1 . When I was a child, the new year’s activity for my family is dumpling-making, but it’s been years since I’ve last experienced the uniquely carefree comfort and connection I felt during moments. My family has changed a lot, and gatherings like these simply don’t come together with the same ease as they once did.
This year, I came home in the evening to a dark house with pieces missing. I noticed things that I wouldn’t have before, like how my family slept earlier and got up later and how my dog had more trouble jumping up on my bed. After all, it’s easier to become blind to its subtle changes when you occupy it virtually every day of the year, and much harder when you must be exposed to months of accumulated change all at once.
Personally, the most precious childhood privilege is not the free extra snacks from flight attendants, but the privilege of thinking of the people and relationships around you with a sense of permanence. I mean this in the sense that it escaped my eight-year-old brain to think about how my parents were aging as I did or about the sacrifices they made for me until suddenly, I was an adult as they were.
I turn 20 in a couple months, so I’ve been seized with a feeling of adulthood, which feels far stronger than the transition into legal adulthood at 18 ever felt. It seems as if the “teen” part of“19”keeps me attached to the same category as the one my newly 13-year-old self occupied, carrying with it a certain comfort in the social allowances made for the immaturity inherent (固有的) to youth. But marching into 20 is different.
I’d so desperately wanted to move away and get a taste of independence upon starting college, but now I know that such freedom comes with loss and responsibility. Now I start to understand the governance of a circularity (循环) inherent to our lives and have a newfound appreciation for the things that remain the same.
1. What does the underlined word “subtle” in paragraph 2mean?A.Obvious. | B.Sudden. | C.Unusual. | D.Unnoticeable. |
A.Everything would be the same. | B.His parents were becoming old. |
C.Free extra snacks were common. | D.His parents had done a lot to him. |
A.Physical maturity. | B.The social expectation. |
C.The loss of freedom. | D.The shift into legal adulthood. |
A.A newfound appreciation for life. | B.The difference between teens and adults. |
C.My passing memories of childhood. | D.My reflection on the switch into adulthood. |
2 . Art Appreciation
Art appreciation is an often overlooked skill. It’s more than simply looking at a piece of art and judging it based on what we see. It requires us to look deeper, beyond the surface into the artist’s intention.
The first step is to prepare yourself mentally. Before you begin viewing any artwork, take moments to clear your mind of what a piece you think should look like.
Besides, examine the artwork closely. Take note of its elements mentioned above. Consider how these elements work together to convey meaning or emotion in the piece. Notice how the work makes you feel.
Last but not least, sharing opinions on art also helps. Try discussing your thoughts on artwork with friends or family who may have different opinions. Taking the diverse understanding into consideration, you can approach viewing art work from different viewpoints. As a result, you can gain a new appreciation every time you look at it.
A.Relevant research counts as well. |
B.Engage all your senses and ask yourself questions. |
C.The process can bring you a fun and educational trip. |
D.Leave your feelings aside and check out the questions. |
E.To sum up, communication can also do good to your art appreciation. |
F.With the previous ideas, you can get well prepared for the appreciation. |
G.This will help you open up to different perspectives when exploring the work. |
Edward and Stephen were both eighteen years old. They were so together in friendship that they felt themselves to be brothers. They had known each other since childhood, growing up in the same block in Liverpool.
Edward was fair and lean, while Stephen was dark and short. Edward’s brown hair was always falling over his eyes, while Stephen wore his black hair in a natural style.
Each youngster had a dream of someday becoming champion of the world. Whenever they had time, the boys worked out at the Fencing (击剑) Club. Early morning sunrises would find them running along the Mersey River, wrapped in sweatshirts, with short towels around their necks.
Edward and Stephen studied hard and dreamt positively. Between them, they had a notebook filled with torn tickets of every fencing match they had ever attended. They each had taken part in many elimination bouts (淘汰赛) and had won many gold medals. The difference was in their style.
As fencers, Edward’s lean form and long reach made him better in attack, while Stephen’s short and muscular frame made him speed y in movement. Whenever they had met in the piste (击剑台), it had always been intense and competitive.
After a series of elimination bouts, they were informed that they were to meet each other in the finals next month —the winner to represent the Club in the Championship Tournament.
Fencing was like any other profession. The two boys knew friendship had nothing to do with it. But how would the competition affect their relationship? Everyday they continued to run together along the Mersey River. However, while joking with each other, they both sensed an invisible wall rising between them.
