1 . I have new company these days as I go outside. Every time I go out the door Miss Alice is sitting at my front door, waiting to be
It wasn’t always this way. The very first time I saw Miss Alice she was
It still makes me
| A．fed | B．petted | C．adopted | D．caught |
| A．aid | B．food | C．attention | D．information |
| A．hiding | B．playing | C．hunting | D．running |
| A．order | B．notice | C．warning | D．impression |
| A．ambition | B．imagination | C．support | D．patience |
| A．trick | B．trap | C．catch | D．relieve |
| A．occasional | B．emotional | C．sensitive | D．repetitive |
| A．cry | B．complain | C．smile | D．sweat |
| A．distant | B．peaceful | C．noisy | D．fearless |
| A．source | B．power | C．adventure | D．exchange |
| A．saddened | B．awakened | C．lovely | D．merry |
| A．crazy | B．cheerful | C．careful | D．lazy |
| A．Throw | B．Translate | C．Change | D．Invite |
| A．fall over | B．wait for | C．turn into | D．flow through |
| A．risk | B．lose | C．help | D．like |
2 . It has been five years since I left my staff job and became self-employed. I remember my terror as I walked out of the office for the last time and the excitement when I sold my first piece days later. Working for yourself, setting your own hours and being responsible for your success or failure are exciting. I left my job just as summer was starting, and my first few months were as blissful as the fair days.
When winter came, an office where someone else paid for the central heating and my salary was guaranteed seemed attractive. January is tough for freelancers (自由职业者), and it was no different for me — after masses of work, I earned none. I shared my fears with some businesswomen I knew — what if the reality would be more like what I was experiencing?
Whether through choice or circumstance, the number of freelancers is rising and, if you’re just starting out, it is scary. I’ve been lucky that these women making money their own way shared key lessons about what it takes.
You can’t feel half-hearted about what you do because, at some point, you’re going to have painful days. When that happens, you have to remember why you wanted this life in the first place. Don’t quit your job for something that you think might be more interesting, quit it for something you can’t stop thinking about.
Setting up a business is tough. Rather than waiting until all is perfect, go for the moment when it feels as if momentum (势头) is with you. Look after yourself. There is no sick pay when you are self-employed. You can’t do a bad day’s work and blame it on your boss. You are the backbone of your business and you need to prioritize your health and well-being. Rest regularly and find like-minded people to support you and lift you up when things get hard.
Finally, enjoy it. Freedom is yours and, if you can make it work, there is nothing better.
1. What does the underlined word “blissful” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Pleasant. | B．challenging. | C．Awful. | D．Boring. |
| A．The cold weather influenced her working performance. |
| B．She eventually realized freelancing wasn’t to her taste. |
| C．Masses of freelancing work brought her much anxiety. |
| D．She couldn’t even earn enough to meet daily basics. |
| A．To escape from the current pain. | B．To satisfy our temporary interests. |
| C．To explore where our strength lies. | D．To pursue what we really desire. |
| A．Critical. | B．Favorable. | C．Cautious. | D．Unclear. |
3 . Passive-aggressive (消极抗拒) behaviour can feel “normal”—especially if it’s how we’ve grown up seeing others around us deal with relationship issues. Whether done verbally (言语上) or nonverbally, passive aggression is meant to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings, escape conflict, or show disagreement without being outspoken in it.
It’s a more common way of dealing with things than you might think. But why are we passive-aggressive? What are the signs we can look out for to recognize being passive-aggressive? And how does it affect us?
There are many reasons why someone might display passive-aggressive behaviour, including insecurity or fear of losing control, as well as using it as a way to handle feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. It can also be a way to try to deal with rejection or conflict, because of feelings of under-appreciation, or due to worry that any natural feelings of anger aren’t the right response, and so it becomes an attempt to sugarcoat things.
We almost all exhibit signs of passive aggression from time to time, but when it becomes a habit within our relationships, it can become upsetting for the other person involved, causing a divide. And for the person exhibiting this behaviour, their inability to say what is wrong clearly can often worsen the issue as it isn’t being dealt with directly. Ultimately, passive aggression prevents change and growth, leading to more negative behaviour, the breakdown of trust, and further relationship problems.
Admitting that you have a problem and need to change is not just good for your relationship, but also a huge help in your life. If you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to begin, ask yourself “Could I unintentionally (or intentionally) be hurting my relationship? Is it worth saving my relationship, or do I want to risk things getting worse? Would I be happy if my partner acted the way I’ve been acting?”
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but, with time and effort, you can find new, healthier ways of communicating how you are feeling, and start to strengthen the bonds within your relationship.
1. What is the possible passive-aggressive response to displeasure?| A．Turning to rude languages. | B．Displaying violent behavior. |
| C．Hiding his true inner feelings. | D．Coming into conflict with others. |
| A．They are sometimes overconfident in themselves. |
| B．They believe conflicts should be resolved directly. |
| C．Their passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t last long. |
| D．Their behaviour likely leads to more negative results. |
| A．The behavior. | B．The divide. | C．The inability. | D．The habit. |
| A．Start with a self-reflection. | B．Apologize to the other side. |
| C．Copy how the partner acts. | D．Let time cure everything. |
Ancient China covered a vast and ever-changing geopolitical landscape,
Among these essential qualities, a love of nature, a belief in morality, and an interest in viewing the subject from various respects
Chinese art remained highly influential throughout
5 . Birds gained the ability to fly about 150 million years ago, which was a major event in animal history. For a long time, though, scientists have not fully understood how that change happened. A new study may cast light on the answer. A team of researchers found that birds evolved (进化) to fly due to changes in the part of the brain called the cerebellum (小脑), which is responsible for motor control and physical movement.
For the study, scientists from Stony Brook University in New York and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland compared PET scans (层析扫描) of pigeons to dinosaur fossils (化石). Unlike an X-ray, which shows the body’s structure, PET scans create images of the body at work. With the PET scans, the team tracked the brain activity of modern pigeons to see whether it was different when the birds were at rest and right after they flew for 10 minutes. They scanned eight birds and looked at 26 parts of the brain. Only the cerebellum showed significant changes in activity levels before and after flying for all the birds.
These findings indicated that the ability to fly is connected to the cerebellum. To determine exactly how, the research team needed to figure out what the cerebellum looked like in creatures that were alive around the time birds began to fly. They studied a group of bird-like dinosaurs, including a winged species called Archaeopteryx, which had started to develop the brain conditions needed for flight.
The researchers couldn’t look at the actual brains because those disappeared long ago. But they could look at the dinosaurs’ skulls (颅骨), which once held the brains and have been found in fossil form. The researchers studied the inside of the skulls, which showed the size and shape of the creatures’ brains.
In the dinosaurs that were developing the ability to fly, the team saw a significant increase in the size of the cerebellum. They also noted signs of increased brain complexity, like folds in the brain tissue. These findings confirmed a connection between flying and changes to the cerebellum.
1. What might the new study reveal in paragraph 1?| A．What transformed birds’ brains. | B．How brain controls body movement. |
| C．What made birds evolve to fly. | D．How birds influenced animal history. |
| A．The body structure of birds has evolved a lot. |
| B．26 parts of the brain displayed signs of change. |
| C．Brain activity remained unchanged throughout. |
| D．The cerebellum holds the key to birds’ flying ability. |
| A．By unearthing more brain fossils. | B．By scanning brains of Archaeopteryx. |
| C．By studying structures of winged species. | D．By comparing sizes and shapes of brains. |
| A．Bird brains came before birds | B．Archaeopteryx, the first flying dinosaur |
| C．PET scans reveal birds’ secrets | D．Cerebellum, the key to animal evolution |
In the heart of the city, among the chaotic flow of people, stood a small bakery called “Sweet Serenity”. Its golden sign shone under the midday sun, inviting passersby with promises of sugary delights. And at the center of it was Sarah, the owner of Sweet Serenity. With flour-dusted cheeks and a warm smile, she greeted customers like old friends.
