1 . 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。

The Champion of No Score

Maggie hated Tuesdays—Tuesdays meant gym class, gym class meant picking teams and picking teams meant Maggie would be picked last.

As a newcomer, she’d come up with a special title for each classmate to remember the other kids. There was Kevin, Champion of the Clean Desk. Lynnie, Champion of Knowing the Answer First… Thinking hard, she finally decided her own title: Champion of Quiet.

Maggie felt blue as Tuesday fell again. Mr. Murphy, the gym teacher, asked for volunteer captains to pick their own basketball teams. The usual hands shot into the air. Maggie sighed and glanced to her right. She caught the eye of Jasmine. Champion of Awkward, a girl who was sometimes picked last, too. Then Maggie had an idea. So when Mr. Murphy asked if anyone else wanted to volunteer, Maggie felt her hand slowly rise. Looking again at Jasmine, she took a big breath. Maybe it was time for her to use her voice.

“Maggie?” Mr. Murphy smiled. “You want a turn?”

“Yes,” she said.

The class whispered. Maggie leading a team?

“Yes,” she answered again, louder this time.

Mr. Murphy waved Maggie to the front, where the other three captains—Champion of Jumping Rope, Champion of Never Misses a Shot, and Champion of Doesn’t Know How to Lose—stood, ready to choose their teams.

“Maggie, you get first pick,” said Mr. Murphy. “Jasmine,” announced Maggie. The class snickered. A joke? More than once, Jasmine had tried to score on the wrong basket. Eyes wide, Jasmine took her place beside Maggie. The other three captains called out familiar names—the best players on the basketball court. It was Maggie’s turn again. “I choose Frank.” Frank (Champion of the Untied Shoelace) could not throw, or catch. He knew what it felt like to be the last pick. But not today.

Three very talented teams took shape. And then there was Maggie’s team. Maggie looked at her teammates. There stood Jasmine and Frank, plus Gillian (Champion of Chatter) and George (Champion of Sleepy). “I have chosen the worst team in the history of the world,” Maggie thought to herself.

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。

Hand in hand, the Maggie team walked onto the court.

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They did lose big, but something positive began to unfold in them.

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2 . Providing feedback is an essential part of personal and career development.     1     One of the most effective and classic methods to make it easier for both the giver and receiver is the feedback sandwich technique, sometimes also referred to as a compliment (赞美) sandwich.

If you are seeking to enhance your career growth, learning about the feedback sandwich can be a game-changer.     2     Rather than simply focusing on what went wrong, it ensures that the person receiving the feedback also knows what went well. The process can be broken into three parts. A manager or superior starts by providing positive feedback to encourage a person to continue their good work. Afterward, they communicate constructive feedback for the person to improve. This feedback aims to be specific, behavioral, and relevant to the situation.     3    

The feedback sandwich technique is a highly useful method. It can help soften the blow of criticism. By starting and ending with positive feedback, it’s easier for the recipient to receive the constructive criticism without feeling attacked.     4     As we all know, criticism is awkward, but when you’re giving potentially negative feedback, it’s easier when you’re also serving it up with two compliments. Additionally, it enables the meeting or an interaction to end on a positive note.

    5     Many people are knowledgeable about this technique, which might make it sound insincere or predictable if not done correctly. Also, when feedback becomes a routine, employees can start to perceive positive feedback as simply a form of sugarcoating the negatives, thus reducing its value. Hence, positive feedback should not simply be seen as something to cushion the negative, but should be delivered so as to reinforce and encourage good performance.

A．It’s essential to be aware of its limitations, though.

B．Similarly, it is also easier for the giver to offer feedback.

C．The manager then ends the feedback session with positive feedback.

D．The technique may lead to unclear and indirect personal communication.

E．Delivering constructive criticism, however, can be challenging if not done correctly.

F．It may not be for every situation, but it can make negative feedback more digestible.

G．This technique involves using constructive feedback wrapped between two layers of positive feedback.

3 . The global secondhand market is expected to increase at three times the rate of the overall global clothing market up to 2027, driven by Gen Z consumers, according to online secondhand platform Thredup.

The company’s 11th annual resale report, released on Wednesday, says Gen Z consumers will account for nearly two-thirds of incremental (增量) secondhand spend as their purchasing power increases. Thredup’s report contains much data and research from analytics firm Globaldata, which conducted a survey of over 3,000 American adults, asking specific questions about their behaviors and preferences for secondhand.

Opportunities exist in great numbers for secondhand platforms to expand business online and connect with Gen Z consumers who already purchase secondhand clothing online. Some 58 per cent of Gen Z who bought secondhand clothing over the last 12 months made at least one purchase online — more than any other generation, the report says.

