1 . When realizing the Internet was robbing me of too much time, I decided to have a(n) _______: doing Tech-Free Sundays.

On the night before my no-tech _______ starts, I told everyone who might get in touch with me that I wouldn’t be _______ until 9 pm on Sunday. Did this feel unpleasant? Yes. But it also felt _______: Everyone uses WeChat or the telephone to _______ others. If I am off the network, it seems my _______ to inform those who might need me.

The next day, I turned off my phone. I read. I thought. I used a _______ to make a grocery list on paper. I _______ my dog in the neighborhood, and then, because I had nothing else to do, I took her to the pet shop. “See how _______ I am! I can leave the Internet and live in the real world.” I thought.

But by 8 pm, I was ________ the minutes until the experiment ended. For better or worse, my ________ is online, and most of our work can’t leave the Internet. And I was anxious to order a hat online. Then the clock ________ struck 9.

Through this ________, I’ve realized there is so much time when you are disconnected from the Internet. I’ll ________ taking tech-free baby steps: turning off the phone; ________ intentional periods away from my computer; being present in real life.

1.

A．change

B．declaration

C．regulation

D．appointment

2.

A．assignment

B．commitment

C．journey

D．conflict

3.

A．dominant

B．sensitive

C．reachable

D．free

4.

A．inconvenient

B．necessary

C．familiar

D．ridiculous

5.

A．encourage

B．remind

C．comfort

D．contact

6.

A．obligation

B．idea

C．turn

D．response

7.

A．phone

B．pen

C．computer

D．recorder

8.

A．recalled

B．defended

C．walked

D．delivered

9.

A．guilty

B．present

C．innocent

D．sympathetic

10.

A．missing out

B．falling behind

C．escaping from

D．counting down

11.

A．proof

B．life

C．ambition

D．advantage

12.

A．finally

B．skillfully

C．repeatedly

D．actually

13.

A．experiment

B．discount

C．lecture

D．conference

14.

A．risk

B．imagine

C．delay

D．continue

15.

A．exchanging

B．detecting

C．studying

D．spending

2 . The cost of living crisis means we’re all having to budget more carefully, as bills continue to rise and things become more expensive. If you’re struggling to manage your money, there is a technique called the 50-30-20 rule.

This rule aims to make sure all your essentials and bills are paid, while also leaving money for saving. The 50-30-20 rule isn’t for everyone though.     1    

You can come up with your own ratios (比例) based on your spending and situation. The aim of the 50-30-20 rule is that you spend 50% of your money on your “needs”.     2     The final 20% of your money is then put away into paying off debt beyond minimum payments, or putting money into savings.

If your monthly income was £ 1,500 after tax, you might spend: £750 on needs, £450 on wants and£300 on your financial goals.     3     For example, you may be spending more than 50% of your income on bills.

    4     You should always make sure your bills and minimum debt payments are paid first, and then work out how much you have left for “wants” and savings. You may decide to put more into savings or paying off debt beyond the minimum payments, than you would do on your “wants”.

The 50:30:20 budgeting method is trending on the Internet right now. Following this simple method for budgeting will offer people the fun and freedom they want while still being responsible with their money.     5     In these cases, it’s worth checking for any unnecessary spending that could be cut back on.

A．First of all, add up all your bills.

B．Again, this may not work for everyone.

C．Then you would spend 30% of your money on your “wants”.

D．It all depends on your income and how much you can afford to save.

E．Some may find the essentials are taking up over 50% of their budget.

F．When employing the 50-30-20 rule, you should pay attention to the priority.

G．That is why more and more people begin to use this rule to manage their money.

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。

The Qinglong Temple Fair, serving as an important link connecting Chaozhou communities both domestic and overseas,     1    （be）a significant part of Chaozhou’s traditional culture. Many tourists have an urge     2    （participate）in this event. But if you don’t know the local history, some customs may be beyond your     3    （comprehend）.

The Qinglong Ancient Temple was superior     4     all other local temples in some aspects. It was named after the frequently     5    （see）green snakes wandering near the temple without doing harm to people.

