1 . What distinguishes an outstanding city? The Global Cities Index assesses cities based on diverse criteria, including:

·Business – The presence of multinational corporations. How many global companies are in the city? Does the city do a lot of international business?

·People – The city’s ability to attract talents globally. Does the city attract talented people from around the world? What’s proportion of residents with higher education?

·Media – The accessibility of varied information channels. How many residents have Internet access?

·Entertainment – The availability of leisure and cultural activities. Does the city have many entertainment options: museums, sports, music, and different types of restaurants?

Future Leaders       

Most cities on the Global Cities Index are strong in certain areas. Beijing’s strength, for example, is business, while Los Angeles’s strength is people. Which cities will become more powerful in the future?

·Asia: Beijing and Shanghai are both business centers and will continue to grow. In a few years, they will potentially match New York’s influence. Indian cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi have a lot of business potential, too.

·South America: urban centers like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil will gain influence. In these cities, the middle class is growing, and life for many people is improving.

·The Middle East: Istanbul in Turkey, Cairo in Egypt, and the cities of the United Arab Emirates such as Dubai will hold more power in international politics and business, especially in helping East and West work together.

In 10 years, the top cities on the index may be different, but one thing is certain: With over 50 percent of the world’s people now living in urban areas, tomorrow’s global cities will be more powerful than ever.

1. Which aspect is considered in the Global Cities Index?

A．Education.

B．Climate.

C．Transportation.

D．Location

2. Which parts of the world are predicted to grow in the area of business?

A．Asia and Europe.	B．Asia and South America.
C．Asia and the Middle East.	D．South America and the Middle East.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Similarities between top cities.	B．The ways to become global cities.
C．Daily life in fastest-growing cities.	D．Forecast on future influential cities.

2 . 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 took a day’s drive, but distance was beside the point. I always enjoyed long journeys in my father’s car with my family. However, things went different that time. We were moving to a new town, not for any tourist destination, but to settle down, for my father had a new job there. My mother, sitting on the passenger seat in the front, was talking with my father. She looked excited for the coming new life. But I was down, feeling nervous about starting a new school life. Entering a new school meant adapting to a completely different environment and meeting new classmates and teachers, which I was not good at.

On my first day at the new school, I felt lost and out of place. The students already knew each other well, and they chatted happily during breaks. I missed my old friends terribly and wished I could go back to my old school. Feeling lonely. I often spent time alone during breaks and after classes, reading books in the library or drawing pictures in the art room. I missed the good days I had with my old friends and longed for that sense of belonging.

As the days went by, I still found it hard to fit in. I was shy and found it difficult to strike up conversations with my classmates. Some of the kids in my class noticed my discomfort and tried to be friendly, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being an outsider. I only had words with my desk mate, Alex, when necessary. Things took a turn for the worse when I knocked off Alex’s water bottle by accident, although I picked up the bottle immediately and apologized to him. He got mad at me and seemed not to forgive me. Soon I found we were avoiding each other.

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.

However, I was assigned to pair up with Alex to design a poster.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alex proudly introduced that the fantastic picture was drawn by me.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Tobias, a 35-year-old Belgian musician, has become popular on social media for his excellent grasp of the Shanghai dialect. He has been sharing his everyday experiences, which he _______ in Shanghai dialect, on video-sharing and lifestyle _______ Douyin and Xiaohongshu, winning thousands of followers and millions of _______

In the videos, he speaks_______ Shanghai dialect, which many non-locals believe is as difficult to learn and _______ as a foreign language. He talks about walking on the city’s streets, enjoying the food and music, and _______ his daily life in the city. Tobias started shooting and _______ these short videos for his own practice purposes. He didn’t expect so many people would be watching them, following him and sending him _______ and encouragement.

Tobias did not bury his nose in textbooks or _______ intensive study to learn Shanghainese. He said his learning __________ involved getting immersed (沉浸) in a language environment, having a positive attitude, and speaking __________ “without being afraid to make mistakes” . He was not thinking too much when he started learning the Shanghai dialect — it was just for __________.

Tobias said he did not expect he would __________ the promotion of the Shanghai dialect, but it would be an __________ and pleasure if his posts encouraged his followers to learn and pass on the dialect. “I believe a dialect is the heart of a local __________” said the musician.

1.

