1 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been ______ a position there as a Civil Engineer. Accompanying him, my aim was to find a job shortly after. As you can imagine, I was very excited, even rather ______, as I’d never been abroad before. So, my first ______ was to get settled in this small town called Dodoma in the middle of Tanzania.

As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the ______ towards us. Completely out of breath, she said, “We’ve heard you’re from England and our school ______ needs an English teacher — please say you’ll help us.” I felt tired and ______ a shower after the journey. Though shocked by her ______, for some reason or other, I agreed to ______ it!

I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was ______ to the two local teachers and my ______ at 8 o’clock. It felt like being thrown into the deep end, as my teaching timetable began ______ at 8:30! Although I’d hardly had time to get my breath, I never ______ my sudden decision.

Though my entry into this ______ was unexpected, I found joy in teaching those youngsters and gradually became part of the local community in the following years. I’ve been fortunate to ______ lifelong friendships, which has left a lasting ______ on both my students and myself.

1.

A．awarded

B．offered

C．allowed

D．presented

2.

A．disappointed

B．dissatisfied

C．unconcerned

D．uneasy

3.

A．priority

B．worry

C．action

D．response

4.

A．river

B．platform

C．sidewalk

D．channel

5.

A．probably

B．suddenly

C．desperately

D．occasionally

6.

A．longed for

B．waited for

C．heard about

D．worried about

7.

A．remark

B．interruption

C．suggestion

D．request

8.

A．keep

B．take

C．forget

D．quit

9.

A．introduced

B．recommended

C．assigned

D．compared

10.

A．colleagues

B．assistants

C．students

D．interviewers

11.

A．exactly

B．finally

C．immediately

D．smoothly

12.

A．expected

B．regretted

C．delayed

D．dropped

13.

A．career

B．country

C．agreement

D．relationship

14.

A．value

B．strengthen

C．renew

D．harvest

15.

A．comment

B．record

C．impact

D．impression

2 . Human history is full of horse stories like guiding cowboys home on foggy nights and taking wounded soldiers through battle zones. Such sensible and highly trained horses made Elina Jatel, a computer scientist and roboticist, think of robots. “A horse that can take a rider home on its own would be the highest level of autonomy,” Jatel says. “You trust them with your life.” She was drawn to learning how such relationships form and if it could help improve human-robot interactions.

For a year, Jatel engaged herself in the horse world. She watched classes in horse training, and she also talked with students, instructors, trainers and horse owners. Along the way, Jatel even learned to ride.

Horses learn signals from their trainers on how to comfortably interact with people. People, too, must learn their part. Riders must learn what a horse wants or feels based on its behavior, and what signals to use to direct horses to perform in desired ways. Jatel found some similarities, here, to working with robots. People must learn how to direct robots to do specific tasks. They also must learn what to do when robots don’t perform as planned. The goal is to program robots that will respond predictably to inputs from people. But like horses, autonomous robots also should be able to respond on their own as conditions change. For example, a self-driving car must stop to avoid hitting something, even if some human mistakenly tells it to keep going.

Trainers and riders work with horses to build respect. Horses show that respect by matching their pace to a human or giving someone who is leading them a safe degree of personal space. Trainers begin their work with a horse by getting them to show signs of respect in basic interactions, Jatel says. Later, trainers will develop more complex interactions. Gradually, a horse’s respect can grow into trust.

But that trust is not given. And there may be a similar limitation with robots. What would it mean for robots and people to respect and trust each other? For now, she adds, this is largely uncharted territory. But she’s looking to build a path.

1. What drew Elina Jatel’s attention to horses?

A．Horses’ amazing performance.	B．Long history of horse training.
C．Horse-human interdependence.	D．Her horse-riding experience.

2. What are the robots of the highest autonomy designed to do?

A．To act like real horses.	B．To show respect to humans.
C．To follow instructions from humans.	D．To make independent and sensible decisions.

3. What will Jatel’s future research most probably focus on?

A．The limitations of robots.	B．Trust between robots and humans.
C．Path toward higher robot efficiency.	D．Similarities between horses and robots.

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

A．History of Human-Horse Relationship	B．Secrets of Human-Animal Interactions
C．The Role of Trust in Human-Robot Partnerships	D．Horses as the Inspiration for Autonomous Robots

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。

Wearing Hanfu and sitting in front of a Chinese zither (筝), Peng Jingxuan, a young Chinese student, moves her fingers gently along the strings on a street in Paris, France.

