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。

Xiao long bao (soup dumplings), those amazing constructions of delicate dumpling wrappers, encasing hot,     1     (taste) soup and sweet, fresh meat, are far and away my favorite Chinese street food. The dumplings arrive steaming and dangerously hot. To eat one, you have to decide whether     2     (bite) a small hole in it first, releasing the stream and risking a spill (溢出),     3     to put the whole dumpling in your mouth, letting the hot soup explode on your tongue. Shanghai may be the     4     (recognize) home of the soup dumplings but food historians will actually point you to the neighboring canal town of Nanxiang as Xiao long Bao’s birthplace. There you will find them prepared differently — more dumpling and less soup, and the wrappers are pressed     5     hand rather than rolled. Nanxiang aside, the best Xiao long bao have a fine skin, allowing them     6     (lift) out of the steamer basket without tearing or spilling any of     7     (they) contents. The meat should be fresh with     8     touch of sweetness and the soup hot, clear and delicious.

No matter where I buy them, one steamer is     9     (rare) enough, yet two seems greedy, so I am always left     10     (want) more next time.

2 . On March 7, 1907, the English statistician Francis Galton published a paper which illustrated what has come to be known as the “wisdom of crowds” effect. The experiment of estimation he conducted showed that in some cases, the average of a large number of independent estimates could be quite accurate.

This effect capitalizes on the fact that when people make errors, those errors aren’t always the same. Some people will tend to overestimate, and some to underestimate. When enough of these errors are averaged together, they cancel each other out, resulting in a more accurate estimate. If people are similar and tend to make the same errors, then their errors won’t cancel each other out. In more technical terms, the wisdom of crowds requires that people’s estimates be independent. If for whatever reasons, people’s errors become correlated or dependent, the accuracy of the estimate will go down.

But a new study led by Joaquin Navajas offered an interesting twist (转折) on this classic phenomenon. The key finding of the study was that when crowds were further divided into smaller groups that were allowed to have a discussion, the averages from these groups were more accurate than those from an equal number of independent individuals. For instance, the average obtained from the estimates of four discussion groups of five was significantly more accurate than the average obtained from 20 independent individuals.

In a follow-up study with 100 university students, the researchers tried to get a better sense of what the group members actually did in their discussion. Did they tend to go with those most confident about their estimates? Did they follow those least willing to change their minds? This happened some of the time, but it wasn’t the dominant response. Most frequently, the groups reported that they “shared arguments and reasoned together”. Somehow, these arguments and reasoning resulted in a global reduction in error. Although the studies led by Navajas have limitations and many questions remain, the potential implications for group discussion and decision-making are enormous.

1. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?

A．The methods of estimation.	B．The underlying logic of the effect.
C．The causes of people’s errors.	D．The design of Galton’s experiment.

2. Navajas’ study found that the average accuracy could increase even if ________.

A．the crowds were relatively small	B．there were occasional underestimates
C．individuals did not communicate	D．estimates were not fully independent

3. What did the follow-up study focus on?

A．The size of the groups.	B．The dominant members.
C．The discussion process.	D．The individual estimates.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward Navajas’ studies?

A．Unclear.

B．Dismissive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Approving.

3 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.

Yellow Hostel

If I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.

Hostel Alessandro Palace

If you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.

Youth Station Hostel

If you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.

1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?

A．Comfort.	B．Security.
C．Price.	D．Location.

2. Which hotel best suits people who enjoy an active social life?

A．Yellow Hostel.	B．Hostel Alessandro Palace.
C．Youth Station Hostel.	D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes.

3. What is the disadvantage of Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes?

A．It gets noisy at night.	B．Its staff is too talkative.
C．It charges for Wi-Fi.	D．It’s inconveniently located.

4 . My life as a tax-paying employed person began in middle school, when, for three whole days, I worked in a baking factory.

My best friend Betsy’s father was a manager at Hough Bakeries, which, at Easter time, _________ little bunny (兔子) cakes for all its _________throughout Cleveland. It happened that the plant downtown needed eight kids for _________ help during our spring break, for which I had no_________ beyond listening to my favorite records. I’d _________ minimum wage. I’d see how a factory_________. My parents thought all of this was a grand idea and called Betsy’s dad with their _________.

Our_________in the factory were simple: Place cakes on a moving belt. Attach icing (糖霜) ears. Apply icing eyes and nose._________ bunny from the belt. This was ____________ than it sounds.____________ a bit and the cakes pile up. As I told my parents at dinner that first night, it was all a little more high-pressure than I’d   ____________ .

