1 . For me, one of the most fascinating aspects of exploring diverse cultures is observing how ordinary and sometimes even insignificant things can ________ from place to place. The coffee culture is a great example. I love sharing with people how Shanghai is a perfect ________ for me for many reasons, and coffee is one of them.

After I returned to China in September 2022 to study at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, I soon developed a(n) ________ with two other international students. During the lunch break, we would have a cup of coffee at the campus cafe every day. What we ________ was that people did not work during that coffee break; instead, they ________ savored (享受) their conversations over coffee. So, for us too, it felt wrong to continue our studies at the coffee shop and thereby disrupt the ________.

Perhaps drawn by this ________ energy, more students joined us day by day, and our group of three became a big party. Coffee ________ us as we greeted newcomers and got familiar with other local students. I feel this is how the coffee culture ________ here — to make people a little bit happier, and to ________ you up when you feel cold.

That’s why I always prefer to get my coffee ________ instead of ordering online — for the sake of ________ the general mood of the place. It is not something ________; it’s a feeling in the air that makes you want to come, ________ it in, and be nourished by the good energy. It’s like an upbeat song from your childhood — once you ________ it, you start smiling.

1.

A．transform

B．vary

C．turn

D．get

2.

A．match

B．instance

C．factor

D．goal

3.

A．assumption

B．symbol

C．procedure

D．routine

4.

A．confirmed

B．noticed

C．reminded

D．attended

5.

A．narrowly

B．consciously

C．preciously

D．purely

6.

A．schedule

B．atmosphere

C．connection

D．meaning

7.

A．stubborn

B．rewarding

C．positive

D．odd

8.

A．developed

B．united

C．amazed

D．convinced

9.

A．functions

B．operates

C．assists

D．delivers

10.

A．inspire

B．warm

C．cheer

D．speed

11.

A．in detail

B．in panic

C．in person

D．in peace

12.

A．raising

B．approaching

C．experiencing

D．discovering

13.

A．favorable

B．suitable

C．bearable

D．touchable

14.

A．store

B．breathe

C．break

D．settle

15.

A．read

B．smell

C．hear

D．taste

2 . Did you know that you can be a good friend who has bad friend habits? Those habits might be pushing people you care about away. In this article, we’ll explore some habits and how they negatively impact your relationships. Read and find out what they are and how to break them.     1    .

Being on your phone when with friends

You’re on your phones most of the day, but when should you put them down?     2    . Being around loved ones might be commonplace for you, but it’s not OK to take it for granted or treat people badly as a result. You’ve gotten used to seeing your friends, but it doesn’t mean you can get away with bad behavior!     3    . Focusing on people you love is one of the best ways to show you care about them!

Turning up late

You’ve all experienced the horrible realization that you’re running late and won’t make your plans on time. There’s arguably nothing worse. You’re walking fast, red and sweaty face, desperately trying to get hold of your friends to let them know you’re going to be late.     4    . And it’s also a horrible feeling for your friends.

    5    

You might not notice you’re doing this but try to keep an eye out for how often you spin conversations to be about you. It’s nice to get involved in conversations, but it’s also important to let your friends have their turn to speak and their time to share.

Your friends love and care about you, so they will make sure you have a chance to speak. The least you can do in return is give them their chance too.

A．Ignoring how your friends feel

B．Making every conversation about you

C．The answer is when you’re staying with our friends

D．It’s a habit that will make your friends satisfied

E．Don’t let these habits ruin your friendships any longer

F．If there’s no urgent call, you can answer your messages later

G．Though you’re not doing it on purpose, it’s still an awful feeling

3 . Italian diver and gardener Sergio Gamberini decided to see if he could grow vegetables in a plastic balloon underwater. The experiment was a success—so he decided to dive deeper into the world of underwater agriculture.

Today, Gamberini is the founder of a company using “biospheres” off the coast of Italy to grow a variety of plants, introducing the world to a new type of agriculture. The company’s six “biospheres” are air-filled plastic balloons about two meters wide. Each is fixed to the seabed by chains so that it sits between 15and 36 feet below sea level. The biospheres are equipped with cameras and sensors that allow researchers in the company to monitor CO₂ levels, humidity, temperature, and more from a control tower on the shoreline. There’s also a device to communicate with divers in the biospheres.

Solar panels (太阳能电池板) on the roof of the control tower power the fans that create airflow inside the biospheres, and because the temperature inside and outside the biospheres is consistent, there’s no need to expend energy on the heating or cooling systems needed for traditional greenhouses.

The underwater garden doesn’t require pesticides (杀虫剂) since bugs can’t reach the plants, and though more research is needed, the company notes on its website that the higher-pressure conditions underwater appear to help plants grow more quickly.

