The Cry of a Woman’s Heart
The poor children who attended our church-supported Christmas party feasted on Christmas foods, enjoyed wonderful shows and received various gifts from Santa. When all the children had gone, we breathed a sigh of relief with tiredness.
Pointing to the extra gifts left in Santa’s black bag, Jean asked, “What are we going to do with all these toys?” As we were lost in reflection, Bobbie said, “Remember the three sisters who were at the party? Why don’t we deliver the toys to their house on Monday while they are in school to give them a surprise?” Everyone agreed. Since I lived closest to the three little girls, I volunteered to deliver the gifts.
On Monday, I drove to their home, confident their mother would be there. As I got out of my car a small dog appeared. He barked (吠叫) loudly and followed dangerously close to me as I hurried to the front door. With one large bag of toys, I knocked on the door. No one answered. I knocked repeatedly for several minutes. Still no answer.
Disappointed, I said, “Okay, now what am I supposed to do? I can’t carry these presents around all day!”
Managing to stay a few steps ahead of the barking dog. I returned to my car. After I calmed down I remembered hearing one lady at the church mention some needy children, who didn’t attended the party, had no toys. They lived in a wooden house not far from where I sat.
As I approached that location, I saw three shabby (破损的) wooden houses side by side. “Oh, no,” I whispered. “How am I supposed to know which house is the right one?” I pulled into the large dirt yard shared by all three families. As I got out of the car, I thought to myself, “Well, I’ll try the middle one first.” I knocked on the door. As I prepared to knock again, the door opened halfway.
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。
A tired-looking young woman with reddened eyes stood in the doorway.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Knowing that this was just the house I wanted, I was secretly relieved.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . Mary Lennox is a young English girl in India who is surrounded by servants. She’s a weak, selfish, and spoiled (宠坏的) child. When her parents and all their servants suddenly die from illness, she is sent to Yorkshire, England to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven.
Mr. Craven keeps his distance from Mary and soon leaves on business. She’s left to take care of herself in his big house and its gardens. As the weeks pass, Mary becomes more independent, grows stronger, and gets more respect for others. Later, she becomes friends with Dickon, a local boy and she also helps her uncle’s son—Colin, get well.
The Secret Garden’s main themes include the importance of friendship, the value of outdoor activities, and the way a healthy outlook on life can affect one’s health. When Mary first arrives at her uncle’s house, she’s a rude, selfish person. This is because she’s never had a friend her own age and has never been told “No.” Later, Dickon helps her develop empathy (同情) for others, which has had the greatest impact on her.
The natural world is key to the second of the book’s themes. At first, Mary is weak because she has never had to do anything for herself. She isn’t even capable of dressing herself without help. Colin is also weak. He stays in bed or in a wheelchair because he believes he can’t walk. The sunshine and fresh air of the gardens benefits both of them in the story.
The third important theme is the power of a positive attitude. People’s minds need nurturing (培养). An important moment for Colin happens when he determines to be a healthy person instead of a sickly one. He repeats his longing out loud and wishes hard for it to come true. Holding this idea in his mind is a key part of his recovery. It is his belief in himself and his determination to succeed that finally helps him regain his health.
1. Why was Mary Lennox sent to Yorkshire, England?| A．There’s no one to take care of her. | B．She has to increase life experience. |
| C．She desires to learn to be independent. | D．Some of her best friends are living there. |
| A．Her parents. | B．Her uncle. | C．Dickon. | D．Colin. |
| A．①②③/④⑤/ | B．①②/③④⑤ | C．①/②/③④/⑤ | D．①/②③/④⑤ |
| A．A diary entry | B．A news report. | C．A book review. | D．A children’s story. |
3 . When we’re in the early months or years of learning another language, it can be hard to find good novels to read that can help us learn. But there are some books in English that experts think might be just right for beginners. Here are four of them.
Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah
As a book published in 2001, it is about a young refugee (难民) who arrives in the United Kingdom from Africa. With powerful themes and simple language. English teacher Kieran Donaghy recommends it because it’s a good choice for beginners.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
This book was published in 1945 in America. Although it’s now quite old, it’s also quite short, and was written in a. very clear way. Orwell said writers shouldn’t use unnecessary words, and his story of talking animals taking over a farm is easy to follow.
