1 . Repeatedly hitting the alarm’s snooze (小睡) button isn’t always the best way to start the day. Check out these tips for building an effective morning routine — one that you may actually stick with!

Get a good night’s sleep

How to wake up feeling refreshed depends on you being well rested and ready to go. Research has shown that for many adults, getting 7—8 hours of sleep is ideal. Make sure your room is quiet and there aren’t any bright lights that could affect your ability to sleep.     1    . If your room isn’t dark enough, you might consider getting room darkening curtains or wearing an eye mask so your body can rest better.

    2    

Many of us hit that snooze button until the last possible second and then race through getting ready as fast as possible. However, waking up when the alarm goes off the first time can actually be a great way to get your body up and running. Once you’re up, stay up!     3    .

Hydrate (补水) when you wake

You’ve just gone approximately eight hours without eating or drinking, so your body could use a pick-me-up.     4    . Many experts suggest that you might try drinking some water to jump start your metabolism first. Starting with water in the morning will even help you stay hydrated all day long.

Take time to meditate (冥想)

    5    . Relaxing, letting the worries of the day go, and focusing on the positives in your life can help you feel uplifted and inspired to take on even the most challenging day.

A．Don’t hit the alarm’s snooze button

B．Prepare for a fresh morning the night before

C．Don’t rush for that cup of coffee to get you fresh quickly

D．Figure out what you need to take with you to school or work

E．Our bodies are biologically programmed to sleep when it’s dark out

F．Your body won’t really benefit from capturing a few more minutes of rest

G．Taking 10 minutes in the morning to meditate helps start the day peacefully

2 . 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。

A big gathering of friends sat around our living room making music. “Get up there, Roberty Bob!” my mum Mary encouraged me. It was 1996, and aged five, I’d recently started Irish dance lessons with my two older sisters. I showed off some of the steps I’d learned in a shy and nervous way as the friends cheered.

We lived on an apple orchard (苹果园) in the Huon Valley, which had been in my dad’s family for generations. Mum had left her own family’s farm in Ireland after she met my father, Robert, while he was travelling around Europe. She vowed to never forget the culture of her homeland.

On nights like this one, friends and family would gather for a jam session (即兴演奏会). Many would bring instruments—tin whistles, Celtic drums, piano accordions — and produce a noisy Irish symphony (交响乐). Music was as much a part of my childhood as the country air I breathed.

When I turned 14, my parents gave me a guitar, and I began to suspect life would take me far beyond the bush. After school, I got into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) which led to a career in musical theatre. I had a ball performing in shows across Australia, like Disney’s Aladdin and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. During this period, I met a beautiful actress named Chloé Zuel and in 2019 we married. After COVID, I found it hard to get back to the former routine. Then, in April this year, I was sent an audition (试音) notice for a new musical about Elvis Presley set to tour Australia. We grew up with Irish and classical music, I thought. I knew nothing about Elvis. I figured they’d give the role to some Elvis fan and resolved to audition for smaller parts. Chloé disagreed and encouraged me to go for it though she was pregnant and needed company.

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。

Amazingly, a few weeks later I learned that out of 700 applicants, I’d got the lead.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the finally show, Elvis sang Can’t Help Falling in Love to his new baby, and so did I.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean

Choosing a Caribbean vacation that meets the needs of young children, preteens and adults might seem like a challenging task. The following introduction may provide you with some choices.

U. S. Virgin Islands

With three islands to choose from, U. S. Virgin Islands appeal to families who like to combine beach time with a bit of exploration. Virgin Islands National Park on St. John offers this combination — and more — with 20-plus trails and access to popular Trunk Bay beach. Kids will also enjoy Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas, where they can swim with dolphins and sea lions.