Demand for secondhand goods is driving retailers (零售商) to rethink their strategies. Some 86 per cent of retail executives say their customers are already participating in resale, up 8 per cent on 2021.“Brands are adopting resale at an accelerated rate to capture more of this demand,” says Thredup president Anthony Marino. “With more than half of Gen Z saying they’re more likely to shop with a brand that offers secondhand alongside new, resale is becoming table stakes (筹码) for retailers.”

One significant question surrounding resale’s growth is whether or not it’s a more eco-friendly way of shopping if customers are still consuming at an ever-rising pace. When secondhand shopping becomes sport-like for a generation of customers, and brands aren’t reducing production levels as they also make profits from resale, experts say it’s not actually a greener option.

“We have a huge issue with overproduction,” says Harriet Vocking, chief executive of the firm Eco-Age. “The fact that there is so much opportunity for resale highlights just how high the production and consumption rates are.” She argues that efforts should be directed at educating consumers and helping them understand the value of their purchases.

1. What does Thredup’s report show about Gen Z?

A．They depend too heavily on online shopping.

B．They are easily attracted to secondhand clothing.

C．They will be leading the way in secondhand sales.

D．They expect to have their purchasing power increased.

2. What does paragraph 4 highlight?

A．Retailers’ comments on resale.	B．The appeal of resale to retailers.
C．Retailers’ expectations of resale.	D．The impact of resale on retailers.

3. What is the major concern for experts like Harriet Vocking?

A．How to increase production.	B．How to make resale sustainable.
C．How to encourage consumption.	D．How to control the resale market.

4. In which section of a website may the text appear?

A．Business.

B．Education.

C．Environment.

D．Technology.

4 . 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。

One sunny afternoon in the small town of Oakville, a young boy named Fern was playing soccer in his backyard. His little dog, Lucks, cheerfully ran around trying to catch the ball whenever Fern kicked it too far. The air was filled with laughter and barks, making it sound like a perfect day.

All of a sudden, the sky changed color, turning dark gray. Fern noticed the wind picking up, and the trees began to shake wildly. He looked towards the horizon and saw a terrifying scene—a tornado (龙卷风) coming towards the town.

Fern fought panic and grabbed Lucky quickly. He remembered what the TV weatherman had said: “If you meet a tornado, head for the storm cellar (地窖) immediately.” Lucky whined and struggled in Fern’s arms. “Steady, boy,” Fern said to Lucky.

As he reached the doorstep of the storm cellar, he thought of Mrs. Smith, the elderly neighbor next door. Mrs. Smith lived alone and moved slowly because of her leg problems. Should he check on her? But what could he do? It seemed unlikely that she could make it to the storm cellar quickly enough. Plus, he wasn’t even sure if she wanted him around. She often scolded (训斥) him because his dog, Lucky, would mess up her flower gardens. But if there was a tornado..., she didn’t have a basement or a storm cellar. Fern knew he couldn’t just leave her there.

“Sorry, Lucky.” He set the shaking dog on the steps in the storm cellar and let the door drop shut. Lucky would be scared there by himself, but he’d be safe.

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 had to make sure Mrs. Smith was OK.

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After what felt like hours, the tornado finally stopped.

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5 . 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。

“I’ll bet Anjali knows. Right, Anjali? Why don’t you show us since you’re the star student,” Deepak taunted (奚落).

Anjali was confused. She wasn’t trying to show off. She was just playing tabla (印度塔不拉鼓), like everyone else. And why was Deepak being so mean lately? Is it because tabla is a boy’s thing? She didn’t care that people thought it was a boys’ instrument. Anjali knew there was no such thing. She danced her fingers across the tabla to perform the composition in confusion. “Ugh!” Anjali heard someone groan, and she stopped playing.

“I guess I don’t know it that well after all,” Anjali said sheepishly to the teacher, Mr. Zakir. Her stomach was doing flip-flops. That wasn’t true. Not even a little. Mr. Zakir’s eyes narrowed. He looked like he was about to say something, but changed his mind. “The recital (演奏会) is next week, everyone. Keep practicing. I will be announcing who will get to perform onstage with me at my next concert!” Anjali had dreamed of a moment like that. She wanted to win the opportunity, but she needed to sort things straight with Deepak first.

