1 . High employment, falling inflation (通货膨胀), and economic growth. On the surface, the US economy currently seems to be doing great. But as it turns out, things are not so rosy for the average American.

According to a March 6 survey conducted by the Savings website, 47 percent of US parents provide financial support to their adult children to help deal with the cost of living struggles.

Gen Zers (aged 18 — 27) were found to be the most likely generation to get financial help from their parents, receiving on average 1,515 dollars per month. Still, many older parents were found to support their Millennial (aged 28 — 43) or Generation X (aged 44 — 59) adult children, accounting for 21 percent of parents providing support. The most common expenses mentioned were groceries and health insurance.

But why are so many US adults, both young and old, struggling to “leave the nest”? One major reason is food prices. According to a survey, food prices are expected to increase by nearly 2.5 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, stable housing remains an elusive dream for many. The average rate for a 30-year mortgage (抵押贷款) was almost 8 percent in 2023, which means many Americans are priced out of affording their own home.

The final piece of the puzzle is falling salaries. Previous generations were able to count on graduating from college as the key to landing a job that paid well. But now, young graduates have found they earn less than their parents. College graduate salaries have decreased more than 10 percent in four decades after adjusting for inflation. In other words, steadily declining salaries make it even harder for young Americans to cope with rising costs.

As Gen Zers in the US struggle under financial pressures, so do the older generations supporting them, as their sharing puts their retirement at risk. The Savings website discovered that working parents were found to contribute “2.4 times more to support adult children than they contribute to their retirement accounts each month”.

Essentially, while the US economy remains afloat, we will witness multiple generations of Americans sinking in their own lifeboats in the years ahead.

1. What did the March 6 survey find out about adult children in the US?

A．Nearly half of them are financially dependent.

B．Over half of Gen Zers are financially struggling.

C．21 percent of Generation X receive parental help.

D．A majority of them rely on their parents for education.

2. What does the underlined word   “elusive”   in paragraph 4 most probably mean?

A．Readily accessible.	B．Difficult to achieve.
C．Often misunderstood.	D．Commonly sought after.

3. What can be inferred from the article about people in the US?

A．Graduates’ financial struggles are temporary.

B．Government policies favor older generations.

C．Salaries for graduates tend to keep up with inflation.

D．Financial pressures affect both the young and the old.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward the future of Americans?

A．Negative.

B．Optimistic.

C．Ambiguous.

D．Indifferent.

2 . You’ve probably followed a few cute dogs and cats on social media. However, are you aware that AI-generated pets are also gaining popularity nowadays? They are just as adorable as real dogs and cats but also show human-like characteristics.

Chai Dada, operates an AI-created dog account on Xiaohongshu, attracting over 10,000 followers. Her AI-generated pet Zhuangzhuang is a fluffy Shiba Inu with a big belly who likes to eat and work out. “Zhuangzhuang is actually a mirror of myself,” Chai said. “Its life and mood basically reflect my own.”

In 2023, AI tools fascinated Chai. She used them to create animal characters behaving like humans, sharing them on Xiaohongshu for joy. Zhuangzhuang, the cutest and most representative, captured her heart.

To bring Zhuangzhuang to life, Chai places it in various daily life scenarios. For instance, during the recent “hui nan tian” — the super humid (潮湿的) weather in southern China — Chai shared images of Zhuangzhuang mopping a wet floor, with the words, “It’s wet everywhere at home”, vividly capturing the mood. In the comments section, many have expressed sympathy for the poor dog.

“Many scenes may seem ordinary, but when a very lifelike and adorable anthropomorphic (拟人化的) pet appears in these familiar scenes, it looks interesting.” Chai said. Since Zhuangzhuang closely is like a human in a dog’s body, many followers have come to believe in its real existence. This popularity has opened doors for Chai to cooperate with brands for product promotions. Aiming to expand her reach, Chai desires to explore deeper into AI to bring her AI pet to life in videos, not just photos. She has noticed a growing trend of AI pet bloggers, making the competition in this industry fierce. To attract more fans, bloggers are constantly learning more AI skills and brainstorming to create more interesting storylines. “I want to develop Zhuangzhuang into an intellectual property and create related cultural and creative products such as dolls and stickers,” said Chai.

