1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the man call the woman?

A．To make a reservation.

B．To check out of the hotel.

C．To ask about the city center.

2. What does the woman say about the Imperial?

A．It is cheaper than her hotel.

B．It is rated as a five-star hotel.

C．It is better known than her hotel.

3. What does the man finally want to know about the Imperial?

A．The price.

B．The telephone number.

C．The location.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What are the good seeds confirmed by?

A．Containers.

B．X-rays.

C．Freezers.

2. Why are seeds stored in frozen environment?

A．To be preserved for long.

B．To tackle climate change.

C．To safeguard food supply.

3. What is the speech mainly about?

A．Where seeds are stored.

B．How the seed bank works.

C．Why seed banks are important.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What has the woman been reading?

A．A novel.

B．A dictionary.

C．A cookbook.

2. Why doesn’t the man read books?

A．He has poor eyesight.

B．He dislikes stories.

C．He is too busy.

3. Where does the man usually listen to his books?

A．In the kitchen.

B．In the car.

C．On the plane.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What can we say about the weather on Sunday?

A．It was fine.

B．It was hot.

C．It was changeable.

2. What do the locals think of small balls of ice in midsummer?

A．It’s beyond their expectations.

B．It’s a common phenomenon.

C．It’s caused by climate change.

5 . What is the main reason for doctors to recommend bike riding?

A．It can make legs slim.

B．It can make you put on weight.

C．It can build up the body.

6 . Smith brought his three-month-old son out for breakfast one day. He was playing with his son and tending to him while eating, and just doing his _________ thing.

But then he noticed a _________ staring at him. He was _________. “What is going on?” “They kept _________ at me,” he wrote in a post.

As it _________, the strangers were just happy to see a dad spending time with his son, and they felt inspired while watching the _________. Smith had no way of knowing that until he paid for his meal. He was given by the waiter a _________ from the couple, saying what a great father he was and that they would like to leave some _________ for his meal.

“Today your meal is on my wife and me,” it read. “_________ that baby as long as possible. The Masons.”

For Smith, it was a happy moment of reassurance (认可) and feeling __________. He was touched by the generosity and noted that he didn’t have a father figure growing up, so spending this time with his son is super __________ to him.

He wrote that he’ll share this __________ with his son when he’s older and that he wants to teach him kindness and about the __________ of giving back.

“I make sure I’m __________,” Smith wrapped. “I get blessed — I want to __________ someone else.”

1.

A．unusual

B．rare

C．big

D．regular

2.

A．stranger

B．woman

C．couple

D．waiter

3.

A．embarrassed

B．confused

C．worried

D．scared

4.

A．shouting

B．aiming

C．smiling

D．getting

5.

A．turns out

B．turns on

C．strikes out

D．goes on

6.

A．relationship

B．appreciation

C．friendship

D．instruction

7.

A．bill

B．note

C．excuse

D．notice

8.

A．credit

B．cash

C．change

D．fortune

9.

A．Enjoy

B．Share

C．Protect

D．Cheer

10.

A．lost

B．exposed

C．wronged

D．seen

11.

A．significant

B．occasional

C．grateful

D．influential

12.

A．idea

B．breakfast

C．joy

D．story

13.

A．feeling

B．comfort

C．power

D．consequence

14.

A．carrying it through

B．paying it forward

C．making it up

D．putting it down

15.

A．approach

B．address

C．bless

D．watch

7 . About ten years ago, logging into Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram would mostly show posts from friends and family in the order they were posted. Today, these platforms present a mix of content, tailored by algorithms (算法) to match users’ interests, whether it’s plants, sports, cats, or politics.

Kyle Chayka, a writer for The New Yorker, discusses this topic in his book, Filterworld. He explains that algorithms analyze user data to predict and influence what they will likely engage with. This means that instead of a simple, chronological feed, users encounter a dynamic stream, constantly adapting to their preferences. Chayka examines how these algorithmic recommendations control what we consume, from music and movies to food and travel destinations. He argues that this machine-driven selection process has turned us into passive consumers, making our preferences and tastes more similar.

Chayka points out that algorithms make us passive by always showing us content that we’re unlikely to click away from but won’t find too unexpected or challenging. This constant stream of recommendations reduces our exposure to diverse or challenging content, subtly shaping our preferences and behaviors.

Moreover, Chayka points out that algorithms also pressure content creators, like musicians and artists, to tailor their work to fit these digital platforms. For instance, musicians on Spotify or TikTok might focus on creating catchy hooks at the beginning of their songs to grab the listener’s attention.

Despite the strong presence of these algorithms, Chayka believes that regulation could reduce their influence. He suggests that if Meta, the parent company of Facebook, were required to separate its various services, like Instagram or WhatsApp, and make them compete with each other, it could give users more control and choice over their digital consumption.

In summary, the change from simple, time-ordered social. media posts to algorithm-driven content has a big impact on both the viewers and the creators, influencing what we see, hear, and even think. Chayka’s insights highlight the need for greater awareness and potentially more regulation in our increasingly digital world.

1. According to the text, how have social media platforms changed in the past ten years?

A．They show posts in a time-based order.

B．They prioritize posts from friends and family.

C．They make adjustments to satisfy users’ needs.

D．They provide more content to meet different needs.

