1 . My memories of those nights I spent with my great-grandmother are still vivid. I_________ them all, because I have_________ else to remind me of her. While my friends_________ display treasures left to them by their grandmothers — precious china, antique silver, jewelry — all that I have of her is a scarf I’d made her.

My great-grandmother didn’t have a china-and-jewelry kind of _________. While we were under the _________, she told me many _________ stories. I felt the pain a mother feels when her only son is _________ missing after a battle. I felt the _________ a wife feels as throat cancer robs her beloved _________ of speech and ultimately of life. I felt the__________ of the Depression (大萧条), what it was like to lose your home and to __________ produce that had gone bad. My great-grandmother never cried when she __________ her past, and afterward, she always said, ” Oh, kid, it’s a great life if you don’t __________.”

A few years ago, my life took a __________ turn, and curiously, I found my great-grandmother and her stories frequently occupying my __________. I realized then that __________ she had not left me any precious objects, she had left me a treasury of stories and a wealth of__________. By turning her soul inside out to me during those nights in bed, she’d given me the greatest gift — her __________, her courage to face life head-on. Her legacy (遗赠) gave me the __________ I’d lacked. If she could survive the __________ of her life, then I knew I could, too.

1.

A．remember

B．restore

C．receive

D．remark

2.

A．something

B．anything

C．everything

D．nothing

3.

A．apparently

B．curiously

C．proudly

D．instantly

4.

A．career

B．life

C．future

D．education

5.

A．pressure

B．carriers

C．covers

D．hardship

6.

A．popular

B．sad

C．scary

D．funny

7.

A．imagined

B．resisted

C．declared

D．caught

8.

A．sorrow

B．responsibility

C．annoyance

D．justice

9.

A．son

B．daughter

C．mother

D．husband

10.

A．purpose

B．hopelessness

C．competence

D．effectiveness

11.

A．pay off

B．get through

C．hang on

D．survive on

12.

A．escaped

B．related

C．transformed

D．assumed

13.

A．weaken

B．sharpen

C．understand

D．condemn

14.

A．favorable

B．careful

C．stressful

D．preventable

15.

A．mind

B．schedule

C．status

D．analysis

16.

A．if

B．when

C．since

D．although

17.

A．memories

B．resources

C．opportunities

D．alternatives

18.

A．dream

B．caution

C．criterion

D．strength

19.

A．fate

B．will

C．cash

D．identification

20.

A．aspects

B．means

C．difficulties

D．outcomes

2 . A wolf in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, Northwest China’s Qinghai Province, has gained weight as a result of regular feeding by visitors in vehicles, according to a video recorded by a netizen. The fat wolf swings its tail at passing vehicles and even rolls on its back to appeal for food in the video. The video rapidly spread, causing an Internet debate.

In July this year, a woman shared a video of her encounter with a wolf while traveling through HohXil. She got out of her car to give the hungry wolf some beef jerky, noting how thin the animal seemed. She expressed her sympathy for it and did not hesitate to feed it. In other videos posted by netizens, the wolf can be seen wandering near cars on the roadside, and even lying in front of one of them. The new video claims the wolf in Hoh Xil has been fed by humans for a long time.

It caused a heated discussion among netizens, with some finding the wolf very cute and funny, and joking that it no longer wanted to work hard. But others expressed concern that such feeding would disrupt the natural order, and have a negative impact on the wolf and its ecosystem.

Dai Qiang, a researcher at the Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has been studying wild animals such as pandas and wolves for a long time, disagrees with the practice of feeding wild wolves. He believes that such behavior, may also cause the animals to become dependent, and have adverse(不利的)results. Dai says that such behavior may cause risks to both human beings and wild animals.

“Wild animals, especially injured ones, may carry bacteria. Wolves are fierce animals after all, and it is hard to know whether they are aggressive(进攻性的)or not, so it is better to keep a safe distance,” says Dai. “On the other hand, unless the species is endangered, artificial intervention(人为干预)is not recommended,” he adds.

1. What can we say about the wolf in Hoh Xil?

A．It turned to a woman for help.	B．It has been given food by people.
C．It wandered regularly near visitors.	D．It lost weight in the nature reserve.

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

A．Protect.

B．Maintain.

C．Upset.

D．Adjust.

3. What will probably happen if wild animals are fed according to Dai?

A．They may hurt people.	B．They may gain weight.
C．They may leave reserves.	D．They may become extinct.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To inform people of wolves’ habits.	B．To call on people to protect wolves.
C．To entertain readers with a wolf story.	D．To warn people of risks in feeding wolves.

