2 . I was standing in front of a stranger’s house, rescue box in hand, my head full of instructions to follow. It would be my first test as a volunteer wildlife rescuer. A call had come through that afternoon from a man: an unknown bird was attacked by other birds. He saved the victim. Could someone please help to transfer it?

I was anxious even at the door: would I be able to transfer it neatly into my rescue box? I entered the house, lifted a shoebox and saw a bird standing on thin legs, shaking. Hesitating for quite a while, I decided to transfer the whole shoebox into my rescue box.

Back home, I could see no obvious sign of injury, but it refused to eat the bird food I provided. I phoned a specialist. She told me this species hunts insects on the wing, so keeping it longer than overnight would make it starve. I released it and it flew high immediately. “What would be different for this delicate creature this time around?” I wondered. Nothing. But at least it would win its life again.

That was in 2009. My first rescue was a second chance for the bird as well as for me. Five months earlier, I’d received a cancer diagnosis. After the treatment, I recovered but was told I couldn’t take on my former work, which would worsen my physical condition. I was at the point where I didn’t know how to schedule my days. Then I heard about a wildlife rescue group that was seeking volunteers and holding a course. I’d been attracted by animals ever since I was a young girl but had always thought that I’d missed that boat. Then I found the boat again.

I did the course and acquired qualifications. All I had to do was wait for a rescue call. And it came: it was in a box waiting, just for me.

1. What can we learn about the author in her first wildlife rescue?

A．She forgot rescue instructions.	B．She experienced high pressure.
C．She lacked proper tools for rescue.	D．She was skilled in doing the rescue.

2. What would probably happen to the bird after the release?

A．It would die from the injuries.	B．It would find the food it desired.
C．It would seek someone for adoption.	D．It would be too weak and get starved.

3. Why did the author take on bird rescue?

A．To try a new hobby.	B．To relieve her work stress.
C．To find life’s meaning again.	D．To cure her disease completely.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Skills of Rescue	B．Wildlife Protection
C．Our Second Chance	D．Thoughts after Cancer

3 . Why is a compliment so impactful? One of the most important things to humans is to feel valued and respected by others, says Vanessa Bohns, a social psychologist, who has researched compliments. According to her research, people feel “significantly better” after both giving and receiving a compliment.     1    

“You handled that situation so well.”

Bohns recently used her favorite compliment when she saw a server address a difficult situation with a customer at the bar. “I like it so much because you use it in anxious moments where the other person is often unsure of whether they handled a situation OK,” she says. In situations that call for a compliment, don’t second-guess yourself. Give your compliments generously.     2     That concern is unfounded.

“    3    ”

This compliment — one of Bohns’ favorites — works well among romantic partners and close family members. “It’s a beautiful way to highlight how their presence turns life into something meaningful, despite boring routines of our everyday lives,” she says. If you’re afraid that giving a compliment like this will feel strange, you’re not alone.     4     If it makes you personally feel like the bar is lowered for you to give a compliment if you write it down, or if you practice saying it out loud or giving your pet cat the compliment first, do that.

“Hey, great dress!”

Feel free to compliment strangers. In Bohns’ research, students on a college campus were told to approach a stranger of the same gender and compliment them-about, for example, their nice shirt. Before heading out, the study participants tended to underestimate their positive effect while overestimating how annoying it would be. Across all contexts, strangers are more likely to be pleased than confused. Plus, who knows?     5    

A．I love the way you bring out the best in people.

B．Respect is essential when you deliver compliments.

C．One way to overcome this fear is to do a practice run.

D．You make even ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

E．You might make a new friend in addition to making someone’s day.

F．With that in mind, we asked her to share some of her favorite compliments.

G．People sometimes worry that they’re going over and will start to sound insincere.

4 . 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。

In a heartwarming turn of events, giant panda Fubao has finally returned home to China. Fubao was born in South Korea in July 2020 and quickly gained a     1    (mass) following due to its lovely appearance and appealing personality.

