1 . 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。

Have you ever wondered what life is like now     1     (compare) to, say, the 1980s or the 1990s? I went to ask some people I know who were adults in the ‘80s and 90s’, and the answer I got was that “Overall, life is a lot     2     (good) now!” This didn’t really surprise me. I mean, these days we’ve got mobile phones and the internet and so on — but     3    (actual) those weren’t the things they talked about.

So what did they talk about? For     4     start, we don’t have to work physically hard since now there are a lot of things like dishwashers for housework. Then there’s the matter of how, these days,     5     is possible to work at home — it’s mainly     6    (computer) that have made this possible. Not only that, there’s a lot more     7     (equal) now. It’s easier for all people, whatever their social background, gender (性别), colour and so on, to have equal access     8     a variety of career opportunities.

That said, it’s not all a matter of improvement. Quite a few people told me that they feel more stressed these days because they rely a lot on technology and they are always     9    (anxiety) about security on the internet. Plus, we spend a lot of our time     10     (use) smartphones. One person said, “Wouldn’t it be great to be off the grid (不上网) for a few days?”

2 . In China, tea has become an important part of everyday life for thousands of years. As the tea-processing methods and tea culture have evolved over the years, tea sets have also changed to meet the practical and cultural needs.

During the Tang Dynasty(618~907AD), tea leaves were traded across the country and Asia. For the convenience of transportation and storage, tea leaves were pressed into bricks. To prepare tea, drinkers had to cut them into small pieces and boil them in heat-resistant teapots.

By the Song Dynasty(960-1279), drinkers started to turn the hard bricks into powders (粉末) that could be whipped (搅打) in a cup with boiled water. This whipped tea is most commonly associated with Japanese tea ceremonies today.

By the 1500s, tea bricks gave way to the form of rolled leaves. This innovation led to the invention and use of teapots as we know them today. These teapots originally came from the Yi Xing region of China and were soon copied throughout the world. Then Japanese teapot-makers moved the handle from the side to the top of the teapots.

Tea finally reached Europe in the 1600s, along with the necessary tea sets made in Japan and China. As English teapot-makers began to adapt the tea sets to their country men’s tastes, they eventually added a handle to the tea bowl because of the English habit of drinking hot black tea, which was consumed at higher temperatures. The size of teacups also grew to accommodate milk and sugar in their tea.

By the early 1900s, innovations in tea drinking became an American affair. The most revolutionary one was the tea bag, which was accidentally commercialized by Thomas Sullivan. He had been sending customers tea wrapped in silk bags. Rather than take the leaves out of the bags, as Sullivan intended, the customers put the bags into their teapots instead. Not only did the tea bags push the teapot back to the sidelines of tea service, they were also too large for teacups and led to the modern practice of drinking tea from mugs.

1. Which was used to make the whipped tea in Japan?

A．Rolled tea leaves.	B．Freshly picked tea leaves.
C．Powdered tea leaves.	D．Loosely pressed tea leaves.

2. Which innovation was first introduced by the British?

A．Tea bags and mugs.	B．Tea bowls with handles.
C．Heat-resistant teapots.	D．Teapots with top handles.

3. What can we learn from Thomas Sullivan’s story?

A．Customers are very creative.	B．Innovations are relatively easy.
C．Marketing strategy is critical.	D．Good ideas can be born by accident.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Development of Tea Sets	B．Varieties of Tea Leaves
C．Various Tea-making Methods	D．The Spread of Tea Trades

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。

On October 18, world leaders came together in Beijing for an eye-catching forum (论坛) to celebrate     1     tenth anniversary (周年) of the Belt and Road Initiative (“一带一路”倡议). The forum was considered     2     (extreme) important in building the Belt and Road.

Chinese President Xi Jinping     3     (give) a speech at the opening. He said that over the past 10 years, plans of Belt and Road cooperation had been turned into real projects. He also said that China would take eight major steps     4     (support) high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,     5     (include) green development and the advance of science and technology.

So far, the Belt and Road Initiative has become the world’s     6     (large) platform (平台) for international cooperation. By June 2023, China had worked together with 152 countries and 32 international     7     (organisation) to build the Belt and Road. Over 3,000 cooperation projects have been started in the past 10 years, one of which is the China-Laos Railway.     8     was put into use in December 2021, helping Laos become a country with easy transport in Southeast Asia.

“Belt and Road cooperation was suggested by China,     9     its fruits are for the world to share,” President Xi Jinping said. There is no doubt     10     the Belt and Road Initiative will continue to make a great difference to the world in the future.

4 . The Best US National Parks You’ve Never Heard of

Dry Tortugas National Park

Located 70 miles west of Key West, this group of seven islands is a great destination to enjoy some of Florida’s nature. The islands are composed of coral reefs (珊瑚礁) and sand, and they are famous for the birds and sea life. Tourists can also enjoy Fort Jefferson, which dates back to the 19th century.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is divided into two units, a northern unit and a southern unit. Between the two sections, this park gives tourists the opportunity to experience some of North Dakota’s unique scenery, including the Badlands, canyons (峡谷) and more. The hiking trails (小径) allow tourists to see some of this country’s natural wonders and amazing wildlife.

Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale is one of the special parks in the US. The island is only accessible by boat. Once there, you can enjoy the unique wilderness that has been protected in a special way. The island has a beautiful coast that can be explored by boat. You can also explore the island by hiking its many trails. Another unique feature of the island is the ships that have been destroyed at sea.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park extends from the low desert to the high mountains. Tourists to this park can enjoy over 80 miles of trails throughout the park, which travel through canyons, woodlands, springs, mountainous wilderness and more. It is also home to the Salt Basin Dunes, which are an amazing windswept landscape.

1. What can tourists do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

A．Walk along the hiking trails.	B．Admire coral reefs.
C．Enjoy the Salt Basin Dunes.	D．See Fort Jefferson.

2. How can tourists reach Isle Royale National Park?

A．By train.

B．By car.

C．By water.

D．By air.

3. Which of the following features the windswept landscape?

A．Isle Royale National Park.	B．Dry Tortugas National Park.
C．Theodore Roosevelt National Park.	D．Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

5 . Everyone hates being stuck in a traffic jam, but sadly, many people have to deal with it every day. Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, there are steps you can take to help you handle it.

    1     This will help if you’re stuck in a long traffic jam and get hungry, and it’s honestly a pretty good time waster, too. Try to bring food that won’t make a mess in the car! If you’re drinking anything sugary or sweet,be careful of spilling(洒出). 

Play a road game. Playing a road game is a great way to get rid of the boredom.    2     I Spy is a very popular road game where you say “I spy with my little eyes something that is...” and you say the colour of the object you’ve chosen, and the others have to guess what it is. 

Take a breath.    3    If you don’t feel comfortable in a serious traffic jam where the cars aren’t moving at all, just roll down the window or even open the door (if it’s safe to do so), and take a breath beside your car for a second. This can help you feel better if you’re carsick. 

    4     There are plenty of other things you can do while being stuck in a traffic jam! Ask the driver to go to a good radio station and start calling in and get involved(参与). No matter who’s watching you, sing along to the song on the radio at the top of your voice and dance around in your seat to the song! Start a conversation with the person in the car next to you!    5    

A．Get creative with your free time.

B．Pack some snacks before you go.

C．Talk to your doctor about carsickness.

D．Try thinking about something important in the traffic jam.

E．Many people experience car sickness in a long journey.

F．There are lots of games that are fun and enjoyable for everyone!

G．Pretend you know them and start by saying, “I haven’t seen you for ages!”

6 . 假如你是某地震灾区高一的一名学生，请根据以下提示写一篇日记来记述5月9日地震的情况。

地震前	同学们正在教室里学习，外面阴云密布，狂风大作。
地震中	教室开始摇动，电灯摇晃、后突然熄灭，窗户玻璃破碎，大家躲在桌子底下。
地震后	大家赶紧有序地沿楼梯逃生。学校有三名同学受伤，没有人死亡。

要求：词数80左右。日记的格式已写好，但不计入总词数。
May 9       Sunday                                                                                                                                                                  Rainy
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号中单词的正确形式。

Marine biology is the study of the ocean’s plant and animal life. Marine life gives us food, medicine and other raw materials we need. It also supports tourism and provides us with an area of recreation.

    1     (difference)forms of life live in various areas of the ocean. Some are limited to coastal and shelf areas, while others live in the open sea.

Coral reefs     2     (find) in the tropical areas of the world, but they can also exist in colder water. Reefs are built by corals and other     3     (animal)that leave calcium on rocks. They are home to     4     vast variety of life forms. About half of the world’s coral reefs, however,are     5     danger because of global warming and a rise in sea temperatures.

Although we do not know very much about    6     kind of life forms exist in deep ocean trenches(深海沟), marine scientists have found a certain type of jellyfish(水母) in the Mariana Trench, the world’s     7     (deep)ocean area. These parts of the ocean     8     (usual)have little or no sunlight and many organisms(生物)here have to produce light     9     (they).

Marine scientists also study how waves and currents affect organisms     10     (live)in the oceans.

8 . Indoor plants might look as if they just sit around not doing much, but in many ways they are the unsung heroes of the home.     1    , but studies have shown that they can promote people’s wellbeing by improving their mood (心情), reducing stress and helping their memory. What’s more, indoor plants are easy to look after and are not very expensive.

What are indoor plants?

Indoor plants, also known as houseplants or pot plants, are plants that like to grow indoors. Many of these species (物种) are not ideally suited to growing outside in the UK, especially in the winter.     2    .

Why are indoor plants good for you?

