1 . Children do not laugh for joy. Scientific studies, including my own, show that there is something much deeper than joy in a child’s laughter. I find that it is closely connected to brain and personality development: children laugh for very different reasons at different stages of development.

Laughter begins soon after birth. Babies learn to laugh because they want to copy their parents expressions, and to receive attention and praise from them. This is the way babies learn everything at first: through copying and receiving attention and praise of adults around them.

But as they grow, they learn to distinguish their own person from their parents and the world around them. Once they begin to behave on their own — from age 2 to 5 — they begin to feel something new for the first time: certain things may seem cold, strange, or out of place, and this shocks, confuses and amazes them. This is where laughter comes in: after a moment of hesitation, they understand that what seemed frightening or unexpected is actually harmless.

For instance, a child laughs when they see their father with a funny clown nose. Why? Because for a second they felt embarrassed: that nose is not a “live” nose. When they understand it was just dad’s joke, they calm down and laugh. They may also laugh when their older brother makes a silly face, and the process is the same.

From age 5 or 6 and up, children learn to handle abstract (抽象的) ideas, meaning they can grasp and “get” jokes. Before that, they are at the earlier stage of being self-centered, which hinders their understanding of others’ reasoning. But once they overcome it, their laughter process is the same as that of adults.

These three stages of laughter development are good indicators of child’s mental growth and development.

1. Why do babies laugh soon after birth?

A．They are expressing their happiness.	B．They are showing their personality.
C．They are learning their parents’ behavior.	D．They are giving praise to their parents.

2. What’s the babies’ mental process of laughing from age 2 to 5?

A．They feel amazed, understand and laugh.	B．They feel harmless, hesitate and laugh.
C．They hesitate, feel frightened and laugh.	D．They understand, feel shocked and laugh.

3. Why does the author mention the father and the brother in paragraph 4?

A．To give examples.	B．To provide methods.
C．To make comparisons.	D．To offer suggestions.

4. What does the underlined word “hinders” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Forms.

B．Deepens.

C．Reflects.

D．Prevents.

2 . Four people receive Harvard honorary degrees, including an educator, a conductor, a writer, and a Nobel prize-winner.

Lawrence S. Bacow

Honorary President of Harvard University, Larry Bacow is admired for his decades of distinguished leadership in higher education. As Harvard’s 29th president from 2018 to 2023, he worked to improve changes in areas including climate change and engineering, the future of cities, natural and artificial intelligence, and the remain of slavery (奴隶制). His numerous honors include the ACE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez

Known for his energetic musicianship and his devotion to the power of the arts, Gustavo Dudamel is an internationally famous conductor. Named one of Time’s most influential people in 2009, he has received such honors as Spain’s Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, the Konex Foundation Classical Music Award, and the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award.

Joy Harjo-Sapulpa

Joy Harjo is a well-known poet, educator, author, playwright, and musician. She served as the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, only the second Poet Laureate to serve three terms. A member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose work draws deeply on native histories and traditions and on themes of remembering history and being beyond oneself, she is the author of 10 books of poetry, including “Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: 50 Poems for 50 Years.”

Maria A. Ressa

Maria Ressa is a fearless journalist and media change maker known for her determined devotion to safeguarding freedom of the media and pushing on the quest of truth. Her many honors include a share of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her efforts to encourage free expression, to attack disinformation, and to reflect misuse of power in her native country, the Philippines. She was named a Time Person of the Year in 2018.

1. Which area does Lawrence work in?

A．Music.

B．Media.

C．Education.

D．Literature.

2. What do Gustavo and Joy have in common?

A．They are winners of Poet Laureate.

B．They are well-known experts in music.

C．They are members of the Muscogee Nation.

D．They are named Time’s most influential people.

3. What’s the reason for Maria’s winning the Nobel Peace Prize?

A．Ending the misuse of power.	B．Encouraging free expression.
C．Safeguarding her native country.	D．Being a Time Person of the Year.

