4 . Introduction
White lies, which means little lies usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to manage social interactions smoothly, are a common aspect of human communication. This report explores the frequency, acceptability, and contexts (情景) of white lies among teenagers.
Method
A survey was conducted with 342 high school students from various regions to gather data on their experiences and attitudes towards white lies. Participants were asked how often they tell white lies, what they think of white lies and in what contexts they tell white lies.
Results
The survey found that 85% of teenagers admit to telling white lies frequently to protect others’ feelings or to avoid conflicts. Their attitude to and most common situations for telling white lies are shown in the following two charts:

Conclusion

White lies play a significant role in the social communications of high school students, helping maintain peace and prevent minor conflicts. While generally seen as beneficial, it is crucial for young individuals to understand the boundaries and potential consequences of dishonesty in their relationships. Educational programs should include discussions on ethics (道德原则) in communication, helping students know when white lies might be acceptable.

1. What can be inferred from the two charts?

A．Most participants are against telling white lies.

B．White lies are harmful because they may hurt feelings.

C．Most participants tell white lies to protect social relationships.

D．About 10% of participants don’t know why they tell white lies.

2. What can we learn about the survey from the passage?

A．It aims to explore the meaning of white lies.

B．342 teenagers and adults participated in the survey.

C．85% of participants think it’s acceptable to tell white lies.

D．Its conclusion encourages more related educational programs.

3. What kind of article may this passage most probably be?

A．A news story.	B．A survey report.
C．An online blog.	D．A scientific essay.

5 . I suffered a stroke (中风) in March 2013, then mostly recovered (康复) and realized I had been very ________. Six months after the stroke, I began to take piano lessons. Some people believe students can only learn music well when they’re ________. Money problems meant I never had that ________ as a child. But I had a dream, so this belief did not ________ the 52-year-old me.

I learned slowly with my first teacher. Then after two years, I started with a man. He seemed ________. In our first lesson, he asked me how my last teacher taught. I ________ how she would play each new song for me first and then help me work it out.

“I won’t be doing that,” he said. “I expect you to learn the ________ yourself and I expect you to practice. If not, you will have to find another ________.”

Our class lasted three months. However, in our last lesson before Christmas, he strongly criticized (批评) me, saying that I played with the ________ rhythm and tone (节奏和音调). I went home in a state of ________.

When I saw him again, I played the same ________ again and then said, “I practiced this piece about 500 times.”

There was silence. Then, surprisingly, he said he could see I had put ________ into it.

From that day, he changed. He became kind and warm. He ________ explained difficult terms and took care to ________ my creativity. Through him, I fell deeply in love with ________.

It is the piano that helps me get over the stroke and find my confidence again.

1.

A．free

B．tired

C．lucky

D．cold

2.

A．young

B．clever

C．famous

D．healthy

3.

A．feeling

B．chance

C．worry

D．trouble

4.

A．surprise

B．attract

C．save

D．discourage

5.

A．strict

B．mad

C．satisfied

D．funny

6.

A．asked

B．described

C．learned

D．considered

7.

A．benefits

B．stories

C．notes

D．letters

8.

A．teacher

B．student

C．doctor

D．family

9.

A．strong

B．common

C．different

D．wrong

10.

A．fear

B．peace

C．sadness

D．excitement

11.

A．song

B．trick

C．match

D．sport

12.

A．interest

B．pressure

C．money

D．effort

13.

A．angrily

B．patiently

C．secretly

D．probably

14.

A．challenge

B．limit

C．develop

D．copy

15.

A．painting

B．literature

C．running

D．music

6 . 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。

Nanjing, the capital city of China’s Jiangsu Province and located ( 位于) along the Yangtze River Delta (三角洲),     1     (be) once the capital of the Ming Dynasty and is recognized as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China alongside Beijing, Xi’an     2     Luoyang.

But if you’ll only be visiting for 72 hours, there are a few     3     (experience) that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Any trip to Nanjing, no matter     4     short it is, wouldn’t be complete without some excellent food. Nanjing cuisine is a part of Jiangsu cuisine and often shows the area’s     5     (local) grown produce and fresh seafood.