Bahamas

Beautiful beaches, magnificent reefs and opportunities for horseback riding and surfing lessons make the Bahamas a family favorite. Plus, this string of 700 islands boasts plenty of budget- and family-friendly resorts. One of the most famous resorts — Atlantis Paradise Island — even has its own 141-acre water park and the world’s largest open-air marine habitat for the young to enjoy. At the marine habitat, travelers can enjoy watching various aquatic animals swim by.

Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman, the largest and most popular of this three-island chain, offers families tons of ways to enjoy their time together. Adults and kids can sunbathe, build sandcastles and float in the Caribbean Sea at Seven Mile Beach, or swim with stingrays (刺魟) in the shallow water of Stingray City. To get up close and personal with more sea life, head to the Cayman Turtle Centre to interact with turtles of all shapes and sizes.

British Virgin Islands

Calm waters and pollution-free beaches attract travelers of all ages to the British Virgin Islands. While the destination can be pricey, families can save money by splashing around Smuggler’s Cove, a free beach known for its sea turtles and relaxing atmosphere. Visitors will also enjoy themselves in the Baths National Park.

1. What is special about the U. S. Virgin Islands?

A．The beaches are free of pollution.

B．Water sports courses can be taken.

C．Exploration lovers may be interested in it.

D．Kids can learn to communicate with dolphins.

2. How can families save money on the British Virgin Islands?

A．By going to a free beach.

B．By exploring a national park together.

C．By swimming only in shallow water.

D．By getting close to the marine habitats.

3. What do the recommended vacations have in common?

A．They all have a special park.

B．Beautiful reefs can be appreciated.

C．Visitors have access to sea animals.

D．Places for building sandcastles are provided.

4 . At three years old, I was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (神经纤维瘤), a condition that causes tumors (肿瘤) to form in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Although I struggled to play sport like my friends, I still had a(n) ________ childhood with my younger siblings’ company. But by age 15, I needed surgery to ________ all the tumors in my hand that were causing ________ when I moved.

In the years that followed, I had many more ________, though I got on well with life and studied at university, ________ my mum’s footsteps in education field. I loved children but I’d made a decision of not having children ________, because the chances of passing on NF to them were too ________. Instead, having cared for 40 kids in a foster care, along with getting a job in childcare, gave me such ________ and I wanted to make each moment ________.

But in 2020, an aggressive tumor was found in my brain and while doctors could remove some of it, they couldn’t take out the most aggressive part. After the surgery, I had to learn to get around with the ________ of a wheelie walker, and teach myself to do basic tasks left-handed. Working in childcare was no longer ________, but I remained determined. Even though my treatment for the tumor remains ongoing, I also have lots to ________. I’ve bought a house, I do volunteer work at a shop, and have ________ Lottie into my life. My plan is to train her to be my service dog in case my condition ________.

I hope by sharing my story, it ________ others that your life is there to be lived — and that’s what I plan to keep doing.

1.

A．sorrowful

B．great

C．anxious

D．average

2.

A．remove

B．plant

C．replace

D．search

3.

A．curiosity

B．stress

C．discomfort

D．convenience

4.

A．surgeries

B．chances

C．friends

D．details

5.

A．refusing

B．demanding

C．changing

D．following

6.

A．out of mind

B．of my own

C．to my taste

D．on my own

7.

A．low

B．strong

C．high

D．rare

8.

A．satisfaction

B．burden

C．welfare

D．regret

9.

A．challenging

B．rewarding

C．inspiring

D．depressing

10.

A．development

B．addition

C．exception

D．assistance

11.

A．tough

B．necessary

C．possible

D．hopeful

12.

A．look forward to

B．join in

C．worry about

D．approve of

13.

A．forced

B．welcomed

C．forbade

D．donated

14.

A．betters

B．improves

C．differs

D．worsens

15.

A．discourages

B．questions

C．reminds

D．impresses

5 . The Beatles will release what is said to be their last ever song this week, pieced together from recordings spanning more than four decades and it would not have been possible without AI.