As the class was dismissed, Anjali hurried over to Deepak. When she finally made eye contact with him, he purposely looked away and walked off. The next day at school, Anjali overheard Deepak whispering to Mary. “People are only interested because she’s the only girl in tabla class and they want her to feel special. She’s not that good—” Anjali was furious. She excused herself and went to the bathroom. She took some deep breaths but couldn’t relax. Her heart was pounding:

“It’s not my fault that people make a big deal about a girl playing tabla. I make mistakes too, but I work really hard. Maybe he should too. He should be less mean and practice more.”

“If I play in this concert, no one will talk to me again. He will turn everyone against me.”

“I don’t want to see a tabla or hear a tabla or play a tabla EVER AGAIN!!” Anjali yelled at the mirror. It was quiet for a moment. She believed it was one of her darkest days ever.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Stepping out of the bathroom, Anjali saw some inspiring posters on the wall.

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After the recital, Deepak walked up to Anjali.

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6 . Genetic testing companies have a long history of creative attempts to reach the mainstream. An early example was the sequencing of rock star Ozzy Osbourne’s genes in 2010, with accompanying guess about how they might have influenced his drug habits.

Lately, such projects have taken on a new, highly commercialized tendency. In 2017, we got the “Marmite (马麦酱) gene project,” run by London-based genetic testing start-up DNAfit. It claims to show that love or hate for Marmite was in our genes. The project turned into a full-blown marketing campaign, and even sold Marmite-branded DNA testing tools.

DNAfit is now working with Mercedes-Benz to find out whether specific genetic traits are associated with business wisdom. AncestryDNA, the world’s largest consumer genetic testing company, last year teamed up with Spotify to promote “music tailored to your DNA.” Just a few weeks ago, 23andMe, the second largest, announced a partnership with Airbnb to provide genetically tailored travel experiences, also inspired by ancestral DNA.

I have skin in this game. I run a genetic-testing start-up that connects people who want their genome sequenced with researchers who want data to improve their understanding of genetic disease. I believe that broadening access to DNA testing can be a powerful force for good, providing safer, more effective medicines and giving people more power over their healthcare. But these campaigns risk discrediting the industry, by giving a misleading impression of what genetics can and can't say and its role in determining behaviours and personal preferences.

Take the Marmite study. It covered 261 people — tiny, by the standards of the field. It was published not in a journal, but online on bioRxiv, a server where scientists typically put results before peer-review. Shortly after, researchers looked at the genetic data of more than 500 times as many people in the UK Biobank and found no such correlation. A large peer-reviewed study in 2013 found no significant link between genes and business common sense.

We need to inform the public about what this is all about: that is, the gathering of large amounts of genetic data. We need better regulation to ensure that consumers are clear that this may happen with this sensitive personal information. A checkbox on a 20-page web document full of legal terms should not be enough.

Scientists too, need to start asking hard questions about whether the information they are using has been sourced ethically. DNA testing has a great future, but we can't build this future with data acquired by any means.

1. The author mentions DNAfit, AncestryDNA and 23andMe in order to __________.

A．highlight the problems facing genetic testing

B．illustrate the commercial applications of DNA

C．compare what progress the companies have made

D．reveal the link between DNA and a person's character

2. We can learn from “I have skin in this game” in Para. 4 that the author __________.

A．is challenging the available treatment for skin disease

B．has a personal investment in the genetic-testing business

C．hopes to remove people's misunderstanding of the game rules

D．believes that every individual should have access to DNA testing

3. What do the last two paragraphs mainly talk about?

A．The disadvantages of genetic testing.	B．The scientific value of genetic testing.
C．The legal system genetic testing needs.	D．The essentials for proper genetic testing.

4. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A．DNA Is Anything but a Marketing Tool	B．Genetic Testing Campaigns Aren't Legal
C．Creative Marketing Is Key to Genetic Testing	D．DNA Testing Has Become a Booming Industry

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写一段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Old Lily and her husband Jim would go to a local park with their lively and cheerful dog, Bruno. The dog loved going there to play Frisbee(飞盘).

One summer month, the couple noticed a sad little boy appeared seemingly out of nowhere each dusk to sit at the same spot in the park. The boy wore an oversized hat that always covered his face. He always seemed quiet and sad. And he would appear just before dusk, sitting for some time. As it got totally dark, an old lady would come for him, after which they’d leave the park together.

After noticing the boy the seventh time, Lily's heart went out to him. “I wonder what his story is,” Lily said that dusk, when watching that old lady lead the boy away again. The next day, she secretly approached the boy and recognized him. She turned back and told Jim, “It’s the boy always playing Frisbee with his father every day months ago. He got scared when Bruno tried to catch his Frisbee.” “Oh, that kid. He was so scared that Bruno was running towards him,” Jim laughed. “I wonder why he no longer plays with his father,” Lily added.