Annually, the Qinglong Temple Fair     6    （hold）from the 13th day to the 28th day of the first lunar month. The festival involves parading the wooden statue,     7     is known as Laoye, through the streets in a celebratory activity. The whole town would eagerly come out to witness the parade,     8    （pray）for favorable weather, family safety and business success.

This year, the parade, with     9     number of participants, started from Qinglong Ancient Temple, passed through various tourist spots and major streets in the city, and then returned to Qinglong Ancient Temple.

This temple fair is a moving museum of intangible cultural heritage. It     10    （genuine）shows Chaoshan people’s attachment to their cultural identity rooted in their hometown and their love for their home country.

4 . 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。

Following a multi-car crash, a semi-truck hung over the edge of a bridge for 40 minutes until Louisville firefighter, Bryce Carden, came to the rescue.

The incident occurred on the Clark Memorial Bridge during lunchtime traffic. When four vehicles crashed, it caused the semi-truck to break through the bridge barrier and partially hang over the Ohio River 100 feet below. The frightened woman driver sat in the cab (驾驶室) in the air while waiting for rescue.

The Louisville Fire, EMS and Metro Police departments quickly arrived on the scene by 12:06 pm. The moment they arrived, the EMS team communicated with the driver to help keep her calm. At the same time, the firefighters prepared for the rescue attempt. They planned to use a crane (起重机) and a rope system to get a rescuer to the cab and help the driver. The rescuer should tie the harness (安全带) to the driver in the cab and take her to the ground. They prepared specific equipment including an aerial ladder, harness and a safety rope.

29-year-old Bryce Carden is a nice, brave guy and specializes in high-angle rescues. He was asked to lead the attempt to save the driver and bring her to safety. Though Bryce Carden hadn’t performed such rescue before, he wasn’t afraid in face of danger. Instead, he took the risk of his own life and took immediate action. Considering the driver might be stuck by the safety belt, Bryce put a knife in his pocket in case he would need it to cut the belt.

Bryce knew the success of the rescue depends on trust and calmness. He should first let the frightened driver recover her cool head and do as she was told. Actually, it proved that Bryce is the exact right person to put down there to help that driver.

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。

When Bryce approached the driver, he noticed her pale face and frightened eyes.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Seeing that, Bryce reached for his pocket and took out the knife.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . ESSENTIAL SCI-FI MOVIES TO WATCH NOW

Below are some movies worth seeing.

High Life
Released Apr. 5, 2019, 1h 53m, Sci-Fi/Mystery & Thriller/ Adventure

Monte and his baby daughter are the last survivors of a dangerous mission to the outer reaches of the solar system. They must now rely on each other to survive as they rush toward a black hole.

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche

Directed by: Claire Denis

Ad Astra
Released Sep. 20, 2019, 2h 4m, Sci-Fi

Thirty years ago, Clifford McBride led a voyage into deep space, but the ship and crew were never heard from again. Now his son B — a fearless astronaut — wants to uncover the truth about his missing father and the mysterious power that threatens the stability of the universe.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland

Directed by: James Gray

Westworld
Released Nov. 21, 1973, 1h 28m, Sci-Fi

Westworld is a futuristic theme park where paying guests can pretend to be gunmen in an artificial Wild West populated by robots. After paying a sizable entrance fee, Blane and Martin are determined to relax themselves by hitting the wine bars and shooting off their guns. But when the system of a robot goes wrong and Blane is killed by a robotic gunman, Martin’s escapist fantasy (幻想) suddenly takes on a cruel reality.

Starring: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin

Directed by: Michael Crichton

Wizards
Released Mar. 2, 1977, 1h 20m, Fantasy/Animation

The evil wizard (巫师) Blackwolf discovers some long-lost military technologies. Full of ambition, he sets out to brainwash and conquer Earth. Meanwhile, Blackwolf’s gentle twin brother, the bearded Avatar, calls upon his own magical abilities to destroy Blackwolf’s plans for world domination.

Starring: Bob Holt, Jesse Welles

Directed by: Ralph Bakshi

1. Who filmed the longest movie mentioned in the text?

A．Claire Denis.	B．Ralph Bakshi.
C．James Gray.	D．Michael Crichton.