The journey to bring Fubao back to China was a long and challenging one, but it was made possible through the     2    (cooperate) of both Chinese and South Korean authorities. On April 3, Fubao boarded a plane from South Korea and arrived safely in Chengdu, China,     3     it belongs. There, it was greeted by a group of fans who were     4    (eager) waiting for its arrival.

Fans of Fubao have been visiting the Everland theme park in South Kore a every month to catch sight of     5     beloved panda. The Chinese media has been closely following Fubao’s journey back to China, with many netizens     6    (express) their excitement and happiness. Some have even gone so far as to set up advertisements     7     (welcome) Fubao back home.

Fubao will now be able to live in its natural habitat,     8    (surround) by other pandas and receiving the care and attention it     9    (deserve) . A special quarantine (隔离) area has been set up for Fubao at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where it can adjust     10     its new surroundings.

5 . Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of heart disease. New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic (新陈代谢) differences and change our body’s preference for energy sources.

Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants into two groups(early and late) based on their natural tendency to seek activity and sleep at different times. The participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimize dietary impact on the results. To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute period of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a running machine. Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.

The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build up in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. People who are ‘early birds’ rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with, higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’. On the other hand, ‘night owls’ use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.

Researchers also found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Professor Steven Malin from Rutgers University said, “We found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls. Farther research is needed to examine the link between exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”

1. What does the underlined word “fast” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Move quickly.	B．Go without food.
C．Exercise regularly.	D．Fall sound asleep.

2. How was the research conducted?

A．By making a survey.	B．By making contrasts.
C．By providing examples.	D．By introducing a concept.

3. What is the characteristic of the “early birds”?

A．Having lower fitness level.	B．Using less fat during exercise.
C．Consuming more fat at rest.	D．Being more active during the night.

4. What is Malin’s attitude to the result of the research?

A．Tolerant.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Indifferent.

D．Uncertain.

6 . Torrie, 16, and her friend Azarria were driving back home when another car hit them. When Torrie opened her eyes, she _________ their car had been pushed into a tree. There came _________ from the gathering crowd as the car was smoking. Torrie’s door wouldn’t open, but her window became an escape _________.

“Everyone ran away, fearing the car was going to _________. But turning around, I didn’t see Azarria. I ran back and saw she was _________ in the back seat. I decided to help her out of the _________.”

“I didn’t know how I made it. I just became stronger at that moment,” she says. She _________ a bystander to call 911 and started CPR.

After 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths, Azarria began to show _________ of life. Just then, the paramedics _________ to rush Azarria to the nearest hospital.

__________ for both girls, their Lakewood High School offers a First-Aid Skills class taught by Erika Miller. Torrie had earned her __________ in the class just the day before this accident.

“I was absolutely astonished,” Erika says. “In my years of teaching, I never __________ a student would finish the course and in 24 hours have to __________ CPR on her friend.”

“I was grateful to Torrie, but I wasn’t surprised.” Azarria says. “She would have done that for anyone. That’s just __________ of her.

“First-aid training should be a(n) __________ in schools,” Torrie says. “It can make a difference between life and death.”

1.

A．examined

B．recognized

C．determined

D．panicked

2.

A．antiques

B．breakthroughs

C．refreshments

D．screams

3.

A．route

B．frame

C．release

D．motion

4.

A．proceed

B．explode

C．slip

D．crash

5.

A．noble

B．humble

C．swollen

D．unconscious

6.

A．highlight

B．duration

C．chaos

D．insight

7.

A．instructed

B．stimulated

C．alarmed

D．disturbed

8.

A．symbols

B．routines

C．luxury

D．signs

9.

A．blew up

B．relied on

C．rolled up

D．carried on

10.

A．Fortunately

B．Literally

C．Particularly

D．Urgently

11.

A．barrier

B．certificate

C．deadline

D．living

12.

A．defended

B．grasped

C．anticipated

D．dominated

13.

A．perform

B．cast

C．cite

D．expose

14.

A．awesome

B．elegant

C．fond

D．typical

15.

