1 . In America, we have a thing called stand-up comedy. This popular form of entertainment consists of a comedian standing up at the front of a club, holding a microphone, and telling jokes. Of course, comedy is popular in Chinese culture as well, but the performances are quite different from the style in the US. In China, it’s called cross-talk, which usually involves two guys engaging in an entertaining dialogue.

It’s believed that cross-talk came into being in the Qing Dynasty as a bit of a by-product of the imitation shows that were a popular form of entertainment in the Song Dynasty. After the PRC was established in 1949, this comedic art became more and more popular. Today, it’s still heavily featured in the CCTV New Year’s Gala programmes in China. The 1990s was the golden age of cross-talk; even foreigners studied the art of cross-talk. Mark Roswell, a Canadian named Da Shan in Chinese was relatively unknown in his native land but was a superstar in China. At the turn of the century, cross-talk began to decline, and many well-known actors left the stage.

There are four skills that are essential in cross-talk: speaking, imitating, teasing, and singing. Most of the time, it is performed with two actors—one serves as the lead actor while the other plays a support role. However, sometimes it is performed simply as a one-man show, and at other times there are several actors. In order to criticize something, the humor involved in cross-talk is satirical.

1. What’s the difference between American stand-up comedy and Chinese cross-talk?

A．Chinese cross-talk actors don’t use a microphone.

B．American stand-up comedy actors are all men.

C．Chinese cross-talk is more liked by Canadians.

D．American stand-up comedy is only a one-man show.

2. Which word can best summarize Paragraph 2?

A．History.

B．Future.

C．Features.

D．Difference.

3. What can we know about Mark Roswell?

A．He was an American stand-up comedian.

B．He was very popular with Canadians.

C．He was a famous cross-talker in China.

D．He left the stage in the early 1990s.

4. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “satirical” in Paragraph 3?

A．Acid-tongued.	B．Good-tempered.
C．Warm-hearted.	D．Smooth-tongued.

2 . To figure out what you want to do, maybe you can do what you know best: read everything; find the most useful tips and start putting a plan into action. There are some tips for you to think about what to do with your life.

    1    

It may feel impossible to predict what exactly you’ll be doing next, but what you can do is connecting the dots and looking back. Find the common thread. What did you do?     2     Let that be the compass for how to make future decisions.

    3    

Schedule it in your calendar and give yourself the space to think. You’ll make progress even if it’s just a few hours every other week.

Seek knowledge, not results.

If you focus on the excitement of discovery, your motivation will always be fueled. If you focus only on results, your motivation will be like weather - it will die the minute you hit a storm.

    4    Keep thinking about what you are learning along the way and what you can improve.

Collect experiences.

Look backward and take the lessons. Learn to collect experiences from the past to guide current behaviour in time. Your career and life are long. You may have one or many callings, and there will be multiple pathways.     5    And you’ll do what you want to do.

A．Take time to reflect.

B．Explore them all or not.

C．Start by looking backward.

D．What did you learn?

E．Who were you?

F．So the key is to focus on the journey, not the destination.

G．Try to work hard on the pathway you chose.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where will the two speakers have the party?

A．In a garden.

B．In a hotel.

C．In their house.

2. What food will the man prepare for the party?

A．Pizzas.

B．Salad.

C．A birthday cake.

3. What kind of birthday present will the woman get for Grandpa?

A．A scarf.

B．A book.

C．A hat.

4. When will the party be held?

A．On Thursday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Saturday.

4 . 假定你是李华，你校“英语报”将开设一期名为“新中国成立以来感动中国的人物”专栏，请你积极写信投稿。
1. 人物简介及事迹；2. 意义或启示
注意：词数100左右；题目已为你写好

People Who Inspired China

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Waters may be flowing on the surface of an enormous planet that lies about 120 light-years from Earth, according to new evidence     1     (uncover) by the James Webb Space Telescope.

The investigation with the space-based observatory, one of the most advanced astronomy instruments in operation,     2     (reveal) that the exoplanet (外星球) K2-18b may have some key features of a planet     3     could support bodies of water — and life. Closely orbiting the cool dwarf star K2-18, the exoplanet lies within the star’s habitable, or Goldilocks, zone and is 8.6 times     4     big as Earth. An     5     (analyse) of Webb’s observations found the planet has huge quantities of methane (甲烷) and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

The Webb telescope, which can detect infrared (红外) light invisible to the human eye, searched for exactly     6     elements are featured in the planet’s atmosphere. And     7     latest observations of the planet also hint that a very special substance, called dimethyl sulfide (二甲基亚砜), could be     8     (presence) on K2-18b. On Earth, dimethyl sulfide “is only produced by life,” according to NASA. Researchers are not directly suggesting that K2-18b is crawling with alien life. Further research is needed     9     (confirm) the presence of dimethyl sulfide.