The company is now ready to shift from the research phase of development to optimizing (优化) its biospheres for industrialization, with the goal of expanding them off coastlines around the world. To achieve the aim, the startup is now taking advantage of “digital twin” technology to precisely simulate (模仿) every aspect of its underwater garden.

Even with all the optimization potential offered by technology, Gamberini admits it’s hard to imagine the produce grown in his startup’s biospheres ever competing financially with traditionally grown crops. Still, he hopes the system’s sustainability will be enough to draw customers.

1. What does Gamberini’s company use “biospheres” mainly for?

A．Doing scientific research on marine life.

B．Creating a habitat for underwater animals.

C．Monitoring climate change effects on coastal regions.

D．Growing different types of plants through underwater agriculture.

2. How is the temperature maintained inside the biospheres?

A．By temperature regulation by divers.

B．By advanced heating and cooling systems.

C．By solar panels on the roof of the control tower.

D．By natural climate conditions of underwater environment.

3. What can we infer about Gamberini’s company?

A．It has little negative influence on the environment.	B．It negatively affects ocean biodiversity.
C．It leads to much use of pesticides.	D．It contributes to climate change.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Grow Plants Under the Sea	B．The Creative World of Keeping Animals
C．Explore the Depths of Underwater Farming	D．The Challenge of Growing Greens Underwater

4 . Is there any such thing as a salt tooth? We are familiar with a sweet tooth, along with the negative effects of sugar. We are broadly aware of the disadvantages of too much salt, including high blood pressure, which puts pressure on the blood vessels (血管), the heart and the kidneys. It can also lead to water retention (水肿). But we don’t tend to police how much salt we eat — at least, not as rigorously as with sugar — or question whether we are just paying attention to our bodies, which require some salt for muscles to work properly, or we are being controlled by a strong urge.

A salt tooth is quite unlike a sweet tooth. It doesn’t create an appetite for itself at the hormone level. But salt does make our taste buds (味蕾) get used to it, so that the more you eat, the more you need to get the same salty hit. This is why chefs can get heavy-handed with it.

As Sam Bloom, a nutritional therapist, explains, “What is generally more concerning is the fat that is used together with salt, like salty crisps, fries and fast food. Ready meals are often the worst for hidden salts. Anything that adds flavor that isn’t a spice or herb will probably have salt added to it and can make you want to eat more because it tastes good. The salt and fat combination in these foods is what causes problems with cholesterol (胆固醇). The salt that people add to a meal is much less concerning.”

Nutritionists’ suggestion is convincing: When the desire for salt hits, avoid going straight for salty snack foods such as crisps and instead ensure you are well hydrated. Seek out whole foods, such as olives and leafy greens. These foods will help you alleviate the desire for salt, which may often be due to a desire for nutrient-rich food.

1. What does the underlined word “rigorously” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Generally.

B．Strictly.

C．Largely.

D．Pleasantly.

2. Why is salt different from sugar according to paragraph 2?

A．Salt attracts chefs.

B．Salt gets people adapted.

C．Salt can change hormone level.

D．Salt generates a special appetite.

3. What is Sam Bloom’s attitude towards ready meals?

A．Objective.

B．Approving.

C．Negative.

D．Ambiguous.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Ways of seeking out whole food.

B．Reasons for getting the desire for salt.

C．Attitudes towards seeking for nutrient food.

D．Approaches to relieving the eagerness for salt.

5 . More people are increasingly biking to commute (上下班往返), for exercise, or just for fun. Bicyclists should observe bicycle safety rules to help reduce deaths and injuries on the road.

Wear a helmets

Every bike ride begins with putting on a helmet. Your helmet can best protect you. For the most comprehensive list of helmet sizes according to manufacturers, click here to visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) website.

Avoid crashes

There are two main types of crashes: the most common (falls) , and the most serious (the ones with cars). Regardless of the reasons for the crash, prevention is the key point.

Be alert (警惕的)

Be alert to the road and all traffic around you; anticipate what others may do before they do it. This is defensive driving — the quicker you notice a potential conflict, the quicker you can act to avoid a potential crash.

Pay attention to road signs and road conditions

Obey street signs, signals, and road markings, just like a car. Look ahead for risks or situations to avoid what may cause you to fall, like potholes (坑洼) and train tracks. No texting, listening to music or using anything that distracts you by taking your eyes and ears or your mind off the road and traffic.

Ride in the same direction as traffic

This way, if the sidewalk ends, you are already riding with the flow of traffic. If crossing a street, motorists will look left, right, left for traffic. When you are to the driver’s left, the driver is more likely to see you. Slow and look for traffic (left — right — left and behind) when crossing a street from a sidewalk; be prepared to stop and follow the pedestrian signals.

