1 . After my mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease(阿尔茨海默病), the plants in our house began to die. In years past, I remember the deep, earthy smell that would ________ in our house after my mother had made her weekly watering rounds. Back then, I never connected it with the care that was at the ________ of everything she did.

But now, leaves were ________ , some dry and edged with brown, and many of the stems(茎) bare. It was a mark of how my mother can no longer attend to all the things that she lovingly cared for. I was so focused on the increasing ________ of her own care that her beloved plants had escaped my ________ .

I began her old rounds, pouring water into the thirsty soil, and soon the plants ________ . That’s the thing about houseplants: They demand nothing. They wait quietly, no matter how ________ they are. But even after my best ________, some of the plants couldn’t survive. My mother’s kind caregivers have since brought new ones to add to her ________ , and my father buys fresh flowers every week.

Though Alzheimer’s disease ________ so much of her memory, her desire to care is still there. I would guide her down the steps to water the plants herself. I watched as her shaking hands picked the brown leaves. Each time, she smiled up at me with ________ satisfaction because being able to ________ something is still, what brings her the greatest joy.

I look at plants ________ these days. I see them as my mother does:________ reminders of the need for kindness toward all living things. It is clear to me that the things we spend a lifetime ________ are never truly lost and the love she has planted in me still blooms(开花).

1.

A．pile on

B．rise up

C．come over

D．wander off

2.

A．beginning

B．top

C．foundation

D．thought

3.

A．dropping

B．appearing

C．turning

D．waving

4.

A．processes

B．possibilities

C．goals

D．demands

5.

A．desire

B．memory

C．protection

D．notice

6.

A．recovered

B．absorbed

C．dried

D．shone

7.

A．lonely

B．helpless

C．thirsty

D．anxious

8.

A．contributions

B．attempts

C．choices

D．explorations

9.

A．collection

B．love

C．sharing

D．amusement

10.

A．recalls

B．hides

C．steals

D．escapes

11.

A．deep

B．passing

C．slight

D．longing

12.

A．live with

B．find out

C．care for

D．focus on

13.

A．definitely

B．curiously

C．strangely

D．differently

14.

A．final

B．quiet

C．permanent

D．quick

15.

A．growing

B．seeking

C．expecting

D．saving

2 . Every tree tells a story. They hold our memories, represent belief, and witness countless moments of joy and sorrow. In our imagination, there is always a place for a tree.

For the locals in Naunde, Mozambique, a mango tree provides more than just shade from the Saharan sun. It is also a traditional setting for storytelling, ceremonies, and regulating village life. “It is a place to meet and talk, to seek agreement and settle arguments, to bridge differences and develop unity,” wrote Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the UN. “If you have a problem and can’t find a solution, you meet again tomorrow under the tree and you keep talking.”

The mango tree always stands there, witnessing and remembering everything, and at the same time becomes an inseparable part of the collective memory of the locals. “Each growth layer that trees add every year contains a bit of the air from that year. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through tiny pores (气孔) , which helps build their tissues, so they physically hold the record of the years of their surroundings,” said Benjamin Swett, author of New York City of Trees. In this way, trees also serve as nature’s memory stick, keeping a record of a history as long as themselves.

The English language borrows a lot from trees: We turn over a new leaf and branch out, meaning we move on from the past and start something new. And there are times when we can’t see the wood for the trees. We tend to enjoy the flourishing leaves, branches, and roots of the trees. However, we pay little attention to the forests that embrace trees. The same things often happen to us in our own lives. We often dip ourselves into some bad experiences in life. As a result, we may give up at a terrible moment instead of imagining satisfying success after defeating the failure.

Trees inspire mankind, not just through language, but through ideas. Perhaps the most famous is a tree in a garden in Lincolnshire, England, where an apple fell and inspired young Isaac Newton to wonder: Why would that apple always fall directly to the ground? According to an   18th-century account, Newton was home from Cambridge when he stepped into the garden and into a reverie (沉思) . There, the idea of gravitation came into his mind, inspired by an apple.

1. What is the role of a mango tree in Naunde?

A．A spot to bind the locals together.	B．A witness to the changing weather.
C．A generous food supplier on Earth.	D．A shelter to protect villagers in disasters.

2. How do trees keep a record of their surroundings?

A．By changing the width of their growth layer.

B．By sticking out branches in different directions.

C．By absorbing carbon dioxide to build their tissues.

D．By reflecting changing climate conditions with their tiny pores.

3. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．Suggestions on facing failure.	B．Famous English stories about trees.
C．The relationship between trees and forests.	D．Lessons from English expressions related to trees.

4. Why does the author mention Newton in the last paragraph?

A．To explain the necessity of observation.	B．To show how gravitation was discovered.
C．To stress the importance of trees in inspiring ideas.	D．To introduce how trees serve as a mirror of history.

3 . This world is not really peaceful. The heartbroken scenes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are _________ day by day. I cannot help thinking about my unique family situation. I am the father of two adopted boys, one from Russia and the other from Ukraine, and I _________ them when they were very little.

Young men now, each _________ his way in life, but they still carry a strong _________ of their origins, although Alyosha less so than Anton. While Alyosha does not often _________ the land of his Russian birth, Anton’s feelings for Ukraine run deep: When Crimea (克里米亚)joined Russia in 2014, Anton was 17．

I’m grateful that _________ the conflict, they behave as if their _________ is one of blood.

In addition to _________, another word comes to mind: absence. I often see crowded _______ of mothers and children everywhere, huddled (蜷缩)in dark and __________ spaces on the news now. But my boys aren’t there. I also often see children crying as they hug tightly fathers who must __________ themselves to wars. But my sons are here, and I am available to them.

Especially, in these __________ times, when it is easy to draw battle lines and take __________, events have, instead, pushed my sons __________ together. Staring at them, I realize that I am not looking at a Russian and a Ukrainian; I am looking at two people who love each other so much that doing the other __________ is unthinkable.

1.

A．finishing

B．unfolding

C．decreasing

D．improving

2.

A．disliked

B．attracted

C．arranged

D．adopted

3.

A．blocks

B．abandons

C．makes

D．quits

4.

A．offence

B．boredom

C．sense

D．discrimination

5.

A．flee from

B．take over

C．deal with

D．think of

6.

A．before

B．until

C．despite

D．without

7.

A．hair

B．bond

C．brain

D．health

8.

A．surprise

B．gratitude

C．excitement

D．enthusiasm

9.

A．gatherings

B．harbors

C．airports

D．stations

10.

A．messy

B．quiet

C．clean

D．elegant

11.

A．enjoy

B．separate

C．express

D．thank

12.

A．ancient

B．modern

C．peaceful

D．troubled

13.

A．photos

B．seats

C．sides

D．posts

14.

A．farther

B．higher

C．longer

D．closer

15.

A．harm

B．good

C．justice

D．honor

4 . Ayung River Rafting

About the trip

Explore Ayung River Rafting, the longest river rafting in Ayung River, a white-water rafting! The river is classified to level II to III and your rafting trip will be approximately 2 hours. Our friendly and experienced raft guides will take you on a safe and fun trip. You’ll find a level of professionalism that offers unique insights into Bali’s natural wonders and memorable experiences through the rainforest. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable adventure that showcases the beauty of Ayung River and the excitement and thrills of tackling the rapids of the Ayung River.

        Prices

Ayung River Rafting Packages	Price
Ayung River Rafting Own Transport	IDR 350/Person
Ayung River Rafting Group of 2, including Return Hotel Transfer	IDR 550/Person
Ayung River Rafting Group of 3 – 4, including Return Hotel Transfer	IDR 485/Person
Ayung River Rafting Group of 5+, including Return Hotel Transfer	IDR 430/Person

Tips

●We suggest you bring short pants or a swimsuit, a pair of changing clothes, sunscreen and extra money for drinks and souvenirs (纪念品).

●Steep road lies at the beginning and at the end of the tour, please be ready to walk with reliable shoes!

●Plastic bags for wet clothes are available, but you are advised to bring your own to reduce plastic use.

●Single-use raincoats are available if it rains. However, please bring your own to reduce plastic use.

1. What do we know about Ayung River Rafting?

A．It’s an exciting guided adventure.

B．It helps to conserve the rainforest.

C．It offers unique insights into society.

D．It’s operated on the world’s fastest river.

2. What’s the charge for an Ayung River Rafting Group of 4 including Return Hotel Transfer?

A．IDR 430.

B．IDR 485.

C．IDR 1940.

D．IDR 2200.

3. What are the tourists advised to wear on a walk?

A．Swimsuits.

B．Strong shoes.

C．Raincoats.

D．Wet clothes.