3 . Last month, a group of university student volunteers from Wuhan, Hubei province, arrived at the home of a couple who have been married for more than 60 years.

The group was taking part in a programme launched in 2015 aimed at helping elderly couples fulfill their dreams of having special wedding photos taken. Zhang, 20, a freshman at Wuhan University of Engineering Science, is among the students taking part in the institution’s volunteer project, Dream Fulfillment Plan.

The project’s founder, Yu Jinwen, 35, a teacher at Wuhan University of Engineering Science, said that as of last month, the volunteers had taken wedding photos for more than 1,000 couples. They also interviewed their subjects and recorded their love stories.

The project was inspired by Yu’s regret at not having a good photo of his grandfather, who died in 2010. The family searched hard but was unable to find a quality shot. In desperation, Yu had to use the photo on his grandfather’s ID card as a portrait. In 2014, Yu led students applying to launch a volunteer service project, and came up with the idea of taking good photographs for the elderly free of charge.

“When these couples were young, there was no opportunity to take wedding photos. We can help them by taking special shots to bring back good memories of their younger days,” Yu said. Initially, he found it difficult to acquire wedding dresses and photographic equipment. However, one of his former classmates, who owned a wedding photography company in Wuhan, donated more than 70 secondhand wedding dresses to the project. Yu formed the first team, which consisted of 15 volunteers.

The project, which has grown over the years, now comprises 13 groups with a total of 590 volunteers. They have worked in 356 communities and rural areas across 43 cities in 13 provinces nationwide, gaining recognition and appreciation for their work. In 2021, the project won the silver prize at the sixth Chinese Youth Volunteer Service Project Competition.

1. What is the purpose of Dream Fulfillment Plan?

A．To offer opportunities to students to find jobs.

B．To help elderly couples realize their wedding photo dream.

C．To make Wuhan University of Engineering Science known.

D．To encourage more university students to do voluntary work.

2. What motivated Yu Jinwen to launch the project?

A．His wish in childhood.	B．His passion for photography.
C．Lack of good photos for his late grandfather.	D．The encouragement of his teachers.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly focus on?

A．The members of the project.	B．The achievements of the project.
C．The promising future of the project.	D．The support given by the public.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Student volunteers help elderly couples turn the clock back.

B．Wuhan University of Engineering Science launched a project.

C．Taking good wedding photos for elderly people is no easy task.

D．Wedding photos for elderly people become more and more popular.

4 . Best Art Competitions in 2024

JACKSON’S PAINTING PRIZE

Prize: £ 2,000 first prize

Entry Fee: £ 5 per entry

Requirements: Open to international artists of all ages.

Closing Date: February 14,2024

Jackson’s Painting Prize was created to reward excellence in two-dimensional works of fine art. Winners will not only win a cash prize every year, but their works will also be granted more invaluable global exposure, such as a marketing package in the Directory of Painting, a feature in a major exhibition in central London, and an invitation to the Awards Evening in March.

ANIMAGO AWARD

Prize: €3,000 cash prize for Best Young Production

Entry Fee: Free

Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.

Closing Date: February 16,2024

For over 20 years the famous. Animago Award competition has spotlighted talent in the fields of 3D animation and stills, visualization, and design. Organized by the German magazine Digital Production, all winners are announced during a gala at the annual animago conference in Munich, Germany.

WATERMEDIA SHOWCASE

Prize: $2,500 first prize, $1,250 second prize

Entry Fee: $35 ($30 before February 6,2024)

Requirements: Open to international artists 18 years of age and older.

Closing Date: April 11,2024

The 12th annual Watermedia Showcase in the USA awards original art created primarily with water-based media. Judged by the editors of Watercolor Artist, all winners and honorable mentions will have their work featured in the magazine.

ARTISTS MAGAZINE ANNUAL ART COMPETITION

Prize: $29,000 in cash prizes

Entry Fee: $40 ($35 if submitted before April 3, 2024)

Requirements: Open to artists over 18 worldwide

Closing Date: May 30,2024

The 40th Artists Magaxine Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, digital art, and much more. Winners will be chosen annually from a variety of categories. All winners’ works will be featured in Artists Magaxine.

1. Which competition will have its winning entries exhibited in London?

A．ANIMAGO AWARD

B．WATERMEDIA SHOWCASE.

C．JACKSON’S PAINTING PRIZE.

