Missy was absolutely my best friend in the whole world. We had known each other since first grade, and we literally did everything together. We frequently visited each other’s homes, we knew each other’s families like they were our own. The interesting thing about our relationship, however the fact was that the older we got, the more our values seemed to differ. We still enjoyed a lot of the same things, but I was a bit more settled while she loved being associated with popular people and things. Although she was basically a good person, she had no problem with forcing things to go her way.
Perhaps this is why it seemed that her family actually trusted me more than they trusted her. So, on the day when Missy showed up at my house with a huge dent (凹痕) in her father’s car, I knew that we were in for a troublesome time.
She had banged the car into a tree while out that day, and she knew her father was going to have an explanation. So she stopped by my house in order to make up a story that would lessen her father’s rage. Missy decided to tell him that while in a parking lot, someone must have backed into the car and dented it. Looking at the dent with some crashed leaves and bark still sticking there, I attempted to perish (打消) her thought. “I don’t think your father will buy it.” “ Don’t worry,” she insisted,“even if my dad doesn’t trust me, he’ll trust you.” My role was to confirm for her. Now keep in mind that I had strong objections to lying and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the situation. I loved her parents just like my own, and I did not want to be a party to this lie that Missy was creating. Nevertheless, after much request and a general questioning of my loyalty to our friendship, I decided that the least I could do was to act as a silent witness. That way, I wasn’t actually lying; I just wasn’t telling the full truth.
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。Paragraph 1: An hour or so later, we presented Missy’s father with the car and the inquiry began.
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Paragraph 2: Her father looked at me with great disbelief.
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The Amazing Day I Learnt to Swim
There are certain days when we feel our lives change greatly——days we remember for a lifetime. Such, for me, was one morning in July in the Ligonier Valley of Pennsylvania, at a place called Devil’s Hole.
On that morning, my twin brother Roger and I had finished our chores, and the whole day lay before us. “Let’s go to Devil’s Hole,” Roger suggested. I readily agreed, but for all my eagerness there was a feeling of restlessness deep in my heart. Although he had never said a word about it and never laughed at me, Roger could swim and I could not. I had been too afraid to try. Now Roger could slip through the water expertly with the experienced, confident older kids.
Roger led the way to the kitchen door. “Grandma, can we go to Devil’s Hole?” We leaned against the screen, peering into the dark kitchen. Grandma, busy baking cakes stood at the kitchen counter. “Well, I guess the big kids are up there now, but mind the road and be careful in that place,” warned Grandma.
With a yell, Roger pushed open the screen door, dashed through the kitchen and climbed up the stairs. I followed racing to get into my bathing suit. Throwing towels around our necks, we ran across the field next to our house and headed up the dirt road.
Roger and I reached the destination. Sunlight flooded through a break in the trees. A quiet path of smooth stones and mossy ground led to a deep green pool of icy water reflecting a huge rock on the opposite bank, partially in the water. The rock was my province and protection. While the others swam, I always pretended to be trying to catch fish along its base with an old tin can.
Roger joined the older boys and girls at once. They excitedly dived in, swam swiftly across the pool and pulled themselves up on the big rock to feel the sun on the skin, their shouts, splashes and laughter echoing (回响) through the trees.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡上的相应位置作答。
I watched with envy and decided to have a try.
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I couldn’t help shouting, “I can swim!”
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Sledding Alone
“Come on, Simon,” said Gabe. “Let’s try out our new sleds (雪橇)! The snow is perfect.”
“I’m not ready,” Simon said. He watched his older brother throw on his jacket and head for the door.
“What’s to get ready?” Gabe asked.
Simon wanted to say “I need to learn how to control the sled” or “What if the other kids laugh if I mess up?”. But he said nothing.
“You’re going to miss a lot of fun,” Gabe said.
“Go with your brother, Simon,” said Mom. “He’ll show you how to do it.”
Simon took as much time as he could pulling on his snow pants and boots, zipping up his jacket, and finding his helmet and gloves. His brother paced the front hall. “Let’s go!”
The brothers walked to the park, the sleds knocking against their snow pants. Swish, swish, swish. The wind circled like a lasso (套索) around them.
Simon could see the sledding hill ahead of them. To him, it looked more like a sledding mountain. It was so high that the park district had built wooden steps into the hillside to help sledders climb back up. Kids were taking turns on sleds, screaming all the way down. Simon couldn’t tell if their cries meant they were happy or terrified. He knew which one he felt.
