1 . Barbara, 70, and me, at 71, have swum together for at least 50 years. We swim in a quiet cove (小海湾). It’s home to seagulls, a duck or two, and kayaks (独木舟) on occasion. The difficult summer drought of 2021 brought a burning sun that warmed the water. As the drought eased and the water cooled in late August, we decided to keep swimming. We have both read Bonnie Tsui’s Why We Swim, a fine book about cold-water swimming. We challenged ourselves to swim for as long as possible through September and into October.

I have long loved swimming, though the fear of being seen as fat has dogged me. I am one of those female bodies poorly displayed in bathing suits. Cold-water swimming deepened my sense of well-being and let me use my body. It became a ritual Barbara and I embraced as swimming sisters. When she returned to the United States immediately after our Canadian Thanksgiving, I did not know how I could continue our cold-water tradition. I wasn’t prepared to freeze alone.

But, I had to swim; there were larger commitments I should stick to. In the summer, we planned to cross from the cove to an island across the lake. I had to stay fit. We also planned to host a cold-water swimming race for locals in the fall. We would make it an annual event, improving our strength and endurance (耐力) so that, in our 80s, we might swim through October and into November.

With these plans in mind, I joined my local city pool. I had not been in a public pool for about 30 years. But my body said swim, my brain said swim and my heart, could not let go. So I went anyway.

I am swimming. I am alive to my love of the water, alive to my promise for the spring and the summer that will come. I intend to step back into the lake in May, and through September and October with Barbara. We are perfectly matched in our devotion, and increasingly aware of the miracle of being able-bodied enough to share the cold-water wonder side by side.

1. Why was the book Why We Swim mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．It guided the author to learn to swim.

B．It analyzes the advantages of swimming.

C．It is the author’s favorite book about swimming.

D．It partly contributed to the author and Barbara’s common interest.

2. What does the underlined word “commitments” probably mean in paragraph 3?

A．Promises .

B．Preparations .

C．Requirements .

D．Opportunities .

3. What effort did the author make to achieve her goals?

A．She went to a gym to improve her strength.

B．She became a member of the local public pool.

C．She swam across the lake to the island on her own.

D．She participated in a local cold-water swimming race.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?

A．To describe her friendship with Barbara.

B．To express her passion for cold-water swimming.

C．To recommend people to go swimming to keep fit.

D．To explain how she overcame her fear of swimming in public places.

2 . 可怕的熔岩雨砸下来了，落在空荡荡的街道上、广场上，到处都是，落在波涛汹涌的大海里，发出阵阵巨响。
Over the empty streets—over the forum— far and wide —with __________ __________ __________ __________ in the stormy sea—fell that awful shower!

3 . 每本书后都有一个人，此人身后是一个族群，这个族群后是自然和社会环境。如果一本书要传达这整个信息，我们必须要知道所有的这些。
Behind every book is a man, behind the man is the race, and ______   ______ ______ are the social and natural environments. We must know all these, if the book is to speak its whole message.

4 . 火山岩忽明忽暗，讲述着过去火山几度喷发的故事 ，这本来可以警告这座城里的人，灾难即将到来！
Its ashy rocks,now dark,now light,told a story of past eruptions that   ________ ________ ________ the city what was to come!

5 . Piñatex is made from pineapple leaves that are left over after the fruit is harvested. It is an innovative way of using a product that would otherwise be thrown away, which reduces the amount of organic waste going to landfill and thus the methane emissions (沼气排放) that would result. Tough and durable, it is commonly used as an eco-friendly material for vegan leather by fashion designers.

Piñatex was developed by Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a Spanish leather goods expert who grew horrified at the environmental impact of leather production while working in the Philippines in the 1990s. Nor did she approve of the petroleum-based alternatives that are commonly used. At the same time, Hijosa noticed how some traditional Filipino garments（服装）were made from pineapple fibers, which kickstarted her research into how such a resource could be transformed into something more widely usable.

The fabric is made by extracting (提取) fibers from the pineapple leaves after harvest. They are washed and dried in the sun, then undergo a purification process that results in a soft fiber. This is mixed with corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) and turned into a non-woven product called “Piñafelt”, which is the base for Piñatex products.

Around 480 leaves from 16 pineapple plants go into the creation of a single square meter of Piñatex, which weighs and costs less than a comparable amount of leather. Because the fabric is natural, it is breathable, as well as flexible; it can easily be printed on and sewed. It’s produced in a roll, which means less waste than when an irregularly-shaped animal hide is used. But best of all, it can replace animal leather.

Piñatex is a multi-use material that is suitable for footwear, bags, clothing, pet leashes, and more. It has already been adopted by 1,000 shoe companies, fashion labels, and hotel chains around the world, including Hugo Boss, H&M, and the Hilton Hotel Bankside. The number of partnerships is likely to grow as more designers and consumers discover its benefits.

