1 . Down comforters (羽绒被) are frightening pieces to wash. They’re huge, expensive and filled with delicate material.     1    .

Start with a spot treatment. If you’re washing your comforter because it’s dirty, spot-treat it first. Most food and dirt spots should respond to regular washing agent. But for old or tough spots, soak the area and leave it overnight. Whichever remover (去污剂) you choose, please remember: “    2    ”. Usually, this will involve spraying them, twisting and rubbing to push the spot treatment into the fabric.

Wash it at least twice.     3    . Then load your comforter into the washing machine, and run it through a delicate cycle with cold or warm water. Wash it a second time on a quick cycle to clean from the down inside. If your comforter seems a little tight in your washing machine, and you’re not positive it had enough room to move around and expose every gap to the second wash cycle, an additional wash could help.

Dry it well. Thoroughly drying your comforter helps ensure the down inside stays fluffy (蓬松的). You don’t want to cook the down with high heat and damage it, though.     4     and remove it from the dryer throughout the cycle (every 20 minutes or so) to redistribute and fluff the down fill.

    5    . A good cleaning every few years will help your comforter last a long time, but you’ll still want to refresh a deflated comforter between washes. Use the dryer for about an hour every three to four weeks to kill dust mites and dry out any moisture. Low heat is ideal. To address dust mites, use high heat for 20 minutes and then lower the heat for the rest of the cycle.

A．Run it through the dryer

B．Keep your comforter fresh

C．Follow the directions on the bottle strictly

D．But you can wash your comforter yourself

E．Dry your comforter on low or medium heat

F．Washing it many times may actually help you

G．Confirm your comforter is machine washable first

2 . Quite often my mother would _________ me to set the family table with the “good china.” Because this _________ with such frequency, I never _________ these occasions. I assumed it was just my mother’s desire.

One evening as I was setting the table, Marge, a neighbor woman, _________ unexpectedly. She _________ on the door, and mother, busy at the stove, invited her to come in. Marge entered the kitchen and, _________ at the beautifully set table, remarked, “Oh, I see you’re expecting _________. I’ll come back another time.”

“No, it’s all right,” replied my mother. “We’re not expecting company.”

“Well then,” said Marge with a(n) _________ look on her face, “why would you have the good china out?”

“Because,” my mom answered, “I’ve prepared my family’s favorite meal. If you _________ your best table for special guests when you prepare a meal, why not for your own __________?”

“Well yes, but your beautiful china will get chips,” responded Marge.

“Oh well,” said Mom __________, “a few chips in the china is a small __________ to pay for the way we always feel as we gather as a family at the dinner table. Besides, all these chips have a story to tell, now don’t they?”

Mom walked to the cupboard and __________ a plate. Holding it up she said, “See this chip? This plate was broken the day we brought our newborn son home. Trying to be __________, my six-year-old daughter dropped that plate as she carried it to the sink. I’ll never forget that day.”

We all laughed. At that moment, I knew for sure that the china held for mother a number of love __________ about our family.

1.

A．beg

B．request

C．push

D．stop

2.

A．occurred

B．started

C．covered

D．exchanged

3.

A．remembered

B．admitted

C．questioned

D．observed

4.

A．settled down

B．came across

C．dropped by

D．passed on

5.

A．knocked

B．beat

C．lay

D．hit

6.

A．aiming

B．laughing

C．glaring

D．glancing

7.

A．company

B．delivery

C．cooks

D．strangers

8.

A．annoyed

B．puzzled

C．exhausted

D．depressed

9.

A．buy

B．set

C．polish

D．repair

10.

A．guest

B．neighbor

C．family

D．boss

11.

A．coolly

B．calmly

C．cautiously

D．casually

12.

A．mistake

B．trouble

C．debt

D．price

13.

A．turned in

B．tidied up

C．took down

D．threw away

14.

A．helpful

B．harmful

C．grateful

D．graceful

15.

A．accidents

B．stories

C．explanations

D．dishes

3 . NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon

Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024, for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon! Starting in North Brooklyn, the route offers stunning waterfront views and passes under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Experience the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, from Fulton Street & Flatbush Avenue to the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, and finish in Prospect Park.

Registration:

Fees for NYCRUNS members are $135 if registered by December 13th. Non-members pay $150. Register early to secure your spot in this unforgettable race! NYCRUNS members can enjoy a $10 discount on the registration fee. Additionally, up to 50% of the race fee can be covered using Race Credit.

Amenities:

NYCRUNS is known for putting on running events of the highest quality. After the race, celebrate your achievement with the official race shirt and an incredible medal with pride! When you finish, enjoy fresh Brooklyn bagels, NYS apples and more!

Awards:

Top finishers in various age groups will be recognized. Prize money will only be awarded to athletes who complete the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon in a gun time faster than the qualifying time. Athletes may be subject to drug testing to ensure a fair and equal field.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Non-profits interested in group volunteering, please contact us.

Transportation:

Public transportation recommended.

Closest stations: L train to Bedford Avenue, G train to Metropolitan Avenue.

