1 . A self-taught painter in Chongqing, who spent four years creating 100 illustrations of 100 cities in China, has attracted a lot of attention online.

Pu Zhen, who was born in Chongqing in 1993, ________ in animation design at college. He started teaching himself painting nine years ago. “The most difficult part is to ________ my own painting style through ________ practice,” he said.

In 2018, ________ by an old notebook he had filled with the names of Chinese cities, he ________ the idea of doing a unique illustration for each. “I just ________ my inspiration in creating the city series. Each illustration ________ a city’s typical features,” he said.

The creative ________ of the main elements of each city are ________. Some are mountains, rivers, and iconic (标志性的) buildings, and some are cultural legends. However, they all have the moon as a common image.

“The biggest ________ is myself,” said Pu, adding that during the time-consuming ________, he had to overcome loneliness and inner conflicts. “But I do feel ________ that my works are acknowledged by many fans online. Traditional Chinese city ________ are always worth passing on.”

Not only are Pu’s paintings well ________ online, but the netizens are eager to appreciate more. ________, everyone wants to see their hometowns painted by Pu Zhen. In the future, Pu plans to travel around the country and create illustrations for more cities.

1.

A．applied

B．majored

C．worked

D．researched

2.

A．figure out

B．go over

C．make up

D．turn down

3.

A．casual

B．constant

C．formal

D．random

4.

A．moved

B．encouraged

C．taught

D．inspired

5.

A．put up with

B．came up with

C．took care of

D．made use of

6.

A．invented

B．followed

C．imagined

D．discovered

7.

A．determines

B．suggests

C．reflects

D．impresses

8.

A．sources

B．stories

C．messages

D．materials

9.

A．stable

B．similar

C．obvious

D．different

10.

A．challenge

B．honor

C．improvement

D．victory

11.

A．course

B．process

C．moment

D．stage

12.

A．surprised

B．confused

C．delighted

D．touched

13.

A．cultures

B．policies

C．systems

D．values

14.

A．judged

B．studied

C．attended

D．received

15.

A．Undoubtedly

B．Eventually

C．Hopefully

D．Generally

2 . “Individuals of all ages who have empathy (共情) understand that sometimes telling little white lies can protect other people from getting hurt,” says Barbara Greenberg, a clinical psychologist in Connecticut. “Most people that I have come across tell these little white lies because they understand that 100 percent honesty all the time is not beneficial.” A white lie, she explains, spares people from unnecessary hurt.

At the same time, Dr. Julia Breur, a marriage and family therapist in Florida, emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the way we respond to someone. The fact is that not telling the truth can result in something unpleasant on you; it’s not just about the person the white lie is being told to. For example, she says someone who always tells others that “all is good” when it comes to a sick parent in an effort to avoid discussions about how serious their health issue really is, can eventually face stressful experiences. When that parent eventually passes away, the person who always gave an “all is good” response ends up emotionally broken.

Sometimes, telling white lies often depends on the situation, Dr. Breur says. For example, consider a woman who has not seen her mother for several months. The daughter has gained noticeable weight, yet the mother responds by excitedly declaring that she looks great. “I emphasize during psychotherapy sessions with my patients that context helps define meaning,” Dr. Breur says. “So when we look at the context of a mother saying you look great when she clearly sees that her daughter has gained weight, it can be acceptable. It reflects the intention of the white lie which is kindness, protection and unconditional love. Otherwise, white lies — especially when told to avoid personal accountability — can start a cycle of mistrust between people, ultimately compromising integrity,” she adds.

Therefore, it’s important to ask ourselves when it is and isn’t appropriate to deliver the honest truth, and when it’s best to step back and offer a more delicate response. More often than not, it’s about finding a balance between the two.

1. What can be learned about white lies according to Barbara Greenberg?

A．They are short-lived.	B．They are unidentifiable.
C．They are trouble-making.	D．They are common.

2. What message does Dr. Breur deliver in paragraph 2?

A．White lies can harm both the liars and the listeners.

B．We must respond to our family members truthfully.

C．It’s wrong to tell white lies to a seriously ill parent.

D．The “all is good” response is effective in dealing with patients.

3. What is Dr. Breur’s attitude towards the mother’s practice in paragraph 3?

A．Uncaring.

B．Critical.

C．Supportive.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．East or West, White Lies Are the Best

B．Think Twice Before You Tell White Lies

C．White Lies Signify Unconditional Love

D．White Lies Are Empathetic People’s Favorable Choice

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

As the Year of the Dragon approached, sales of products with dragon elements have seen explosive     1     (grow) on major e-commerce platforms. Dragon, or long in Chinese,     2     (consider) as an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture, is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

Since January, products with dragon-themed elements, such as clothing, daily necessities and gold jewelry     3     (gain) popularity. Items such as red envelopes, mobile phone cases designed for the Chinese Year of the Dragon have also been favored by consumers, and    4     (they) sales have surpassed those in the Year of the Rabbit last year.

Chinese consumers who buy dragon-themed goods are hoping     5     (live) a better life in the new year and displaying a strong sense     6     national pride and confidence in Chinese culture. The rich cultural meanings and the good wishes     7     the dragon carries have not only stimulated people’s passion for buying, but also satisfied their rising demand for personalized and     8     (create) products with unique cultural symbols.

Spring Festival is the traditional festival Chinese people attach the most importance to, and it’s also     9     peak season for consumption. The shopping craze for dragon-related products ahead of Lunar New Year is essential for     10     (promote) the recovery of the consumer market.

4 . Must-See Destinations in 2024

Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.

Spain

Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.

Montenegro

Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.

Croatia

Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...

South Africa

Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.

With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.

1. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common?

A．They are both praised by tourists.

B．They both have world heritage cities.

C．They are known for their architectures.

D．They both own beaches and rich history.

2. Which destination will attract people who are interested in creatures?

A．Spain.	B．South Africa.
C．Montenegro.	D．Croatia.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A website.	B．A guidebook.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

5 . 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。

Featuring a dynamic design, the horse-face skirt is widely preferred by fans of traditional clothing in China. Exploring ways     1     (promote) the culture, they prefer to wear traditional clothing when taking part in cultural activities and share the beauty on the Internet.

The horse-face skirt     2     (originate) in the Song Dynasty and grew popular during the Ming Dynasty due to its functionality and artistic style. It is     3     (traditional) composed of two identical overlapping (部分重叠) panels     4     (wrap) around the left and right side of the lower body. Each   panel is   composed of a   large   rectangular (长方形的) panel of fabric, a side piece made up of several smaller panels and another rectangular panel narrower than the first.     5     (attach) to a waistband by ties, the two sides overlap each other so that one of the large straight panels on each piece is in the front and back of the skirt. This overlapping nature leaves openings in the front and back of the skirt, making     6     very suitable for horse-riding.

While maintaining the essential design     7     (element) of the horse-face skirt, modern designers change its outline, length, or detailing to match current fashion trends, appealing     8     a broader audience for usual daywear or formal evening fashions.

“This kind of skirt shows the grand     9     (elegant) that is admired in Chinese culture. Knowing     10     we come from, we can then be clear about where we are going, ” Daben, a Chinese vlogger, told the Global Times.

6 . 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。

Walking along the Great Wall is a once-in-a-lifetime dream for many, but Jim Spear has taken it one step     1     (far), spending the last 18 years living in a village beneath the ancient wonder.

    2     68-year-old, a self-taught architect from the US, made the most important decision of his life to move to China in 1986, a year before the Great Wall     3     (list) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Spear calls Mutianyu village home. In this quiet place,     4     (locate) at the foot of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, he lives with his dog in a home with a courtyard garden he tended     5     (he).

As an architect, not only did Spear renovate (翻新) his own dream house,     6     comes with multiple views of the Great Wall, but he also explored ways to boost the local business and support rural residents. Over the years, the architect     7     (help) renovate around 20 households in Mutianyu, most of which now operate     8     hotels or restaurants, while     9     (do) his best to preserve the original structures as much as possible.

In     10     (recognize) of his contributions, Spear was given the Great Wall Friendship Award in 2014.

7 . 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。

In a small town, there lived a young elementary school student named Timmy, whose lateness had become his worst trait (特点) in his school.

Every school morning, he struggled to get out of bed, often finding himself rushing through breakfast and forgetting important things like his homework or lunchbox. Meanwhile, his classmates would glance at the empty seat beside them, exchanging knowing looks as the clock ticked pa st the start of the class. When Timmy finally arrived, he would often find himself the center of attention, and his cheeks red with embarrassment as he apologised. Deep down, Timmy felt a growing sense of discomfort and shame about his habitual lateness. His teachers and classmates were concerned about the effect of his constant lateness on his studies.

One day, Timmy’s class teacher, Mrs. Johnson, decided to solve the issue. She approached Timmy with a gentle smile, “Timmy, can we talk about something important?”

Timmy looked up and replied, a bit nervous, “Sure, Mrs. Johnson.”

She crouched (蹲下) down to his level, speaking softly but seriously and sincerely, “I’ve noticed you’ve been late for class quite often. Do you know being on time is very important?”

Timmy lowered his head and said, “Yes, but...”

Mrs. Johnson continued, “Being on time helps you not miss out on your lessons. It’s also about respect for your classmates and me. When you’re late, it can disrupt (打乱) the whole class. We all miss you when you’re not here on time.”

Timmy nodded and said, a look of understanding on his face, “I didn’t realize it was affecting everyone. I’ll try to be better, Mrs. Johnson. But I have difficulty waking up and getting out of bed. Every morning when my alarm clock sounded, I hit the snooze (小睡) button, just 10 more minutes. Then 10 minutes later, another 10 minutes. That’s why I am always late for school.”

“Don’t worry. We’re all here to help you,” Mrs. Johnson said, offering a comforting smile.

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。
After the talk, Mrs. Johnson, along with Timmy’s classmates, came up with a plan to help him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soon Timmy’s change was obvious.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Elite Summer School Program for High School Students

Harvard’s Elite Program for high school students is an intensive two-week summer program designed to give you a glimpse of college life. You will live on the Harvard campus during your two-week session while taking a college-level course with other Elite Program students.

The application for Summer 2024 is now open.

Cost: $5,550+$75 application fee

2024 Session Ⅰ: June 23-July 5, 2024

2024 Session Ⅱ: July 7-19, 2024

2024 Session Ⅲ: July 21-August 2, 2024

Who Can Participate in the Elite Program?

Harvard’s Elite Program is designed for mature, academically motivated students who are interested in exploring a potential major or simply finding out what college is really like.

Our Elite Program is open to rising juniors and seniors. To be qualified for Summer 2024, you must meet both of the following criteria:

●Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2025 or 2026.

●Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.

Important Deadlines:

●Early Application and Priority Financial Aid Deadline — January 10, 2024

●Regular Application and Financial Aid Deadline — February 14, 2024

●Late Application Deadline — April 10, 2024

See the Elite Program Calendar for all important dates and deadlines.
1. Who can be the applicant for the Elite Program 2024?

A．Lucy, 14, with excellent academic performance.

B．Jerry, 16, expected to enter college in 2025.

C．Tina, 17, a college student with broad interests.

D．Tim, 19, an office worker with motivation to learn.

2. When is Priority Financial Aid Application available?

A．April 10, 2024.	B．February 14, 2024.
C．January 9, 2024.	D．July23, 2024.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A news report.	B．A travel brochure.
C．An academic paper.	D．A college website.

9 . My son asked me months ago if he could switch from his mainstream high school to a   ________ school. At that time, I was unsure and a little ________

He wasn’t doing well in his school, and I knew the best thing for him was to ________ to another learning environment to complete his study. But my heart hurt a little that he would not walk the same graduation ________ that I had walked, and also the scenario (设想) I had created was no longer beneficial to his ________ .

My son is extremely ________ and had a small friend group. Large groups are complex for him. A school of over 2,500 kids can be difficult for anyone, let alone my boy with social ________ .

Then, we decided the vocational school (职业学校) was an option with the same general curriculum ________ by our state to graduate high school. The ________ he had already earned would carry over, and he could graduate early.

By allowing him to go there, we have watched him ________ ! The difference is astonishing. He ________ friendship, he was productive and participated in a life skills course to help himself with real-life studies, and he ________ with his teachers.

The most significant change was that he would come home ________, enthusiastic about his day, and excited to ________ how his day had gone.

As his momma, it is all I needed to know that my son has chosen what was ________ for him.

1.

A．compulsory

B．technical

C．unprofessional

D．academic

2.

A．heartbroken

B．nervous

C．angry

D．confused

3.

A．apply

B．adapt

C．transfer

D．talk

4.

A．ceremony

B．moment

C．dilemma

D．stage

5.

A．curriculum

B．wellbeing

C．friendship

D．decision

6.

A．bald

B．generous

C．straightforward

D．shy

7.

A．anxiety

B．conduct

C．responsibility

D．awareness

8.

A．studied

B．canceled

C．required

D．banned

9.

A．credits

B．subjects

C．medals

D．reputations

10.

A．graduate

B．worsen

C．thrive

D．suffer

11.

A．formed

B．understood

C．abandoned

D．remembered

12.

A．got away

B．made up

C．lined up

D．got along

13.

A．crying

B．murmuring

C．complaining

D．smiling

14.

A．oversell

B．learn

C．share

D．predict

15.

A．affordable

B．suitable

C．available

D．sensible

10 . Shenzhen in Guangdong province has become the first city in China to allow specialist nurses to prescribe (开药方) selected drugs and order tests, in a move that is expected to increase efficiencies in the healthcare system and reduce the patient-load burden on physicians.

Under a new rule in October that took effect in January, eligible nurses will be permitted to order examinations, treatments considering their expert skills and knowledge of specialist nursing or community healthcare. Their prescriptions must be based on existing diagnoses (诊断) made by physicians.

To become a nursing specialist, applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, five years of working experience, obtained an advanced nursing qualification and have attended a months-long specialist training program and passed a final test.

“Medical institutions must review inappropriate prescriptions given by nurses,” said the regulation. “Nursing specialists who are found to have given three or more improper prescriptions will have their prescribing power stopped for three to six months and will have to undergo retraining before regaining the authorization,” it added.

“Considering the difference in professional positioning, medical education background and work experience between physicians and nurses, it is necessary to fully analyze the necessity and practicability of the nurses’ prescriptive authority,” the commission said.

Zhou Wensi has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is now a specialist nurse in periodontitis (牙周炎) , or gum disease, at Shenzhen Stomatology Hospital in the city’s Pingshan district.

“Our hospital has not begun allowing us to prescribe. If the rule goes into effect in the future, we’ll likely be able to directly prescribe mouthwash, anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers to patients,” she said.

   However, she also noted that most patients visiting the hospital are in need of treatment delivered by doctors with assistance from nurses like her, so the new regulation is not expected to have a major impact.

1. Why does Shenzhen give permission for specialist nurses’ special rights?

A．To improve the overall ability of the specialist nurses.

B．To speed up the development of the healthcare system.

C．To enhance the work efficiency and lighten doctors’ load.

D．To respond to the demands of doctors, nurses and patients.

2. What does the word “eligible” underlined in the second paragraph refer to?

A．well-recognized

B．Qualified

C．flexible

D．hard-working

3. What do we learn about the new regulation?

A．A specialist nurse should follow the rules strictly.

B．No institutions take charge of the prescriptions .

C．Not all specialist nurses can prescribe drugs freely .

D．A specialist nurse always has the prescribing power.

4. What is Zhou Wensi’s attitude toward the prospect of nurses’ prescribing drugs?

A．Doubtful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Neutral.

D．Hopeful.