Peng has shared more than 200     1     (origin) videos online, with the most popular one featuring the theme song of the movie A Chinese Ghost Story viewed over 16.61 million times. “I love how she’s representing her culture in a     2     (set) where people are not familiar with it. You can tell she’s proud of her background and her music,” one of her fans commented.

Chinese zither (筝), or guzheng, is an ancient musical instrument with 21-26 strings and a length of 1.63 meters. Peng     3     (fall) in love with it when young and has been practicing it for years. Hardly finding Chinese instruments     4     (play) on the streets in Paris, she took along her guzheng     5     began her street performances to sharpen her skills. The more she performed, the more she felt a greater sense of responsibility     6     (spread) Chinese music and culture.

Considering her audience’s     7     (unfamiliar) with Chinese songs, Peng made adaptations, for     8     she received positive responses. She also performed Western pop songs that local people could relate     9    , entertaining them with beautiful melodies in a     10     (refresh) style.

4 . 18 years ago, a 14-year-old boy from Kasungu district in Malawi was forced to drop out of school for lack of fees. At the same time, a severe famine was destroying his village, claiming people’s lives and leaving desperation in its wake.

This was a situation to break the strongest of minds but William Kamkwamba did not give up. Young as he was, he knew that education was where his future lay. He found hope in the library and feasted on the knowledge that he harvested from its books. It was there that he came across a science textbook entitled Using Energy. He learned that he could generate electricity using wind. The youngster realized that, if mastered, this power could help his village in exceptional ways.

Armed with determination and an iron will, the teenager set out to build a windmill out of random materials from a scrapyard (垃圾场). Though his outside world was collapsing to dust, the youngster did not hesitate about his purpose. He defended himself from all doubt and criticism. He worked tirelessly until his dream of bringing electricity to his village became reality. Soon, he was caught in the center of media attention that took him to new places that he would never have stepped on without his invention.

In his village, the dust has not settled yet and the winds of change continue to blow across the land. Windmills pump water to irrigate crops, sweeping away another period of hunger. William’s former primary school boasts new and stronger buildings, thanks to the help of well-wishers and the villagers’ united efforts.

What seemed like a hopeless situation has been turned into an inspirational story that motivates each and every one of us, persuading us that no misfortune is set in stone. William refused to be a school drop-out forever. He sought solutions for his problems and continued fighting even when the going got tough. He was able to rise above poverty to become a graduate from one of America’s best universities, Dartmouth College.

1. What inspired William to bring electricity to his village?

A．His realization of the impact of electricity.	B．His awareness of the role of education.
C．The science textbook entitled Using Energy.	D．The severe famine destroying his village.

2. What can we learn from paragraph 3?

A．All people didn’t support William’s dream at first.

B．The public had little interest in William’s invention.

C．The invention enabled William to make a big fortune.

D．The windmill is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

3. What does the underlined words “set in stone”in the last paragraph mean?

A．Visible.

B．Avoidable.

C．Unchangeable.

D．Unpredictable.

4. What message does the author want to convey in this story?

A．Knowledge feasts mind and education promises wealth.

B．Necessity inspires invention and hardship makes heroes.

C．Criticism promotes success and doubt facilitates creation.

D．Adversity motivates inspiration and support pushes solutions.

5 . Autonomously copying other people’s thoughts or options or simply going with the crowd is often referred to as “herd (群体) behaviour”. Herding can appear to make a lot of sense. In an earlier article, I discussed the so-called “wisdom of crowds”, which suggests that average judgments of large groups of people often outperform individual choices.

Psychology research has attempted to model herd behaviour and suggests that the phenomenon relies on the existence of social connections or patterns between individuals as well as specific mechanisms of passing on information. A key condition is the human ability to “mentalize”, which means being able to read and interpret someone else’s mental state and using the information to explain their options. This action of mentalizing is responsible for people’s tendency to attach meaning to options by the herd, even if many behaviours may have come about at random.

Herd behaviours, while common and easy to explain, hold significant dangers. Contrary to the so-called “wisdom of crowds”, which emerges when the judgments of individual group members are independently collected to produce an average opinion, herd behaviours typically rely on so-called “information cascades”, where people take on others’ beliefs or copy their options without critically evaluating the underlying reasons. This frequently leads to the mirroring of unreasonable or stupid behaviours.

Blindly following the herd can be dangerous. So how can we resist the tendency of following the crowd? The sad news is that psychology research suggests that it’s surprisingly difficult to withstand the influences of the herd. In an experiment, researchers found that warning messages about the potential errors of the crowd were surprisingly ineffective in helping subjects make better choices. It appears there is no quick and easy fix. Instead, long-term attitude changes may be necessary, which could involve individuals adopting more critical approaches towards their peers’ opinion, and questioning others’ behaviours as opposed to blindly following them.

