1 . 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.

2 . Selecting gifts for your beloved ones can be one of the most difficult parts. But don’t worry! We can help! Here are some gift ideas to suit all pockets.

Air purifier

Do you have a loved one who suffers from allergies (过敏) or other skin diseases? Why not gift him or her an air cleaner? Research has shown that air purifiers can help reduce allergy reactions, remove asthma (哮喘) causes such as dust by improving air quality in your home. Look for purifiers with more than one filter and, especially, a high efficiency air filter.

Electric toothbrush

One review of 56 studies has found that a powered toothbrush resulted in a 21 per cent reduction of plaque and an 11 per cent reduction in gingivitis (牙龈炎) after three months, compared with a manual toothbrush. It’s also a fun way for children to look after their dental hygiene.

Dark chocolate

Nothing screams a gift quite like chocolate. Good news is that dark chocolate is associated with several health benefits. Small amounts of this sweet treat may lower the risk of heart disease, improve brain function and give your immune system a boost, potentially reducing infection.

Your time

Quality time spent with your nearest and dearest is completely free, but is the most precious gift you could give them. If you’ve been too preoccupied of late, determine to put aside more hours to do fun things together, or if you have time to devote to others outside your immediate circle, consider volunteering with Age UK as a friend to an elderly person.

1. Which of the following is suitable for someone with a dental problem?

A．Air purifier.	B．Electric toothbrush.
C．Dark chocolate.	D．Your time.

2. What do the first three presents have in common?

A．They belong to tech presents.	B．They are non-physical objects.
C．They are intended for the elderly.	D．They help promote healthy living.

3. What is special about the last present?

A．It is priceless.	B．It is worthless.
C．It is physical.	D．It is rare.

3 . Nasugraq Rainey Hopson is an author and illustrator (插图画家). She has written short stories and made art inspired by her Iñupiaq culture. The Iñupiaq people are native to Alaska, the US. Hopson’s first and only novel to date, Eagle Drums, is set in Iñupiaq tales about a great festival. The great festival is still celebrated locally today.

In the book, the hero Pina struggles with the suffering from losing his brothers, who have traveled to a nearby mountain and never returned. Pina decides to go to the same mountain, trying to uncover the facts, where he happens to meet Savik, who gives Pina a choice: To follow him or to meet the same fortune as his brothers. Pina’s decision takes himself on a journey that exposes himself to the dances and songs that are part of Iñupiaq culture. Eagle Drums describes aspects of Iñupiaq life as a world that doesn’t exist much in the current world, such as walking in the tundra (苔原) and imagining mythological beings and talking animals everywhere. It will definitely inspire the teen magical thinking in its beauty.

Hopson wants to write more Iñupiaq stories. “We have a lot of oral history and stories in our culture,” she says. Hopson explains that Iñupiaq people use their voices, facial expressions and movements to express emotions as they tell a story. “But you can’t do that when you’re writing,” she says. “It’s very uncomfortable, in a way, to have to write down something that is a performance.” But she’s up for the challenge.

Eagle Drums is for anyone who is looking for a vivid adventure. Hopson says that when Iñupiaq kids read her work, they get excited about seeing something from their own area and their own culture. Other kids who read her work tell Hopson they’re excited about experiencing a story they’ve never experienced before in a new place. “You know, that’s the best part, hearing feedbacks,” she says.

1. What do we know about Eagle Drums?

A．It is based on the author’s culture.	B．It is about a world-famous festival.
C．It is one of the author’s best novels.	D．It is rich in illustrations on each page.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us about Eagle Drums?

A．Its intention.	B．Its background.
C．Its content.	D．Its comment.

3. Why does Hopson think it uncomfortable to write Iñupiaq stories?

A．The Iñupiaq people are poor performers

B．The Iñupiaq culture is too rich for words.

C．The Iñupiaq language is difficult to catch on.

D．The Iñupiaq stories are little known by people.

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A childhood story.
C．A diary entry.	D．A book review.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

We sometimes think we can take care of things on our own. However, sometimes we need to use the strength of our groups to get things done.

