1 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What will the weather be like near the ocean this weekend?

A．Windy.

B．Snowy.

C．Sunny

2. What is the speaker’s suggestion for those living in the mountains?

A．Traveling to the coast.

B．Staying inside.

C．Playing in the snow.

3. What warning are local officials giving?

A．Temperatures could be very low.

B．Roads may become dangerous.

C．People might lose electricity.

4. When will good weather begin?

A．On Tuesday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Saturday.

2 . As a high school student, you’re likely used to learning through reading textbooks.     1     This lies at the heart of “experiential appreciation,” a philosophy that encourages you to engage directly with the world around you. It’s about learning from real-life experiences, and discovering a more profound and engaging way to learn.

To practice experiential appreciation, you can start by getting involved in hands-on activities related to your subjects. They will provide a firsthand understanding of the concepts you’re studying, making learning active and meaningful. So, try joining a sports team, picking up a paintbrush, or taking part in a local charity event.     2    

As you dive deeper, immerse (沉浸) yourself fully in the surroundings and activities. When you’re in nature, don’t just look around.     3     Touching the leaves, feeling the wind and listening to the birds can enrich your learning and make each moment more memorable.

    4     After trying something new, ask yourself what you learned and how it made you feel. Write in a journal or discuss it with friends. This self-discovery turns experiences into life lessons and offers a deeper understanding of the world.

Experiential appreciation transforms learning from a task to be completed into a journey to be treasured.     5     So, explore the world around you, let every experience shape you, and discover the endless possibilities that await. This is the core of true learning, where every moment is a step towards a richer, more enlightened life.

A．It extends learning beyond textbooks.

B．These activities bring learning to life.

C．Mind the impact of your actions on the environment.

D．Instead, activate your senses for a stronger tie with it.

E．Take your experiences further by reflecting on them.

F．Textbooks offer a systematic introduction to essential concepts and principles.

G．Now consider expanding your learning from just reading to actively participating.

3 . Courage is a huge theme in my life, a quality I constantly seek, appreciate, and analyze. The root of “courage” is “cor,” the Latin word for heart. In the beginning, courage meant “to speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” While courage is often associated with heroism nowadays, I believe true courage lies in being open and honest about who we are and how we feel.

I recently witnessed an example of true courage. During a mountain-climbing trip with my 15-year-old daughter and some college students, I noticed her struggling to keep up with the group. Despite my suggestions to rest, she persisted until she couldn’t breathe properly.

Panicked, I called out to the front for help, but there was no response, and we had no cellphone signal. Fortunately, two students just came back to check out on us. They offered assistance and calmed us down. As we continued at a slower pace, they shared their own experiences, from starting out as beginners like my daughter to becoming consistently among the first to reach the peak.

“You know,” one of them said, looking at my daughter, “I was just like you when I started.

But with practice and proper pace, you’ll get there too.”

“Yeah, don’t let your lack of experience stop you,” the other added. “It’s okay to admit when you’re struggling or not feeling alright. In fact, it’s important to speak up and ask for help when you need it. That’s how we improve and grow.”

Reaching the mountain top was a huge relief for both my daughter and me. However, the two students addressed the celebrating group directly, emphasizing the importance of staying together in tough environments. Their words led the group to apologize to us for overlooking our struggle.

I was totally amazed at their bravery, and my daughter learned that it’s okay to be the least experienced in a group. Courage, I’ve come to realize, has a ripple effect. Each time we choose courage, we inspire those around us to be a little braver and make the world a little better.

1. Why does the author mention the original meaning of courage?

A．To question the common belief of courage.

B．To argue for the true nature of courage.

C．To show the changing meaning of courage.

D．To compare different interpretations of courage.

2. What did the two students suggest the daughter do?

A．Keep to a suitable pace.	B．Seek help whenever possible.
C．Challenge her own limits.	D．Stick with experienced climbers.

3. Which action in the mountain-climbing story is an example of true courage?

A．The mother asked the girl to rest.

B．The girl tried hard not to fall behind.

C．The two students pointed out the group’s fault.

D．The group celebrated the reach of the mountain top.

4. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．Kindness connects us all.	B．Being a beginner takes courage.
C．We don’t have to be a hero to be brave.	D．With courage, everyone can be perfect.