5 . Harbin has witnessed a significant boom that has caused it to trend on social media this winter. By December 30, 2023, the city airport’s annual passenger throughput had gone beyond 3000 million. According to a new report, during the three-day New Year holiday, Harbin received 3.05 million tourists and made income of 5.91 billion yuan, both of which reached record highs.

Harbin, also known as China’s “ice city”, is famous for its ice and snow culture. For over 60 years, the city has had a tradition of holding an annual ice lantern exhibition, presenting the creativity and skill of its artists. Recently, the Ice and Snow World, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest ice and snow park, is just one of many attractions in the city. It features amazing ice and snow sculptures, including replicas(复制品) of famous landmarks, animals, and cartoon characters. In addition, visitors can also enjoy different kinds of snow sports, such as ice skating, ice fishing, and sledding.

Harbin spared no effort to show its sincerity and hospitality(热情好客) to tourists. At the Ice and Snow World, a lot of new experiences have been provided, such as hovercrafts and bicycles on ice, Ferris wheels, and hot air balloons. Tourists were welcomed with live performances at the airport, and dressing rooms were set up for them to change into warm clothing. Local residents supported by traveling during off-peak hours to reduce traffic and offering tourists free rides. For those unable to book hotels, the government opened the Provincial People’s Congress Service Center for low-cost stays.

“For individual travelers, a city’s infrastructure(基础设施) and public services form the foundation of tourism competitiveness. It is only when tourists feel the warmth of the city and the goodwill of its citizens that they blend into the lives of a travel destination,” said Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy.

1. What are the figures in the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The boom in Harbin’s tourism industry.

B．The popularity of Harbin’s new attractions.

C．The big investment in Harbin’s Ice and Snow World.

D．The local people’s great passion for the New Year holiday.

2. What do we know about the Ice and Snow World from Paragraph 2?

A．It is famous for its ice lantern exhibition.

B．It is the first ice and snow park in the world.

C．It offers various snow-centered activities for visitors.

D．It holds snow sculpture competitions for skilled artists.

3. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．New sporting events in the Ice and Snow World.

B．The measures to ensure tourists’ safety in Harbin.

C．Kind residents’ support for relieving traffic pressure.

D．Harbin’s efforts to improve tourists’ travel experiences.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A diary of cultural tours.	B．A news report on tourism.
C．An advertisement for scenic spots.	D．A review of newly emerging cities.

6 . — I’m sorry, I thought the remark would amuse you.— It ________.

A．wouldn’t

B．won’t

C．doesn’t

D．hadn’t

7 . 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。

Logan was a brilliant student. He had committed to doing everything it took to win a scholarship to study at a good university. But nothing was more important to the 17-year-old boy than supporting his mother who was sick. After school hours, he would work as a bagboy at the local grocery store. Together, Logan and his mother managed to make ends meet while still fighting to achieve bigger dreams.

Now right outside the grocery store, Logan spotted a familiar face. “Mr. Peters!” Logan called out to the old man holding crutches (拐杖), whom he recognized as his new neighbor. Mr. Peters waved at Logan.   Logan happily helped the old man find what he needed and helped him bill the items, too.

“That will be $23, Mr. Peters,” Logan said.

Mr. Peters was taken aback by the bill’s amount. He asked, “And how much without the fruits?”

“$19, sir.”

“I see.” Mr. Peters looked in his wallet. He studied the bill and said, “Actually, I’ll just take the greens, thank you.”

“You know what? Here, let me pay for your order. It looks like you may have … left your card at home or something.”

Mr. Peters didn’t see this kind gesture coming, and even though it hurt his pride a little, he accepted the boy’s help.

Logan paid for the order and handed the bags to the old man. But Mr. Peters could only move a few steps forward as he tried to hold all the groceries without the crutches slipping away Logan rushed to Mr. Peters and offered to carry the groceries to his home. It was a short walk, but the two men were engaged in conversation all the way.

“What are you doing working at a grocery store? You look like you should be in college!” Mr.   Peter asked.

On listening to Logan’s story, Mr. Peters was moved and thought he should do something. “It was lovely to meet you, Logan. Maybe you could pop in after your shift at the store today?” he asked.

Logan agreed, suspecting that the man probably needed some help around the house.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

After work, Logan knocked on his neighbor’s door and discovered the most astonishing thing about the old man.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“I’ve asked some former workmates to notice a scholarship application from a young man named Logan,” Mr. Peters continued.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入一个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The awards ceremony for the Fifth Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)Short Video Competition took place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. With     1    theme of “Open up a New Chapter Together through Connectivity”,the competition centered on the global practices of China’s modernization drive     2    highlighted the universal understanding of the BRI’s spirit and China’s strong desire to build a community with a     3    (share)future for mankind.

