1 . Valencia lives, for the time being, in a mobile home park.

He greeted me when I arrived and poured me a cup of coffee. He told me that his dad had worked at a brick-manufacturing plant. His mother worked at home. Most of his seven brothers and sisters didn’t go to college.

Valencia was determined to be the first, despite his late start. He said he was an average student struggling with math and went to community college a year after graduating from high school but decided quickly it was not for him.

He got into construction and then the insurance industry, but he’d always liked to write and do crossword puzzles. “And I loved to read. A lot,” he said. And he joked with his mother that if he won the lottery, he’d use the winnings for college.

It was around 2007. Valencia got tired of telling himself he was going to go back to school. He told his mother it was finally for real. She said, “I hope you make it, Jerry.” And I told her, “I’m going to make it, Mom. Surely!”

The plan was to capitalize on his former construction experience to study civil engineering—the design, building and repair of roads, bridges, etc. But he discovered other interests.

“He was not the youngest student,” says Grant Tovmasian, coach of the forensics debate team Valencia joined. “But he was the most motivated and dedicated, encouraging fellow students and inspiring them to live a more satisfying life?”

Valencia’s sister Sindi Majors says her brother was always bright, but he went through a couple of rough experiences in his life.

Because Valencia has nearly always been homeless, she bought him a motor home, where he lived from 2009 to 2018.

There is something splendidly irrational about Valencia’s determination to get a four-year degree and then a master’s. At his current pace, he’ll be 90 when he finally achieves his goals.

But that doesn’t influence him. He’s found all the youthful energy and academic opportunity stimulating.

“Valencia’s grade in my class this semester will not show up on his transcripts (大学生的成绩单). But I’m giving him an A and in the most important ways, it counts.” says Tovmasian.

1. What does the underlined phrase “capitalize on” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Make use of.

B．Get rid of.

C．Break down.

D．Appeal to.

2. Which of the following is the right order of Valencia’s experience?
a. Valencia joined the debate team.
b. He went to a community college.
c. He got into construction industry.
d. He planned to study civil engineering.

A．b-d-c-a

B．b-c-d-a.

C．c-a-d-b

D．d-c-b-a

3. Which of the following can best describe Valencia?

A．Caring and ambitious.	B．Devoted and modest.
C．Positive and generous.	D．Determined and motivated.

4. Why does Tovmasian decide to give Valencia a grade A?

A．Because he hopes to see Valencia graduate as soon as possible.

B．Because he admires Valencia for his good quality and performance.

C． Because Valencia has done extra work to perform the best in the class.

D．Because Valencia has reached his goals earlier inspired by Tovmasian

2 . 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。

The Duan inkstone, one of the four most famous inkstones in China,     1     (originate) in the mountains by the Duanxi River in Guangdong Province. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been the     2     (center) region for Duan inkstone production and even today, most of the villagers still earn their living by making inkstones.

Throughout hundreds of years, villagers have developed     3     scientific production system. The process involves stone selection, material screening, shape designing, carving, and wooden box matching, among     4     stone selection and carving are the two most important steps.

Purple     5     color, Duan inkstones are glossy and as smooth as silk. They enjoy a great reputation as they never crack even when     6     (place) in low temperatures. It is a long and laborious process to handpick flawless Duan stones. Miners dig in tunnels less than one meter high at the riverside, and using tools such as dynamite (炸药)     7     (forbid).

Carving involves good conception, and highlights the fine shape of the stones     8     carving skills. In addition to natural designs, flying dragons, flowers and birds, figures, mountains and waters are common     9     (image) carved on the stones. The matching boxes are also carefully chosen and are often made of purple sandalwood and rosewood. The Duan inkstone has various styles, and new-style products are designed one after another     10     (meet) increased export demands.

3 . With a leather book cover, a golden overhang, made from colored paper and edges of the book painted red, the French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius《论语入门》is a classic from the Age of Enlightenment in France. The book is about the political ideas, ethical thoughts and moral concepts of China more than 2,000 years ago. Francois Bernier, the author of the book, would never have expected that the French version of the Chinese classic translated by him could be brought to China more than 300 years after he finished it.

The French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius is a national gift. 2019 marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties. On March 24 of that year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Nice, France. Before their meeting, Macron presented Xi with the original French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius published in France in 1688.

As a classic of traditional Chinese culture, The Analects of Confucius《论语》was introduced to Europe as early as the 17th century. Commenting on the influence of Chinese culture in France, Macron said the thoughts of Confucius had deeply inspired French thinkers such as Voltaire and had a long-lasting influence on the French Enlightenment (启蒙运动).

After hearing Macron’s introduction, Xi said he would take this precious gift back to China’s National Library. President Xi once said that the rich philosophical ideas, humanistic spirit, edifying thoughts (教化思想) and moral concepts of China’s fine traditional culture can provide useful inspiration for understanding and transforming the world, for governing the country, and for moral construction.

1. What does An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius mainly deal with?

A．Music history, ethical thoughts and folk songs.

