1 . People always ask me how I got into the sport of weightlifting. I know it sounds weird, but I’m so focused on lifting that everything else _______. Because I was super depressed, weightlifting helped me manage those mood swings.

Now, being bipolar (双相情感障碍) is something I’m proud to say. And I would like to _______ the shame on all mental disorders. As I grew up, sports played a vital role in my life. And I spent 11 years doing gymnastics, which I found just to stay in _______, so when I was 15 years old I decided to _______ it. My current coach recruited (招募) me to get into weightlifting competitively. About two years into my career I _______ realized I could go places with this. My first _______ came in 2018, when I had my first International medals at the Junior World Championships, from where it took off. In 2019 World Championship I had my _______ year.

Last year I had a minor meet in Cuba but not feeling motivated, I definitely _______, which meant I didn’t make a lift. In fact, I had been fighting _______ for probably two years at that point — I was ________ with bipolar disorder type two. One of the first things in my mind was that I was ________ because there was a fixed image around people that ________ with the mental health. ________, it didn’t take me long to realize that there’s nothing to be ________ of. I could go to train and focus on weightlifting, ________ on whether I’m gonna feel great or awful.

At this point, I’m all but ________ for the Olympics. There are some days that I ________ have to push to my maximal ________. It can be very painful, but when it ________ it, it is the days that get you stronger. And then it’s really ________ to just put everything into those few seconds that you’re competing.

1.

A．works out

B．points out

C．blanks out

D．checks out

2.

A．erase

B．evolve

C．extend

D．extract

3.

A．place

B．shape

C．need

D．doubt

4.

A．fit

B．keep

C．quit

D．join

5.

A．gradually

B．severely

C．generally

D．changeably

6.

A．sense

B．case

C．occasion

D．moment

7.

A．breakout

B．trouble

C．gap

D．failure

8.

A．reached out

B．left alone

C．picked up

D．bombed out

9.

A．desire

B．passion

C．anxiety

D．guilty

10.

A．cheated

B．diagnosed

C．combined

D．covered

11.

A．bored

B．frustrated

C．worn

D．tired

12.

A．communicated

B．agreed

C．struggled

D．argued

13.

A．Eagerly

B．Fortunately

C．Constantly

D．Obviously

14.

A．ashamed

B．aware

C．capable

D．free

15.

A．by contrast

B．as well as

C．rather than

D．on the contrary

16.

A．known

B．experienced

C．educated

D．qualified

17.

A．relatively

B．formally

C．literally

D．temporarily

18.

A．spirit

B．confidence

C．patience

D．effort

19.

A．looks forward to

B．comes down to

C．looks up to

D．lives up to

20.

A．awesome

B．comfortable

C．exhausted

D．plain

2 . When I first aspired to become a science writer, I imagined each day would be filled with inspiration and creativity. The reality, of course, is far less enjoyable than my fantasies. Researching a story, for example, often involves reading lots of dry and technical papers before I finally strike gold with the information that I seek.

Most professions, I imagine, include challenging but necessary tasks that sap enthusiasm. But a recent paper from Edward Lai at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his colleagues may offer us all a way to boost our motivation. It is called the "easy addendum effect", and, as the name suggests, it involves ending each work session with a more pleasant task that will be relatively straightforward to complete.

The strategy was inspired by a phenomenon known as the "peak-end rule", which means we often judge events by the way they finish, rather than the overall experience. In one experiment, Daniel Kahneman and his colleagues asked participants to plunge their hands into water at unpleasantly cold temperatures, the first group simply in 14℃ water for 60 seconds, while the second one were given a further 30 seconds in water at 15℃. Surprisingly, most preferred the second option. It seems their memory of the experiment only focused on the last moments, which was slightly more pleasant in the 90-second set-up.

The research suggests that our impressions of work fall prey to the same preference — and we can use that to our advantage. Lai's team gave participants a series of dull tasks — from flexing their muscles against heavy weights to sorting books into alphabetical order or answering customer complaints. In each case, participants performed the tasks with or without an "easy addendum" attached to the end of the job. Those testing their strength were given a few extra rounds of lighter weights while those answering customer queries with some more straightforward requests.

Much like the ice-bath experiments, there was no logical reason why loading on additional work to an existing task should make it more pleasant overall. But the researchers found that the "easy addendums" significantly reduced the anticipated difficulty and increased participants` satisfaction with their jobs.

Since learning about Lai's research, I have tried applying this strategy to my own work. Writing is still my favourite part of the job, and so this article was a pleasant addendum to an otherwise demanding day of research for another one. By putting these words on the page, I feel far more energised about the work behind me — and readier to enjoy the evening ahead.

1. Which is the author's initial aspiration as a science writer?

A．To enjoy a challenging and enjoyable career.

B．To have a daily routine filled with creativity.

C．To conduct research and write technical papers.

D．To strike gold with every story they research.

