1 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the main feature of LearnEnglish courses?

A．The fun.

B．The low prices.

C．The flexibility.

2. What can the workbooks do?

A．Help choose a course.

B．Offer extra written work.

C．Guide the learners’ habits.

3. When will the staff member tell you how to get started?

A．As soon as you register.

B．After you pass a language test.

C．Before you take the taster lesson.

4. What is the talk mainly about?

A．Ways of learning English.

B．Special online courses.

C．Technology and English.

2 . In a gray box, I have a thick pile of love letters. I imagine about sharing them with a granddaughter when I’m 90. But my most treasured love letter is from one of my best friends. It’s a handwritten letter years ago when I was having trouble getting over a man. Her letter is the most romantic in my pile. It made no excuses. It simply let me know that I was loved.

Reflecting on her gift, and the dying art of handwritten letters in our age of emails and emoticons, I chose to conduct an experiment this Christmas: replacing presents with heartfelt, handwritten love letters for my family members.

In our digital era, most of us rarely take the time to share deeply considered thoughts and emotions with the people in our lives. Handwriting captures the writer’s emotions, often preserved longer than digital exchanges. However, technology is taking over. First came typewriters and keyboards. Now a new brain-computer lets people type with their minds. What are we losing when we sacrifice the physical labor behind the written word? We tend to value what we struggle for. Have we undervalued the human exchange of ideas?

That day, I came across a letter my mom wrote to her parents when she was young. She seemed so comfortable with her parents. It was a relationship I didn’t have with her. I was inspired by my mother’s letter to her parents when I sat down to write my letter to her. I wanted her to know my love, and to close the crack that technology and culture had created between us. With each sentence, I was discovering new and deeper ways of seeing my mother, and making myself known to her in more thoughtful ways as well.

Eight single-space pages later, my hand was aching but I was done. It was only the first of my love letters, but it was already clear: What had begun as a fun project was in fact one of the most important undertakings of my life.

1. Why does the author mention her love letters in Paragraph 1?

A．To show her grand charm as a young girl.	B．To share them with one of her granddaughters.
C．To highlight the value of handwritten letters.	D．To look back upon her romantic relationship.

2. How will technology probably affect us in the digital age?

A．Making our interaction less emotional.	B．Encouraging our thoughtful communication.
C．Saving our physical labor in conveying emotions.	D．Increasing our effort in handwritten exchanges.

3. Why did the author handwrite a letter to her mother?

A．To give her mother a big surprise.	B．To answer her mother’s handwritten letter.
C．To bridge a communication gap.	D．To make her mother feel more comfortable.

4. What did the author learn from her experiment?

A．The irreplaceable bond of family members.	B．The tendency of information technology.
C．The expression of emotions in the digital age.	D．The power of handwritten correspondence.

3 . When instant cake mixes first appeared in the 1950s, American housewives were doubtful. These mixes, promising easy cake-baking, felt too easy. The manufacturers discovered that requiring the addition of an egg in the baking process was just enough to make the housewives happy with their work. The greater sense of effort gained from a little extra labor is believed to have been essential to the later success of the cake mix.

This reflects the IKEA effect (宜家效应), which is identified by psychologist Michael I. Norton and his colleagues, suggesting we place greater value on things we have worked to create. They conducted four studies in which they asked participants to fold paper cranes and frogs, assemble IKEA boxes, and build sets of Legos. They then asked the builders to bid (出价) for their creations, and compared the prices with bids from people who hadn’t built them. The builders consistently outbid the non-builders.

Interestingly, the IKEA effect works even when people have no opportunity to fully personalize their creations. While most participants’ folding skills left much to be desired, they loved their imperfectly personalized products all the more. Builders valued their wrinkled crane-like creations nearly five times as much as non-builders. Beauty, it seems, is in the eye of the builder.

Today, as cities are suffering from severe housing crises, the IKEA effect can give us insight into the well-being benefits of a self-building approach to housing development. Projects like WikiHouse and the “half-a-house” approach pioneered by Alejandro Aravena’s architecture company Elemental are working to make housing more affordable and sustainable by making it easier for people to build and personalize their own homes.

“The moment people are involved with their built environment, they have a totally different relationship to it,” WikiHouse co-founder Alastair Parvin explained. “When the roof starts leaking or a door starts creaking, they have the power to fix it themselves.”

1. What brought customers the joy of cake-baking according to paragraph 1?

A．A better taste.	B．An easy approach.
C．A detailed recipe.	D．An additional effort.

2. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 imply?

A．Creations are based on skills.	B．Extra labor increases perceived value.
C．Beauty is found through contrast.	D．Strict management brings good quality.