Gabe was taking the steps two at a time. “Come on!” he called to Simon.
Simon started up. He was both sweating and freezing, short of breath. Should he turn back? But the line of kids on the steps behind him meant he had to keep climbing.
At the top, the boys joined a group of kids waiting their turn. Simon stamped his feet to stay warm. Was he the only one who had butterflies in stomach?
His brother stopped and looked at Simon. “Do you want me to go down with you?” he asked When they were younger，they used to ride on one sled down the gentle slope (斜坡) in their backyard.
“Are you two going or not?” a girl behind him said impatiently.
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。
Simon took a deep breath. “I’m going. By myself.”
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Thankfully the sled approached the flat ground.
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People think being a delivery person is easy, but it’s more complex than anyone can imagine. Although Harry always did his best, he was not able to afford a car. He used his motorbike to deliver orders and usually it was convenient except for severe weather conditions.
One day, he was trying to get off the highway when he saw an old beggar trying to cross the road. He was weak and looked cold in his dirty jacket. The honks (鸣笛) of cars echoed as they passed him, and the man backed away with fear. If that kept going, someone would run over the man, so Harry stopped to help him cross.
Harry grabbed the man’s arm to guide him and started leading him through it. Luckily, they reached the other side after a few minutes, and the old beggar smiled brightly at him. “Thank you so much, young man. I can’t believe I finally crossed. Can you tell me your address? I want to send a thank-you gift.” the older man said, reaching for Harry.
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Harry said and straightened his motorbike to get back on it. “Please. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t repay this kind gesture,” he insisted, and Harry nodded, telling him his address. Still, he didn’t expect anything from this poor older man. “Thank you again!” the senior beggar waved as Harry rolled away to continue working.
Harry lived in a nice neighborhood but because the pandemic cost him his job, and now food delivery was his entire livelihood. Some days he had to work 18 hours to make ends meet. He was his children’s only parent because his wife had abandoned them long ago, and Harry was determined to build a promising future for them, even if he didn’t have a car to make those deliveries properly. He was saving for that.
注意：
However, he found a brand new car in his garage the following day.
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The sincerity in the old man’s face couldn’t be denied.
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5 . Have you ever suddenly developed an appetite from a passing glance at a freeway billboard featuring a brightly colored cheeseburger, or decided to step into a candy or ice cream store displaying a window full of lively shades and hues (色调)of sweet treats? If so, you are in good company. Unless we are medically restricted or strictly dieting, we are not likely to resist inviting fare simply because we recognize the lack of nutritional value.
Devina Wadhera and Elizabeth D.Capaldi-Phillips in A Review of Visual Cues Associated with Food recognize the impact of sensory cues (信号)on food consumption and enjoyment, and the potential they have to promote healthy eating behavior. They cite previous research in providing some interesting examples of the visual impact of different color schemes (方案)on taste and food enjoyment. They note that pink food on a white plate was considered sweeter and more flavorful than the same food on a black plate. Apparently, we consume with more of our senses than we realize. So given the rainbow of colors around us when faced with so many appealing food choices, is there any way to control our appetite? Thankfully, some research says yes.
Oliver Genschow demonstrated that when it comes to eating less colors impact consumption. They specifically researched the effect of the color red. They found that people ate fewer pretzels when using a red plate, as opposed to white or blue, and drank less from a red cup than a blue cup. They suggest that the color red reduces food and drink intake by functioning as a stop signal.
But when it comes to healthy eating, instead of putting on a pair of sunglasses to block the inviting hues of food cues, consider the value of discipline. Healthy eating involves intentional choices, not mindless responses to sensory cues. And before you invest in many red tableware to slim down, remember that what goes onto those plates is much more important.
1. What may be a major reason for us to refuse eye-catching food?| A．The shortage of nutrition. | B．The rich color of fine foods. |
| C．The doctor’s instructions. | D．Advertisements everywhere. |
| A．Benefits of different color schemes. |
| B．Interesting examples of food service. |
| C．Potentials to promote food consumption. |
| D．Effects of sensory cues on eating behavior. |
| A．Follow the sensory response. | B．Make food choices sensibly. |
| C．Wear sunglasses to block colors. | D．Avoid colorful food intentionally. |
| A．How People can Control Their Appetite. |
| B．How People are Tricked by Color Schemes. |
| C．How Colors Impact Food Appeal and Appetite. |
| D．How Bright Colors Make Food More Appealing. |
6 . Homework: one word that makes the hearts of many a parent sink and is guaranteed, at any given time, to be causing arguments in homes around the world.
