1 . You’ve got mail…and it’s a postcard

Paulo Magalhaes, a 34-year-old Portuguese computer engineer, loves to open his mailbox and find a brightly colored picture of Rome’s Colosseum. Or Africa’s Victoria Falls. Or China’s Great Wall.     1    

“I often send postcards to family and friends.” he says to China Daily, “but you can imagine that after a while, you never receive as many as you send, and you realize that not everyone is into it.     2    ” Seeking other like-minded souls, however, Paulo started looking in a somewhat unlikely place: online. Many would say the Internet is a place for people who have given up on the traditional postal service, but Paulo’s hunch(直觉)paid off.

Today his hobby has developed into the website postcrossing.com, a social network that has grown to 575,217 registered users in 214 countries and regions since he started it 10 years ago.     3    Running the website has almost turned into a full-time job.

Language is certainly a barrier for many people. For postcrossing to work worldwide, a common communication language is needed so that everyone can understand each other. As cool as it may be to receive a postcard written in Chinese, the concept doesn’t work if one doesn’t understand it.     4     So a common language is required and in postcrossing that’s English since it’s widely spoken.

“Many people in China have limited exposure to English.     5     That said, we know of many postcrossing members, including Chinese, who have actually improved their English skills through their use of postcrossing,” Paulo says.

A．And that’s totally fine.

B．That makes it extra hard to learn and practice it.

C．He likes to think of sending postcards as a family-friendly hobby.

D．Many love to make a connection with someone from across the world.

E．On August 5, the number of postcards exchanged by members topped 31 million.

F．Similarly, if you speak only Chinese, receiving a card in Swedish takes part of the fun away.

G．In short, he loves postcards, and the excitement of getting a hand-written note from someone far away.

2 . How long have you been going to the same hairdresser or barber? It’s a question that gets us thinking about the unique friendship we _______ with our stylists over the years.

You have confidence in each other. You have a laugh together and regularly _______ each other’s news. Plus they try to make you look and feel your best. That’s a(n) _______ not only for a great friendship, but also for the perfect relationship with your hairdresser. When you find a good barber, it’s something to _______.

Many people have _______ experiences with their hairdressers. I’ve had my hair cut by Claire Miller for more than 15 years. She’s taken me through all kinds of _______, and she’s helped me find a totally new look now during the post-chemotherapy (化疗后) period with dyed blonde hair! _______ hairstyles, there have been communications about the joys and trials of motherhood, the _______ of health problems and changes in our careers and lives — the stuff of 15 years that we have _______ in the three salons Claire has worked in.

While she cut my hair recently, we chatted about that special __________ that forms between hairdressers and their clients. “You hear so many stories from them, and sometimes you feel like a counselor __________ a hairdresser. You assess their needs, and you know how to react to them,”says Claire.

For Claire, the customer interaction is something she loves about the job and that she has __________ developed throughout her working life. “It’s about being human and __________ about people. A lot of my clients are my friends and like family now. It’s my __________ to cut their hair, making them look and feel good, but I also want them to feel __________ by the experience,” laughs Claire.

1.

A．break

B．promote

C．form

D．begin

2.

A．catch up on

B．make up for

C．put up with

D．end up with

3.

A．request

B．desire

C．occasion

D．recipe

4.

A．resolve

B．remember

C．cherish

D．evaluate

5.

A．reliable

B．unforgettable

C．imaginable

D．inseparable

6.

A．shapes

B．models

C．styles

D．sorts

7.

A．Besides

B．Despite

C．Given

D．After

8.

A．injuries

B．emotions

C．concerns

D．challenges

9.

A．brought

B．shared

C．observed

D．emphasized

10.

A．link

B．role

C．habit

D．pattern

11.

A．other than

B．rather than

C．less than

D．more than

12.

A．eventually

B．gradually

C．immediately

D．frequently

13.

A．caring

B．hanging

C．worrying

D．talking

14.

A．desire

B．ambition

C．hobby

D．job

15.

A．fascinated

B．struck

C．uplifted

D．impressed

3 . We live in a town with three beaches. There are two parts less than 10 minutes’ walk from home where neighborhood children gather to play. However, what my children want to do after school is pick up a screen — any screen — and stare at it for hours. They are not alone. Today’s children spend an average of four and a half hours a day looking at screens, split between watching television and using the Internet.

In the past few years, an increasing number of people and organisations have begun coming up with plans to counter this trend. A couple of years ago film-maker David Bond realised that his children, then aged five and three, were attached to screens to the point where he was able to say “chocolate” into his three-year-old son’s ear without getting a response. He realised that something needed to change, and, being a London media type, appointed himself “marketing director from Nature”. He documented his journey as he set about treating nature as a brand to be marketed to young people. The result was Project Wild Thing, a film which charts the birth of the World Network, a group of organisations with the common goal of getting children out into nature.

