1 . Shakespeare described sleep as “the main course in life’s feast, and the most nourishing”. New research suggests it may also be a key nutrient in defend us against Alzheimer’s disease.

Poor sleep has long been linked to Alzheimer’s, but the relationship is similar to the chicken-and-egg puzzle. It isn’t clear which came first. During deep sleep, the brain produces slow electrical waves and flushes out neurotoxins (神经毒素) including amyloid (淀粉样蛋白) and tau (微管蛋白) , two indicators of the disease.

Studies have shown that even one night of terrible deep sleep can lead to an increase of amyloid. A week of disrupted sleep can raise the amount of tau, which is especially insidious because over time it can strangle neurons from the inside out.

A study in the Annals of Neurology found that a sleep pill called suvorexant could reduce amyloid and tau in middle-aged adults with no cognitive problems. The two-night trial showed that amyloid dropped 10%to 20%, and a key form of tau 10%to 15%in people who received a high dose compared to a placebo (安慰剂) group. But these effects need to be studied over longer periods of time—including in older adults at higher risk of Alzheimers. But the study suggests that improving sleep quality among middle-aged adults could help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.

What has puzzled neurologists, however, is that some people with high levels of amyloid who may appear to have Alzheimer’s based on brain scans nonetheless function normally. Neurologists assume that this is because some people have higher levels of “cognitive reserve.” which enables them to function normally despite neurological damage. But there’s another X factor, which scientists have struggled to identify. A new study suggests it may be sleep, and in particular deep sleep.

“Think of deep sleep almost like a life raft that keeps memory afloat, rather than memory getting dragged down by the weight of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Matthew Walker, a neuroscience professor at UC Berkeley.

1. What is the relationship between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease according to the new research?

A．Inadequate sleep will indicate Alzheimer’s disease.

B．The disease may be prevented if we can sleep well.

C．Neurotoxins produced during sleep cause the disease.

D．A good sleep will raise the indicators of the disease.

2. What can we infer from paragraph four?

A．It’s too early to use the sleeping pill to treat Alzheimer’s.

B．It’s advisable that adults turn to suvorexant to sleep well.

C．Suvorexant is a desirable pill to improve our sleep quality.

D．The amount of Amyloid and tau decreased due to placebo.

3. What is the main idea of paragraph five?

A．Researchers’ great confusion about the high levels of amyloid.

B．Low level cognitive reserve resulting in abnormal brain function.

C．Potential determinants related to the possibility of Alzheimer’s.

D．Neurologists’ assumption about our brain function and damage.

4. Why dose Matthew Walker make the comparison in his remarks?

A．To advocate a healthy lifestyle among adults.

B．To emphasize the significance of sleep quality.

C．To demonstrate the crucial role of our memory.

D．To detail the damage brought by Alzheimer’s.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(一个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Year of the Dragon comes with inspiration for creativity and the power to bring big ideas     1    life.

Designer Wang Zijian’s Dragon Out of Water, a creative tea infuser (泡茶器),shines on the wall at the exhibition of the winning works of the 2024 Global Zodiac Design Competition at the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center.     2     (it) cute dragon design and special function are bound to appeal to young consumers. “It’s     3    unique product, and we expect a positive response from young customers,” Wang told Beijing Review.

The item belongs to China Chic, or guochao, also     4     (know) as “national wave”,    5    refers to products of all sorts including traditional Chinese cultural elements. These products    6     (embrace) by the country’s younger generations in recent years. According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, Gen Z    7     (account) for 74 percent of consumers of China Chic goods in 2022, and the search volume of China Chic products has increased five times over the past decade.

As a young designer, Wang hopes     8     (capture) young consumers with his creative interpretation of dragons. “I’ve been    9    (thorough) studying the dragon’s historical connotations (言外之意) and the     10     (psychology) characteristics of Gen Z consumers,” the 34-year-old designer told Beijing Review.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is one of the benefits of having students do various jobs?

A．To pay for their college fees.

B．To inspire them to take responsibility.

C．To apply their knowledge to their jobs.

2. What is the headmaster’s announcement mainly about?

A．How to be ready for real life.

B．Giving details about the project.

C．Value of gaining new experience.

3. What is mentioned as a typical job at school?

A．A recycling officer.

B．A laboratory assistant.

C．A canteen cleaner.

4. What is the last step of doing the project?

A．Offering advice on how to do the jobs well.

B．Putting up a list of popular jobs.

C．Getting students’ feedback.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题
1. What are the speakers talking about?

A．The supply distribution.

B．The city marathon.

C．The changeable weather.