The day before the finals, they met as usual for their daily workout. After a mile or so, Stephen stopped.
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。
“I think we both got something to say to each other.” Stephen said.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As the two went onto the piste, the audience held their breath.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . Clair Hughes first began to research money-saving ideas to get out of her £3,500 student overdraft (透支额). The shopper started surfing the Internet for discount coupons (优惠券) and cut price offers. Revealing how she seldom pays full price for an item, Ms Hughes says, “Discounts are always there; it’s just a matter of being organized. Before starting this, I thought it’d be much work, but now I’m so used to this lifestyle that it’s automatic to me. I must have easily saved over £15,000.”
Ms Hughes first focused on saving money back in 2010, when she moved in with her partner, Shane Byrne, a phone company trainer. After turning to the web for advice, she tried out a few clever money-saving tricks like switching her overdraft to a zero-interest account. Then, several years later, she came across an online community for “couponers” and decided to give it a go.
She started spending hours surfing the web for coupons, printing them all out to take with her whenever she went shopping. Over the years, she has managed to get some impressive catches. Once, two lamps worth £140 cost her just £35.
Two years ago, Ms Hughes also began using cashback apps where you are given money back on items ranging from beers to toiletries. After each shop, she uploads pictures of her receipts, which are then scanned, and money is given back on certain items.
Among her other top money-saving tips, Ms Hughes recommends taking part in paid online surveys, which have earned her hundreds in discount coupons. She says, “I’ve heard a lot about collecting other people’s abandoned receipts from shopping trolleys to check for missed discounts. I can’t believe how much coupons and cashback apps have helped me. The community does benefit me a lot. There will always be someone on hand to explain how it works.”
1. What does saving money mean to Clair Hughes?A.It’s part of her daily life. | B.It makes her shop less. |
C.It’s a way to leave school. | D.It keeps her work organized. |
A.She always asks Shane for suggestions. |
B.She likes going shopping with her friends. |
C.She has bought some goods in low prices. |
D.She is good at discussing prices with others. |
A.Hughes’ feelings of her life. | B.Hughes’ ways to get coupons. |
C.Hughes’ appreciation for society. | D.Hughes’ difficulty in saving money. |
A.A Graduate Enjoys Shopping | B.A Community Collects Coupons |
C.A Woman Focuses on Saving Money | D.A Shopper Is Famous for Saving Money |
5 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration
It was a
Facing the desperate situation, I could
5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly
Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can
A.limits | B.decreases | C.heightens | D.changes |
A.tough | B.competitive | C.crazy | D.close |
A.lose | B.win | C.tie | D.restart |
A.adjustments | B.reservations | C.efforts | D.mistakes |
A.call | B.make | C.leave | D.take |
A.defense | B.attack | C.celebration | D.relief |
A.figured | B.tried | C.pointed | D.stuck |
A.Sighing | B.Breathing | C.Regretting | D.Struggling |
A.attention | B.interest | C.insight | D.appreciation |
A.confused | B.desperate | C.exhausted | D.uneasy |
A.right | B.impossible | C.opposite | D.previous |
A.swollen | B.bright | C.sharp | D.bloodshot |
A.wild | B.silent | C.mad | D.deaf |
A.Going against | B.Cutting off | C.Holding to | D.Recovering from |
A.wonder | B.determine | C.predict | D.consider |
6 . According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hundreds of marine (海洋的) species across the world come under endangered and critically endangered categories. Some of the endangered and recognizable marine species are named here.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, also known as the Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle, is endangered as the rarest and smallest sea turtle.
Distributed throughout the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Atlantic seaboard, they gather off the coast in northeastern Mexico and come ashore in large groups to lay eggs every year. As marine reptiles (爬行动物), they are threatened by oil spills, lack of food and marine pollution.
Vaquita
As a rare marine mammal, Vaquita is on the edge of extinction only a half-century after its first sighting.
Extensive fishing in the Gulf of California has endangered this marine species, resulting in a gradual drop in population since the 1940s. According to reports, there are only a dozen of these marine mammals left in the world since the percentage of decline in their population was as much as 90% since 2011.
Whale
Fin Whale is the second-largest mammal on the planet after Blue Whale and it is also a victim of hunting. According to estimates, the global population of Fin Whale ranges from below 100,000 to around 119,000.
