1 . The holidays can be a divisive season. Because the holidays are full of merriness, some love them. Others can feel troubled by them, affected by the financial pressure and family gatherings often accompanying the holidays.     1     So, what can you do if you’re feeling like that? Roll your sleeves up. We’re going to get real, make a plan and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

    2     This may be obvious for many — you may feel triggered owing to the stress of social events or gift-giving. But others may have a harder time detecting what is going on.

Begin tracking how you’re feeling on the day-to-day life. You can keep a journal or take a brief walk where you can reflect at the end of your day. Doing this lets you see a pattern of what may be activating your negative feelings.

After getting your triggers written down, let’s make a plan. If it is money fueling the discomfort, let’s strategize how you can cut down the financial expectations. You can select a thoughtful low-cost decoration or a bunch of flowers.       3     Don’t be afraid to let them know your financial condition. If holiday gatherings are extremely stressful, it is time to see how this can shift. Avoiding holiday gatherings altogether isn’t possible for most. However, you can consider an excuse that can serve as a reason to leave early.     4    

Rethink how to love yourself rather than care for others too much. If you have to be with someone, are you at risk of yourself because of arguments or conflicts?     5     Minimizing the time you spend with them is a wise choice.

A．Keep track of your daily actions.

B．It will help you get through the tense situation.

C．Hosting a gathering can be another costly issue.

D．Feeling joyless during the holidays can be really awful.

E．You can also offer meaningful time spent with loved ones.

F．The truth is that it is hard to engage with people who hurt you.

G．Let’s begin by identifying what is causing you the intense anxiety.

2 . I often felt there was a lack of ceremony in my life. The ceremony of passage to mark transitions was ________. Therefore, I was especially ________ when a friend invited me to go with him for a hike that would mark his ________ entry into elderhood. We would be ________ by three other companions. One of them was a wise and gentle elder who would serve as our ________. But whether it involved a ________ or not, an opportunity to walk in the backcountry with people who knew where they were going sounded ________ to me, and yes was what I said.

It was a long drive and we started out early,________ along mountain roads to a campground at the edge of a ________ area where we met our guide. We then walked along a gently rising trail. Along the way there was green grass and bursts of colorful ________, and we soon got down into a sandy creek bed, which we followed for some time. The wonders of the wilderness ________ before us, and every now and then our guide stopped to call our ________ to the shift of the environment, instructing us to ________ the spirit of attentiveness and gratitude.

________, he paused to adjust the leg brace（支架） he was wearing to support his knee, but these too were ________ moments. "Getting ________ slows us down," he said, "but when we slow down, we become aware of things. That's one of the ________ of being an elder. We are allowed to slow down and ________. Life may not have so many ceremonies, so we need to ________ changes. We should move forward with the right ________: being humble, appreciative and positive."

1.

A．happening

B．recovering

C．developing

D．missing

2.

A．curious

B．confident

C．excited

D．puzzled

3.

A．sympathetic

B．symbolic

C．severe

D．sufficient

4.

A．visited

B．accompanied

C．persuaded

D．accomplished

5.

A．guide

B．friend

C．teacher

D．partner

6.

A．lesson

B．greeting

C．ceremony

D．problem

7.

A．wonderful

B．ordinary

C．unimportant

D．unsuitable

8.

A．walking

B．climbing

C．jumping

D．winding

9.

A．fashion

B．wilderness

C．travelling

D．business

10.

A．wildflowers

B．cultures

C．clothes

D．houses

11.

A．hid

B．unfolded

C．disappeared

D．stopped

12.

A．attraction

B．attention

C．association

D．accommodation

13.

A．forget

B．break

C．keep

D．change

14.

A．Fortunately

B．Strangely

C．Occasionally

D．Interestingly

15.

A．sad

B．awkward

C．historic

D．teachable

16.

A．lighter

B．clever

C．healthier

D．older

17.

A．gifts

B．plans

C．purposes

D．disadvantages

18.

A．escape

B．rest

C．notice

D．laugh

19.

A．adapt to

B．pay for

C．wait for

D．object to

20.