1. What do we know about the AI pet Zhuangzhuang?

A．It is a digital recreation of Chai’s childhood.

B．It is a virtual representation of a real Shiba Inu.

C．It mirrors the life and personality of its creator.

D．It has gained over one million followers online.

2. Why is the “hui nan tian” example mentioned in the text?

A．To show the fun Zhuangzhuang brings to Chai.

B．To describe Zhuangzhuang’s daily struggles.

C．To suggest Zhuangzhuang’s growing fan base.

D．To illustrate how Chai humanizes Zhuangzhuang.

3. What does Chai plan to do?

A．Perfect Zhuangzhuang’s features.	B．Cooperate with other AI pet creators.
C．Write a book featuring Zhuangzhuang.	D．Create lifelike videos of Zhuangzhuang.

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．AI-generated Pets Find Followers

B．The Rise of AI Tools in Creating Animal Characters

C．Zhuangzhuang: A Realistic Dog Captivating Hearts

D．AI Pet Bloggers: Competing for Attention in the Digital World

7 . 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。

Jeremy is a boy who loves to lend a helping hand to his family. He spends quality time playing with his baby sister while his mother busies herself in the kitchen, cooking dinner. And after meals, he dutifully assists his father with drying the dishes. However, Jeremy’s favorite job is feeding Fletch, the family’s pet cat.

Fletch is a handsome cat, his fur a mix of brown and black, adorned with tiger stripes running across his back. When he’s hungry, Fletch has a unique way of communicating with Jeremy. He gently bumps his head against Jeremy’s legs, a silent reminder that it’s time for his meal.

One evening after dinner, Mom asked Jeremy to find Baby Suzy’s doll. “I think she might have dropped it in the backyard this afternoon,” she said worriedly. “She won’t be able to sleep without it. Can you take a look before it gets too dark?”

Without hesitation, Jeremy opened the back door and ran outside. The bright red doll stood out among the grass, making it easy for him to spot. Grabbing it, he ran back inside, relieved to have found it.

Later that night, as Jeremy prepared for bed, he remembered his usual routine. He always said goodnight to Fletch before turning off the light, but the cat was nowhere to be found. Jeremy searched the bathroom and hallway, but Fletch was missing. Worried, he went downstairs to go on his search.

He checked the living room and dining room, but still no sign of Fletch. As he reached the kitchen, Jeremy’s heart sank. Tears began to well up in his eyes. Mom, who was enjoying a cup of tea, looked up and noticed his worry. “Jeremy, you should be in bed by now! What’s wrong?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

“The back door is open!” Jeremy cried, uneasiness creeping into his voice.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Jeremy was awoken by a familiar sound — a loud “Meow”.

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9 . It is William Shakespeare, the great coiner, who is given credit for the word. Coriolanus, one of his characters, compares going into exile (流放) to a “lonely dragon” retiring to his cave. He was talking about a physical state: someone who was lonely was simply alone. Then, thanks to the Romantic poets, the word took on emotional meanings. Loneliness became a condition of the soul. For William Wordsworth, who famously “wandered lonely as a cloud”, the natural world offered an escape from negative feelings of loneliness — a host of flowers could provide “cheerful company”. Today, loneliness is often seen as a serious public-health problem, creating the feeling of disconnection.

In his book Solitude, Netta Weinstein, a psychology professor wonders the rewards of time spent alone. He begins with an account of stories of solitude created by figures such as Michel Montaigne, a writer, and Edward Hopper, a painter. Netta then draw on laboratory work, interviews and surveys to clarify how being alone really affects the human mind.

