1 . When John Todd was a child, he loved to explore the woods around his house, observing how nature solved problems. A dirty stream, for example, often became clear after flowing through plants and along rocks where tiny creatures lived. When he got older, John started to wonder if this process could be used to clean up the messes people were making.

After studying agriculture, medicine, and fisheries in college, John went back to observing nature and asking questions. Why can certain plants trap harmful bacteria (细菌)? Which kinds of fish can eat cancer-causing chemicals? With the right combination of animals and plants, he figured, maybe he could clean up waste the way nature did. He decided to build what he would later call an eco-machine.

The task John set for himself was to remove harmful substances from some sludge (污泥). First, he constructed a series of clear fiberglass tanks connected to each other. Then he went around to local ponds and streams and brought back some plants and animals. He placed them in the tanks and waited. Little by little, these different kinds of life got used to one another and formed their own ecosystem. After a few weeks, John added the sludge.

He was amazed at the results. The plants and animals in the eco-machine took the sludge as food and began to eat it! Within weeks, it had all been digested, and all that was left was pure water.

Over the years, John has taken on many big jobs. He developed a greenhouse — like facility that treated sewage (污水) from 1,600 homes in South Burlington. He also designed an eco-machine to clean canal water in Fuzhou, a city in southeast China.

“Ecological design” is the name John gives to what he does. “Life on Earth is kind of a box of spare parts for the inventor,” he says. “You put organisms in new relationships and observe what’s happening. Then you let these new systems develop their own ways to self-repair.”

1. What can we learn about John from the first two paragraphs?

A．He was fond of traveling.	B．He enjoyed being alone.
C．He had an inquiring mind.	D．He longed to be a doctor.

2. Why did John put the sludge into the tanks?

A．To feed the animals.	B．To build an ecosystem.
C．To protect the plants.	D．To test the eco-machine.

3. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Fuzhou?

A．To review John’s research plans.	B．To show an application of John’s idea.
C．To compare John’s different jobs.	D．To erase doubts about John’s invention.

4. What is the basis for John’s work?

A．Nature can repair itself.	B．Organisms need water to survive.
C．Life on Earth is diverse.	D．Most tiny creatures live in groups.

2 . Stepping out of your comfort zone (区域) helps you to improve yourself and become a happy and fun person. You’ll experience greater enjoyment as you try out new experiences.     1    .

Unplug (拔掉插头)

Take a break from today's interconnected world.       2    .   You may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you will know that is just part of the process to let you know better about yourself.

Go to another country

You will experience new cultures, different customs, unique landscapes and another language from travel.     3    . Additionally, the excitement of exploring different scenery and experiencing different cultures are lifelong treasure.

    4    

Try diving, skydiving or a roller coaster ride. If those are too frightening, try giving a speech or taking a dance class. Once you overcome your inner fear, you will have a sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming it.

Talk with someone new

This doesn’t have to be a complete stranger. Start a conversation with someone new at work, the barista (咖啡师) in your local coffee shop, a neighbour or someone in the queue.     5    . By focusing on other people rather than your own internal thoughts, you can improve your own mental health.

A．Do something that is fearful for you

B．Become uncomfortable with the Internet

C．You can end your conversation with your friends anytime

D．Leave your phone at home, turn off the TV and the Internet

E．Here are some ways that can probably lead you to a new life

F．See if you can continue the conversation for 30 seconds or longer

G．Besides, using cash from different countries is also good for your brain

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。
Space Station Rice Tests Show Promise

Chinese astronauts have successfully grown rice seedlings (幼苗) onboard the Tiangong space station.

There have been other rice     1     (experiment) in space. But the one being conducted on Tiangong is the first of     2     (it) kind that aims to produce the complete life cycle of the plant, which begins with a seed and ends with     3     mature plant producing new seeds.

China launched the Wentian space laboratory into orbit on July 24. The space lab, which weighs 23 metric tons and is 17.9 meters tall, is the country’s     4     (large) spacecraft to date. Onboard     5     (be) eight experimental payloads, including the one for the rice experiment.