A．attempt

B．influence

C．function

D．attitude

3 . Imagine a world where nothing ends up in landfill. Instead, everything can be reused and recycled, creating products that never reach their “end of life”. According to a recent report by the Circle Economy Foundation, only 7.2% of all used materials are being cycled back to be reused and recycled without creating waste.

An Italian company aims to change this by creating furniture products made from a plastic-like biomaterial, which is fully organic and biodegradable (可生物降解的), and can be used over and over again. Using fruit peel, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy, the company can redistribute products to the same businesses for use in their offices, instead of furniture made from common plastic. If, by mistake, any of the material ends up in the ocean, it doesn’t produce any microplastics.

Each product is made through a four-step process. First, the food waste is dried and crushed into a very fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with a biodegradable plastic alternative known as polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB), with the fruit waste making the PHB more study (坚固的). The material is then turned into a filament (细丝) and, using a spool, put into a 3D printer.

Because a lot of food waste would be buried and incinerated in the landfill, which would produce lots of carbon dioxide, Reusing fruit peel and coffee grounds decrease carbon dioxide from the production of plastic, according to the director of operations in the company. He adds that the biomaterial is as sturdy as wood, and won’t begin to break down unless it’s touched by water, bacteria or acidity.

Despite its eco-friendly benefits, the biomaterial is expensive. It costs probably six times more than common plastic, and it is a very difficult and expensive process, so this is why many companies aren’t doing it.

However, the director is hopeful that in a few years, as-more consumers and businesses are forced to face the damage that unsustainable plastic is doing to the planet, the biomaterial will be much more widely used. “We really believe this is the material of the future,” says the director. “Little by little, a step at a time.”

1. What is a problem faced by the current world according to paragraph 1?

A．Pollution is becoming milder.

B．The rate of recycling is too low.

C．Plastic poses a threat to the ocean.

D．New material needs to be improved.

2. What do we know about the biomaterial?

A．It is of benefit to the environment.

B．It is cheaper than common plastic.

C．It is given a welcome by businesses.

D．It has gradually replaced common plastic.

3. What does the underlined word “incinerated” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Damaged.

B．Burned.

C．Selected.

D．Recovered.

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

A．New Material: One Way To Regain Fruit Peel

B．From Landfill To Furniture: The Journey Of Furniture

C．Sustainable Material: The Future Of Eco-Friendly Furniture

D．Italian Businesses Using New Strategies To Manage Industrial Waste

4 . From a fish and chip stall, Jenny has come to be the toast of London’s foodie scene. She has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming a famous chef, a distinction that has been a dream coming true for her. “It’s still sinking in,” she said, expressing her surprise at the overwhelming social media response to her accomplishment.

Her restaurant is a unique space where modern West African cuisine takes center stage, highlighting the rich culinary (烹饪的) traditions of Nigeria’s Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups. “In my restaurant, I bring together these three culinary traditions, providing an exciting journey for diners,” Jenny described. Each dish tells a story, from a black sauce for fish, a postpartum (产后的) meal for new mothers, to a fermented tomato sauce.

Jenny’s love for food began at a young age, but she was initially guided towards a more traditional career path. She studied biological sciences in university, where she also ran a fish and chip cart. Her move to the UK in 1999 marked the beginning of her journey towards culinary success.

As for her, her restaurant is not only a restaurant but also Jenny’s way of honoring her heritage and the food her grandmother used to prepare. “The memory of my grandmother’s cooking inspires me every day,” she shared. Jenny’s cooking shows heartfelt respect for her roots, and her mission is to showcase the flavors of her culture.

Jenny longs to be a role model for chefs from diverse backgrounds. She recognizes the value of representation and hopes her success can inspire other chefs in the UK. She notes that while the industry is slowly becoming more inclusive, it’s crucial for employers, landlords, critics, and investors to expand their perspectives to support a variety of cuisines.

Her fame is a testament (证明) to her talent and dedication, but it’s the personal connection to her dishes and the memories of home-cooked meals that truly fuel her passion. Jenny’s story is a shining example of how one can achieve their dreams while staying true to their cultural identity.