3 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

On arriving home after school, Dean rushed into his room, shut the door and turned on his computer.

Like many teenage boys, 17-year-old Dean was addicted to the digital world, spending countless hours on his computer playing games and surfing the Internet. The only sounds were the clicking of his keyboard and the occasional excited shout. Days passed, and Dean’ grades began to suffer. He skipped meals, lost sleep, and ignored his friends. His eyes were always red and dull as if he were lost in another world.

Dean’s parents, seeing the worsening situation, repeatedly advised him to take a break and focus on his studies. However, their words fell on deaf ears. The frequent conflicts between Dean and his parents grew increasingly tense, leading to a violent argument one day.

“You’re always on that computer! When are you going to do something productive with your life?” shouted Dean’s father, a mixture of concern and anger in his voice.

Dean sat in his chair, eyes fixed on the screen. He didn’t even look up as he replied, “I’m fine. I’m happy.”

The father rushed toward Dean and firmly turned down the computer.

“No! Why did you do that?” Dean yelled, jumping to his feet. His heart pounded with a mix of anger and panic.

“Because you need to get out of this virtual world and start living in the real one!” the father shouted, his voice shaking.

A wave of anger swept over Dean. “You don’t understand! This is my life!” He stormed out of the house, vowing (发誓) never to return.

He went into a nearby Internet cafe (网吧). There he spent the next three days and nights lost in the thrill of gaming.

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。
Paragraph 1:

As the days passed, Dean gradually used up his pocket money.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

In the depths of his despair (绝望), a familiar voice called out to him.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . How to Get into College

The college admission world can be mysterious. But experts urge students not to panic.     1    

•Get an early start and finish high school strong

Colleges want to see that you’ve focused from the start on getting the best possible education your high school has to offer. High school shouldn’t just happen to you.     2    . Colleges like to see that a student is on an upward way where they show continued improvement, particularly during their junior and senior years.

•Challenge yourself responsibly

Admission officers attach importance to overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college-prepared classes, a careful course plan and a student’s writing file or personal paper.     3    , according to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

•     4    

Colleges are looking for students with rich experiences and various interests. So don’t just join the clubs; make it count. After all, what matters most is that your experiences are helping to transform you in positive ways and teaching you valuable lessons and habits that will shape you far beyond the college admission process. Each experience is an opportunity to grab.

•Keep your college list balanced

Students should create a list of desired colleges that include a certain number of safety schools, target schools, reach schools and high-reach schools.     5    , including your safeties. They shouldn’t be on your list if you don’t want to attend them.

A．It’s important not to postpone anything

B．Those are the top factors for admission

C．You need to spend your time wisely there

D．Make full use of your experiences in high school

E．Encourage students to take classes they’re interested in

F．You should be thrilled to attend any of these schools on your list

G．Here are some tips to solve the mystery of how to get into college

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。

Tai chi, an ancient martial art, is widely practiced not only in China     1     around the world. Though there are no formal data about     2     number of tai chi learners all over the world, the martial art can be said to have enjoyed broad popularity over the years.

Guillaume Large, a 44-year-old tai chi enthusiast from Bordeaux of France,     3     (practice) tai chi for over 20 years. Large got a sports     4     (injure) at a young age and decided to start practicing tai chi at a local club in France as a way of recovery. From then on, he     5     (gradual) fell in love with traditional Chinese art. In 2007, Large and his fellows established an organization,     6     aims to spread Chinese culture in France through     7     (teach) tai chi, the Chinese language and other aspects of the country’s culture. In 2013, he started to learn tai chi from Chen Ziqiang, a famous tai chi master in Wenxian county, Henan province. Since then, he has led French students     8     (come) to study in Henan province almost every year. They get to receive     9     (person) guidance from the master and watch tai chi performances there.

“Now French people are becoming increasingly fond     10     Chinese culture, and I hope our relationship could get better and better,” Large said.