3. What is Alastair Parvin’s attitude towards public involvement in housing?

A．Critical.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Supportive.

4. What’s the purpose of this text?

A．To promote a brand.	B．To make a proposal.
C．To explain a concept.	D．To introduce a study.

4 . 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。

Have you ever heard someone say “You can tell a lot about someone by how they dress” and wondered if that was true? What you wear can inform     1     (passer-by) of your type of employment, as well as your ambitions, emotions and spending habits.

In early civilizations, the key purpose of clothing was     2     (keep) us warm. Today, central heating warms our homes,     3     (reduce) our dependence on clothes alone to help us to survive. Clothes     4     (develop) from previous practical belongings to today’s social markers: they affect the way we see     5     (us). They help us to be seen in the light that we wish to be, and also bring     6     our personalities and social status.

In many societies, dress sense represents personal wealth and taste. For example, Economist George Taylor demonstrated this most     7     (vivid) with the Hemline Index (裙摆指数). Taylor noted that as a country enters recession (衰退) and adopts simply spending habits, women often show a preference towards     8     (long) dresses, while during times of prosperity (繁荣),     9     opposite result can be seen-hemlines often become shorter.

Whether you are male or female, your fashion choices can affect both your self-image, the impression     10     you convey to others and in turn, the way in which people behave towards you.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR!

5 . When it comes to lowering blood pressure, studies have typically shown that aerobic (有氧的) exercises are best. Recent research suggests another type of physical activity is worth including as an effective tool to prevent and treat high blood pressure.

Exercises that engage muscles without movement, such as wall squats and planks, may be best for lowering blood pressure, according to a large study published in July, 2023 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This type of training is known as isometric exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Isometric muscle action happens when muscles contract but do not visibly change length, and the joints involved don’t move, facilitating stability of the body. Isometric exercises can be done with weights or without, just relying on the body’s own weight.

“These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure,” said study coauthor Dr. Jamie O’Driscoll in a news release.

The researchers looked into randomized controlled trials that had reported the effects of exercise interventions, lasting two or more weeks, on blood pressure between 1990 and February 2023. From a review of 270 trials with 15,827 participants, the researchers found that among HIIT (high intensity interval training), isometric exercise, aerobic exercise, dynamic resistance training and a combination of the latter two, isometric exercise led to the greatest reductions in blood pressure.

It’s also important to note that there are other lifestyle changes as well as exercise that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and ensuring that you continue to take any prescribed medication.

More research is needed to determine exactly why isometric exercises might be better for lowering blood pressure than other types of training, the authors said.

1. What does the underlined part “isometric exercise” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Exercise that is done with extra weights.

B．Exercise that involves visible muscle contraction.

C．Exercise that focuses on stability of the body.

D．Exercise that engages muscles without movement.

2. How did the researchers carry out the study?

A．By providing statistics.	B．By interviewing experts.
C．By doing experiments.	D．By making comparisons.

3. What does the author suggest the future studies about isometric exercise focus on?

A．Exploring the reasons for its effectiveness.

B．Demonstrating its influences on mental health.

C．Assessing its suitability for different populations.

D．Determining its long-term impacts on blood pressure.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The benefits of aerobic exercises.	B．The best exercise for blood pressure.
C．The effects of various types of exercises.	D．The importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle.

6 . At the age of 16, I went to Australia as an exchange student and lived with a host family. Even though I had made some preparations, the culture shock was still _________.

During the first months, which is called the “honeymoon phase” of culture shock, I was super _________ to be in a different culture and found everything _________ and exciting. But soon, things started to feel _________. Differences became more apparent and frustrating _________ populated my head: “I wish people would just be able to speak German for one day! ”

“I wish public transportation would…” These thoughts were of course highly _________. However, they’re part of the “negotiation phase”.

Over the next few months, though, feelings of adjustment and belonging gradually _________. I developed my own routine, learned to adapt to the _________, and made many new friends. I had slowly and unknowingly _________ the “adjustment phase”. I had adapted my own behavior and learned to __________ new ways of thinking and attitudes. My English had improved __________!

Things started to make sense and I __________ Australian culture better and better! That was a major __________ for me personally. Every day I felt more __________ with my new home. I adopted many new traits (特性) while also __________ earlier ones from my home country. This process is called the “mastery phase”. My happiest moment was when my dear friend one day __________ during a conversation: “Jude, you __________ just like us! You’re an Australian now!” I had transformed from a silent timid German to an almost accent-free bicultural Australian/German.

The __________ of culture shock are different for everyone and can cause different behaviors and __________. But one thing is for sure though: Culture shock cannot be avoided and __________ is the first step towards adapting to a foreign culture.