The homework debate has continued for decades. Recent years have seen a swell of support for reducing homework stress; more than one teacher has started to follow the less-homework policy that lays emphasis on family time, outdoor play, and early bedtimes as well as on the moderate amount of homework for primary school students. And some schools have adopted less-homework programs, encouraging students to enjoy their evening free time and in some cases lengthening the school day to provide more classroom instruction.
There is an unofficial homework standard — the “10-minute rule” that was first proposed by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper and is supported by the National Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association. It’s simple: a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. First graders do 10 minutes of homework each night; second graders do 20 minutes; third graders do 30 minutes, and so on.
Cooper is responsible for the most comprehensive research on homework to date. His 2006 meta-analysis, published in the Review of Educational Research, found evidence that students who did homework performed better in school. The connection between homework and performance was much stronger for students in seventh through 12th grade than for those in earlier grades.
But Cooper’s analysis shows relevance, not cause-effect relationship. It begs the questions: Does homework lead to achievement? Yes. However, do high achievers simply do more homework? Obviously, the answer to that is NO. Undoubtedly, some kids are less likely to complain about doing homework than others. Others actually want to do homework. The point being, they’re all different.
1. What does the “less-homework” policy stress?| A．Guidance in class. | B．Life-study balance. |
| C．Little leisure time. | D．Shortened school day. |
| A．20 minutes. | B．30 minutes. | C．40 minutes. | D．50 minutes. |
| A．A high achiever doesn’t need to do homework. |
| B．More homework accounts for better performances. |
| C．Students in lower grades seldom do their homework. |
| D．Homework affects school performance to some extent. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Objective. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
I had always prided myself on my sharp tongue and brilliant response whether in class debates or casual arguments. Thus, when I was selected to represent the school in the national debate series, I was naturally extremely confident of myself.
All the members in my team were good speakers. We had an experienced teacher who trained us well. But I was undoubtedly the most outstanding speaker. In each of the rounds that I debated in, all the judges selected me as the best one. This meant that my confidence was the highest by the time we found ourselves with one week to train before the finals. I had every reason to believe that I would be voted the best speaker for the debate series.
I began to be self-important about the whole business and started behaving that way with my team-mates. I would laugh at Eton’s poor debating style. I would complain of Vivian’s slow response. I saw myself as the natural debater who would be disappointed by their bad performance.
As the finals drew near, I became more and more dissatisfied with my team. I began missing practices. My teacher was worried. My teammates were panicked. However, they had no choice but to rely on me to win the finals. Even if they would love to remove me from the team they could not because there was no replacement good enough.
The day of the finals finally came. I was very excited that I was able to finally show off my debating skills. Everyone was expecting my performance.They knew that I was praised to be the one most likely to win the best speaker for the debate series.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph1:
But the reality was not something that I had ever imagined.
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Suddenly,a comforting hand from behind held mine.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . Planting more breadfruit trees could help make food supplies more stable (稳定) as the planet warms. Climate models suggest they will grow well across the tropics. There is an especially big opportunity in tropical Africa, where large areas are suitable for growing breadfruit trees and will remain so until the end of the century.
Breadfruit is a bit like a potato that grows on a tree, says Lucy Yang at Northwestern University in Illinois. The fruits can be cooked in many ways and also turned into a flour. “They are highly productive and very valuable to the body as food,” she says. “In addition, once a tree is planted, it is quite resilient (适应力强的).”
Yang and Daniel Horton, also at Northwestern, worked together to look at where in the tropics breadfruit grows now and to identify the climatic (气候的) conditions the trees require. Next, they used climate models to see where breadfruit could still be grown between 2060 and 2080. They found that the crop will not be affected, with reduction of the overall suitable area by just 4 % globally.
This is important because some studies suggest the production of main crops such as rice could be hard hit by rising temperatures and more extreme weather. There are expected to be many more food shocks like that of 2010, when Russia stopped exporting wheat because of a serious heatwave.
