1 . The maleo (塚雉), a bird with black feathers and a pink chest, is native to Indonesia’s Sulawesi island and a few neighboring ones. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which identifies wildlife across the world currently facing threats, estimates only 800 to 1,400 adult maleos remain in the wild. Experts do not know how many maleos still live across West Sulawesi island. They were only able to record the presence of nesting grounds in 23 villages based on reports from locals in the area. But of those, only 18 are considered active nesting areas.

Recently, the birds have been faced with new threats, which accelerate their decline. The Indonesian government plans to move the nation’s capital from Jakarta to a new city on Borneo island, which is just a six-hour boat trip apart from Sulawesi island. The island takes on the building of new roads and seaports to be used to transport materials to the new capital. Activities also include tree clearing, digging, and removing stones. The process already has changed the forest environment on West Sulawesi and is harming maleo nesting areas near the beach. These changes have made the trip for maleos to lay their eggs increasingly difficult.

Another problem has been poachers. The Associated Press reports that, regardless of official ban, they steal maleo eggs that the males’ parents have hidden in the sand, and sell the eggs for about $1 to people as food. The eggs are a traditional gift for many people in Mamuju and other parts of Sulawesi.

“As far as I know, maleo birds are in decline,” said Andi Aco Takdir, chief of the West Sulawesi Forestry Agency. He pointed to several reasons for the decline, including destruction of beach areas, and expanding human development activities. He added that government officials there are prepared to take steps to protect the maleos even with the new capital development. Andi said, “Nature conservation must be used as an achievement and must not be built leaving behind problems.”

1. Which word can be used to describe the maleos?

A．Endangered.	B．Adaptable.
C．Widespread.	D．Extinct.

2. What causes a further drop of the maleo population?

A．The sudden changes of climate.

B．The disappearance of the forests.

C．The development of Sulawesi island.

D．The supporting work for the new capital.

3. What does the underlined word “poachers” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．People who hunt maleos for their meat.

B．People who live by selling maleo eggs.

C．People who engage in illegal hunting.

D．People who regard maleo eggs as gifts.

4. What can we infer from Andi’s words?

A．The new capital development might be stopped at once.

B．The government will balance conservation and development.

C．There seems to be a tough way for the new capital to develop.

D．The government will concentrate on solving urban problems.

2 . 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。

Jennifer, a middle school student, was in Mr Green’s class. After only a month at school, she began to be home on a regular basis asking for plenty of crayons, paper, etc. At first, her mother, Sophia, just dutifully provided whatever she needed, never questioning her.

After ongoing requests for the items for several weeks, Sophia became concerned and asked her, “Jennifer, what are you doing with your stationery (文具)?” However, Jennifer would always respond with an answer that satisfied Sophia.

One day, after supplying the same things to Jennifer, Sophia seriously asked her once again, “Jennifer! What is exactly going on with your stationery?” Knowing her excuses would no longer work, Jennifer bent her head and kept silence. With her mind filled with confusion, Sophia lifted her daughter’s chin and looked into her eyes, asking, “What is wrong? Are you making money by reselling school supplies?” Sophia waited for what seemed like a long time for Jennifer to answer.

“Mom,” Jennifer said, “I’ve known a boy, called Jack, who is a student in the nearby school sponsored by a charity. He is an immigrant and has two brothers. He doesn’t have enough stationery to do his work. He only has two crayons to color with, and his art paper is messy. I have been putting the new stationery you bought me in his desk before the others came in, so he still doesn’t know I gave it to him. Our teacher, Mr Green, always told us to be an honest person. I knew I didn’t do it. Mom, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to tell you a lie, but I didn’t want anyone to know it was me.”

Sophia stood there in disbelief. Jennifer had took on the role of an adult and tried to hide her good intentions. Sophia hugged Jennifer tightly, saying, “Baby, I will never get mad at you for wanting to help someone, but why didn’t you just come and tell me?” This time, Sophia did not have to wait for her quick answer, but decided to act.

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。

The next day, Sophia told Mr Green what Jennifer had said, and invited him to visit Jack’s family together.

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The acts of Sophia and Mr Green unexpectedly set off a wave of donations in Jennifer’s school.

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3 . 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。

It is reported     1     the International Lantern Festival “Lanternia” opened on December 8 at the Fairy Tale Forest in central Italy, and a large collection of handmade Chinese lanterns lit up one of     2     major theme parks in the city of Cassino.

    3     (divide) into six areas, this large-scale display covered about 110, 000 square meters, all lightened with giant Chinese lanterns. “The lanterns are popular with Italians,” says Domenico Durante, director of the exhibition. What was extremely     4     (amaze) was that the lantern attracted plenty of visitors into the park every day.