Register today and be a part of this unforgettable Brooklyn experience!

1. What is the starting point of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon?

A．Prospect Park.	B．North Brooklyn.
C．Williamsburg Bridge.	D．Manhattan Bridge.

2. How much is the early bird registration fee for non-members?

A．$75.

B．$135.

C．$150.

D．$200.

3. What can participants expect to receive after completing the race?

A．A shirt and a finisher’s medal.	B．Prize money based on the age.
C．Free transportation services.	D．A gift from NYS Apple Stores.

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。

    1     (construct) from the 5th century BC, the Grand Canal was a means of communication for the Empire for the first time in the Sui Dynasty.

Before foundation of Sui Dynasty, China had     2     (continuous) evacuated several canals,     3     had been suspended due to natural environment. Some needed to be repaired but were still navigable, but were too separated from each other to form large-scale water transport nationwide.

The establishment of Sui Dynasty     4     (declare) the end of long-lasting split situation. In 605 AD, Emperor Yang Guang, the     5     (two) emperor of Sui Dynasty, ordered excavation of the Grand Canal to meet the political,     6     (economy) and military needs of unified nation.

The Grand Canal reached a new peak in the Yuan Dynasty (13th century), providing a unified inland navigation network consisting     7     more than 2,000 km of artificial waterways, linking five of the most important river basins in China,     8     (include) the Yellow River and the Yangtze.

As     9     major means of internal communication today, it has played an important role in ensuring the prosperity and     10     (stable) of China over the ages.

5 . There are two distinctive types of electric buses making their way along Nanjing Xi Lu, one of Shanghai’s busiest roads. The first is a fleet of blue trolleybuses that serve bus route number 20, a line set up by a British-run transport company in 1928. They use poles to receive electricity from wires overhead and have kept the route running in this way for nearly a century. But while the historic electric buses are a reminder of Europe’s past technological innovation, the new buses traveling alongside them are symbols of China’s contemporary net-zero ambition. These modern electric buses powered by lithium batteries (锂电池) , were introduced in Shanghai in 2014. They offer a smoother ride, especially during starts and stops. Widely used across China, these buses are key to the country’s EV transition and are influencing the global shift towards green transportation.

The most recent data available shows that China in 2018 was still the second largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the global transport sector, responsible for 11%, and behind only the United States, which accounted for 21%. After around two decades of government support, China now boasts the world’s largest market for e-buses, making up more than 95% of global stock. At the end of 2022, China’s Ministry of Transport announced that more than three-quarters (77% or 542, 600) of all urban buses in the country were new energy vehicles. The speed of this transition was remarkable.

So far, however, the Chinese cities with the most successful e-bus introduction — such as Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai — all have moderate weather and are relatively flat. To take its e-bus campaign to the next level, China faces challenges. For one thing, it is difficult to bring fleets to cities such as Hong Kong, which — like London — have double-deckers. These two-storeyed vehicles are “very hard” to electrify, because they are heavier, use more energy, and so need bigger batteries, reducing the number of passengers they can carry. Cold weather is a problem, too, as it can make a battery’s charging time longer and its range shorter. The reason China has not achieved 100% electrification for its buses is its northern regions, which have cold winters, says Xue Lulu, a transportation expert at the World Resources Institute China.

1. How does the author describe the two types of electric buses in the first paragraph?

A．By contrasting their historical significance and technological advancements.

B．By highlighting their roles in protecting the environment and lasting use.

C．By focusing merely on their technical details and performance.

D．By explaining their operational challenges and requirements.

2. What do the numbers in paragraph 2 mainly show?

A．The global impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

B．The progress of China in reducing CO2 emissions.

C．The different emission levels of China and the USA.

D．The need for more government support in e-bus market.

3. What factor contributes to the slow adoption of electric buses in China’s northern regions?

A．Poor winter weather conditions.	B．Lack of transportation experts.
C．Short charging time of the battery.	D．Heavier and bigger bus bodies.

4. Which column is the text most probably taken from?

A．Worklife.

B．Culture.

C．Travel.

D．Earth.

6 . 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。

Preparing for the upcoming Christmas season was truly annoying. Schedules to meet and deadlines to attend were pounding at the doorstep. The stores were jam-packed with people. The freeways, highways, main roads, and back roads seemed to fill as quickly as the opening of Disneyland’s theme park.

This was supposedly the season of giving and loving. Something needed to change — but what?

Suddenly, a request from the local radio station playing in the background caught my attention. “This year, they’re forecasting a record for cold temperatures. The local homeless shelter is in desperate need of clothing — hats, scarves, and gloves especially. A three-day window has been set up to receive donations into the late hours of the night. ”

Something pulled at my heartstrings that very moment — a tinge of a feeling almost forgotten. This is the answer! I immediately thought. Then, as if flying on wings, I packed up my three-year-old son and headed out to the local discount store.

The crowds in the store didn’t change my determination. Four sets of hats, gloves, and scarves were found within a matter of minutes and purchased.