“Just five more minutes outdoors can make a difference,” David Bond says. “There is a lot of really interesting evidence which seems to be suggesting that if children are inspired up to the age of seven, then being outdoors will be on habit for life.” His own children have got into the habit of playing outside now: “We just send them out into the garden and tell them not to come back in for a while.”

Summer is upon us. There is an amazing world out there, and it needs our children as much as they need it. Let us get them out and let them play.

1. What is the problem with the author’s children?

A．They often annoy their neighbours.	B．They are tired of doing their homework.
C．They have no friends to play with	D．They stay in front of screens for too long.

2. How did David Bond advocate his idea?

A．By making a documentary film.	B．By organizing outdoor activities.
C．By advertising in London media.	D．By creating a network of friends.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “charts” in paragraph 2?

A．records

B．predicts

C．delays

D．confirms

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Let Children Have Fun	B．Young Children Need More Free Time
C．Market Nature to Children	D．David Bond: A Role Model for Children

4 . Self-esteem is the ruling view you have of yourself. This includes your beliefs about your inner qualities and how you think others see you.     1     Someone can develop low self-esteem even when they are highly functional and greatly skilled. Understanding this mysterious emotional currency might be the key to unlocking your own self-worth.

People with healthy self-esteem don't need to boast about themselves to others. People with low self-esteem may tell you how much everyone loves them, what a great job they do at work, and how amazing they are at pretty everything under the sun even though they really wonder if it's true. People may see them as obnoxious or “full of themselves”.     2     They are not shy about sharing ideas, including constructive criticisms of others. They also take care of themselves without second-guessing or apologizing. They are the people who we say seem “sure of themselves”.

If you're starting to think you may have low self-esteem, you can work on the way you talk to yourself. When you turn off negative self-talk, you can open the floor to positive reinforcements and access the courage to show different sides of yourself. It isn't going to feel good at first, though. Keep going until it becomes less and less and maybe even a few awkward laughs in the mirror may help.     3    

However, in serious cases of low or even non-existent self-esteem, you may want to call in a professional or a specialist. Good mental health is important, and professionals doing psychotherapy do not pass judgement or give corrections.     4     It is the best way to get at the roots of your real self-esteem problems.

    5     It will take some work but your entire life — from your relationships to your body image to your work habits — will be touched with the kind of power that only comes from someone believing in themselves. This is the hardest part, and the greatest leap. With some changes and support, you can improve your self-esteem and see how everything else changes as a result.

A．Self-esteem is not always rooted in reality, though.

B．You have the power to shape a new self-perception.

C．This encourages you to speak openly without worry.

D．The real test of character is whether they can learn from their mistakes.

E．Self-esteem refers to a person's overall sense of his or her value or worth.

F．People with a healthy level of self-esteem present themselves with a casual confidence.

G．With some practice and persistence, you will win this internal struggle to see your self-worth.

5 . 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。

With about half of the vast country covered in wilderness, China is the world’s third most species-rich country. Therefore, China’s     1    (achieve) in biodiversity conservation and wilderness protection are important to the future of global biodiversity conservation.

The vital biodiversity,     2    (combine) with a large population, has led the government to reconsider its protected area system and transform some wilderness areas such as the rainforest in Hainan     3    formal national parks. The new national park system will make it more practical     4    (preserve) habitats and species. The aim is to preserve biodiversity and ensure a     5    (harmony) relation between humans and nature.

The national parks cross China’s vast ecosystems, from the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in the south     6    the Hainan gibbon—a critically endangered species lives, the Giant Panda National Park, the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, the Wuyi Mountain National Park to the Sanjiangyuan National Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Platau—    7    source of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Lancang River. The diversity of species and habitats under protection     8    (reflect) in these parks’ names.

The national parks are open to all. Visitors can make reservations online in advance     9    book on the spot. They should acquire a little local knowledge to get     10     (they) ready for the amazing trip and maximize their enjoyment.

6 . Recently, I accidentally found a set of Hanfu l only wore once from the bottom of the cupboard. I remember buying them simply to match the ancient-style hair accessories (配饰) a friend gave me. It occurred to me that 1 had been trapped in the “birdcage effect”.

“Birdcage effect” means that when you get an item one day, you will prepare more things to match it. Weeks ago, I was in the company of friends engaged in shopping. One said that she wanted to buy a good writing pen to match the delicate notebook that her sister gave her, so that she would fall in love with taking notes on reading, and thus love reading, not just reading. I joked that she must have fallen for the “birdcage effect”. But the friend said with a smile: “Why not use the ‘birdcage effect’ instead?”