A．intervention

B．requirement

C．exception

D．perspective

8 . 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。

I didn’t like Del so much. He always called me the nickname “Germy”, which meant “dirty”, instead of my real name “Jamie”. Besides, he was known as a trouble-maker in school. So when the head teacher Mr. Smith asked Del to come to his office, I naturally thought that Del had done something mean to someone. Through the window, I caught sight of a smaller boy crying. Del seemed unhappy, too.

He did not return to class that day. All of us were discussing what had happened to him. What else could such an annoying boy do? “He must have hit the boy and was sent home,” I whispered to my friends. Their eyes widened. It felt good to see them so interested in what I said.

The next morning, the whole school was talking about Del being expelled(开除) for beating up a kid. I was surprised that my assumptions were passed on so quickly. So when Del walked into the classroom, all the kids were shocked. The kids next to him shift ed their desks away. “What’s your problem?” Del asked. “I don’t want you to attack me,” one kid said. Some laughed. “Yeah, I might,” said Del. I could tell he was joking, but many kids thought he admitted he did beat up someone.

During recess(课间休息), Del tried to join the kickball game. “Neither team wants you,” one of the players said. “Why?” Del asked, looking confused. “I always play with you guys.” They ignored him and went on playing. Del sat by himself while the rest of the school enjoyed their recess away from him. Del looked lonely and sad, much different from before. I started to feel sorry for him.

Later that day, I learned what really happened. The kid was Del’s little brother and he was crying because their mother fell ill and was sent to hospital. I felt even sorrier for what I said before. I started a rumor(谣言).

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。

At recess the next day, I saw Del sitting alone watching the kickball game.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now that Del had forgiven me, I decided to do more before the recess was over.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Over the past few months, the Let Them Theory has been making waves online. It started when Mel Robbins, a popular motivational speaker, shared it on Instagram. In her video, Robbins talks about the importance of letting go of control in certain situations, advocating for a model shift in how we interact with others.

Robbins insists that too often, we waste time and energy trying to push others into meeting our expectations. Instead, she proposes a simpler, more liberating approach: “letting them” be themselves. “Let them be themselves because they are revealing who they are to you. Just let them. Then, you get to choose what you do next.” she said.

Dr. Sophie Mort, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert, offers deeper insights into the psychological foundation of this Theory. She said that our natural desire to control others often originates from a need to relieve our own anxieties and uncertainties. However, such attempts often result in disappointment and exhaustion as we realize the uselessness of our efforts. Basically, the theory emphasizes the acknowledgment that we cannot control the actions or decisions of others. It urges us to give up the burden of forcing our desires onto those closest to us and accept the mindset of acceptance.

While the theory may not be formally recognized in clinical settings, its principles connect with established concepts such as acceptance and mindfulness. It shows the essence of acceptance and commitment therapy, emphasizing the importance of accepting our thoughts and feelings without judgment. Meanwhile, marriage and family therapist Chapell Marsh further explains the resemblance between the theory and the psychological concept of “locus of control.”

The theory received a lot of positive responses. Many claim that adopting this approach has fostered harmony and minimized conflicts in their interactions. However, it’s urgent to recognize the limitations of the theory. While it promotes acceptance and nonjudgmental attitudes, it must not be employed in situations where safety is compromised or where necessary conversations are avoided. “Avoiding difficult conversations can lead to problems,” said Chapell Marsh.

1. What’s the core of the Let Them Theory?

A．Taking control of others in every situation.

B．Letting others expose their true self to us.

C．Pushing others into meeting our expectations.

D．Insisting on our way of interacting with others.

2. Why do people want to control others according to Dr. Sophie?

A．To be satisfied with themselves.

B．To make others accept their mindset.

C．To ease their own worries and doubts.

D．To force their desires onto the closest ones.

3. What does the author convey in paragraph 4?

A．The Let Them Theory should be recognized clinically.

B．We should accept our thoughts and feelings without judgement.

C．Marriage and family relationships need psychological concepts.

D．The Let Them Theory is consistent with the existing accepted theories.

4. In which situation should the Let Them Theory be avoided?

A．Your friend’s safety is being threatened.

B．Someone says something mean behind your back.

C．Your kids don’t want to get up and go shopping with you.

D．Your friends are not inviting you out to brunch this weekend.