7 . On March 20, I participated in the Dance World Cup 2024 Korea Qualifiers. As a Korean student, I performed a Chinese ethnic dance. Everyone wondered why, and my parents asked me, “Why didn’t you perform ballet or traditional Korean dance?” Well, this story began when I was 5 years old. At that time, my family moved to Dalian, Liaoning. To develop a special skill, I explored various after-school classes. Among all the options available to me, Chinese dance attracted me the most. The nice dance studio and beautiful costumes all seemed to call out to me, making me eager to try everything.

Learning Chinese dance was indeed challenging, especially when I was practicing the basics, which require a high level of physical flexibility, strength and accuracy. For example, practicing complicated steps repeatedly to achieve accuracy and coordination(协调)can be tiring. However, the moment I mastered a dance routine and performed it onstage, I felt incredibly confident and joyful. Later, I had to return to Korea for school and say goodbye to Chinese dance. After I turned 15, I happened to meet a Chinese dance teacher who had opened a studio in Korea. Without doubt, I signed up in her classes. Although I struggled with some of the difficult dance moves due to the long break, my passion for Chinese dance remained unchanged. Seeing myself in the dance costume again in front of the mirror, I felt like I had regained the unique confidence I had 10 years ago.

In February, I decided to participate in the Dance World Cup and perform a Chinese ethnic dance. I won the gold medal in the competition’s world ethnic dance category. Through this competition, my love for Chinese dance grew even stronger, and I was delighted to show Chinese culture to a broader Korean audience.

1. What did the author’s parents think about her choice of dance?

A．Wonderful.

B．Acceptable.

C．Inspiring.

D．Surprising.

2. What’s the author’s difficulty in learning Chinese dance?

A．Lacking confidence on stage.	B．Adapting to the life routine in China.
C．Meeting high standards of the basics.	D．Having too many after-school classes.

3. Why did the author return to Chinese dance?

A．To open a dance studio in Korea.	B．For her love for Chinese dance.
C．To win a medal in the competition.	D．For the popularity of Chinese culture.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Embracing Chinese Culture in Dance	B．Performing on a Worldwide Stage
C．Exchanges Between China and Korea	D．Ups and Downs of Chinese Dances

8 . Wake up energetically at 6 am, exercise for over an hour after freshening up, and study productively throughout the day. This daily schedule is frequently featured in vlogs on social media with the theme of “self-discipline (自律)”.

But when trying out such a schedule, many of us may feel lacking in energy. Is it just because we are lazy? Why do some people seem to have so much energy? There’s a whole lot you can explore about your energy levels.

Genetic differences, to start with, can significantly influence our energy levels. A tiny part in our DNA called SNPs can help to explain 8.4 percent of cases of feeling tired, according to a 2018 study.

The food you eat also gives you energy. However, there’s an often-forgotten element —vitamin D. A study published in 2019 in the journal Nutrients noted that older adults with reduced vitamin D levels experienced state of being tired more than those with normal levels. You can get enough amount of it by sunbathing or having enough vitamin-D-rich foods, such as fish, eggs and milk.

Another analysis published in Nutrients in 2020 found that eating foods high in a certain fat is linked to too much daytime sleepiness. These foods probably include some of your favorites: butter, cheese, ice cream, and fried foods.

Even if a workout leaves you in sweat and out of breath, exercise can actually increase your energy. ”When you exercise, you release hormones (激素),” US expert Sabrena Jo told the Health website. “This hormone actually tells our bodies to forget feelings of pain and tiredness while helping blood flow to large muscles.” This “excitement” in your body can last for several hours. Exercise helps, but only to a point. Those who exercise too frequently may experience negative impacts on their energy levels.

1. What affects our energy levels according to the 2018 study?

A．Self-discipline.	B．The daily schedule.
C．Productive study.	D．A certain part of DNA.

