1 . Last year, I baked biscuits for complete strangers to say “thank you”. I’d had to call 999 because I found my husband unconscious on the floor. Within minutes, a police car arrived and soon my husband received medical care in hospital.

A week later, when I dropped off still-warm biscuits and presented a thank-you note at the police station, the policemen thanked me for delivering gifts.

I drove away feeling light and happy. Later, I realized that my natural high might have been more than it seemed. Research has shown that sharing gratitude has positive effects on health. People who express gratitude will increase their happiness levels, lower their blood pressure and get better sleep.

What about people who receive gratitude? Research has confirmed that when people receive thanks, they experience positive emotions. "Those are happy surprises," says Jo-Ann Tsang, a professor of psychology. When someone is thanked, he's more likely to return the favouror pass kindness on, and his chances of being helpful again doubles, probably because he enjoys feeling socially valued.

The give-and-take of gratitude also deepens relationships. Studies show that when your loved ones regularly express gratitude, making you feel appreciated, you're more likely to return appreciative feelings, which leads to more satisfactory in your relationships.

Nowadays, however, many people don't express gratitude. Our modern lifestyle may be to blame. With commercial and social media, everything is speeding the younger generation to feel they're the centre of the world. If it's all about them, why thank others?

Why not thank others? Just take a look at how many positive effects can saying "thank you" have on personal health—and the well-being of others.

If you aren't particularly grateful, I strongly suggest you learn to be. People who are instructed to keep gratitude journals, in which they write down positive things that happen to them, cultivate（培养） gratitude over time.

1. What’s the purpose of mentioning the author's own experience?

A．To make readers excited.	B．To introduce the topic of the text.
C．To share the way to bake biscuits.	D．To sing high praise for the policemen.

2. What benefit can people gain from expressing gratitude according to the text?

A．They will sleep longer.	B．Their blood pressure may be lowered.
C．They will be more beautiful.	D．Their level of production is increased.

3. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The ways to return the favour.

B．The chances of being helpful again.

C．The positive emotions when expressing gratitude.

D．People’s feelings and reaction after being thanked.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Writing gratitude diaries is a good way to cultivate gratitude.

B．Social media is the key reason why we forget gratitude.

C．Modern lifestyle have no effect on expressing gratitude.

D．All the younger generation feel they're the centre of the world.

3 . 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。

If you were told to stop from breathing through your nose, could you do it? Journalist Nestor made it for about 10 days,    1     (plug) up his nose and breathing only through his mouth as part of an experiment at Stanford University. The effects were systemic—sleeping troubles, high blood pressure and, of course, discomfort.

Breathing is so automatic an activity that most of     2    (we) never think about doing it. But as Nestor shows through his own experiences and conversations with dozens of     3     (expert), the way we breathe makes     4     difference to the body's overall health.    5     (base) on the results of the experiment, he published a book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, where he explores everything from the role our noses play in hormone regulation（激素调节） and digestion, to     6     some athletes build up the lung capacity（肺活量） to run marathons in extreme conditions or div e into icy water for more than an hour at a time. The topic is     7     (seeming) simple—an entire book about breathing. But actually every chapter     8     (reveal) new details about how body and breath work together at the same time.

Nestor's daring attitude and curiosity were infectious: I not only noticed myself paying attention to my own breathing every time I sat down to read,    9     my new-found comfort with my own lungs even     10     (inspire) me to go for my first jog in years.

6 . 假定你是李华，你校英语角将举办《雾都孤儿》(Oliver Twist）荐读交流会活动。请你写一则书面通知。内容包括：
1.时间和地点；
2.活动安排及要求。
注意：1.写作词数应为80左右：
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Notice

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The English Corner   

June 20, 2024

7 . How to Limit Your Environmental Impact While Travelling

Travelling unlocks a world of endless possibilities and adventures, allowing us to hike through breathtaking landscapes, encounter kangaroos and deer in their natural habitat, and witness the power of volcanoes. However, tourism can also be harmful to the environment. Increased plastic waste and noise pollution can damage ecosystems.    1    .

Try to travel by land instead of air.

    2    , it is typically one of the most polluting forms of transport. Taking the train or driving in some countries may be better options. For example, if you’re heading to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, driving for around four hours emits (排放) around 75% less CO₂ compared to the one-hour flight (provided you have several friends with you).

