1 . We are barely a quarter into 2024, and it is already shaping up to be an impressive year for literature lovers everywhere. With new releases spanning various fields, readers are bound to find something to bury themselves in.

Forever and Always

By Brittany J. Thurman (Author), Shamar Knight-Justice (Illustrator)

Publication date: January 16, 2024

Worry and love go hand in hand in this children’s picture book. Olivia waits anxiously for her dad to come home from work, so she makes him something to make the time go by. School Library Journal reviewed, “This book gives oxygen to all the unstated fears, perhaps burning them off, offering a reality right out of the headlines, but by leaving it child-sized has a huge impact.”

A Calamity of Souls

By David Baldacci

Publication date: April 6, 2024

Jack Lee, a white lawyer from Freeman County, has never done anything to raise his voice against racism, but this time he does. He makes the decision to represent a black man named Jerome Washington, who is accused of murdering a wealthy white couple. However, Lee doubts his decision as there are fewer chances of winning. Desire, a black lawyer from Chicago, has always fought for justice and equality, and she partners with Lee to face the legal battle against the best lawyer. Both of them fight together for a fair trial and justice.

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years

By Shubnum Khan

Publication date: January 9, 2024

When Sana and her dad move into Akbar Manzil, Sana can’t help but be fascinated by the house there. She endlessly explores the rooms, trying to unearth the house’s mysteries. But Sana is most curious by the locked room, which once belonged to a woman named Meena, the long-dead wife of the original owner of Akbar Manzil. Within the room’s walls also lives a sorrowful djinn who now watches Sana as her interest in Meena and the house’s mysteries turns into obsession.

1. What is special about the second book?

A．Its plot is extremely mysterious and complicated.

B．It themes on the love among children and parents.

C．It displays justice and fairness against the racism.

D．It encourages readers to maintain bravery and curiosity.

2. Who is likely to read the book The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years?

A．Readers who prefer horror novels.	B．Readers who favor detective tales.
C．Readers who are fond of romantic stories.	D．Readers who are fascinated by science fictions.

3. Which book is suitable for a five-year-old kid?

A．A Calamity of Souls	B．Forever and Always
C．School. Library Journal	D．The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years

2 . Weddings are one of life’s biggest celebrations, and they are observed in just about every country and culture on the planet. Here are some wedding traditions from around the world.

Scotland

Scottish weddings usually feature the handfasting ceremony. During the ceremony, the bride (新娘) and bridegroom each hold a piece of cloth. These are carefully wound around the couple’s joined hands. When they pull their hands apart, the pieces become tied into a knot (结) — a symbol of the new union.

Germany

Guests at a German wedding get to see an interesting sight: the newly married couple — still dressed in their suit and wedding dress — cutting a length of a tree in half with a two-person saw (锯). In this way, they show their ability to work as a team to face any challenge they will meet in life.

Norway

A Norwegian wedding cake is made up of progressively smaller layers of iced cake rings, which give the cake the shape of Christmas tree. The inside is empty and has gifts or even a bottle of wine. The bride and g room lift the top ring of the cake, and the number of layers that stick to it is said to represent the number of children they will have!

England

Brides in England typically wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” for their big day. The modern practice comes from a traditional English song, and the things themselves represent protection, cheerfulness, good luck, and purity, respectively.

Though the customs might vary, the feeling remains the same. Across the world, weddings are times to celebrate love, happiness, and family.

1. Why is a two-person saw used in the German wedding?

A．To entertain the wedding guests.	B．To mark the couple’s united efforts.
C．To represent the upcoming challenges.	D．To keep the couple from hurting each other.

2. In which wedding do brides wear different things to represent different wishes?

A．The Scottish wedding.	B．The German wedding.
C．The Norwegian wedding.	D．The English wedding.

3. What does the text show about wedding?

A．Rules to follow.	B．Special customs.
C．Ways to treat guests.	D．Cultural backgrounds.

3 . When a friend or family member gets sick, it is difficult to see them lie in bed with a fever. What can you do to make them feel better? Luckily, we have some ideas.     1    

Listen first, then respond.

Oftentimes when a friend or family member is ill, we try so hard to make them feel better that we push solutions onto them that they might not be comfortable with. For example, maybe we think it is best that they sit up, when really they just want to sleep. The first thing you can do is actually listening to what they need before trying to meet them.     2     Ask questions and be a comforting ear to cheer them up, before trying to respond and “fix” their problems.

