1 . Thomas was a well-known wise man. One day, he wandered in a beautiful small town. Because of his fame, people from nearby towns who heard of his arrival all came to visit and seek his advice.

Many who came sought help with difficulties in daily life, and Thomas, unable to bear turning them away, patiently offered suggestions. Word spread quickly, and more and more people came to see Thomas for guidance.

One day, dozens of people crowded outside Thomas’s door, all clamoring (大声地要求) that their problems were the most serious and urgent, each insisting that Thomas address their concerns first, with no one willing to yield (让步).

After a moment of thought, Thomas took out some paper and a pen and said, “I can’t hear clearly with everyone talking at once. How about everyone write down your problem on a piece of paper and place it in this basket beside me?”

Once everyone had placed their notes in the basket, Thomas shook the basket and said, “Please each take a piece of paper from the basket and read what it says.”

As everyone read a note from someone else, they all realized that indeed, each person has their own troubles, and every household has its own challenges. Then Thomas spoke up, “Now, whose problem is the most urgent to solve?” Hearing that question, no one spoke again, because now no one dared to claim that their problem was the most severe.

Often, we are bound by our immediate feelings. When difficulties and problems strike, it feels as though we are caught in a vortex of pain. But if we shift our focus from ourselves and look towards others, we might discover that the problems we face are not so significant. Perhaps others are the ones who need help more urgently, or maybe there is something within our power that we can do for them.

1. Why did people visit Thomas?

A．For advice.	B．For a meeting.
C．For a competition.	D．For introductions.

2. How did Thomas handle the crowd?

A．He ignored them.	B．He listened to each one individually.
C．He prioritized the problems himself.	D．He asked them to write down their problems.

3. What did reading others’ problems show to the people?

A．The complexity of their difficulties.	B．The similarity of their situations.
C．Their need for more advice.	D．Their living conditions.

4. What lesson did Thomas teach?

A．Competition.

B．Sympathy.

C．Prioritization.

D．Self-confidence.

2 . 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。

Cui Zhenshuo and Yang Bo discovered that because of the far location of most paper workshops and lifestyles of the paper-making craftsmen, their products are unable to reach the market     1     (easy). Therefore, Cui and Yang came up     2     the idea of establishing their own studio that could serve as a bridge to connect far workshops with buyers to advance     3     (tradition) Chinese handmade paper.

Chu is a kind of tree.     4     (it) bark (树皮) is a common material that was used in papermaking in ancient times. Han Yu, a famous     5     (write) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) called paper Mr. Chu in his work Biography of Mao Ying. Since then, it     6     (use) as a nickname (昵称) for paper by Chinese scholars. In 2019, Cui and Yang named their own studio “I am Mr. Chu.”, and they focused on     7     (run) it.

Du Weisheng, an expert in the restoration (修复) of ancient books at the National Library of China, told them that, in     8     1990s, many Chinese paper relics needed to be repaired with handmade paper that allowed people to find information on various paper styles.

The two began to create the series of handmade paper products from 2021. Each volume is made up of thirty types of handmade paper, each of     9     is sourced from its place of origin. At present, two volumes of the series have been produced, and they plan     10     (make) ten volumes.

3 . My dad is easy-going and has a gift for chatting. He ________ a fast food restaurant called Queenie’s Weenies, which is specialized in hot dogs. I work with my dad at the ________ on weekends.

One Saturday, we went ________. As we got into the checkout line, I ________ something: our cashier (收银员) was very ________! She ________ no smiles, no greetings and no small talk. Her “anger aura (光环)” was obvious and kind of ________ to me. When we ________ to check out, I was thinking that we should just pay for our things and leave quickly. My dad had a different ________. When it was our turn, he started ________ her.

Dad said, “Hi, how are you today? This is my son. I have a restaurant, and we ________ together. It’s called Queenie’s Weenies. Drop by my restaurant sometime and I will ________ you to my hot dogs. I’m good at cooking them.” By the time we ________ checking out, the cashier was smiling. She said, “Thanks, umm… I hope you and your son have a very nice day.”

Back in the car, Dad said to me, “The cashier was obviously ________ today. It happens to everyone. Smile ________ or give a few kind words, which is all it takes to make one a little more delighted.”

1.

A．owns

B．describes

C．visits

D．recommends

2.

A．supermarket

B．hospital

C．restaurant

D．company

3.

A．hiking

B．camping

C．exploring

D．shopping

4.

A．imagined

B．believed

C．noticed

D．remembered

5.

A．beautiful

B．unhappy

C．professional

D．polite

6.

A．received

B．needed

C．avoided

D．offered

7.

