1 . My life is full and active taking care of my grandson. But weeks ago, he headed for an overseas holiday, I was left feeling _______ and lost. I needed something extraordinary to lift my _______.

Then one day, I entered the Coffee Club near my home and _______ a cup of coffee. I settled into a comfortable sofa, _______ tasting the delicious drink. After a while, I approached the waitress and handed her my _______. She smiled and said, “That’s already been paid for.”

I looked at her in _______. “Really?” Then she said the words I’ll never forget. “It was a _______ of kindness, and it happens a lot.”

I was shocked. I never really _______ these things though I had heard about them. Today, I _______ it firsthand. Good, kind people are out there in the world. And they ________ when you need them most. I left home this morning feeling, somewhat lost. I returned with a ________ in my step, excited about sharing my story and ________ the kindness.

Two weeks later, I paid for a girl in the Coffee Club. The only thing is, this time, the Coffee Club did it ________. The waiter pointed me out. She couldn’t believe it and ________ me. I simply smiled, explaining that I was passing on the ________ I’d received not long ago.

1.

A．embarrassed

B．flat

C．patient

D．content

2.

A．sights

B．fortunes

C．spirits

D．voices

3.

A．mixed

B．ordered

C．prepared

D．served

4.

A．awkwardly

B．confidently

C．restlessly

D．leisurely

5.

A．bill

B．receipt

C．drink

D．license

6.

A．desperation

B．relief

C．surprise

D．shame

7.

A．test

B．gesture

C．feeling

D．power

8.

A．believed

B．enjoyed

C．refused

D．inquired

9.

A．pursued

B．avoided

C．confirmed

D．experienced

10.

A．hang around

B．break in

C．show up

D．move on

11.

A．pain

B．load

C．drag

D．spring

12.

A．repaying

B．evaluating

C．shaping

D．delaying

13.

A．secretly

B．regularly

C．differently

D．casually

14.

A．puzzled

B．rejected

C．comforted

D．thanked

15.

A．courage

B．kindness

C．respect

D．honor

2 . Upcoming Events in Essex County Environmental Center

LITTLE EXPLORERS Mondays -May 6, 20, June 3, 17
For ages 2 and 3; 10am to 1lam; For ages 2 and 5; 3pm to 4pm

Join us for explorations of nature as we study plants and animals and observe the colors, shapes, and sounds in the Center’s forest habitat. Please come dressed and prepared for all weather conditions; all classes include an outdoor adventure. All children must be walking and accompanied by an adult. Maximum of two children per adult. All sessions are limited to 10 children. Fee: $15 per child per session.

FOREST FRIENDS CLUB
Thursdays -May 9, June 6, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 5 through 10

We’ll explore the forest to investigate nature in our wooded wetland habitat. Together we hope to raise our children’s nature responsibilities and offer an opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects. Fee: $12 per child per session.

SPRING WILD EDIBLE WALK
Friday, May 10, 6pm to 7:30pm
For families

Take a walk in the forest to identify and discuss the variety of forest groceries available for harvest. You’ll meet Spice Bush, Mountain Mint and others. Learn some folklore (FIA) behind the plants and we’ll discuss proper identification, growing environment and methods of preparation while walking. Fee: $40 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $12 per child, $15 per adult.

4-H YOUNG GARDENERS CLUB
Saturdays -May 4, 18, 25, 10am to 11 am
For children in grades K-12

Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? How to find a rainbow in a garden? The 4-H Young Gardener’s Club can guide you to find the answers to these questions and more. Learning and fun happen all the time here. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advanced registration required; please call 973 3531337.

1. When can children join in hands-on projects?

A．On May 6.

B．On May 9.

C．On May 10.

D．On May 18.

2. How much should a couple with three kids pay at least for the Spring Wild Edible Walk?

A．$40.

B．$52.

C．$55.

D．$67.

3. What do the four events have in common?

A．They are targeted at families.	B．They focus on theoretical courses.
C．They offer experiences in nature.	D．They present local folk cultures.

3 . You are what you think. Whatever you are doing right now is determined by your thinking. All your emotions and desires are influenced by your thinking. The problem is that when you are not aware of your thinking, you have no chance of correcting it if it is poor. When thinking is subconscious, you are in no position to see any problems in it. And, if you don’t see any problems in it, you won’t be motivated to change it. What’s worse, few people realize the powerful role that thinking plays in their lives, so they don’t gain significant command of it. As a result, most people are in many ways victims of their thinking.

Consider your success as a student. The single most significant variable in determining your success as a student is the quality of your thinking. Your instructors will play a role in your learning, but even the best teachers cannot get into your head and learn for you. If you lack the intellectual skills necessary for thinking well through course content, you will not be successful in school.

Here is the key question we are putting to you in this book. If the quality of a person’s thinking is the single most significant determinant of both happiness and success, why not take the time to learn from the best thinkers?

