Ever since Jake first watched the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea, he had dreamed of being in the Olympics. For years, he had worked hard to become a good swimmer, training and practicing. Two decades later, he was in Beijing, China, for his first Olympic performance, as part of his country’s swimming team!
The Olympic Stadium was packed with athletes from all over the world, all eagerly awaiting the start of the opening parade (入场式). The atmosphere was electric and everything seemed perfect. Almost.
Jake loved his red, white and blue official Olympic jacket with the Olympic rings on the back. But several minutes before, Jake had torn a hole in the left sleeve (袖子) of his jacket when it got caught in a gate.
“Too bad about your jacket,” his teammate, Ben, commented.
“I hope nobody notices it,” Jake sighed.
“Someone will,” Ben laughed.
Jake didn’t respond as he was already feeling annoyed and depressed after having to deal with his lost suitcase when they landed at the airport the day before. He could not believe how things were not going his way.
Suddenly, a lovely little girl about 8 years old came up to Jake and pointed at the tear in his sleeve. Jake smiled at her. The girl started speaking in a language he couldn’t understand, all the while pointing at his torn sleeve. Unable to catch a word, Jake turned to his teammates for help but all of them shook their heads with a helpless expression. At that moment, the little girl began to take off her own jacket that was marked with a red English word “China” and looked up at Jake eagerly, signing to Jake to do so.
“Oh, I get it. You want to try it on. Here you go!” Jake slipped off the jacket and handed it to her. The Chinese girl took it, bowed and took off with his jacket right away!
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Can’t she be a little thief?” Ben joked, pointing at her back.
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Jake turned around, only to see the little girl coming.
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2 . In a video submitted to a nationwide science competition, Heman Bekele from Virginia spelled out his mission briefly — cure cancer, one bar of soap at a time. He created a cheap soap that could potentially help fight skin cancer. His invention won him the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” at the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, an annual competition that invites students in grades five through eight to “change their world for the better with a single innovative idea”, on October 10, 2023.
At age 4, Heman moved to America from Ethiopia, where he always saw people constantly working under the hot sun. While he considered ideas for the competition, it struck him that so many people in his hometown were unaware of the risk of sun exposure. The recollections fueled his decision to focus his research on skin cancer.
“I hoped to make my idea something that not only was great in terms of science but also could be affordable for as many people as possible,” Heman said. As he initially thought about his approach, Heman wanted his product to be something as much of a “constant” in people’s life as possible, an item that was most convenient in contrast to other medicinal products.
In June 2023, he was selected as a top-ten finalist and paired with 3M product engineering specialist Deborah Isabelle to develop and test a physical prototype (原型) of his idea. It took the pair four months of trial and error to create “Skin Cancer Treating Soap” (SCTS). The bar contains chemicals that restore the body’s dendritic cells killed by cancer cells. Once reconstructed, dendritic cells, the body’s first line of defense against cancer and infections, are capable of fighting against cancer cells. SCTS, which costs just 50 cents a bar, still has to undergo clinical trials. The process could take over five years.
Heman’s plan for the soap stretches far beyond the winning. He has a five-year plan, which includes seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration. He also hopes to start a nonprofit to distribute the soap in the future. “There is still a lot left to do,” the 14-year-old teenager said.
1. What inspired Heman’s idea for the invention?| A．Folk tales. | B．Childhood memories. |
| C．Working experiences. | D．Medical observations. |
| A．Accessibility. | B．Function. | C．Security. | D．Effectiveness. |
| A．It minimizes solar radiation. | B．It kills cancer cells directly. |
| C．It reactivates destroyed cells. | D．It removes viruses from the skin. |
| A．Industrious and sociable. | B．Ambitious and caring. |
| C．Intelligent and competitive. | D．Sensitive and conservative. |
Acupuncture (针灸), an ancient Chinese medical practice, has given countless patients
In the book Records of the Grand Historian, which Sima Qian
Over the years, acupuncture
4 . Leigh Ann Sondrup, a devoted nurse at Valleywise, earned the title of a hero after a remarkable off-duty rescue.
The extraordinary chain of events unfolded as Sondrup was heading home from
Emergency first responders had not yet made it to the
She
Months later, the man who had suffered a life-threatening injury reached out to Sondrup to express his gratitude for a second
| A．exercise | B．work | C．vacation | D．school |
| A．high-spirited | B．cut-off | C．worn-out | D．heart-broken |
| A．awoke | B．wandered | C．departed | D．approached |
| A．trapped | B．transported | C．questioned | D．laid |
| A．office | B．scene | C．hospital | D．base |
| A．continue | B．attempt | C．offer | D．hesitate |
| A．held onto | B．warmed up | C．pulled over | D．backed up |
| A．forcing | B．allowing | C．reminding | D．requiring |
| A．controlled | B．pictured | C．assessed | D．revealed |
| A．blood | B．heart | C．balance | D．strength |
| A．accidentally | B．secretly | C．curiously | D．quickly |
| A．marked | B．employed | C．swung | D．fetched |
| A．encounter | B．choice | C．lesson | D．chance |
| A．courageous | B．optimistic | C．amusing | D．effortless |
| A．assumption | B．proposal | C．belief | D．character |
5 . Culture shock is the experience that often accompanies moving to an unfamiliar place. It could be marked by feeling lost, anxious or hesitant.