Back in the car, the same radio station was playing holiday music, but this time it seemed to capture my senses. My attention was again brought to the present as my patient three-year-old son finally asked where we were going. I explained that certain people needed warm gloves, hats, and scarves. They didn’t live in a house of their own and needed us to help. His face held a look of puzzlement. How does one explain such a thing to a three-year-old?

My son carefully took his very first dollar bill from his pocket. It had been given to him a few days earlier — a possession so precious that if anyone even looked at it, he immediately retreated out of sight with the dollar in hand. It had become his priceless treasure.

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。

An hour later, we reached the entrance to the drop-off center.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With a wish of “Merry Christmas,” I turned to go back to the car.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . As I write this, a Bob Seger song is stuck in my head. It’s been playing on repeat ever since I heard it in a movie. I hated it a lot when it first came out years ago, and I still really hate it now. Why, oh why, does an earworm happen? This phenomenon, known as an earworm, is both fascinating and annoying. Earworms are a type of auditory imagery, where we perceive a tone without actually hearing it. When a familiar song is heard and suddenly stopped, some areas of the brain become overly activated in expectation of hearing the rest of the song, and then it fills in the missing pieces.

Anyone can experience earworms, but certain personality characteristics, like openness to experience, may increase their frequency. You may have seen a popular TikTok recently of a guy saying earworms aren’t normal but are instead symptoms of ADHD (多动症) or OCD (强迫症). That’s generally not the case. “It is entirely normal to experience earworms: Over 90% of participants in large-scale surveys report having had earworms at least once a week, and they are not a symptom of any other underlying mental condition,” says Jakubowski. Interestingly, earworms aren’t all bad. Research indicates that they can enhance our ability to recall past events, as the repetitive nature of the song strengthens our memory.

There are several strategies to get rid of earworms. Listening to the entire song can help resolve the unfinished loop. Alternatively, distracting yourself with another melody or engaging in activities that require focus can also be effective. Chewing gum or eating something crunchy may interrupt the song playing in your head. Despite these strategies, sometimes the best approach is to simply accept the presence of the earworm and let it fade away naturally. In my case, trying to actively rid myself of the song only made it more persistent. It seems patience is key when dealing with these stubborn musical guests in our minds.

1. What is an earworm?

A．A type of insect that affects hearing.	B．A song that gets stuck in your head.
C．A medical condition related to the ears.	D．An element missing in a song.

2. Which of the following statement is true about earworms?

A．They cannot be controlled or stopped.	B．They indicate underlying illness.
C．They only occur in certain individuals.	D．They are normal phenomena.

3. What benefit can be expected of earworms?

A．To enhance memory recall of earlier incidents.

B．To increase musical creativity and imagination.

C．To expand openness to new experiences.

D．To improve focus and concentration.

4. How does the author feel about earworms?

A．Concerned and worried.	B．Scientific but negative.
C．Annoyed but accepting.	D．Excited and fascinated.

9 . My earliest reading memory takes me back to being five years old, sitting in my grandfather’s cozy study. He would read to me from his French-translated copy of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. I was so familiar with the stories that I could correct him word-for-word if he tried to change something.

Growing up, my favorite book was Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. It was a treasure for an imaginative and lonely child like me. The book was filled with magical elements: a magical carousel, monsters, and the charming scent of autumn leaves lying in the sun. The language was as crisp and sweet as an October apple, awakening in me a deep passion for words and the magic they could bring out. I’ve reread it regularly and it never fails to satisfy me.

In my adult years, I revisited Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. When I first read it at 16, I perceived it as a love story. However, rereading it as an adult, I was struck by how different it seemed to me, and how much of the humour I’d missed. Now I love its poetry. And the love story not only exists between the characters but between Brontë and the North York Moors.

James Joyce’s Ulysses was a book I came back to after 40 years. Initially, at 15, I found it ugly, depressing, and dull, and I hated it. It took me four decades to return to it, and this time, I found myself understanding and beginning to appreciate it. I could see the details, the mythic parallels, the references to different writing styles, and the groundbreaking technique.

Though some exceptional books can develop and grow alongside us, others fall by the wayside. I’ve revisited so many childhood favourites only to find the magic gone, but I’m usually happy to leave the book behind. I’ve taken from it what I need.

1. What was the author’s earliest reading memory?

A．Copying the stories of Rudyard Kipling.

B．Reading Something Wicked This Way Comes.

C．Studying Ulysses for writing styles.

D．Listening to The Jungle Book in French.

2. Which part of Wuthering Heights gave the author a different feeling as an adult?

A．The complex plot.	B．The characters.
C．The humour and poetry.	D．The love story.

3. What do the underlined words “fall by the wayside” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Remain unchanged over years.	B．Lose their original attraction.
C．Gain widespread popularity.	D．Are left by the side of the road.

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

A．The Changing Power of Reading

B．The Development of Reading Taste

C．The Lifelong Journey of Rereading Classics

D．The Childhood Memories in Reading Habits