“We want to investigate how microgravity affects the plant flowering time on the molecular (分子的) level     6     whether it is possible to use the microgravity environment     7     (control) the related process,” said Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Flowering is a     8     (vital) important stage for plant reproductive development.

“If we want to land on and explore Mars, food     9     (bring) from Earth is not enough for the astronauts’ long journey and mission in space. We have to find a sustainable food source     10     long-term space explorations,” Zheng said.

4 . Everyone tries their best in life, and sometimes a few kind words of encouragement can help people realize that their efforts are not in vain (徒劳).Ⅰ remember a time when I was in fifth grade, and I was a very shy girl.

There was a drawing competition at my school that day. As everyone started to use their creative ideas to draw, I was only trying to think of something creative that could express my thoughts and emotions. Lost in my own world, I was brought back to reality when my art teacher called my name from behind. She came to me and encouraged me, saying, “Don’t overthink it, just put whatever comes to your mind on the canvas (画布). Do your best, and you will do well.”

Taking her words of wisdom to heart, I started my painting. Time flew by, and soon the bell rang, signaling the end of the time limit. We all turned in our canvases for inspection (检查). The next day, the winners of the competition were announced in front of the whole school. To my surprise, I heard my name being called second prize. It was a bolt from the blue for me, as I had never dared to dream of winning any prize.

Later on, I expressed my gratitude to my art teacher for her words of encouragement and for believing in me. That day, I became aware of my talent and started painting more whenever I had free time. Sometimes, I think that if it weren’t for her words of encouragement, I may have never discovered the talent I have.

Overall, this experience taught me the importance of encouraging others and how a few kind words can make a significant impact on someone’s life.

1. What was the author doing when called by the art teacher?

A．Organizing a drawing competition.	B．Trying to get some creative ideas.
C．Painting her work on her canvas.	D．Trying to get help from others.

2. What did the author think of the competition?

A．Easy.

B．Interesting.

C．Challenging.

D．Encouraging.

3. What do the underlined words “bolt from the blue” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Addiction.

B．Puzzlement.

C．Disappointment.

D．Surprise.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Power of Encouragement

B．The Importance of Art Competitions

C．Overcoming Shyness Through Painting

D．Discovering Your Great Natural Ability

5 . Nowadays, family life has become even more challenging than before. Then, how can we create a happier family life? Let’s see some advice.

Enjoy togetherness. When children are babies, parents are advised to spend one-on-one time with their babies.     1     This can be a big mistake since enjoying each other’s company (陪伴) is one of the easiest ways for families to create lasting happiness. Parents should regularly spend quality time with their children doing activities together like playing games, sports.

    2     Although the Internet has certainly made communication easier, it is still important to have face-to-face time with your family members. Try to avoid using your cell phone so much.     3     Many families have regular meetings where they discuss issues affecting (影响) the family. This can be a great way to start talking face to face. You can talk about your family’s values, or how you can work together as a group to solve problems that affect the family.     4    

Plan fun activities as a family. This can be something that you do once or twice a month, or even once a week. This can be something as easy as going to the beach, a park, or going on a trip to visit relatives.     5     Doing the activities regularly can help you build stronger relationships with your family members, and relieve (释放) stress that many families feel.

A．Talk more as a family.

B．Let family members talk about activities.

C．But, as children get older, the one-on-one time is reduced.

D．Parents need to help their children manage their daily stress.

E．Make quality conversation with your family members, instead.

F．You can also try simpler ones such as camping overnight in your backyard.

G．Regular communication like this can help you build stronger family relationships.

6 . Listed below are some nice family-friendly museums in Chicago, pick one that interests your kids most and take your little ones there to have fun.

Shedd Aquarium (水族馆)

It was open to the public on May 30th, 1930. Visitors with limited movement can use easy slopes (斜坡) to reach the exhibits, which are also explained to children through an app.Families can spend the night in the aquarium during the special event called Asleep with the Fishes.