A．acts

B．delivers

C．competes

D．votes

2.

A．approaches

B．habits

C．platforms

D．communities

3.

A．likes

B．dollars

C．medals

D．chances

4.

A．ancient

B．sweet

C．modern

D．fluent

5.

A．understand

B．write

C．create

D．practise

6.

A．advancing

B．searching

C．recording

D．observing

7.

A．testing

B．reviewing

C．selling

D．posting

8.

A．notes

B．comments

C．reports

D．replies

9.

A．interrupt

B．assess

C．conduct

D．appreciate

10.

A．materials

B．methods

C．objectives

D．resources

11.

A．secretly

B．slowly

C．happily

D．bravely

12.

A．fun

B．work

C．fame

D．show

13.

A．stick to

B．contribute to

C．focus on

D．rely on

14.

A．advantage

B．opportunity

C．honor

D．option

15.

A．authority

B．history

C．custom

D．culture

4 . About eight years ago, Li Jinglong and Guan Dian visited the Palace Museum in Beijing. The cloisonne (景泰蓝瓷器) objects on display attracted them in particular. They spent hours looking at those beautiful objects. They just couldn’t take their eyes off them.

Born and raised in Beijing, 35-year-old Li is no stranger to cloisonne, since there were a pair of cloisonne vases in his grandparents’ home. His wife, 34-year-old Guan, who learned to paint as a child and later became a designer after graduating from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, is also familiar with cloisonne, as it appears in her art books. As a result of their visit, the couple made the daring decision to open a workshop.

“We learned cloisonne after seeing the pieces displayed in the Palace Museum. We wanted to turn our hobby into a career, so that people could enjoy and learn to make the craft themselves,” said Li, who worked in a finance company before quitting his job to launch Handcraft Addicted, a DIY workshop where participants can make cloisonne. Since 2018, they have opened three workshops in Beijing. They are happy to give people a glimpse of the traditional techniques of cloisonne as part of a DIY experience.

Instead of focusing on making traditional cloisonne objects , such as plates and vases, the workshop allows participants to create the designs they want on surface of glass, resin (树脂) or wood. Although the process has been simplified, it is still not easy for people trying cloisonne for the first time to succeed. Participants spend months making one piece, which they take home or give friends as presents. It’s a luxury for people to spend time alone and fully focus on one thing nowadays because of the fast pace of life. Participants come to the workshop not only to create art, but also to take a break from their busy lives.

1. What can we learn about the couple?

A．They both grew up in Beijing.	B．They both majored in cloisonne art.
C．They both quit their previous jobs.	D．They are both familiar with cloisonne.

2. What inspired the couple to open Handcraft Addicted?

A．Their grandparents’ cloisonne vases.	B．Their hobby in handcraft techniques.
C．Cloisonne objects in Guan’s art books.	D．Cloisonne on exhibition in the Palace Museum.

3. In Handcraft Addicted, ______.

A．the first attempt is often simple

B．participants relax themselves while creating art

C．the couple make cloisonne objects by themselves

D．it is a luxury to make traditional cloisonne objects

4. Which of the following can best describe the couple?

A．Modest.

B．Generous.

C．Creative.

D．Outgoing.

5 . Courage is a huge theme in my life, a quality I constantly seek, appreciate, and analyze. The root of “courage” is “cor,” the Latin word for heart. In the beginning, courage meant “to speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” While courage is often associated with heroism nowadays, I believe true courage lies in being open and honest about who we are and how we feel.

I recently witnessed an example of true courage. During a mountain-climbing trip with my 15-year-old daughter and some college students, I noticed her struggling to keep up with the group. Despite my suggestions to rest, she persisted until she couldn’t breathe properly.

Panicked, I called out to the front for help, but there was no response, and we had no cellphone signal. Fortunately, two students just came back to check out on us. They offered assistance and calmed us down. As we continued at a slower pace, they shared their own experiences, from starting out as beginners like my daughter to becoming consistently among the first to reach the peak.

“You know,” one of them said, looking at my daughter, “I was just like you when I started.

But with practice and proper pace, you’ll get there too.”

“Yeah, don’t let your lack of experience stop you,” the other added. “It’s okay to admit when you’re struggling or not feeling alright. In fact, it’s important to speak up and ask for help when you need it. That’s how we improve and grow.”