1.

A．unavoidable

B．unbearable

C．unbelievable

D．unforgettable

2.

A．worried

B．lonely

C．thrilled

D．proud

3.

A．similar

B．expensive

C．advanced

D．fresh

4.

A．uncontrollable

B．odd

C．distracting

D．worthless

5.

A．experiences

B．comments

C．thoughts

D．news

6.

A．effortless

B．unimportant

C．unhelpful

D．aimless

7.

A．took over

B．broke out

C．went on

D．faded away

8.

A．requirements

B．trend

C．behaviors

D．stress

9.

A．missed

B．entered

C．completed

D．created

10.

A．appreciate

B．meet

C．ignore

D．change

11.

A．slowly

B．dramatically

C．suddenly

D．regularly

12.

A．memorized

B．introduced

C．understood

D．analyzed

13.

A．breakthrough

B．barrier

C．dilemma

D．method

14.

A．patient

B．familiar

C．careful

D．comfortable

15.

A．keeping

B．enjoying

C．remembering

D．spreading

16.

A．complained

B．remarked

C．declared

D．emphasized

17.

A．look

B．sound

C．eat

D．dress

18.

A．effects

B．descriptions

C．advantages

D．attractions

19.

A．understanding

B．changes

C．feelings

D．response

20.

A．questioning

B．exploration

C．imitation

D．acceptance

7 . Moving into your own apartment is exciting, but it can sometimes take a little while to really feel settled in.     1     And many of them are inexpensive and easy to do!

Work on unpacking one room at a time if you’re just moving in. As you start to unpack boxes, work on one room at a time.     2     Arrange each room neatly, making it feel lived-in before you move on to the next one. For instance, you might set up your bedroom first, then the living room, then the kitchen and finally the bathroom.

    3     Many apartments are short on space, so you may find that you have to be very cautious when you’re planning your furniture layout. Think about how you want to use each space, then arrange the furniture to maximize the functionality of that area. For instance, if you love to have people over, you might arrange the seating in your living room so all the chairs face each other. If you spend a lot of time watching your favourite shows, your layout might be a sofa and an easy chair in front of the TV.

Light scented (香薰的) candles to make your apartment smell more like home.     4     Lighting a candle in your apartment can change the feel almost instantly, especially if you choose a candle that smells like baked goods, warm vanilla, sandalwood, or leather. Or, if there was a certain candle you loved at your last place, you could light that, instead.

Hang art and photos that reflect your style throughout your place. Art is the perfect way to express your personal style, so search thrift stores, secondhand shops, and online stores for deals on art pieces that make you feel good. You can also display pictures of your family and friends.     5    

A．That way you won’t make a mess.

B．Place your furniture so it decides different spaces.

C．Don’t underestimate the power of a comforting scent.

D．Make you feel at home and use it to paint one of your rooms.

E．That will give you an instant feeling of comfort when you look at them.

F．Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to warm up your space.

G．That way, you don’t have to worry about spending a lot money to stock up all at once.

8 . Enjoy these four stories of wonderful friendships between people and creatures.

Albi the Glowing Cow Boy

By Georgia Bwng. Illustrated by Angela Cogo

On a quiet farm in frosty moonlight, a calf (小牛) called Albi is born. A boy called Rufus lives nearby. Soon. Albi and Rufus set off on an incredible journey-but why are the two so deeply connected and how can they each find what they are searching for?

The Boy Who Saved a Bear

By Nizrana Farook

Nuwan works at a library delivering books, but when he unexpectedly crosses the path of a dangerous group of thieves, he must go on the run. Hiding deep in a cave he realizes he’s not alone-he’s sharing his shelter with a scared bear. Nuwan comforted the bear, so this unlikely pair become friends and are soon working together to stop the bad guys and solve a mystery.

Pax

By Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Jon Kassen

Peter has a special bond with Pax-a half-tamed fox cub (幼崽). When a war breaks out suddenly, Peter has to move to live with his grandfather, leaving Pax behind. Can the friends find their way back to each other? This story is accompanied by lots of beautiful illustrations.

Wilder

By Penny Chrimes

When a half-wild girl appears from the marshes (沼泽), the people of a nearby village treat her with doubt. She has a mysterious connection to animals, especially the falcon who circles above her. When the river starts to dry up and a dark sickness begins to spread, the girl sets out to save the villagers.

1. Why do Nuwan and the bear become friends?

A．They live in the same place.	B．They have to solve a mystery.
C．The bear was comforted by Nuwan.	D．The bear saved Nuwan from the thieves.