    3    

Being sick can be stressful because our schedules are so full. Keeping up with kids, work and housework while you are sick is really tiring. If this is the case, listen to what your loved one is worried about, then ask if there is anything you can do to help.     4     Or, perhaps you could stop by the office to hand paperwork to her coworkers. Simple things like this will help a lot in taking the stress off of the ill person.

Give them space.

Finally, one of the greatest things you can do for a sick friend or family member is just to give them space. They probably don’t want to get you sick, and having a conversation may be pretty difficult at this point. So, make sure all of their needs are met, then simply leave them alone.     5    

A．Take on their to-do list.

B．Encourage them to forget stress.

C．Avoid asking about their illnesses.

D．Don’t simply imagine what they need.

E．Maybe you could make dinner this week.

F．Check out these ways to cheer up someone who is sick.

G．Given space and time to rest and relax, they will feel better soon.

4 . Home away from home — pet boarding facilities in and around Rochester

BEAR CREEK KENNELS（犬舍）

507-287-0045/507-289-2470

Bear Creek Kennels offers boarding and day care for dogs of all ages.

It has both indoor and outdoor fenced areas. Dogs are encouraged to interact throughout the day, spending minimal time in kennels.

COST: $24 per night

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP TIMES:

Mon.-Fri.,（7 a. m.-6 p. m.）; Sat.,（8 a. m.-5 p. m.）; Sun.,（3-5 p. m.）

BOB’S ANIMAL FRIENDS

507-280-9572/507-280-9577

Bob’s Animal Friends wants your dogs to feel right at home, so much so that it offers a “Sleep Buddy” add-on for $10 per night. A caretaker will stay overnight with your dog, meaning extra care time and sleeping on the so fa instead of in his or her kennel.

COST: $25 per night（basic）

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP TIMES:

Mon.-Fri.,（6: 30 a. m.-7 p. m.）; Sat.,（7-8 a. m. and 5-6 p. m.）; Sun.,（5-6 p. m.）

K-9 KENNELS INC.

507-226-5384/507-226-5388

K-9 Kennels Inc. features 10 indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs and a boarding area for cats. Indoor areas feature windows for natural light and doggy doors for them to go outside at will. Besides, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor play area is fully fenced.

COST: Dogs 18pernight. Cats15 per night

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP TIMES:

Mon.-Sat.,（6: 30 a. m.-8 p. m.）; Sun.,（1-8 p. m.）

1. When can an owner drop off his pet at Bear Creek Kennels on Sunday?

A．At 7 a. m.

B．At 8 a. m.

C．At 4 p. m.

D．At 6 p. m.

2. Which number should someone call to ask about cat boarding service?

A．507-287-0045.

B．507-280-9572.

C．507-289-2470.

D．507-226-5384.

5 . With more and more people swimming at beaches every year, the problem of sharks takes on new importance. There are people who still insist that sharks never attack human beings unless they are bleeding or wounded, but this thought has not been clearly proved. In the past few years, on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, there have been cases of shark attacks which resulted in death. And just how many of the swimmers who have disappeared were victims of shark attacks will never be known. Clearly, these violent fish can be dangerous. Several species are known to attack human beings, and it is believed by some experts that certain sharks, once having tasted human blood, develop a taste for it.

The chances that one will come across a shark are small, but certain measures should be taken by everyone. Putting hands or legs over the side of a boat in warm water is to be avoided. Swimming far out from beaches is inviting trouble. No swimmer should go great distances from shore alone, or go into the water when nobody else is about. Skin divers, particularly those who go deep down in the water or among rocks and ledges(暗礁) that serve as hiding places for sharks, are taking unnecessary risks.

If one is in a boat that is rubbed against by a shark, he should remember the creature is not trying to upset his boat; it is probably trying to rub off sea lice (海虱). A beat, especially on the nose, will scare it away. If a swimmer comes across a shark, he should swim away as quietly as possible, trying to avoid making it angry. He should also head for shore (岸) as quickly as possible.

1. What should be done if a shark rubs against your boat?

A．Stir up the water.	B．Shout and scream.
C．Kick the shark.	D．Hit it on the nose.

2. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．Certain sharks will become interested in human blood when they have tasted it.

B．Certain sharks will hate human blood again after they have tasted it.

C．Certain sharks will taste human blood every day after they have tasted it.

D．Certain sharks will lose sense of taste when they have tasted human blood.

