1 . Celebrating Beethoven: The Genius of Symphony Exhibition

To commemorate the 254th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, the Vienna Philharmonic, renowned for its exceptional collection of classical music instruments, is presenting a special exhibition titled Beethoven: The Genius of Symphony, running from February 1 to June 30.

More than two centuries ago, on December 16, 1820, in the heart of Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven, a musical legend, composed his Symphony No. 9 in D minor, a masterpiece that marked a milestone in the history of classical music.

The exhibition will transport visitors back to the era of Beethoven’s genius. Through a series of interactive displays and multimedia presentations, visitors will have a chance to explore Beethoven’s creative process and dive into the inspiration behind his most famous works. The highlight of the exhibition will be a copy of Beethoven’s piano, on which he composed many of his masterpieces.

“This exhibition offers a unique and immersive experience, allowing visitors to step into Beethoven’s world and appreciate the depth and breadth of his musical genius,” said Dr. Schmidt, head of the Vienna Philharmonic. “We aim to recreate the magic of Beethoven’s music and inspire a new generation of music lovers.”

Please note the following guidelines for the exhibition:

* Children under 6 years old are not recommended due to the complexity of the content.

* We advise caution for visitors with hearing impairments as some sections of the exhibition involve audio components.

* For safety reasons, large bags and photographic equipment are not permitted inside the exhibition hall. Hand-held cameras are allowed for personal use.

1. What is the central theme of the exhibition?

A．Exhibiting the changes of western musical instruments.

B．Exploring the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven.

C．Showcasing the history of classical music in Vienna.

D．Highlighting the influence of Beethoven on music.

2. What is the special feature of the event?

A．Magic shows of Beethoven’s music.

B．A reproduced piano of Beethoven.

C．Hands-on experience of composition.

D．Digital presentation of musical works.

3. Who might find the visiting more challenging?

A．A journalist carrying mobile phones.

B．A senior citizen with poor eyesight.

C．A historian with a passion for music.

D．A preschooler fascinated by pianos.

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。

Hettie’s eyes fell on a magazine she hadn’t noticed before in her bag. She took it out and read the Post-it note her mom had stuck to the cover.

Page 8! So Cool!

Love, Mom

Hettie smiled. Mom always slipped a little surprise into her bag. Hettie jumped onto her bed and wrapped herself in the blanket, opening the magazine to page eight straight. There was a huge ad: “DO YOU WANNA BE CALIFORNIA LEE’S BEST FRIEND FOREVER? Make a video telling us how much you love her and you could win a day with Pop Teen’s rising star CALIFORNIA LEE!”

Hettie tried to see the Cally she had known through the makeup and the fancy clothes. Her eyes sparkled (闪烁) the same emerald green as they had in Hettie’s backyard when Cally told her the big news. “I got the part!” She sang out as she bounced up and down on the swing. Hettie had been excited, too. Cally had really wanted this part. It was in Rock Club, a TV musical on Pop Teen. It was, she said, how all of Pop Teen Channel’s stars started out.

Then the musical came out and Cally, now California Lee, was busy all the time. The last time the two girls had seen each other was at Cally’s birthday party. Even in her best dress and new shoes, Hettie felt out of place. Most of the kids at the party were actors. Big boxes with massive bows covered the birthday present table. Overwhelmed and feeling shy, Hettie took her gift—a flashlight, and sat in a corner. No one came to look for her until her mom arrived to pick her up. Soon after, Cally moved to Los Angeles with her family.

The next day, Hettie arrived at school earlier than usual, with the magazine under her arm, her book bag over her shoulder. After making sure that no one in the schoolyard was watching, Hettie dropped her bag on the ground and pulled out her phone.

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。

She held the phone as far as she could from her face and pressed record.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hettie’s heart sank as she realized that she wasn’t the winner.

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3 . I was 10 when I saw my first total solar eclipse (日食). It was 1979 and we were staying in Canada, where my dad worked for a time as a welder (焊工). He was a great science enthusiast and had been talking about this eclipse for what seemed like years. He just didn’t tell me and my brother that we would have to get up at daybreak and head out into the freezing February weather to experience this event.

Dad told us we were lucky even to be near the path of totality, and noted that unless we were prepared to travel extensively, our next chance to see a total solar eclipse likely wouldn’t happen until the 21st century. So, we rode in moody silence out to some field where loads of other people were wandering about, waiting in the cold for their moment in the sun’s absence.

My brother complained that we wouldn’t really be able to look at the eclipse without being blinded. But my dad, who generally thought of everything, produced two awkward welding masks (面罩), which he fitted to our heads. The masks preserved our eyesight, and also quietened our grousing. It’s hard to know which feature of the masks my dad appreciated more.

Soon, it didn’t matter. The moon passed between us and the sun. The lights of the world dimmed, then went dark. There was a collective “Oooooh!” from the crowd. Some people even screamed. My brother simply said, “Whoa.” And he spoke for all of us down through the ages who have been struck by the awe and wonder of a total solar eclipse. You can read more about humanity’s encounters with some of the great eclipses in history with our story on page 40.

