2 . Bailey Martin’s running route starts on the gray gravel(沙砾)of her family’s driveway. She’ll run around the seven large bins and a garage on their farm. One full lap around is perfect for a runner like Martin. It’s exactly 400 meters.

“If you can balance running at full speed on gravel, you can do that on the track too. I’ve definitely fallen a few times taking these corners a bit too sharp,” Martin said. It’s a small price to pay for Martin, who enjoys the familiarity of the route. Every little thing helps when you’re blind.

At age 12, Martin was discovered to have acute macular neuroretinopathy, a rare disease without a known cure. About six months later, it cost Martin her vision. She was blind.

Martin didn’t want to give up sports —she didn’t want to lose the most important part of her life. Her mother said, “She hit lots of trees. She hit every ditch(沟渠). It didn’t stop her. If she wants to do it, she’ll figure it out.”

Martin’s story reached officials at OrCam, a technology company. The company developed a product called MyEye, which was created to help the visually impaired(受损的). The product sits on a user’s glasses and with a camera, takes pictures of text, faces or other things. It then reads back what it sees to the user through a small microphone near the ear.

An OrCam official wanted to try it out on some users. The company was looking for visually impaired people with athletic backgrounds. Martin was suggested. OrCam told her to make a tape telling her story. The tape inspired company officials.

Martin is driven to keep going and keep competing. The fact that she’s overcome as much as she has even surprises and inspires herself.

“I look at my past self as more of an inspiration,” Martin said. “Sometimes, I look back and appreciate how I got through and became the person that I am.”

1. Why does Bailey Martin run on her family’s driveway?

A．Her familiarity with it helps her practice running.

B．Its speed on the gravel is perfect for her.

C．Its sharp corners help her work out.

D．Her family asks her to run on it.

2. What do we know about MyEye?

A．It helps the blind to live independently.

B．It is mainly for athletes with eye problems.

C．It can record voice and video automatically.

D．It is a pair of glasses with a camera fixed inside.

3. Which of the following can best describe Bailey Martin?

A．Shy but smart.

B．Proud and unfriendly.

C．Reliable and generous.

D．Unfortunate but determined.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To introduce a company that helps the disabled live better.

B．To praise the hard work athletes do in their life.

C．To analyze a strange and terrible eye disease.

D．To tell an inspirational story of a teenager.

3 . Four amazing books for children

TrooFriend

Sarah’s parents are always busy, so they invest in the latest artificial intelligence —a TrooFriend560 Mark IV—to keep their daughter company. Having a robot friend may not be as straightforward as they expect, though, especially when it starts to develop human feelings.

Polly Pecorino

When Mr. and Mrs. Snell, the dishonest owners of Happy Days Zoo, steal a baby bear, it’s up to Polly Pecorino to help. Can she be brave enough to stand up to the Snells and return the bear cub to the woods? Full of attractive pictures, this is a lovely story of a kindly girl and a lost bear.

Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers

Tilly has lived above her grandmother’s bookshop ever since her mother disappeared. One day, Tilly realizes that characters from books are appearing in the shop. With the help of the main characters in Anne of Green Gables and Alice in Wonderland, Tilly sets out to discover what happened to her mother.

Laugh Out Loud

Written by James Patterson, this book is about 12-year-old Jimmy’s attempts to set up a book company that is run by people of his own age. Jimmy loves reading and uses this as an inspiration for the company, making it as imaginative and fun as Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. The book has lots of funny and clever references to other books for young people.

1. What problem do Sarah’s family have with their robot friend?

A．It isn’t good at helping children learn.	B．It doesn’t give wanted care and love.
C．It speaks too straightforwardly.	D．It has emotions like humans.

2. What do the last two books have in common?

A．They make mention of other children’s books.	B．They are stories about running a business.
C．They talk about family relationships.	D．They inspire children to help others.

3. Which book best suits children who care about animals?

A．TrooFriend.	B．Polly Pecorino.
C．Laugh Out Loud.	D．Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers.

4 . According to a recent study, individuals born in the 1970s exhibited brain volumes (容量) that were 6.6% larger and brain surface areas nearly 15% greater than those of people born in the 1930s. “The decade someone is born appears to impact brain size and potentially long-term brain health,” said Charles DeCarli, first author of the study. “Genetic (遗传) factors play a major role in determining brain size, but our findings indicate external influences — such as health, social, cultural, and educational factors — may also play a role.”

