1 . Creativity is always about finding inspiration. If you think your well of ideas has dried up, you need to look at the little things in life.     1    .

Write down every moment. The best moments pass by so fast that many people fail to notice and appreciate them. This is not the case for creative types. There is inspiration in every encounter and conversation. For example, you could look at a man at a cafe reading a newspaper and come up with an interesting background story about him.     2    , so bring a camera or notebook with you and be ready to document the littlest details.

Take time to meditate (冥思). Look for a quiet and secluded (僻静的) place. Take a seat, close your eyes and focus on your breathing.     3    . Give yourself five to ten minutes. By the time you open your eyes, you will gain greater clarity and your ideas will become more vivid.

Search the web. Apart from focusing on your inner self, you should also look for external inspiration.     4    . Sites like Pinterest and Journey s of Life can provide you with reference materials that will help improve the ideas you currently have.

    5    . You won’t be able to find inspiration if you are always stressed out. You may have too many problems to address, but other people may feel more stressful than you. This is not to down play your struggles, but sometimes, you simply need to know how to respond to the potential stress if things don’t result in your favor.

A．Find more inspiration

B．Learn to deal with stress

C．Every moment is worth recording

D．Try to empty your mind of any distracting thoughts

E．Here is how you can source creative inspiration each day

F．Creative types turn out to be appealing to those people around you

G．You can find tons of ideas that will stimulate your creativity online

2 . A New Jersey high schooler, Selina Zhang is no stranger to the spotted lanternfly (斑衣蜡蝉). The now 18-year-old first noticed it when visiting a market near her hometown of Annandale in primary school. It jumped from a plant to a plant to feed on their sap (汁液), affecting over 70 species. In its wake, the plants became stressed, which increased their chances of falling ill and being attacked.

“As I got older, I wanted to take concrete action,” says Zhang. “So I’ve built ArTreeficial, a solar -powered, self-cleaning and artificial -intelligence-driven tree that attracts the spotted lanternfly and removes it using an electric shock.”

On top of conducting an extensive literature review of existing researches, Zhang carefully observed the spotted lanternflies in the wild for weeks, tracking how they grew over time and how they travelled over unfamiliar structures. She took over 500 photos of them, which she logged in a personal database.

Zhang wanted to create a tree-like structure that copied the tree of heaven, a known host plant of the spotted lanternfly, as the primary lure (诱饵) for her trap. So, she uprooted the umbrella from her family’s yard and got to work. First, she used ultrasound to give off a smell made from the essence of the tree of heaven from ArTreeficial’s trunk to attract them. Second, she designed a double-layered electric net for the tree, which would use machine learning to shock spotted lanternflies once they landed on the tree. Then, Zhang used her database of photos to inform and program her AI model.

Zhang’s net s are divided into multiple squares going up and down the structure. When a spotted lanternfly steps on the inner net, the Al model operates. Electricity courses through that particular section, while the rest remain inactive, and the insect is attacked.

Julie Urban, a spotted lanternfly expert at Pennsylvania State University, says that Zhang’s AI approach is incredibly innovative and could be useful in multiple environments.

1. Why does the spotted lanternfly jump onto the plants?

A．To avoid falling ill.	B．To satisfy its hunger.
C．To attract other species.	D．To play with them.

2. What did Selina Zhang do for her invention?

A．She conducted field observation.	B．She copied online photos.
C．She referred to others’ database.	D．She consulted researchers.

3. What is probably the key to attracting the spotted lanternfly?

A．The electricity.

B．The net.

C．The smell.

D．The umbrella.

4. What is Julie Urban’s attitude towards Selina Zhang’s invention?

A．Critical.

B．Unclear.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Approving.

3 . Ramsay’s heroic act unfolded on April 21, 2022, at Green Lake, where he fearlessly saved a teenage boy from a life-threatening situation. The boy was swimming in the lake when he ________ about 80 feet from the shore and failed to resurface.

________ by shouts for help, Ramsay, a paddleboarder (桨手) seated nearby on the platform, paddled toward the boy. Although the dirty water made it ________ for Ramsay to see beneath the water’s surface, bubbles rising to the surface near his paddleboard led him to ________ that the boy sank at that spot. Ramsay demonstrated extraordinary bravery by diving 15 feet to the lake’s bottom to ________ the unconscious teenager.

Upon resurfacing, he found that his paddleboard was no longer within ________. Ramsay took a deep ________ and repositioned the unconscious boy. He then ________ swam toward the shore.

Ramsay was tired quickly but he ________ to keep both their heads above water. A female paddleboarder in another party then ________ to them at a point halfway to the shore. Ramsay ________ the paddleboard with one arm while still holding the boy. The woman leaned (倾斜) across her paddleboard and paddled until she reached shallow water while ________ Ramsay and the boy.

The boy was moved onto the shore, where Ramsay forced the water out of the boy’s body during efforts to make him ________. He recovered after treatment at a nearby hospital. Ramsay was cold and ________, but he did not require medical treatment.