My dad did not live to see another eclipse, but he’ll be with me in spirit when I view the next one this April, right around the time you’re reading this. I hope you get to see it, too.

Stephen C. George, Editorial Director

Feel free to send comments and questions to editorial@discovermagazine.com.

1. How did the author probably feel about watching the eclipse at first?

A．Unwilling.

B．Enthusiastic.

C．Worried.

D．Nervous.

2. What does the underlined word “grousing” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Fear.

B．Doubts.

C．Complaining.

D．Screaming.

3. How does the author show people’s amazement in paragraph 4?

A．By using the setting.	B．By adding sensory details.
C．By stating a point of view.	D．By drawing a comparison.

4. What is the text?

A．A blog.

B．An editor’s note.

C．A travel journal. .

D．A report.

4 . 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。

On the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (高原), the Sanjiangyuan Region, which has the     1     (impress) landscape and various wildlife, is home to the headwaters (上游) of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers,     2     is thus known as Asia’s “water tower”. The Sanjiangyuan Region is not only the source of splendid rivers, but also an important habitat for species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. In the past few decades, the delicate ecological environment     3     (preserve) silently by the locals.

Little known to the outsiders, Jianzuo Village, located near the headwaters of the Lancang River, is the first community on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau to lead a zero-waste life. People gave up using plastic products     4     (protect) the water and soil in the Sanjiangyuan Region. In 2017, local people made use of floors, doors and windows     5     (desert) in the Yushu earthquake to build     6     zero-waste environmental protection school.     7     makes the school unique is that the insides are decorated with recycled things and second-hand furniture. And every old object has a special story. The zero-waste school also     8     (remind) the local people of the beauty of traditional culture. As the “zero-waste dream” comes true, people who have lived     9     generations on the plateau have also regained their cultural     10     (confident).

5 . Scientists looking to uncover the mysteries of the underwater world have more valuable information thanks to an international team that has produced a list of species confirmed or expected to produce sounds underwater.

Led by Audrey Looby from the University of Florida, the Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds working group collaborated with the World Register of Marine Species to document 729 mammals (哺乳动物), fishes, and invertebrates (无脊椎动物) that produce active or passive sounds. In addition, the list includes another 21,911 species that are considered to likely produce sounds.

“With more than 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by water, most of the planet’s habitats are aquatic, and there is a misconception that most aquatic organisms are silent. The newly published comprehensive digital database on what animals are known to make sounds is the first of its kind and can revolutionize marine and aquatic science,” the researchers said.

“Listening to underwater sounds can reveal a lot of information about the species that produce them and is useful for a variety of applications, ranging from fisheries management, invasive species detection to assessing human environmental impacts,” said Looby, who also co-created FishSounds, which offers a collection of fish sound production research records.

The team’s research was published in Scientific Data and involved 19 authors from six countries. “Understanding how marine species interact with their environments is of global importance, and this data being freely available is a major step toward that goal,” said Kieran Cox, a member of the research team.

“Most people are familiar with whale or dolphin sounds but are often surprised to learn that many fishes and invertebrates use sounds to communicate, too,” Looby said. “Our database helps demonstrate how widespread underwater sound production really is across a variety of animals, but we still have a lot to learn.”

1. Why is the data listed in paragraph 2?

A．To show the types of biological sounds.

B．To show the sum of documents on animals.

C．To show the species of underwater animals.

D．To show the number of the sound-producing species.

2. What is people’s misunderstanding according to the text?

A．Many mammals can live in water.	B．Most fishes cannot make sounds.
C．Different species can communicate.	D．Ocean animals can’t get onto the land.

3. What is the goal mentioned by Kieran Cox?

A．To document ocean animals’ sounds.

B．To set up a free database for scientists.

C．To learn how ocean animals communicate.

D．To publish the team’s research in Scientific Data.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To call on people to protect ocean animals.

B．To introduce the finding of a research team.

C．To list the animals that can produce sounds.

D．To describe the mysterious underwater world.

6 . Next time you’re with a loved one, consider trying an awkward experiment: Take a moment of silence and gaze into each others eyes. By the time you reach about four seconds, things will probably start to feel uncomfortable. Yet the precise reason why is tricky to pin down with a scientific lens.

“There’s something in that looking that has meaning, sustainable meaning,” says Joy Hirsch, a neuroscientist at Yale School of Medicine, “The mechanism for connection has never really been understood.”

Several years ago, her team figured out how to adapt an existing neuroimaging (神经成像) tool called functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS), for the purpose of analyzing the brains of two people during natural interactions. With these brain imaging tools, Hirsch is expanding the social neuroscience field into what she refers to as “the neuroscience of two.”

In the research, her teams have revealed a powerful region of the brain that is associated with eye contact. Specifically, fNIRS experiments have demonstrated that in-person eye contact seems to be connected to a brain part associated with language production and reception, as well as the primary sensory cortex (额叶), which is fundamental to processing sensations like physical touch, pain and temperature. In simple terms: “The eyes have privileged access to large parts of the brain,” says Hirsch.