The success of the exhibition is due to the fine handiwork of craftsmen in Zigong, Sichuan Province, a city known for     5     (it) lantern culture. The lively lanterns are made of silk, an eco-friendly material,     6     is lightweight and nonpolluting. They were very attractive to Italians, who came from the north and south of the country     7     (see) them. Durante drove over 50 minutes from Beneventoto to the park with his family. His son     8     (particular) loves dragon lanterns for their wonderful colors and the dragon’s moving head.

The exhibition originated in a trip that Durante took to Zigong, where he     9     (impress) by this traditional art and decided to bring it to his hometown. “Next year, we might do more lanterns with Chinese     10     (characteristic) and bring the exhibition to other cities, or even all over the world,” he says.

4 . I’m Bob Sassone. I’m typing the first draft of this letter on a 1954 Smith Corona Silent, a green and gray beauty. Now, for most of us, buying a typewriter in this age of the Internet, texting and tablet computers is odd enough. But there are plenty of writers who still use typewriters. Using a typewriter is a form of time travel. For people who know me well, the fact that I use a typewriter isn’t a surprise. I’m someone who still has a landline and wears a wristwatch. So owning a typewriter fits into that life quite nicely.

Why do I love it so much? It is made for doing one thing: Writing. There are no distractions, no email to check, no alerts that grab your attention. Some people look at it and said, “But you can’t access the Internet on it!” Not being able to access the Internet on my writing machine is a feature, not a bug.

Of course, I don’t use a typewriter all the time. It’s impossible in the 21st century. As someone who does a lot of work online and has to email his work to editors and other people, doing all of my writing on a typewriter just isn’t something that would work today. And after using a computer keyboard for over 30 years, typing on a typewriter is hard. But it’s wonderful to write letters, create first drafts, make notes and lists, and a typed message on a card or thank-you note looks fantastic. I didn’t buy it for show. I’m actually using it!

So I write on both a typewriter and a laptop. I live in 1954 and in the modern digital age. Old and new, analog and digital, beauty and convenience. I straddle both worlds and try to use the technology that suits me best and works the best depending on what I’m doing. And that’s really what we all should be doing with technology, isn’t it?

1. What do most people think of buying a typewriter?

A．Common.

B．Useless.

C．Strange.

D．Meaningful.

2. Why does the author enjoy using a typewriter?

A．It has some advantages.

B．The author is a collector.

C．It makes the author inspired.

D．The author dislikes modern things.

3. What can we infer about the author from paragraph 3?

A．He has used a typewriter for 30 years.

B．He finds a typewriter useful and practical.

C．There isn’t plenty of work for him to do online.

D．It’s possible for him to always use a typewriter nowadays.

4. What does the text want to convey to us?

A．Interest is the best teacher.

B．Each coin has its two sides.

C．It pays to be suitable and useful.

D．Actions speak louder than words.

5 . This morning, before I left for the airport, I had hurt my back. And I could _________ lift my bag off the floor, let alone _________ it into the overhead locker. Luckily, one of the flight attendants put it along with two cases for me.

At that time, a man _________ in front of me must have noticed that I was asking for _________. When the plane _________, he instantly stood up and got my bag down. He also _________ to carry one of my cases down the _________. And then he waited at the bottom of the stairs for me to _________ to get my bag.

A lady walking beside me carried my other case full of things for me. It was obviously _________ for her, but she managed it. She seemed not to want her kindness to be __________, so I silently accepted it. Then I saw her again at the carousel (行李传送带), and she took my bag off the __________.

I would have managed to do all of these things on my own, but these well-meaning humans sensed that I needed help and just __________ in without me needing to ask. It was one of the most __________ experience I had ever had. I couldn’t feel __________ enough to those persons who had taken time out of their lives for a (n) __________. I was so appreciative of their kindness that I would remember it forever.

1.

A．exactly

B．eventually

C．rarely

D．regularly

2.

A．divided

B．placed

C．slipped

D．turned

3.

A．sitting

B．talking

C．walking

D．standing

4.

A．assistance

B．money

C．reputation

D．food

5.

A．started

B．flew

C．delayed

D．landed

6.

A．preferred

B．offered

C．declined

D．failed

7.

A．courts

B．doors

C．floors

D．stairs

8.

A．get off

B．watch out

C．watch over

D．get back

9.

A．luxurious

B．crucial

C．weighty

D．representative

10.

A．requested

B．remarked

C．denied

D．kept

11.

A．airport

B．plane

C．pump

D．belt

12.

A．checked

B．stepped

C．gave

D．cut

13.

A．common

B．splendid

C．ambitious

D．difficult

14.

A．proud

B．ashamed

C．suspicious

D．grateful

15.

A．stranger

B．partner

C．attendant

D．applicant

6 . Lose Weight in a Healthy Way

If you’re not fat, don’t lose weight. If obesity affects your health, you can lose weight in a healthy way. Hundreds of weight-loss programs promise quick and easy weight loss. However, the foundation of successful weight loss remains a healthy, calorie-controlled diet combined with increased physical activity.     1     Consider the following for weight-loss success.

