1 . “How did you publish so much as an immigrant (移民) ?” _________ I wasn’t a native English speaker, people asked this question countless times as I interviewed for jobs last year. I knew that telling my struggles was unlikely to _________ me a job, so I would laugh and say, “I enjoy writing!” But the _________ is that writing did not come easily.

From early on I wanted to pursue an _________ career. But my first applications for Ph. D programs were _________. After learning I would be a stronger _________ if I had some publications, I decided to pursue a project in my undergraduate professor’s lab, hoping for publishable findings. When I had results to write up, I _________ to write a well-structured research paper. I was _________ that my professor’s revisions were less significant than they had been on my paper, highlighting my growth.

Still, the paper was rejected (拒绝) from three journals and I was getting rejected by more Ph. D programs. But I didn’t give up. _________,I tried to focus on what I was learning: Revisions and rejections are a normal part of the scientific process, and what __________ was how I adapted and grew from them.

Learning how my professor __________ writing helped me find my voice. I went on to publish several first-author papers and grew more __________. I finally dared to apply to Ph. D programs again, and was excited to get in. I’m sure many __________ on my CV helped me win the place.

As my Ph. D program neared its end, my publication record made me stand out and improved my confidence during job __________. Writing helped me grow from an uncertain immigrant feeling like a (n) __________ in academia (学术界) to a confident researcher whose background is a source of pride and strength.

1.

A．Arguing

B．Realizing

C．Predicting

D．Declaring

2.

A．show

B．teach

C．land

D．ask

3.

A．secret

B．response

C．comment

D．truth

4.

A．original

B．unusual

C．academic

D．impossible

5.

A．turned down

B．sent in

C．given up

D．put off

6.

A．applicant

B．athlete

C．employer

D．editor

7.

A．offered

B．happened

C．expected

D．struggled

8.

A．pleased

B．annoyed

C．determined

D．worried

9.

A．Meanwhile

B．Instead

C．Besides

D．Therefore

10.

A．appeared

B．suffered

C．mattered

D．differed

11.

A．recorded

B．began

C．taught

D．approached

12.

A．confident

B．anxious

C．silent

D．honest

13.

A．scores

B．publications

C．measures

D．recommendations

14.

A．researches

B．titles

C．cuts

D．interviews

15.

A．supporter

B．overseer

C．outsider

D．professor

4 . Being in nature is really good for you. Even just seeing nature on your way to school will brighten your day. This is the experience that is being recreated in Birmingham, England.

Once the area around Birmingham was filled with orchards (果园), resulting in its being called “a city surrounded by blossoms (花朵)”. However, by the 1900s, industrialization (工业化) had begun to take hold, and the orchards were destroyed to make room for buildings and factories. And according to the National Trust, Birmingham has lost 85% of its trees since the beginning of the 20th century.

But on January 17, 2023 that began to change. According to the website Secret Birmingham, a number 11 bus left its stations filled with trees instead of people. All along its 27-mile path, the bus dropped off those trees to citizens, schools, and community groups, who then planted them. All in all, about 600 trees have been handed out.

“Blossom is not only beautiful, but it’s also important for the wellbeing of the environment,” says Lucy Reid, who’s leading the Birmingham project. “It’s also great for pollinators (传粉者), such as bees, which help trees produce fruit, and the trees also help to clean the air.”

This isn’t the first time the National Trust has helped Birmingham blossom. The Trust created “blossoms pop-ups” as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. According to the project, blossoming tree installations (装置) were set up in various well-known Birmingham locations such as St. Philip’s Cathedral Square.

The National trust has also started blossoming tree projects in other UK cities. In 2021, it created the London Blossom Garden, and now the Trust is planting fruit trees in Plymouth, Newcastle, and Nottingham. Its work is important for the protection of the country’s wildlands and climate. However, their Blossoming Birmingham project shows that protecting a country’s nature not only helps the environment but brings joy and beauty to people as well.

1. What led to the loss of orchards in Birmingham?

A．Extreme climate.	B．Poor management.
C．City development.	D．Decreasing production.

2. How does the National Trust help Birmingham blossom in paragraph 3?

A．By filling the buses with blossoms.	B．By sending its people to plant trees.
C．By providing trees for people to plant.	D．By surrounding bus stations with trees.

3. What is Lucy Reid trying to talk about in paragraph 4?

A．The importance of farming.	B．The purposes of their project.
C．The ways to protect the planet.	D．The benefits of flowering trees.

4. What does the National Trust contribute to doing according to the last paragraph?

A．Beautifying the Earth naturally.

B．Bringing nature back to England.

C．Improving the living conditions for people.

D．Taking the lead in protecting the environment.

5 . Lucy Flores’ father, Luciano Flores, grew up in Mexico and moved his family to the United States when Lucy was only three years old. Her father, who speaks Spanish, shared that his family had few resources, just like the school he attended. He stopped going to school after the first grade and started working to provide for his family.

In spite of this, Lucy did well in school and became the first person in her family to graduate from college. After that, she took up a job of teaching preschool students how to read letters and write their names. “I was thinking to myself, since I’m able to teach these children how to read and write, why am I not doing the same for my own father?” Then she started teaching her father to read and write.

