The basketball court was filled with eager students and cheerleaders were waving their pompoms at the stands. Excited cheers could be heard from all sides of the court. My teammates and I got fully prepared for our basketball competition. Our hearts were pounding in expectation of the competition ahead.
“And let’s all welcome the Blue Team!” the emcee (主持人) announced through the microphone. All of us marched in proudly as everyone cheered at the top of their lungs. “And welcome the Red Team!” the emcee announced, and the Red Team came in. We were astonished to see that the Red Team was filled with tall and strong members! We were trembling with fear as we walked slowly towards the centre of the court. As we were short of teammates, our confidence in winning wavered (减弱).
The judge threw the ball and the other team quickly caught it! The ball danced between their hands. Our defence seemed to be in slow motion compared to the Red Team’s swiftness. Soon, the other team scored!
We were losing the match as time passed. To make matters worse, our star player, Tom, even tripped and fell, hurting his ankle! We were losing hope as our best player was gone. Just then, our captain called for a time-out. On the bench, our captain announced that this would be his last match. “Come on! Don’t give up! I want to win one last trophy (奖杯) before I quit. Let’s do it!” he insisted, giving us a wide smile. Hearing this, our team held our fists tightly. We were focused on winning this match and making our captain proud! The judge threw the ball once more. I jumped as high as I could and caught the ball. I ran as fast as lightning and scored. Our opponents were nervous but they still scored a few goals to catch up. A few minutes later, we were neck to neck, locked in a tie.
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。
Whoever scored this one goal would win the competition!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The crowd erupted into deafening applause.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Any visitor to the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran would be amazed by the tea, food, Chinese knots (中国结) and traditional paper-cutting artworks
“Chinese knots
Chinese Culture Week,
More importantly, given Iran’s good ties with China, mastering Chinese offers relatively competitive employment prospects on the Iranian job market
“Each of the students here is
3 . Biar Kon, a 17-year-old student, whose parents were working in neighboring Sudan, moved to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to attend school. Once he
The woman told Kon that she had seen him asking questions of multiple people as they
They cleared up the
Today, it’s an encounter he
| A．worked | B．arrived | C．changed | D．graduated |
| A．permission | B．comments | C．explanation | D．directions |
| A．passed | B．watched | C．struggled | D．hesitated |
| A．awkward | B．homeless | C．careful | D．shy |
| A．evidence | B．difficulty | C．confusion | D．conflict |
| A．generosity | B．wisdom | C．responsibility | D．confidence |
| A．put it aside | B．take it easy | C．kick it off | D．pay it forward |
| A．persuaded | B．spotted | C．questioned | D．inspired |
| A．witnessed | B．reported | C．recalled | D．shared |
| A．praised | B．thanked | C．blamed | D．mistaken |
| A．common | B．unintended | C．serious | D．similar |
| A．clue | B．rise | C．job | D．solution |
| A．creates | B．expects | C．deserves | D．values |
| A．reminder | B．protector | C．challenge | D．practice |
| A．secretly | B．actively | C．loudly | D．anxiously |
4 . Many people changed residences and are eager to get familiar with their new neighbors. Here’s a quick refresher on making the most of neighborhood relationships.
Begin at the beginning. Building good neighborly relationships starts when you or someone else moves into the area. If a new neighbor moves in, be proactive (主动的) and welcome them to the neighborhood.
Be inclusive. If you are hosting a large party, consider extending invitations to your neighbors. During the holiday season, remember the people next door with a card, a homemade goodie, or an offer of assistance. Give without expectations.
Allow people to be human.
Accept it. If you have tried your best to resolve a conflict without success, let it go. Sadly, some people won’t like you whatever you do. And you aren’t going to enjoy some people.
| A．Maintain your space |
| B．Be the first to stop by and say hello |
| C．It’s easier to accept it and move on |
| D．Everyone has a bad day now and then |
| E．Take steps to ensure it won’t happen again |
| F．Let others know you are thinking of them |
| G．Some neighbors are more easygoing than others |
5 . Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have been working on a fascinating new way to identify people: using the ways of their breath. This idea could change how we unlock our phones and access secure places.