2. What does Kyle Chayka think of algorithmic recommendations?

A．They make users more active consumers.

B．They shape users’ preferences and behaviors.

C．They reduce the influence of content creators.

D．They expose users to diverse and challenging content.

3. How do algorithms influence musicians’ work on digital platforms?

A．By encouraging musicians to create longer songs.

B．By discouraging musicians from using catchy hooks.

C．By giving musicians more control and choice over their music.

D．By requiring musicians to create their work to fit the platforms.

4. What can be concluded from the text?

A．Tech companies should have more departments.

B．Social media algorithms give content creators less opportunities.

C．Social media algorithms flatten our culture by making decisions for us.

D．Network platforms have increased the common recommendations for 10 years.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What day is it today?

A．Friday.

B．Saturday.

C．Sunday.

2. What does Claire think helped her get the letter from Harvard ?

A．Forming good learning habits.

B．Attending extra courses.

C．Staying up late to study.

3. Why did Claire choose Harvard University ?

A．Her aunt was studying there.

B．She has won a scholarship to it.

C．She wants to be Madelyn’s schoolmate.

4. What does Claire plan to do before September ?

A．Visit her aunt.

B．Travel abroad.

C．Visit some colleges.

9 . Film Puts Justifiable Defense in Spotlight

The film, Article 20, directed by Zhang Yimou, draws its name from Article 20 of the Criminal Law, which focuses on the sometimes controversial legal concept of justifiable defense. Drawing inspiration from real-life cases of justifiable defense, the film gained widespread attention and struck a chord with the public during the Spring Festival holiday. The movie calls for a de tailed interpretation of legal terms and urges against compromising on unlawful conduct.

According to the Criminal Law, when a person, faced with an unlawful attack, takes action to protect his or her own rights or interests or those of others, and the attacker is thereby harmed, the defender will be considered to have acted in justifiable defense and will not bear criminal responsibility. For some time, justifiable defense has been regarded as a “dormant clause” (沉寂条款), due to the influence of misconceptions, such as “whoever is injured or killed is right”.

But the true meaning of the law should be to increase the responsibility for wrongdoers, rather than burdening good people. Recent cases have shown that, for ordinary citizens, justifiable defense is no longer a pipe dream. A high-profile case in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, in 2018 served as a wake-up call and caught the attention of authorities regarding such cases. In that case, a traffic argument led to a motorist who took a knife with him confronting another man. The motorist was killed, and police and judges determined that the defender’s actions constituted justifiable defense. Since then, the justifiable defense clause has been applied in several places across the nation. The concern over justifiable defense reflects the public’s demand for fairness, justice, security and rule of law.

Luo Xiang, a renowned professor of criminal law at China University of Political Science and Law, said in a recent comment about the film Article 20 that the public and judges should avoid taking a “godlike” perspective. Instead, they should consider the situation in which the defender was involved, empathize with the defender’s position, and stop themselves from making excessive demands on the defender, Luo said.

1. Why did the film Article 20 attract the audience’s attention?

A．It was released during the Spring Festival holiday.

B．It is named after one article in the Criminal Law.

C．It explores real-life cases of justifiable defense.

D．It was directed by Zhang Yimou.

2. According to the Criminal Law, the victim will be free from criminal responsibility when ________.

A．the victim gave up his legal rights

B．the robber kept silent about the robbery

C．the robber was hurt worse than the victim

D．the victim knifed the armed robber to stop the ongoing crime

3. What is the function of the case in Kunshan in Paragraph 3?

A．Making comparisons.	B．Listing reasons.
C．Explaining misconceptions.	D．Providing evidence.

4. What does Luo Xiang suggest judges do?

A．Take a “godlike” viewpoint with the public.

B．Put oneself in the defender’s shoes.

C．Demand more from the defender.

D．Side with the attacker.

10 . Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions

It’s important to remember there are a diverse set of holidays available to explore. Below are a few books that help introduce children to different holiday cultures and traditions.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez

While helping her mother with Christmas celebration, Maria is tempted to try on her mother’s diamond ring. After getting caught up in the joy of the holiday and playing with her cousins, Maria realizes the ring is missing! That’s when she and her cousins come up with a plan to eat all of the tamales, in hopes of finding the ring.

Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger

This is a story about a little girl named Kayla who wants to see her older brother Khari come home so they can celebrate Kwanzaa together as a family. Khari is stuck at college when a snowstorm hits and his car breaks down. Will he make it home in time for Kwanzaa?

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

This book is a funny, nostalgic tale of Christmas Eve afternoon through Christmas night in Wales, and is full of unique imagery and poetic prose. It will arouse a sense of familiarity for some young readers while introducing them to different aspects of Christmas traditions.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac

The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Cherokee history and traditions are also woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way.

1. What makes it difficult for Khari to return home in time for Kwanzaa?

A．A car crash.

B．Delayed flights.

C．Extreme weather.

D．Academic pressure.

2. Who provides pictures for A Child’s Christmas in Wales?

A．Traci Sorell.

B．Ed Martinez.

C．Dylan Thomas.

D．Trina Schart Hyman.

3. The four books all inform readers of ______.

A．how to find hidden treasures at home	B．how to strengthen bonds with friends
C．the lifestyles of different ethnic groups	D．different holiday celebrations and customs