D．ARTISTS MAGAZINE ANNUAL ART COMPETITION.

2. How much is the entry fee for Watermedia Showcase on April 4?

A．$30.

B．$35.

C．$40.

D．$45.

3. What do the above art competitions have in common?

A．They are all hosted every year.

B．They are all free for young people.

C．They are all organized by magazines.

D．They are all open to artists of all ages.

5 . We parents often take material things for love. “I give him everything，” a disappointed mother complains. “New shoes, video­games, and his own TV. You’d think he’d at least show me respect!”

Of course, love and presents are related. Most parents work hard to earn money. They want their children to have more than they did and have better lives. The problem is, most children don’t connect the things parents buy with the labour that is paid for them. Children have more, but our culture—television in particular—teaches them that more is never enough. Having more does not mean that a child feels loved.

From a parent’s point of view, children are not thankful. But this has to do with their natural growth. Young children see their parents as all-mighty (万能的). If parents fail to provide what they want, it must be a matter of choice. It’s normal for children, even school­age ones, not to be able to take another person’s point of view. For example, they may dislike their parents for working long hours, and not realise that the parents would also rather have more time at home.

In addition to giving presents, we have to find other ways to express love and create memories. Reading or telling stories together, making music and playing games are all ways for families to spend time without spending money. Traditions like reading favourite poems and even snowball fights all serve the purpose (达到目的). Most importantly, as parents, we have to learn to hold back some energy from our tiring jobs. When we’re present for our children, we ourselves become the presents we want to give.

1. What does the underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．The things parents buy.

B．Parents.

C．Children.

D．Better lives.

2. According to the passage, children ________.

A．want fewer presents	B．want presents rather than love
C．are taught to ask for more	D．can live better without their parents

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．There’s a heavy job load for some parents.

B．There’s a lack of money in some families.

C．There’s misunderstanding between parents and children.

D．There’s little love between parents and children.

4. What does the last paragraph of the passage mean?

A．Our children are good presents to us.	B．We should spend more time with our children.
C．We ourselves need some presents.	D．We should give more presents to our children.

6 . The age of 18 is when a person legally reaches adulthood. But does this truly stand for our maturity? The very word “ADULT” can be broken into 5 parts containing qualities necessary for your personal development.     1    

A-ACCOUNTABLE (负责任的)

    2     But no matter what, our parents would come and take care of us and wouldn’t hold us accountable for these acts. However, as an adult, we are totally in control of our life, including all our decisions and actions.

D-DETACHMENT FROM EGO (脱离自我)

EGO — A small 3-letter word that has the power to damage a big 12-letter word — RELATIONSHIP. Getting attached to one’s ego has a harmful effect similar to holding a beautiful red rose firmly.     3     So it is time for us to get rooted to the ground and set our ego on fire.

U-UNDERSTANDING

In a world population of about 8 billion, each of us is 100% unique. We communicate with different kinds of people on a daily basis. Collective decisions for various issues involve interacting with people to reach an agreement. It is necessary to understand and respect each other’s beliefs.

L-LISTEN

When we listen to others, thoughts and ideas from them are directly transmitted (传达) to us.     4    Listening effectively with the intention to understand and not to reply is the need of the hour.

T-TAKE A STAND

We collect data in the form of parents’ suggestions on careers, friends’ advice on relationships or content that we read on social media. This data should be analyzed and questioned before reaching our own conclusions.     5    

So you think you are an A-D-U-L-T?

A．This will help us to broaden our minds.

B．Check and see how many of these we have!

C．The stronger a person’s hold, the deeper the wound.

D．Our minds should be trained to work in the same manner.

E．An information system performs the following functions.

F．As a baby, we would cry unnecessarily or even mess up the place.

G．It’s time we stop spoon feeding of opinions by others and learn to take our own stand on matters.

7 . My mother put the golden butterfly pendant (吊坠) on my neck. In her eyes, I saw pride for the first woman of our family to achieve a university education.

My grandmother loved to tell us stories of her first years at primary school on the small island of Chios, Greece: her beautiful handwriting, much praised by her teachers and her good marks. All this changed in Grade 4 when one day my grandmother’s nose started to bleed as she was doing her homework. It scared my great-grandmother, because in those years, many were dying from tuberculosis (结核病). Spending hours indoors studying was associated with growing weak and pale, a sign of that terrible disease. The family prohibited Grandma from finishing primary school and sent her to a local factory.