2. What can we know about Westworld?

A．It is filled with mysteries.	B．It was produced decades ago.
C．It was shot in a real theme park.	D．It focuses on robots’ potential.

3. What is Avatar going to do?

A．Operate the robots.	B．Conquer the earth.
C．Avoid a black hole.	D．Stop his brother’s action.

6 . Metal detectorist Robert Edwards was searching at Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, when he unearthed a silver thimble (顶针) inches below the soil.

“I was out detecting under the shade of an oak tree and was having no luck until I changed the program and found a signal,” says Edwards in a statement from the National Museum Cardiff. “At first I thought it may be a sixpence, but to my surprise it was something silver—and not a coin!”

This month, officials declared the item as a treasure. The thimble dates back to between 1682 and 1740, according to McClathy’s Moira Ritter. The “tall, narrow but heavy” artifact is decorated with a basket-like pattern—a common design for such objects in England and Wales during this period.

“It wasn’t until later, when I saw the similar pattern on another thimble, that I knew I had found something special,” Edwards adds. “To be honest, my detecting partner was a little jealous!”

On the newly discovered thimble, capitalized letters spell out “LYKE STIL AND LOVE EVER,” which means “like enduringly, love forever”.

“Romantic passages such as this are very similar to those seen on contemporary rings,” according to the museum. “Perhaps thimbles, worn on the finger during needlework, were considered an intimate possession, suitable as a gift between lovers.”

In accordance with the Treasure Act of 1996, which requires individuals to report certain finds that are over 300 years old, Edwards turned over his discovery. After conducting additional analysis, officials declared the thimble—along with three other objects—a treasure on March 13.

Now that the thimble’s status has been finalized, museums will get a chance to purchase it at a price determined by the Treasure Valuation Committee. Edwards will only be able to keep the thimble if no museum wants or is able to purchase it. The Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, which is a short distance from Carew Castle, has already expressed interest.

1. What did Edwards think when finding the signal at first?

A．A coin was buried there.	B．He found a treasure.
C．The detector broke down.	D．There’s a silver ring.

2. When did Edwards find the thimble uncommon?

A．When he picked it up.	B．When the officials told him.
C．When his partner envied him.	D．When he saw a similar one.

3. What does the underlined word “intimate” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Rare.

B．Private.

C．Tight.

D．Abstract.

4. What did Edwards do with the thimble?

A．He donated it to the museum.	B．He kept it to himself.
C．He turned it in to the officials.	D．He gave it to his partner.

7 . A new report presented at a European Society of Cardiology conference finds that people in the habit of climbing stairs had about a 39% lower likelihood of death from heart disease, compared to those who didn’t climb stairs. They also had a lower risk of heart attacks and extended longevity (寿命).

“It was beyond my expectation that such a simple form of exercise can reduce all-cause death,” says study author Dr. Sophie Paddock.

She and her colleagues looked at data from about 480,000 participants, ranging in age from mid-30s to mid-80s — about half were women. Paddock says the findings fit with a body of evidence pointing to the benefits of moderate-intensity exercise.

So, how much stair climbing is enough? One study found climbing six to ten flights (台阶) a day was linked to a reduced risk of premature death. And another study found climbing more than five flights a day lowered the risk of cardiovascular (心血管的) disease by 20%.

To calculate this, researchers analyzed participants’ risk of heart disease based on factors including blood pressure, smoking history, and family history. Participants filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle and exercise habits including stair climbing. Over the course of 12 years, the stair climbers were less likely to have heart disease. Notably, people who stopped climbing stairs during this time saw their risk rise. It’s a reminder that in order to benefit from exercise, you’ve got to keep doing it.

The benefits can kick in pretty quickly. A review published earlier this year found a minimum of four to eight weeks are needed to start improving your cardiometabolic risk.

If you’re trying to incorporate more movement into your day, adding stair climbing is a good way to get quick bursts of aerobic exercise, says Dr. Carlin Long, a cardiologist at University of California. “I think if people are able to achieve six to ten flights of exercise on stairs a day,that would be a good target. But this will depend on your personal level of fitness,” Long says.