Hirsch’s experiments have also revealed the unique tendency for two brains to synchronize (同步) during eye contact and communication. A research of Dartmouth College has similarly highlighted how expansion of pupils (瞳孔) can synchronize during a conversation to indicate “shared attention” between two people, according to a 2021 study. Interestingly, those researchers found that precise moments of shared eye contact actually decrease the pupil synchrony between two people, perhaps in a beneficial way.

Ultimately, each of these studies sparks just as many new questions as it answers - a reality that is perfectly fine with Hirsch.“Yes indeed, the old philosophers were right.” she says. “Faces and brains work together like locks and keys.”

1. What do we know about the awkward experiment from the first two paragraphs?

A．It will be a long time before you feel comfortable.	B．You can sense something from each other’s eyes.
C．Scientists have explained the reason for it clearly.	D．There is no link between eye contact and feelings.

2. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Why the brain responds to eye contact easily.	B．How the language is produced in the brain.
C．What the function of primary sensory cortex is.	D．How the regions of the brain are shaped.

3. What does the synchronization of pupils mean during a conversation?

A．The interaction is fun.	B．The conversation is interrupted.
C．The two feel connected.	D．A new conversations to start.

4. Why does Joy Hirsch quote the philosophers’ words at the end?

A．To further prove her findings are quite true.	B．To emphasize the importance of their research.
C．To show the complexity of the phenomenon.	D．To stimulate people’s interest in further study.

7 . While most of us work hard to shine at the presentations and speeches we can prepare for, we may find impromptu (即兴的) communication scary. Actually, you just need to learn specific skills to communicate effectively when put on the spot. Here are a few pointers.

    1    What do you want your audience to know? How do you want them to feel, and what do you want them to do? Having a clear objective paired with an awareness of your audience will narrow your focus. Then you can prioritize what to say and choose your exact words more wisely.

Organize Your Thoughts. When making formal presentations, most people give a logical structure that audiences can easily follow. But few of us adequately organize thoughts in impromptu situations.     2     In fact, the best speakers maintain audience interest by demonstrating connections among specific points, ideas, for example.

Listen as well as you talk.     3     You should do the opposite: focus on listening so that you can better understand the in-the-moment needs and interests of your conversation partners and respond more effectively. Paraphrasing or asking open-ended follow-up questions can help confirm your understanding and provide extra time to think about your response.

Dare to be dull. Don’t feel you need to give a standout performance. One popular saying applies here, “    4    ” Listeners are more likely to trust and approve of you when you speak like a human being rather than an actor or a robot. Research shows that the most effective speech includes moderate use of fillers such as “um” and “uh”.

The real problem in impromptu communication isn’t an inability to communicate.    5    Fortunately, a measure of experimentation thought, and practice of the skills can make impromptu speaking opportunities your time to shine.

A．Identify a communication goal.

B．He knows most who speaks least.

C．Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

D．It’s being so nervous that we struggle with the talks.

E．We may assume that it’s impossible to do so on the fly.

F．A clear structure enhances comprehension and engagement.

G．Most people obsess over what to say during impromptu encounters.

8 . 语法填空

Zanhua Wei, known as “the garden on the head”, is a kind of flower headwear     1     (wear) by local women in Xunpu, a fishing village in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.

The production of it needs to go through multiple     2     (process), including cutting, laying, inlaying, coloring and so on. Main materials for making hair-pinned flowers are metal wires, jewelry stones and colored pearls,     3     (delicate) combined to form a variety of flower patterns.

Opinions vary about the origin of Zanhua Wei, with some saying     4     originated from the custom of Central Asian women wearing flowers and was brought back through the maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties,     5     Quanzhou served as one of the few leading trading ports on the southeastern coast of China. The ships carried spices and all kinds of     6     (value) goods to Quanzhou for trade, notably countless jewelry stones and pearls.

In 2008, the custom    7     (include) in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Besides    8     (use) as hair accessories (配饰), head-pinned flowers play     9     undeniable role in traditional Chinese culture. Zanhua Wei carries the emotions and memories of the fisherman’s family, reflecting the diligence and simplicity of Xunpu, as well as the    10     (expect) for a better life.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman refuse the man’s request?

A．He lost the receipt.

B．He bought his laptop at a sale.

C．The laptop’s return period is over.

2. How long is the guarantee period?

A．A month.

B．Half a year.

C．A year.

3. How will the man probably contact the factory?

A．Through an agent.

B．By telephone.

C．Over the Internet.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the talk mainly about?

A．A campaign for healthy life.

B．A fundraising event for charities.

C．A volunteer program in the neighborhood.

2. When will Challenge Week come to an end?

A．On Wednesday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Sunday.

3. What is one challenge mentioned by the speaker?

A．Giving up sugar for five days.

B．Speaking 20 words a day for a month.

C．Disconnecting from social media for a week.

4. What should Challenge Week participants do?

A．Donate as much as possible.

B．Find sponsors for their challenges.

C．Complete challenges with others together.