For the first time, I heard that the “birdcage effect” can be used in reverse (逆向). However, this can’t help but remind me of middle school, and I seem to have used the “birdcage effect”. Passing by a bookstore one day, I purchased a magazine and saw the call for contributions published in the magazine, so I started writing with eager hands, and then I fell in love with writing.

After shopping with my friends that time, I began to proceed to use the “birdcage effect”. I bought a small fresh tablecloth to decorate my desk, and a beautiful notebook to record my inspiration. When everything was ready, I started writing again.

But how can we get rid of the “birdcage effect” in many things, and even use the “birdcage effect” in the opposite way? Various “birdcages” unavoidably appear in life, but we can distinguish them. If it is not in line with the actual situation, it is a “negative birdcage”, then we must learn to stop losses in time and maintain a heart of abandonment and separation. If it is a “positive birdcage” that motivates us to develop upward, we can clarify our goals, shop or decorate appropriately, and motivate ourselves to move towards our goals. At this time, you will find that the “birdcage effect” is actually not so terrible!

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The application of the “birdcage effect” in life.

B．The necessity of using the “birdcage effect” in life.

C．The turning point of the author’s idea on the “birdcage effect”.

D．The author’s conflict with her friend over the “birdcage effect”.

2. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning her middle school experience?

A．To recall her delightful days at school.

B．To explain the reason for her love with writing.

C．To confirm the positive of the “birdcage effect”.

D．To prove her knowledge of the “birdcage effect”.

3. How can we make use of the “birdcage effect” positively?

A．By realizing this effect has two sides.

B．By promoting our personal consumption.

C．By recognizing this effect is not so terrible.

D．By guiding our acts to go with reasonable goals.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Getting Rid of the Birdcage Effect Confidently

B．Motivating Ourselves to Move Towards Our Goals

C．The Birdcage Effect: Influence on Consumer Behavior

D．The Birdcage Effect: How to Use It to Your Advantage

7 . The term “quiet quitting” went viral last year, describing people who stay in their jobs but mentally take a step back for example, working the bare minimum and not making their job the center of their lives. Now in 2023, there is a new workplace trend on the horizon, called “quiet hiring”.

Quiet hiring is a strategy used to fill the critical gaps in a company without hiring new employees. One company has a limited amount of talent and needs to make a call about where it’s going to have the best impact. This year it may need to add five more data scientists to its team to meet the strategic goals. As a solution, it may move five employees from another department only for a short time, like data analysts in the human resources and marketing department, into the five open data scientist roles.

In this case, the boss is saying, “We’re going to intentionally deprioritize support for HR and marketing for the next six months so that we can increase the productivity of our data science team, and we are saying this sound and clearly. Everyone knows this.” The important distinction with quiet hiring is that a company is openly communicating with employees about its priorities and moving employees to areas that serve those priorities, instead of just loading employees with more work or simply hiring more people.

While being assigned to a new role may seem scary, quiet hiring should be beneficial to employees. If you were asked to take on additional responsibilities, it would indicate your value. Meantime you might say, “If it’s not possible to increase my payment, can we make it so that I can work from home five days a week, reducing my commute (通勤) costs? Or, could I work flexible hours, making it easier for me to live the rest of my life?” An individual conversation may be ineffective. If you’re part of a department or team being asked to switch roles, employ that power and approach human resources as a group.

1. What does the strategy of quiet hiring refer to?

A．Adding more positions.	B．Training new employees.
C．Employing new talent secretly.	D．Shifting existing staff to new posts.

2. What is the feature of a company’s handling quiet hiring?

A．Innovations are highly valued.

B．Employees are burdened with overwork.

C．Roles of departments are changed regularly.

D．Personnel changes are announced beforehand.

3. What suggestion does the author offer to employees?

A．Negotiate on extra jobs.	B．Take on new roles as a team.
C．Shoulder more duties on work.	D．Balance between work and life.

4. Which is a suitable title for the text?

A．Hiring more or less?	B．Quiet quitting or quiet hiring?
C．Quiet hiring: A workplace debate	D．Quiet hiring: An upcoming tendency

8 . 阅读下而材料，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。
A Hearty Welcome

Chase counted his new year gifts one more time as he put a robot-shaped eraser into each envelope. “Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two.”

“Do you have one for everyone in your class?” Mom asked.

“Yep!” Chase said. “I’m ready for the party tomorrow!”

When Chase got to school the next day, he saw a new girl in his classroom. She stood near Ms. Robins and looked around shyly.

“This is Eva,” said Ms. Robins. “Will someone volunteer to show her around today? “Chase raised his hand since he liked showing the new kids around and helping them feel welcome.

