1 . As the climate continues to get warmer, the glaciers (冰川) are melting and the sea levels are rising. As it affects the land, mountains are taller than before. How does this happen?

Scientists studied the last ice age, which occurred 16,000 years ago when much of Earth’s Northern Hemisphere was covered in ice. Although the ice melted long ago, Earth’s crust (地壳) is still rising and sinking in reaction to its previous ice age burden. This movement is called glacial isostatic adjustment (冰川均衡调整).

Scientists believe that an ice sheet about 800 meters thick could cause a depression (洼地) about 275 meters deep, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. “As the ice sheets began to melt around 11,700 years ago, the glaciers cleared large and heavy masses, allowing the mountains to rise up,” US geologist Mike Kaplan told the Columbia Climate Scehool website.

Recent studies suggest that land in southeast Alaska is rising at a rate of about 3centimeters per year. Families living on the coast welcome this “new” land, according to The New York Times. However, they soon find themselves in a trap. As the land uplifts and coastal areas move away from the sea, rivers can dry up more easily, making it harder for them to reach the sea. This could result in a reduction in water resources, affecting animals and creatures living in the rivers. Researchers are concerned that this may make a challenge to fishermen, as raising fish in these areas could become more difficult.

While the depression of Earth’s crust springs back slowly, once uplifted areas are sinking. For example, a 2015 study suggests that the Chesapeake Bay on the eastern coast of the US could sink more than 15 centimeters by 2100. This sinking trend also suggests that these areas may experience more significant impacts from a rise in sea levels.

1. What can we learn about glacial isostatie adjustment?

A．It mainly happened during the last ice age.

B．It causes the ice sheets to melt.

C．It becomes a burden of the earth.

D．It affects the land’s height above sea level.

2. How do the local people probably feel according to paragraph 4?

A．Concerned.

B．Surprised.

C．Annoyed.

D．Puzzled.

3. What challenge might the Chesapeake Bay face in the future?

A．More serious sea pollution.

B．Lower sea level.

C．Icreased coastal flooding.

D．Rapid land uplift.

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

A．Climate Change Is Causing Higher Sea Level

B．Melting Glaciers Are Making Mountains Taller

C．Global Warming Is Affecting Eeosystem

D．Glacial Melting Is Picking Up Speed

2 . The Best Ways to Deal with Awkward Silences

We all know what it’s like when a conversation dies off and you’re left to sit in silence together. There’s only one word to describe it: Awkward!     1    . Here are some ways to deal with the silences.

Think of topics ahead of time. Before attending a social event, think of a few “‘go-to” topics to jumpstart a dead conversation.     2    . So you aren’t scrambling (绞尽脑汁) for words in the moment. People who share your interest in a sport or hobby can be the easiest to talk to.

Ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions have more than one possible answer, so they are likely to get the person talking more than asking a question that will result in a short response. Ask “    3    ?” instead of asking “Did you like your high school?”

Make a general statement to fill the silence. Find something casual (随意的) to comment on if things start getting awkward.     4    . If you are having a meal together, you could say something about the food: “Is it me, or is this the best salad place in town?” Not only does that break the silence, but raising a question gives the other person a chance to respond.

    5    . This is always a safe bet, as long as it’s appropriate. For example, you could say, “ I’ve been meaning to tell you I really like your shirt. Where did you get it?” This could move the conversation in another direction while making the other person feel good. Stick to complimenting (赞扬) someone’s personality or achievements if you’re trying to make small talk.

A．Give a compliment

B．Create a conversation

C．This will help you to fill the silences

D．What did you like about your highschool

E．The open-ended questions are adapted to you

F．A good way to do this is to make a comment of observation

G．Thankfully, filling these silences isn’t as difficult as it may seem

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When did Aelita Andre begin to learn painting?

A．At 10 years old.

B．At 12 months.

C．At 9 months.

2. What was the highest price of Aelita Andre’s work?

A．$4,000.

B．$10,000.

C．$14,000.

3. What was Aelita Andre’s achievement in 2020?

A．She drew a painting of Jackson Pollock.

B．She won Global Child Prodigy Awards.

C．She had her own exhibition in Manhattan.

4. Why does the speaker give the talk?

A．To introduce a truly talented artist.

B．To show her concerns about Aelita Andre.

C．To illustrate the value of abstract paintings.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where did the man read the story about a flight?

A．In a newspaper.

B．In a magazine.

C．On a website.

2. Who called the air traffic controller for help?

A．A pilot.

B．An air hostess.

C．A passenger.

3. What did the air traffic controller decide to do?

A．Teach how to operate a plane.

B．Ask his coworkers for help.

C．Make a video of flying.

4. What happened to the plane in the end?

A．It crashed.

B．It landed safely.

C．It caused several deaths.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does Jason have no time to relax on the weekend?

A．He needs to write a book.

B．He must take music courses.

C．He has to do his schoolwork.

2. What is Jenny’s opinion on mental health days off from school?

A．It may make things worse.

B．It can solve mental problems well.

C．It can boost parent-child relationship.

3. What does Jenny think is important in students’ mental health?

A．Students’ self-control.

B．A mental health lecture.

C．Doctors’ suggestions.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How did Anna feel before coming to the classroom?

A．Worried.

B．Embarrassed.

C．Delighted.

2. What bothers Anna now?

A．Feeling a bit homesick.

B．Having trouble getting around.

C．Being weak in speaking Chinese.

7 . What should Mike do according to the man?

A．Change learning habits.

B．Work much harder.

C．See a doctor.

8 . 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。

When I was seven years old, my family moved from Mexico to America. In Mexico, I was a cheerful girl who loved making people laugh with my jokes and inventing fun games to play with my friends. However, when I arrived in America, I found it hard to fit in, and I became quieter.