This book will inform you of the tools that the best thinkers use and will illustrate the activities and practice you can use to begin to emulate them, and take control of your destiny as a thinker. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of these thinking aids, helping you discover the power of your own mind and of your potential to think systematically about your thinking.

This book, as a whole, introduces you to the tools of mind that will help you reason well through various challenges you face. If you take these ideas seriously and practice using them, you can improve the quality of your thinking and ultimately, the quality of your life.

1. Why do many people lack motivation to change their poor thinking?

A．They are victims of emotions.	B．They are unaware of the need.
C．They think highly of themselves.	D．They lack the academic guidance.

2. What plays the most crucial role in school success?

A．The course content.	B．The school environment.
C．The commitment of teachers.	D．The quality of an individual’s thinking.

3. What does the underlined word “emulate” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Make friends with.

B．Win over.

C．Follow the example of.

D．Look up to.

4. The book is organized according to ________.

A．types of life challenges	B．varieties of thinking tools
C．determinants of life value	D．ideas of different thinkers

4 . Being a good co-worker contributes to a positive work culture and strong relationships with your colleagues.     1     This is especially true when you’re starting a new job. Here are several tips for being a good co-worker.

Treat people warmly

Start the day right by saying hello to everyone you come across at the office. It’s a little gesture that can make a difference in the moods of others and the office atmosphere as a whole.     2     Ask someone how their family is and what they did last night. Taking an interest in co-workers makes them feel valued even if your conversation is small.

Be considerate

    3     Wash your cups, tableware and plates. Don’t leave a mess behind. Turn down your phone so as not to interrupt your co-workers. If someone’s out of the office, offer to lighten their workload so they don’t encounter a mountain of tasks upon their return.

Be positive

Maintain a positive attitude, even during difficult times. Focus on solutions rather than problems, and celebrate successes with your colleagues.    4    

Welcome new ideas

Welcome new ideas, especially ideas that are outside of the box. Sometimes, we get caught up in particular routines that we are comfortable with. It’s always a good idea to change things up and hear what others say.     5     Often, new ideas can promote innovation, creativity, and cooperation among the team. Be sure to welcome these new ideas in a space where everyone feels comfortable to share their thoughts, opinions, and visions.

A．Small talk is of great importance too.

B．Share your ideas with your co-workers.

C．Don’t be consistently late for work or meetings.

D．Otherwise, we’ll continue to do the same things in a rigid (死板的) way.

E．The stronger the relationships, the better your productivity will be.

F．This helps to inspire others to be more enthusiastic about their work.

G．Try your best to create a good learning opportunity for all parties involved,

5 . A high school teacher and his students have discovered that an asteroid (小行星) hit by a NASA spacecraft, in a test run for saving the Earth from an impact, is behaving unexpectedly. The find could have effects on future planetary defense missions.

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a project designed to launch and crash a fridge-sized spacecraft into an asteroid called Dimorphos, orbiting a larger asteroid Didymos. The purpose of the exercise was to see how significantly the previous path of Dimorphos could be changed by the impact. Before DART’s impact, it would take Dimorphos 11 hours and 55 minutes to complete a lap around Didymos. NASA was hoping the DART crash could change the cycle by about 73 seconds, but observations made in the weeks following the impact determined that the results were much more significant, reducing Dimorphos’ orbital period by some 33 minutes.

But California high school teacher Jonathan Swift and his students discovered that Dimorphos’ orbital period was a full minute longer than the time reported by NASA last year. They used the school’s observatory to track Dimorphos and Didymos for several months last fall. Swift presented his class’ findings at the American Astronomical Society conference in June. The DART team has since confirmed that Dimorphos did indeed continue slowing in its orbit up to a month after the impact.

Scientists aren’t sure exactly what is behind the slowdown of Dimorphos. But recent observations of the asteroid have revealed a vast field of large rocks were kicked up by the impact. It’s possible that some of the larger space rocks fell back onto Dimorphos within that first month, slowing its orbit further, DART team member Harrison Agrusa said.

The DART team plans to release its own report on the unexpected findings in the coming weeks. However, complete answers may have to wait until 2026, when the European Space Ageney’s Hera spacecraft is scheduled to investigate the crash site up closely.

1. What was the purpose of launching the NASA spacecraft?

A．To change Dimorphos’ orbital cycle.

B．To stop Dimorphos hitting the Earth.

C．To reduce Didymos’ path around the sun.

D．To make Didymos move in a bigger orbit.

2. How much did Swift and his students find the asteroid’s orbital period shortened by?

A．1 full minute.	B．2 minutes or so.
C．Nearly 33 minutes.	D．About 32 minutes.

3. What does the author intend to tell us in paragraph 4?

A．How seriously Dimorphos was damaged.

