1 . Drawing is not just about putting pencil to paper; it is a gateway to creativity, expression and imagination. Whether you are an ambitious Da Vinci or simply looking to learn a new skill, this guide is for sure your artistic roadmap to unlock the magic of drawing.

Preparation work

The first step on your drawing journey is to arm yourself with the right tools and materials.     1     Rather, use what you already have and are comfortable with, even if it is that one pencil from sixth form (六年级).

Start simple

Don’t dive straight into complex compositions. If so, you’ll feel pressured.     2     Circles, squares and triangles are the basic essential skills of more complicated drawings. A solid foundation will guarantee your smoothly tackling more challenging subjects later.

    3    

Creating lifelike art requires not just technical skill but also a keen eye for detail and a passion for observation.

Grab your sketchbook and focus on items you encounter regularly. Everyday objects are your best teachers.     4     As you study these subjects, pay close attention to their complexity — the play of light and shadow, the precise proportions and the subtle differences that make them unique.

Learn from the greats

    5    .You are supposed to visit museums, dive into art books or explore the vast online resources, including YouTube channels specializing in teaching entry-level drawing. There are countless art works out there waiting to be explored. Surrounding yourself with art can definitely ignite your passion for drawing.

Learning from other artists serves as endless inspiration and knowledge. Their works provide insight into different techniques, styles and interpretations of the world. By standing on the shoulders of artistic giants, you will find your own artistic voice to push your creative exploration forward.

A．Observation is key.

B．Drawing outside the box

C．So how can you learn from those things?

D．Their craft is based on dedication and hard work.

E．Immerse yourself in the wealth of art around you.

F．You are advised just to begin with mastering simple shapes.

G．There is no need to buy a new set of quality supplies right at the very beginning.

2 . The best places to do your Christmas shopping this year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but it can also be the most stressful. With multiple gifts to buy and a packed social calendar to cope with, Christmas shopping can feel like a drag, but no need to panic purchase: these top-quality shops deliver on festive cheer and on one-of-a-kind gifting.

Best for pre-loved gifts
Oxfam Superstore, Oxford

Trying to give more sustainably this Christmas? Head to Oxfam Superstore, an market of second-hand wonders, from furniture to fashion. Some of the most exclusive high-end brands make their way there.

Oxford Business Park, Alec Issigonis Way, OX4 2JZ
Best for on-the-go gifts
Tebay Services, Cumbria

Driving home for Christmas? You’re very lucky if your journey takes you along the M6 and passes Tebay. Tebay boasts not only a restaurant serving fresh local produce but a farm shop selling the finest foods, crafts and clothes from a community of 80 farmers and makers within 30 miles.

M6, Tebay | tebayservices.com
Best for beauty fanatics
Sephora, Westfield London

The US beauty mecca Sephora opened its first UK store in March and has fast become a destination for beauty fans countrywide. It’s truly a beauty lover’s playground —you can spray and try products to your heart’s content and there’s a range of expensive, but exclusive brands you can’t get elsewhere.

Ariel Way, W12 7GF | sephora.co.uk
Best for foodie gifts
The Newt in Somerset, Bruton

The Newt is an excellent destination for gift shopping, with an on-site farm and homeware shop, as well as an abundant online store. This year’s range has everything from Somerset cheese to butchery meats and cases of wine.

Hadspen, BA7 7NG | thenewtinsomerset.com
1. What will make you feel worried as Christmas Day is approaching?

A．Purchasing many gifts.

B．Meeting a lot of beauty fans.

C．Dealing with the old calendar.

D．Delivering different kinds of presents.

2. What is the similarity between Oxfam Superstore and Sephora, Westfield?

A．They feature second-hand gifts.

B．They can satisfy the beauty lover’s needs.

C．They pay more attention to the fashion of presents.

D．They share exceptional and expensive brands of goods.

3. Where should you go if you prefer to get local-made produce?

A．Oxford Business Park or M6, Tebay.

B．M6, Tebay or Hadspen, BA77NG.

C．Ariel Way, W12 7GF or M6, Tebay.

D．Oxford Business Park or Hadspen, BA77NG.

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。

Have you ever experienced one of the earliest movies? It boasts star-studded ensembles (乐团), undergoes rapid transformations in the blink of an eye, and even includes special effects, music and     1     (perform), all without the aid of machines or computers.

Utterly relying on hands, the ancient Chinese art of shadow play is a tradition with a history     2     dates back 2,000 years, and it’s also a representative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity     3     (recognize) by UNESCO.

Last month, two prominent online celebrities, Nanxiang Buaichifan and Jiuyue, shared videos documenting their journey to learn how to perform shadow puppetry that     4     (receive) over 20 million views so far on social media platforms. “Some romance may have long faded,     5     we can use traditional techniques passed down through the generations to create a romance     6     (belong) to today’s world, which is marked by hardships and complexities,” Bilibili content creator Shujiangyuan wrote, commenting on Jiuyue’s video.