And even if scientists confirm the chemical compound’s presence, that doesn’t guarantee life-forms exist there. But this new evidence does expand scientists’ understanding of exoplanets similar     10     K2-18b.

6 . From July 19 to 24, I travelled to the Shiyanghe Basin in Wuwei, located in the heart of a desert in Northwest China’s Gansu province. Looking down from the plane on the way to the destination, all I saw was endless ranges of desert mountains and sands, which made it a breathtaking transformation when I saw green gardens and fruit farms upon arrival.

A local farmer in this landscape shared his success story of enlarging his farm through greenhouse crop production with me. Thanks to the greenhouse technology, his farm has grown from 10 workers, to around 100 within 10 years. The key role of women in agriculture is also praised, as their contributions increase the energy of the landscape.

We also visited a greenhouse with vertical (垂直的) watermelon farming. It was a well-aired, strategically positioned structure with shade cloth, vertical supports, drip irrigation (滴灌), good lighting, and insect management. It was amazing how technology can transform limited space into a great agricultural powerhouse, which not only increases outputs but also reduces environmental impact. What’s even more impressive is that it’s a great approach: It doesn’t stop at farming but can be used in food processing industries. This ensures that the journey from seed to consumers is seamless (无缝的), maintaining product quality and reducing waste.

I learned that Wuwei, although located in a region famous for its dryness, has attempted to become a major supplier of fruits and vegetables, competing with other regions in southern China which have sufficient water resources and good weather conditions. Through advanced irrigation techniques like drip systems, controlled environments, and effective resource management, they show the power of sustainable agriculture and the untiring spirit of those who transform deserts into fruitful landscapes.

1. What can we learn about the local farmer from paragraph 2?

A．He has more than 100 workers on his farm.

B．He is a new-type farmer who likes to share stories.

C．He is successful in adopting greenhouse technology.

D．He doesn’t admit women’s contribution to agriculture.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．A pleasant visiting experience.	B．Benefits of watermelon farming.
C．Traditional agricultural approaches.	D．A greenhouse with advanced techniques.

3. According to the author, what is special about Wuwei?

A．It has enough water resources.	B．It experiences drought most often.
C．It has the same conditions with southern regions.	D．It establishes fruitful landscapes in the desert area.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A newspaper.

B．A guidebook.

C．A research paper.

D．A book review.

7 . At 104 years old, Dorothy Hoffner fell. Then she kept falling, and falling. When the lifelong Chicagoan finally touched the ground last Sunday, she landed in the history books and became the oldest person to ever sky-dive (跳伞).

As Hoffner prepared to board, she pushed her red walker out and walked slowly to the plane, where two expert instructors helped her up the steps into the hold. “Let’s go!” she said, finally seated. The plane quickly rose, Hoffner looking calm and confident all the while.

When the aft (机尾) door opened to show the crop fields far below, she and the instructor were ready to stand up. When Hoffner first sky-dived at 100 years old, she was pushed out, she said. This time, she wanted to lead the jump.

Seven minutes after her jump, she moved slowly in the air for her historic landing. The wind pushed back her white hair. A look of excitement and wonder spread across her face. She picked up her legs as the ground approached. And finally, she managed to land on the ground.

The crowd gathered along the landing area. Friends rushed to share the moment. Someone brought over Hoffner’s red walker. She rose fast, and a reporter asked how it felt to be back on the ground. “The whole thing was wonderful, and couldn’t have been better,” she said.

The Guinness World Record for oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-oldLinnéa Ingegard Larsson from Sweden. When asked how it felt like to break the record, Hoffner replied quickly, “Like I’m old.” But the record didn’t seem to interest Hoffner before the jump. Instead, she focused on the peaceful falling through the sky. Hoffner strongly encouraged others to sky-dive like her. “It’s surprisingly affordable and so amazing,” she said.

1. What did Hoffner do last Sunday?

A．She reported a sports event.	B．She managed to sky-dive.
C．She celebrated her birthday.	D．She wrote a history book.

2. How did Hoffner feel after landing on the ground?

A．Surprised.

B．Anxious.

C．Excited.

D．Hopeless.

3. Which probably attracted Hoffner most before her jump?

A．The falling in the air.	B．Her family’s help.
C．The low cost of the jump.	D．Her friends’ support.

4. What can we learn from Hoffner’s story?

A．To see is to believe.	B．Time tells everything.
C．Hard work pays off.	D．Age is just a number.

8 . I grew up around books. I remember opening my parents’ _______ book Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce and thinking: They might have never opened the _______ from the sign of the dust (灰尘), and with so many obscure words in it, why did they _______ it? In spite of this, I could sense the magic of buying it, and I carried that sense of _______ into my life.