2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the BRI’s launch.By collecting short video stories from both builders and beneficiaries(受益者),the competition     4    (allow)audiences to grasp the key part of     5    (develop),social progress,cultural integration(融合),and people’s dreams in countries economic along the route.It also recreated     6    (memory) moments of genuine exchanges among people.

Among the over 1,000 entries from nearly 100 countries, 99 final winners were announced.“    7    one of the leading corporations engaged in the BRI, Dongfang Electric Corporation    8    (commit) to sustainable, high-standard development and people’s well-being since 2012,” noted Song Zhiyuan, a director of the company.“We’ve offered green energy equipment and services to over 100 countries and regions,    9    (project)a responsible image of China. Moving forward, we’ll grasp the opportunities to remain at the forefront of BRI’s joint construction and provide more top-level green energy     10    (global).”

9 . A happy-sad state can be as confusing to people as to psychologists. This is not about “smiling depression” where someone feels emotional pain, but_________those feelings with a happy face. Rather, it’s _________ experiencing those two _________ emotions at once.

When Jeff Larsen, a psychology professor, simply asks people if it’s_________to feel such mixed emotions, most people immediately say “yes” showing how_________the experience is. But Larsen takes a more_________approach.In his experiments, he asked people to watch a clip (电影片段) from a bittersweet movie and press one button if they felt_________another if they felt happy,or_________at the same time if they felt both emotions at once.It_________about half pressed both happy and sad buttons at once, __________not for very long.Larsen__________the experience is rare, but possible.

Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos__________it’s possible for people to feel both positive and negative emotions at once. Situations that often__________a happy-sad state include bittersweet events like__________or a move to a new city for a job--situations when you’re sad about__________, but happy about new opportunities, she noted. Endings that are also beginnings make these emotionally-rich events, Larsen added.

1.

A．bottles up

B．talks about

C．gets over

D．cares about

2.

A．hardly

B．occasionally

C．suddenly

D．truly

3.

A．disturbing

B．conflicting

C．positive

D．powerful

4.

A．possible

B．strange

C．necessary

D．acceptable

5.

A．valuable

B．abstract

C．universal

D．interesting

6.

A．traditional

B．theoretical

C．scientific

D．creative

7.

A．awkward

B．worried

C．angry

D．sad

8.

A．both

B．neither

C．either

D．each

9.

A．stood out

B．let out

C．pointed out

D．turned out

10.

A．until

B．though

C．if

D．once

11.

A．believes

B．predicts

C．remembers

D．doubts

12.

A．expects

B．agrees

C．wonders

D．imagines

13.

A．change

B．cause

C．determine

D．reflect

14.

A．accidents

B．adventures

C．celebrations

D．graduations

15.

A．leaving

B．forgetting

C．failing

D．losing

10 . Only about 20% of U.S.adults say they have a best friend at work.Should the other 80% start looking for one?Yes and no.    1     ,says psychologist Catherine Heaney. That support can come from a coworker who has become a close friend,but it doesn’t have to;interactions with managers and friendly acquaintances can also boost your well-being, Heaney notes.

    2    : having friends in the workplace can improve wellness.It’s linked to a lower risk of burnout,better mental health,and maybe even a longer lifespan.Meanwhile,research is equally clear that loneliness is bad for your health.    3     , given its links to various health problems.

But if becoming best friends with your coworkers feels too daunting (使人气馁的),or just not your style,you can still benefit from social support.When most people hear “social support”,they think of emotional support,like venting (发泄) to a coworker over coffee, Heaney says.    4     :when someone steps in to help you on a busy day,for instance,or shares advice.Even relatively minor interactions,like a manager allowing you to leave early to pick up your sick child,can buffer (缓解) the negative effects of stress, Heaney explains.    5    —although it is great if you do—but rather to promote “a sense of being in the right place” by becoming part of a community.

A．But it comes in many forms

B．Research on the topic is clear

C．The goal isn’t necessarily to make lifelong friends

D．It’s easy to talk yourself out of making these gestures

E．It s often considered equal to smoking 15 cigarettes a day

F．That could mean seeking input from people at all levels of the company

G．There’s no doubt that social support in the workplace is important for your health