We lived in a small house with a modest yard where we grew vegetables—my responsibility. While I took pride in watching them grow, there were times when I dreamed of having a beautiful garden like my schoolmate Luella’s, with its delicate tulips (郁金香). Although Luella lived in the same neighborhood as me, we barely knew each other.

It was after a tornado that Luella and I finally became close friends.

The tornado struck on a Sunday afternoon.The gentle breeze transformed into a strong wind, and thick gray clouds filled the sky. Gradually, the tornado took shape, starting as a thin rope and growing into a large black funnel (漏斗). My entire family gathered in the bathroom, seeking shelter from the storm. Terrified, I sat close to my mom, knees in my chest. After the storm had passed, our worries and fears were replaced by relief that we were unharmed and that our house had remained undamaged.

As I stepped outside, I witnessed the extent of the damage the tornado had caused to our neighborhood. Across the street, a tall tree had fallen, crushing Luella’s garden in front of her yellow house. We hurried over to check on it. Fortunately, her family seemed to be away at the time, and no one was injured. However, her once-beautiful garden was in ruins, with the fallen tree destroying the tulips and debris (碎片) spread everywhere. I could only imagine how heartbroken they must feel seeing this.

Then my mom’s usual words rang in my ear, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and my family started to think about how we could help.

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。

Just at that moment, Luella’s family returned in their car.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Even after the debris was cleared, I could still sense Luella’s sorrow for her lost garden.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . On one side of the room sits the cutest life-size stuffed animal (填充玩具) you’ve ever seen. On the other side rests a real dog — the same size, shape and even the same name as the stuffed version. You get to sit next to both of these furry friends and pet their fur. Guess which one will make your brain light up?

If you guessed the real dog, you’re right. Stuffed animals, as cute and lovely as they may be, just don’t effectively activate our frontal cortex (额叶皮层), the part of the brain overseeing how we think and feel, according to a new study published in the journal PLOSONE. The study found an even stronger rise in brain activity when the person petted the fur of a real dog versus a stuffed animal.

“We chose to research the frontal cortex because this brain area is involved in several executive (执行) functions, such as attention, working memory, and problem-solving. But it is also involved in social and emotional processes,” said study lead author Rahel Marti, a doctoral student in the division of clinical psychology at the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Why is this finding important? It provides additional evidence that live human-animal interaction therapy (疗法) may promote cognitive and emotional activity in the brain. Marti said, “If patients with deficits in motivation, attention, and socioemotional functioning show higher emotional involvement in activities connected to a real dog, then such activities could increase the chance of learning and of achieving treatment aims.”

“This is an interesting, seriously conducted study that provides new insight into associations between human-animal interaction and regional prefrontal brain activity in healthy adults. We found that brain activity increased when the contact with a real dog or a stuffed animal became closer. This confirms previous studies relating closer contact with animals to increased brain activity,” Marti said.

1. How does the author introduce the subject of the text?

A．By listing some figures.	B．By giving an example.
C．By setting a situation.	D．By analyzing a phenomenon.

2. Why did the researchers choose to study frontal cortex?

A．It is involved in several body parts.

B．It is the most important part of the brain.

C．It plays a key part in performing functions.

D．It provides evidence for live human-animal therapy.

3. What does the underlined word “deficits” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Styles.

B．Faults.

C．Adventures.

D．Sources.

4. What may be a suitable title for the text?

A．What Petting A Dog Can Do For Your Brain?

B．Why A Pet Dog Is Important To A Person?

C．Which Part Of The Brain Is Involved In Emotion?

D．How Can A Patient Benefit From Petting A Dog?

10 . Most Popular UK Destinations for a Staycation

Looking for a cheap stay cation to brighten up your winter? Here are the most popular destinations in the UK.

Blackpool

Whether you’re seeking the thrills of Blackpool Pleasure Beach or are keen to catch a glimpse of Blackpool Tower, the city’s most appealing attraction, the seaside town offers various amazing views. It’s no wonder the town has gained 980.8 million views on TikTok. With accommodation price £75 for a night, you’ll have a golden opportunity to enjoy Blackpool's Illuminations (彩灯) display and the Seaside Trail.

Searborough

North Yorkshire’s Scarborough sees 49,500 monthly searches and 686.4 million views on TikTok. One of the local highlights is the annual St Nicholas Fair. While a one-night stay in Scarborough costs £85, the town offers holiday-makers opportunities to experience ancient British culture at the 12th-century castle ruins.

Swansea

The Welsh town sees 27,100 monthly searches and has 622.4 million views on TikTok. Swansea’s Waterfront Wonderland brings with it the Alpine Village and various amusement attractions. Spending a night here costs just 10 pounds more than in Scarborough. But if you book a week earlier, you can get a 5 percent discount in total. With Cardiff only being an hour’s drive from Swansea, you have the perfect opportunity to catch a game of ice hockey.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth isn’t called Sunny Bournemouth for nothing, as holiday-makers can enjoy breathtaking views along the Jurassic Coast. With a World Heritage Site within its borders, it’s no surprise to see this town with the high number of views on TikTok (868.3 million). A one-night stay will cost you £105, giving you the perfect opportunity to get relaxed.

1. What is the most attractive in Blackpool?

A．Blackpool Pleasure Beach.	B．Blackpool Tower.
C．The Illuminations display.	D．The Seaside Trail.

2. How much will a tourist at least pay for a night in Swansea?

A．£ 70.

B．£ 85.

C．£ 85.75.

D．£ 90.25.

3. Which of the following has the second-highest number of views on TikTok?

A．Blackpool.

B．Swansea.

C．Scarborough.

D．Boumemouth.