Dad __________. The son of a grocer, he’d spent the summers of his childhood____________ food in Benardsville, New Jersey. This was the sort of work that made you____________ the dollars you earned and respect those who did the work, he told me.

1.

A．sold

B．ordered

C．made

D．reserved

2.

A．stores

B．families

C．schools

D．citizens

3.

A．generous

B．financial

C．technical

D．temporary

4.

A．plans

B．problems

C．excuses

D．hobbies

5.

A．offer

B．earn

C．set

D．suggest

6.

A．worked

B．closed

C．developed

D．survived

7.

A．ambition

B．permission

C．experience

D．invitation

8.

A．joys

B．ideas

C．roles

D．choices

9.

A．Save

B．Keep

C．Stop

D．Remove

10.

A．harder

B．better

C．longer

D．cheaper

11.

A．Calm down

B．Slow down

C．Stay on

D．Move on

12.

A．indicated

B．witnessed

C．expected

D．remembered

13.

A．cried

B．smiled

C．hesitated

D．refused

14.

A．tasting

B．finding

C．sharing

D．delivering

15.

A．withdraw

B．donate

C．receive

D．appreciate

5 . Conscious (有意识的) living is not just a trend.     1     It is about being intentional with everything you do — your words, actions, beliefs, habits, and choices. Accepting conscious living takes some effort, but it is worthwhile. Here are some ways you can achieve this goal.

●Be conscious about your time.

Time is the most precious thing because there is no way to live a moment again.     2     If you waste your precious hours doing negative things, you will regret it later. The first step for living consciously is to be wise about your time. Be selective about things you spend it on, and allocate (分配) it for positive activities.

●    3    

You cannot achieve them unless you understand your needs and intentions. It is easier said than done because most people fail to make an effort to know themselves. Spend time thinking over and knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Once you know yourself better, you can create a plan to work towards becoming more patient, honest, and forgiving.

●Learn to be grateful.

Gratitude takes you a long way towards conscious living. It opens you up to a happier and a fulfilled mindset. Most people are unhappy because they see only the negatives in life. However, everyone has something to be grateful for. Writing a gratitude journal is a good start for counting your blessings.     4    

●Believe in yourself.

It is the key to making the right choices, yet not regretting the wrong ones.     5     Spending time alone and thinking deeply are effective measures that enable you to identify the inner voice. Care for it and follow it to make it stronger down the line.

Conscious living is a skill you need to learn as you go, so be willing to make the effort and master it. You will absorb it soon and be a happier person in the long run.

A．Know yourself better.

B．Accept the person you are.

C．Life can be a lot better with the right decisions.

D．It is a healthy choice that enables you to be happy.

E．Pick it as a daily habit, and you will notice the difference.

F．The way you spend your time determines the course of your life.

G．The best way to build self-belief is by reflecting on your own thoughts.

6 . How to Organize Your Digital Files

Searching for a file on your computer is a whole lot easier than digging through a pile of papers, yet it’s far from being a perfect system. Lately, it’s been hit-or-miss for me.     1     I hope some of these tips will help you.

Use “resources”, “in progress”, “final”, and “scrap” folders for projects.

There are plenty of ways to title your subfolders for projects, but one of the most intuitive(使用简便的) is to have folders for stages of your project.     2    

The “resources” folder is for things like images, documents, and other items that are needed to complete your project.     3    “Final,” as you might imagine, is for the project files once the project has been approved and is done. “Scrap” is for anything you want to save from the project that doesn’t belong in the “final” folder.

    4    

It’s near impossible to find a photo quickly when you have thousands of photos all named something like “20211108_0978234.jpg.” So for photos, I like to have a date structure and folders for key events or categories, such as: 2021 ＞01 (for the month)＞2021-01 Mom and Dad 50 Anniversary LA. This way, you can either browse your photos by year and month or search for folders that include “Mom”, “Dad”, “Anniversary”, or “LA.”

Use tags.

In addition to creating a folder structure that works for you, consider tagging files.     5     Say, for example, you want to see all of your photos for all of your holiday celebrations. You can set up a tag for “holidays.” And then to narrow down the results, you can search using the tag.

A．With tags, you can connect multiple files across folders.

B．For photos, use a date structure and keywords for your folders.

C．This way, you can always know which is the final project file to grab.

D．The standards will keep files organized and make them easier on the eye.

E．“In progress” is for the current working version or versions of the project.

F．To find files more efficiently, I’ve been rearranging my digital filing system.