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the name of the first book in a series of detective (侦探) stories. First came out in 1998, the series is recommended by the International language school EF Education, which says that funny characters, interesting stories and simple language make these books great for learners. The stories take place in Botswana, and there are now more than 20 books in the series.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Donaghy also recommends this popular novel published in 2003. Although it’s not really for children, it’s told from the point of view of a young boy, and this means the language is easy to understand. In the book, the boy, named Christopher, tries to find out what happened to his neighbor’s dog.
1. Where does the story of Refugee Boy take place?| A．In the UK. | B．In Africa. | C．In Botswana. | D．In the US. |
| A．Refugee Boy. | B．Animal Farm. |
| C．No. I Ladies’ Detective Agency. | D．The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. |
| A．They are easy to understand. | B．Their main characters are children. |
| C．Their themes are similar to each other. | D．They are recommended by EF Education. |
4 . When Alex Walker was four, she had to stay in the hospital to get some tests for her epilepsy (癫痫). Her dad had given her a stuffed animal, Sky Bear, which kept her
Alex had
As people heard about Alex’s Fluffy Buddies, they wanted to
Alex also raises
| A．promise | B．company | C．touch | D．contact |
| A．annoyed | B．superior | C．upset | D．awkward |
| A．saved | B．picked | C．used | D．gave |
| A．performed | B．managed | C．pretended | D．intended |
| A．Instead | B．Moreover | C．Otherwise | D．Therefore |
| A．parents | B．volunteers | C．doctors | D．kids |
| A．give out | B．give in | C．give away | D．give off |
| A．earning | B．raising | C．spending | D．counting |
| A．help | B．update | C．bond | D．cover |
| A．passed | B．donated | C．showed | D．introduced |
| A．grateful | B．hesitant | C．desperate | D．eager |
| A．fund | B．responsibility | C．desire | D．awareness |
| A．limited | B．pleasant | C．tough | D．free |
| A．compare | B．need | C．consume | D．keep |
| A．remember | B．celebrate | C．make | D．honor |
5 . Taking between 9,000 and 10,000 steps per day appears to reduce the risk of an early death or heart-related event, adding reason to an idea that has been considered as unscientific.
The exact origin of the commonly held belief that people should aim for 10,000 steps a day is unclear, but it has been linked to a marketing plan promoting pedometers (计步器) in Japan. Now, a study by Matthew Ahmadi at the University of Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues suggests the figure could hold some truth.
The team studied more than 72,000 participants, with an average age of 61, in the UK Biobank study as they wore a movement-tracking accelerometer (加速度计) on their wrists for one week. “We were able to know their daily steps,” says Ahmadi. The participants were then tracked for an average of just under seven years.
During that time period, 1,633 people died and 6,190 heart-related events occurred. After adjusting other factors that could influence the risk of illness or death over that period—such as diet quality, smoking and doing other forms of exercise, the researchers found out that the best number of steps per day appears to be between 9,000-and 10,000, with the benefits then starting to tail off. Doing so was linked to a 39% lower risk of dying during the follow-up period and a 21% lower risk of a heart-related event. “It does appear to support the belief that the originally non-evidence based 10,000 steps target may indeed be about right,” says Dale Esliger at Loughborough University in the UK.
However, while the study was “extremely well designed” with “careful methods and statistical analysis”, Esliger says wrist-worn accelerometers aren’t always the best indicator of step count. The researchers also didn’t consider the number of steps taken per minute. “It’s possible that around 6,000 steps performed at a higher pace may be just as health protective as 10,000 slower steps,” says Esliger.
1. What’s the finding of the study?| A．More than 10,000 steps a day do harm to the body. |
| B．21% of the participants died of heart-related events. |
| C．Walking 10,000 steps a day benefits physical health. |
| D．Hitting the target of 10,000 steps a day makes no sense. |
| A．How the study is carried out. |
| B．Whether a previous belief is true. |
| C．What is concluded about the study. |
| D．Why other factors should be removed. |
| A．Objective. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Favorable. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A technology report. |
| C．A history book. | D．An educational website. |
6 . Have you ever tried to persuade a friend to do what he didn’t really want to? If so, you may have made them uncomfortable and even annoyed, and crossed a boundary (界限).