Everything seemed cheerful and peaceful, but behind this, Sarah was struggling to keep her bakery running. Rent was due, and supplies and sales were all declining. Worse still, she heard about a big company’s plan to enter the neighborhood and undoubtedly, the bakery couldn’t compete with the big chains moving in. The future of Sweet Serenity really hung in the balance.
Over the next few weeks, Sarah poured all her energy into Sweet Serenity. She launched a social media campaign and hosted baking classes, trying to bringing the bakery back to life. Hard as she worked, business remained sliding.
As the days passed, Sarah watched helplessly as boxes were packed and shelves emptied. Customers came by to offer their comfort, but their sympathy only deepened her sense of defeat. On the eve of Sweet Serenity’s closure, Sarah sat alone in the empty bakery, tears streaming down her face. She had poured her heart and soul into this place, only to see it slip away. “How could I possibly find a solution to save my bakery? Is there anyone who can give me a hand?” she thought to herself.
But then, a cheerful sound caught her ear. It was the sound of laughter and music floating in from the street outside. Curious, Sarah looked through the window to see a crowd gathering around a food truck parking across the street.
It was a new addition to the neighborhood, a mobile bakery called “The Rolling Oven”. The owner, a young woman named Mia, was handing out samples of her tasty cupcakes and engaging customers with her infectious enthusiasm.
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。
Suddenly, a light of hope was fueled within Sarah.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Slowly but surely, more customers flooded in after they teamed up.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 . A MEET THE AGENT — Jennifer March Soloway | Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Jennifer March Soloway is a senior agent. Previously, she worked in public relations in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and toys. She has a master degree in creative writing and lives in San Francisco. “I work on countless revisions and keep trying new editors to help people pursue their dreams. It’s exciting to call a client to let them know their project will get published, especially after long tries without luck.” Find her at AndreaBrownLit.com and on X (Twitter) @marchsoloway. | ABOUT ME “In addition to reading, I watch a lot of scary movies.” “My preferred transportation is my bicycle.” |
FAVORITE Blog: “Lately, I’ve been reading and enjoying Robert Reich’s blog.” Drink: “Coffee, hot, no sugar.” Quote: “Revision is magical!” Author: “James Baldwin, but also, so many others.” |
SEEKING
“I would love to find some exciting adult literary adventures. Throw in a touch of romance, and I will stay up all night reading. I am also hungry for YA (young adult) novels, particularly stories about ordinary teens dealing with life, family, relationships or mental health. The digital age has been really hard on kids and teens, and I think young readers need to see their experience reflected on the page to know they’re not alone.”
1. What do we know about Jennifer March Soloway?| A．She works in public relations now. | B．She believes revisions really help. |
| C．She relaxes herself by riding a bike. | D．She publishes her clients’ projects. |
| A．To write stories about teenage life. | B．To enjoy YA novels with romance. |
| C．To bring teenage problems to light. | D．To reflect the benefits of digital age. |
| A．News. | B．Finance. | C．Advertisements. | D．Literature. |
8 . Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
As an athlete in the digital age, you will find comparison is everywhere.
The first way you might want to handle this comparison is not to try to ignore those you measure yourself against.
Secondly, if you feel bad when comparing, it might suggest you are not happy with your own fitness or results.
Score where you currently are with each so you can see which will require most work to improve. When you have this list of improvements you can turn each into a process goal to achieve weekly.
| A．Use this as the drive to goal setting. |
| B．Psychologically, comparisons make sense. |
| C．When comparing too much, we usually feel rubbish. |
| D．This helps you see you’re moving in the right direction. |
| E．Therefore, you can do nothing but accept the comparison. |
| F．It usually requires less effort to compare ourselves with others. |
| G．Instead, care about what feeling it is they are stimulating within you. |
9 . “White people food” is trending on Chinese social media platforms as large numbers of users are confused by the typical Western packed lunch. The trend started on the social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu with too many users shocked by quick and easy meals such as cold sandwiches and raw vegetables. Many posts are from international students surprised by the simple meals their peers eat. Similarly, overseas workers and expatriates (侨民) have posted their shock at their co-workers’ repetitive lunches.