The city is also considered the birthplace of Peking Duck, but it also prepares a local favorite: Nanjing salted duck,     6     is served cold after being cooked in very salty water.

The area’s close     7     (connect) to the river delta ensures that travelers will have a taste of seafood, such as hairy crab.

Nanjing is known for     8     (it) cultural and political importance. Today, travelers can visit numerous temples (寺庙) within the city and walk along Stone City, the remains of the city’s ancient fortifications (防御工事), at a local park.

Nanjing is also home     9     one UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, located in the Zhongshan Mountain National Park, where many other    10     (importance) sites, such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, are also located.

7 . “Where should I eat?” We hope to answer that age-old question. This simple list provides a view into Montreal’s good restaurants.

Mastard

Chef Simon Mathys is celebrated as one of the best in the business. He owns and runs Mastard with his wife, Viki Brisson-Sylvestre. At Mastard, officially opened in January 2021, Mathys prepares five-course menus that are local-product driven, seasonal, inventive and delicious.

Vin Mon Lapin

When this restaurant said, mid-COVID, that it would be doubling its space, it may have sounded like a risky move — but it paid off. Mon Lapin has been one of the hottest tables around since it opened in March 2018. Its menu changes with the seasons, featuring fresh veggies and seafood.

Chez Ma Tante

Started in 1929, this Quebec-style restaurant first served steamed (蒸的) hot dogs out of a horse-drawn carriage (四轮马车). Later, it moved into a building on Fleury Street. Old-school in the best way, Chez Ma Tante remains one of the top hot dog suppliers (供应商) in the city. Open until 4 a.m. daily.

Dobe & Andy

Open since 1982, Dobe & Andy is Chinatown’s leading Hong Kong-style barbecue restaurant. It is now run by second-generation owners, the Ku brothers. Since taking over from their father, they have made some tasty additions, but the time-honoured char siu pork, crispy roast pork and roast duck remain headliners.

1. What do Mastard and Vin Mon Lapin have in common?

A．They both offer seasonal menus.	B．They both have five-course menus.
C．They both have world-famous chefs.	D．They both enlarged their restaurants in 2021.

2. What is special about Dobe & Andy?

A．It is run by a married couple.

B．It provides various Chinese dishes.

C．It remains one of the top hot dog makers in the city.

D．It is one of the most popular Quebec-style restaurants in the city.

3. Of the following restaurants, which is the oldest?

A．Mastard.

B．Vin Mon Lapin.

C．Chez Ma Tante.

D．Dobe & Andy.

8 . A group of fashion (时尚) design students have created 25 fidget blankets (毯子) to help senior patients keep busy while in the hospital — but what’s a fidget blanket?

The blankets offer sensory and tactile stimulators (感觉和触觉刺激物) for the restless hands of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia (a serious illness of the mind), according to Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) officials. The blankets have different things such as fur, pockets or buttons fixed on them and these things can stimulate activity.

The blankets help to kill boredom and calm the users down through repetitive movements.

“The students are trying to make the best use of the cloth given by the community,” St. Clair College fashion design program professor Elaine Chatwood said. “The blanket is a perfect example of green design, by using supplies that would have been thrown away.”

According to WRH officials, the college’s fashion design students have a long history of helping out patients. Students have created and given away things like sleepwear for young children, hospital gowns (罩衣) for patients and 640 cloth masks that were used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe this is the third project our fashion design students have carried out with Windsor Regional Hospital. In the past, they created gowns for those having MRI exams and cloth face masks for doctors and nurses during the pandemic,” St. Clair College president Patti France said. “These fidget blankets are just the latest example of this mutually (相互地) beneficial relationship between our local educational and healthcare organizations. I hope this serves as a message to the whole community that if you think any of the programs at St. Clair might be able to help your organization, get in touch with us.”

The fidget blankets will be given out to patients in need in the coming months.

1. What can we learn about the fidget blanket?

A．It was made by old people.

B．It is worth about 25 dollars.

C．It can help fight off boredom.

D．It was developed for a competition.