1. What is the most important aspect of avoiding crashes?

A．Putting on a helmet.	B．Cycling slowly.
C．Reacting quickly.	D．Prevention in advance.

2. What is the correct order to cross the street from the sidewalk?

A．Behind — left — right and left.

B．Left — right — left and behind.

C．Left — behind — left and right.

D．Right — left — right and behind.

3. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A website.	B．A local radio station.
C．A popular magazine.	D．A manufacture instruction.

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。

As families prepare for the Spring Festival, no Chinese New Year celebration is complete without mandarin oranges.

The     1    (popular) of the fruits during the festive season has a long history. During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese parents would place fruits like oranges, lychees beside the pillows (枕头) of their children, as well     2     red envelopes containing money under the pillows,     3    (keep) away mythical monsters (神话中的怪物). The children would then eat the fruits on     4    (wake) up the next morning.

There are     5    (variety) explanations for why oranges have come to be considered     6     lucky symbol — a major part of which comes from the pronunciation. Some say the Mandarin pronunciation of the fruit (ju)     7    (sound) like the word for “good luck”(ji).

Apart from its lucky name, oranges are valued for their reddish-gold color and round shape,     8     are believed to bring good fortune. They’ve inspired Chinese art for     9    (century). An ancient poem called Ju Song     10    (create) by poet Qu Yuan from the Periodof Warring States, using the fruit and tree as a metaphor (比喻); a letter from Wang Xizhi, a renowned calligrapher from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, included a gift of oranges and remained famous after almost two thousand years.

7 . Ways to Stay Healthy if You Sit at a Computer All Day, Every Day

Computer work may not be an active job, but it can definitely do harm to the body. After all, sitting at a desk for hours on end increases your risk for health problems.     1     With the following tips, you can work on a computer while staying healthy and well.

Practice a good sitting posture (姿势). When you’re engaged in work, thinking about the way you sit can feel like just another task. But being mindful of your sitting posture can help you feel your best.     2    

Adjust your monitor and screen. While you’re at it, take note of your computer setup.     3     This will keep your neck in a neutral position, preventing neck and shoulder pressure.

    4     Sitting in the same position for a long time can tighten your muscles. This can cause pain and tension, making it uncomfortable to move even when you’ve finished your work. To prevent this, try to get up every 20 to 30 minutes to avoid staying in the same posture for too long.

Drink plenty of water. Even when you’re sitting all day, drinking plenty of water is extremely important.     5     And, throughout the day, we continuously lose that water through sweating, breathing, and normal bodily functions. Drinking plenty of water will resupply these lost water and prevent dehydration, a condition marked by headaches, tiredness, and poor concentration.

A．Take regular breaks.

B．Eat lunch away from your computer.

C．Our bodies are almost 60% to 70% water.

D．Routine breaks are great for your brain, too.

E．Keep your monitor directly in your line of eyesight.

F．Poor posture can cause the muscles and joints to pain.

G．However, that doesn’t mean you need to quit your desk job.

8 . In recent years, there has been growing recognition that ageing doesn’t always progress at the same speed and certain factors, such as stress and smoking, can speed it up.

Scientists have developed several ways to test the speed of ageing, including measuring the length of telomeres-pieces of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes (染色体) — in cells, examining expressions of genes that are influenced by the environment. “However, the exactness of these measures may be limited if they are used on their own,” says Weiqi Zhang at the Beijing Institute of Genomics in China.

Zhang and her team conducted an all-round study of ageing in women recently, taking advantage of many different measures. 113 healthy women volunteers aged 20 to 66 from Quzhou, a city in southeast China, took part in the study.

Their study found that the volunteers were likely to be biologically “younger” than their age if they had healthy diets that included eating plenty of fruits and grains. It also found that the volunteers around the ages of 30 and 50 usually showed the fastest speed of ageing. “These are often the ages when some women give birth or experience the menopause (更年期), both of which are related to hormonal (荷尔蒙) changes,” says Zhang. Interestingly, the volunteers aged 45and older who were receiving hormone treatment to deal with menopause seemed to show slower ageing than those who weren’t. “Hormone treatment can prevent the drop in hormones, possibly slowing the speed of ageing,” says Zhang.

“However, since the study only included a small number of volunteers, further research is needed,” Zhang says. The team is now planning to conduct a similar study in men to find out if they show different patterns of ageing.

1. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A guidebook.
C．A history book.	D．A product advertisement.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The basis of Zhang’s study.

B．The results of former research studies.

C．The factors influencing people’s ageing.

D．The methods of examining ageing speed.