A．suitable

B．frightening

C．special

D．friendly

8.

A．helped

B．refused

C．waited

D．forgot

9.

A．problem

B．idea

C．hope

D．experience

10.

A．talking to

B．looking after

C．going after

D．laughing at

11.

A．work

B．play

C．tour

D．exercise

12.

A．drive

B．tie

C．treat

D．lead

13.

A．quitted

B．finished

C．missed

D．regretted

14.

A．in peace

B．in danger

C．in a hurry

D．in low spirits

15.

A．warmly

B．immediately

C．secretly

D．comfortably

4 . Animals, including humans, feel sound as well as hear it, and some of the most meaningful communication happens at frequencies (频率) that people can’t hear. Elephants, for example, use these low-frequency sounds to, among other things, find family or a mate across long distances. Whales do it, too.

But you don’t have to weigh a ton to make a sound. In fact, you don’t have to be bigger than a pea. Consider, for example, the tree-hopper, a curious little animal that lives on the stems (茎) of the leaves. University of Missouri biologist Rex Cocroft has spent much of his time listening closely to tree-hoppers with his team.

The team discovers that all the sounds being heard from tree-hoppers are produced by males. They do it by vibrating (振动) their abdomens (腹部) to make a wide variety of strange sounds. There is almost no airborne sound produced with these vibrational sounds. Cocroft explained, “If a tree-hopper were to stand on your finger and produce a sound, you would feel the vibration but hear no sound.”

They showed that some sounds, not surprisingly, seem to be aimed at attracting females. And some are aimed at other males.

Cocroft explained, “When two males meet each other, or when they are mate-searching on a branch, we’re hearing ‘purring, bdddddrrrr…’ sounds that males give.” Normally, a person couldn’t hear any of this, because the sound travels along the stem, inside it. And that’s how other tree-hoppers detect it.

Cocroft said tree-hoppers have very sensitive legs. And they stand around on stems, which are good at spreading vibrations. So they just use what nature gives them to communicate with each other.

“They have so many different forms of social behavior and grouping,” Cocroft explained. “And once there are animals living in groups, then there will be all sorts of interesting possibilities for communication.”

1. What does Cocroft’s research focus on about tree-hoppers?

A．Their variety.	B．Their communication.
C．Their living areas.	D．Their numbers.

2. What can we know about tree-hoppers?

A．They sense sounds by legs.

B．They knock the stems to make sounds.

C．Their sounds can be easily heard by humans.

D．Females make sounds to meet each other

3. What does Cocroft say about animals’ living in groups?

A．It is key to their survival.

B．It drives an increase in their numbers.

C．It often leads to communication.

D．It contributes much to the division of animal types.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A Magic Moment in Nature	B．A Journey to the Wildlife
C．Learning From Nature	D．Communication Sounds Among Animals

5 . Every year the start of the Atlantic hurricane season is another reminder for Margarite August that she still doesn’t have a roof.

The 70-year-old retired teacher’s home on the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica was mostly wiped out by hurricane Maria six years ago.

Six years after hurricane Maria, Dominicans like Margarite August still haven’t been able to rehabilitate their homes.

August is not alone. Since Maria, the government of Dominica has built 7,000 new homes—about a quarter of its housing stock-with materials to fight another Category 5 hurricane. They’ve also relocated two communities. But an untold number of the island’s 70,000 or so residents are like August, rebuilding their homes in any way they can afford.

Hurricane Maria is often referred to as a once-in-a-lifetime disaster. Scientists put much of the blame on warming ocean temperatures that could make frequent (频繁的) storms like it.

Maria damaged a terrible 95% of Dominica’s housing stock and 226% of the nation’s GDP. Before the storm, the country’s economy had long struggled since its independence from Great Britain in 1978. Unlike its more famous touristy neighbors along the chain of eastern Caribbean islands it lies on, Dominica is more known for its rugged mountains and jungles (丛林) than white sandy beaches.

The jungle mountains that crash down to the coast are beautiful but disasters visit easily. “I don’t think anybody ever got over Maria,” says Christine John of the Dominica Red Cross. “There are a lot of persons today—if it just starts to rain outside, they get anxious.”

1. What does the underlined word “rehabilitate” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Rebuild.

B．Leave.

C．Decorate.

D．Buy.

2. What is the main cause of frequent extreme storms according to scientists?

A．Over-farming.	B．Loss of the land.
C．The disappearance of the forests.	D．Climate change.

3. What is Dominica known for according to the text?

A．Its good economy.	B．Its architecture.
C．Its mountains and jungles.	D．Its sandy beaches.