2. Which of the following can best describe the fidget blanket?

A．Single-use.	B．Youth-centered.
C．Electricity-driven.	D．Environment-friendly.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The good things done by fashion design students with their skills.

B．The work done by fashion design students during the pandemic.

C．The long history of St. Clair College fashion design program.

D．The needs of patients from Windsor Regional Hospital.

4. What does France want the community to do?

A．Pay more attention to local hospitals.

B．Give more support to St. Clair College.

C．Reach out to St. Clair College if need be.

D．Develop a lifelong interest in fashion design.

9 . It was 1984, and I heard that our typewriters were soon going to be replaced with computers. I had been happily typing on typewriters for many years. But computers? I knew nothing about computers. Perhaps it was time to learn. The college calendar had arrived in my mailbox a few days earlier and after quickly going through it, I found just what I was looking for. BASIC Computer course — the words jumped off the page at me.

The first night I found the classroom. I expected to see a room full of computers, but there were only long tables and chairs. The instructor began the class with the usual introductions. I kept looking around, wondering where the computers were. I hardly listened to anything the instructor was saying. The second session (节) was held in the same classroom. Still no computers. Again, my thoughts wandered (走神) and I listened half-heartedly to the instructor saying many strange words: “Binary code, greater than, less than, equal to.” What was this? I had not paid good money for this.

In the third session, I finally realized I hadn’t signed up to learn basic computer skills. I had signed up for a BASIC Computer Programming course. BASIC is one type of computer language. I was not interested in programming; so the next year I signed up for a beginner’s session to learn basic computer skills. When computers finally arrived at my workplace, I adapted quickly.

Nowadays I find that I am once again falling behind. I don’t have a smartphone, and I seldom visit any social media sites. Still, I consider myself somewhat skilled at using computers. While I can use the Internet and do various tasks, I avoid being always bombarded (轰炸) with information and refuse to allow the fast electronic world to take over my life. I liken it to a big pot of soup. When it’s done, give me a bowl of soup, not the whole pot. Just give me the basics.

1. Why did the author sign up for a computer course?

A．She wanted to experience campus life again.

B．She was at risk of being unable to do her job.

C．Her best friend invited her to do so.

D．Her boss asked her to do so.

2. How did the author feel during the first and second sessions?

A．Lonely and sad.	B．Excited and satisfied.
C．Confused and absent-minded.	D．Confident and well-prepared.

3. What did the author really want to learn?

A．Basic computer skills.	B．Computer repair skills.
C．The history of the computer.	D．Computer programming languages.

4. What do we know about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She has been improving her computer skills.

B．She has a great ability to process information.

C．She knows quite a lot about today’s social media sites.

D．She can focus on what matters to her in the fast electronic world.

10 . Low-maintenance (无须费神的) care is one of the biggest advantages of owning a cat. Cats are known for being independent. And unlike dogs, cats don’t require daily walks in order to get their exercise fix.     1     It’s necessary to make sure your cat has plenty of chances to move her body.

Why is Exercise Important for Cats?

Exercise is very important when it comes to keeping your cat healthy. Exercise, along with diet, is important for maintaining your cat’s weight.     2     Plus, that extra weight can put added pressure on the legs and feet, leading to mobility problems down the road.

Exercise is also good for mental health (精神健康).     3     As an added benefit, enough physical exercise can keep your cat from acting in destructive (破坏性的) ways.

How Much Exercise Does Your Cat Need?

The exact amount (数量) of recommended exercise differs from cat to cat.     4     This doesn’t necessarily mean running or walking for 30 minutes straight, though.

How to Help Your Cat Exercise

    5     Try playing together for at least 15 minutes or so per day with toys. With enough independent games, toys, and tools for your cat to use on her own terms, she will also get in more movement, like walking, climbing, and scratching (抓).

A．Cats are good at taking care of themselves.

B．Exercise helps to kill boredom and lower stress.

C．That doesn’t mean cat exercise isn’t important, though.

D．Taking your cat outside can inspire her interest in exercise.

E．For most adult cats, though, 30 minutes per day is recommended.

F．Fat cats may be cute, but being overweight can lead to health problems.

G．Playing with your cat every day is one of the best ways to help them exercise.