He was honored for his ________ and selflessness with the Carnegie Medal—the highest accolade (荣誉) for civilian heroism in North America.

1.

A．shook

B．paused

C．sank

D．wandered

2.

A．Alarmed

B．Excited

C．Raised

D．Stressed

3.

A．proper

B．tough

C．easy

D．clear

4.

A．conclude

B．mean

C．add

D．explain

5.

A．recognize

B．direct

C．locate

D．contact

6.

A．limit

B．reach

C．control

D．rescue

7.

A．shortcut

B．chance

C．look

D．breath

8.

A．happily

B．slowly

C．sensitively

D．curiously

9.

A．struggled

B．promised

C．begged

D．failed

10.

A．turned

B．referred

C．responded

D．appealed

11.

A．delivered

B．grasped

C．approached

D．folded

12.

A．dropping off

B．taking over

C．putting through

D．holding onto

13.

A．proud

B．cool

C．conscious

D．responsible

14.

A．tense

B．mild

C．annoyed

D．tired

15.

A．satisfaction

B．skills

C．topics

D．courage

4 . 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。

The Shenzhou XVII crew conducted their second spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station on Saturday,     1     (complete) the first repair operation. It was the 15th spacewalk and was a successful one     2     (carry) out by Chinese astronauts.

Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said extravehicular (舱外的) repair operations are complex and     3     (challenge). “Repair operation is a very important task for astronaut s during their stay inside a space station, because it is vital     4     (fix) broken parts so as to avoid safety hazards (危害),” he said. “During a repair task, astronauts need to cooperate with each other and ground controllers and usually need the     5     (assist) of robotic arms, and they must be familiar     6     required procedures.”

Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin returned to the Wentian science module at 1:32 pm after floating for     7     (approximate) eight hours outside the orbital station. The third crew member, Tang Shengjie, stayed inside Tiangong to provide support.

During the spacewalk, Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin repaired the damage to the parts on the Tianhe core module’s solar wings, which     8     (cause) by tiny space debris (残骸). After the repairs, the wings began normal operations again.

    9     made Tang Hongbo differ from the other two was that the spacewalk was the third for him. The crew performed their first spacewalk on Dec 21, 2023, finishing a lot of     10     (task), including carrying out test repairs.

5 . Imagine getting ready for bed, brushing your teeth, setting your alarm and then putting a device on your head that allows you to control your dreams. It might sound like something unfeasible, but it’s the real-life promise of a new futuristic-looking headband called Halo, at present in development by US tech company Prophetic.

Expected to be released in 2025, Halo aims to allow you to have more lucid dreams (清醒梦). In some cases, you might also exercise a degree of control over what happens in these dreams, perhaps in ways that benefit your waking life, such as solving work problems, practicing guitar and more.

Earlier research has shown lucid dreams could be used for real-life benefits. For example, one study carried out by researchers at the University of Bern, Switzerland showed that participants who practised casting coins into a cup in their lucid dreams showed superior performance the next day.

The team behind Halo are using technologies like EEG (脑电图) to collect vast amounts of brain data from volunteers experiencing lucid dreams. The idea is to build a detailed map of what’s happening in the brain during different types of lucid dreams. This information will be key for the second main area of investigation, which involves using TUS (delivered via the headband) to control brain activity. TUS, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can change brain function by using high-frequency sound.

“It’s seemingly true that the sound stimulation could contribute to the high-frequency brain activity that’s associated with lucidity,” says Professor Mark Blagrove, a sleep scientist based at Swansea University. “Sound stimulation has been used to cause low-frequency slow waves in slow wave sleep, so the method suggested is believable.”

However, TUS is a relatively new approach to brain stimulation and it’s not entirely clear what the long-term results of stimulating your brain with high-frequency sounds might be. Moreover, some sleep scientists believe dreams have basic functions, including processing emotional experiences. By using a device to change the nature of your dreams, maybe you risk interrupting the usual purpose of your dreams.

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

A．Impossible.

B．Significant.

C．Logical.

D．Meaningless.

2. Why is the study by the University of Bern mentioned?

A．To suggest a way to dream a dream.	B．To provide a theory for developing Halo.
C．To prove the benefits of lucid dreams.	D．To indicate the meaning of being awake.

3. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．The way in which EEG works.	B．The reason for designing Halo.
C．The changes brought by Halo.	D．The methods used by the team.

4. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．Hal o has got widespread recognition.	B．There may be some side effects about Halo.
C．Dreaming doesn’t have any functions.	D．Lucid dreams cause emotional experiences.

6 . Four Computer Science Summer Programs in 2024

Wolfram High School Summer Research Program

The program aims to introduce high schoolers to programming, computational thinking and technology. Students participate in lectures and activities led by Wolfram instructors and build hands-on experience developing a project from ideation (构思) to completed products. About 50 students are admitted to the program annually.