B．What happened to the rocks on Dimorphos.

C．Why Dimorphos slowed down for a month.

D．What Dimorphos looked like after the impact.

4. What can be the Hera spacecraf’s task?

A．To crash into another asteroid nearby.

B．To measure the previous impact results.

C．To affect the motion of the twin asteroids.

D．To identify the asteroids threatening the Earth.

6 . A family of six is happy to be back home in Quebec after spending a year traveling the globe. Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier organized this ________ to give their kids as many visual memories as possible — memories they can ________ long after losing their eyesight.

The Canadian couple ________ their first born daughter Mia, now 11, had vision problems when she was just three years old. After years of ________with specialists, the parents were told Mia suffered from retinitis pigmentosa (视网膜色素变性), a ________ condition that causes vision loss over time. ________, two of their sons were soon diagnosed (诊断)with the same incurable disorder. One specialist recommended Lemay help her kids create unforgettable ________ memories. That was when the couple had the ________ to show their kids the world.

The family set out in March 2022, ________ Africa from Namibia to Tanzania and touring some Asian countries. Aside from ________ beautiful sights, the parents also patiently taught their kids how to ________ to new situations, wishing them to be strong despite the ________ that may come later in their lives.

When things don't go as ________, many people tell themselves they are born unlucky enough to ________ taking responsibility to make changes in life. Yet this couple and their children have been facing life ahead ________. With such a positive state of mind, you can overcome anything.

1.

A．program

B．journey

C．campaign

D．exploration

2.

A．remove

B．restore

C．fill

D．treasure

3.

A．noticed

B．confirmed

C．regretted

D．concluded

4.

A．negotiation

B．familiarity

C．combination

D．consultation

5.

A．common

B．seasonal

C．rare

D．mental

6.

A．As a result

B．More importantly

C．In a sense

D．Worse still

7.

A．short

B．super

C．visual

D．early

8.

A．idea

B．rule

C．task

D．excuse

9.

A．entering

B．crossing

C．circling

D．approaching

10.

A．marking out

B．looking back on

C．taking in

D．watching out for

11.

A．adapt

B．refer

C．respond

D．agree

12.

A．faults

B．challenges

C．conflicts

D．choices

13.

A．discovered

B．promised

C．expected

D．mentioned

14.

A．prefer

B．advocate

C．acknowledge

D．escape

15.

A．fearlessly

B．modestly

C．gratefully

D．honestly

7 . Ten years ago, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb was on a reporting trip about wildlife conservation. When he was shown around some new animal crossing structures near, Missoula, these new bridges and tunnels intrigued him. He was attracted by these beautiful human-built structures and inspired to write a book. Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet has now been published.

Through expert interviews, in-depth research and convincing analysis, Goldfarh brings to life the deadly consequences our 40 million miles of roadways have had and are having on the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. A million animals are killed by cars each day in the US alone. Road salt pollutes lakes and rivers. And there's the barrier effect-the steady stream of traffic that prevents animals from migrating (迁徙) all together and finding habitats. Goldfarb writes that noise pollution is the most worrisome among all the road's ecological disasters. Both the engine noise and the tire noise greatly impact ecological environment.

Figures on deaths and disruptions (扰乱) are disheartening, but Goldfarb vividly describes how scientists are actively working on meaningful improvements to help animals and roads better coexist, such as wildlife crossings, from passages in Canada's Banff National Park to the famous Liberty Canyon Overpass in Los, Angeles. Another example is that in India, they built a new highway through a tiger reserve so that animals can come and go underneath the lifted freeway. Of course, that made the project more expensive, but it's ecologically the right thing to do.

Crossings is a truly important and landmark book on a subject whose full impacts continue to be disregarded or underestimated in considering conservation efforts. The book is a sympathetic, heart-warming guide to exploring the issues of wildlife survival and our own.

1. What does the underlined word “intrigued” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Confused.

B．Blocked.

C．Satisfied.

D．Interested.

2. Which of the following is Goldfarb's biggest concern?

A．Road salt.	B．Roadkill.
C．Vehicle noises.	D．Endless traffic stream.

3. Why are the examples given in paragraph 3?

A．To bring shame on individual drivers.

B．To stress the effect of roads on wildlife.

C．To show humans' effort in animal protection.

D．To explain the necessity of creating wild reserves.

4. What does the author think of Goldfarb's book?

A．Vivid and touching.

B．Pessimistic and sharp.

C．Objective and critical.

D．Abstract and humorous.

8 . Flea market is an outdoor market that sells old or used goods at low prices. Here are four best ones in Europe.

Braderie de Lille--Lille, France

Dating back to the 12th century, Braderie de Lille is larger than any other flea market in Europe at nearly 100 kilometers of vendors (摊贩) as far as the eye can see. This market is annually held on the first weekend of September, and approximately 10, 000 exhibitors sell items from cheap articles to treasures.