4 . My father started learning French at 57, drawn by the potential benefits of bilingualism (双语能力) in delaying dementia (失智症). Now, 20 years later, he’s on his third teacher. Many people like my father have attempted to pick up a new language. But can this really boost brain health?

According to experts, regularly using a new language brings cognitive (认知的) benefits. If you’re trying to recall the right words in another language, your brain is forced to inhibit your mother tongue. This process, called cognitive inhibition, helps improve your brain function. Repeating this process makes your brain more resistant to diseases like dementia. The more you challenge your brain, the better it functions, even if your brain health starts to decline.

However, evidence for the benefits of learning a second language in your 60s is weaker. Research by Dr. Leo Antoniou found that older Italians who took English lessons for four months didn’t see any difference in their cognition scores, but people who didn’t saw their scores decline. Prof. Diana Smith’s 2023 studies found similar results.

Researchers offered a few potential explanations for their disappointing results. One is that the participants were highly motivated volunteers, probably of high cognitive level for their age, making it hard to see any improvements. “When choosing participants, we have to be careful, are they really representative of the population?” said Dr. Judith Ware. Another is that the language interventions were perhaps too short. These studies have used language lessons that “were very different in their length and frequency,” said Prof. Laura Grossman.

To Dr. Antoniou, the limited findings are not entirely surprising. No one would say that learning a new language for six months would be the same as having used two languages for your entire life. But he does think that language lessons can provide cognitive benefits by being cognitively stimulating.

Perhaps more important, Prof. Grossman said, learning another language offers other potential advantages, like traveling or connecting with new communities. My father, for example, has remained pen friends with his first teacher and traveled to France numerous times.

And at 76, he’s as sharp as ever.

1. What happens in the process of “cognitive inhibition”?

A．Memory improves.	B．Brain health worsens.
C．Dementia is cured.	D．Native language is held back.

2. Which is a possible explanation for the disappointing research results?

A．The poor choice of research participants.

B．The great length of the language course.

C．The intervention of the first language.

D．The age difference of the research subjects.

3. Whose opinion does the author support by mentioning his father’s experience?

A．Leo Antoniou’s.	B．Diana Smith’s.
C．Laura Grossman’s.	D．Judith Ware’s.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Is it never too late to learn a new language?

B．Can learning a new language delay dementia?

C．Why does my father start learning a new language?

D．How does learning a new language benefit aging brain?

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What happened to the players?

A．They lost a game.

B．They were refused by a club.

C．They made a mistake in training.

2. Who is the speaker most likely to be?

A．A lead player.

B．A team coach.

C．A school volunteer.

3. What can we learn from the speaker’s story?

A．Facts speak louder than words.

B．Keep calm in difficult situations.

C．Failure is the mother of success.

4. What will the speaker probably do first?

A．Listen to some stories.

B．Go home and shower.

C．Get on a city bus.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the relationship between the speakers?

A．Neighbors.

B．Teacher and student.

C．Fellow charity members.

2. Which issue did the man notice over the holidays?

A．People wasted electricity.

B．Many items were thrown away.

C．No used market events were held.

3. What did the man think about doing before?

A．Teaching lessons to families.

B．Building parks in his city.

C．Cleaning public spaces.

4. What does the woman offer to do for the man?

A．Donate some money.

B．Allow him to use her place.

C．Tell others about his event.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the man go to New York?

A．To visit his family.

B．To take a school trip.

C．To explore art museums.

2. Where did the man go first in New York?

A．An Italian community.

B．A fashion center.

C．An island.

3. What does the man say about New York?

A．It has a mixed culture.

B．It is easy to find a job there.

C．It is the best place for a vacation.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the speakers now?

A．On the street.

B．On a bus.

C．At a conference room.

2. What is available in the walk-to-work program?

A．Less time for working.

B．Discounts offered by local companies.

C．Free exercise classes provided by communities.

9 . What problem did Gina have?

A．She forgot to bring an umbrella.

B．She wore the wrong shoes for the weather.

C．She couldn’t get in contact with her father.

10 . 他们过了一夜，然后乘坐长途汽车，向北穿越加拿大的落基山脉，来到贾斯珀。
They spent the night, and then took a coach ________________ through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper.