“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes…”
Danny sang while his fingers pressed and pulled skillfully at the guitar strings, delivering a slow and peaceful tune. A circle of audience had formed, nodding and moving slowly to the song.
Lying at the feet of the street performer was his most adoring fan: One-Eyed, a white stray (流浪) dog with pieces of brown. Danny felt the name was suitable considering its physical disability. Usually, One-Eyed would bark loudly as Danny performed. Much to his annoyance, people often mistook the pair as owner and pet. At this time, Danny would reply, “My dog? No!”, eyes rolling at the idea. How he wished the dog would leave him alone instead!
On a snowy night, while Danny was performing, a bird flew downward, landing into the midst of the crowd. It cooed happily as if to harmonize with Danny. Unfortunately, that did not sit well with One-Eyed, which immediately bounced at it and the bird flew away desperately.
The unexpected chaos upturned Danny's hat, which could have been filled with notes and coins from his appreciative audience, leaving it ignored on the ground. "Argh! The hateful dog!” Danny broke down, thinking to himself, “Either the dog goes or I go!”
On the next night, Danny tried to find a new place and chanced upon the park. For a while his earnings were good unsurprisingly as there was a steady flow of visitors. However, that didn't last long. One-Eyed came along and appointed itself as Danny's guardian. "Argh! Here comes the hateful dog again!" That night, Danny hadn't made enough money he should have, all thanks to the troublesome dog.
Danny was almost mad with One-Eyed. “What should I do? Call an animal shelter?” Torn by this problem, he walked aimlessly by the lake of the park. With all his mind focused on how to get rid of the dog, Danny didn't watch his steps. Suddenly, he slipped and fell into the lake accidentally. Struggling in the icy water, he cried for help desperately, almost choking to death. Sensing the approach of death, Danny got into overwhelming panic.
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。
Just then, a familiar barking was heard in the distance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“My hero! Thank you for saving me,” Danny said gratefully with watery eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . Ann has been severely paralysed (瘫痪)for more than 18 years. She cannot speak and normally communicates. But now, she has been able to speak through an image on the computer using technology that translated her brain signals into speech and facial expressions.
The advance raises hopes that the technology could be on the edge of transforming the lives of people who have lost the ability to speak due to conditions like strokes (中风).
The latest technology uses tiny electrodes (电极) put on the top layer of the brain to detect electrical activity in the part of the brain that controls speech and face movements. These signals are translated directly into a digital avatar’s (化身) speech and facial expressions including smiling, frowning or surprise.
The team put 253 paper-thin electrodes on the top layer of Ann’s brain over an area important to speech. Afterwards Ann worked with the team to train the system to detect her unique brain signals for various speech sounds by repeating different phrases repeatedly. The computer learned 39 distinctive sounds and a Chat GPT-style language system was used to translate the signals into understandable sentences. This was then used to control an avatar with a voice personalised to sound like Ann’s voice before the injury, based on a recording of her speaking at her wedding.
The technology was not perfect, translating words incorrectly 28% of the time in a test run involving more than 500 phrases, and it generated brain-to-text at a rate of 78 words a minute, compared with the 110–150 words typically spoken in natural conversation. However, scientists said the latest advances in accuracy and speed suggest the technology is now at a point of being practically useful for patients. A crucial next step is to create a wireless form that could be put beneath the skull (颅骨).
1. How can Ann speak?| A．By tiny electrodes on her brain. |
| B．Through an avatar using the latest technology. |
| C．Through repeating different phrases repeatedly. |
| D．By a technology that detects her brain signals. |
| A．How the technology works. |
| B．How the technology benefits the patients. |
| C．How the technology translates the brain signal. |
| D．How the technology is put into wide application. |
| A．Ann’s cooperation. | B．Ann’s facial expressions. |
| C．An AI language system. | D．A recording of Ann’s speaking. |
| A．It is a promising way to help patients. |
| B．Its translating speed is too slow. |
| C．It cannot be applied to patients. |
| D．It is not accurate in translating at all. |
Ella’s First Fashion Creation
Ella was wearing a new dress and she felt like a famous model, Even better, it was a dress she made! Her very first piece of fashion!
“What do you think?” she asked her family. They were all gathered at the kitchen table for breakfast. “It’s very pretty. I can’t believe you designed and sewed that all by yourself!” Mom said.“I’m so proud of you! How long did that take?”Dad asked. Ella pulled out her chair and sat down.“Two weeks! But I think I could make the next one faster. I had a few problems.
Ella smiled. She had so many problems making the dress, but right now it was all worth it. It was going to be a great day.
The kids at school weren’t quite as excited about her dress as she thought they would be, but she did get some nice comments from some of the girls, so she was happy about that. The day went by quickly, and before she knew it, she was outside for the last break of the day. What a perfect day, she thought to herself as she swung on the swings.
The school bell rang and the break was over. When the swing was close to stopping, Ella jumped off. When she landed, she heard a loud rip (撕裂). She moved her hand to the back of her dress. It was ripped all the way down the back! Her very first fashion creation fell apart! Ella was so embarrassed.