Humpback Whale, another whale species, has also been listed as an endangered marine species. Before the introduction of the whaling moratorium (暂停) in 1966, the species was hunted for its fur, while the population dropped by 90%. Currently, around 2,500 Humpback Whales survive in the world.
Hawaiian Monk Seal
A native of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the earless seals who live on warm beaches, unlike other seals.
According to recent research, only 1,400 Hawaiian Monk Seals remain on the Islands. These seals are mainly threatened by predators like tiger sharks. Besides, other reasons like habitat loss and food limitation also contribute to their critical situation.
1. Why do Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles land on the beach in large groups?A.To nest. | B.To reproduce. | C.To avoid attack. | D.To hunt foods. |
A.Global warming. | B.Lack of food. | C.Natural enemies. | D.Habitat pollution. |
A.Vaquita. | B.Fin Whale. | C.Humpback Whale. | D.Hawaiian Monk Seal. |
7 . Recently, I took him for a classic English afternoon tea at The Ritz Hotel. The thought of showing him a piece of authentic British life excited me for weeks, so when we finally sat down in the Ritz’s elegant tearoom, with the sound of a pianist in the background, I was thrilled.
I looked at the polished silver tea stand topped with finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones (烤饼), and mouthwatering pastries and teacakes. I was ready to dig in. Then I looked at Dad and a trace of nervousness flashed across his face. He carefully copied what I ate and how to use the knife and fork, and from time to time anxiously looked up at the waiter in his bow tie who was serving our table.
When we got to the scones, Dad took a big bite and remarked how delicious it was. He asked me to explain how the British eat scones, so I supplied him with details about the custom of breaking scones into small pieces, spreading cream and strawberry jam on top, before consuming each piece in one mouthful.
“Oh, why did you not tell me earlier?” Dad’s face turned red in embarrassment, suddenly realizing his mistake. For the rest of the scones session, he busied himself with neatly spreading the cream and jam like an obedient (听话的) child.
Suddenly, I felt a complex mixture of happiness, sadness and loneliness. Growing up, Dad was my hero, my mountain. I still remember flying into his arms after school at the kindergarten gate. Through the sound of his voice, I learned to feel and understand the world.
After moving to London alone, I have learned to achieve academic grades, found a job, and started a new life all by myself. But I did not fully realize how much I had grown up, until I saw how dependent Dad was on me in London. Although he is still a mountain in my heart, I realized I have in the meantime built a strong mountain of my own. And by being away from Dad’s protective wings I have come to understand more of myself and to find my own place in the world.
1. Why did the author take her father for a classic English afternoon tea?A.The food in the restaurant was delicious. |
B.She wanted her father to experience real British life. |
C.Her father was deeply attracted by the elegant tearoom. |
D.She intended to introduce an excellent restaurant to her father. |
A.Disappointed and painful. | B.Embarrassed and desperate. |
C.Nervous and cautious. | D.Sorrowful and helpless. |
A.She had a happy childhood. | B.She had achieved a lot in academic area. |
C.Her father was not her mountain any more. | D.She should be the person for her father to rely on. |
A.An eating experience changed a father. | B.Eating with Dad strengthened our relationship. |
C.Dining environment was vital for a restaurant. | D.Living alone enhanced a person’s independence. |
8 . Smartphones allow us to do some great things.
TikTok is an app used for making music videos that can be shared with others. It provides some parts of popular songs. People can use the songs as background music in their videos.
Users can communicate with each other by leaving comments (评论) or giving “likes” on a video.
The app doesn’t just help make its users more popular.
TikTok is a form of social media (媒体). It is fun for anyone who likes to be creative or enjoys the creativity of others.
A.Its users are certainly creative. |
B.We can hardly live without technology. |
C.Users with popular videos can become famous within the app. |
D.It presents the world’s knowledge that matters in everyday life. |
E.Others record themselves playing games or doing something very exciting. |
F.Some musicians’ songs used in the app have also enjoyed great popularity. |
G.We can play games, search for information online, take photos and watch videos. |
9 . In the eyes of many environmentalists, the world appears to be getting worse. They believe, the natural resources are running out and the air and water are becoming ever more polluted. But if we check the facts, things look different. Energy has become more abundant, not less so. Fewer people are starving. What seems to cause this gap between perception and reality?
One factor is the prejudice in scientific research. Scientific funding goes mainly to areas with many problems. That may be wise policy, but it will also create an impression that there are more potential problems than actually exist.
