1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

A pair of scissors, a piece of paper, and a pair of dexterous (灵巧的) hands. That’s     1     is needed to create delicate works of paper-cuttings.

    2    (originate) in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, this ancient form of art has not only survived through generations but has also become     3     important part of Chinese culture. It is often associated with the     4     (celebrate) of the Spring Festival, where complex patterns of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals     5     (create) to bring good luck and fortune for the new year.

The art of paper-cuttings goes beyond mere craftsmanship. It is a form of expression deeply     6    (root) in Chinese history and tradition. Artists, without the need for any drawn draft, use their imagination to create     7    (variety) patterns and images with scissors and burins. Animals, flowers, mythological and historical figures are meticulously (细致地) cut and carved, each carrying its own symbolism and meanings.

Today, paper-cuttings continue to decorate Chinese homes,     8    (especial) during the Spring Festival. The windows and walls come alive with vibrant patterns and scenes of family reunions and temple fairs. It serves     9     a reminder of the rich cultural heritage that the Chinese people cherish     10     pass down from one generation to another.

2 . Dave Hall led Surprise Squad, an organization to bring surprise to those in need, on a mission to spread joy at a local Albertsons store. Their _________ was simple yet influential: to pay for the groceries of _________ customers. Among the customers was Stephanie, a disabled veteran(退伍军人)who relied on her wheelchair.

She _________ to Dave that she was shopping for food for herself and her dogs. She was down to her last $50,_________ of how she would manage after that. Dave, thrilled to help, paid for all her groceries, a _________ that left Stephanie extremely grateful.

Dave _________ a man standing beside Stephanie. _________ mistaken for her husband, Larry turned out to be a friend of Stephanie’s husband and a fellow veteran. Despite his own financial _________, Larry was determined to support Stephanie.

He stood in the checkout _________ with just a bottle of dish soap and a piece of candy—all he could afford. Dave, moved by Larry’s situation, __________ buying him groceries. Larry’s eyes were filled with tears as Dave accompanied Larry back into the shelves, filling a __________ with food and toiletries(洗漱用品), far more than Larry had __________that day. As they finished checking out, Larry __________ that he had never spent so much on groceries before. The gratitude and emotion on his face were __________.

He thanked Dave wholeheartedly and left the store, carrying not just groceries but a moment of __________ that would never fade.

1.

A．plan

B．experience

C．style

D．movement

2.

A．regular

B．unique

C．random

D．specific

3.

A．suggested

B．revealed

C．insisted

D．referred

4.

A．afraid

B．confident

C．full

D．uncertain

5.

A．schedule

B．solution

C．gesture

D．strategy

6.

A．felt

B．noticed

C．kept

D．left

7.

A．Initially

B．Hurriedly

C．Excitedly

D．Absolutely

8.

A．adventures

B．investments

C．hesitations

D．struggles

9.

A．path

B．point

C．line

D．corner

10.

A．cared for

B．insisted on

C．thought of

D．gave up

11.

A．basket

B．store

C．vehicle

D．hand

12.

A．needed

B．provided

C．expected

D．ignored

13.

A．remarked

B．regretted

C．judged

D．required

14.

A．creative

B．calm

C．positive

D．evident

15.

A．curiosity

B．kindness

C．generosity

D．ambition

3 . Some children love reading, some dislike it, and many are in between. Most children and adults are drawn to reading materials that are engaging and understandable.     1     So building reading abilities is always a good idea. As a parent, you can help your child develop reading skills with enjoyable activities, some of which you might not have thought of as reading enrichment. Here are some easy reading strategies for parents to use at home.

    2     When your child creates a story out loud or in written form, you can prompt more specific vocabulary and encourage your child to div e into descriptive details. This activity provides practice for thinking through logical sequences(顺序)and may motivate curiosity as a child looks for books in similar settings.

Compare books to films.     3     Talk about the similarities and differences between the two mediums. What did you each like or dislike about each form? Did your child prefer the book or the movie, and why?

Encourage curiosity about vocabulary. As your child reads books, suggest that you look up difficult or unfamiliar words in the dictionary together.     4     This builds the skill of inference (推理), which is thinking through the possible answers based on the context.