Now and Then has been edited together from a recording of the late John Lennon playing the piano and singing at his home in New York in 1979. Now, artificial intelligence has been used to extract usable sections from that noisy tape. These have been combined with guitar tracks from the late George Harrison, recorded in 1995 when efforts were made to finish the song. The endeavour was called off due to poor sound quality, which AI has now been able to solve.

Finally, new recordings made earlier this year from Paul McCartney and Ringo Start were added. McCartney has teased the existence of the song in interview s and said in a statement: “There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”

When creating Now and Then, AI is used to separate the dialogue from other noises to help editor s create a workable documentary. Ultimately, the engineers were able to develop bespoke AI powerful enough to remove all background noise and isolate not only speech but even the sound of each instrument played in a band.

Jess Aslan at University of London, says The Beatles’ track is an interesting experiment because it was done transparently with the blessing of the living members of the band, but adds that AI is a double-edged sword that also presents risks to artists. “One significant issue is that generative AI is squeezing the already extremely narrow creative job market,” she says. “Another is that of ownership, as these large-scale models are in fact bypassing copyright laws and using artists’ data without permission.”

1. Why did George Harrison stop finishing the song?

A．He was unable to play the piano.

B．The sound quality was not satisfying.

C．The surroundings were too noisy for recording.

D．He was not able to solve the problem of combination.

2. What is the feature of the new recording?

A．It was quite easy to conduct.

B．It depended on AI completely.

C．John’s voice was specially decorated.

D．Efforts from many aspects were paid.

3. What is Jess Aslan’s attitude to the new record?

A．Objective.

B．Favorable.

C．Indifferent.

D．Critical.

4. What is mainly talked about in the text?

A．The Beatles is a long-lasting memory.

B．John Lennon’s voice is hard to be recorded.

C．AI contributed to the new release of the Beatles.

D．Various ways are tried to finish John Lennon’s work.

6 . It was in 2019, when I first arrived at Donghua University in Shanghai, that I discovered a local park filled with elderly people dancing in the early morning. It quickly became my favorite spot. I’d bring my coffee, and relax while watching them enjoy the rhythm of the music. Occasionally, I’d also join them. There, no one judges you for a misstep or for not keeping up with the rhythm. You simply enjoy the moment. It’s fascinating to see experienced dancers leading, while newcomers observe, learn, and eventually join in, just like me.

However, I’m not exactly new when it comes to dancing. My love for dance began at a very young age in my hometown, Uzbekistan. My mother would fondly recall how, as a child, I’d effortlessly move to the rhythm of music. At around 3 or 4, I gave my first performance just a week after being sent to learn in a dancing studio. The large stage and the vast audience made me nervous, but it was a defining moment that light my passion for dancing. Throughout my school years and later in college, I actively participated in various performances, exploring a wide range of dances, including traditional Uzbek dances and various other cultural dances.

When I first arrived in China, I had the privilege of showing the traditional Uzbek dance at a cultural event, introducing my culture to others. Later, at Donghua University, we established a dance club where students from around the world taught various dance styles. There I learned new dance forms and participated in university events.

However, outside of campus, I often found myself wandering into the park, watching people dancing or even dancing along on the square. The dance transcends age and background, offering an antidote to the loneliness and physical inactivity that often accompanies aging.

These two worlds — the vibrant public dancing in China and the rich Uzbek dance tradition — have profoundly shaped my life and brought me boundless joy.

1. Where did the author first see the square dance in China?

A．In Donghua University.	B．In a local park in Shanghai.
C．In a dancing club.	D．In a grand performance.

2. What was mentioned about the author’s mother?

A．She has been experienced in performances.

B．She felt uneasy when the author got on the stage.

C．She always recalls the typical moves of their dance.

D．She sent her daughter to learn dancing at a young age.

3. What can be learned about the author’s dance journey in China?

A．She takes every opportunity to enjoy dance.

B．She has simply danced her traditional dance.

C．The dance club teaches her the square dance.

D．The square dance enables her to regain the skills.