Elmhurst History Museum

It’s a museum about history that has won awards and was created in 1957. It shows different exhibits about many history-related subjects, has a fun interactive exhibit about its own history, and offers various public programs, tours of exhibits, and special events for the community. The museum is a fantastic place for families to visit for a day or two, and it even has places for picnics and holiday train journeys.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Founded in 1982, the museum displays impressive exhibits for children, featuring dinosaur bones, a play area only for babies and a famous and fun climbing area for children.Moreover, the museum offers various exhibitions and daily art classes for children, which are free of charge. Visiting the museum on the weekend is a good choice for economical family amusement.

Field Museum of Natural History

With millions of things in its store, it was established in 1893. Disco ver more than 4billion years of life on Earth through interesting displays and interactive events, and discover protection campaigns worldwide.   It is now considered as famous as the Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 in Washington, and the American Museum of Natural History, which originated in 1869 in New York.

1. What is special about the Shedd Aquarium for family visitors?

A．They can go on a picnic there.

B．They can sleep overnight there.

C．They can surf the Internet.

D．They can learn the history of Chicago.

2. What can kids do at the Chicago Children’s Museum?

A．Have discounts on holidays.	B．Watch dolphins’ exhibitions.
C．Take a fun climb.	D．Take free art classes on an app.

3. Which of the following has the longest history?

A．Shedd Aquarium.	B．ElmhurstHistoryMuseum.
C．Chicago Children’s Museum.	D．Field Museum of Natural History.

7 . Group discussions are a way of expressing your thoughts and opinions with other people. It is an opportunity to learn more about other people and develop your own personality. You become better at group discussions because it will help you throughout your whole life.     1     then this blog is the right place for you. Here, we will share some things you can do to excel at group discussions.

Learn about the subject

    2     You cannot just walk into a group discussion without having any idea what it is about. So, make sure that you do your research before stepping into the discussion.

Be confident when you speak

The best way to make your discussion go well is by being confident. When someone else is speaking, make sure that you consider their opinion and not simply wait for your turn to speak.     3     people are more interested in listening to you, and they’ll respect you more as a person.

    4    

One of the most important aspects of group discussions is to be a good listener. Active listening is one of the most important skills in life, which is why you need to practice using it.

Use group discussion to express yourself

Group discussions are a way of expressing yourself. It is not just about talking; it is more about putting your thoughts in front of other people.     5    , but people prefer to bear your opinions in order to open their minds.

A．Been an active listener

B．Choose your words wisely

C．When there is a conflict in opinion

D．When you are confident while speaking

E．Speaking your heart out can be hard at times

F．If you are also struggling with such kinds of discussions

G．It is very important that you first collect information about the topic

8 . Sunflower Gymnastics

At Sunflower Gymnastics we offer different classes to help participants promote self-confidence, build physical fitness and encourage independence.

Me &My Grown Up

This is a great class for the young children and adults to enjoy time together exploring movement and starting to understand their little bodies. The class is directed by instructors, yet parents work directly with their children. In addition to learning gymnastics, the children will also learn valuable social skills, like following directions. Saturdays &Sundays 10: 30 a. m. — 11: 30 a. m. Monthly fees: $55. 00

Hot Shot & Strength Training

This program is designed to teach basic gymnastics skills and ensure the development of a strong physical and mental foundation for young male athletes. Individual training focuses on strength, flexibility and balance, which can be transferred to any sport.

Wednesdays& Saturdays 4: 30 p. m. — 5: 20 p. m.   Monthly fees: $65. 00

Nimjia Warrior Program

This class is for kids from the age of six to eleven. Students will compete in a safe challenging environment while having fun. This is the perfect program for a child who has a ton of energy because we promise they’ll leave tired, sweaty and talking about how much fun they have had!

Mondays 4: 25 p. m. — 5: 05 p. m. Fridays 7: 35 p. m. — 8: 15 p. m.   Monthly fees: $57. 00

Competitive Team

Competitive team is for adult athletes who wish to reach the next level in their competition. Athletes are invited to team based on their gymnastics skill levels. We attempt to help them promote their confidence and grow as a teammate. Tuesdays 6: 45 p. m. — 8: 15 p. m. Sundays 5: 00 p. m. — 6: 30 p. m. Monthly fees: $73. 00

1. Which class encourages its customers to take their kids with them?

A．Me &My Grown Up.	B．Hot Shot & Strength Training.
C．Nimjia Warrior Program.	D．Competitive Team.