Ray Drake knew this better than anyone, because he was moved to tears when he understood how good it was to have good neighbors when he needed them.

In 1989, Drake lost the use of his legs. The Iowan man did have family, though. His two older sisters were there to help him get his life back on track and deal with his new situation. The plan worked for years, and their love helped him through hard times.

In August 2020, a strong windstorm stopped everything in Iowa. There was terrible damage, and 40% of the crops in the state were lost. People lost their electricity. Businesses were a mess and homes were all broken. So many people had a hard time.

The storm caused Drake to have a specific trouble. There were broken trees all over his yard, and he couldn’t move them. His sisters were also too small to clean up the trees. The three people really needed help.

After about a week, Drake’s sisters decided to ask for help because the power lines were still down and people were still trying to get their lives back together. They called some of their brother’s old high school friends to see if anyone had a chainsaw (链锯) they could bring over to start cutting up the fallen trees.

Doug Applegate, a friend, looked at the damage and realized that just a chainsaw wouldn’t be enough to clear the fallen trees from Drake’s yard and that the family would need more. He made a call for help in the area to see if anyone there could give a helping hand.

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。

Soon, the call for help was answered.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The collective effort turned a seemingly impossible task into a manageable one.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . During my graduate studies, countless workshops taught me one thing: To make it in science, one must design and carry out big projects. As I established my own research lab, a senior colleague encouraged me to try something big. So when I landed an associate professor position, my goal seemed obvious: I should perform big projects. This was the only way to lay a foundation for a successful academic research career. The path, however, would not be as clear as I had pictured.

When I contacted famous researchers to suggest cooperating, as is typically required for high-profile projects, they frequently replied enthusiastically to start, agreeing my project sounded interesting and promising. But when they learned I had just established my lab, they became skeptical and hesitant, ultimately saying no. And when I sought grant funding, my lack of experience and reputation was cited as a reason to deny support for my ambitious proposals.

I spent about two years being stuck in this mindset, excited about my big ideas but making little actual progress, leading to frustration and depression. As I neared my breaking point, I began to ask myself: Were big projects really the only route?

When I shifted to small projects, I became brave enough to step into fields I was not familiar with. By reading papers in new areas, I found creative ideas to pursue. When I discussed these adventurous, low-cost projects with early-career researchers, they were glad to cooperate. We secured funding. When I published papers out of these projects, they were not exciting enough to make headlines— but for me, it was a moment of joy and self-contentment.

It has now been 3 years since I embraced this “small” approach. Sometimes senior colleagues say I’m wasting time with projects that aren’t important enough. But I disagree. When I do these studies, I also find clues for future big projects. Going forward, I will still commit part of my time to exploring small projects, which I think can help pursue more fundamental questions.

1. What is the author trying to do with big projects?

A．Pursue his graduate studies.

B．Seek a route to academic success.

C．Apply for an associate professorship.

D．Establish an academic research center.

2. What prevented the author pursuing his big project?

A．Lack of necessary support.	B．The toughness of work
C．Shortage of academic talents.	D．The opposition from colleagues.

3. How did the author carry out his small project?

A．By publishing influential papers.

B．By getting young colleagues’ funding.

C．By exploring and initiating new ideas.

D．By cooperating with senior colleagues.

4. What does the author learn from his experience?

A．Good jobs require a high degree.

B．Ambition isn’t fit for the young.

C．Success results from preparation.

D．Small doesn’t mean unimportant.

6 . 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。

The culture of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) became     1     (increasing) popular with the arrival of the 31st FISU World University Games in Chengdu in July, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. “We mainly promote TCM culture by displaying TCM     2     (element) such as TCM-themed backdrops, samples, 3D paintings made from acupuncture (针灸) tools, and herbal bags,” explained Deng Hongyuan,     3     staff member at the TCM culture area.