2. When did the woman complete her course?

A．Around 10:00.

B．Around 8:00.

C．Around 12:00.

3. What was the weather like in the morning?

A．Windy.

B．Sunny.

C．Cloudy.

4. What will the man probably do next year?

A．Work as a volunteer.

B．Run a race.

C．Join the law office.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What’ s the main difference between the programs at Camp Olympia?

A．Their limitations on the campers’ nationality.

B．Their requirements for the members’ age.

C．Their different lengths and locations.

2. How much should the woman pay for the camp?

A．$450.

B．$300.

C．$150.

3. Where does the conversation probably take place?

A．On the Internet.

B．In the office.

C．Over the phone.

6 . Why does the man always get to the office early?

A．He takes some shortcuts.

B．He leaves home super early.

C．He lives close to the company.

7 . In a study from Washington State University, researchers have uncovered a significant correlation between the closeness of older adults to green and blue spaces and their mental and physical well-being. The study offers convincing evidence that even small increases in access to nature can remarkably improve the health outcomes of older adults.

A mere 10% increase in forest space within a person’s living environment is linked to a noticeable decrease in serious psychological conditions. This type of suffering includes mental health challenges that need treatment and block normal social, occupational, or educational functioning. Similarly, the new study proves that enhancing green spaces, water bodies, or trail lengths by 10% appears to lower the likelihood of older individuals reporting their overall health as poor.

The researchers analyzed health survey data from over 42,000 people aged 65 and above living in urban areas of Washington state, spanning (跨越) the years 2011 to 2019. The experts related the health outcomes of these individuals to various measures quantifying their access to nature within their living areas.

Initially presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in April 2023, the research focused only on the link between psychological depression and closeness to natural spaces. The final study expanded to include additional metrics (指标) such as green space percentage and trail length, also taking into account demographic variables (人口统计变量) like race and education.

“Our findings suggest that abatement of our urban green and blue spaces due to rapid urbanization may not just have an environmental impact but could have a public health impact as well,” said Adithya Vegaraju, first author of the study.

Vegaraju said this research is among the first in the U. S. to specifically investigate the relationship between access to nature and health in the older population.

1. What does the author intend to stress in the second paragraph?

A．Access to nature can improve the elders’ mental health.

B．Older individuals are more likely to get close to nature.

C．Green space is an ideal place for educational functioning.

D．A person’s social interaction is linked to more green space.

2. How do the researchers conduct the research?

A．By changing old people’s living habits.	B．By tracking and recording the aged people.
C．By comparing various measures in the study.	D．By analyzing the participants’ related data.

3. What does the underlined word “abatement” mean in paragraph 5?

A．Solution.

B．Impact.

C．Loss.

D．Power.

4. What does Vegaraju think of the study?

A．It needs further research.	B．It’s a pioneer research work.
C．It is beneficial to everyone.	D．It will be used in other fields.

8 . Episode 4: The Invisible Pirate

Paper boy: Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
: Hero Pickles’s Story will be brought to the big screen! Victory bless the England!
Sonetto: The Hero Pickles... This is...
Rock Girl: Hey, coming through! Tommy, she’s not here again today? I’ll take this motorbike if she doesn’t show up!
Paper boy: Hush —! Don’t be such a bugger! Did you listen to the radio this morning? Her ship has been sunk!
Vertin: Are you talking about Regulus of the APPLe?
Paper boy: Whooo areee youuu ?!
Vertin: I’m her friend. She left something here.
Paper boy: Huhh — These are...!
: Be quiet. Don’t get caught ! Take chances around that cafe!
Vertin: Thank you very much for your assistance.
Paper boy: You are very serious. If you really wanna thank me, just take a copy of the Times.
: See, it’s all good news on the first two pages,only comes along every once in a thousand years , right?
Sonetto: P...Please give me a copy.(a sheepish nod)
(Sonetto hastily stowed the newspaper away and, with a studied composure, made her way to the café.)
(Scene transition)
Vertin: Do you like the world outside...Sonetto?
Sonetto: (gasp) Huh —!
: Nnnno, I am just...I am just curious. I will throw it away when I finish it. Please don’t take it to heart.
:Hum~hum~hum~hum~♪
(upon the deserted café table, a loaf of bread floated, diminishing gradually.)
Sonetto: Hum? That voice...Timekeeper, look at that table!
Regulus: Hum~hum~Yummy~So yummy~♪
: One more earl grey with brown sugar, please~♪
Sonetto: Oh! The optical arcana could to be invisible...... Now I understand.
(Sonetto swiftly retrieved her cane and gestured towards the teacup )
Regulus: Wow.....! ! W、w、w、what?!
: Who spilled my tea!
Sonetto: Regulus, will you cooperate or not? Please answer me.
Regulus: ......Ehhhooohhh — (sigh) Your foundation is just an authority working with government. If I register in , my location will be exposed anywhere anytime.... I’m not doing it ~★
(Sonetto let out a sigh, gazing into the distant sky.)
(This appears to be a ritual she follows before each battle.)
Sonetto: ......Made the peace be with us.
1. Where may the conversation accurately took place before Sonetto headed towards café?