The researchers used brain MRIs (磁共振成像) from participants. The MRIs were conducted between 1999 and 2019 with participants born during the 1930s through the 1970s. The brain study consisted of 3,226 participants (53% female, 47%male) with an average age of about 57 at the time of the examination.

The research compared the MRIs of people born in the 1930s to those born in the 1970s. It found gradual but consistent increases in several brain structures. For example, a measure that looked at brain volumes showed steady increases decade by decade. For participants born in the 1930s, the average volume was 1,234 milliliters, but for those in the 1970s, the volume was 1,321 milliliters, or about 6.6% greater volume.

Around 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, a serious disease, especially affecting older people. That number is expected to rise to 11. 2 million by 2040. Although the numbers are rising with America’s aging population, the percentage of the population   affected by the disease is decreasing. A previous study also found a 20 percent reducation in the cases of dementia (精神错乱) per decade.

“Larger brain structures may reflect improved brain development and improved brain health,” DeCarli said. “A larger brain structure represents a larger brain reserve and may reduce the ate-life effects of late-related brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.”

1. What did the recent study mainly find?

A．Human brains are getting larger.

B．Humans become increasingly clever.

C．Human brain volumes have increased 15% on average.

D．Humans born in the 1970s are healthier than those in the 1930s.

2. What may Charles DeCarli agree with?

A．Genetic factors impact long-term brain health.

B．External factors also influence human brain size.

C．The bigger the brain is, the healthier a person is.

D．The decade someone is born shows the exact brain size.

3. How did the researchers get their final findings?

A．By doing field trips.	B．By exploring reasons.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By referring to similar studies.

4. What can the increased brain size probably lead to?

A．Unpredictable brain structure changes.

B．Less impact from age-related brain diseases.

C．Development of new brain-protecting drugs.

D．Faster recovery for patients with brain diseases.

5 . I never considered myself a person for hiking. But on my first trip to the Republic of Georgia, every traveler I _________ spoke about a hike in the Greater Caucasus Mountains that I absolutely couldn’t _________.

That’s why I decided to have a _________ — hiking from Kazbegi Town to Gergeti Trinity Church. Though the trip is a short one, based on the church’s location atop a mountain, I knew it was going to be a _________ climb — especially after six weeks of traveling around.

I _________ Kazbegi Town on a cold, foggy afternoon and decided to begin the hiking to the _________ the next morning. Luckily, a(n)_________ over the breakfast table at my guesthouse _________ me. I got chatting with a couple who had done the hike and had a crucial _________ for me: Don’t follow the __________ route, but instead, take the path on the left side of the mountain.

As it turned out, the main route — the route everyone else __________ — was impossibly steep(陡峭的), but the lesser-walked path was a __________ path along a mountain stream. Had I tried to take the main path, I never would have __________ the walk; however, following this easier route, I __________ something totally foreign: A hike I actually enjoyed! I felt so proud.

If it weren’t for that first hiking in the Republic of Georgia, I don’t think I would have had the courage to __________ myself to other hikes.

1.

A．met

B．interviewed

C．guided

D．assisted

2.

A．climb

B．witness

C．miss

D．admire

3.

A．guess

B．look

C．rest

D．try

4.

A．rapid

B．disturbing

C．formal

D．tough

5.

A．escaped from

B．moved to

C．arrived in

D．walked around

6.

A．town

B．church

C．hotel

D．valley

7.

A．encounter

B．quarrel

C．decision

D．inspiration

8.

A．encouraged

B．saved

C．satisfied

D．transformed

9.

A．training

B．request

C．task

D．tip

10.

A．main

B．quick

C．easy

D．crowded

11.

A．drew

B．took

C．recognized

D．approached

12.

A．narrow

B．gentle

C．long

D．famous

13.

A．anticipated

B．discovered

C．began

D．finished

14.

A．ignored

B．explained

C．experienced

D．investigated

15.

A．limit

B．apply

C．challenge

D．reduce

6 . Esmeralda

This Portuguese ship sank off the coast of Oman in 1503. First discovered in 1998 and then extensively excavated (发掘) by a team led by David Mearns between 2013 and 2015, it is the oldest shipwreck (沉船) recovered from Europe’s Age of Exploration.

Black Sea Shipwreck

Discovered in 2018 by a team from the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project, the ship sank more than 2,400 years ago. It is the oldest undamaged shipwreck ever found. “A ship in such good condition from the classical world, is something I would never have believed possible,” said Professor Jon Adams, the principal investigator of the team that found the wreck.