2. What did the study in 2019 find?

A．Vitamin D is a major energy source.	B．People feel sleepy due to a certain fat.
C．Vitamin D levels is related to energy levels.	D．People often forget to have Vitamin D.

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．The more exercise, the better.	B．Sweat has negative impacts on energy levels.
C．Adjusting breath rate releases hormones.	D．Proper exercise reduces feeling of tiredness.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Ways to improve energy levels.	B．Elements influencing energy levels.
C．Balanced nutrients in daily foods.	D．Genetic differences benefiting our health.

9 . At age eleven, I was diagnosed (诊断) with alopecia areata, a disease causing serious hair loss.

At the wig (假发) shop, I was ______ to only two children’s wigs. I picked a light-brown one. Despite it being ______ and fitting loosely, I felt more confident with it than without it. “I ______ your hair. It looks so pretty, ” friends said. Other kids who didn’t know my background story weren’t so ______ . They would laugh at me each time they saw me without my ______ on.

Years on, when I was 25, I met Kim who was selling wigs. Made from real human hair, Kim’s wigs were incredibly ______ and comfortable to wear. You could even swim, play ______ or go on a roller-coaster in them. They were that stable! “I really want to do wigs for ______ ,” I told Kim. “I don’t want anyone to ______ what I did when I was young.”

So in January this year, we ______ the Lusta Children’s Project, giving free wigs to kids with ______ hair loss. Watching the ______ on their faces as they put them on is amazing. “I love it!” four-year-old Sasha, who also lives with alopecia areata, smiled when I fitted her with a black wig. So far, we’ve ______ the lives of 10 families affected by hair loss, and we’re ______ to help more.

______   my hair changed my life, but I’ve found my life’s purpose!

1.

A．devoted

B．opposed

C．compared

D．limited

2.

A．original

B．uncomfortable

C．unique

D．mysterious

3.

A．respect

B．fear

C．love

D．hate

4.

A．kind

B．confident

C．curious

D．serious

5.

A．coat

B．glasses

C．wig

D．makeup

6.

A．natural

B．typical

C．romantic

D．dramatic

7.

A．cards

B．tricks

C．roles

D．sports

8.

A．relatives

B．kids

C．strangers

D．volunteers

9.

A．turn down

B．cheer for

C．go through

D．care about

10.

A．completed

B．continued

C．delayed

D．started

11.

A．time-wasting

B．medical-related

C．wild-looking

D．wave-shaped

12.

A．nervousness

B．determination

C．joy

D．calm

13.

A．changed

B．threatened

C．judged

D．selected

14.

A．excited

B．surprised

C．worried

D．relaxed

15.

A．Designing

B．Selling

C．Cutting

D．Losing

10 . 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。

Kites were invented around the 5th century BCE during the Warring States period. They were made of wood and silk, and had military (军事的)     1     (purpose) such as measuring distances, signaling, and reconnaissance.

Over time, kites gained popularity as recreational toys. They were flown during festive occasions and celebrations, symbolizing good luck and driving away bad luck.     2     (additional), competitive kite flying appeared, with participants showing their skills in     3     (achieve) the highest altitude and performing complex movements. Kite flying became a way for artistic expression. People started applying artistic designs     4     decorative factors together to kites, including delicate paintings and calligraphy on silk surfaces. This allowed kites     5     (become) a medium for showing traditional Chinese culture and beauty.

As kite-making developed, there were significant technical advancements. Experiments with different materials and designs     6     (lead) to the transition (过渡) from wood to bamboo frames, as well as the use of paper and fabric instead of silk.

Kite makers also added tails and explored     7     (vary) shapes and sizes to improve stability and flight performance. Kite flying continues to be popular     8     China. There are kite festivals and competitions     9     show good designs and movements, keeping the tradition alive. The influence of Chinese kites has extended beyond China, promoting designs in other cultures. Besides, the concept (概念) of flying kites has served as     10     (inspire) for scientific advancements in different fields.