1 . Active listening is a communication skill that involves going beyond simply hearing the words that another person speaks but also seeking to understand the meaning and intention behind them. The word “active” implies that you are taking some type of action when listening to others.

    1    

Be fully present

Active listening requires being fully present in the conversation. It enables you to concentrate on what is being said. Being present involves listening with all your senses and giving your full attention to the speaker. To use this active listening technique effectively, put away your cell phone, ignore distractions, and shut down your internal dialogue.     2     And let everything else slip away.

Pay attention to non-verbal cues (非言语暗示)

As much as 65% of a person’s communication is unspoken,     3    . This involves not folding your arms, smiling while listening, leaning in, and nodding at key points. It can also be helpful to pay attention to your facial expressions when active listening so that you don’t convey any type of negative response.

Keep good eye contact

When engaged in active listening, making eye contact is especially important. This tells the other person that you are present and listening to what he or she says.     4     At the same time, you don’t want to use so much eye contact that the conversation feels strange. To keep this from happening, follow the 50/70 rule. This involves maintaining eye contact for 50% to 70% of the time spent listening, holding the contact for four to five seconds before briefly looking away.

Be patient

Patience is an important active listening technique because it allows the other person to speak without interruption. Being patient involves not trying to fill periods of silence with your own thoughts or stories. This also requires listening to understand, not to respond.     5     Also, don’t change the subject too abruptly as this conveys boredom and impatience.

A．Don’t prepare a reply while listening.

B．It also shows that you aren’t distracted.

C．This isn’t helpful during active listening.

D．So use open, non-threatening body language.

E．Don’t focus too much on insignificant details.

F．Place your focus on your conversation partner.

G．This involves using certain strategies or techniques.

2 . In 2010, Daniel Willingham just gave a talk for work in Maryland. He was driving home when he _________ a call from his wife. “The first thing she said was ‘Pull over’. So I knew this couldn’t be _________ ,” Willingham said.

His wife was visiting family in Toronto with their daughter Esprit. “When my wife _________, Esprit was in the emergency room,” Willingham said.

Willingham needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. He _________ a flight to Toronto. But when he _________ his passport, he realized it had expired (到期). The only _________ to get it renewed at once was with confirmation (确认) from a doctor that it was a matter of life or death. So the _________ in the hospital made an emergency call to the State Department. But Willingham had to do the paperwork at a State Department office in down town Washington which was several _________ away. And it was already 4 pm. There was no _________ that he’d get there before it closed.

“__________, somebody in that Washington office was willing to ________ me,” Willingham said. “I arrived there around 8 pm. I walked up to this big office building, and then __________ a young man.” Willingham doesn’t remember what he __________ to the young man who helped him. But he does remember walking out of the building with his __________ passport in hand.

“I got to the hospital in Toronto late that night,” Willingham said. “Esprit did __________ that illness. She is very well now.”

1.

A．got

B．refused

C．wanted

D．missed

2.

A．wrong

B．curious

C．good

D．classic

3.

A．laughed

B．called

C．cheated

D．stopped

4.

A．cancelled

B．forgot

C．rescued

D．booked

5.

A．swept away

B．gave up

C．pulled out

D．asked for

6.

A．ability

B．dream

C．plan

D．way

7.

A．doctor

B．patient

C．student

D．guard

8.

A．minutes

B．hours

C．miles

D．blocks

9.

A．excuse

B．news

C．goal

D．chance

10.

A．Naturally

B．Luckily

C．Quietly

D．Sadly

11.

A．wait for

B．agree with

C．depend on

D．search for

12.

A．cried

B．came

C．begged

D．lay

13.

A．applied

B．referred

C．led

D．said

14.

A．strange

B．cheap

C．new

D．real

15.

A．survive

B．track

C．stress

D．affect

3 . 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。

Paul Durietz is a 76-year-old social studies teacher from Illinois. On September 1, he set a Guinness World Record for the world's longest teaching career (职业). Mr. Durietz has been teaching for 53 years.

Social studies is the study of history, and how people, countries,    1     cultures are connected. Mr. Durietz says he     2     (make) up his mind about it when he was just 11 years old, mainly because of his love of history. He became     3     (addict) to history after hearing stories from his father     4     fought in World War Ⅱ.

Mr. Durietz got his     5     (one) teaching job at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee, Illinois in 1970. Since then, he’s been teaching social studies at     6     same school. For much of his 53 years as a teacher, Mr. Durietz has been in charge (主管) of the social studies program at Woodland. In that time, he has helped to guide over 20 other social studies teachers. Mr. Durietz is     7     (extreme) proud that he has even had students coming back and telling him that they became history teachers because of him.