1. Why does the author mention “wisdom of crowd” in Paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the definition of herd behaviour.

B．To contradict the judgments of large groups.

C．To attract readers to his previous discussion.

D．To justify the behaviour of following others.

2. What makes herd behaviour possible according to psychology research?

A．Heavy reliance on social activities.

B．Ineffective mechanism of information exchange.

C．Attaching meaning to crowd’s random choices.

D．Analyzing individuals’ mental state.

3. How does the author develop Paragraph 3?

A．By defining.	B．By quoting.
C．By making a comparison.	D．By giving an example.

4. What is probably the best policy if we want to resist herd behaviours?

A．Following your heart.	B．Thinking twice before action.
C．Working out a quick fix.	D．Taking peers’ opinion seriously.

6 . An estimated 1 to 2 million people work out in virtual reality monthly. If you’re like me and find it hard to spend meaningful time in the gym, VR fitness might be for you. Here are my picks from the apps I’ve tested:

①Les Mills BodyCombat: Les Mills BodyCombat is great for beginners with a lot to offer—the works center around punching, squatting, and knee-striking targets. While the update added workouts and a new mixed reality mode showing you the room around you, I still look to other apps and games for variety. It also doesn’t have a “cool down” after the workouts—so I’ll typically switch to another app after my workout to relax. $30/ one time purchase

②FitXR: FitXR is a subscription-based app with a diverse line of workouts. A recent update added Zumba and a mixed reality mode called Slam to a list that includes boxing, combat, high-intensity interval training, sculpt and dance. I enjoy FitXR quite a bit, but it’s not my top recommendation due to the cost, the poor pictures, and some missing mixed-reality options. $9.99/month

③Supernatural: Supernatural is one of the most popular VR fitness apps. Unsurprisingly, it’s a polished experience with beautiful locations from around the world, popular music you’ll recognize, and energetic trainers with two main workout types—Boxing and Flow.$3.00/one time purchase

④Xponential + : Xponential +, the newest offering for Quest platforms, has partnered with other workout studios to bring their workouts to reality. I love how the app brings the work out into your living room by displaying a small version of the trainer on your floor or ceiling when it detects that you’re in a plank, pushup, or lying on your back. $9.99/month-also includes access to workouts via app or web.

1. What do Les Mills BodyCombat and FitXR have in common?

A．Both provide mixed reality mode.	B．Both are at a high price.
C．Both are suitable for beginners.	D．Both provide various workouts.

2. Which ones don’t have drawbacks according to the author?

A．①②

B．①③

C．③④

D．②③

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A course plan.	B．A sports website.
C．A science magazine.	D．A tourist brochure.

7 . 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。

Hua Tuo was a famous physician in the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He is     1     (wide) known as the first doctor in traditional Chinese medicine to invent some anesthetic (麻醉的) herbal formulas and the first surgeon to conduct abdominal (腹部的) operations. Hua also created     2    set of therapeutic qigong exercises called Wuqinxi,    3     imitate the movement of tiger, deer, bear, ape and bird, and are still popular today.

Hua later appeared in many     4     (legend) stories. One of them is about how Hua did surgery on Guan Yu, a famous general of the Kingdom of Shu, without using any anesthetic.

According to the story, after Guan’s right arm    5     (wound) in a battle by a poisonous arrow, he invited Hua to help treat the wound. First, Hua wanted the general    6     (take) his anesthetic. The general laughed and sad that it was unnecessary since he was not afraid     7     pain. So, without applying any anesthetic, Hua used a scalpel (手术刀) to cut off the poisoned flesh from Guan’s arm and then scraped the affected bones while the general calmly played chess.    8     (listen) to the sound of bone scraping, the onlookers’ faces turned pale,    9    the general never uttered a single sound of discomfort throughout the operation.

This popular story shows both the doctor’s exceptional skill and the rare    10     (brave) of the general.

8 . The core of an admirable life is respect. When you respect yourself and others, you behave in a way that sets a high standard.    1    Here are some steps you can take toward living a more admirable life.

Learn to be comfortable in your own skin. The real purpose of your life is to evolve and grow into the whole person you are capable of being. It’s easy to get off the path and spend your time trying to be someone you think you're supposed to be, but any effort to change yourself for other people is bound to be worthless.    2    

Stop pleasing others despite yourself. How many wasted years, months, and days have you spent trying to please others?    3    If they like you for who you are, good; if not, it’s not your problem. Do more of what makes you happy, and in turn you will make others around you happy, too.