It is common to treat loneliness and solitude as synonyms (同义词), but they are not. The author suggests that what is negatively described as one state can be positively expressed as the other. Loneliness, often perceived as negative, can potentially be transformed into a positive experience of solitude. To this end he emphasizes how being alone can help restore people and offers practical advice. In a noisy world, he argues, people should make time to be alone, away from attention-grabbing motives.

The book’s interviewees mostly regard a lack of company as a contributor to autonomy (自主). But this depends on whether solitude is desirable or not. Enforced solitude, such as that experienced by prisoners, typically leads to nothing but suffering. Elective solitude, by contrast, affords space for self-reflection. It can open the door to “peak experiences” such as wonder, harmony, and happiness. However, it is a pity that in a highly-connected digital age, many readers don’t like their chances of ever taking a long enough break to have such experiences.

1. How does paragraph 1 introduce the concept of loneliness?

A．By tracing its development.	B．By analyzing causes.
C．By making a point to be argued.	D．By sharing a romantic story.

2. What does Netta Weinstein’s book Solitude focus on?

A．The various terms of solitude.	B．The societal impact of solitude.
C．The long-standing history of solitude.	D．The psychological benefits of solitude.

3. Netta describes the state of loneliness as _______.

A．stressful

B．essential

C．changeable

D．harmful

4. What does Netta most probably agree with according to the last paragraph?

A．Enforced solitude is a matter of choice.

B．Enforced solitude contributes to autonomy.

C．Elective solitude is rare in the digital world.

D．Elective solitude interrupts peak experiences.

10 . Cathy Winston is a sports nutritionist. Among her regulars are athletes. Cathy thrives on the variety, with each new sport providing new challenges and a renewed appreciation of her chosen field of expertise. In her view, dealing with athletes from various sport backgrounds helps her become seasoned, which is a key part of being a successful nutritionist. “You have to understand nutrition and people, and then you can begin to work in this field,” she says. “Besides, in tennis you must learn to be reactive, because you don’t know how long the match lasts. However, it’s 90 minutes in football. So you know what you’re fueling for.”

Regardless of the sport, Cathy’s attitude remains the same any athlete failing to respect nutrition is one who is failing to fulfill their potential. It’s a key part of the training process. It’s not just something that you take casually. She advises her athletes to hold nutrition in the same regard as they do their most crucial bit of equipment. “Just as you wouldn’t forget to put your shin pads(护腿板)or your boots in your kit bag, don’t forget to put in your drinks and your snacks. That informs how well you train, because you can’t get out if you haven’t put in.”

Nutritionists are sometimes unfairly represented as militant(斗志昂扬的)types telling what athletes can and can’t eat. But Cathy insists that when to eat is more important than what. “It’s about when’s the right time to have it in,” she says. It’s a message that Cathy says can take a while to sink in. “A lot of boxers say, ‘but bananas make you fat, right?’, and there’s this inherent belief that we mustn’t eat those kinds of things. But it’s not about what to cut out. It’s about making sure that you’ve got the foundation right for health and performance. It’s that one size fits one. It’s what works for you. To be an excellent athlete, you really need to be an exceptional eater.”

1. What does Cathy think about her job?

A．It highly values experience and flexibility.

B．It mainly focuses on the duration of matches.

C．It merely needs to understand nutrition and people.

D．It hardly faces new challenges in every competition.

2. How does Cathy emphasize the importance of nutrition to athletes?

A．By telling a story.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By providing data.	D．By analyzing a phenomenon.

3. According to Cathy, what is a fundamental principle behind successful sports nutrition?

A．Focusing on the timing of the diet.	B．Increasing the variety of foods.
C．Following a strict and militant diet plan.	D．Cutting out specific foods from the diet.

4. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．A good eater is a great athlete.

B．Nutritionists act as unsung heroes behind athletes.

C．Nutrition determines the results in the competition.

D．Food is less important than skills in the sports field.