2. What does the underlined word "sap" mean in Paragraph 2?

A．Weaken.

B．Boost.

C．Inspire.

D．Refuse.

3. What can we infer from "the ice-bath experiments"?

A．Participants could not bear 14°C longer than those could in 15℃.

B．Participants were unwilling to be loaded on additional work.

C．Participants usually cared more about the end of events.

D．Participants performed the tasks with an “easy addendum”.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the text?

A．No man is content if he or she is given more work.

B．“Easy addendum” can reduce difficulties in jobs.

C．One's pleasure comes through suffering in jobs.

D．“Easy addendum” can increase job satisfaction.

3 . Long weekends in the UK to immerse yourself in science

Mysteries of the universe, Cheshire

30 August—1 September 2024     From £959

Spend the weekend with some of the brightest minds in science, as you explore the mysteries of the universe in a fascinating programme that includes an excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site Jodrell Bank to see the iconic Lovell Telescope.

·Hear from leading experts in astronomy, cosmology and space science.

·Live link-up with remote telescope in Australia to view the southern hemisphere’s night skies.

·Private tour of Jodrell Bank.

·Stay at the beautiful, Grade 1l-listed De Vere Cranage Estate hotel.

The science of the Jurassic Coast, Dorset and Devon

17—19 May 2024     From £899

Discover the science of the Jurassic coast, from the ever-changing coastal landscapes to the historic beaches and geology with insights from a variety of geology, palaeontology and palaeozoology experts.

·Hunt for fossils along Lyme Regis’s famed ammonite pavement.

·A private tour of Lyme Regis Museum, former home of fossil hunter Mary Anning.

·Explore the Jurassic Coast by sea on a cruise with a local geology expert.

·Hear from leading experts in geology and palaeontology.

The science of rewilding, Coombeshead, Devon

16—18 August 2024     From £749

Stay at the heart of this conservation-in-action project, Rewilding Coombeshead, nestled deep in the beautiful Devonshire countryside. Discover how nature is making a comeback and witness the project’s “rewilding helpers”, such as water buffalo, wild boar, mouflon sheep and Exmoor ponies in action.

·Talks from leading rewilding conservationists and New Scientist staff writer, Graham Lawton.

·Small group guided tours of the 160-hectare site and rewilding areas.

·Guided tour of the species breeding and reintroduction centre.

1. When can you see the Lovell Telescope?

A．18 August.

B．16 April.

C．31 August.

D．17 May.

2. What’s the purpose of “The science of the Jurassic Coast, Dorset and Devon”?

A．To explore the natural beauty of Dorset and Devon.

B．To introduce the science behind the Jurassic Coast.

C．To provide insights into the history of Lyme Regis.

D．To offer a tour of fossil hunter Mary Anning’s home.

3. What is special about “The science of rewilding, Coombeshead, Devon”?

A．Guided tours are offered there.	B．It includes outdoor activities.
C．It discovers nature mysteries.	D．Brightest minds are involved.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How long does a complete IELTS test last?

A．120 minutes.

B．165 minutes.

C．2-5 days.

2. What is an advantage of taking the IELTS test?

A．Improvement of one's social status.

B．Access to international job opportunities.

C．Greater possibility of full-time education.

3. Which section of the two versions of IELTS differ from each other?

A．Speaking.

B．Listening.

C．Writing.

4. Who has to take an IELTS General test?

A．A Japanese wanting to work in the UK.

B．A student preparing for exchange programs.

C．A job seeker eager for a position in the government.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does Lydia call the man?

A．To report a broken window.

B．To return a lost baseball.

C．To complain about a repairman.

2. What did Lydia do this morning?

A．She met her friend.

B．She went shopping.

C．She played baseball.

10 . 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。

Chinese archaeologists recently released the findings of a series of new excavations     1     (relate) to the Hongshan Culture, a new stone culture renowned for its jade carvings, raising the number of Hongshan Culture sites from a little over 90 to more than 500.

Active 6,500 to 5,000 years ago, the Hongshan Culture extended throughout a 200,000-square-kilometer area of     2     is today the West Liaohe River Basin. The excavations in 2022     3     (unearth) remains of grains, sacrificial buildings and a large settlement, revealing an agricultural society that ate grains. The discovery demonstrates the Hongshan people made sacrifices to wish for     4     better harvest.

Before the new discovery, the fishing and hunting     5     (know) to be main activities in Hongshan ancestors’ life.     6     these findings were valuable, there was little     7     (evident) that gave archeologists an idea of what people’s daily life was like back then. This has changed, however,     8     the discovery of a large settlement site in the Niuheliang region     9     (contain) 27 homes. Present research shows that the Hongshan people’s houses were semi-underground and made use of long entryways.

“The Hongshan Culture     10     (original) began about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago, and promoted the development of Chinese civilization,” noted Sun Yonggang, a history researcher at Chifeng University.