The key to this technology lies in the way we breathe out. Every person has a unique way of breathing air, which creates specific turbulence (涡流) patterns. The IIT Madras team, led by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, has developed a method of catching these unique patterns and using them as a biometric (生物特征识别的) signature, similar to how fingerprints are used today.
They conducted tests with breath samples from 94 people and found that their system could correctly confirm the person’s identity with an impressive accuracy of 97%. However, when it came to identifying someone without knowing who they were beforehand, the accuracy was around 50%. This means the technology is great at confirming if someone is who they claim to be, but it still needs improvement in recognizing people without any prior information. What makes this research exciting is its potential beyond just unlocking phones. It could play a significant role in personalized medicine. Since the way we breathe can give insights into our health, this technology could help doctors tailor treatments to individual patients more effectively.
In a similar study at Kyushu University in Japan, researchers developed an artificial system that identifies people based on how their breath smells. This system showed a high accuracy rate of 97.8% in identifying individuals. However, this method currently requires people to fast (禁食) for six hours before testing, indicating that it still needs to be improved to be more practical for everyday use.
These advancements in using human breath for identification are not just about adding another cool feature to our smartphones. They represent a significant step forward in biometric technology, which could have far-reaching implications in security, medicine, and personal technology. This research at IIT Madras and Kyushu University is pioneering a new way of using the unique patterns of our breath for identification purposes, potentially revolutionizing (变革) how we interact with technology and receive medical care.
1. What makes the new technology possible according to paragraph 2?| A．The distinctive breath smells. | B．The unique patterns of breath. |
| C．The different patterns of fingerprints. | D．The speed of taking in air. |
| A．To eat no food for 6 hours is practical in everyday life. |
| B．To eat fast is a basic requirement for a higher accuracy rate. |
| C．The system is workable and will soon appear on the market. |
| D．Breath smells affected by food can decrease the accuracy rate. |
| A．It helps raise people’s awareness of health. | B．It will let people better understand their breath. |
| C．It makes unlocking our phones more easily. | D．It will introduce new ways to develop medicine. |
| A．Should We Still Use Fingerprints to Unlock Our Phone? |
| B．Fingerprint Patterns Can Identify Breath Types Easily |
| C．A Breath “Fingerprint” Could Be Used to Unlock Your Phone |
| D．Which Unlocking Method Is More Secure, Breath or Fingerprint? |
6 . “A moth (飞蛾) to a flame” is often used to indicate an inescapable attraction, yet it is a strange example of animal behavior that continues to confuse people today. Scientists have raised a number of theories over the years to explain why. One holds that insects flying at night are following their nature to fly toward the brightest spot in their field of vision, which they mistake for the sky. Another suggests that insects are trying to warm themselves with the heat produced by the light. The most popular theory, though, is that insects are confusing lights with the moon or other celestial bodies (天体) that they normally use to navigate (导航).
To find out the real reason, the team carried out a first set of experiments in an insect flight area. The researchers used eight high-speed infrared (红外线) cameras equipped with motion-capture technologies to track 30 insects from three moth and two dragonfly species. They also flew lab-raised insects from six different insect orders that were too small for motion-capture technology, including fruit flies and honeybees, to make sure different insects all showed similar responses to light. Working with co-author Pablo Allen of the Council on International Educational Exchange in Monteverde, Costa Rica, the researchers put heavy cameras, lights and tripods in two field sites to gather behavioral data from insects in the wild.
The team was able to confirm that insects were not beelining to the light but rather circling it as they tilted (倾斜) in an attempt to turn their backs toward it. This behavior, known as a “dorsal light response”, normally helps insects to remain in an unchanging path of flight that is properly lined to the horizon (地平线). Artificial light that arrives from a point source causes them to fly in unpredictable patterns as they try to turn their backs to what they are mistaking for the sky.
Now research might have finally solved the mystery mentioned first: artificial light confuses insects’ ability to turn themselves to the horizon, confusing their sense of what is up and down and causing them to fly in circles.