1. What is the character of Jenny’s restaurant?

A．It serves traditional British cuisine.

B．It is famous for postpartum meals only.

C．It is managed by a social media influencer.

D．It features West African culinary traditions.

2. What was Jenny’s initial step to her career path?

A．Being a biological sciences student.

B．Being a social media influencer.

C．Being a corporate executive.

D．Being a professional chef.

3. What can we infer about Jenny?

A．She prioritizes commercial success over culture.

B．She aims to westernize traditional Nigerian cuisine.

C．She uses her restaurant as a medium for scientific research.

D．She integrates her personal history with her professional knowledge.

4. What does Jenny desire to contribute to the culinary world?

A．Celebrity status.	B．Culinary revolution.
C．Diversity in cooking.	D．Profits of her restaurant.

5 . Welcome to the California Science Center

Here is a guide to the California Science Center.

Accessibility Services & Facilities

We are committed to breaking down any barrier to access. If you have questions about accessibility, please call us at (213) 744-2019 or contact us online or stop by our Information Desk just inside the main entrance.

Sensory & Mobility Considerations

Light, noise and crowds vary widely throughout the building. Please feel free to bring your own noise-canceling headphones or other calming items. All spaces in the center are wheelchair accessible. All floors are accessible by elevator or stairs.

● Parking & Restrooms

Accessible parking spaces are available on the three floors of the Science Center parking lot. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is $15 per vehicle.

All the restrooms here are wheelchair accessible. Private family style restrooms are available upon request, please see any Guest Services Host.

● Wheelchairs & Service Animals

Standard manual wheelchairs are available for free at the Information Desk, used inside the California Science Center.

Service dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability are welcome in all of the Science Center spaces. Emotional animals and pets are not permitted.

Language & Communication Considerations
● Language Assistance

Our Bilingual (双语的) Guest Services and Education staff members wear buttons indicating languages in which they are fluent. In addition, the Information Desk offers maps in six different languages.

● Audio Guides

Audio guides in both English and Spanish are often available for special exhibits. For special exhibits with audio guides, transcripts are available at the entrance to the exhibit upon request.

Click here for more information about the center. We want every guest to participate equally in the excitement of experiencing science!

1. How many ways to inquire about accessibility in the California Science Center are mentioned?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

2. What do we know about the California Science Center?

A．It is unfriendly to the disabled.	B．Its parking spaces vary in price.
C．It offers multi-language service	D．It allows emotional pets to enter.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A web page.	B．A news report.
C．A science textbook.	D．An academic paper.

6 . Are aliens trying to contact the Earth? Six new mysterious blasts of radio energy are detected from deep space. While the source of the waves remains unknown, some suggest the mysterious bursts of energy could be a sign of alien life trying to contact us. The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal.

The detection follows 11 previously recorded fast radio bursts (FRBs) from the same location, called FRB121102. This is the only known repeater of FRBs. Although there have been a number of FRBs from the site, the origin of the radio bursts remains a puzzle to researchers.

But the researchers say that the repeated FRBs imply that whatever is causing the FRBs is not a one-time event, such as an explosion or a collision. Instead, they say that flares (耀斑) from a young neutron star (中子星) are a promising candidate.

Previously when waves have been detected, astronomers have also asked Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from aliens. But it is unclear whether the researchers will ask SETI to help this time.

If there were any intelligent alien life forms out there, in Stephen Hawking’s opinion, we were playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. If alien s discovered the Earth, they would likely want to conquer and colonize our planet.

But the co-founder and former director of the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn’t think this will be the case. She argues any alien s who have managed to travel across the universe may be friendly and peaceful. “The idea of a civilization which has managed to survive far longer than we have... and the fact that the technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn’t make sense,” she said.

1. What is the purpose of the question in paragraph 1?

A．To draw readers’ attention.

B．To indicate commonality in astronomy.

C．To emphasize the mystery of the source.

D．To highlight the discovery’s significance.