Dates: June 25—July 13

Location: Bentley University

Cost: $4, 200

UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program

The program enables participants to do hands-on experience, university-level research in various fields, including computer science. Students work with a teacher to learn about research techniques and grow their academic goals. The program concludes with participants reporting their findings in a technical research paper and presenting them at a formal academic meeting.

Dates: June 17-August 2

Location: UC Santa Barbara

Cost: $4, 975-$11, 874

Terp Young Scholars

This program, offered through the University of Maryland, allows students to learn college level coursework, earn college credits and learn on a college campus. Participants choose one course to explore, where they attend classes, work on projects, take exams and cooperate with each other.

Dates: July 8-26

Location: University of Maryland

Cost: $1, 500-$2, 500

UT Computer Science Summer Academy

This week-long summer program is open to students of all skill levels in grades 10-12. Participants will learn about C++, project management and careers in technology. In University of Texas, Austin, all of them will share a room in a dormitory hall with a roommate, eat in the dining hall and deal with college-level coursework.

Dates: July 7-13

Location: University of Texas, Austin

Cost: Free

1. How much should a student pay for the program in Bentley University?

A．$2, 500.

B．$4, 200.

C．$4, 975.

D．$11, 874.

2. Which program requires its participants to share the results of their work?

A．Terp Young Scholars.

B．UT Computer Science Summer Academy.

C．UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program.

D．Wolfram High School Summer Research Program.

3. What do the last two programs have in common?

A．They focus on career choices.	B．They require students to live together.
C．They last for more than one month.	D．They involve the same level coursework.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where was the Mary Celeste leaving for?

A．Italy.

B．England.

C．The USA.

2. When was the Mary Celeste found?

A．In December 1728.

B．In November 1782.

C．In December 1872.

3. What was the Mary Celeste like when found?

A．It was damaged.

B．It was in good condition.

C．It was robbed.

4. What is unknown about the Mary Celeste?

A．Why the people aboard left it.

B．When it started its journey.

C．How many people were on it.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the woman go abroad?

A．To entertain.

B．To study.

C．To work.

2. What does the man say about himself?

A．He is a determined man.

B．He hates doing his old job.

C．He is unfit to start a company.

3. What does the man suggest doing together?

A．Going shopping.

B．Having lunch.

C．Opening a restaurant.

9 . 阅读下面的短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Li Kang,     1     high school student, lives in Hebei Province. Today is his first day at Senior High school. He     2    (feel) that his new school is very good and classrooms are     3    (amaze) since all of them have     4    (computer). He likes his English teacher, a woman     5    (call) Ms Shen. Ms Shen tells them reading comprehension is important and encourages     6    (they) to speak a lot in class. Li Kang and his classmates are interested in Ms Shen’s teaching method,     7     is completely different from that of the teachers at Junior High school.

Today, after Ms Shen gave students instruction, they introduced themselves in class. Ms Shen also helps students improve their spelling     8     handwriting. They do spelling games in a fun way. After this class, Ms Shen ask them to write a     9    (describe) of the street where they live. Most of them look forward to     10    (do) it.

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。

In a small Chinese village, a young girl named Mei lived with a deep love for painting. Her artworks, filled with lively colors, caught the beauty of her surroundings. Despite her talent, Mei often battled with self-doubt. She wondered if her skills were truly excellent or if she was just fortunate.

One day, Mei heard about a painting contest in the town called the “Sunlit Art Challenge”. Determined to prove herself and remove the doubts, Mei quickly signed up for it. The contest stirred a mix of excitement and nervousness in her. Mei spent countless hours perfecting her painting technique, pouring her heart and soul into her works.

For the contest, Mei painted a beautiful sunrise over the sea. The sun just started to rise above the horizon (地平线), its bright light beginning to shine over the ocean. The sun’s rays looked like golden light, spreading across the water and making it shine like a giant mirror. As the sun rose higher, it looked like a bright ball of fire, warming the sea and making the waves shine brightly. The sky changed colors too, from a soft blue to bright oranges, pinks and reds. It was like watching the day begin right there on her canvas (画布). Mei s painting captured the peaceful yet lively scene of the sun’s first rays touching the vast ocean, symbolizing hope.

On the day of the contest, the village square was filled with excitement. Artists from near and far displayed their works. Mei set up her painting, feeling both proud and anxious. As the judges evaluated (评估) Mei’s painting, her heart raced with nervousness. Since their expressions were hard to read, Mei felt like her doubts were right, that she wasn’t as good as she hoped.

When the host started to announce the winners, Mei listened with hope and curiosity. But sadly her name wasn’t called. Disappointment washed over her, and she forced a smile, applauding (鼓掌) the winners. After the contest, Mei felt disheartened. She thought her painting had failed to impress anyone, and she lost her motivation to lift her brush. At that time, Mr. Zhang, a villager, approached Mei.

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。
Mr. Zhang told Mei that Mei’s painting was excellent and moved him.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Zhang’s recognition of Mei’s works renewed Mei’s interest in painting.
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