3. What can we learn from the study?

A．Genes determine the time of women’s menopause.

B．The female ageing speed is affected by hormonal changes.

C．Healthy diets play a leading role in keeping women young.

D．Giving birth causes women’s hormones to increase greatly.

4. What is Zhang’s attitude towards the study?

A．Positive.	B．Doubtful.
C．Dissatisfied.	D．Amazed.

9 . A new study finds sales of sugary drinks obviously fell across several US cities, after they carried out soda taxes (汽水税) aiming those drinks — and those changes continued over time. Taxes ranged from 1 to 2 cents. For a 2-liter bottle of soda, that comes out to between 67 cents to $1.30 extra in taxes.

“While prior (先前的) studies have looked at the impact of soda taxes, they usually studied one city at a time. This new study looked at the overall effect of the taxes on several cities to get an idea of what might happen if these taxes were more widespread — or enlarged to the state or national level,” says Scott Kaplan, an economics professor and the study’s lead author.

Kaplan and his co-workers found that prices for sugary drinks went up by 33.1% and purchases (购买量) went down by basically the same amount. So when people had to pay more for sugary drinks, they reduced their purchases — the effect was large and continued.

As Kaplan notes, “Sugary drinks make up a quarter of all the added sugar we see in the average adult American diet. And that’s a really big amount.” Jennifer Pomeranz, a professor at the School of Public Health, says, “Taxes that aim sugary drinks are good public health policy because these drinks have no nutritional (营养的) value, but they are linked with diet-related diseases. Too much added sugar is linked to a host of poor health outcomes, including overweight and heart disease.” Last month, WHO called on countries to increase taxes on sugary drinks as a way to promote healthier diets.

Today, the sugary drink industry’s strategy of offering consumers more choices with less sugar is working, and nearly 60% of drinks sold have zero sugar. The calories that people get from drinks have decreased to the lowest level in decades.

1. What’s the difference between the new study and the prior ones?

A．The range.

B．The challenge.

C．The expense.

D．The benefit.

2. How did the people respond to the rising prices of sugary drinks?

A．They bought them in overseas markets.

B．They turned to the government for help.

C．They cut down the drinks’ consumption.

D．They added sugar to drinks by themselves.

3. Why were soda taxes introduced according to Jennifer Pomeranz?

A．To better protect people’s health.

B．To encourage research into drinks.

C．To improve the nutrition of drinks.

D．To make more money for the government.

4. What can be inferred about the continuation of the soda tax policy?

A．It is a short-sighted decision.

B．It is a success story.

C．It benefits sugary drinks industry.

D．It upsets customers.

10 . People who visit Huangsiyang village in Huizhou, Guangdong province, are shocked by the grand scale of its ancient residential buildings. Covering an area of 220,000 square meters, the village was named “Huangsiyang” to express gratitude for the emperor’s kindness. With a history of over 500 years, the village’s architecture dates back to the late Ming Dynasty.

As part of a Guangdong provincial project that targets the high-quality rural (乡村的) development, Huangsiyang has made great efforts to promote its heritage protection and cultural tourism, which have breathed new life into the village. Yang Shouqiang, a village official, explained that the ancient village has more than 20 historical sites, making it the most well-preserved and largest ancient residential group in Huidong county. Yang said the village has attached great importance to education and culture, having produced over 20 examinees who passed the provincial-level exams after being invited to sit for the imperial examinations — the ancient form of the gaokao, China’s college entrance exam.

From 2022 to last year, a total of 65million yuan was invested in the protection and development of Huangsiyang ancient village. Recent surveys have shown significant improvements in the village’s surroundings and internal environment after it took measures to restore architecture and rivers, and improve lighting and other basic facilities. At the same time, the village introduced high-quality homestay (民宿) projects. These homestays preserve the original architectural style of the ancient buildings.

The village has attracted many tourists from the Guangdong — Hong Kong — Macao Greater Bay Area, who take part in team building activities and enjoy unique experiences. The increasing number of visitors to the village is also increasing sales of local snacks and agricultural products. Online promotions of these products have also brought in more tourists to nearby villages.

1. What surprises visitors to Huangsiyang village?

A．Tasty local snacks.

B．A history of over 500 years.

C．The rural landscape.

D．A large number of ancient buildings.

2. What does the underlined phrase “sit for” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Prepare for.

B．Go through.

C．Participate in.

D．Put off.

3. What can we infer about Huangsiyang village?

A．It benefits a lot from tourism.

B．Its education system develops fast.

C．It is famous for agricultural products.

D．Its environment is damaged due to tourists.

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

A．Old village comes to life

B．Old village draws visitors

C．Old village values education

D．Old village shows traditional culture