4. What might be talked about in the following part?

A．Her memory of her dancing journey.

B．Her determination to teach the Uzbek dance.

C．The joy brought by different dancing experiences.

D．The different styles of the traditional Uzbek dance.

7 . If you’ve ever driven a car on an icy road in wintertime, you know that it can be very dangerous. Driving on an icy road is much more dangerous than driving on a dry road.    1    

When you drive a car on an icy road where there is less friction (摩擦力), it’s more difficult to keep control of the car. So, it’s important to know how to stop the car from going out of control. Many drivers will try to stop the car by stepping down hard on the brakes (刹车). This is a bad thing to do because stopping the wheels quickly will make the car slide even further and faster.    2    .

    3    If you take your foot off the gas pedal (油门), the car will slow down immediately, but it won’t add power to the direction of the slide.

Next, touch the brakes very lightly and then let go. Touch the brakes again lightly and then let go.    4    .This method of slowing down will allow you to slow the car down without adding power to the slide.

Third, while you’re pumping the brakes gently, turn the steering wheel (方向盘) in the same direction as the slide.    5    .By doing this, you’ll make the car straight again. You have to keep turning the wheel gently until the car becomes straight, or parallel to the road.

By following these three steps, you should be able to keep control of your car if it should happen to slide.

A．First, lift your foot from the gas pedal

B．The reason is that there is less friction on an icy road

C．Here’s the best way to handle the car if it starts to slide

D．This repeated action is called “pumping the brake slightly”

E．So obviously, stepping down on the brakes is a bad thing to do

F．The engine of the car gives power to the back wheels of the car

G．For example, if the back of the car slides right, turn the steering wheel right

8 . 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。

According to the World Meteorological (气候的) Organization, El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon. It starts with unusually warm surface water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean,    1    then goes on to affect the weather worldwide. On average, it occurs every two to seven years, lasting 9 to 12    2    (month).

The center said the combination of El Nino and global warming would increase the chances of meteorological disasters     3    (cause) by extreme weather. The El Nino event is projected to cause sea surface temperature to peak between November 2023 and January 2024. Since May, an El Nino system    4    (build) up along the equator (赤道) in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Research     5    (suggest) that every 1℃ increase in temperature in the equatorial eastern Pacific can raise the global annual average temperature by 0.12℃. A moderate or strong El Nino event     6    (usual) rises the global average surface temperature by about 0.1℃ to 0.22℃, the center added.

Speaking of the effect     7    China, the center said that an El Nino event tends to bring more rainfall to the southern regions and    8    (warm) temperatures in the north of the country. Since the 1990s, every El Nino event has been followed by two consecutive summers of above normal precipitation (降水) in China.

Jia Xiaolong, vice director of the center, said at     9    news conference in early November that statistics show that in the context of El Nino events, temperatures fluctuate greatly in winter, and the number of cold spells affecting China is often more than usual. The center recently released the climate trend forecast. It is expected    10    (face) snow disasters and increased demand for heating compared with the past, leading to temporary energy consumption peaks.

9 . There was once a tiny country that was suffering from a _________.It had gone so long without rain that the people there were starting to go hungry because of the bad_________It just so happened that a group of musicians were travelling the country, trying to make a living from their _________. But with so many problems in the land, no one _________to listen to music.

“But music can_________to overcome any problems,” argued the musicians, without anyone paying them the slightest attention. So the musicians tried to find out the reason why it wouldn’t rain. It was strange that although the sky was_________, not a single raindrop came down. No one could provide an answer.

“It’s been cloudy like this for many months, but not a single drop of rain has fallen,” people would tell them.

“Don’t worry, we’ll bring rain to the country,” the musicians_________, and they began rehearsing (彩排) for a concert at the top of the_________mountain. Everyone who heard the music was attracted out of_________and went up the mountain. And the_________of this strange orchestra gave the order, and the musicians began to play.