B．Political ideas, ethical thoughts and fairy stories.

C．Moral concepts, classic works and military ideas.

D．Ethical thoughts, moral concepts and political ideas.

2. What did Macron think about the thoughts of Confucius?

A．Macron saw them as an inspiration to many French inventors.

B．Macron saw them as guidelines for the French Enlightenment.

C．Macron considered them great valuable to French in some ways.

D．Macron considered them the best way to spread Chinese culture.

3. What is the passage most probably chosen from?

A．Science.

B．Travel.

C．Culture.

D．Technology.

4 . “We don’t mind using GPS,” says our Aboriginal guide Baamba in his Australian accent, as he looks out across the wilderness which belongs to his tribe. The red ground ahead is covered with bushes and trees. Although it’s early, it’s already 30 degrees in the shade. It’s a difficult hike, but Baamba is a sensible guide: he always carries a satellite phone in his backpack in case of emergencies. His ancestors, however, relied on songs.

The early Australian Aborigines made the land navigable (可航行的) through songs, dance and paintings. The songs described pathways or “songlines”, which provided an oral “map” of the land. They showed people where to find a water hole, where there was a river and where they could hunt. Generations of Aboriginals followed these pathways, leaving clear marks and carvings on rocks and trees to help future travelers. “But the songs describe more than a pathway,” explains Baamba. “They also tell stories about how the world was created.” According to Aboriginal stories, the world was created, when giant beings, part human, part animal, came down from the sky. From across the sea and from deep in the earth.

One of the many sacred sites called Arkaroo Rock was mentioned in the songs and stories about the land. These songs and stories show the close relationship between the native people and their environment, how they saw themselves as part of nature rather than master of it, and how their way of life resulted in a valuable knowledge of their land. It was a way of life with more than 2,000 generations. It was a way of life that was safe from invasion and influence until 1788.

____________ Sadly, this destroyed their ancient way of life, and many Aboriginal songlines were lost. Today, people like Baamba are trying to restore this heritage and preserve it.

It’s late now and Baamba is waiting outside Arkaroo Rock. Inside, we’re admiring the beautiful cave paintings, but as soon as we have taken some photos, we leave. Dark clouds are visible on the horizon—there are already flashes of lightning and thunder in the distance. As we drive away, the wind blows through the trees, and we can almost hear the voices of those first Australians, singing the songs of their ancestors, and following the songlines.

1. Why does the writer mention Baamba’s ancestors’ songs in paragraph 1?

A．To promote these songs, special culture	B．To draw readers’ attention to the theme.
C．To show off the old but advanced songs.	D．To advertise the place’s tourist attractions

2. What can we know about songlines according to the passage?

A．Songlines were printed maps of die land.

B．Sonlines were mainly used to help hunters.

C．Songlines were a symbol of bravery of the Aborigines.

D．Songlines played a key role in finding people’s way around.

3. What will the author most probably talk about in the blank of paragraph 4?

A．Songlines were negatively influenced by strange tourists.

B．The Aborigines experienced a terrible natural disaster in 1788.

C．The Aborigines celebrated their victories for defeating the enemy.

D．Foreigners’ invasion since 1788 resulted in the natives’ life destroyed.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Guidelines.

B．Songlines.

C．Exploration.

D．Tradition.

5 . “If you feel like sleeping more in the winter, you’re not alone,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine in California, citing research that found at least a third of American adults reported they sleep more in the winter.

The 188 patients who underwent sleep studies at St. Hedwig Hospital in Berlin slept about an hour longer in winter than they did in summer. And participants did get 30 more minutes of rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep during winter.

The REM phase of sleep is the sweet spot of sleep cycles, characterized by more dreaming and faster heart rate and breathing than in other stages. Its “an essential stage of sleep that helps with memory, concentration, mood regulation and immune function,” Dasgupta said.

The desire for more sleep during winter may have to do with how light fluctuates (波动,起伏) throughout the year. “Our bodies receive cues from the sun when it comes to our circadian rhythm, meaning that when it is bright outside we tend to be active, but when the sun goes down, you may tend to feel tired,” Dasgupta said. “The decrease in sunlight causes an increase in melatonin (褪黑激素) in the body that regulates sleep-wake cycles.”

With the earlier production of melatonin during winter, “it would be natural to assume that a healthy person also would need more sleep during the winter,” said Dr. Carleara Weiss, a research assistant professor at the University of Buffalo.

And light influences not only sleep quantity but also sleep quality. ‘“REM sleep is highly affected by light and darkness, so when during the winter months we have less light, the body is going to basically overcompensate by giving more REM sleep,” said Dr. Joshua Tal, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep issues.

Humans still don’t need to hibernate (冬眠), Weiss said, nor can we afford to due to our social and occupational obligations. “But we can make adjustments to perform in a better way, to rest in a better way during winter,” she said. “To help our bodies make this transition from sleep to wake, it’s important to have light exposure in the morning during winter months,” Weiss said. “Along with that, it’s important to keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up times.”