The two celebrities dedicated a month     7     learning the art from scratch, beginning with the basic skills of handling cowhide (牛皮革). The challenge of mastering this millennia-old technique within such a short time initially seemed like mission     8     (possible). Fortunately, they were lucky enough to learn from     9     best — Dang Feihua, a 23-year-old inheritor of the shadow puppetry tradition. Dang says that the duo took their apprenticeships     10     (serious). “Jiuyue has a foundation in painting, so she learned quickly, while Nanxiang Buaichifan, having experimented with various crafts, also caught on swiftly,” he says.

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。

It all began when my younger brother, Chris, and I went over to Aunt Barbara and Uncle Howard’s for Thanksgiving. My aunt and uncle live on a farm at the opposite end of town, and Chris and I love going there. The farm is situated in a valley surrounded by rolling hills. The fields are lush and green, with crops growing as far as the eye could see. The sound of chickens clucking and cows mooing fills the air. For my brother and me, it is a wonderland where we have a lot of fun.

We got up early and did the morning chores before we left. As kids, we talked happily about the feast along the way. Roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, sweet potato, and cranberries were awaiting us. We were curious to know how a turkey could grow so big. When we finally got to my aunt and uncle’s, Chris and I went outside to see if Uncle Howard needed help with anything. He and Dad had decided to clean out the turkey coop (笼子) before dinner. Since Chris was only nine, he got the easier job of scrubbing out the watering cans. I was twelve, old enough to help load the wheelbarrow (手推车). Work was tough, but we still found time to ask Uncle Howard a lot of questions about turkeys. He must have been impressed, because when we were finished, he winked at my dad and handed me a turkey egg. “You kids put it under a setting hen,” he said, “and in twenty-five days, you’ll have a fine turkey!” Chris was so excited that he nearly dropped his egg on the way to the house. We both stuffed ourselves at dinner and then couldn’t wait for the grownups to finish talking so we could go home and tend to our egg.

Dad put the egg under an old hen, and every day Chris and I would check to see if it’d hatched yet. Twenty-five days seemed like forever.

Para. 1. Finally, on the twenty-sixth day, Chris and I walked into the coop after school.

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Para. 2. We waited nervously for the coming of the next Thanksgiving Day.

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5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many wooden train sets are made each month?

A．About 1,000.

B．About 2,000.

C．About 4,000.

2. Why do they have about 1,000 boxes in stock?

A．Orders are changeable.

B．The space is limited.

C．It can save costs.

3. What is the date today?

A．November 2nd.

B．November 3rd.

C．November 10th.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman probably?

A．A travel agent.

B．A hotel receptionist.

C．A flight attendant.

2. How does the woman suggest the man get to town from Baltimore Washington Airport?

A．By subway.

B．By train.

C．By cab.

3. What will the man do first?

A．Have a second thought.

B．Ring the woman.

C．Book а flight.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the report about?

A．A movie.

B．A storm.

C．A village.

2. How many houses were damaged altogether?

A．36.

B．14.

C．200.

3. What were the farmer couple probably doing when hearing a loud noise?

A．Looking for their children.

B．Repairing their house.

C．Preparing breakfast.

4. What was the old woman’s first reaction when her house began shaking?

A．Rushing out with her grandchildren.

B．Taking something out.

C．Calling her husband.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman doing?

A．Reporting to her boss.

B．Complaining of her boredom.

C．Apologizing to the man.

2. What is the man most probably?

A．A reporter.

B．A businessman.

C．A doctor.

3. What day is it today?

A．Friday.

B．Saturday.

C．Sunday.

4. What can we learn about the man?

A．He often quarrels with the woman.

B．His life is always easy and interesting.

C．He seems to understand the woman at last.

9 . Which film does Mike prefer?

A．The horror film.

B．The historical film.

C．The science fiction film.

10 . 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。

The Secret

“Your secret is safe with me” was Ming’s promise when I told him that I wanted to learn ballet, which was unusual for boys and must be laughed at by most people in my place. I even dared not tell my parents about it.

Ming was my best friend at school. Wearing the same type of school uniform, Ming looked older and bigger, but we were the same age. We grew up together in the same neighbourhood and our parents knew each other well. Ming was always the first one to hear stories from me. I trusted him on everything and anything. One afternoon after school, we met at the balance bars on the school playground as usual. It was just the two of us. I gathered up courage and told him about my secret.

Ming seemed slightly surprised, but he soon smiled and agreed to keep it a secret for me, as he had done other times. We were best friends after all. After a few push-ups, we headed for our own homes.

The next morning, in the school corridor, just as I was about to wave at him and say hi, I noticed something was different. As soon as he saw me, he dropped his head and continued to walk on, avoiding eye contact with me. In the classroom, I couldn’t help casting frequent glimpses at his side—he wasn’t looking at me. In fact, he remained quiet all day. When the school bell rang, he picked up his schoolbag and left the classroom in a rush. Was it because of my secret? What did he do to my secret?

I ate very little that evening. Mum frowned when she saw the food I’d left in the bowl. Dad threw me a disapproving look and asked me how my day was. “It was OK,” I replied, “lots of homework to do.” I stood up, ready to leave the table.

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。

“Wait!” Dad raised his hand and gestured me to sit down.

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“Ming will remain your friend,” Dad comforted me.

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