When deciding to visit an entirely new place, don’t expect the traditions and cultures followed by your current home to be followed by the new land.
Even though it is an unfamiliar environment hosting different cultures and traditions from the one you’re used to, it’s vital to broaden your mind and be willing to try new things. Don’t be quick to form discriminatory judgments just because it is “odd”. Have a go at something different, like a food or clothing — different isn’t necessarily bad.
Social psychologists claim that lack of information is the biggest contributor to prejudices. Talk to the local population and ask them about how their culture works instead of assuming the worst.
Keep yourself open-minded, await new experiences and familiarize yourself with the conduct of the people.
| A．Integrity breaks down barriers. |
| B．You can gain insight into your surroundings. |
| C．Culture shock will eventually disappear, though. |
| D．Every city or country has its own values and beliefs. |
| E．Never do you know where you might find an interest. |
| F．Consequently, such memories are what you should treasure. |
| G．As long as you stick to that, you’ll soon adjust to the new culture. |
6 . Do you have a favorite sport? Are you passionate about sewing or reading? Typically, you engage in these activities simply because you enjoy them. Would you be taken aback to know the overjustification effect that when you are rewarded for your beloved activities, your desire to participate in them diminishes?
Edward Deci, a psychology professor, conducted a series of experiments, in one of which Deci divided the participants into two groups: one was paid to complete a puzzle, and the other was not paid to. After money was removed, the group that was previously paid to play showed less motivation to complete the task than the group that was never paid and only did the puzzle for enjoyment. The outcome demonstrated the overjustification effect, which occurs when an external stimulation decreases a person’s internal motivation to perform a behavior or engage in an activity.
According to the self-determination theory, three conditions are essential for people to feel internally motivated and perform at their best: autonomy, freedom from external restrictions; competence, the need to feel capable, and relatedness, the need to feel connected with others. In Deci’s experiment, money acted as a tie, which reduced participants’ autonomy, a crucial component of internal motivation, discouraging them from experiencing the freedom of external restrictions. The pressure to perform for the money lessened the pleasure and freedom felt by those who were doing the puzzle merely for fun.
But if external stimulation is tied to performance, the overjustification effect is less influential. For example, being rewarded for studying is unlikely to decrease internal motivation because the grade depends upon actually doing well rather than just going through the motions.
While the overjustification effect can reduce motivation, some strategies can lower its impact. One is to focus on providing feedback and recognition rather than concrete rewards. For instance, praising an individual’s effort or acknowledging their accomplishments can maintain their internal motivation. Additionally, allowing individuals to have autonomy and control over their tasks also works. By giving them the freedom to choose how they complete tasks, individuals are more likely to be internally motivated and experience a greater sense of satisfaction and engagement.
1. What does the underlined word “diminishes” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Remains. | B．Weakens. | C．Ceases. | D．Solidifies. |
| A．By interpreting a concept. |
| B．By presenting an argument. |
| C．By making a comparison. |
| D．By describing a phenomenon. |
| A．The skills needed for a puzzle. |
| B．The core elements of inner drives. |
| C．The impact of autonomy on competence. |
| D．The theoretical basis for the overjustification effect. |
| A．Speaking highly of a pupil’s hard work. |
| B．Rewarding a kid with candy for playing the violin. |
| C．Offering a clerk financial bonuses for daily routines. |
| D．Promising an employee a decent position for doing his duty. |
7 . Andrea Lankford quit her job after spending 12 years as a National Park Service forester specializing in search and rescue missions in scenic and remote American landscapes. However, decades later, three young hikers went missing on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). She found herself unable to turn away from the three separate cases despite challenges in the inquiry into them.
Trail of the Lost was her answer.
It’s an absorbing nonfiction narrative (叙事) about the three hikers, including their lives and those of the people looking for them. It also explores the history of the PCT and the rich subculture, practices and even literature that surround it and those who undertake the 2,650-mile journey.
The book is a rich multilayered narrative that works on three different levels. The first is the story of each of the three hikers. Lankford offers a biography (传记) of each of the missing men and shows them through the eyes of those who knew them well and those who joined the search.
Right underneath the narratives about the three hikers are the stories of everyone looking for them. Lankford played a role in each search but she allowed friends, family and even strangers to occupy center stage throughout most of the narrative. The story looks at the role of missing person Facebook groups in the searches and how crucial word of mouth can be. Many warm-hearted individuals came forth and became instrumental in the searches or provided valuable information. But Lankford also writes of the many who lied for no apparent reason and confused the investigations.