G．Move your photos to a more specific folder or back them up on an external storage device.

7 . It’s often the simple things in life that make the most significant impact on us. It was late one afternoon in mid-September. My three-month-old son was napping in his ______. As I wandered through our living room, I happened to _______my balcony window. Puddles (水坑) had _______the ground and the rain had slowed.

Down below _______a boy of about four. Filled with a mixture of fascination and happiness, he stomped (踩) through the puddle, mud and _______flying. He walked, stomped, splashed through that puddle ______, happily enjoying what mother nature had left for him.

Not more than ten feet away stood his mother. She didn’t scold him. _______, she watched with a pleasant smile on her face and stood _______. As for me, it was a (n)_______moment that changed the way I will forever view my role as a mother.

The little boy probably will _______each afternoon that his mother takes him outside, as he _______. He may not remember each little thing that happens each time his mother lets him _______his world. But he will remember that his mother _______him and he will know that she helps him to learn and grow in a pleasant and fun environment.

Maybe we can all learn from the innocence of _______that views a rainstorm not as something to run through or to avoid, but something meant to explore, to _______ and to love.

1.

A．desk

B．bed

C．toy

D．chair

2.

A．jump at

B．turn around

C．look out of

D．stare at

3.

A．formed

B．left

C．saved

D．collected

4.

A．waved

B．trembled

C．stood

D．slid

5.

A．birds

B．cars

C．ash

D．water

6.

A．by and by

B．up and down

C．now and then

D．over and over

7.

A．Instead

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Also

8.

A．still

B．hesitantly

C．anxiously

D．close

9.

A．embarrassing

B．confusing

C．touching

D．exhausting

10.

A．experience

B．remember

C．forget

D．recall

11.

A．grows up

B．loses heart

C．turns in

D．cries out

12.

A．visit

B．explore

C．find

D．understand

13.

A．loves

B．helps

C．scolds

D．kisses

14.

A．youth

B．childhood

C．adolescence

D．adulthood

15.

A．enjoy

B．share

C．stop

D．await

8 . I was never very neat. Yet, when I arrived at college, my roommate didn't seem to appreciate my _________. I am not sure why they_________us together. Kim was extremely organized. She_________everything and each item she owned had its place. We were always having a hard time with each other. She would be mad at my dirty clothes and I would_________washing powder headaches. She would push my clothing over to one side and I would lay one of my books on her_________desk.

However, it all came to an end one late evening and I didn't even know why we had both returned to each other's_________. When the phone rang, she picked it up and I could tell from her end of the conversation that her father was_________ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled under her covers and I could hear her quiet_________. Though I didn't mean for it to happen, I could feel the warm feelings of_________rising up in my heart. It was something no girl should__________alone. What to do? I smiled as I got the idea.

Slowly, I began to clear up my side of the room. I took back the__________I had set on her desk. I got so__________in my work that I didn't even notice Kim had come out from under the covers. She was watching my every move, her tears dried and her expression one of__________. When I was finally done, I went and sat at the end of her bed. Her hand was warm as it__________over to grasp mine. I looked up into Kim's eyes and she smiled at me.

Kim and I stayed roommates for the rest of that year. We didn't always see eye to eye, but we learned the__________to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1.

A．untidiness

B．dignity

C．privilege

D．capability

2.

A．persuaded

B．stuck

C．limited

D．recorded

3.

A．recognized

B．acquired

C．simplified

D．labeled

4.

A．puzzle about

B．inquire about

C．complain about

D．joke about

5.

A．newly-furnished

B．neatly-arranged

C．fully-occupied

D．well-designed

6.

A．annoyance

B．company

C．responsibility

D．absence

7.

A．deadly

B．slightly

C．moderately

D．gradually

8.

A．breathing

B．murmuring

C．warning

D．sobbing

9.

A．forgiveness

B．anxiety

C．understanding

D．comfort

10.

A．sort out

B．come across

C．switch off.

D．go through

11.

A．book

B．sock

C．clothing

D．pencil

12.

A．absorbed

B．relieved

C．overwhelmed

D．deserted

13.

A．disappointment

B．nervousness

C．disbelief

D．frustration

14.

A．knocked

B．reached

C．swept

D．got

15.

A．aim

B．agreement

C．objection

D．key

9 . The topic “slash youth”,   referring to those refusing to be defined or bound by just one personal identity and choosing to undertake multiple careers, has fueled heated debate on social media. On Douban, a Chinese social networking platform, the topic has attracted about 11,000posts and has been viewed over 400 million times. China’s young people are keen to share their slash youth stories online, presenting themselves as multiple and sometimes distinct identities, such as a nurse and model, a teacher and stand-up comedian, and an engineer and musician.