    4    Take risks and be bold. If you win, you win; if you lose, you’ll still be wiser. Try new things and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way because every risk, every dare, is a victory over fear.

Don’t dream your life; live your dreams.    5    You are powerful when you believe in yourself. When you finally decide to be yourself, you can make your life look any way you want it to. Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.

In the end, if you can become a person you admire, you will be able to help others bring out their best as well.

A．Live fully and dare greatly.

B．Treat confidence as a superpower.

C．The best you can do is to be your true self.

D．Honesty is central to any admirable life.

E．Never put off or give up on your dreams.

F．Making everybody happy is never your responsibility.

G．You’ll do things you can be proud of and inspire others to do the same.

9 . From solar panels to electric cars, clean energy has become a bigger part of our lives in recent years. A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that it will only develop a stronger foothold in the decades to come, with more solar panels, electric cars, and renewable energy by 2030.

The IEA analyzed the current policies and added that there will likely be two-thirds more clean energy ten years from now with a decreased dependence on fossil fuels. “The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and is unstoppable. It’s not a question of ‘if’, but a matter of ‘how soon’—and the sooner, the better for all of us,” says the IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

“Governments, companies, and investors must support clean energy transitions rather than hinder them. There are immense (巨大的) benefits on offer, including new industrial opportunities and jobs, greater energy security，cleaner air, universal energy access and a safer climate for everyone. Considering the ongoing strains and volatility (波动) in traditional energy markets today, claims that oil and gas represent safe or secure choices for the world’s energy and climate future look weaker than ever,” Biral adds.

Although this is welcome news for many, the IEA stresses that more improvement will be needed for the 200 countries in the Paris Agreement to meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Governments must triple renewable capacity, reduce methane emissions from fossil fuel operations by 75%, and triple clean energy in developing economies.

“Every country needs to find its own pathway, but international cooperation is crucial for accelerating clean energy transitions,” Birol asserts. “In particular, the speed at which emissions decline will be largely determined by our ability to finance sustainable solutions to meet rising energy demand from the world’s fast-growing economies. This all points to the importance of redoubling cooperation, not retreating (逃避) from them.”

1. What does the new report from the IEA show?

A．The demand for fossil fuels is still currently strong.

B．The worldwide shift to clean energy is unstoppable.

C．The threat of global warming is being underestimated.

D．The use of renewable energy is a new focus of mankind.

2. What does the underlined word “hinder” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Follow.

B．Delay.

C．Improve.

D．Prevent.

3. What does the IEA think of the goal of the Paris Agreement?

A．It is challenging.

B．It is impractical.

C．It is unclear.

D．It is conservative.

4. What is the key to clean energy transitions according to Birol?

A．Changes to global economic policies.	B．The pattern of energy consumption.
C．Combined efforts between nations.	D．The development of advanced technologies.

10 . These new releases sit at the top of “want-to-read” shelves. While not all of these books are available right now, most are available for pre-order until their expected release date, so you can have your monthly read planned ahead of time.

Small World

By Jonathan Evison

$28.00

This book won’t be released until January 11, but you can pre-order it now. It records 170 years of American nation-building and asks whether the United States has fulfilled its promises by highlighting big and small injustices,

All That She Carried

By Tiya Miles

$30.00

In the book, historian Tiya Miles uncovers the stories of an enslaved black woman, Rose, her daughter, Ashley，who was separated from her and sold at nine years old, and her granddaughter, Ruth. By unearthing (挖掘) their stories, Tiya Miles tries to write a singular and revelatory history of the experience of slavery and the uncertain freedom afterward in the United States.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

By Malinda Lo

$18.99

This novel won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2021. It centers around 17-year-old Lily Hu, who can’t quite remember when a certain feeling appeared inside of her, but she knows it only keeps growing.

Meditations: The Annotated Edition

By Marcus Aurelius $28.00

Meditations is a series of personal writings from the former Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. These writings, which consist of private notes to himself and his ideas on Stoicism, acted as a means for his self-improvement.

1. What do Small World and Meditations: The Annotated Edition have in common?

A．They have the same price.	B．They both tell American history.
C．They have won national awards.	D．They go on sale on the same date.

2. What can we know about Tiya Miles’ book?

A．It is popular among teenagers.	B．It will be released on January 9.
C．It focuses on slavery in America.	D．It is the cheapest of the four books.

3. Which book will you choose if you are a fan of Malinda Lo?

A．Small World	B．All That She Carried
C．Last Night as the Telegraph Club	D．Meditations: The Annotated Edition