1. What happens in the REM phase of sleep?

A．Faster breathing.	B．Slower heart rate.
C．More concentration.	D．Fewer dreaming.

2. What can we learn about the connection between light and sleep?

A．Light will remove people’s desire for sleep.

B．The brighter it is, the more active you will be.

C．Light affects not sleep quantity, but sleep quality.

D．People are more likely to feel sleepy when it gets dark.

3. What does the underlined sentence suggest in paragraph 6?

A．People’s sleep quality is decided by the REM sleep.

B．People’s health is built up based on the REM sleep.

C．More REM sleep can strengthen our energy in winter.

D．REM sleep can make up for the shortcoming of less light.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The theory of REM sleep.	B．The approach to relaxing.
C．The way to adapt ourselves.	D．The plan of increasing sleep.

6 . The dancer who performs in a wheelchair

Joe performed at the Royal Ballet as a child but thought his career was over after he lost full use of his legs.

Naturally he was quite _______, which was good for dance but it’s not good for life. About five weeks into his fourth year, he had grown much taller. His flexibility couldn’t match the height quickly and he ended up _______ his left knee. Then he was _______ a car accident. So he thought his dancing _______.

Joe now _______ inclusive ballet dancing for differently abled dancers. Once he came across vocational (职业的) trainers who were _______ to train people in a wheelchair. But he was quite lucky _______ he had received vocational training before he gained his disability. Over time, Joe’s performance has become outstanding.

Nowadays, as the _______ of a Royal Ballet show with a dance partner Issy, Joe often wonders how other dancers like him can _______ the same level of training.

Joe also explains the new ballet dancing. “Maybe you think of it as a(n) ________ ballet technique. In fact, we twist it and ________ it into an entirely new and different thing.”

Isabel Lubach, a Royal Ballet dancer says, “It just feels so ________. It’s just such a unique way of working to find those sort of different challenges. It feels really ________ to be on the stage with other differently abled dancers.”

There’s always more work to do, ________ in the classical ballet world, different dancers have different accessible needs. To address the problem, they ________ need to have conversations, and look at how they can redefine the ballet technique to everyone.

1.

A．competent

B．flexible

C．grateful

D．violent

2.

A．injuring

B．losing

C．collapsing

D．shifting

3.

A．devoted to

B．exposed to

C．reminded of

D．involved in

4.

A．confusing

B．hopeless

C．realistic

D．promising

5.

A．denies

B．abandons

C．advocates

D．restores

6.

A．unwilling

B．reliable

C．annoyed

D．embarrassed

7.

A．in case

B．by contrast

C．even though

D．in that

8.

A．fan

B．witness

C．star

D．audience

9.

A．calculate

B．claim

C．acquire

D．approve

10.

A．conventional

B．remarkable

C．unusual

D．abnormal

11.

A．oppose

B．restrict

C．apply

D．transform

12.

A．logical

B．refreshing

C．admirable

D．convincing

13.

A．objective

B．special

C．complex

D．simple

14.

A．unless

B．though

C．for

D．until

15.

A．incredibly

B．randomly

C．definitely

D．merely

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What was the weather like when the group set out?

A．Windy.

B．Snowy.

C．Sunny.

2. How long did it take the speaker to reach the top?

A．5 hours.

B．6 hours.

C．7 hours.

3. How did the speaker describe the experience?

A．It was challenging.

B．It was enjoyable.

C．It was disappointing.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What can Leo play?

A．The piano.

B．The guitar.

C．The violin.

2. What is the purpose of the music group?

A．To help students relax.

B．To celebrate National Day.

C．To prepare for a competition.

3. Why does Leo hesitate to join the music group at first?

A．He is too busy with his study.

B．He is afraid of meeting new people.

C．He doesn’t think he is good enough.

9 . An ________ (立即的) message, a group chat, a video call, a comment on an update—there are endless ways to share our views or let someone know we care about them. (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个恰当的单词，或括号内单词的正确形式。

This year marks the 50th anniversary (周年) of the discovery of qinghaosu,     1     is used as the main part for the most common and effective antimalarial treatment today. According to the World Health Organization, qinghaosu is     2     (benefit) to about millions of people in the world.

Until now, China     3     (train) thousands of anti-malaria workers for developing countries     4     built malaria prevention and control centers for 30 countries. During the 1940s, China was attacked by malaria, with nearly 30 million cases each year. In June 2021, the WHO announced China had finished the     5     (remove) of this disease within its borders.

Tu Youyou was excited to hear the WHO’s announcement. But a sense of responsibility quickly followed,     6     (inspire) Tu to ask her workmates how many countries had not destroyed malaria and how Chinese researchers could help.

Last month, during a meeting    7     (organize) by some officials, Tu said     8     number of cases and death rates of malaria has increased in some parts of the world. The disease     9     (remain) a serious public health challenge, and it is important for the international society to work together to achieve a malaria-free world, she added.

At the age of 92, Tu may not be able to work as hard as she did decades ago, but she reads monthly news on her team’s research and often offers her advice     10     key projects.