4. Why are Dominicans nervous when it rains?

A．They have to stay bored at home.	B．Their houses are easy to take in water.
C．They don’t know how to make umbrellas.	D．They are afraid of another disaster like Maria.

6 . By the time Joy Ryan, a US grandma, turned 85, she had never seen the ocean or mountains. For Joy, trips to the local fishing area with her husband were about the farthest place she had ever gone, even if she loved watching the Travel Channel.

But one day Joy’s grandson, Brad Ryan, discovered that he and his grandma had a common interest in their love for traveling, when they began to visit the American great outdoors together.

Brad said, “When I learned my grandma had never seen the great wildernesses of America—deserts, mountains and oceans, I thought there was something I needed to do.” It was after taking his grandma out of Ohio on a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that he came up with the idea of visiting all the 63 US national parks with her to create inspiring memories.

Going to all the 63 US National Parks is a huge achievement even for a much younger adventurer (冒险家). Brad said his grandmother’s physical strength (体力) grew with their trips. For example, his grandma went water rafting (漂流) at 91, with class three rapids and when walking at the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, she broke the record by almost a decade!

It wasn’t always like this, however. Joy was so wobbly (不稳的) on her first trip, challenged by her balance. A group of college students clapped their hands when she reached the top of a path they were following.

Joy broke her age limitation (限制) and at the age of 93, she made history as the oldest living person to visit every US National Park. Joy believes it’s the mix of hopefulness, willpower, and the good health that gives her strength.

1. With whom did Joy Ryan visit all the 63 US national parks?

A．Her grandson.	B．Her husband.
C．Her daughter.	D．Her student.

2. What does Brad want to show by mentioning Joy Ryan’s water rafting at 91?

A．She had a love for traveling.

B．Water rafting is dangerous for the old.

C．There is no age limitation for water rafting.

D．She had developed a strong body from traveling.

3. What is Joy Ryan’s challenge on her first trip?

A．Her memory.	B．Her balance.
C．Her physical strength.	D．Her sense of direction.

4. Which of the following can best describe Joy Ryan?

A．Brave and hopeful.	B．Humorous and outgoing.
C．Hard-working and helpful.	D．Thoughtful and self-confident.

7 . National Parks in Utah

Zion National Park

It’s perfect for scenic drives and outdoor adventures. One of the park highlights is the Zion Canyons, which offers different hiking (远足) opportunities. Late spring or early fall is the best time to visit Zion National Park, since most facilities are open during this time. However, if you don’t mind cold weather, visit during the late fall and winter.

Bryce Canyon National Park

It’s home to the greatest number of hoodoos (石林) on earth, which are one of the natural wonders of the world. You can see most of Bryce Canyon’s highlights in one day by taking the scenic drive and making stops at various views. Most people visit the park between May and September since the weather is warmer.

Canyonlands National Park

Although it’s the 23rd largest National Park in the US, Canyonlands is the largest out of the four national parks in Utah. The best time of the year to visit is when the weather is pleasant in the spring and fall. The park has four main parts: The Maze, Island in the Sky, The Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon. If you plan to visit every part, you can go on a boat tour to explore it.

Arches National Park

Known as a red-rock wonderland, Arches National Park is popular for its stone arches (石拱).The park has over 2,000 stone arches, with Landscape Arch the largest. The park is busiest from March through October. However, the spring and fall temperatures are the most comfortable. So, the best time to visit is April, May, September and October.

1. When is the best time to visit Zion National Park?

A．Late spring.

B．Early summer.

C．Late fall.

D．Early winter.

2. What is special about Canyonlands National Park?

A．It features hike programs.	B．It is known for stone arches.
C．It is the largest one in Utah.	D．It requires advance bookings.

3. What can you do in Arches National Park?

A．Take a journey down a river.	B．Explore the Zion Canyons.
C．Tour Island in the Sky.	D．Admire the red rock.

8 . If you are struggling with social anxiety, and don’t know how to find good friends, you can use the following important ways to meet new people.

    1    

A bookstore is a great place to get to know people with a true sense of curiosity. Meeting new people in the bookstore is lovely because your conversations have depth. You can talk about the different stories you’ve read.     2    .

Go traveling

Traveling is one of the most adventurous ways to meet other people. People will be in a good mood, particularly when traveling for a vacation, which opens up chances to meet new people in a happy way.     3    , you explore different places, and create positive memories while meeting new people from different cultures. You’ll make new friends during this happy moment in your life.