Will Spoelstra, who works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, says, “    3    . I find during the winter months, plants around the house can really lift your mood.” Several studies have backed this up and found that indoor plants can improve creativity, focus and memory. There is also research showing that pot plants can clean the air around them by removing harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide. They also remove some harmful chemicals from paints or cooking.     4    .

Which plants can you grow?

Aloe vera, peace lilies and spider plants are some of the species that are easy to grow indoors. You can buy plants from supermarkets, garden centres or online. Younger plants are often cheaper than fully grown ones, and you get to care for them as they mature — which is part of the joy of owning plants. “    5    ,” Spoelstra says. “It can bring a new interest and focus into people’s lives and help to make the link between home and nature.”

A．All plants are different

B．Not only do they look beautiful

C．There are many benefits to growing plants indoors

D．Instead, they grow better inside, where it is warmer

E．Plants like peace lilies and devil’s ivy are among the best

F．Changing the pot of your plant from time to time will also help

G．Learning about the requirements of each plant can be very rewarding

9 . What comes into your mind when you think of British food? Probably fish and chips, or a Sunday dinner of meat and two vegetables. But is British food really so uninteresting? Even though Britain has a reputation for less-than-impressive cuisine, it is producing more top class chefs who appear frequently on our television screens and whose recipe books frequently top the best seller lists.

It’s thanks to these TV chefs rather than any advertising campaign that Britons are turning away from meat-and-two-veg and ready-made meals and becoming more adventurous in their cooking habits. It is recently reported that the number of those sticking to a traditional diet is slowly declining and around half of Britain’s consumers would like to change or improve their cooking in some way. There has been a rise in the number of students applying for food courses at UK universities and colleges. It seems that TV programmes have helped change what people think about cooking.

According to a new study from market analysts, 1 in 5 Britons say that watching cookery programmes on TV has encouraged them to try different food. Almost one third say they now use a wider variety of ingredients (配料) than they used to, and just under 1 in 4 say they now buy better quality ingredients than before. One in four adults say that TV chefs have made them much more confident about expanding their cookery knowledge and skills, and young people are also getting more interested in cooking. The UK’s obsession (痴迷) with food is reflected through television scheduling. Cookery shows and documentaries about food are broadcast more often than before. With an increasing number of male chefs on TV, it’s no longer “uncool” for boys to like cooking.

1. What do people usually think of British food?

A．It is simple and plain.	B．It is rich in nutrition.
C．It lacks authentic tastes.	D．It deserves a high reputation.

2. Which best describes cookery programme on British TV?

A．Authoritative.

B．Creative.

C．Profitable.

D．Influential.

3. Which is the percentage of the people using more diverse ingredients now?

A．20%.

B．24%.

C．25%.

D．33%.

4. What might the author continue talking about?

A．The art of cooking in other countries.	B．Male chefs on TV programmes.
C．Table manners in the UK.	D．Studies of big eaters.

10 . Living in Iowa and trying to become a photographer specializing in landscape (风景) can be quite a challenge, mainly because the corn state lacks geographical variation.

Although landscapes in the Midwest tend to be quite similar, either farm fields or highways, sometimes I find distinctive character in the hills or lakes. To make some of my landscape shots, I have traveled up to four hours away to shoot within a 10-minute time frame. I tend to travel with a few of my friends to state parks or to the countryside to go on adventures and take photos along the way.

Being at the right place at the right time is decisive in any style of photography. I often leave early to seek the right destinations so I can set up early to avoid missing the moment I am attempting to photograph. I have missed plenty of beautiful sunsets/sunrises due to being on the spot only five minutes before the best moment.

One time my friends and I drove three hours to Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, to climb the purple quartz (石英) rock around the lake. After we found a crazy-looking road that hung over a bunch of rocks, we decided to photograph the scene at sunset. The position enabled us to look over the lake with the sunset in the background. We managed to leave this spot to climb higher because of the spare time until sunset. However, we did not mark the route (路线) so we ended up almost missing the sunset entirely. Once we found the place, it was stressful getting lights and cameras set up in the limited time. Still, looking back on the photos, they are some of my best shots though they could have been so much better if I would have been prepared and managed my time wisely.

1. How does the author deal with the challenge as a landscape photographer in the Midwest?

A．By teaming up with other photographers.	B．By shooting in the countryside or state parks.
C．By studying the geographical conditions.	D．By creating settings in the corn fields.

2. What is the key to successful landscape photography according to the author?

A．Proper time management.	B．Good shooting techniques.
C．Adventurous spirit.	D．Distinctive styles.

3. What can we infer from the author’s trip with friends to Devil’s Lake?

A．They went crazy with the purple quartz rock.

B．They felt stressed while waiting for the sunset.

C．They reached the shooting spot later than expected.

D．They had problems with their equipment.

4. How does the author find his photos taken at Devil’s Lake?

A．Amusing.	B．Satisfying.
C．Encouraging.	D．Comforting.