Secondly, environmental groups seek attention from the mass media. They also need to get continuous financial support. Understandably, perhaps, they sometimes exaggerate (夸大) their arguments. In 1997, for example, the World Wide Fund for Nature issued a statement titled: “Two thirds of the world’s forests lost forever”. The truth turns out to be near 20%.
The media can add to confusion too. People tend to be more curious about bad news than good. Newspapers and broadcasters are there to provide what the public wants. That, however, can lead to significant misinterpretations. For example, when a natural disaster happens, the media usually highlights the negative parts, giving more attention to the disaster’s details and what happens afterward. This flood of bad news can make people think that such events are more frequent or serious than they actually are. Consequently, people may develop a sense of insecurity, despite statistically low probabilities of similar events happening to them.
Another factor is people’s poor perception. People worry that vaccines can cause severe side effects or long-term health problems. Despite extensive scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, some individuals remain hesitant due to unfounded fears.
It is crucial that we look at the facts if we want to make the best possible decisions for the future. It may be costly to be overly optimistic – but more costly still to be too pessimistic.
1. What aspect of scientific research does the writer worry about in paragraph 2?A.The need to produce results. | B.The selection of research areas. |
C.The lack of financial support. | D.The desire to solve research problem. |
A.To show how influential the mass media can be. |
B.To show how effective environmental groups can be. |
C.To show how the mass media can help groups raise funds. |
D.To show how environmental groups overstate their claims. |
A.educate readers | B.mislead readers |
C.meet readers’ expectations | D.encourage readers’ feedback |
A.Making decisions based on reality. | B.Balancing optimism and pessimism. |
C.Being optimistic to avoid costly mistakes. | D.Addressing the environmental crisis gradually. |
10 . The reopening of an Asian American-owned bookstore in Manhattan's Chinatown following a January fire has received a warm welcome back from its supporters.
Yu &. Me Books, which is regarded as the first female-owned Asian American bookshop in New York City, has raised more than $369,000 for repairs since a tragic fire on January 4. It reopened on Wednesday. "We are so excited to welcome you all back to our Yu &. Me Books home," the store announced on Instagram. "We can't wait to shed tears, laugh loudly and open our hearts with all of you who have made us feel at home."
The fire in an apartment above the bookstore on Mulberry Street killed one of the building's residents. Smoke and water damage also devastated Yu & Me Books, destroying almost all its inventory and equipment, according to a GoFundMe campaign that store owner Lucy Yu set up to make up for the costs.
During the restoration and renovation (翻新) of the original bookstore, the business operated from a location within The Market Line, an underground marketplace on the Lower East Side, and several pop-up shops (临时店铺) in the city.
"It was a bookstore I always wanted to visit, and I'm so happy that they were able to reopen," Charlotte Leinbach, a teacher for New York City's Education Department said. Leinbach hadn't been to the bookstore before the fire, but she had heard quite a bit about its fate. She bought two books, the second and third in the series Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
"It's hard to find a lot of books written in Japanese, and then translated into English," she said. "The design of the bookstore is really nice, and the layout is great. I am glad that they also sell used books. I love buying new books because it's fresh and it's nice, but it's always nice to see people in the community giving their books back and reselling and just passing them on." She said she will continue to support the women-run small businesses that focus on people and authors of color.
"I actually came on the day of the opening, but there were too many people, and it was too crowded, so I just haven't had a chance to look at it," Liam Li, another Asian American, said. "This place is unique. It's in Chinatown. As Asians live in New York City, I feel this offers the most space for the community. I understand like a minority in this society, it is not easy to have a store like this," she added.
1. Which word can replace the underlined one "inventory" in Paragraph 2?A.Curtains. | B.Switches. | C.Goods. | D.Chairs. |
A.By applying to the government for money. |
B.By getting money from an insurance company. |
C.By raising money from her friends and relatives. |
D.By collecting money from a fund on the Internet. |
A.She often gave a hand to the store owner before the fire. |
B.She sang high praise for the arrangement of the store. |
C.She prefers to buy used books rather than new ones. |
D.She translates books as her part-time job. |
A.Chinatown bookstore's reopening welcomed |
B.Smoke and water damage destroy Chinatown bookstore |
C.Yu &. Me Books-first female-owned Asian American bookshop in NYC |
D.Chinatown bookstore in New York City means a lot to Asian Americans |