves to share her own stories from a different time. They have become the best friends, with Brennan treating her as his great-grandmother.
Brennan’s mom, Traci, takes pride in her son. She said, “The best thing a teenager can do is to take care of the elderly. I’m so glad my son has added more sunshine to Ms. Ann’s life. I hope he always remembers the joy he’s brought her, and his fun talks with her, keeps his kind heart, and thinks of others.”
Ms. Ann’s daughter Emma, with her husband Gould, has a 2-year-old son. They are thankful for Brennan’s friendship as they cannot always be with Ms. Ann. Brennan’s kind heart has brought more sunshine into Ms. Ann’s life, and her encouraging words have helped to inspire(启发)him in return.
1. How did the task “Kindness Week Challenge” affect Brennan?| A．He discovered his love of chocolates. |
| B．He became a good friend of Ms. Ann. |
| C．He developed a habit of receiving gifts. |
| D．He learned how to choose attractive things. |
| A．Flowers. | B．Cakes. | C．Chocolates. | D．Cards. |
| A．His kindness to others. |
| B．His talent for telling stories. |
| C．His good performances at school. |
| D．His ability to earn money for the gifts. |
| A．Worried. | B．Sorry. | C．Thankful. | D．Surprised. |
9 . Paul, a carpenter (木匠), was over 60 years old. He was ready to retire. He told his boss that he was about to leave the house building business because he wanted to live a relaxing life with his wife and enjoy family life. The boss was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build one more house. Paul said yes, but not long after that it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He didn’t care about the work, and he used bad materials to build the house. It was a terrible way to end his job.
When Paul finished his work and the boss came to check the house. Then he handed the front-door key to Paul, “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”
Paul was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home that wasn’t built very well.
After Paul moved into the house, he found everything wasn’t going well. One day, his wife fell over and hurt herself. She complained, “Look! The floor isn’t smooth at all. The stairs are broken and there is something wrong with the window. ” “Sorry, it’s my fault.” said Paul, “I should have tried my best to build it well, but…”
So it is with us. Sometimes, we don’t give the job our best effort. When looking back at what we have done, we find that we are now living in the house we have built. So we should build our lives in a responsible way. Your attitudes and the choices you make today help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow.
1. What was Paul going to do after retiring?| A．To move to a big city. | B．To live with his children. |
| C．To enjoy family life. | D．To travel around the world. |
| A．Paul was more than 60. |
| B．Paul accepted the house from his boss. |
| C．Paul was serious about his last work as usual. |
| D．Paul was asked to build one more house before retiring. |
| A．He’s careless. | B．He’s honest. | C．He’s mean. | D．He’s kind. |
1. What do people often do to celebrate their 21st birthday in Las Vegas?
| A．Save money. | B．Drink legally. | C．Enjoy nice food. |
| A．To remind him of the workday. |
| B．To remind him of the exact date. |
| C．To remind him of her birthday. |
| A．Austin. | B．Liza. | C．Kate. |
| A．A lovely pet. | B．A disappointing party. | C．A wonderful surprise. |