Reaching the mountain top was a huge relief for both my daughter and me. However, the two students addressed the celebrating group directly, emphasizing the importance of staying together in tough environments. Their words led the group to apologize to us for overlooking our struggle.

I was totally amazed at their bravery, and my daughter learned that it’s okay to be the least experienced in a group. Courage, I’ve come to realize, has a ripple effect. Each time we choose courage, we inspire those around us to be a little braver and make the world a little better.

1. Why does the author mention the original meaning of courage?

A．To question the common belief of courage.

B．To argue for the true nature of courage.

C．To show the changing meaning of courage.

D．To compare different interpretations of courage.

2. What did the two students suggest the daughter do?

A．Keep to a suitable pace.	B．Seek help whenever possible.
C．Challenge her own limits.	D．Stick with experienced climbers.

3. Which action in the mountain-climbing story is an example of true courage?

A．The mother asked the girl to rest.

B．The girl tried hard not to fall behind.

C．The two students pointed out the group’s fault.

D．The group celebrated the reach of the mountain top.

4. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．Kindness connects us all.	B．Being a beginner takes courage.
C．We don’t have to be a hero to be brave.	D．With courage, everyone can be perfect.

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。

The centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine scraping (刮) massage, gua sha, has become a fashion among young people on the mainland! who show off the bruises (淤青) it creates.

    1     the youth lifestyle social media platform, a young woman using the account name @hua posted pictures of herself wearing a T-shirt, in which she showed her bruises and described them as “cool”. She is one of many who regard gua sha as an efficient way to ease muscle pains and    2     (tired).

Many shared     3     (they) gua sha experiences and tips, such as using homemade scraping tools and different meridians (经脉) on the body to relax.

The meridians     4     (translate) from jing mai in Chinese, refer to paths through which the life energy     5     (flow) in the body and to organs.

The practice, also known as scraping and coining, is     6     exceptional form of traditional Chinese massage (按摩) that uses a small and flat tool to scrape the surface of skin along the meridians,     7     (leave) red bruising as a sign of released toxins.

The folk-treatment     8     originated in ancient China has enjoyed huge popularity among the older generation. The treatment is used for     9     (condition) considered not serious enough to go to hospital, according to an article in the magazine Sanlian Life Lab.

Some describe gua sha as “the Chinese way to cure the stress from the workplace” saying the pain and stress that     10     (bring) by a session bear more pleasure than parties or a weekend at the seaside.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What type of photography did the woman start with?

A．Street photography.

B．Fashion photography.

C．Nature photography.

2. Why does the woman like street photography?

A．It’s challenging.

B．It tells her story.

C．It documents ordinary life.

3. What will the woman give the man?

A．A photo.

B．A storybook.

C．A magazine.

8 . Have you ever felt the need to grab a pen and start writing your thoughts on paper? Words—beautiful and fascinating. But you know what is better than putting your imagination somewhere? In my case, to win the competition for the best novelist.

That was a small tournament organized by my school annually to _______ our creative writing and vivid imagination. Since I had a burning passion for _______, I decided to show my power. I thought no one could _______ me.

I finished a long story and e-mailed it. As I _______ the email every day, my eyes were wandering to _______ the line “Congratulations! It is a great pleasure to inform you that…” _______, no such thing came.

I was not accepted. I _______ my abilities. The next day at school, I tried my best to be _______, avoiding the usual contact. But in the corridor, I _______ Stacy Williams, my school rival. Could she be the ________? I started walking sneakily. In class, I was just looking out of the window at the ________ clouds which were a reflection of my soul.

Thankfully, a film that night—Forrest Gump lifted my ________. I wouldn’t let a stupid competition ________ my future. I could win on the next one or even at a better tournament. The important thing was to ________ my head and face my challenges without losing hope when everything seemed ________.

1.

A．advertise

B．demonstrate

C．defend

D．distinguish

2.

A．speaking

B．acting

C．dancing

D．writing

3.

A．beat

B．touch

C．contradict

D．dominate

4.

A．answered

B．sent

C．checked

D．shared

5.

A．notice

B．smell

C．taste

D．feel

6.

A．Moreover

B．Otherwise

C．However

D．Hence

7.

A．abused

B．overestimated

C．enhanced

D．proved

8.

A．moody

B．normal

C．natural

D．invisible

9.

A．encountered

B．shadowed

C．greeted

D．congratulated

10.

A．sponsor

B．organizer

C．reporter

D．winner

11.

A．clean

B．dark

C．soft

D．light

12.

A．spirits

B．eyes

C．boundary

D．restriction

13.

A．promote

B．decide

C．sustain

D．safeguard

14.

A．lower

B．position

C．straighten

D．shake

15.

A．never-ending

B．abstract

C．contradictory

D．hopeless

9 . Robotics/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competitions for High School Students

Robotics and AI competitions are a great way for high schoolers to dive into modern technologies. Here are four of them.

MATE ROV Competition

Location: Houston, Texas

Awards: VR headsets

Competition Date: March to June

MATE ROV Competition challenges students to design and build remotely operated vehicles, and its purpose is to see who can design a vehicle that will help monitor ocean health, provide clean energy, or just help keep our oceans healthy for the future.

RoboRave

Location: Lorrach, Germany

Awards: Small cash prizes

Competition Date: November

RoboRave is a robotics competition that welcomes participants to compete in various challenges like firefighting. The competition’s unique aspect lies in its international reach, bringing together enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate robotics education and hands-on learning.

Agorize AI Challenge

Location: Virtual for initial phases, then in Paris, France for the final award ceremony

Awards: A trip to the destination of your choice, iPad, Apple TV

Competition Date: September

In this project, you can work in teams of 2-5 people to present an idea for how we can use AI-technologies to impact a specific field, like marketing, healthcare, etc. You’ll send in your initial application in a 3-5 slides presentation, and if your team makes it pass this phase, you’ll have the opportunity to include more information about your product features.

OpenCV AI Competition

Location: Online

Awards: Certificates, cash, free courses

Competition Date: December

In your project, you can either work individually or in teams of three using computer vision technologies. OpenCV AI Competition suggests project ideas related to robotics, agriculture or education, but you’re not limited to these areas.

1. Which of the following mainly welcomes the entries for oceanic conditions?

A．RoboRave.	B．MATE ROV Competition.
C．Agorize AI Challenge.	D．OpenCV AI Competition.

2. What is the unique feature of RoboRave?

A．It is held every month.	B．It offers online training.
C．It is a global competition.	D．It promises a national tour.

3. What do Agorize AI Challenge and OpenCV AI Competition have in common?

A．They allow teamwork.	B．They provide free courses.
C．They fund their winners.	D．They need presentations at first.

10 . Free Community Swap

Contact:
Catherine Crawford,        (718) 809-1603     ccrawford@grownyc.org
Jon Klar,        (646) 530-0381       jklar@grownyc.org

New Yorkers looking to reduce, reuse, and save money this year are invited to participate in Stop ‘N’ Swap, a free community event organized by local nonprofit GrowNYC.

The average NYC household throws away about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in saving over 40 million pounds of material from landfill every year. Take a break from shopping, support a cleaner future, and join the ever-growing reuse community!

WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event
WHEN: February 19th，12pm-3pm
WHERE: Bronx Works Classic Community Center-286 East 156th Street, Bronx, NY 10451

The public is invited to bring clean and reusable items. No one is required to bring something to take something-you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking. Books, toys, clothing, and electronics are just some of the offerings. Furniture and other large items are not accepted at the swap. Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated or recycled.

Stop ‘N’ Swaps have developed a regular following among environmentally conscious New Yorkers. After almost two years without swaps, GrowNYC has set a goal of hosting one swap in each of the city’s 59 community districts each year, providing opportunities to make NYC truly livable-a place where every person can enjoy a healthier life.

1. What should you do to get more information from Catherine?

A．Cal1 (646) 530-0381.	B．Cal1 (718) 809-1603.
C．Email jklar@grownyc.org.	D．Visit 286 East 156th Street, Bronx.

2. What items are unacceptable at the Stop ‘N’ Swap?

A．Dry-as-dust books.	B．Old-fashioned clothes.
C．Out-of-date electronics.	D．Second-hand furniture.

3. What is the aim of GrowNYC’s Stop ‘N’ Swap?

A．To make NYC a better place to live.

B．To enrich New Yorkers’ community life.

C．To reduce the cost of dealing with waste in NYC.

D．To encourage districts to compete in sustainability.