Mr. Durietz says teachers should make sure they are patient with     8     (they) students. He also encourages them     9     (choose) subjects that they care deeply about. “Keep     10     (work) on what you love to do in life,” he says.

4 . Paris, the capital of France, has some attractive bridges. These are four of the most beautiful bridges in Paris: some in iconic (标志性的) places you’ve seen in the movies, and others in quiet places that you’ll delight in discovering.

Pont des Arts

Connecting the Louvre Museum to the Institut de France, the Pont des Arts, first built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804 and reconstructed in the 1970s, is a bridge only for people walking that is beloved by tourists and locals alike. In the spring and summer months, Parisians and visitors come here for lazy picnics overlooking the Seine.

Pont Marle

This lovely but little-known bridge is a gateway between the Marais district on the right bank and a natural island on the Seine River. The current stone structure dates to around 1670, following a fire on its wooden structure that destroyed much of the original bridge and the houses that once stood on it. It has remained much the same since the 18th century, making it one of Paris’ oldest bridges.

Pont Alexandre Ⅲ

The Pont Alexandre Ⅲ is probably the most attractive of Paris’ many bridges. Built between 1896 and 1900, it connects the des Invalides with the gardens of the Petit Palais. It’s after dark that you can best appreciate its delicate statues and other decorative elements.

Pont Neuf

First built in 1578 by King Henry Ⅲ, Pont Neuf has seen numerous reconstructions and changes over the centuries. But it conserves its Roman-inspired arch (拱形) structures. This is a lovely bridge that offers easy and picturesque access to the left and right bank. Have some ice cream, explore the lovely riverside paths and enjoy views of Notre Dame Cathedral.

1. What is special about the Pont des Arts?

A．It has been rebuilt many times.	B．It is one of Paris’ oldest bridges.
C．It is a bridge only for people walking.	D．It is the most attractive bridge in Paris.

2. Which is the oldest among the four bridges?

A．Pont des Arts.	B．Pont Marie.
C． Pont Alexandre Ⅲ	D．Pont Neuf.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guidebook.	B．A health magazine.
C．A news report.	D．A book review.

5 . If you have a big test coming up or just want to do well in class, studying is one of the best things you can do to improve your grade. Even though revising things you already learned might seem boring, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable with the material.    1    

Study in 1-hour blocks.

Keep your study time shorter so you don’t get tired. Set aside (留出) an hour for each of your subjects so you have time to revise them.    2     In this way, you don’t get information mixed up between classes.

    3    

Step away for a few minutes every hour so you don’t feel overworked. Since studying takes up a lot of energy and brainpower, schedule in 5-10 minutes every hour where you just relax. Avoid working through the breaks.

Schedule time to study every day.

Try to set aside a regular time to go over notes for class.    4     So, you’re able to focus a little better. If you can, try to plan the same time every day so you can get into a regular routine (惯例).

Work somewhere quiet.

    5     Avoid studying in a room with other loud people or distractions since it’ll be hard to focus and remember the material. Instead, go into your room and shut the door, or find a quiet spot at the school library where you can sit.

A．Plan regular breaks.

B．Revise your notes in your own words.

C．Only focus on one subject at a time during each block.

D．Find a time when you feel the most energetic to study.

E．We’ll start by looking at some tips on forming the best study habits!

F．Find a place where you won’t have trouble concentrating on the material.

G．If you live with others, ask them to be quiet when you plan your study time.

6 . To everyone’s surprise, Huawei launched the newest handset, the Mate 60 Pro, equipped with a 5G application processor and satellite phone function, without any prior announcement. This left many Chinese feeling amazed.

With the international situation becoming increasingly challenging, Huawei was encountering significant financial issues. For instance, its revenue (收入) in 2021 declined nearly 30 percent, according to its annual report. For a company like Huawei, this was a major shock and could pose a persistent problem that needed immediate attention. Therefore, it was crucial for Huawei to have its own core technology, especially when it came to chips. Developing chips is a lengthy, demanding, and labor-intensive (劳动密集型的) process, but this didn’t stop Huawei. Instead of purchasing or leasing products from other countries, Huawei decided to invest heavily in research and development.

Huawei’s difficulties are similar to those faced by modern China in its early days. During that time, China lacked advanced technology. Despite this, China managed to develop its own atomic bombs, aircraft carriers, satellites, and fighter jets starting from zero. These advancements guided the country to prosperity and power.

With a determined attitude and united team, Huawei has been successful in breaking free from the chains of past difficulties. In this context, Huawei is “a light canoe that has passed the mountains”. 