From their _________came small, playful musical notes (音符), which rose and rose into the clouds. The music was so joyous, happy and fun, and the notes started playing with the clouds’ soft, fluffy bellies, running here and there, up and down, and the whole sky turned into one big game of tickle (挠痒痒). Before long, the_________clouds were thundering with laughter.

The musicians continued playing_________and a few minutes later the clouds, crying with laughter, soaked the little country below with their precious tears,_________happiness to all. And in memory of that musical rain, everyone in the land learned how to play an instrument and,_________, would go up the mountain every day to bring joy to the clouds with their beautiful songs.

1.

A．pandemic

B．ruin

C．drought

D．flood

2.

A．harvest

B．quake

C．damage

D．trap

3.

A．advertisements

B．concerts

C．albums

D．titles

4.

A．bargained

B．wanted

C．refused

D．pretended

5.

A．permit

B．ensure

C．forbid

D．help

6.

A．clear

B．beautiful

C．cloudy

D．broad

7.

A．responded

B．showed

C．admitted

D．signaled

8.

A．nearest

B．highest

C．farthest

D．busiest

9.

A．ability

B．equality

C．reality

D．curiosity

10.

A．conductor

B．manager

C．player

D．competitor

11.

A．positions

B．notebooks

C．rehearsals

D．instruments

12.

A．light

B．big

C．familiar

D．distant

13.

A．joyfully

B．carefully

C．gently

D．easily

14.

A．telling

B．recommending

C．describing

D．bringing

15.

A．in relief

B．in peace

C．in turn

D．in charge

10 . Starting this December, multiple popular Chinese apps and websites such as WeChat, Taobao and Douyin will be redesigned to make them more senior-friendly.

These redesigns are aimed at solving challenges faced by the elderly in using new smart phones. Specifically, the measures include: launching senior-friendly products with easy-to-use interfaces(界面); and improving the accuracy(精确度)of dialect-recognition systems to allow the elderly who can’t speak Mandarin(普通话) to use voice commands. Also, on apps set to “senior mode,” there will be no mobile advertisement, or any design that leads people to extra payments; and people over 65 will be able to reach a customer services assistant over the phone without the need to follow difficult voice instructions or type text through keypad(小键盘).

Nowadays, people in China use their cellphones for everything: Ordering taxis, making payments, booking train tickets and ordering take away. However, among the 274 million senior cellphone users in China, nearly 140 million don’t have internet access or never enjoyed the benefits of a smartphone.

As smart technology becomes increasingly widespread, the elderly can sometimes run into problems. For example, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a “health code” is required to enter public places in China. However, this has made it difficult for many senior citizens to get around if they don’t know how to use a smartphone or the “health code.” Therefore, recently, the call for solving the difficulties that the elderly face when using smart technology has become stronger in China.

Making websites and apps more senior-friendly is a new campaign started by the Chinese government to make the elderly’s life easier. According to reports, 115 websites and 43 apps are planning to rollout barrier-free designs for the elderly this year. Many have described these new changes as truly heartwarming.

1. What’s the main idea of paragraph 2?

A．The benefits of smartphones.

B．The advanced technologies of mobile apps.

C．The problems facing the elderly when using smart phones.

D．The newly-designed functions of smartphones for the elderly.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．People cannot make payment without a cellphone.

B．There are still a lot of people who don’t own a cellphone.

C．A large number of old people haven’t benefited from smartphones.

D．Almost all the senior people are afraid of using smartphone technologies.

3. What specific difficulty have the elderly faced in using smart technology, particularly during the COVID-19?

A．They don’t have a smartphone.

B．They can’t apply for a “health code”.

C．They are not familiar with smartphone use.

D．They are not allowed to enter public places.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for this text?

A．Senior-Friendly Changes of Apps

B．What You Can’t Miss about New Apps

C．How the Elderly are Troubled by Technologies

D．The Appropriate Ways of Respecting the Elderly