2. What is the most likely cause of the FRBs according to the text?

A．Messages from aliens.

B．The explosion of a star.

C．Flares from a neutron star.

D．A collision between two stars.

3. Which might agree with Stephen Hawking’s view?

A．We should try to find the aliens.

B．The aliens may conquer the Earth.

C．We can play games with the aliens.

D．The aliens may live with us one day.

4. What is Jill Tarter’s attitude to contact with the aliens?

A．Doubtful.

B．Critical.

C．Indifferent.

D．Supportive.

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。

China’s two elite science and technology institutes on Wednesday announced their results for the new academicians, offering 133 top scientists and scholars nationwide the    1    (high) academic title in the country. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has selected 59 new academicians     2    the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has selected 74.

The new academicians are from various fields,    3    (cover) subjects from space technologies to geology, and from medical and life sciences to agriculture and petrochemicals. The average age of the 59    4    (new) elected academicians of the CAS is 54.7 years old,    5     90 percent of them below the age of 60. Five of the 59 academicians are female scientists. Among the 74 academician newcomers at the CAE, 81 percent are below the age of 60.

Yan Ning, head of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and a renowned structural biologist     6    works at Tsinghua University’s School of Life Sciences, was selected as    7    CAS academician. Yan, 45, also    8    (write) as Nieng Yan in professional circles,    9    (be) a scientist on the rise in recent years after she left Tsinghua in 2017 to become a professor at Princeton University in the United States where she received her PhD, and returned last year to Tsinghua. She was the youngest professor and PhD     10    (advise)at Tsinghua.

8 . “But I want that blue car!”

The blue car didn’t make it through our checkout line. The tears_________up and streamed down this four-year-old face. I was overwhelmed with_________by the noisy scene we created. I wanted more than anything to_________this screaming child and charge out of there, child under my arm, marching him straight out of the_________and into the car. But I couldn’t do that.

A car accident in my teens left me paralysed (瘫痪) from the chest down. From sixteen on I was_________to create a life with my wheelchair. I relied heavily on my stubbornness and will to do things _________I even accomplished more than I would have done in my long-lost _________world.

It wasn’t until having children that my abandon to independence was forced to_________reasonable and cautious behavior. It was no longer just me that had to own up to the _________of my actions. So like any good Darwinian, I have forced myself to__________.

Kneeling down, I tried my hardest to__________that we were buying groceries and not race cars, but __________.Whether you are Mother Teresa or Judge Judy, sometimes you will not__________a four-year-old over. The kicking and screaming __________with the growing line of shoppers behind.

Becoming a__________, who uses a wheelchair comes with its bumps and bruises(磕磕碰碰) .__________, I’ve learned how to navigate with love and adaptation and be a great__________ to my children.

So, I tried again with a smile. I touched my now __________child’s forehead, from all of the rage and exhaustion of the moment. His wet eyes looked at me like I was the__________person on the planet. But his outburst stopped. And, I__________to get him out the store doors and into his car seat.

1.

A．broke

B．welled

C．went

D．joined

2.

A．embarrassment

B．disappointment

C．fright

D．amusement

3.

A．hand over

B．hold on to

C．pick up

D．throw away

4.

A．nursery

B．office

C．store

D．hospital

5.

A．permitted

B．recommended

C．expected

D．forced

6.

A．repeatedly

B．casually

C．cautiously

D．independently

7.

A．panic-stricken

B．able-bodied

C．carefree

D．misshaped

8.

A．refer to

B．conflict with

C．keep away from

D．make room for

9.

A．consequences

B．availabilities

C．courses

D．intentions

10.

A．approach

B．apologize

C．adapt

D．follow

11.

A．reflect

B．explain

C．admit

D．contradict

12.

A．in detail

B．on demand

C．on agreement

D．in vain

13.

A．win

B．take

C．watch

D．get

14.

A．worked

B．continued

C．faded

D．returned

15.

A．mom

B．babysitter

C．shopper

D．victim

16.

A．Meanwhile

B．Moreover

C．However

D．Otherwise

17.