A．the motorbike store

B．England

C．block

D．theatre

2. What can we infer from the conversation?

A．The conversation ended up with Sonetto’s successful cooperation.

B．Sonetto is a patriotic girl who actually familiarize something true.

C．Regulus faked her own death so as to conceal herself in case of being discovered.

D．The Hero Pickles’s ship had been sunk, which was definitely a tragedy.

3. What is the most likely genre of this excerpted article?

A．narration

B．exposition

C．fiction

D．drama

9 . TikTok, the widely popular social media platform, has taken the world by storm with its short-form videos and addictive content. But did you know that there is also a Chinese version of TikTok?

The Chinese version of TikTok is called Douyin, and it has quickly become one of the most widely used apps in China. Launched in 2016 by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, Douyin has attracted an enormous user base and reshaped the social media landscape in China.

So, how did Douyin gain such vast popularity in China?

One of the factors contributing to Douyin’s success is the large population of smartphone users in China. With over 1.4 billion people, China has a massive user base for social media platforms. Additionally, the rise in internet penetration and the availability of affordable smartphones have made it easier for people to access and use Douyin.

Douyin takes advantage of China’s culture of sharing and enjoying bite-sized content. In China. there has always been a strong demand for short-form entertainment, including popular formats like variety shows, quick comedy skits, and music videos. Douyin provides a platform for users to easily create and share short videos, allowing them to express their creativity and talent.

Douyin leverages the power of social network effects. Users can follow each other, like and comment on videos, and engage with a large community of like-minded individuals. This sense of belonging and community encourages them to spend more time on the platform.

Moreover. Douyin continuously improves its features and algorithms to enhance user experience and keep users engaged. The app uses advanced AI technology to analyze user preferences and provide personalized recommendations, ensuring that users see content that is relevant and interesting to them.

Overall, the rise of the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the large smartphone user base, the popularity of short-form entertainment in China, social network effects, and continuous improvements in features and algorithms.

1. How is Douyin different from TikTok?

A．Its algorithms.

B．Its target groups.

C．Its user experience.

D．Its main functions.

2. Which of the following is one of the factors of Douyin’s success in China?

A．The popularity of long-form videos.

B．The low technology requirements to Douyin.

C．The large population of smartphone users.

D．The availability of different brands of mobile phones.

3. What does the underlined word “leverages” mean in Paragraph 6?

A．brings about

B．believes in

C．makes up for

D．makes full use of

4. How is the passage organized?

A．Opinion — Description — Discussion	B．Topic — Argument — Emphasis
C．Introduction — Explanations — Summary	D．Main idea — Supporting examples — Conclusion

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。

I work in a foreign capital company. Although the company is a little far from my home, I have my own car. So I drive myself to and from work every day. Tom is my good workmate. Sometimes we work overtime in the company and get off work together. He often goes home by bus.

One day, it was cold outside. It seemed that the snowstorm would be approaching. As usual, Tom and I worked overtime in the company. After finishing the work, we were ready to go home together. Tom went to wait for the bus, and I went to drive. But it snowed harder and harder, and the bus stopped. So I was going to give Tom a ride.

I was heading home after giving Tom a ride, and I took a shortcut to get home early as the snowstorm was approaching.

Then the snowstorm started and was coming down fast. Within minutes I was in a white out. The windows were frozen and getting covered with snow, so I slowed down and rolled down my driver’s side window, thinking I could better follow the road edge and keep to straight line. But really, I had no idea where I was. I was confused and didn’t know what to do.

At that time, I stopped and kept the car running to stay warm. I took a deep breath and was deep in thought. Later I called 911 and asked them for help. However, the operator told me that the weather was too bad to do me a favor and asked me to wait things out for the night.

The call made me feel afraid. Tom knew what happened to me. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. “Maybe you could ask for help online and there must be some people living nearby your location and they can show you the right direction,” he told me on the phone.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150个左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I posted my location online and explained what I was searching for.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then I saw a person wearing a long black coat in the dark.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________