Gribshunden

The flagship of John, King of Denmark, caught fire and sank in the Baltic Sea in 1495. There, it lay undiscovered until members of a local dive club came across it in the 1970s; unaware of its significance, they did not report it to archaeologists until 2000, and not until 2013 was the wreck’s identity confirmed. Considered one of the best-preserved shipwrecks of the period, it has slowly been revealing its secrets.

Black Swan

In May 2007, a Florida-based company announced that, using underwater robots, it had discovered a shipwreck in the Atlantic, code-named (代号为) “Black Swan”. However, the government of Spain claimed that the wreck was the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish ship that sank off the coast of Portugal in 1804 following a battle with four British navy ships. After a long legal battle, the treasure was returned to Spain in 2012.

1. Which shipwreck is the latest discovery?

A．Esmeralda.	B．Black Sea Shipwreck.
C．Gribshunden.	D．Black Swan.

2. What do Black Sea Shipwreck and Gribshunden have in common?

A．They were discovered in the same area.

B．They were first noticed by local people.

C．They were in good shape when discovered.

D．They were in the possession of a royal family.

3. How did Spain get Black Swan returned?

A．By going to the court.

B．By contacting the Portugal government.

C．By joining a battle against British navy.

D．By offering another treasure as an exchange.

7 . 15-year-old Jacob Grosberg walked the streets of down town on Saturday to try and help people dealing with health problems, especially mental issues. The Toronto teenager carried bags full of donated clothes and hygiene (卫生) products for people living on the streets or in shelters.

Grosberg’s father once suffered a lot from depression and mental illness. After his death, Grosberg decided he wanted to help others dealing with the same problem. His solution was the Conan Fund, so-called after his father’s high school nickname for his strength and popularity. According to the fund’s website, the money raised is donated to charities, hospitals and organizations to make a chance and improve resources.

It didn’t take long for people living in the shelter on Wellington Street in Liberty Village to come out to receive what Grosberg was offering. From bags of socks, to hats, gloves, jeans and winter jackets, the people were excited and appreciative of the generosity. Martuia Archibald, 30, had a huge smile on her face as she put on a winter jacket and turned up the collar. She didn’t have a winter jacket until Grosberg arrived, and was touched by the gesture. “It means that there are people out there that still consider that I need warm clothing as well,” she said.

Grosberg’s mother said her son’s spirit and kindness motivated her. “He inspires me,” she said. “He shows me the way to move forward after his father is gone. He shows me the way to turn something terrible into something really positive.”

That’s exactly what Grosberg is trying to achieve. “I think that doing this is not only inspiring more changes in myself, but hopefully can inspire a lot of others to do the exact same thing I’m doing,” Grosberg said.

1. What inspired Grosberg to set up the Conan Fund?

A．His father’s suffering.	B．His mother’s suggestion.
C．The story of another teenager.	D．The hope to cure mental illness.

2. What does the author want to show by mentioning Martuia Archibald?

A．The change the Conan Fund brought to shelters.

B．The most urgently needed supplies for the locals.

C．The warmth needy people received from Grosberg.

D．The greatest contribution Grosberg made to the world.

3. What can be inferred about Grosberg’s mother?

A．She is a very optimistic person.	B．She considers her son an inspiration.
C．She co-founded the Conan Fund.	D．She is always ready to lend a helping hand.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Inspiring People Around Oneself

B．Seeing the Positive Side of Everything

C．Becoming a Teenager with Great Confidence

D．Turning a Struggle into a Charitable Movement

8 . Soft skills are your personal characteristics displayed when you interact with others. They could be personality, intellectual or emotional traits (特征). If you are unsure of what your soft skills are, ask a few close friends or family members to describe you using three adjectives.     1     You can find lots of free resources online. Clarifying your set of soft skills is critical to effective professional development.

Soft skills come naturally and are learned throughout your life. These are generally not job-specific. Hard skills, quite different from soft skills, are technical skills related to your job and industry and are usually learned through education and training.     2    

Many employers may feel that soft skills are harder to teach, so they may give priority to job candidates with strong soft skills.     3    

First, determine what soft skills you want to improve.     4     For example, you could volunteer to take on new projects at work or take some online courses related to the soft skill you want to acquire. These goals can be added to your professional development plan. Check in with yourself regularly to track and measure your progress.

    5     Let them know which soft skills you are working on and ask them for suggestions on how to improve them in the workplace. It is also helpful to work with a mentor or a career coach to help you improve your soft skills. They can provide you with constructive feedback, ideas and support.

A．Then, set reasonable goals for improvement.

B．Teamwork is one of the most important soft skills.