EI Rastro Flea Market--Madrid, Spain

El Rastro Plea Market is a popular market in Madrid, with a history of over 400 years. It is held every Suinday and public holiday during the year. You can find second-hand articles for daily use, yet it can be difficult to find the perfect rare items.

Vrijmarkt Amsterdam--Amsterdam, Holland

This flea market is actually a car boot sale organized on King's Day. Since 1890, King's Day is a day of the year when the Dutch government allows sales on the streets without the payment of value-added tax. At the Vondel park, you can see kids selling their cast-off toys and books. Most of the time, these kids are handsomely paid by visitors.

Arezzo Flea Market—Arezzo, Italy

This market has been going on since 1968 and happens on the first Sunday of every month. If you are looking for a collection of antiques like old furniture, old-fashioned telephones, stained silverware, Roman coins and grandfather clocks, this is the perfect market to visit.

1. Which of the following is the largest flea market?

A．Arezzo Flea Market.	B．Braderie de Lille.
C．El Rastro Flea Market.	D．Vrijmarkt Amsterdam.

2. Where can you visit a flea market held most often a year?

A．In Madrid.

B．In Lille.

C．In Amsterdam.

D．In Arezzo.

3. How is Arezzo Flea Market different from the others?

A．It was set up the earliest.	B．Its vendors sell antiques.
C．It appeals to children most.	D．Its stands deal in everyday items.

9 . After traveling nearly 10,000 kilometers, a package from Britain arrived at the memorial hall for the Lisbon Maru incident on Dongi Island in Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province this month. Inside the package was a painting belonging to Graham Saxby, which was his gift to the fishermen on Dongii Island.

In October 1942, an armed Japanese cargo ship, the Lisbon Maru, was torpedoed (鱼雷击中) by the Americans off the Zhoushan islands in Zhejiang. The ship was transporting some 1, 800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan, among whom was Saxby’s father. While the ship was sinking, the prisoners were confined (监禁) in the holds. As they tried to escape, many were shot by the Japanese. Local Chinese fishermen risked their lives during the shooting and rescued as many prisoners as they could using their small boats. A total of 384 British prisoners of war were rescued by the fishermen, for which the British government and people were deeply grateful. A special screening of the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held in London on August 15. Survivors recalled the incident in the film.

After learning that Saxby was going to gift the locals a painting, Wu Xiaofei, a painter on Dongji Island, returned his friendship with a painting. “My grandfather was one of the fishermen who took part in the rescue, rowing a boat back and forth several times to rescue the British prisoners of war,”Wu says. She finished her drawing, which shows the joy, unity and harmony of fishermen, in just three days.

To help bring the forgotten historical event to light, Saxby is now asking a professional painter to create a work to show the rescue scene, while another painting related to the incident by Wu has been completed and is ready for exhibition.

1. Who is Graham Saxby?

A．A film director.	B．A son of a prisoner of war.
C．A British painter.	D．A survivor on the ship.

2. What does the painting in the package probably describe?

A．The fishermen’s rescue operation.

B．The prisoners of war being ill-treated on board.

C．The prisoners of war escaping a Japanese attack.

D．The ship’s damage caused by the torpedo.

3. How did Wu Xiaofei respond to Saxby’s gift?

A．She drew a picture in return.

B．She sent a letter of thanks to him.

C．She told him her grandfather’s story.

D．She showed his picture to the fishermen.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．Peace Takes Brave Men to Win It

B．A Precious Friendship to Continue

C．A Fresh Reminder to Avoid a Friendly Fire

D．Painting from the UK Honors Chinese Fishermen

10 . 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。

A Chinese offshore wind power farm, located about 35 kilometers offshore from Pingtan of Fujian Province, has been     1     (entire) connected to the national grid (电网) and started generating electricity in September this year. The wind farm     2     (operate) by China Three Corges Corporation (CTG), consists     3     11 offshore wind turbine units (涡轮机组).

Among the 11 offshore wind turbine units is the world’s largest 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine unit, which     4     (go) into operation in July. The power capacity of the wind farm totals 111 megawatts. It will generate around 360 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equal to that generated by burning 103, 800 tons of standard coal,     5     (lead) to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (排放) by about 283, 800 tons annually.

    6     (select) the proper site for offshore wind turbines, the CTG’s wind resources evaluation team has built an offshore wind resource database with high spacial-temporal resolution and long time series,     7     can be used to conduct comprehensive analysis of wind energy resources at any location in China’s sea area. The system can also analyze the real-time features of wind resources from multiple     8     (dimension), and estimate the power generation.

The 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine means that China has made     9     major breakthrough in the core technology of the offshore wind power industrial chain, and obviously it will     10     (far) promote the development of the country's offshore wind power industry.