After four months of working together, Lucy’s father can now write a lot of words and is reading some books on his own. As she taught her dad, Lucy shared their journey by posting videos on TikTok. “I don’t know if he understands how many people are watching him and following him,” said Lucy. “But I took it as a chance to encourage him.” Followers on TikTok share lesson plan ideas and have sent school supplies and books to the family.

Apart from watching her dad’s progress and inspiring others to never give up on their dreams, the most satisfying part for Lucy of teaching her dad has been the change in the family atmosphere (气氛). “In the past, we did not get along as my dad was quiet and not someone who liked to share his feelings or sit down and play with me when I was a kid,” said Lucy. Luciano said because of his daughter, he’s excited to continue to focus on learning letters and numbers and to spend time with his family.

1. What can we learn about Lucy’s father from paragraph 1?

A．He began making a living when small.	B．He preferred working than studying.
C．He had difficulty living in Mexico.	D．He wanted Lucy to attend a school in the US.

2. What made Lucy decide to teach her father?

A．Her father’s eagerness to learn.	B．Her students’ suggestions.
C．Her teaching experiences.	D．Her family background.

3. What have Lucy’s videos on TikTok led to?

A．People’s surprise at her teaching skills.	B．Her father’s being greatly encouraged.
C．An increase in the number of her students.	D．People’s warm support for her father’s studies.

4. What satisfies Lucy most about her teaching process?

A．She has helped her father get a degree.	B．She can share her experiences on TikTok.
C．Her father is able to adapt to life in America.	D．She manages to improve her family relationship.

7 . Ever thought making a baby cry or even chasing after cheese would become a widely celebrated festival? Check out the most unusual, unique festivals from around the world.

Las Bolas de Fuego, El Salvador

Each year on 31st August, residents of Nejapa gather around to throw fireballs in memory of the 1658 El Playon volcanic eruption. Participants divide themselves into two teams to paint their faces like skulls and begin the festival by throwing fireballs at each other. Though dangerous, Las Bolas de Fuego has been running for more than 100 years now.

Viewing: Free Entry

Underwater Music Festival, Florida

Florida Underwater Music Festival held in July has been running for more than 25years, welcoming divers all over the world with the aim to create awareness for coral preservation. The event houses ocean-themed songs streaming live from underwater speakers along with musician-divers playing odd instruments giving a visual treat for all.

Participation: Ticketed Event

Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea

200 kilometres from Seoul, Boryeong is widely popular for its mud. cosmetics (化妆品). What began as marketing event in 1998 later turned into a famous festival, drawing in millions of visitors every year. The annual festival held in July runs ten days straight housing a series of activities such as mud pools, mudslides and mud skiing.

Participation: Ticketed Event

Lopburi Monkey Banquet, Thailand

With the aim to bring good luck to the area and its people, the Lopburi Province prepares a grand feast made up of 4,000 kilograms of fruits and vegetables that feed 2,000-3,000 macaque monkeys every year. The festival first occurred in 1989, run by a local businessman who thought of this unique way to pay gratitude to monkeys and also bring in tourism — luckily for him and the monkeys, it worked!

Viewing: Free Entry

1. How do people in Nejapa celebrate Las Bolas de Fuego?

A．By painting volcanoes.

B．By throwing fireballs.

C．By running races.

D．By making faces.

2. What is special about Underwater Music Festival?

A．It has various themes of music.

B．It treats visitors to sea food.

C．It is held in the water.

D．It is free of charge.

3. What do the last two festivals have in common?

A．They are held in autumn.

B．They boost local tourism.

C．They last for a whole week.

D．They charge no entrance fees.

8 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Shelly was a teenage girl full of energy and curiosity. She found herself in a familiar yet exciting situation as New Year’s Eve drew near. Her parents, busy doctors in the emergency department, were eager to spend the festive occasion with family at her grandparents’ house. Jason and Judy, Shelly’s loving grandparents, were excited to host the joyous celebration.

In the midst of the busy preparations, Shelly found herself alone in the attic(阁楼) , filled with old trunks and forgotten relics. As she searched through the dusty relics in the attic, her eyes caught a bronze item among the forgotten treasures. It was a Scout badge(童子军徽章) , her father’s from his youthful days as a Scout. This badge held a profound meaning, symbolizing her father’s adventurous spirit and dedication to service.

Eager to share her find, Shelly carefully put the badge into her pocket and rejoined the celebration. As the evening progressed, she proudly showed off the badge to her friends in the neighborhood, sharing tales of her father’s Scouting adventures. However, time flew by with laughter and joy. It was then that the badge slipped unnoticed from her grasp, disappearing into the dark night.

Panic stricken and heartbroken, Shelly quickly searched for the lost badge, checking every corner she had been. But the badge was nowhere to be found. Tears streamed down her face as she knew how disappointed her father would be if he knew she had lost his precious Scout badge. The loss of the badge was not just a physical loss, but a symbol of the connection she felt with her father and his past. Shelly’s world felt incomplete, and she prayed that somehow, she would find the badge and restore the broken bond. She decided to search the neighborhood again.

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。
But as time passed, Shelly’s hope of finding the badge began to fade.
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Together, father and daughter set out for the search.
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