1. What can we infer about Dr. Carmen Hijosa?

A．She resists Spanish leather production.	B．She disapproves of any leather alternatives.
C．She is devoted to designing Piñatex garments.	D．She has got inspiration from a Filipino tradition.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．Advantages of Piñatex.	B．Ways to treat Piñafelt.
C．Purification of Piñatex.	D．Process of making Piñafelt.

3. How does the writer think about the future of Piñatex?

A．Ambiguous.

B．Promising.

C．Doubtful.

D．Negative.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Piñatex, From Rubbish to Treasure	B．Piñatex, New Use of Vegan Leather
C．Piñatex, New Hope of the Earth	D．Piñatex, Innovation to Rid Rubbish

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does Laura sound at the beginning of the conversation?

A．Anxious.

B．Surprised.

C．Regretful.

2. What do we know about Peter?

A．He has got a new job.

B．He has a big house.

C．He has four children.

3. What did Jim choose to work from home?

A．To accompany his wife.

B．To get more sleep.

C．To look after the kids.

4. What is Peter going to do this afternoon?

A．Attend a meeting.

B．Give Sally a call.

C．Hold a dinner.

7 . What you should know when applying for a credit card online

Applying for a credit card online can be awful, as you may have heard all sorts of information and might not know what to believe. Consider these tips when applying for a credit card online.

Who can apply for a credit card online

Online credit card applications are open to US adult residents -in other words, people with a mailing address in the US who are over 18 and either have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). Applicants under the age of 21 will need a co-signer or proof of income as part of the application process. While nearly anyone can apply for a credit card, note that credit card issuers evaluate applications based on many different factors and criteria. They are interested in getting a full picture of your financial health. Therefore, besides collecting your basic contact information, they will use your SSN to pull your credit report.

How to apply for a credit card online

Do your research. There are hundreds of different credit cards available with a variety of offers, fee structures and rewards programs. Chart your spending behaviors so you know which categories you spend most heavily in, and then shop around for the card that matches your credit profile and best fits your needs.

Follow internet security best practices. When you’re ready to apply, make sure both your web browser and operating system are up to date. Consider filling out the application on a mobile data connection or a safe, private network to prevent the risks of someone stealing your personal information. And if you have any doubt about the safety of an email from a card issuer, go directly to the issuer’s website rather than clicking on any links in the email.

1. What can show an applicant’s overall financial health?

A．The income proof.	B．The SSN or ITIN.
C．The credit report.	D．The co-signer.

2. Which of the following is recommended to decide the right type of credit card?

A．Changing its fee structures.	B．Joining its rewards programs.
C．Charting your shopping habits.	D．Improving your credit profile.

3. How can an applicant guarantee internet security?

A．By using a slower operating system.	B．By using a mobile data connection.
C．By giving no personal information.	D．By clicking on the links in an email.

8 . For most people, life has become a burden on their shoulders, and its weight is growing heavier and heavier, until one day they can’t carry it anymore. So how can we design a life that is less complex and more meaningful? With minimalism (极简主义).     1     The following ways will assist you in your journey to living a simper yet fuller life.

    2     Most people’s living space is filled with things that are never used and don’t contribute to their well-being. Separate the ones you do need from the ones you don’t, and throw the latter right into the dustin — or better, give them away to people who might actually benefit from them.

Appreciate all the amazing things you already have. We constantly compare ourselves to others who seem happier, more beautiful and more important than us. We try our best to imitate those we envy.     3     We need to stop comparing and accept ourselves for who we are, with all our imperfections. Take a moment to appreciate what you have.

Do one thing at a time. Minimalist living actually means making the most out of each and every moment. We’re usually carrying out different tasks at the same time. So whatever we are doing, our mind is partly wondering somewhere else.     4    

Develop mindfulness.     5     Thus you need to develop mindfulness. Mindfulness means fully attending to what’s happening in the present. There are many ways one can do so. Perhaps the most common way is to sit for about 30 minutes somewhere comfortably with your upper back straight and pay full attention to your breath as it’s coming in and out through your nose. In this way, you won’t be distracted by your thoughts.

A．It is about enjoying life more with less.

B．Stop consuming products you don’t need.

C．Yet no matter how much we try, we always fail.

D．Get rid of things that don’t serve your happiness.

E．minimalist living requires a calm and undisturbed mind.

F．Stop multitasking and concentrate on a single thing at a time.

G．Unfortunately, our minds are filled with worries in our busy lives.

9 . Firefighters today said they had located four more students t________ in a dormitory, but did not say whether they were alive or dead. （根据首字母单词拼写）

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why did Grandpa Pandetti go to the village?

A．To buy a mirror.

B．To trade his goods.

C．To visit his family.

2. What did Grandpa Pandetti do when he returned home?

A．He hung the mirror on the wall.

B．He told his family about the mirror.

C．He made dinner for himself.

3. What did the Pandettis do in the end?

A．They smiled whenever they looked in the mirror.

B．They took the mirror off the wall.

C．They made friends with strangers.

4. What does the speaker mainly talk about?

A．Life in the mountains.

B．The Pandettis’ goods.

C．A special present for a family.