“Thanks, Chase, “Ms. Robins said. “Now let’s get down to our work.”

That’s when Chase realized he didn’t have a new year gift for Eva. No one else would have one either. Chase pictured his classmates’ desks covered with gifts while Eva’s desk was empty. He felt sad about that.

At a break, he was careful not to mention the party as he showed Eva around the playground. At lunchtime, he walked Eva to the lunchroom, still worried about what would happen at the party. Eva had brought a packed lunch. so Chase showed her where she was supposed to sit and introduced her to some of the kids at her table.

While eating, Chase suddenly remembered that kids often included candy hearts with the new year gifts they exchanged. This won’t be a New Year’s Day for Eva with no gifts. But as he sat down at his table, an idea flooded into his head. He whispered it to the kids around him. Soon everyone at the table was nodding and whispering.

When they were back in the classroom after lunch, Chase told Ms. Robins about their plan. Ms. Robins smiled. “That’s very thoughtful, “she said. “Let’s go for it.”

It was math time, so Chase invited Eva to study with him. He made sure Eva sat with her back to the room so she wouldn’t notice.

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登作答。

Meanwhile, her new classmates were busying working on something.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Here’s your new year gift, Eva. It’s from everyone,” said Chase.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 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。

Two months ago, Ryder Killam, a 15-year-old French boy was registered in a new school in Hawaii. He just moved there with his parents. Although he missed his old friends very much, he managed to adapt to his new school life and soon made a lot of friends.

However, waiting for the school bus every morning often meant a real suffering because Ryder was born with spina bifida （脊柱裂）and he has to live in a wheelchair. Hawaii is one of the rainiest places in the world. This is not an issue for other students, but for him this was a different story. He often got wet all over before the school bus arrived during the rainy days. In that case, he could only have classes with wet clothes on or called his parents to send dry clothes to school and finding a place to get changed was also a big challenge for this disabled boy.

To keep Ryder protected from the bad weather while waiting for the bus every morning, the students in Ryder's school decided to take action. They first uploaded a post on Facebook asking for an unused bus shelter but got no reply.

Not being able to find one, the students from the construction class decided to take on the challenge of building a customized bus shelter for him and quickly put their hands to work.

As part of the high school's Career and Technical Education program, the construction class teaches its students basic building skills. Its main goal is to provide students with tools and skills that will have real applications in future jobs and a meaningful impact on their community. They had already performed several building projects for the community. Two years ago, they managed to build dozens of shelters for stray cats in the local park. Soon enough, they came up with an idea of building a two-window shelter for Ryder.

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。

However, these teenagers found building this bus shelter was no easy job.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The day finally came when the new bus shelter was put to use.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Anuar Abdullah is a 61-year-old diving instructor in Malaysia. When he isn’t ________ he’s back out in the water ________, studying, and restoring coral reefs (珊瑚礁).

Now, as climate change becomes an ________ threat, governments, corporations, and others are coming to him for ________.

Abdullah has no degree in marine biology or ________ training — just an amount of experience. In just the past decade, thousands have ________ to him to learn how to grow corals, and he now has around 700 volunteers ________ and has already restored hundreds of acres of coral reefs.

In 2017, Thailand’s government asked Abdullah to ________ the recovery of one of its most famous tourist attractions, Maya Bay, because it had ________ half its coral population. ________ were kept out of the site for three years while Abdullah led a team of 120 people in ________ new corals.

In 2021, after Typhoon Rai, the island of Cebu in the Philippines asked Abdullah to save what was ________ of the shoreline’s coral reefs. And earlier this year, Abdullah launched a new effort to build the world’s largest coral nursery in the Red Sea. There was a ________ on the nursery at the U.N. climate change summit (峰会), COP27, but Abdullah did not attend. He ________ conferences, he says. And he had ________ to do.

1.

A．teaching

B．diving

C．learning

D．reporting

2.

A．picking

B．judging

C．describing

D．observing

3.

A．early

B．artificial

C．apparent

D．uncertain

4.

A．help

B．money

C．power

D．honor

5.

A．temporary

B．formal

C．natural

D．complex

6.

A．devoted

B．led

C．backed

D．traveled

7.

A．at once

B．at first

C．in demand

D．in action

8.

A．initiate

B．evaluate

C．highlight

D．justify

9.

A．regained

B．lost

C．increased

D．removed

10.

A．Visitors

B．Researchers

C．Volunteers

D．Officials

11.

A．guarding

B．decorating

C．planting

D．maintaining

12.

A．hidden

B．left

C．preserved

D．ruined

13.

A．contest

B．presentation

C．course

D．topic

14.

A．witnesses

B．records

C．schedules

D．hates

15.

A．interviews

B．trips

C．work

D．trade