2. What makes Pax separate from Peter?

A．The force of thieves.	B．An unexpected war.
C．The decision of Peter’s grandfather.	D．The villagers’ doubt.

3. What do the four stories above have in common?

A．They are created with the same theme.	B．Their plots are only full of adventures.
C．They are accompanied by beautiful pictures.	D．Their characters grew up with their animal friends.

9 . As reported in the journal Nature, one system can directly remove carbon dioxide from sources ranging from flue gas (烟道气) to the atmosphere by using electricity to induce a water-and-oxygen-based electrochemical reaction. This technological achievement could turn direct air capture (捕获) from edge industry into a promising front for climate change relief.

Most carbon-capture systems involve a two-step process: First, high-pH liquids are used to separate the carbon dioxide, which is acidic, from mixed-gas streams such as flue gas. Next, the carbon dioxide is regenerated from the solution through heating or by injecting a low-pH liquid.

“Once the carbon dioxide is trapped in these solvents (溶剂), you have to regenerate it,” says Haotian Wang, assistant professor at Rice University. “There are literally no chemicals produced or consumed with our process. We also don’t need to heat up or pressurize our device, we just need to put it into a power outlet and it will work.”

Another drawback of current carbon-capture technologies is their reliance on large-scale, centralized infrastructure. By contrast, the system developed in the Wang lab is an extensible, modular, point-of-use concept that can adapt to a variety of scenarios. “The technology can be scaled up to industrial settings-power plants, chemical plants-but the great thing about it is that it allows for small-scale use as well: I can even use it in my office.” Wang says.

Also the reactor can continuously remove carbon dioxide from a simulated (模拟的) flue gas with efficiency above 98% using a relatively low electricity input. Wang notes that the process has “no carbon footprint or a very limited footprint” if powered by electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind. “This is great news considering that renewablel electricity is becoming more and more cost-effective,” Wang says.

1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?

A．Add up some opposite reasons.	B．Offer basic evidences to the topic.
C．Summarize the following paragraphs.	D．Provide some background information.

2. What do we know about Wang’s system according to the text?

A．It involves a two-step process.	B．It creates some chemicals.
C．It is simple and easy to operate.	D．It needs to be used in big plants.

3. How does the author support the topic?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By listing many numbers.
C．By providing research results.	D．By analyzing causes and effects.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Wang’s technology?

A．Unclear.

B．Favourable.

C．Objective.

D．Disapproving.

10 . Around 3,500 Americans ingest (摄入) batteries every year. It’s apparently such a repeating issue that even a specific hotline was built in the event of such an emergency.

And while it’s unlikely your wristwatch’s power source will ever be safe to eat, that doesn’t mean all batteries will remain uneatable-in fact, some are being designed with digestion specifically in mind.

A team of researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology recently revealed what isl being called as the world’s first fully rechargeable, eatable battery. As detailed in a paper published with Advanced Materials, the new device has made good use of some eatable materials.

“Eatable electronic devices will have major implications for gastrointestinal tract (胃肠道) monitoring, treatment, as well as rapid food quality monitoring,” reads the paper’s abstract, adding that although recent research proved the feasibility of eatable sensors and circuits, “fully eatable electronic devices and eatable power sources are still required, of which there have been very few examples.”

According to the team’s findings, their proof-of-concept battery was capable of producing 0.65 volts, which is safely low enough for the human body to handle. The ingestible could provide 48 μA of current for 12 minutes, or alternatively, a few microamps (微安) for over an hour. Such a power supply could provide enough energy for small electronics alike to eatable pill-shaped modules and other gastrointestinal procedure alternatives.

In a statement, researcher coordinator Mario Caironi explained that such a product could help power monitors for both human health conditions and food storage. Additionally, given their safety, products with stronger power could be used within children’s toys, where ingestion risk is higher.

In the team’s statement, co-author Ivan Ilic also explained that despite the battery’s relatively low power, its digestibility provides a promising example of a battery that doesn’t use any harmful materials.

1. What is the necessity of developing eatable batteries?

A．They help with the food shortage.	B．They can avoid the harm caused by eating batteries.
C．They are useful in some special fields.	D．They have no impact on the environment.

2. Which is the closest in meaning to “feasibility” in Paragraph 4?

A．Availability.

B．Flexibility.

C．Responsibility.

D．Possibility.

3. What can we infer from the statements in the last paragraph?

A．The application of the battery has a long way to go.

B．The eatable batteries will be widely used in our life.

C．The development of the eatable battery is promising.

D．The eatable batteries will soon be put into production.

4. In which section of a magazine can we read the text?

A．News Corner.

B．Story Garden.

C．Language World.

D．Technology Square.