3. Where do sharks sometimes hide themselves?

A．Places with sea lice in water.	B．Somewhere near the beaches.
C．Among the rocks and ledges.	D．It isn’t mentioned in the passage.

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Some people don’t think sharks will attack human .

B．It’s impossible for swimmers to run into sharks.

C．Swimmers should be very careful about sharks.

D．It’s safe to swim alone far away from the bench.

6 . Bantham Beach, Devon

The South Devon coast is knee-deep in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Bantham is a golden bank of sand. There are rock pools for younger children and for their elders. This is one of the county’s favourite surfing beaches.

The 14th-century Sloop Inn (01548-560489, sloopatbantham. co. uk) has summer doubles from ￡145 per night (and it’s only a couple of hundred yards to the beach).

Camber Sands, East Sussex

Head to the western end of the overflow car park and then it’s a pleasant walk through dunes (沙丘) to your own private area on the endless sands.

If you haven’t bought a picnic, the village’s Rye Bay Cafe is good for lunch and the nearby Rye Bay Nature Reserve provides walking, cycling and bird watching options.

Charming double rooms at The Galivant (01797-225057, thegalivant. co. uk) start at￡115 per night.

Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife

This small, rural, sandy beach is beside woodland and offers dreamy views out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm.

The Fife coastal path passes through and there’s a good walking road following the cliff top to Hawkcraig with views across the River Forth to Edinburgh.

Lunch at Sands Beachfront Cafe and book a room at Forth View Hotel (01383-860402, forthviewhotel. co. uk), where doubles cost from￡85 per night.

Druridge Bay, Northumberland

Druridge Bay has 99 acres of golden, sweeping sands. The kids can explore the towering grassland dunes that shelter the bay, and just 300 yards from the beach is the Druridge Bay County Park and Visitor Centre with wildlife displays and play areas.

Food can be had at the Widdrington Inn (eight miles away) while Eshott Hall (01670-787454, eshotthall. co. uk) has doubles from￡120 per night.

1. Where will you go if you are interested in wildlife displays?

A．Bantham Beach, Devon	B．Camber Sands, East Sussex
C．Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife	D．Druridge Bay, Northumberland

2. Which of the following can you enjoy at Camber Sands?

A．Surfing in rock pools.

B．Watching birds.

C．Playing in a park.

D．Exploring islands.

3. Which hotel charges the most for a double room?

A．Sloop Inn.

B．The Galivant.

C．Forth View Hotel.

D．Eshott Hall.

7 . Even today, kites are fun for the young and the old. Elderly Chinese _________ them in the middle of Beijing, cleverly avoiding trees and power lines. Many of the earliest records of kite-flying seem to indicate that, even when it began, it was done just for _________. The Chinese philosopher, Mo Di, who _________ from 468 to 376 BC, is reported to have _________an eagle out of wood and, after three years of perfecting the eagle, he got it to fly — one of the earliest kites in recorded history! Mo Di’s student, Gongshu Ban (also called Lu Ban) _________ his teacher’s technique, making his own bird, a magpie, and crafting it from bamboo rather than wood. His magpie could stay up for _________ three days.

Later in Chinese history, kites were used for more serious _________, such as communicating information and measuring the force or direction of the wind. During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuan Zong was treated to a kite-flying show in Yichun County in Penglai Palace, Shandong Province. It was the invention of paper that brought kites to the _________ people. The name fengzheng _________ to the kite was due to a man named Li Ye during the Ming Dynasty. Once, to make his kite more interesting, he __________ a bamboo whistle to the top of the kite, so there would be a sharp zheng sound as the kite flew. Today, of course, with the availability of cheap paper and other lightweight materials, anyone can make as an unusual kite as he wants.

1.

A．fly

B．sell

C．keep

D．start

2.

A．treasure

B．travel

C．fun

D．sight

3.

A．appeared

B．lived

C．owned

D．changed

4.

A．done

B．created

C．found

D．made

5.

A．equipped

B．admired

C．improved

D．thought

6.

A．as soon as

B．as long as

C．as much as

D．as far as

7.

A．purposes

B．holiday

C．advantages

D．incidents

8.

A．special

B．popular

C．ordinary

D．normal

9.

A．developed

B．given

C．fixed

D．observed

10.

A．passed

B．offered

C．sent

D．attached

8 . The Accommodation Office (Room 114)

The Accommodation Office is the place to find everything concerning accommodation during your studying at this university. It offers a free service and a wide range of handbooks and checklists covering the full range of housing available. In addition, the office also offers other services such as the allocation of places in local residences and the provision of information regarding privately owned accommodation.

