1 . Those who had the pleasure of watching Benny Goodman at work saw a rather ordinary-looking man in rimless glasses and a conservative business suit; but they also saw a human being who could play the clarinet(单簧管) like no one before or since. This made Benny Goodman a unique individual.

Other Americans who have stood out from the flock include Joe DiMaggio, Beverly Sill, Ernest Hemingway and Jonas Salk. They, like Benny Goodman, were recognized and honored for no other reason than excellence.

It is doing something better than other people that makes us unique. Yet a surprising number of people still see individuality as a surface thing. They wear garish clothes, dye their hair strange colors and decorate their skin with tattoos to make some kind of social statement. But an ordinary guy who has dyed his hair purple or orange is nothing more than the same person with a funny-looking head.

The whole purpose of individuality is excellence. Those who invent, who improvise(即兴发挥), who know more about a subject than other people do, and who take something that doesn’t work and make it work––these people are the very soul of capitalism.

Charles Kettering didn’t like the idea of cranking a car to make it start, so he invented the electric starter. Henry Ford figured out the assembly-line technique and made it possible to mass-produce automobiles, and Elisha Otis, inventor of the elevator, indirectly created the city sky-line. These people understood that individualism means working at the top of one’s capacity.

The ones with the purple hair and the funky jewelry are just along for the ride, trying to be “different” and not knowing how to go about it.

The student who earns straight A’s on his report card has grasped the idea and has found the real meaning of individuality. So has the youngster who has designed his own spaceship, who gives piano recitals, who paints pictures of the world around him.

Benny Goodman understood it too. This is why he was at his best, blowing his clarinet, in a blue suit and black shoes.

1. The author mentions the appearance of Benny Goodman to _________.

A．show what a talented musician should look like

B．introduce an important figure in the musical world

C．contrast with his talent in music performance

D．indicate that he can’t stand out from the flock

2. The author would most probably agree that _________.

A．an individualist tends to seek difference both in character and appearance

B．the essence of individualism lies in pursuing excellence to the full

C．being different in appearance is the very first step to being individual

D．those who strive to win the recognition of others are real individualists

3. According to the passage, which individual’s actions may not truly embody the essence of individualism?

A．A scientist who conducts research solely advancing knowledge for the greater good rather than for personal recognition.

B．A social media influencer who conforms to popular opinions to maintain a large following.

C．An artist who creates unique works but fail to gain fame and recognition from others.

D．An entrepreneur who prioritizes ethical considerations over profit in his business practices.

4. For the main thread, the article is organized by way of __________.

A．specific to general	B．cause and effect
C．examples and conclusion	D．comparison and contrast

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HAVE a very happy birthday Paul!

1. How much will it cost you to get somebody a pound of smoked salmon and a bottle of champagne (with a message)?

A．£ 20.25

B．£ 25.50

C．£ 14.50

D．Almost £ 18.00

2. What is the stuff you can buy that was produced on the day you were born?

A．Birthday cards

B．Christmas gifts

C．Cigars

D．Newspapers

3. Someone is offering a baby bath for sale and where can you get it?

A．PARTYMANIA	B．LADIES NARROW SHOWS
C．SILVER CROSS	D．GOING IN TO BUSINESS?

3 . “Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence.” With that, in January 1997, the French coast guard transmitted its final message in Morse code.

Wrecked ships had radioed out SOS signals from the era of the Titanic. In near-instant time, the beeps could be decoded by Morse-code stations thousands of miles away. First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age. But by the late 20th century, satellite radio was turning it into a dying language. In February 1999, it officially ceased being the standard for maritime communication.

Nestled within the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, KPH Maritime Radio is the last operational Morse-code radio station in North America. The station — which consists of two buildings some 25 miles apart — once watched over the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It shut down in 1997, but a few years later, a couple of radio enthusiasts brought it back to life. The group has gotten slightly larger over the years, who call themselves the “radio squirrels”. Every Saturday, they beep out maritime news and weather reports. Much of their communication is with the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II-era ship permanently parked at a San Francisco pier.

Last July, the photographer Ann Hermes visited these “radio squirrels” and stepped into their time machine. To send a message, they tapped each Morse-code letter into a gadget, generating a loud noise that repeated throughout the whole building. “It’s almost like jazz,” Hermes told me — a music of rhythm and timing that can sound slightly different depending on who is doing the tapping. Some of the machines date back to World War II. The “radio squirrels” do their own repairs, and search eBay for replacement parts on the newer units.

Though many of the “radio squirrels” are retired or nearing retirement, Morse code is not quite extinct: The U.S. Navy still teaches it to a few sailors. Besides, in 2017, a British man who had broken his leg on a beach used it to signal for help in the dark with a flashlight.