1. Which theory about a moth to a flame is accepted by most people?| A．They follow their nature to fly. | B．They are blind to artificial light. |
| C．They mistake artificial light for celestial bodies. | D．They are attracted by the warmth of artificial light. |
| A．To show the study is comprehensive. | B．To introduce the purpose of the study. |
| C．To estimate the cost of the research. | D．To stress the challenge faced by the researchers. |
| A．Flying slowly. | B．Sticking. | C．Responding. | D．Going straight. |
| A．They can fly beyond the horizon. | B．They can follow a steady flight path. |
| C．They can turn their backs toward lights. | D．They can circle the light source upside down. |
7 . “Leftover roast potatoes? There’s no such thing!” shouted people on social media when I shared a suggestion for using up remaining potatoes. This response is common whenever I propose ideas for ingredients (食材) considered “delicious” or a treat: wine, Easter eggs and cream. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and all that—but the way we handle leftovers has to change. Because of my work creating recipes, I am constantly dealing with leftover food. I live alone, work from home and enjoy the challenge of transforming leftovers into new culinary delights.
During lockdown, I witnessed in people a growing understanding of having to make do with what was already in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. This led to an increasing confidence around making substitutions and understanding food-safety issues (such as the difference between “best before” and “use by”). I learned everything I know about food safety during my professional life.
While sharing food with neighbors, friends and the wider community is one way to deal with remaining ingredients, managing random bits and open packets requires a different approach. So in May 2022, I started a series on social media called Rollover Leftovers, showcasing daily short videos of my home cooking. Simple concepts such as refreshing rock-hard bread, freezing leftover chips or creating a “clear out the fridge” tray bake gained millions of views — a much bigger audience than I would expect for anything using tricky methods or fancy ingredients.
Use your imagination and trust yourself, and you’ll discover that leftovers can be a joy, not a chore. And if you find you have the leftovers of a great big turkey but are fed up with the sight of it, or you have more cranberry sauce than you could possibly eat alone, why not try joining forces with neighbors or friends? Not so much bring a bottle as bring a loaf, because a post-Christmas leftovers sandwich is truly the best bite of the year. Isn’t it?
1. What do people think of the author’s suggestion for leftovers?| A．It is impractical. | B．It is typical. | C．It is valuable. | D．It is irresponsible. |
| A．The new trend in cooking. | B．The concern about food safety. |
| C．The importance of professional life. | D．The change of household appliances. |
| A．It teaches cooking principles. | B．It is a community programme. |
| C．It focuses on fresh ingredients. | D．It has gained great popularity. |
| A．Reserve it in a bottle. | B．Share it with neighbors or friends. |
| C．Put it in the fridge for the next meal. | D．Use it to make sandwiches for charity. |
8 . Four best day trips from Amsterdam: the ultimate travel guide
Broek in Waterland: a village fit for sea captains
If you’re looking for a getaway from the big city, Broek in Waterland is the definition of a peaceful Dutch town. With a small population of about 2,500, this village has quiet streets and picturesque nature. Its standout feature is its traditional wooden houses, with more than 80 of them considered National Heritage Sites.
Travel time by car from Amsterdam: 14 minutes
Giethoorn: Venice of the Netherlands
A picture-perfect landscape, Giethoorn is an almost entirely car-free village, replaced with boats and, of course, bicycles. You don’t want to miss a boat tour around this scenic town or a pleasant hike around the area.
Travel time by car from Amsterdam: 1 hour and 26 minutes
Marken: a former island in the Zuiderzee
Marken was separated from the Dutch mainland in the 13th century by a storm, turning it into an island in the Markermeer lake. Residents of the town built wooden houses on artificial hills to prevent more flooding damage. To this day, these picturesque homes remain a popular cultural attraction. On your walk, you can visit the comfortable town harbour or enjoy the scenic route of fields, forests and the lakeshore.
Travel time by car from Amsterdam: 27 minutes
Gouda: the birthplace of iconic Dutch cheese
Which came first, the cheese or the city? For Gouda, the city is the namesake for this world-famous cheese. The city is quaint(古色古香), but the centre is full of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. Check out the weekly Markt (market) on Thursdays and Saturdays to see thousands of flowers of every color and buy some to take home, and the first Fairtrade Street in the Netherlands at weekends, where all street food is sustainably produced and sold!