Be a responsible hotel guest.

A typical hotel uses about 73,000 gallons of water per year. Laundering towels (洗熨毛巾) is an energy-and-water-consuming process.     3    . By doing so, you’ll reduce your environmental impact.

Make the most of safe tap water (自来水).

Drinking tap water may come as a shock to many travellers.    4    , avoid bottled options. Not only are they more expensive, but they have a higher level of pollution compared to treated tap water. Instead, carry a bottle and refill it wherever you can.

    5    . When visiting different destinations, we should recognize the importance of protecting the natural beauty. We mustn’t throw rubbish everywhere. And we should avoid activities that may harm wildlife. Additionally, supporting local conservation efforts, such as participating in community-led clean-up projects, can make a positive impact on the local environment.

A．Respect the local environment

B．Explore with big tour companies

C．While air travel can often be quicker

D．The airlines still have 2,100 new planes on order

E．But when you’re in countries where tap water is safe to consume

F．Thankfully, there are ways to limit our impact on the environment

G．Thus many hotels often put up signs asking you to re-use your towels

8 . Some people often wonder whether they are fighting a battle with their genes to maintain a healthy weight. In fact, researchers have provided plenty of evidence that people are born with tendencies to be lighter or heavier. For example, studies of identical twins have revealed great similarity in their overall weight. Part of this similarity may be explained by the finding that some people are born to burn a lot of calories just through ordinary day-to-day activities while others are not. Those who are not are more at risk for weight gain.

Researchers have discovered some of the actual genetic mechanisms (机制) that may make some individuals more likely to be obese. For example, a gene has been found that appears to control signals to the brain that enough fat has been stored in the body in the course of a meal—so the individual should stop eating. The gene influences the production of leptin (瘦蛋白), which keeps appetite under control. If leptin doesn’t work well, it is likely that individuals will continue to eat. Thus the gene that controls leptin appears to have a critical influence on the potential for obesity.

The confirmation that leptin plays a role in weight control has encouraged researchers to identify and understand other weight-related genes. Recent attention has focused on a gene called GAD2. GAD2 helps control the amount of the neurotransmitter (神经递质) GABA. In general, when more GABA is available, appetite is increased. For that reason, people who have a form of GAD2 that allows more GABA to be available may be at risk for overeating. You can see that GAD2 is not directly an obesity gene. Rather it has an indirect influence on obesity through its direct influence on GABA.

Genetic research holds out the promise of innovative solutions to obesity. Researchers hope that an understanding of the link between genes and weight control will enable them to provide new drug treatments. Nonetheless, even the most optimistic researchers provide a warning: “Innovative drugs will be effective only when they are used along with lifestyle changes.”

1. How does the author develop Paragraph 1?

A．By giving an example.	B．By making an assumption.
C．By asking questions.	D．By reasoning and analyzing.

2. What does the underlined word “obese” in Paragraph 2mean?

A．Powerful.

B．Fat.

C．Active.

D．Outgoing.

3. What do researchers suggest doing in the last paragraph?

A．Taking new drugs.	B．Understanding genetic effects.
C．Keeping a healthy lifestyle.	D．Trying to adjust GAD2.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．The Sorts of Genus Helping You Keep Thin	B．The Reason Why You Become Too Heavy
C．How Does Genetics Contribute to Obesity?	D．What Influence Does Food Have on Weight?

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题
1. What’s the probable relationship between the speakers?

A．Host and interviewee.

B．Coach and surfer.

C．Entertainer and fan.

2. How long did it take the woman to consider herself as a kite surfer?

A．About half a year.

B．About a year.

C．About two years.

3. What helped the woman do so well?

A．Suitable instruction.

B．Her parents’ encouragement.

C．Her friend’s advice.

4. Why does the woman mention her best friend?

A．She wants to follow his example.

B．She owes her success to him.

C．She decides to leave him.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题
1. What is IUCN associated with?

A．Prevention of forest fire.

B．Space exploration.

C．The protection of nature.

2. Where are savanna elephants mainly live?

A．In mountains.

B．In forests.

C．Around grasslands.

3. What is the main threats to elephants?

A．Hunting and habitat loss.

B．Food shortage

C．Changeable climate

4. What is the purpose of Oberle’s words?

A．To develop a good habit.

B．To call on people to protect elephants.

C．To make listeners answer questions.