1. What was Morse code used for in the era of the Titanic?

A．Warning the coming of total silence.

B．Sending a signal for help or rescue.

C．Saving an endangered language.

D．Setting a standard for communication.

2. What does the underlined phrase “radio squirrels” refer to?

A．The former staff of KPH Maritime Radio Station.

B．The crew of ship wreckage in San Francisco.

C．Those particularly passionate about radio stuff.

D．Those expert at playing instruments and jazz.

3. The Morse code machines can still be in good condition thanks to __________.

A．the frequent use by the “squirrels” to beep out news

B．the constant communication with experienced operators

C．the repair and restore efforts made by the “squirrels”

D．the protection and maintenance made by the U.S. Navy

4. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?

A．Keep the “Jazz” Going

B．The Last Call from Sea

C．Volunteers of Point Reyes

D．A Farewell to Radio

4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Why We Should Record Travel Moments

On a rainy summer day, I took a train to Switzerland and trekked through the mud to a medieval fortress high atop a cliff. After twisting through its dimly lit corridors, I finally     1     (arrive) at the main viewpoint of Cave of the Fairies: a plunging 77m waterfall that shoots from underground into a sparkling pool. As the waterfall wet my jacket, I closed my eyes and took out my phone     2     (record) the rush of dreamy reality before me.

I had come in search of a sound, not a sight.

Throughout my travels, I’ve found myself     3     (collect) sound recordings the way other people collect souvenirs. Just as some travellers take photos of landscapes or their food, I started doing this as an artistic way to help me remember some of the most interesting details of my trips.

Environmental scientist Lauren Kuehne said, “I think that once you start to listen, once you actually start to listen, you start to appreciate how much     4     (big) the world is.”

This attitude     5     (echo) by Samara Kester, a retired emergency medicine physician who now serves on QPI’s board. “A photograph is two dimensions.     6     you are looking at something you’re seeing, it’s maybe 180 degrees, maybe 270 degrees. Sound is 360 degrees. You hear it all around you.” Kester explained     7     teaching herself to be a better listener has not only expanded her sense of travel, but helped her relive her travels once she’s back home. “You immerse     8     in that place again. You recreate those memories and therefore recreate the feelings you had,     9     are very hard to express clearly. You can re-experience that and that will send you to where you were before.”

Months later back in my L.A. home, I find myself popping on my headphones and listening back to the rush of falling water inside Cave of the Fairies. When I close my eyes, I     10     feel the spray of water against my skin, the sense of letting my ears lead me on a faraway adventure. Mentally, I’m right back there — if only for a moment.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。1.

A．By using cash.	B．By entering a password.
C．By scanning the code.	D．By using a tap-and-go card.

2.

A．Because it touches the card reader.	B．Because it uses the password.
C．Because it has a built-in signal receiver.	D．Because it receives the flying data.

3.

A．The bank will cover its clients against the loss.

B．Every transaction is completed within half a second.

C．People must enter their ID card number for continual use.

D．Each payment is restricted to a certain amount of money.

4.

A．Look for his wallet.	B．Apply for a tap-and-go card.
C．Borrow cash from the woman.	D．Stick to buying things in cash.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why do animals evolve to have long body parts?

A．To detect potential danger in cold places.

B．To generate more heat within their bodies.

C．To keep their babies warm in breeding seasons.

D．To get rid of extra heat with bigger skin surface.

2. Which of the following species is likely to grow longer tails?

A．Wood mice.	B．Bats in warm climates.
C．Bird species.	D．Kangaroos in Australia.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Animals cope with body changes.	B．Joel Allen’s rule is out of date.
C．Climate change poses threat to species.	D．Animals adapt to a warmer world.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．A different angle.	B．A sharp mind.
C．Various ways of workout.	D．Exposure to different cultures.

2.

A．He will accept the new environment easily.

B．He is likely to struggle with the travel budget.

C．He will have to organize different daily routine.

D．He may find road trips more appealing than beach views.

3.

A．To show travelling may bring health risks.

B．To show travelling allows you to meet new people.

C．To show travelling can change a person’s outlook on life.

D．To show travelling gives you a chance to challenge new things.

8 .

A．The girl may realize her dream with social media.

B．The girl can present and record fashion on social media.

C．The girl should first learn to make proper use of social media.

D．The girl isn’t qualified as an influencer for her lack of taste in fashion.

9 .

A．He is usually not bad-tempered.	B．He doesn’t like the man.
C．He started the semester in a bad mood.	D．He has few responsibilities.

10 .

A．The location of the session has been changed.

B．She will definitely go to the session this evening.

C．She’ll probably be too tired to walk to the session.

D．The session might be canceled because of a heavy snow.