1 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What led to Puri’s research?

A．A wildlife exhibition.

B．Her family’s hope

C．A market visit.

2. What’s the problem with present monitoring systems?

A．They aren’t accurate.

B．They can’t catch pictures

C．They can’t locate hunters

3. How does ELSa work?

A．By using better visual recognition.

B．By analyzing movement patterns.

C．By studying animals’ living situations.

4. What does Jasper think of ElSa?

A．It is not as good as his system

B．It will stop much illegal hunting.

C．Its performance needs to be proved.

2 . It was a normal morning in March. Sondra Artis had just _______ the last student on her route.

As heading towards the school, Sondra noticed a burning smell. She _______ the bus window to see if it was fogging up from condensation（凝结）or if it was _______ . When a student asked her what was _______ , she did her best to hide her growing _______ .

Sondra pulled into a parking lot and turned to face the 20 students on _______ . She reminded them of the evacuation（疏散） _______ they once performed and directed them to leave through the doors.

“I told the kids that, ‘You know, we _______ at the beginning of the year, but this is going to be _______ , so I need you to be calm,’” said Sondra.

The students hurried to the ________ as smoke began to fill the bus. They were ________ , but Sondra remained calm. When they were out, she went back onto the bus to make sure everyone left ________ .

Seconds after they all ________ , the bus caught fire. Another bus came to the ________ to take the children away, and Sondra was left ________ that everything worked out okay.

The bus can be ________ , but human life cannot. The parents were incredibly ________ for her grace under fire. She's being considered as a ________ , and many of her students would like to see her ________ for her heroism.

“Sondra is a very good bus driver，”said a student. “She ________ a reward.”

1.

A．sent away

B．turned down

C．seen off

D．picked up

2.

A．repaired

B．wiped

C．tapped

D．opened

3.

A．steam

B．smoke

C．fog

D．dust

4.

A．wrong

B．lucky

C．necessary

D．urgent

5.

A．anger

B．curiosity

C．embarrassment

D．worry

6.

A．duty

B．guard

C．board

D．vacation

7.

A．advantages

B．drills

C．signals

D．secrets

8.

A．met

B．separated

C．promised

D．practiced

9.

A．early

B．amazing

C．real

D．new

10.

A．exits

B．teacher

C．windows

D．lifesaver

11.

A．excited

B．tired

C．scared

D．optimistic

12.

A．hurriedly

B．safely

C．firstly

D．actively

13.

A．hid

B．landed

C．sat

D．escaped

14.

A．scene

B．school

C．park

D．destination

15.

A．searching

B．studying

C．thanking

D．counting

16.

A．replaced

B．exchanged

C．burnt

D．controlled

17.

A．eager

B．famous

C．grateful

D．qualified

18.

A．student

B．leader

C．driver

D．hero

19.

A．rewarded

B．excused

C．apologized

D．forgiven

20.

A．offers

B．deserves

C．demands

D．establishes

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。

I’m not Chinese, but I love Chinese New Year. There are many fun New Year     1     (celebrate), but nothing quite matches the excitement of the lion dance which can wake up the spirit     2     (complete).

The sound of the drums,       3     you can feel throughout your entire body, is quite inspiring. The two performers are very flexible. But it is actually very difficult as the lion head is very heavy and being the     4     (low)part of the lion is tiring as he has to bend his back and also carry     5     person in front sometimes. The lion head is made with paper over a bamboo frame,       6     (cover)in gauze (纱布), and decorated with beautifully-colored materials.

The lion dance     7     (believe)to have first appeared in the Qianlong Emperor's dream during his Southern tour, and he ordered an animal     8     (make)in the likeness of his description and used in festivals from then on.

I love all about the lion dance. The other day, I saw a film about a left-behind teenager who insisted on pursuing his dreams despite difficulties and     9     (succeed)in lion dance. As Master Xu translates: “Heaven has made us talents; we’re not made     10     vain.”

4 . The past few years have been difficult for 13-year-old Adeola Abraham. In 2020, the teen was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, and he survived a successful bone marrow transplant (骨髓移植) and rounds of chemotherapy (化疗). Thankfully, Adeola is now out of the hospital. During his recovery, he found out that he had qualified for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask for a dream wish from Make-A-Wish Mississippi. While many teens would choose a memorable Disney trip, meet a favorite figure or get a PlayStation, Abraham instead chose to feed the homeless in his local community.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is famous for brightening the lives of children suffering from critical illnesses by meeting their wishes. A wish typically falls into three categories: a wish to have something, go somewhere or meet someone. Abraham’s charitable wish to give came as a surprise to the organization. Linda Sermons, a Make-A-Wish Mississippi representative, said that Abraham’s generous wish was the first of its kind in the organization’s 35-year history. She was impressed with the teen’s maturity and sense of sympathy.