Opening Hours: Monday through Friday   1:30 pm～4:30pm

Phone: (412)396-6754   Fax: (412)396-6752

Medical Center (Room 115)

The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care for students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems. Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores

Opening Hours: 24 hours from Monday to Sunday

Phone: (412)396-6649   Fax: (412)396 6648

Food Service (Room 127)

Tasty nutritious meals and a wide variety of snacks are available from the cafeterias on campus. Maybe you are not familiar with different cafeterias here and find it difficult to get a good meal. Don’t worry!The Food Service can provide you with specific information on the food available here and offer meal plans based on your individual needs

Opening Hours: Monday through Friday   1:30 pm～ 5:30 pm

Phone: (412)396-6899   Fax: (412)396-689C

Library (Room 215)

There are various books and reference materials on every subject here including literature art and math. Besides books there are also photo-copying video and computer facilities. Our collection is big and our main task is to help you solve problems on making use of the library

Opening Hours: Monday through Friday   8:30 am～5:30 pm

Phone: (412)396-6312     Fax: (412)396-6706

1. Who can receive immediate help according to the passage?

A．Richard entered the Room 114 to enquire the food menus.

B．John injured his leg and dialed (412)396-6899 for help.

C．Mary went to the library for some reading this Sunday.

D．Lucy dialed (412)396-6754 to apply for a dorm to live in.

2. Where can you find this text?

A．Students guidebook.	B．Research journal.
C．School advertisement.	D．Local newspaper.

9 . Do you have a lot of pre-loved jeans (牛仔裤) that you can never seem to let go of? If your jeans really do not fit you anymore or have fallen out of style, you can always make changes to them!     1    Check them out!

New Shorts

If you are tired of your old jeans, all you need is a pair of scissors to get some new cute shorts for the summer.     2    Then, get a pencil to mark where you will cut them off. After that, carefully cut each leg straight.

Reusable Bags

    3     Just cut squares with the same sizes using an old pair of jeans. Then, sew (缝) them up according to your preferred bag size. You can also mix and match the squares from different sets of jeans.

Stylish Accessories (配饰)

Denim (牛仔布) accessories will never go out of style.    4    Just cut some pieces of the old jeans and twist (搓) them together. Then, shape it by sewing or using a glue gun. For kids, you can also make friendship bracelets for fun.

Denim Organizers

Old jeans can be turned into organizers for your things. For example, you can cut out the pocket of your jeans and glue them onto a hard surface.    5    .

A．Old jeans can be made into cleaning tools.

B．These pocket organizers are perfect as key holders.

C．You can make some wonderful home accessories too.

D．You can use your old jeans to create a new headband or hairband.

E．First, wear the trousers and choose how short you would like them to be.

F．There are many ways to change old jeans into bags that can be useful in daily life.

G．We have collected some of the easiest ways to change them into a new favorite of yours.

10 . 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。

It was exam time at Marc’s school. Every day, their teachers gave them loads of homework and told them the test was very important and that they ought to spare no effort to perform well in it. Everyone followed the teachers’ instructions and made preparations for it, except Marc. He just turned a deaf ear to it. He thought he would rather play football than study.

His mum and dad repeated the importance of revision for exams over and over again. They told him that he should be working hard preparing for the test. But the weather was sunny and he thought he had better things to do.

“Shall we go to the park?” he said to his friend Huck one afternoon. “It’s a nice day. We could play football and kick around.” Huck shook his head. “I’m supposed to review my lessons,” he said. “I’m going home to do some math.”

Marc was amazed. “You’d rather do math than play football?”

“Math is important. Besides, my mum says she will buy me a mountain bike if I do well in the math exam.”

“That’s crazy,” said Marc. Huck shrugged (耸肩) and replied, “Wait until I beat you in the test and you will watch me riding past on my mountain bike!”

“You won’t beat me,” said Marc.

“Oh yes, I will.”

“Oh no, you won’t! That will never happen. Just wait and see!”

For the first time ever, Marc wanted to perform well. He couldn’t bear it if his friend came top and he did badly. So when he got home, he opened his math book. But there was so much to do. All of a sudden, he felt like he’d forgotten everything he had learned that year! He didn’t know where to start. When his sister Lily came in, he was sitting expressionlessly by the desk, just staring out of the window.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。

“You don’t look happy, Marc. What’s wrong?” she said.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On the day of the exam, Marc went to school with great confidence.

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