Visitors to the TCM culture area     4     (treat) to live shows of therapeutic massages (治疗性按摩) , Taijiquan, and Wuqinxi, a set of exercises     5     (inspire) by the movements of five animals as well as Baduanjin. Baduanjin, a form of gentle exercise that is a part of TCM culture,     6     is similar to Taijiquan and other TCM therapies, became a hit for its health benefits. Ancient Chinese medical books, TCM equipment, and medicinal materials unique     7     Sichuan are also on display.

“Foreign guests particularly enjoyed experiencing Chinese therapeutic massages. They were highly     8     (appreciate) of our massage services. They even asked if they could have this experience every day,” Deng noted.

“TCM culture is an important part of traditional Chinese culture and we are committed to     9     (broaden) its reach through the World University Games of Chengdu. We hope to enable more people     10     (learn) about TCM culture,” Deng concluded.

7 . You might think that college is just a continuation of high school, but it’s not.     1    . And college can change you and shape you in ways that you might not imagine.

Become more independent

    2    . But you’re not entirely on your own. College offers students many kinds of help to make this transition, such as giving guidance and academic advice as well as counseling(咨询) and other support.

Explore your options

One of the great things about being able to choose your own courses is that you get the opportunity to explore. You can try classes in a lot of different subjects.     3    . You may choose to begin training for a career right away. Or you may pick a major after taking some time to check out your options. College offers classes and majors in subjects you’ve studied in high school—plus many more that you haven’t.

Explore outside the classroom

    4    . A campus is its own world, and students have the chance to experience a wide range of activities. They can publish newspapers, play sports or volunteer to improve their communities.

    5    

Thanks to all the knowledge。skills and experience you’ll gain in college, you’ll be able to adapt to a greater variety of jobs and careers. Statistics show that a college diploma(毕业文凭) can help you get a job more easily, keep a job and achieve your dream.

A．Connect with new friends

B．Unlock more job opportunities

C．You’ll encounter new ideas and challenges

D．Or you can get right into a favorite subject

E．College is about much more than just course work

F．College opens doors for you that high school doesn’t

G．College helps students develop into responsible and independent adults

8 . Josie, who is 17 years old, said, “Why do my parents do the same things they tell me not to do? For example, my mum stops me from shouting through the walls and asks me to go and speak to her face-to-face, but she always shouts through the walls to me. What can I do?”

That is a very good point. Parents can be completely inconsistent (不一致), and usually they don’t realize it. You see this a lot in many things like smartphones. Parents always say to their kids, “Oh, you can’t use that. That device (设备) is bad for you, so stop using it at the table. It’s harmful.” But then they are on theirs continually. So what do you expect teenagers to do?

The whole “Do as I say, not as I do” thing is an annoyance, especially for a teenager who is dying for independence and respect but isn’t getting them.

What can teenagers do with it? I would say you should point it out by calmly saying something like “You tell me not to scream through the walls, but you do it to me, so you can understand where I’m coming from. That’s not ideal.” They might object to it, but I think most parents who care about being parents would logically say, “That’s a reasonable point.”

There are a lot of conflicts (矛盾) going on between teenagers and their parents, but a lot of studies show that the conflicts are resolved a lot more when they turn into a dialogue.

If you can talk at a time when you’re both feeling a bit calmer, like just in the kitchen or doing something unimportant, then go in and say, “Can I just mention it? You tell me not to do this, but you do it too.” If you can approach it in a more calm and stress-free manner, most parents will respond positively.

1. How did Josie feel according to her words in paragraph 1?

A．Hopeful.

B．Bored.

C．Proud.

D．Confused.

2. What does the underlined word “theirs” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The parents’ smartphones.	B．The tables in the house.
C．The devices in the house.	D．The teenagers’ points.

3. What should teenagers do with their parents’ inconsistency?

A．Object to it personally.	B．Complain of it continually.
C．Talk with their parents calmly.	D．Do some studies differently.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph?

A．To list a fact.	B．To offer a suggestion.
C．To show a result.	D．To ask a new question.