Travel time by car from Amsterdam: 1 hour
1. Which city takes visitors the longest time to reach from Amsterdam by car?| A．Broek in Waterland. | B．Giethoorn. | C．Marken. | D．Gouda. |
| A．On Sundays. | B．On Tuesdays. | C．On Thursdays. | D．On Mondays. |
| A．They feature traditional wooden houses. | B．They’re surrounded with an artificial lake. |
| C．They’re listed as National Heritage Sites. | D．They have a small population in the country. |
9 . Up to one quarter of the world’s population use chopsticks as their main eating tool. Called kuaizi in Chinese, chopsticks were developed in China about 5,000 years ago. Often made of wood, chopsticks allow users to pickup pieces of food by holding together and releasing (松开) the sticks with the thumb (拇指) and first three fingers.
Before the invention of chopsticks, the Chinese used only their hands to eat. One reason why chopsticks were invented is that eating with one’s hands allowed some people to take more food than others. This was considered rude, so using chopsticks, which limited the amount of food that could be taken at one time, was thought to be a more polite practice. Another one was about the great Chinese philosopher Confucius, who was a vegetarian. He objected to the use of knives at the table, feeling that they reminded eaters of the slaughterhouse (屠宰场), so he preferred chopsticks.
At first, chopsticks were used only by nobles (贵族). Later on, during the Western Han Dynasty, which began in 202 BC, commoners (平民) began to use chopsticks as well. At that time, people used chopsticks only to eat side dishes; spoons were used for rice and for soups. During the Northern Song Dynasty, which lasted from AD 960 to 1127, noodles became a popular dish. It is very diffcult to eat noodles with a spoon, so chopsticks were used more often. Today, chopsticks are the main eating tool in China, Japan, and Vietnam; and people from countries all over the world commonly use this tool while eating Asian dishes.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The popularity of chopsticks. |
| B．The process of making chopsticks. |
| C．The method of using chopsticks. |
| D．The reasons for inventing chopsticks. |
| A．Led to. | B．Went against. |
| C．Believed in. | D．Agreed with. |
| A．Philosophers. | B．Common people. |
| C．Nobles. | D．Vegetarians. |
| A．After noodles became popular. | B．Just before forks came into use. |
| C．During the Weatern Han Dynasty. | D．Before the Northern Song Dynasty. |
10 . Earlier this year I made a decision to remove all Internet service from my home. It ended up being the best decision I’ve ever made.
I was not content with the time I was wasting —I felt I could do more purposeful things with my time than spend it on the Internet. This doesn’t mean I think the Internet is bad or wrong —it’s not. It is an amazing tool, one that changed my life for the better.
How can I go without Internet service at home? The answer is easy: I plan my Internet use. I don’t do so in a strictly controlled way—it’s not like I say, “OK, I’ll be on Twitter from 2: 00 p. m. to 4: 00 p. m. next Thursday.” If I see something I want to research on the Internet, I write it down and use that list when I have Internet access.
Now I’m forced to leave the house to access the Internet. I’ll go to the library, the coffee shop, or some other place with free public Wi-Fi to work on all the things I need to do online (post writing, check email, read blogs, etc.).
No longer am I taking unconscious (无意识的) breaks from my life to surf the Internet. Now when I’m on the Internet, it has a purpose—it is a tool I use to improve my life. Sure, sometimes I watch some funny videos or laugh at funny pictures, but I go to the Internet with the intention of doing these things.
When I got rid of the Internet at home, I did it mostly so I could focus on writing--but I have found so many extra benefits. I have more time for friends. I have more time to exercise. I no longer want the Internet badly like I once did. My mind is more focused on important things. And I don’t have a monthly Internet bill.
1. Why did the author remove all Internet service from his home?| A．To reduce the cost of living. | B．To make good use of his time. |
| C．To enjoy his own company. | D．To stay away from technology. |
| A．He surfs the Internet at a fxed time. |
| B．He watches funny videos more often. |
| C．He has to pay to access public Wi-Fi. |
| D．He uses the Internet more purposefully. |
| A．It is upsetting. | B．It is satisfying. |
| C．It is discouraging. | D．It is embarrassing. |
| A．He is a writer. | B．He is short of money. |
| C．He lives alone. | D．He likes to stay home. |