Strengthen spelling skills. If you are making flashcards with difficult words, have your child practice spelling the words out loud or on paper. Give your child the opportunity to double-check spelling and find mistakes independently. This is a great strategy to use throughout the year.     5    

A．Create literature with your child.

B．Ask your child to make up stories.

C．Compare how they are similar and how they are different.

D．Have your child read a book and then check out the video version of the book.

E．But, your child will eventually have to read uninteresting or complicated materials.

F．It teaches your child to self-correct and also reduces their fear of dealing with difficult words.

G．Consider making flashcards of these words and guessing the meanings before finding the definition.

4 . Compared to robots, human bodies are flexible, capable of fine movements, and can change energy efficiently into movement. Drawing inspiration from human gait, researchers from Japan crafted a two-legged biohybrid robot by combining muscle tissues and artificial materials. This method allows the robot to walk and pivot.

“Research on biohybrid robots, which are a mix of biology and mechanics, is recently attracting attention as a new field of robotics featuring biological function,” says corresponding author Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, Japan. “Using muscles as actuators allows us to build a compact robot and achieve efficient, silent movements with a soft touch.”

The research team’s two-legged robot, an innovative bipedal design, builds on the legacy of biohybrid robots that take advantage of muscles. Muscle tissues have driven biohybrid robots to crawl and swim straight forward and make turns—but not sharp ones. Yet, being able to pivot and make sharp turns is an essential feature for robots to avoid obstacles.

To build a nimbler robot with fine and delicate movements, the researchers designed a biohybrid robot that copies human gait and operates in water. By alternating the electric stimulation between the left and right leg every 5 seconds, the biohybrid robot successfully “walked” at the speed of 5.4m m/min(0.002 mph). To turn, researchers repeatedly zapped the right leg every 5 seconds while the left leg served as an anchor.

The robot made a 90-degree left turn in 62 seconds. The findings showed that the muscle-driven bipedal robot can walk, stop, and make fine-tuned turning motions.

“Currently, we are manually moving a pair of electrodes to apply an electric field individually to the legs, which takes time,” says Takeuchi. “In the future, by integrating the electrodes into the robot, we expect to increase the speed more efficiently.

The team also plans to give joints and thicker muscle tissues to the bipedal robot to enable more complicated and powerful movements.

1. What is the weakness of a robot?

A．Awkward to move.	B．Complex to operate.
C．Tough to control.	D．Easy to lose energy.

2. What does the underlined word “nimbler” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．More stylish.

B．More flexible.

C．More intelligent.

D．More suitable.

3. What will the team do next?

A．Add more power to the bipedal robot.	B．Expand the use of the bipedal robot.
C．Better the bipedal robot’s movements.	D．Apply an electric field to the bipedal robot.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Biohybrid robots are a mix of biology and mechanics

B．Human bodies are flexible, capable of fine movements

C．Making sharp turns is essential for robots to avoid obstacles

D．Scientists designed a two-legged robot powered by muscle tissues

5 . Great whites, the largest predatory(捕食性的)sharks in the world with the most fatal attacks on humans, are tough to imagine as newborn babies. That is partially because no one has seen one in the wild, it seems, until now.

Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes were scanning the waters for sharks on July 9, 2023, near Santa Barbara on California’s central coast. That day, something exciting appeared on the viewfinder of Gauna’s drone camera. It was a shark pup(幼崽)unlike any they’d ever seen.

“We enlarged the images, put them in slow motion, and realized the white layer was being shed(脱落)from the body as it was swimming,” Sternes said. “I believe it was a newborn white shark shedding its embryonic layer.”

These observations are documented in a new paper in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal. What Gauna and Sternes observed could help solve the longstanding mystery of great white birthing habits. This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild. Great whites, referred to only as white sharks by scientists, are gray on the top and white on the bottom. But this roughly 5-foot-long shark was pure white.

Though the paper authors acknowledge it is possible that the white layer the shark shed could have been a skin condition, the two believe what they saw was in fact a newborn great white. First, great white females give birth to live pups. A second reason is the presence of large, likely pregnant great whites in this location. Finally, this location off the coast of central California has long been proposed as a birthing location for great whites. Many scholars believe great whites are born farther out at sea.