As a storm of trouble approached, Huawei chose to confront it rather than give up. Huawei’s attitude of struggling and pushing ahead is the best presentation of the Chinese national spirit and serves as an example for others to follow. In the face of life’s unknown challenges, the key is to look ahead and not give in.

1. What’s the most important thing for Huawei to solve problems?

A．Independently developing chips.

B．Purchasing products from other countries.

C．Investing in other industries.

D．Raising a large amount of funds.

2. Why did the author mention the four advancements in the third paragraph?

A．Thanks to advanced technology, China has developed its own atomic bombs.

B．Even in the face of various difficulties, Huawei is bound to succeed.

C．Advancements of atomic bombs guided the country to prosperity and power.

D．Huawei has passed the mountains to solve the significant financial issues.

3. According to the passage, what does the underlined word mean?

A．escape from

B．understand.

C．separate

D．challenge

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Huawei have the same difficulties as others.

B．Huawei encounters financial issue

C．Huawei overcomes challenges

D．Huawei launched the Mate 60 Pro.

7 . People tend to use trees for papermaking. But maybe electronics (电子) engineers are missing out on something here. “It turns out that two major building blocks of wood have a lot of electrical qualities,” says Magnus Berggren, a professor at Linköping University.

His team has been working to make parts for electronics from the forest. Right now, they’re focusing on two materials of trees. The first material is cellulose, which can make energy. Lignin, the second material, can store that energy, just as a battery does. The team has found when pressed, cellulose can produce electricity.

Some device must then store the electricity until it’s needed. Batteries can do this. But batteries aren’t very green. They have harmful materials. That’s where lignin comes in.

Batteries cause electrons to flow from one place to another, which can produce electricity. In a typical battery, one material must give electrons. The other must accept them. Lignin can do both. A weak acid (酸) encourages lignin to produce electrons. “With a metal wire (金属线) to guide those electrons, you’ll have electricity,” says Berggren.

Berggren’s team use this quality to create its new lignin-based battery. Typical batteries use a metal wire as a path to guide the flow of electrons into or out of the device. But since Berggren wants to make a battery of the forest, he looks for a natural way. Once again, he turns to cellulose.

This natural material can serve as a wire-like path for electrons. To make it work well, Berggren lines them with another chemical known as PEDOT, which isn’t from a tree. But when PEDOT is added to cellulose, they can conduct electricity like a wire. “With a weak acid, now you have a battery,” Berggren says. “And two of its three materials come from the forest.”

Berggren can imagine one day having mobile phone batteries made largely from forest products. Tree-based electronics might also be useful in lighting.

1. What is cellulose used to do in the study?

A．Act as a weak acid.	B．Collect rainwater.
C．Produce electricity.	D．Make quality paper.

2. Which best describes the new battery?

A．Well-received.

B．Eco-friendly.

C．Harmful.

D．Heavy.

3. What can we expect of tree-based electronics?

A．They may change farming practices.	B．They might save a lot of wood.
C．They would serve the elderly.	D．They could light the rooms.

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

A．A Green Way to Make and Store Energy	B．An Attempt to Raise Power Production
C．Practical Suggestions on Planting Trees	D．Recent Advances in Mobile Phones

8 . Our two-year investigation into caged (关在笼中) tigers in America sent us through 32 US states—with some truly shocking experiences. But as the deadline neared, I still needed a powerful and hopeful image.

When we began our reporting in 2017—Sharon, writing; me taking photos; and our son, NickRuggia, filming—more tigers likely lived in cages in the US than remained in the wild. The number ranged from 5,000 to 10,000, but without strict government oversight, no one knew for sure.

Roadside zoos that allowed tourists to take pictures of young tigers were the main cause of what’s been called a US tiger crisis (危机). Caged cats often ended up in the illegal wildlife trade. Young tigers, parted from their mothers at birth, were fed poorly and touched by hundreds of people. When they grew too big and dangerous to pet at around 12 weeks, young tigers were put on show, or simply disappeared.

While we documented the unpleasant part of this industry, we also wanted to show the good life these impressive animals could have. With two weeks left before my deadline, I headed to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, where well-cared cats walked freely in their habitat.

There I met Clay, Daniel, and Enzo, three of 39 tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma. These nearly grown cats raced beside our car, which I’d seen only in the wild. It was a hot July day and soon two of the cats jumped into a pool to cool off. The third rested beside them on the ground. I crossed the road to take a picture of them. Then quietly, I came up close, trying not to disturb (打扰) them. I had the shot.