●Make sure you’re ready.     2     So first you should make sure you’re ready to make permanent changes to eating and activity habits. Talk to your doctor if you need help address stressors or emotions that seem like barriers to your readiness. When you’re ready, you’ll find it easier to set goals, keep trying, stay committed and change habits.

●    3     No one else can make you lose weight. You are responsible for your own behavior for successful weight loss. What’s going to give you the burning drive to stick to your weight-loss plan? Make a list of what’s important to you to help you stay motivated and focused.

●Set realistic goals. It may seem obvious to set realistic weight-loss goals. But do you really know what’s realistic? Set a goal of losing a little weight at a time.     4     Generally, you can achieve the goal through a lower calorie diet and regular physical activity.

●Enjoy healthy foods. Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake.     5     One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods—fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without quitting flavour or nutrition.

A．Do it gradually.

B．But how can you make it?

C．Find your inner motivation.

D．Focus on your weight-loss goals.

E．But it does not mean giving up taste.

F．You should always keep your previous lifestyle.

G．Long-term weight loss takes time, effort and commitment.

7 . Traveling on foot in Thailand is an amazing experience. While you get ready for a thrilling experience of a lifetime, take a look at some of the best places for your adventure.

Chiang Mai

The trails in Chiang Mai are perfect for amateur hikers. Hiking here is a superb choice as there are beautiful forests, valleys and rivers as well as various tribal (部落的) villages with ethnic minorities that you can explore.

Tips: Pick up a hiking option from an experienced operator that has in-depth knowledge of the area because it is a fairly large one.

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is also one of the most beautiful places with three impressive waterfalls that flow down quickly. As you travel along the 47-kilometre road to the top, you will pass a few small villages of the Karen Hill Tribes and rice fields.

Tips: Make sure to have an experienced guide.

Hua Hin

One of the most incredible things to do is hiking in Hua Hin. The area features its elephant camps. You can care for the elephants, like feeding and bathing them. It must be a special experience to ride on the back of a tall elephant while exploring this beautiful region.

Tips: Make sure to pack extra clothes if you plan to bathe the elephants.

Kamphaeng Phet

As a historically significant part of Thailand, Kamphaeng Phet is a quiet and charming province with many cultural and natural attractions. You can explore the ancient ruins that are scattered throughout the province.

Tips: Be respectful of the statues and other religious monuments.

1. What do Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon have in common?

A．They are suitable for professional hikers.

B．They have 3, 000-meter waterfalls.

C．They are located in the urban areas.

D．They have some tribal villages.

2. What can travelers do in Hua Hin?

A．Look after the elephants.	B．Set up the animal camps.
C．Design minority clothing.	D．Visit religious monuments.

3. Which place should you go to if you are interested in historic culture?

A．Chiang Mai.	B．Doi Inthanon.
C．Hua Hin.	D．Kamphaeng Phet.

9 . Scientists are now digging into precisely why exercise holds so many benefits for our mental health and memory. The answer, studies say, lies in our brain chemistry.

Each time you work up a sweat, your body releases feel-good happy hormones (荷尔蒙), including endorphins, dopamine and endocannabinoids, the latter being responsible for the so-called runner’s high. Now researchers are also pointing to myokines (肌肉因子) as an important contributor to the mental health benefits of exercise. When our muscles contract, myokines are released into the bloodstream, helping your muscles and organs communicate. They think this communication increases resilience to stress, reduces symptoms of mental suffering and anxiety and has a direct effect on depression.

A 2021 scientific report published in Neuropharmacology showed evidence that myokines boost brain function, like improving memory and mood. “Myokines reduce systemic inflammation (炎症), which is especially beneficial for people with drug-resistant depression whose low mood is linked to high inflammation,” explains Dr Jennifer Heisz, an expert in brain health and associate professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Canada.

A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that treatment for depression can be much more effective when physical activity is added to the usual care. Participants found benefits after 12 weeks of exercising for 30 to 60 minutes a day. “While exercise is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment, physical activity can complement and enhance the effects of the treatment,” says lead researcher Ben Singh, a research fellow at the University of South Australia.

“It is amazing to consider how moving our bodies can heal our minds,” says Heisz. Whether you’re cycling, walking around your neighbourhood or doing yoga, getting sweaty is good for your body and mind. To get the biggest overall health boost, the key is to zero in on sports and activities you enjoy, so you’ll keep going back to them.

1. How do myokines boost our mental health?

A．By bonding muscles with organs.

B．By slowing down our bloodstream.

C．By contracting muscles through the body.

D．By releasing happy hormones in our brain.

2. What is Ben Singh’s attitude towards physical activity in treatment for depression?

A．Doubtful.	B．Negative.
C．Uncertain	D．Approving.

3. What does the underlined phrase “zero in on” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Adapt to.	B．Give up.
C．Focus on.	D．Put off.

4. How does the author develop the text?

A．By making comparisons.

B．By presenting research findings.

C．By offering suggestions.

D．By conducting some experiments.