Xing Eryang, a 31-year-old female resident in Beijing, founded the Douban topic in 2021.While staying diligent about her daytime work, she is developing her hobbies, including stand-up comedy and vlogging, into secondary careers during her spare time. And she is amazed to find her “slash life” philosophy followed by so many of her peers.

Weiheng, a 26-year-old woman in Guangzhou, and Tang Yuhan, a 27-year-old man in Xuancheng city, Anhui province, are both participants in the topic, with their stories earning thousands of likes so far. The two are both musicians in their spare time, even though they are thousands of miles apart and have different jobs in media and finance. Their passion for music has grown since college and they didn’t abandon their enthusiasm, even after entering the workplace.

Their reaction showed the gap between the young and former generations. “My parents used to say,   ‘music cannot earn you money’,   so the band thing was regarded as a waste of time. However,   we want to pursue whatever we love and are willing to pay for it.” says Weiheng.

“The ‘slash life’ mania(狂热)shows that, along with China’s economic development, our society is becoming more and more diversified and inclusive, and it welcomes everyone’s self-fulfillment,” says Shi Yanrong, an   associate researcher from Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences. “Young people no longer have to rely on work and money for their sense of self-worth. They tend to practice a carpe diem(活在当下)philosophy and create their own identities.”

1. What are “slash youth” more likely to do?

A．Create a topic on Douban.

B．Take diverse occupations.

C．Become a stand-up comedian.

D．Share their own stories online.

2. Which of the following amazes Xing Eryang?

A．Other young people’s positive response.

B．Hobbies developed while working.

C．The growing social networking platform.

D．Thousands of likes earned on Douban.

3. What did Weiheng and Tang Yuhan do to pursue their musical career?

A．They sent their stories online to gain more funds.

B．They shared similar interests in both their hobbies and jobs.

C．They never lost passion for music even if they had to quit college.

D．They stuck with their dream despite the older generation’s opinion.

4. According to Shi Yanrong, what is our society’s attitude to the “slash life”?

A．Doubtful.	B．Supportive.
C．Unfavorable.	D．Indifferent.

10 . On January 7, David Bennett went into the operating room at the University of Maryland Medical Center for a surgical procedure never performed before on a human. The 57-year-old Maryland resident had been hospitalized for months due to a life threatening disease. His heart was failing him and he needed a new one.

Bennett’s condition left him unresponsive to treatment and ineligible (不合格) for the transplant list or an artificial heart pump. The physician-scientists at the center, however, had another-also risky- option: transplant (移植) a heart from a genetically-modified pig.

“It was either die or do this transplant,” Bennett had told surgeons a day before the operation. “I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s also my last choice.”

It took the medical team eight hours to finish the operation, making Bennett the first human to successfully receive a pig’s heart. “It’s working and it looks normal. We are thrilled, but we don’t know what tomorrow will bring us. This has never been done before,” Barkley Griffith, who led the transplant team, told the New York Times.

While it’s only been five days since the operation, the surgeons say that Bennett’s new pig heart was, so far, functioning as expected and his body wasn’t rejecting (排斥) the organ. They are still monitoring his condition closely.

“I think it’s extremely exciting,” says Robert Montgomery, transplant surgeon and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who was not involved in Bennett’s operation. The result of the procedure was also personally meaningful for Montgomery, who received a heart transplant in 2018 due to a genetic disease that may also affect members of his family in the future. “It’s still in the early days, but still the heart seems to be functioning. And that in and of itself is an extraordinary thing. Up to now most experimental heart transplant procedures have been done between pigs and other animals. This is the first time that surgeons have taken it into a living human.”

1. What do the words “a shot in the dark” underlined in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Something that costs a fortune.

B．Something impossible to succeed.

C．Something drawing public attention.

D．Something with an uncertain outcome.

2. What is Barkley Griffith’s attitude to Bennett’s post-operation condition?

A．Negative.

B．Cautious.

C．Optimistic.

D．Uncaring.

3. What is the text mainly about?

A．The heated debate over the pig heart transplant.

B．David Bennett’s contribution to medical research.

C．The first experimental pig heart transplant in the world.

D．The first successful pig heart transplant into a living human.

4. In which section of a magazine may this text appear?

A．Political Affairs.

B．Global Entertainment.

C．Sci-Tech Front.

D．Financial Window.