1. How did Dr. Sophie Paddock feel about the new report?

A．Surprised.

B．Puzzled.

C．Doubtful.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What did the researchers do in the study?

A．They recorded their own daily routine.

B．They analyzed the participants’ related data.

C．They organized people to climb stairs for 12 years.

D．They regularly checked the participants’ health condition.

3. Which statement agrees with Dr. Carlin Long’s opinion?

A．Developing a habit of taking exercise is not easy.

B．The amount of exercise relies on individual fitness.

C．People should climb at least 10 flights of stairs a day.

D．The benefits of stair climbing take long time to show up.

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

A．Ways to Work out? Let’s Explore Together

B．Want a Healthy Heart? Choose to Work out

C．Stair Climbing or Walking? Both Are Beneficial

D．Climb Stairs or Not? Your Choice May Extend Longevity

8 . After a week of talks in Canada, negotiators (谈判者) from 170 countries have a “clear path to landing an ambitious deal” on plastic pollution at a final round of negotiations in South Korea in November, Inger Andersen, executive director of the U. N. Environment Programme, said in a statement.

“The work, however, is far from over,” she added. “Some countries continue to block a crucial measure: a global limit on the production of new plastic, which is essential to control pollution.”

Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and major oil and natural gas producers like Russia and Saudi Arabia have been widely criticized for throwing up roadblocks in the negotiations in order to protect future profits. However, scientists and environmentalists say the United States also bears a lot of blame. The country is the top producer of oil and gas globally, and it has the world’s biggest economy, which has historically given the U. S. huge power in environmental negotiations.

Critics say American negotiators haven’t been willing to push for a global cap (限额) on plastic production, and are instead throwing their weight behind measures like recycling that are favored by the country’s fossil fuel and petrochemical industries.

Erin Simon, head of plastic waste and business at the World Wildlife Fund who attended the talks in Canada, says the U. S. and a lot of other countries are brainstorming and trying to come up with creative solutions to meet everybody’s needs as best as possible.

The State Department has said that for an agreement to be effective, it needs to be supported by every country, including nations that are major producers of fossil fuels and plastics. More than 50 countries now say they want an agreement to include targets for reducing plastic production.

“The drumbeat to reduce plastic production is growing from countries worldwide,” Ana Rocha, the director of global plastics policy in Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, said in a statement. “More and more leaders are waking up to what the science and our lived experiences tell us: plastic is pollution, and we need to stop it where it starts.”

1. What is the key to controlling plastic pollution according to Inger Andersen?

A．Limiting the use of second-hand plastic.

B．Raising people’s environmental awareness.

C．Reducing the worldwide production of plastic.

D．Passing laws to regulate the disposal of waste plastic.

2. What measures do Americans prefer to handle plastic pollution?

A．Stopping producing plastic.	B．Sharing quality plastic.
C．Forbidding using plastic.	D．Recycling used plastic.

3. What is necessary to make the agreement effective?

A．All countries’ support.	B．The shared laws.
C．Everyone’s permission.	D．Creative solutions.

4. What can we infer from Ana Rocha’s words?

A．Plastic production is reducing all the time.

B．The plastic pollution should be handled technically.

C．People’s awareness of reducing plastic pollution is increasing.

D．More leaders realize lived experiences can help handle plastic pollution.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What was the speaker’s greatest fear?

A．Living a hard life in high school.

B．Meeting all types of people.

C．Attending the college entrance exams.

2. What did the speaker do when getting on with others?

A．He did more and spoke less.

B．He praised their strengths.

C．He talked about similar interests.

3. What is the speaker’s hobby?

A．Playing basketball.

B．Joining learning club.

C．Taking baseball classes.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What makes the man confused?

A．He is bad at history.

B．He has too many exams.

C．He doesn’t know what to study.

2. What is the woman’s advice?

A．Go over the part about Martin Luther King.

B．Ask the teacher about the important part.

C．Spend more time on Abraham Lincoln.

3. Why will the man focus on the War of Independence?

A．He is very interested in it.

B．His teacher taught a lot about it.

C．His classmates think it’s important.