In the past, I had hundreds of books in the house. They _______ my bookshelves, and the books got in the way sometimes. They gathered around the chair where I _______ on to watch TV. They _______ the space on my ottoman (凳子) where my feet were _______ to go. I thought I needed more _______ for my books. Since my work is to write about books, I have some forms of ________. But there’s more to it than that. That is I always had the ________ of holding a book, reading a book, and buying a book.

Though many books I ________ may haven’t been read, nothing can stop me from buying them. ________, with many books around me, there will always be an opportunity (机会) for me to pick up a book ________, and it takes me back to ________ times.

1.

A．half-opened

B．dust-covered

C．children-centered

D．picture-filled

2.

A．book

B．door

C．window

D．bag

3.

A．choose

B．revise

C．improve

D．design

4.

A．safety

B．direction

C．magic

D．humor

5.

A．protected

B．broke

C．shook

D．lined

6.

A．waited

B．jumped

C．stood

D．sat

7.

A．kept on

B．cleaned up

C．took up

D．focused on

8.

A．addicted

B．supposed

C．attracted

D．locked

9.

A．agreement

B．ideas

C．bookcases

D．money

10.

A．excuses

B．promises

C．rules

D．answers

11.

A．anger

B．pleasure

C．luck

D．patience

12.

A．sold

B．advised

C．borrowed

D．collected

13.

A．Actually

B．Quietly

C．Quickly

D．Hardly

14.

A．in time

B．by chance

C．on purpose

D．at first

15.

A．unsuccessful

B．sorry

C．good

D．difficult

9 . 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。

Smartphones are mobile phones that have lots of    1    same features as a personal computer. Technology is moving on very    2    (rapid). Smartphones have become an important part of everyday life for many people. However, they also have negative effects (影响),     3    means some people are giving them up.

Some people think smartphones can cause health problems. Smartphones offer so many ways    4    (communicate) that people are having less face-to-face communication. This can lead to loneliness and     5    (sad). What’s more, all the activities that can be done on phones can lead to fewer real-life experiences. Being less active can influence your health. Finally, some people become nervous if they    6     (separate) from their phone and can’t check their messages or social media.

Others still say smartphones are useful and fun. Smartphones allow you to keep    7    touch with people in different ways. They are really good for video-calling faraway friends and family. You can also get    8     (direction) on them. Having Internet access(访问) on your phone allows you to get news and information—it is really    9    (help) for homework and so are education apps. Smartphones are great entertainment(娱乐) on long journeys. They are fun to use with friends, taking photos and    10     (make) videos.

10 . The kitchen is not just where we prepare meals. In many places, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we connect with our family and friends. We have open talks about our pleasures and problems we met during the day while we make dinner or have a bite to eat. So, it can be a very busy room in the house.

Sometimes you need order in the kitchen for things to run smoothly. And sometimes you need one person to be in charge. Imagine you are cooking dinner for your friends. As you are making the soup, your friend Sara tastes it and says, “This needs more salt.” So, she adds more salt. Harlan comes to taste your soup and throws some fresh black pepper into the pot and some dried herbs. Cecilia tastes the soup and pours in some vinegar. What will the soup be like?

You are happy to spend time with your friends. But, quite frankly, all their opinions about your soup are becoming annoying. Worst of all, you taste the soup and it’s awful! And that is where we get the expression “too many cooks spoil the soup”.

This expression describes an age-old problem: If too many people help to complete a task, it may not go very well. But, you may think, “If many people are trying to get something done, the task will get done faster.” After all, American English also has the expression “many hands make light work”.

To answer that point, I will draw your attention to the word “cook”. Now, the cook is the leader in the kitchen. They may have assistants to help them. But the cook has the final say. So, what if a kitchen has many cooks? Who is the leader? Everyone! And that’s where the trouble comes.

1. What does the author think of the kitchen according to the first paragraph?

A．It is crowded in many houses.	B．It is where we feed our body and soul.
C．It helps to brighten up people’s day.	D．It serves as the most useful place in a home.

2. Why does the author take “your friends” as an example?

A．To describe a common phenomenon (现象).

B．To vividly introduce a saying.

C．To explain a way to be a good cook.

D．To stress the importance of teamwork.

3. Which situation agrees with “too many cooks spoil the soup”?

A．A group of students get a task done together.

B．Some volunteers discuss how to help others.

C．Five designers want their own idea to be accepted.

D．Many retired workers learn how to be a cook.

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

A．What Happens with Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen?

B．Should a Cook Be Open to Suggestions?

C．What Could a Cook Do to Everyone’s Satisfaction?

D．Why Will Too Many Cooks Work in the Kitchen?