The team’s findings also made known a big opportunity in tropical Africa, where only a little breadfruit is now grown. “There’s possibility there to develop breadfruit production,” says Horton. “This tree may be able to have really positive effect on food resilience and safety.”
1. What can we learn about breadfruit trees?| A．Their fruits are very delicious. | B．They can be planted anywhere. |
| C．Their fruits grows underground. | D．They will help solve food problems. |
| A．Scientific farming. | B．Production methods. |
| C．Climatic conditions. | D．Reduction of suitable area. |
| A．To stress the growing risk of heatwaves. |
| B．To show the result extreme weather may cause. |
| C．To tell the difficulty Russians once experienced. |
| D．To explain why Russia stopped exporting wheat. |
| A．People will still worry about food shocks. |
| B．More Breadfruit trees might grow in Africa. |
| C．Breadfruit growing areas may remain the same. |
| D．The production of rice will become impossible. |
9 . Puppies can be taught. So can human children, though not for the first couple of years. Now, in the hope of fighting climate change, Dr Jan Langbein, of the Fredrich-Loweffler-Institut in Germany, and his colleagues hope they can train cows to use the toilet, too.
Cow pee（尿）contains a nitrogen-rich substance that, when broken down by enzymes（酶）, is transformed into ammonia（氨）. Bacteria in the soil, in turn, transform that ammonia into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas. Collecting and treating cow pee before the ammonia can be produced might, therefore, seem like a good idea. But it has proved difficult in the past without limiting the cows to small areas, which is bad for their welfare.
As Dr Langbein describes in Current Biology, this confusing problem could be solved if cows could be persuaded to voluntarily relieve themselves in a toilet. He has developed a three-stage process to help cows master toilet training. The first job was to establish the toilet. Calves（小牛）were limited to a toilet and rewarded with treats after peeing in it. Next, they were given the freedom to wander around a path outside the toilet. Peeing in the toilet were rewarded; those in the path were gently punished with a spray of water. Finally, the path was extended, to allow the animals to practice self-control over a greater distance.
Of the 16 calves involved in the training process, 11 were considered successfully toilet-trained by the end of it. Their overall performance, say the researchers, was almost comparable to that of human children. The animals managed to pee in the toilet around 77% of the time.
The next step, says Dr Langbein, is to see if cattle on a working farm can be similarly trained. Whether farmers will be keen is another question. Building toilets and training animals costs time and money, after all. But when it comes to climate change, every little helps.
1. Why did Dr Jan Langbein and his team train cows to use toilet?| A．To make use of cow pee. | B．To keep the environment clean. |
| C．To reduce greenhouse gas. | D．To limit the cows to small areas. |
| A．Using rewards and punishments. | B．Forcing them to use the toilet. |
| C．Making the toilet-training interesting. | D．Keeping them from wandering around. |
| A．It was successful. | B．It was doubtful. |
| C．The training proved difficult. | D．Calves were as smart as human children. |
| A．To encourage people to train their pets. | B．To explain an abstract science concept. |
| C．To raise awareness of caring for animals. | D．To introduce a new eco-friendly method. |
10 . One girl is being praised for a letter of apology she wrote to the rangers (园林管理员) at the National Parks Service (NPS). She reportedly
“Dear Park Ranger, I
“So I took a rock. I’m
“Dear Karina, thank you for returning the rock! It has made its way back to Tom Branch Falls. If every
“Now that you know to leave
| A．sent | B．took | C．bought | D．hid |
| A．regret | B．sadness | C．happiness | D．surprise |
| A．partly | B．finally | C．especially | D．simply |
| A．wanted | B．feared | C．asked | D．agreed |
| A．tired | B．afraid | C．sorry | D．upset |
| A．changed | B．developed | C．arrived | D．ended |
| A．cut | B．drew | C．hung | D．found |
| A．Lucky | B．Necessary | C．Easy | D．Possible |
| A．shocked | B．excited | C．puzzled | D．moved |
| A．thought | B．wrote | C．called | D．held |
| A．child | B．visitor | C．farmer | D．student |
| A．show | B．prove | C．mean | D．explain |
| A．life | B．time | C．space | D．nature |
| A．message | B．promise | C．excuse | D．example |
| A．hard | B．secret | C．strange | D．great |