Make-A-Wish Mississippi approved of the teen’s wish in a big way. They created a service named after the teen, called Abraham’s Table, which would provide free meals to the homeless every month for the next year. Local businesses generously donated food and supplies, and receivers gathered in Jackson’s Poindexter Park for the meals. Abraham and his proud mom personally attended and handed out the food. Abraham’s Table fed more than 80 people at its first event. Abraham said it warmed his heart when the receivers came back to thank him for the meal he provided.

Abraham now wants to inspire other teens to get more involved in local charities. He also wants to continue his mission of helping others by starting his own nonprofit that helps those experiencing food insecurity.

1. What made Abraham a remarkable boy?

A．His exceptional choice for a dream wish.	B．His great sufferings from a critical disease.
C．His special qualifications for a dream wish.	D．His successful survival from a blood disorder.

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A．Eighty people or so benefited from Abraharn’s Table.

B．Abraham’s act of kindness received positive reaction.

C．The organization provided financial help for the homeless.

D．The local businesses were greatly appreciated by the receivers.

3. According to the passage, which words can best describe Abraham?

A．Energetic and determined.	B．Mature and intelligent.
C．Sympathetic and selfless.	D．Generous and cautious.

4. Which of the following can best describe the story?

A．Hard work always pays off.	B．It’s a blessing to be a giver.
C．Actions speak louder than words.	D．Miracles often occur in bad luck.

5 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?

A．Yellowstone National Park.	B．Joshua Tree National Park.
C．Grand Canyon National Park.	D．Virgin Islands National Park.

2. What do we know about the Grand Canyon National Park?

A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there.	B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs.
C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter.	D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather.

3. Which activity is mentioned in all of the parks?

A．Hiking.

B．Skiing.

C．Swimming.

D．Hunting.

6 . The SNAG stands for stereotyped nature-inspired aerial grasper and it’s a 3D-printed bird robot with claws. It can fly, stay on various surfaces catch and carry objects, just like the mighty falcon（隼）that was used as the source of inspiration in its development.

Each leg of the SNAG has two motors, one for helping it move back and forth, and the other one for grasping. Twenty printing attempts were necessary for the robot to finally reach its current structure, but it was worth it. Now, according to researchers, the flying machine has an impressively strong and high-speed clutch（离合器），being able to land and wrap its claws around a branch in about 20 milliseconds. SNAG has ankles lock, and there’s an accelerometer （加速计）on its right foot that reports that it’s landed while triggering（触发）a balancing process to stabilize it.

Scientists have already conducted several tests with the robot in rural areas and on different surfaces. In all the situations, the SNAG was able to catch objects thrown by hand, such as bean bags, a tennis ball, and more.

As for the applications of the bird-like robot, the SNAG can get attached to drones（无人机）and be used for search and rescue missions, wildfire monitoring, to offer just a few examples. Another great application is environmental research, with the SNAG also featuring a temperature and humidity（湿度）sensor. By using a robot that can act like a bird, you can unlock new ways of studying the environment, as explained by William Roderick, mechanical engineer and one of the researchers involved in the project. Now scientists are moving on to improving the robot’s situational awareness and flight control.

This isn’t the first time that nature has inspired groundbreaking technologies. We also wrote a piece recently about the F-SAM micro drone, which was inspired by the flight of samara（翼果）seeds, also known as “twisters” which have a special way of spinning down to the ground.

1. What gave the researchers inspiration for the SNAG’s development?

A．The plane.	B．The falcon.
C．The micro drone.	D．The samara seeds.

2. What’s the function of the accelerometer on the SNAG?

A．To balance the SNAG in flight.

B．To change the SNAG’s flying speed.

C．To keep the SNAG’s feet in balance.

D．To make the SNAG steady on a surface.

3. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us about the SNAG?

A．The SNAG has huge potential for practical use.

B．The SNAG has a long way to go before being used.

C．The SNAG will be helpful in putting out forest fires.

D．The SNAG is sensitive to temperature and humidity.

4. What may be one disadvantage of the SNAG right now?

A．It doesn’t know its situation well.

B．It can’t fly fast enough in the air.

C．It is easily broken by the branches.

D．It can’t catch objects with smooth surfaces.

7 . Many orb weaver spiders have yellowish stripes or spots on their undersides for a good reason. That color yellow attracts bees and flies into a spider’s web, a new study suggests.

Orb weaver spiders get their name because they spin and sit on circular webs. But these spiders and their bright colors seem contradictory. Why would a spider look so noticeable? In the new study, researchers examined if yellow coloration on a species of golden orb weaver spiders (Nephila pilipes) attracts their flying insect prey. Found across Asia, this spider sits on its web day and night with its underside facing open space. The team found more than 250 female N. pilipes in the wild. They removed each female and either left its web empty or replaced it with a cardboard spider. These cardboard models had paper stripes of yellow, blue or black color stuck to them.

After almost 1,800 hours of video recording the webs, the team found that during the daytime, the yellow-striped model that looked like a real N. pilipes attracted more than twice as many insects, including bees and flies as any other fake spider or empty web. What's more, the yellow color worked just as well at night attracting moths, the scientists reported.