1. Why did the author start her reporting?

A．To dig out the dark truth of caged tigers.	B．To explore the amazing land in the country.
C．To tell people that baby tigers are harmless.	D．To share the happy moment during the trip.

2. What is the main cause of the US tiger crisis according to the text?

A．Forest fires.

B．Climate change.

C．Roadside zoos.

D．Water pollution.

3. What can we learn about these young tigers from paragraph 3?

A．They prefer to stay indoors.	B．They are badly treated.
C．They get used to the changes.	D．They are traded legally.

4. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the Wild Animal Sanctuary?

A．To praise her family for their effort.	B．To explain what the animals suffered.
C．To introduce a special kind of tigers.	D．To show some tigers lead an easy life.

9 . Leah Brown aged 36 fell several hundred feet from Oregon’s highest mountain right before the eyes of a group of volunteer rescue workers who rushed to her aid and helped save her life.

The woman was coming down a popular path (小路) on Mt. Hood, about 70 miles east of Portland, on Saturday morning, according to the local police. Mt. Hood is the highest in Oregon, standing at around11.240 feet.

The fall was seen by members of Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), a volunteer organization focused on helping people in mountainous areas. The group called 911 and rushed to the woman, providing medical care. They helped keep the woman warm for seven hours as the police worked to get her off the mountain safely. Finally, the woman was evacuated (转移) to a parking lot at 9:30 pm and taken to a hospital.

The climber, Leah Brown, said she didn’t know what caused her fall. “I can only guess it was either an ice tool or a crampon (冰爪) that didn’t land and stick like it should have, so I became detached from the mountain,” Brown said. “The thing I’d like to most stress is my appreciation for the members of PMR who evacuated me and took good care of me the whole time,” Brown added. “They saved my life. ”

In a statement after the rescue, PMR warned of the dangerous winter conditions at the mountain. “The short days and lower temperatures mean that the snow tends to be very hard and icy, and the conditions tend to be much steeper. Climbing the mountain in icy conditions is much more difficult,” the group said.

1. What happened to Brown on Saturday morning?

A．She lost her way in a forest.	B．She hurt her eye unexpectedly.
C．She failed to call her family.	D．She fell down on a downhill path.

2. What does the underlined word “detached” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Different.

B．Hidden.

C．Separated.

D．Tired.

3. How did Brown feel about the members of PMR?

A．Thankful.

B．Regretful.

C．Surprised.

D．Concerned.

4. What did PMR intend to tell us?

A．Climbing requires teamwork.	B．Climbing in winter is too risky.
C．We must remain positive in hard times.	D．We can admire the view on sunny days.

10 . Four of the Best Autumn Walks in Britain

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London

It houses the widest variety of living plants of any botanic garden (植物园) on the planet, including around 14,000 trees. Every autumn, its woodland delivers an extraordinary view of bright red and yellow as leaves of various trees begin to change. Join a guided trees tour and learn how different trees are dealing with the changing seasons.

Brechfa Forest, Abergorlech

Brechfa Forest covers some 16,000 acres in Carmarthenshire, Wales, making it easy for walkers to enjoy themselves in woodlands transformed (改变) by autumn’s finest colours. Follow the Gorlech Walk, which tracks the river Gorlech and passes Californian redwoods that become a mix of red and purple in November. After your walk, drive to Carmarthen, one of the oldest towns in Wales, for lunch.

Batsford Arboretum, Cotswolds

More than 1,300 different trees and bamboos are showcased at Batsford Arboretum, near the picture-perfect town of Moreton-in-Marsh. This private garden covers 60 acres, providing outstanding colours between late October and November. Highlights include its large areas of leaf shades ranging from red to purple. Pre-booking tickets during autumn is recommended to avoid a large number of visitors.

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

There are over 3,800 acres of parkland to explore at Clumber Park, a beautiful place featuring Sherwood Forest that shows different and changing colours in autumn. With over 20 miles of trails (小径), there’s plenty of ground to cover, so consider bringing your bike. Keep an eye out for the park’s birds, which is a main attraction for birdwatchers.

1. What can you do at Royal Botanic Gardens?

A．Admire Sherwood Forest.	B．Join a guided trees tour.
C．Enjoy Moreton-in-Marsh.	D．Have lunch in an old town.

2. What are you advised to do to visit Batsford Arboretum in autumn?

A．Ride a bike with friends.	B．Walk along a 20-mile trail.
C．Book a ticket in advance.	D．Set off early in the morning.

3. Where will you go if you love birdwatching?

A．Clumber Park.	B．Brechfa Forest.
C．Batsford Arboretum.	D．Royal Botanic Gardens.