Communicate clearly. It can be helpful to ask them frankly how they feel, rather than guess you can borrow their sweater or expect them to drive you to the airport. Apart from their words, it can also be helpful to pay attention to their tone (语气) and body language.
Deal with your emotional reactions. When someone sets a boundary in their relationship with you, you may find yourself feeling let down, which can cause you to feel hurt, angry, shocked or embarrassed.
Try to understand the reason behind the boundary. When you disagree with someone’s boundaries, exploring the reason why they’re setting them can help you understand their opinion better. If the boundary seems too rigid (僵硬的), you can offer your opinion.
| A．Depend on the boundary they’ve drawn |
| B．If they’re not familiar with sign language |
| C．Remember that everyone’s needs are different |
| D．Boundaries are limits set by people to protect themselves |
| E．It can be helpful to reflect on why you’re feeling that way |
| F．If their tone is unclear, or they’re trying to change the topic |
| G．Be kind and willing to let the person decide what’s best for them |
7 . Some people travel because they want to go to warm places for winter vacations or because they want to visit art museums in Europe. But other people travel simply because they have a passion for it.
Luisa Yu, a 79-year-old woman, fell in love with travel as a young girl in the province of Leyte in the Philippines when she watched movies. “I saw the beautiful scenery, the rivers and the mountains, and that fascinated me,” Yu said. “That’s why I always thought someday I would go to these places and travel.”
At 23, as an exchange student studying medical technologies in the US, Yu decided that she wanted to visit all of the countries in the world, but visa restrictions (限制) didn’t allow her to travel outside of the country.
It took Yu 15years to get her admission allowing her to travel internationally and there were times when she worked three jobs to save money to travel. She eventually took a part-time job as a travel agent, which gave her many more opportunities to travel to new places around the globe.
For the past 50 years, Yu has been visiting countries across the world, even some that are very difficult to get into. She has tried dog meat when she visited the DPRK, explored the beaches of Somalia, and even skydived in Dubai when she was 73. “Everyone said, ‘Don’t go to Somalia, that’s dangerous,’” Yu said. “If I want to go somewhere, nobody can stop me. I want to do everything.”
Yu achieved her goal to visit all of the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, in November 2023. To date, there have only been around 400 people who have set out to achieve this amazing cause.
Yu’s advice to people who love to travel is to just do it. “Don’t wait for anybody. If I keep on waiting, it will never happen, because the opportunity sometimes comes only once,” she said.
1. What inspired Luisa Yu’s passion for travel?| A．The wonderful settings of the movies. | B．The desire to take a winter vacation abroad. |
| C．The dream of visiting art museums in Europe. | D．The studying opportunities while taking trips. |
| A．She searched for fortune through travel. | B．She longed to be a travel agent. |
| C．She shot to fame by accident. | D．She was fond of challenges. |
| A．Tough-minded and devoted. | B．Considerate and gifted. |
| C．Humorous and knowledgeable. | D．Responsible and powerful. |
| A．Meet Luisa Yu: One of 400 People Recognized by UN |
| B．Follow Luisa Yu’s Example: Seeking Adventure on Traveling |
| C．79-Year-Old Woman Has Traveled to 193 Countries Around the World |
| D．Travel Agent Surprises the World with the Longest of Travel Experience |
8 . Different countries celebrate festivals in their own unique ways. The same goes for the New Year. Let’s take a look at some unique New Year traditions from around the world.
Smashing (打碎) platesIf you walked out of your front door to find a load of smashed plates, you might be a bit confused. But that’s exactly what people in Denmark hope to find after midnight, as it represents good luck. Danish people go and smash a plate in front of a friend’s door on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck over the next 12 months.
Dropping thingsIn New York City, Times Square is the centre of the countdown to midnight. But the thing that everyone is looking forward to is called the “ball drop”, which is when a glowing (发光的) ball is lowered down a big flag pole (旗杆), marking the start of the New Year. Other cities in America now have their own traditions of dropping things on New Year’s Eve. For example, in Vincennes, Indiana, people drop watermelons from high places.
Eating grapesWhen the clocks hit midnight in Spain, you’ll find people reaching for grapes. This is because there is a tradition of eating one grape each time the clock strikes midnight. The idea is that this will bring people 12 lucky months in the year ahead.
Walking with an empty suitcaseIn some South American countries like Colombia, you might see some people on New Year’s Eve walking around with an empty suitcase. Some hold the belief that taking a “suitcase walk” means they will have a year full of adventures.
1. Why do Danish smash plates on New Year’s Eve?| A．To have fun. | B．To honor a poet. |
| C．To celebrate the harvest. | D．To bring good luck. |
| A．They exchange gifts. | B．They eat grapes. |
| C．They dress up as bears. | D．They drop halls from high places. |
| A．Denmark. | B．USA. | C．Colombia. | D．Spain. |
9 . Monarch butterflies (帝王蝶) are edging dangerously close to extinction despite a decision late last year to remove the orange-and-black insects from the endangered species list, a new study has found.
An annual survey led by the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)of the species wintering in central Mexico found the second-lowest number of monarch butterflies on record, meaning they took up just 2.2 acres of regional forests, 59% less than during the 2022 — 2023 winter season. The findings are troubling to scientists determined to protect the species.
Each year, monarch butterflies migrate (迁徙) thousands of miles from southern Canada and the northern and central US to the mountain forests of central Mexico. They require a large and healthy forest to protect them from winds, rain and low temperatures in the areas where they migrate for winter. Yet because of heat and drought brought on by climate change, scientists say, their natural habitat is quickly depleting. Scientists with the WWF considered this winter season’s findings serious and said they represented the second-smallest area taken up by monarch butterflies in Mexico since 1993.
What’s worse, in recent years, their breeding areas in Canada and the US have seen a reduction in milkweed leaves where female monarch butterflies lay their eggs. “Land-use changes in the United States, combined with the widespread use of chemicals, also contributed to the loss of milkweed and other plants that adult monarch butterflies feed on,” the WWF said.
Monarch butterflies play an important role in maintaining plant ecosystems and are also an important food source for birds, small animals and other insects, according to the National Park Service. It’s necessary that all governments, communities, scientists, and others continue to strengthen our protection efforts to support their unique migration.
1. Why do monarch butterflies fly to central Mexico each year?| A．To spend winter. | B．To lay eggs. |
| C．To search for shelter. | D．To escape from enemies. |
| A．Shifting. | B．Disappearing. | C．Recovering. | D．Increasing. |
| A．The loss of food sources. |
| B．The widespread use of chemicals. |
| C．The land-use changes in the United States. |
| D．The threat of being eaten by other animals. |
| A．To raise people’s awareness about climate change. |
| B．To call for more measures to protect monarch butterflies. |
| C．To inform people of the serious situation of monarch butterflies. |
| D．To prove monarch butterflies should be on the endangered species list. |
Summer vacation had finally arrived, and David’s family were eagerly looking forward to their beach getaway. David, the youngest of four siblings (兄弟姐妹), couldn’t hold back his excitement as they packed their bags and loaded up the car. Little did he know, an unexpected turn of events would leave him alone at home.
As the family hurried around, getting ready for their trip, David quickly went back into the house to take his favorite book. But his careless dad didn’t realize that David hadn’t come back to the car yet. With a quick wave, the car pulled away, leaving David standing alone in the driveway.
Realizing he had been left behind, David’s first surprise quickly turned to fear. He tried his best to catch his family’s attention, but the loud car drowned out his shouts. With no other choice, he went back into the empty house, feeling abandoned and unsure of what to do next.
Hours passed, and David’s hunger grew as he anxiously waited for his family to return. His stomach growled loudly, a clear reminder of his situation. Just as he was about to give up hope, his phone rang. It was his mother, calling to see how he was doing.
David felt annoyed and mad as he answered the call. He couldn’t get why his family forgot about him. His mom sounded worried and sorry, but it didn’t really make him feel better. “David, I’m really sorry,” she said, “We didn’t know you weren’t in the car until it was too late. Please forgive us.”
Angry and depressed, David struggled to find the words to respond. But as he listened to his mother’s apology, a sense of determination began to take root within him. He realized that he couldn’t rely on others to take care of him — he had to learn to tend to himself.
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。
He decided to make lunch for himself.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________His mother woke him up and asked, “Did you have lunch?”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