The team then searched online zoological databases for associations between yellow markings and prey attraction in orb weaver spiders. Surveying dozens of distantly related species showed that yellow stripes or spots were more likely to have evolved in orb weaver spiders that sit on their webs in open, bright spaces, where visual baits may be more effective.

Scientists don’t yet know why insects are attracted to yellow stripes on orb weaver spiders. Perhaps the prey mistake a spider for a yellow-flecked flower, a hypothesis (假说) supported by the fact that most prey attracted were pollinators (传粉者).

1. What made the scientists confused about orb weaver spiders?

A．Their name.

B．Their prey.

C．Their coloration.

D．Their webs.

2. How did the scientists do the study?

A．By finding wild male and female N. pilipes.

B．By filling each web with a cardboard spider.

C．By studying the stripes on female N. pilipes.

D．By using fake spiders or leaving the web empty.

3. What did the scientists most probably conclude after watching the videos?

A．Insects knew how to avoid an empty web.

B．The spiders’ stripes could attract insects.

C．Insects could be attracted to dark colors.

D．Yellow markings didn't function at night.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Yellow Stripes Work for the Spiders Hunting for Food

B．Yellow Stripes on Orb Weaver Spiders Have Evolved

C．Stripes and Spots can Easily Draw Much more Insects

D．Preys are Drawn to Spiders on Circular Webs Quickly

8 . 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。

Chinese carmakers are taking the lead in developing the intelligent cockpit (驾驶座舱),    1     is becoming a key part of the modern driving experience.

Intelligent cockpits combine smart technologies with     2     (vary) driving functions, such as voice recognition for vehicle commands and the entertainment and navigation (导航) systems.

According to a report     3     (publish) by patent research firm PatSnap last week, globally there have been 193, 000 patent applications related     4     intelligent cockpits.

Of those, China owns 82, 300 applications, accounting for 42.56 percent of the total and     5     (rank) first worldwide. It means that the country has become the     6     (much) important market for intelligent cockpit technology, according to the report.

Japan ranks     7     (two) with 31, 900 patent applications and the United States follows with 19, 300. The patent applications of the top three nations account for around 70 percent of the total.

A representative from PatSnap has said the three countries represent the development trend of the automobile industry to a certain degree as they     8     (be) the three largest auto producers worldwide.

It can     9     (see) that under the global trend of autonomous, connected, electric and shared vehicles, the intelligent cockpit has become one of the vital development     10     (direction) of the future of mobility, the report said.

9 . 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。

My neighbor told me immediately after I got home that my uncle had visited and just left my place. As I thought of this, I ran even     1    (fast) down the road.

I ran until it occurred to me that I     2    (leave) the house 15 minutes before. Having been running for about another 15 minutes, I needed to know how I missed     3    (he).

Now thinking more reasonably, I reached for my phone     4    (call) him up. Twelve calls     5    (miss) from his mobile number. I must have been running so fast that I didn’t even notice. As I was about to make the call, his call came in, again. I picked his call and told him I was on the way to meet him. He was     6    (astonish) at my words. Then he said I would have caught up     7    him if I had run the right way. He had been standing about five buildings from mine, talking to     8    old friend.

I had taken the wrong way.     9    (actual), all I needed to do before was know     10     my uncle was and I would have saved my time and energy.

10 . Practicing gratitude can increase feelings of happiness and life satisfaction while decreasing depressive symptoms.     1     To start improving your gratitude skill, try the following gratitude challenges.

Reflect on the gifts of hardship. There is no question that life can be challenging, as things don’t always turn out the way we’d hoped.    2     It may seem difficult to reflect on challenging times and find a reason to be grateful, but in making our pain purposeful, we can find meaning in the experience.

Express gratitude to others in writing.    3     Send each of them a quick but considerate correspondence in the form of a handwritten note, email or even a thoughtfully composed text. Remind them of why they are special to you and how worthwhile they are in the world. As a result of your effort, those on the receiving end will experience the mood-boosting benefits of being appreciated. They won’t be the only beneficiaries. Writing letters of gratitude has a positive effect on the author, increasing feelings of happiness while decreasing depression, studies have shown.

    4     An important aspect of practicing gratitude regularly is becoming aware of opportunities throughout your day to express gratitude. Acknowledge at least two times a day that someone spreads a small act of kindness toward you. These acts could be a delivery person bringing a package to your door, a coworker offering assistance at work or your significant other getting you a coffee.    5    

When you finish the challenges, hopefully you’ll be inspired by the mood-boosting benefits and continue actively practicing gratitude on a daily basis.

A．Catch the chances of acting kindness.

B．Notice and appreciate the small stuff.

C．Think of three people in your life that you truly appreciate.

D．All of us experience dilemma at different points in our lives.

E．The benefits of thankfulness extend to both the giver and receiver.

F．Gratitude takes practice to realize its full potential, just like any other skill.

G．Once recognizing their efforts, you can consistently show your appreciation better.