Photos of the bland (淡而无味的) lunches have quickly spread through global social media platforms including TikTok and Twitter. Many social media users have promoted the health benefits of the simple “white people lunch“. In response to this, a commenter on Xiaohongshu suggested, “If such a meal is to extend life, what is the meaning of life?”
“White people food” made it beyond the Chinese social media platforms and found itself trending on Twitter. Hundreds of users shared their own experiences of low-maintenance lunches in the US, Australia and across Europe. “When I first came to Australia, I saw a woman who bought raw sliced mushrooms in the supermarket and sat down to eat them,” Marcelo Wang explained in a TikTok video. “Fascination with these meals has spread as many Chinese people are used to cooking with lots of different ingredients.”
A Western user said, “As a white person, I didn’t know we were all packing lunches like this. I thought it was just me being lazy.”Another commented, “It’s literally because we don’t get lunch breaks.” Others warned international TikTokers against making“white people lunches”. They said,“Don’t do it to yourself willingly! We do it because we don’t know any better. Don’t do this to yourself.“
1. What surprised overseas workers and expatriates?| A．The simplicity of typical Western packed lunches. |
| B．The diverse dietary structures of international students. |
| C．The rapid development of Chinese social media platforms. |
| D．The influence of Chinese cuisine on Western eating habits. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Worried. | C．Dismissive. | D．Negative |
| A．They learn how to cook from TikTok videos. |
| B．They have a tolerant attitude towards diverse diets. |
| C．They are more than happy to share their packed lunches. |
| D．They discourage people from adopting their dietary habits. |
| A．A lunchtime surprise encountered by visitors in China |
| B．Unpacking“white people food”: a wealth of cultural insights |
| C．Surprising cooking trends on Western social media platforms |
| D．Improving“white people food”: a growing emphasis on health |
10 . Chief executive officer. Marketing director. Lead writer. Job titles like these have generally been standard across work for years. They communicate essential employee details such as job function and seniority. They make sense to employees and recruiters (招聘人员) alike, leaving little room for ambiguity. However, labels like “chief visionary officer”, “business development guru (大师) ”or “chief remote officer” are emerging. In many industries, especially creative ones, employers feel free to create job titles for employees. They can serve as recruitment or retention (留用) tools — and even grab attention from clients.
This was the case for Lennie Hughes, whose official job title is “head of hype (炒作) and culture” at Truant, a London-based advertising agency. Initially, this position was advertised as a more traditional “head of marketing and new business“. But, after being recruited, Hughes worked with Truant to craft a new title for the role he’d lead, centred more on integrating traditional external branding and communications with a fresh take on internal workplace culture. He also acknowledges it’s not without strategic benefit. “If my job is all about getting attention, the title should do that, too.”
Experts and employees alike say there can be an upside to flashy job titles. Pawel Adrjan works for Indeed, a large hiring platform. He cites Indeed data, showing “people” is outdoing the traditional title of “human resources”; similarly, the title of “talent acquisition” is up 75% while “recruitment” is down 19% since 2019. Adrjan says, “By using ‘people’ in the title, employers can say they invest in people. Through this language, companies are trying to show they don’t regard employees as resources to tap.”
But beware, these fancy new titles aren’t all good news. Sometimes they offer little guidance as to what their job actually involves. Ultimately, when a non-descriptive, overblown job title is used as a costless recruiting method to boost worker ego (自尊心), it can lead to a mismatch in expectations between employer and employee. At the extreme end, this could place workers in a tough position where they end up in a role that doesn’t match what they thought was promised.
1. What best explains“ambiguity”underlined in paragraph 1?| A．Growth. | B．Confusion. | C．Discussion. | D．Improvement. |
| A．Hard-working. | B．Honest. | C．Considerate. | D．Innovative. |
| A．They are mainly used to attract investment. |
| B．They are starting to lose popularity among employers. |
| C．They can make employees feel more respected. |
| D．They can help companies tap a broader candidate pool. |
| A．The growing mismatch between workers and their job titles. |
| B．The negative impact of unconventional job titles. |
| C．The unrealistic expectations of employers. |
| D．The tough position of modern workers. |