Great whites are listed as an international endangered species. “Further research is needed to confirm these waters are indeed a great white breeding ground. But if it does, we would want lawmakers to step in and protect these waters to help white sharks keep thriving,” Sternes said.

1. What do we know about what appeared on Carlo s Gauna’s camera?

A．It is rare in the world.	B．It is tough to identify.
C．It is not open to the public.	D．It is unbelievable to scientists.

2. What does the white shark pup look like?

A．Pure gray.	B．White only on the bottom.
C．Gray on the top.	D．Pure white.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．How great white females give birth to pups.

B．How the authors prove they saw a baby shark.

C．Why the authors believe they saw a newborn shark pup.

D．Why the authors think the white layer is a skin condition.

4. What does Sternes hope for if their assumption is confirmed?

A．Helping white sharks to stop breeding.

B．Using laws to protect shark pups and their habitats.

C．Listing white sharks as endangered species.

D．Further study to confirm white sharks breeding waters.

7 . It’s time to put your worries aside and pack your bags for some of the top most relaxing places for holidays for 2024.

Kos

Relaxing holidays in Kos are all about blending soft sand beaches, sparkling water, lush green interiors, and history hunting. The coast is perfect for long leisurely walks on the beach, sunbathing in the Greek sunshine, and wallowing in the warm water. History buffs are in for a treat with some of the best historic architecture in Greece. Kos is home to abundant Roman ruins and a 15th-century castle that is ideal for an afternoon of exploring.

Lanzarote

The vast untouched landscape has made Lanzarote one of the most popular holiday destinations because it is truly somewhere you can relax in peace, with nothing but soft sandy beaches and the ideal water for first-time ocean swimmers. Family holidays to Lanzarote are as accommodating as parents could wish for, offering a host of fantastic family-friendly fun for all ages.

Corfu

As the greenest of the Greek islands, you’re in for a treat with over two million olive trees, rolling green hills, and pine forests that blanket the island in emerald beauty. Finding the perfect mix of history hunting, nature exploration, and relaxation is all within reach on a luxury Corfu holiday. The old towns, harbours, and traditional hostels will have you relax and enjoy the best of the Greek islands in no time.

Rovinj

For a cultural holiday filled with exquisite architecture, national parks with untouched natural wonders, and long stretches of coastline, look no further than holidays in Rovinj. Located in the north of Croatia, Rovinj offers some of the best opportunities to explore the unique and moving culture. The town is home to narrow cobbled streets overlooking the ocean, with shops, galleries, and restaurants dotted throughout, bringing you the best of Croatia.

1. What can visitors do at Kos?

A．Visit art galleries.	B．Enjoy family-friendly fun.
C．Walk in national parks.	D．Admire historic architecture.

2. Which of the following is most suitable for parents with children?

A．Kos.	B．Lanzarote.
C．Corfu.	D．Rovinj.

3. What do the four destinations have in common?

A．They all have sea view.

B．They all have old castles.

C．They all belong to the same country.

D．They all have untouched landscape.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How long is the lecture about ants?

A．30 minutes.

B．45 minutes.

C．60 minutes.

2. Where is the documentary The Secret Life of Birds on show?

A．In Theater A.

B．In Theater B.

C．In Theater C.

3. What will the listeners do at 2: 30 p. m.?

A．Visit the Insect House.

B．Gather in the Exhibition Room.

C．See a film.

4. Who will host the event Encouraging Garden Wildlife?

A．David Crocker.

B．Monica Chaddha.

C．The speaker.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does the man get to the woman’s house?

A．By taxi.

B．By bus.

C．On foot.

2. What is the woman having trouble with?

A．Singing songs.

B．Sleeping at night.

C．Learning Chinese.

3. How does the woman feel about the man’s suggestion?

A．She is willing to give it a try.

B．She thinks it’s a waste of time.

C．She thinks it is useless.

4. What did the man do yesterday?

A．He downloaded a song.

B．He discovered a new website.

C．He used his phone for directions.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the man ask the girl to go to bed?

A．She will take a test tomorrow.

B．They will have a holiday tomorrow.

C．She will have classes tomorrow morning.

2. Which subject does the girl need to improve?

A．Math.

B．English.

C．History.

3. What will the girl do next?

A．Go to sleep.

B．Get her textbook.

C．Play video games.