A．experience

B．example

C．partner

D．leader

18.

A．aggressive

B．lovely

C．sweaty

D．cheerful

19.

A．most desperate

B．most caring

C．greatest

D．worst

20.

A．promised

B．struggled

C．prepared

D．managed

9 . We asked dental professionals to answer five basic questions about how to care for our teeth and keep them healthy. Here’s what they had to say.

How often should I really brush my teeth?

    1    Brushing helps remove plaque, which is the accumulation of biofilms containing microorganisms stuck to your teeth. By brushing each tooth slightly with your brush at a 45-degree angle, you’ll be able to remove plaque particles.

    2    

Brush your teeth first in the morning, before eating breakfast. It breaks up the biofilm and gets it ready to re mineralize(使再矿化) your teeth. Immediately after meals, you can rinse or drink water to remove acids and sugars from the mouth.

Do I really need to floss(剔牙)?

You may not want to hear it, but the answer is yes.    3    Flossing gets to all the areas where toothbrushes don’t. You can’t do one or the other. Floss before brushing to open up areas you may not be able to clean with just the toothbrush, like in between your teeth.

How do I whiten my teeth?

There are all kinds of products and methods to help whiten your teeth. But dental professionals say you should be cautious.    4    Instead, the ideal way to whiten your teeth is to ask your dentist for professional advice.

Do I really have to go to the dentist?

While proactive care at home can help keep your teeth healthy, yes—you still have to see a dentist. There are a lot of factors to deal within your dental health—but you don’t have to do it alone.    5    

A．You should floss at least once a day.

B．That’s what your dental appointments are for.

C．Do I need to brush my teeth immediately after meals?

D．Is there an ideal time of day when I should brush my teeth?

E．Don’t use home solutions like brushing teeth with lemon juice.

F．You should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time.

G．They can make your teeth sensitive and potentially wear your teeth down.

10 . Ask any business leader what big challenges they face and it’s likely that skills and labor shortages will be high on their list. They’re concerned about how to develop the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report 2023, organizations across all industries identify skills gaps and an inability to attract talent as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.

There’s a potential solution to all of this: a “skills-first” approach. The new report, Putting Skills First: A Framework for Action, launched during the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, finds that switching to a skills-first mindset can directly benefit over 100 million people globally who’re currently under-utilizing their existing skills, because they’re under-employed in their current job or because they’re unemployed. The analysis, which covers 18 economies, finds workforce under-utilization ranges from 4% of the working population in Thailand, to 7% in the US, 13% in France, 27% in Brazil and 43% in South Africa.

A skills-first approach focuses on a person’s skills and competencies rather than on their qualifications or job history, so that what someone can do becomes far more important than which university they went to. Crucially, this focus on skills continues long after the worker has been hired, with an emphasis on continually developing their abilities right through their career.

Making skills a priority is fairly advantageous. For businesses, taking a skills-first approach dramatically increases the potential pool of talent from which they can draw on. For individuals, it provides access to good jobs that offer skills building, career progression and higher earning potential which they’d otherwise have been excluded from without the right qualifications.

Delivering such ground-breaking change requires more than simply the involvement of HR teams. It’ll require the commitment of CEOs and policy-makers at the highest level to drive it through. So far a company in UK has introduced a range of degree apprenticeship (学徒制) programs which enable applicants without a degree to gain one while working at the firm. The organization is also developing new career paths to ensure it has the right skills to meet the changing needs of the economy.

1. What plays a key role in industry transformation?

A．Working environment.	B．Employees’ job history.
C．Employees’ competence.	D．Business leaders’ management.

2. What do we know about the new report according to paragraph 2?

A．It was launched by 18 economies.

B．It focuses on a skills-first mindset.

C．It shows the decline of global economy.

D．It points out employment trends.

3. What does the last paragraph convey about the skills-first approach?

A．Further research needs to be done.

B．It depends on global cooperation.

C．Some measures are already underway.

D．It is well accepted around the world.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A skills-first approach.

B．A more inclusive society.

C．Developing new career paths.

D．Creating a framework for job markets.