The narrative also shines a light on diverse aspects of the PCT. Lankford, who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and was the first person to mountain bike the 800-mile Arizona Trail, knows just how the PCT is physically and mentally demanding. Besides, the book explores threats from mountain lions to people with bad intentions who don’t observe the PCT’s unspoken moral rules, serving as a revelation of the well-known, hidden or ignored dangers of the PCT.
Written with a clear, fast-paced, straightforward style, Trail of the Lost is as full of hope and humanity as it is packed with pain, sorrow, danger and tension. Read it and you’ll find more than you seek.
1. What led Lankford to write Trail of the Lost?| A．Her love for her prior career. |
| B．Her strong attachment to the PCT. |
| C．The stress from the missing families. |
| D．Her investigation into hikers’ disappearance. |
| A．Efforts by different people in searches. |
| B．A string of wilderness survival tips. |
| C．Approaches to information classification. |
| D．Respective stories of the three hikers. |
| A．To promote her book. |
| B．To make her a celebrity. |
| C．To motivate hikers to challenge themselves. |
| D．To stress the difficulty of hiking the PCT. |
| A．It targets single youth. |
| B．It’s a romantic novel. |
| C．It’s based on actual events. |
| D．It’s a detailed account of a journey. |
8 . Literary festivals all over the USA offer opportunities for readers to meet their favorite authors and learn about their new projects. You can start planning your next literary vacation!
Summer WordsDates: June 19-22
Price: Free
It’s one of America’s most respected literary festivals and writing conferences. Authors are able to attend advanced workshops in order to improve the craft of writing. Besides, they can meet editors and literary agents and attend public panel discussions to gain inspiration and insight.
Book BonanzaDates: June 23-24
Price: $250
It is a celebration of books covering multiple styles and always nets a huge list of incredible author attendees. What makes it stand out, however, is not just its impressive list of attendees: it’s the charitable focus. All proceeds are donated to charitable causes, including those that benefit women and children.
Los Angeles Times Festival of BooksDates: April 22-23
Price: Free, although indoor panels will require tickets
It is a massive celebration of books and the bookish community, with book signings, panel discussions with distinguished professors and experts, art performances and book giveaways. The two-day event has grown to become an essential element of the L.A. cultural scene.
Imaginarium Book FestivalDates: May 20-21
Price: Free, but VIP tickets for early entry to signing rooms ($45), tickets for the brunch ($50)
It celebrates all things about fantasy and science fiction. In addition to panels where authors will answer your questions, you’ll get to meet and acquire signed books from your favorite authors and have the option of brunching with them at the cosmic (宇宙的) brunch buffet.
1. In which literary festival can you catch a show?| A．Summer Words. |
| B．Book Bonanza. |
| C．Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. |
| D．Imaginarium Book Festival. |
| A．Its profits go to charity. |
| B．It’s meant for women and children. |
| C．It doesn’t charge admission fee. |
| D．It features workshops for notable writers. |
| A．Get an author-signed photograph. |
| B．Dine with your admiring writers. |
| C．Interact with science fiction supermen. |
| D．Obtain one-on-one reading training. |
The craft of Shao Lujie, a 28-year-old Chinese craftsman from Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, is known
Shao’s works mainly feature flowers and other plants. He created multiple works for the 19th Asian Games, featuring the event’s three mascots (吉祥物) and logo. In the past few years, Shao
Since childhood, Shao has enjoyed painting and handicrafts.
In an age
To get youngsters interested in the craft, Shao has gone online, sharing articles
In a house far from the city lived John and his mother. John’s only hobby was wandering in the nearby picturesque forest. In its center was a shiny clear lake with schools of fish dancing in it. Lovely animals such as deer or rabbits were playing around and cute birds were singing in trees. Fascinated by the beauty and liveliness of nature, he desired to become a great artist and present all the breath-taking scenes to the world.
John studied in the local primary school. Life was not easy for John and his mom after his father died. Knowing what hard work his mother did to make ends meet, John really didn’t want his mother to worry. His mother knew the significance of education in life but she was against his dream of becoming an artist. “The profession of artist can’t aid a person in meeting his daily expenses,” she would say. But as each day passed, John’s dream became more passionate.
Due to the living circumstances, even buying some new colors would be a luxury. John only used the worn drawing file and limited colors for his daily practice. Though lacking fine painting materials, he never gave up drawing. He spent a significant amount of time staying in the forest, secretly perfecting his craft. With continuous hard work and a distinct gift for art, he drew beautifully.
One day John read about a competition being held in the town, whose deadline was only two days away. He got the perfect opportunity to fulfill his desire but he was in a dilemma (两难境地) as for the competition he needed special paints and some brushes. He didn’t have the courage to ask his mother for money as he knew her prejudice against art.
That evening his mom returned from work and handed him a few paper notes, saying, “This is for your lunch at school next month.” The money was enough for his desired materials! John’s face lit up.
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。
Early the next morning, John secretly left home with the money.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A week later, a phone call came to John’s home.
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