The following day in the park, she walked to the boy and the old lady who often led him away. The boy recognized Lily and looked around for her dog. “It's okay. Bruno isn't with me today,” she said. Then she asked the old lady why the boy was always sitting sad and lonely.

“I’m his grandma,” the lady replied. “His parents died in an accident. His name is Roy.” “He used to be so happy, playing Frisbee with his father on that spot every dusk,” Lily said, feeling sorry for him. The next day before dusk, Lily headed to the park with some pies and her dog, wishing to entertain and comfort Roy by the food and especially her cheerful dog.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为 100 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Before long, she reached the park.

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8 . 13-year-old Ava Dorsey is the founder of Ava’s Pet Palace, a business that sells organic dog and cat treats.“I actually had the idea when I was six with a picture I drew of a palace,”she says.It was a detailed design for dogs and cats and she had serious plans to build it one day.

Unlike most dog treats that you find in stores, dog treats sold by Ava’s Pet Palace are 100% organic, and are non-GMO(非转基因). Ava has set a goal for herself with these dog treats, and she wants every treat to be healthy, tasty, and top-quality. Seriously, some of her treats sound delicious enough for people to eat! “All of my bags now have the USDA organic stamp, and we're very excited to have gotten it because it's something I've wanted for a long time,”she says.“A lot of stores like to see organic products because customers like it, so that was really exciting.”

Ava says the biggest challenge of being a kid in business is when people don't take her seriously, but undoubtedly Ava has proved that her doubters are wrong! When asked how she defines(定义) success, Ava says,“When you hit a bump in the road, you shouldn't give up and you keep trying.”She learned that from her mom, who sounds like a smart lady! Some more things Ava has learned from her years in business: Hard work eventually pays off and there is nothing wrong with asking for help.

As far as the future of the pet treats industry goes, Ava is optimistic——but she’d also like to be an inspiration for change.“There’s not much diversity(多样性) right now, so that’s something I would love to see in the future,”says Ava.“I would also love to see more kids in this industry.There aren't many other teenagers around, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to others who hope to lead the pet industry.”

1. What can we learn about Ava’s Pet Palace from the first two paragraphs?

A．It is a palace for pets.	B．It is very popular among kids.
C．It sells organic pet food.	D．It designs stamps for customers.

2. What does“hit a bump in the road”in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Drive on a stone road.	B．Escape a setback in business.
C．Face a challenging situation.	D．Encounter an unexpected opportunity.

3. What can be inferred about Ava’s future goals?

A．She plans to enlarge her business in other industries.

B．She wants to employ more teenagers in her company.

C．She intends to be a leading figure in the pet industry.

D．She hopes to break new ground in the pet treats industry.

4. Which of the following best describes Ava?

A．Patient and hard-working.	B．Determined and creative.
C．Confident and humorous.	D．Friendly and outgoing.

9 . 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。

“You’re fired!” Andrew Chilton wasn’t joking. At that moment, the high school junior wanted his personal care attendant, Christy Chachere, out of his life forever. He didn’t want her help any more. He thought he could write his own term papers. “You’re fired!” He said it again.

Christy Chachere, a retired PE teacher, didn’t take a step back. She believed she could do this job. “You know, I’ve taught middle schoolers,” she said. What about Andrew’s outcry? It was music to her ears. Progress was faster than expected.

When Andrew suffered from autism (自闭症) at age eight, people told his mom, Cindy, to get him on the list for an attendant to provide after-school care. Someone would drive him to places and see that he was safe. In New Orleans, Louisiana, the wait can be years, the need far outstrips (超过) the supply. Cindy had no choice but to turn to the program Volunteers of America for help.

Even so, it was eight years before they were matched with Christy. In the meantime. Andrew’s family did their best to help him get through life’s hardships. “I did worry about him,” said Cindy. There was a lot to worry about. Doctors and school teachers said that Andrew might not even graduate from high school. Other questions were around the corner as well. Would he ever have a job, or live independently?…Cindy would do anything for her son.

Christy saw the problem right away. “Andrew wouldn’t take a step without his mother’s permission (同意),”she recalled. “You have to let him fail,” she told the family. “It’s the only way he’s going to learn. He has to be able to do things on his own.”

No longer would Cindy help Andrew write papers. His younger brother wouldn’t help him with the computer, either. It was a little unacceptable to step back. Actually, everyone was on board but Andrew.

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。

Andrew was filled with anger, but things began to change.

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“She understood me, and it turned out she was really nice.” Andrew said.

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