2. What is special about Ninjia Warrior Program?

A．It charges the lowest fees.	B．It has the longest class period.
C．It promises energy conservation.	D．It is scheduled for weekdays only.

3. What type of writing is this text?

A．A sports schedule.	B．A gym advertisement.
C．A parenting guide.	D．A product catalogue.

9 . 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。

I yawned (打哈欠)as I got off the last step of the bus. I had woken early that morning, and had not been able to sleep on the long ride from Riverside High, thinking about that day’s race, the Eye Opener. I had never raced in a state-wide race before. Over thirty high school teams ran, along with quite a few colleges. The rest of my team and I unloaded the bus, and we relaxed and waited for our race patiently.

“Start warming up,” our coach told us, roughly forty-five minutes after we arrived. After finishing our stretches, we headed over to the starting line, eager for the race to begin.

The starter walked to the middle of the field. “There will be two commands,” his voice boomed, ‘‘Runners set, then the gun. If you hear another shot, return to the starting line to start again. ” My heart raced as I got my legs ready to race.

“Runners set!” the starter shouted Bam! The gun fired, and he rushed out of our way. Adrenaline (肾上腺素)rushed through my body as I raced through the mass of runners. As I rounded the first turn, my schoolmates greeted me with heartening shouts. Then, in what felt like only one minute, I arrived at the one mile mark.

“6’10”, a man declared as I ran by. I tried to ignore him, but my legs began to burn as I realized I had run a mile and still had two to go. I slowed down my pace, for I knew the second mile was the worst of all three. Minutes later, I felt horrible. My legs ached, feeling like lead blocks. My vision was clouded as sweat dropped down into my eyes, and my arms felt as if they would fall off if I swung them one more time. Just as I almost reached my limit, a boy passed me. He also seemed to have lost strength but soon he was a little ahead of me.

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。

I gathered up my strength to speed up but suddenly fell to the ground.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the last mile, seeing the athletes passing us one by one, I asked the boy to run without me.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Emily Bhatnagar has always loved reading. “Growing up, I was really shy, so I always turned to books,” she said. “They became my best friends when I didn’t have one.”

In 2019, when Emily was in her second year of high school, her dad suffered from cancer. The news was difficult for the family. Books became an even bigger comfort, and she started thinking about families in similar situations. When her father recovered, she came up with a plan to help others. “The idea came from the fact that there were kids who were facing the same problem,” she said.

Then, Emily started the book drive in her hometown, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The goal was to collect books and give them to kids being treated for cancer in local hospitals. Her father was not surprised by this plan. “She always wants to do things for the neighborhood,” he said. Since the start of the book drive, which she calls For Love & Buttercup, Emily has collected more than 10,000 books.

Emily had no idea how much attention her work would get. She started by posting on social media, asking people in her area to donate. “I was expecting maybe two or three neighbors to do it,” she said. “But it ended up blowing up,” especially when newspapers began reporting it.

The Children’s Inn is one of the places where Emily has donated books. “Donations like Emily’s share a piece of the world with kids and families that they may not experience,” said its director, Aisha Campbell. Emily continues to run the book drive with her parents’ help. She hopes to one day make it reach more kids. The memory of the first time she visited children who’d received her books sticks with her. “It was the best day of my life,” she said. “I realized I wanted to do this type of work forever.”

1. What made Emily come up with the book drive?

A．Her father’s illness.	B．Her care for others.
C．Her habit of reading.	D．Her own shyness.

2. What did Emily’s For Love & Buttercup want to do?

A．Help her father defeat cancer.	B．Give her father a surprise.
C．Comfort other kids in need.	D．Collect books for hospitals.

3. How did Emily feel about the book drive at first?

A．Uncertain.

B．Surprised.

C．Proud.

D．Disappointed.

4. What is Emily’s future plan?

A．Getting more help from her parents.	B．Starting another book drive very soon.
C．Making her program benefit more kids.	D．Writing books about her experiences.