Attend a music festival

If you love songs, attending a music festival is the perfect choice for you. In this way, you really can’t escape meeting new people since you’re surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of people in one place, enjoying the live music.     4    . There’s a big chance that the people you meet in this event are connections you’ll remember even after it ends. If the event is several days long, you might notice that you go out with those strangers for a couple of days. After the event, you might choose to stay in touch.

Take a course

There’s no better way of making new friends and meeting people than taking a course. You can take a course such as learning a skill.     5    , you gain knowledge and a skill, and you get to socialize with a new set of people.

A．Visit a museum

B．When you travel

C．Go to the bookstore

D．By taking a course you’re interested in

E．If you are fond of exploring the world

F．And you can share your ideas about reading and books, too

G．The excitement of music festivals can create lasting friendships

9 . When I was little, I always wondered what it would feel like to be an adult. Last summer, I went to Los Angeles for six weeks for an internship(实习). After depending on Mom’s _______ for the first 17 years of my life and the college canteen for the last two years, suddenly being in _______ of making my own meals was worrying. I had so many _______. Would I make friends? Would I be able to _______ through heavy traffic in LA? Even the idea of driving to some crowded beaches without having a definite plan for parking _______ me.

Somehow, I made it through. I _______ out the trash, did the dishes and went shopping. Sure, my meals usually _______ easy stuff like cheese and noodles, but what _______ was that I made them. Most _______, I drove the entire way home from LA to Michigan ________—36 hours of driving, with only a couple of CDs to keep me ________.

The most impressive moment was during my first night of driving. ________ I drove for ten hours, I ________ in Flagstaff, Arizona for a quick ________ at a small Italian restaurant at 10 pm.

As I went back to my car, I realized that I wasn’t going to ________ at my Albuquerque motel until 3 am. It was too ________ to cancel my reservation(预定) and ________ a closer motel, so I drove another five ________. When I fell into bed that night, I started laughing. I was in the middle of New Mexico, but it felt like ________ and I had a good sleep.

Since then, I have learned that being an adult is facing a thousand things at once and being ________ but living in it.

1.

A．parking

B．cooking

C．thinking

D．saying

2.

A．memory

B．celebration

C．charge

D．favor

3.

A．concerns

B．advertisements

C．infections

D．expectations

4.

A．climb

B．read

C．drive

D．look

5.

A．attracted

B．excited

C．comforted

D．frightened

6.

A．took

B．put

C．gave

D．left

7.

A．added to

B．resulted in

C．consisted of

D．differed from

8.

A．happened

B．mattered

C．appeared

D．worked

9.

A．appropriately

B．gradually

C．practically

D．surprisingly

10.

A．alone

B．abroad

C．again

D．around

11.

A．informed

B．tricked

C．bothered

D．entertained

12.

A．Before

B．After

C．If

D．Unless

13.

A．whispered

B．complained

C．stopped

D．breathed

14.

A．election

B．access

C．conclusion

D．dinner

15.

A．arrive

B．point

C．aim

D．smile

16.

A．late

B．early

C．brilliant

D．severe

17.

A．appreciate

B．find

C．expand

D．build

18.

A．days

B．minutes

C．weeks

D．hours

19.

A．upstairs

B．home

C．overseas

D．indoors

20.

A．annoyed

B．addicted

C．stressed

D．amazed

10 . A quick nap before arriving at your destination is normal, especially when you lack that much-needed sleep. But even if you feel energized, sleeping on buses and trains just seems to be a natural thing.     1     ? Here are some of the reasons.

    2    

Although buses and trains are not close to the comfort level of your couch or your bed, just being in a cozy(舒适的) enough position is sufficient to make you nod off. Sitting down, closing your eyes, and leaning your head a bit are enough to get you in a relaxed state.

Long periods of inactivity

On buses and trains, you don’t move around very much.     3     . Basically, you’re away from the things that keep your mind and your physical body busy. This inactivity also slows your brain activity down because there’s no stimulus to keep it awake.

White noise

    4    . It’s a consistent noise, like the hum of tires or the purring of the car. White noise masks distracting sounds, and is helpful for people who have trouble getting sleep. When you’re riding a vehicle, white noise is continuously emitted, making it easier for passengers to come to dreamland.

Increase in carbon dioxide in public transportation

Buses and trains get crowded every day with people going to and from work. Carbon dioxide increases when there are lots of people in a small space.     5     .

A．Comfortable seats

B．Lower the temperature

C．How to take a quick nap

D．This reduces oxygen to the brain and slows it down

E．So why do people fall asleep so easily on public transportation

F．Cars and other vehicles are a perfect environment that produces white noise

G．You just sit down and enjoy the scenery as the vehicle moves along the road