C．They can be demonstrated by a certification or a degree.

D．You can also speak with your manager and ask for feedback.

E．Though hard, it is possible to acquire or improve your soft skills.

F．Figure out what you can offer to your employer and your industry.

G．Additionally, taking a personality assessment can help clarify your soft skills.

9 . 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。

GOAL!!! Luis jumped up and down, celebrating. Nicholas looked at him with a broad smile. At that moment, the bell rang. It was time to head back to the classroom for their next class.

Just then, Devon walked up, his face red with anger. He yelled(吼叫) at Luis. It seemed unbelievable that Luis didn’t pass to him when he was way closer to the goal than Nicholas. Luis rolled his eyes and ignored him. That’s what he did with Devon most of the time—just ignored him.

After school, Nicholas and Luis took the same bus home. Nicholas complained about the way that Devon talked after soccer. He’s always yelling at people. All that yelling made soccer less fun. So Nicholas wanted to move to the other part of the soccer field and tell Devon that he couldn’t play with them anymore.

“What? But isn’t that... isn’t that leaving him out?” Luis asked.

Nicholas put his head down and started playing with his hands. “Well, I already talked to all the other guys,” Nicholas said. He looked up. His eyes were set in determination. But telling Devon that he couldn’t play with them anymore? That seemed extreme for Luis.

By the time he got home, Luis still didn’t have an answer. His older brother, Omar, welcomed him with a wide smile. Omar was the most cheerful person he had ever met. After carefully thinking of what Luis had mentioned, Omar suggested Luis talk to Devon—How can you expect someone to know he’s crossing a line with how he talks to you if you don’t tell him?

“Shouldn’t it be obvious that it isn’t fun if you yell at people?” Luis asked.

“Maybe it’s obvious to you. But not to him. Just like it’s obvious to me that you should start setting the table for dinner. But apparently not to you,” Omar replied.

Luis thought about what Omar said. It was the only thing he could think of that didn’t involve shutting Devon out or letting him keep. yelling at people.

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。
So, the next day before school started, Luis decided to talk to Devon.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Just give him another chance, okay?” said Luis to Nicholas.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Over the past few centuries, we have dug, burned, drilled, pumped, lit, launched, driven, and flown our way to adding 2.4 trillion metric tons of carbon dioxide to Earth’s atmosphere. That’s as much CO₂ as would be given off annually by 522 billion cars, or 65 cars per person living today.

On a lonely, lunar-like valley of Iceland, Edda Aradottir is on a mission to put CO₂ back where it came from. She’s returning a tiny bit of it today but much, much more of it in the years ahead. In sending CO₂ deep beneath the surface of the planet, she’s aiming to reverse one of the most challenging acts of human history: the dugging of massive amounts of carbon under the ground as fossil fuels.

Aradottir shows how CO₂ caught from the air is mixed with water, then fed through a complicated and detailed system of pipes that course downward 2,500 feet or so. There, the dissolved (溶解的) carbon dioxide meets porous basalt, a type of dark rock that comes from volcanoes, creating cream-colored spots in the rock below.

Scientists like Aradottir are working on ambitious — and sometimes controversial (有争议的) — projects to remove carbon dioxide from the air and lock it away. In Arizona, an engineering professor shows his “mechanical tree”, a single one of which he says may someday be able to do the work of a thousand regular trees in catching and storing CO₂. In Australia, a leading oceanographer shows that seaweed is the answer, if only we’d help it grow in giant underwater gardens that could store billions of tons of carbon dioxide. Atop a university building in Zürich, an Uruguayan inventor presents a small bottle of fuel made from nothing but sunlight and air. That may be the most amazing of all the forms of carbon removal we’ve come across, as it suggests we may one day be able to make the best of carbon in a continuous cycle of zero-emission energy. Maybe. One day.

1. What purpose do the figures in paragraph 1 serve?

A．To show the necessity of removing carbon dioxide.

B．To inspire readers’ interest in environmental protection.

C．To highlight the amount of cars existing in the world today.

D．To explain a commonly accepted reason for global warming.

2. The underlined word “reverse” in paragraph 2 can be replaced by “______”.

A．get

B．advertise

C．overturn

D．discover

3. What is paragraph 3 of the text mainly about?

A．Aradottir’s daily routine.	B．Aradottir’s field of study.
C．The cost of Aradottir’s project.	D．The explanation of Aradottir’s system.

4. What does the author think of the carbon removal projects?

A．Educational.

B．Expensive.

C．Efficient.

D．Promising.