My mother was able to finish high school on Chios. She was an excellent student and her parents encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, the Second World War clipped her wings. She ended up marrying and looking after her family’s businesses.

As I grew up, my mother always urged me to get the university education that she was denied. Sometimes I remember wanting to help her out with cooking or baking. “No,” my mother would say. “Go back to your homework! That takes priority!” My father, following the Greek tradition, would tell her: “Teach Sophia to cook! What is she going to feed her family?” I also remember relatives telling my parents to hurry and arrange a marriage for me as soon as I finished high school. “There is time for all that! Later on! First, she will get a degree!” my mother always hurried to reply.

On my university graduation, my mother presented me with my grandma’s special pendant. “But this is the pendant Grandma used to say she would only give me on my engagement day!” I reminded my mother. “A degree is better than an engagement ring; that’s what I told Grandma and she agreed,” my mother replied.

1. Why did Grandma fail to continue learning when she was young?

A．She suffered from tuberculosis.

B．She was forced to drop out of school.

C．She dreamt of becoming a teacher.

D．She worked very hard to support her family.

2. What does the underlined part “clipped her wings” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Damaged her arms.	B．Reminded her of her duty.
C．Expanded her career path.	D．Stopped her from achieving her goal.

3. What can we infer about the author’ s mother from paragraph 4?

A．She taught the author cooking skills.

B．She faced much pressure for the author.

C．She got on poorly with family members.

D．She was living up to the Greek traditions.

4. What might the author’s mother want to tell her by gifting her the pendant?

A．She had already come of age.

B．She should remember her origins.

C．She should think about getting married.

D．She had made the family dream come true.

8 . 你校英文报社正在组织以“Learning through Traveling”为主题的征稿，请你以投稿的方式，用英语讲述假期里的一次旅游经历。包括以下要点：
1. 旅游地点；
2. 描述你的体验和感受。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 题目已为你写好。

Learning through Traveling

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9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is probably the speaker?

A．A tour guide.

B．A journalist.

C．A radio host.

2. What can the students do in the science room?

A．Grow vegetables.

B．Eat chocolate cakes.

C．Make pizzas.

3. What’s the total price for the school trip?

A．£25.

B．£65.

C．£90.

4. What does the speaker advise the parents to do?

A．Go to the school in person.

B．Call for further information.

C．Remember the e-mail address.

10 . Are flash floods becoming more severe? Natural disasters are generally getting worse—and that's true for floods, too.

As climate change warms the atmosphere, extreme rainfall is rising, which increases the risk of flash floods. Heavy precipitation(降水) events are predicted to increase by 2 to 3 times the historical average. The Federal Emergency Management Agency expects the nation’s floodplains to expand by 45 percent by the end of this century, as the agency reported in a recent study. A study in early 2021 found that increased precipitation—resulting partially from climate change—costs the US an additional $ 2.5 billion each year in flood damage. And some studies show that flood frequency was increasing in the Mississippi River valley and across the Midwest in the last century, as well as in the Northeast over the past 50 years.

There are several steps you can take to prepare for flash floods

First, know the level of risk by looking at flood maps. You may be required to have flood insurance if you live in a high-risk area.

Pay attention to flash flood watches, which the National Weather Service issues to indicate when conditions could result.in flash floods. People in these areas-should be-ready to take action—particularly if the NWS announces a flash flood warning. That’s issued when flash floods are approaching and, at that point, people should immediately leave the area.

But be particularly careful when travelling by car. Don’t drive through flooded streets—it's difficult to judge the water depth, and roadways hidden below the water can collapse. If floodwaters cause your vehicle to lose control, abandon it and seek the higher ground. Rapidly rising water can sweep the vehicle away. Know your surroundings and head to the higher ground, and listen to the radio updates when in a flood.

It’s also important to develop an emergency prepared plan with your family or those you live with to have a few days’ worth of resources.

1. Why does the author ask the question in paragraph 1?

A．To confirm an idea.	B．To conclude the text.
C．To introduce a topic.	D．To express some doubts.

2. How does the authors support the theme of the second paragraph?

A．By analyzing causes.	B．By listing relevant data.
C．By describing processes.	D．By making comparisons.

3. What are the drivers especially advised to do in the text?

A．Purchase insurance.	B．Look at flood maps.
C．Have an emergency plan.	D．Avoid the flooded streets.

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

A．What Is a Flash Flood?

B．Do Flash Floods Need Controlling?

C．How Do We Prepare for Flash Floods?

D．Are Flash Floods Becoming More Severe?