9 . Garden goals can often be unclear. But in my opinion, not having a clear aim in mind when we are designing, creating and maintaining a garden can lead to a range of problems down the road. We must know where we’re going to determine our direction. Usually, without clear goals in mind, we end up setting out in entirely the wrong direction.

Creating our own perfect garden needs time. Waiting and failures can be dispiriting and many gardeners give up or feel disgruntled. It is always best to take our time and make progressive steps toward our overall goals.

With a clear idea of those goals, we can determine better how we are progressing toward them, even when nothing goes according to plan. We can see our success more clearly and can’t get hung up on smaller things that go wrong along the way.

Another thing clear garden goals can give us is a sense of the light at the end of the tunnel—something keeping us centered on what really matters. We need to have something to aim for to keep focus on the longer term. In a garden, it is easy to become distracted and some gardeners throw everything at their gardens in the hope that something will stick.

Buying too many plants for a garden is not only a recipe for disappointment, when things don’t end up working as expected, but also makes your efforts unsustainable. By buying only what you need, you can reduce your harmful impact and live in an environmentally friendly way.

Establishing clear goals helps us visualize our own needs and priorities (优先事项) more clearly. It helps us see what our gardens can truly provide for us and see how our gardening efforts can also help others and be of great benefit in the wider world.

1. What does the underlined word “disgruntled” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Frightened.

B．Amazed.

C．Dissatisfied.

D．Relaxed.

2. What does the author compare the garden goals to in the text?

A．The dreams that people are looking for.	B．The direction that people keep changing.
C．The problems that appear in people’s life.	D．The light that guides gardeners forward.

3. What does the author advise gardeners to do in paragraph 5?

A．Buy many plants.	B．Buy the required plants.
C．Work as they plan to.	D．Live in the way they like.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．How can you set your goals?	B．What plants are fit for your garden?
C．Who can become successful gardeners?	D．Why is it important to set goals for your garden?

10 . Liu Xiaoyu, the Chinese-Canadian ever won first place in the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. And he was the second pianist of Chinese origin to ________ the honor.

It was his first ________ in China when he played at the 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival in February. However, it was his third trip to the special region. He had ________ here twice before when he was three and nine. He ________ remembered visiting some attractions in Hong Kong at nine years old. When he would play the ________ once again, he was very ________ and looked forward to bringing Chopin’s music to the audience in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

At the ________ in February at the Hong Kong City Hall, Liu played Chopin’s two pieces of music, both of which he had played in the Warsaw competition. In the second half of the public performance of music, he played French composer Maurice Ravel’s music. The applause and ________ from the audience made him return to the stage three times to take a ________ as a sign of politeness.

Some say Liu’s musical style is ________, with less romance but more ________. The young pianist just ________ to express his inner emotions clearly and directly. He ________ that if we still play the same music played 200 years ago, the way of playing will be undoubtedly different. To confirm it, he points out, “Austrian. composer Mozart ________ Serenata Notturna (《月下小夜曲》) in a, time of candles, but in the 21st century, we have electric lights—our way of living is ________ the way we play.”

1.

A．refuse

B．miss

C．obtain

D．admit

2.

A．experience

B．opinion

C．proof

D．show

3.

A．studied

B．come

C．taught

D．performed

4.

A．particularly

B．confusedly

C．logically

D．barely

5.

A．cards

B．compositions

C．games

D．sports

6.

A．excited

B．ashamed

C．plain

D．abnormal

7.

A．competition

B．concert

C．exhibition

D．conference

8.

A．reviews

B．intervention

C．cheers

D．comfort

9.

A．lead

B．breath

C．rest

D．bow

10.

A．unique

B．familiar

C．conventional

D．common

11.

A．theory

B．conflict

C．security

D．clarity

12.

A．pretends

B．seeks

C．hesitates

D．agrees

13.

A．regrets

B．warns

C．ensures

D．suspects

14.

A．analyzed

B．displayed

C．created

D．recalled

15.

A．opposite to

B．dependent on

C．separated from

D．connected with