Ella spotted her teacher, Miss Miller, near the door. Ella took one hand from her dress and waved for Miss Miller to come to her. Miss Miller came up and looked at the back of Ella’s dress.“Oh no! And it is such a beautiful dress!” “I made it myself,” Ella said. “You must be very proud! You did a great job!” “Not really. Or it wouldn’t have ripped.” “Well, that happens sometimes. Even with clothes you buy in the store!”
注意：
1.续写词数应为150词左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
Miss Miller took off her sweater and helped Ella to pull it on.
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“We can’t avoid problems,” said Mom.
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It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The streams were long gone back into the earth. If we didn't see some rain soon we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the best miracle I have ever seen in my life.
I was in the kitchen making lunch for the family when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He wasn't walking with his usual steps. He was obviously walking with great effort... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to make sandwiches, thinking that whatever he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful long step toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking cautiously to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey.
He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill (溅出) the water he held in them. I stepped close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He might have a much greater purpose, I thought. As I came closer, I saw the most amazing sight. Several large deer stood in front of him. Billy walked right up to them, at the sight of which I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck (雄鹿) was dangerously close. But the buck neither threatened him nor even moved as Billy knelt down. And I saw a baby deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from heavy loss of water and heat exhaustion, lifting its head with great effort to lap (舔) up the water cupped in my boy's hands.
注意：
1．所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答．
Paragraph 1:
When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house. I followed him back to the tap.
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Paragraph 2:
This time I joined him, with a small pot of water from the kitchen.
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I’m Martha. My middle school had a tradition carried out every year during the eighth-grade graduation: a beautiful gold and green jacket was given as a prize to the student who had kept the highest grades for eight years. I was fourteen and in the eighth grade. I had been a straight A student(全优生) since the first grade and this last year I had looked forward very much to owning that jacket.
One afternoon when I was on my way to the gym, I suddenly remembered my P.E. shorts were left in the bag under my desk. So I went back and get them. I was almost back at my classroom door when I heard voices raised in anger as if in some sort of argument. I recognized the voices: Mr. Smith, my history teacher, and Mr. Brown, my math teacher. They seemed to be arguing about me.
“I refuse to do it! I don’t care who her father is, her grades don’t even begin to compare to Martha’s!” That was Mr. Smith and he sounded very angry. Mr. Brown’s voice sounded calm and quiet. “Look. Joann’s father is not only on the Board(董事会), he owns the only store in town…”
The pounding in my ears kept out the rest of the words, only a word here and there got through. “...Martha is Mexican ... impossible ... won’t do it.” To this day I don’t remember if I got in trouble in P.E. for being late or how I made it through the rest of the afternoon.
The next day I was told by the headmaster that there had been a change in policy this year that whoever was awarded the jacket would be charged fifteen dollars and if the prize winner was unable to pay the money it would be given to the next one in line. That was unfair! I carried all the way home, so by time I got home, my eyes were red and puffy(肿大的). I went to Dad, who was working in the bean field. He saw my shadow and looked up.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好，
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词。
Paragraph 1：
He waited for me to speak.
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Paragraph 2：
It was a very sad and upset girl who dragged into the headmaster’s office the next day.
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1.明智上网的重要性；
2.提出具体建议（两到三条）。
注意：1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Be Wise Internet Users
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 . A scientist
Now the question is why the monkey was unable to understand
| A．kept | B．rose | C．fed | D．caught |
| A．moving | B．removed | C．discovered | D．covered |
| A．happily | B．anxiously | C．hurriedly | D．instantly |
| A．suddenly | B．accidentally | C．occasionally | D．quickly |
| A．as | B．that | C．what | D．until |
| A．But | B．When | C．Therefore | D．Thus |
| A．directions | B．explanations | C．performances | D．instructions |
| A．effort | B．strength | C．power | D．force |
| A．expecting | B．interesting | C．satisfying | D．desired |
| A．what | B．how | C．why | D．which |
| A．Probably | B．Likely | C．Simply | D．Nearly |
| A．put | B．send | C．pay | D．shift |
| A．gesture | B．mouth | C．hand | D．eye |
| A．taken away | B．taken off | C．taken over | D．taken on |
| A．that | B．the | C．those | D．this |
Alexis Vaughan, 17, sat quietly in the passenger seat of her dad's car. She stared out the window at the Preston, Idaho, cornfields.
Alexis, a high school student, let her eyes lazily scan the landscape for wildlife. Still, she was terrified when a deer came into view about 200 yards in front of them, just a few feet off the road. "Dad, there's a deer, there!" Alexis said, rolling down the window for a better look. It was a three-point buck (雄鹿) — a male deer with sharp, three-pronged antlers (角) on each side of its head.
As the car moved closer, Alexis saw that the buck's head was bent toward the ground. Then she heard a scream. A few seconds later, she saw an arm fly up near the buck's head. Alexis realized the buck was attacking a woman. Sue Panter, a 44-year-old mother, had been out for her morning run. The buck had come out from the tall corn and began following her. Having lived in rural Idaho for years, Sue knew that most bucks got frightened by humans. But this buck edged closer, even when she threw at it with a handful of gravels (石子).
Sue went to pick up a log to use for self-defense, and the buck attacked her. It lifted her with its antlers (角) and threw her into the air. Sue could feel the horns punctured (刺穿) her leg and blood flowed down her leg. Within seconds, the buck had pushed her off the road and into the cornfield.
When Alexis and her father pulled up, the buck was rolling Sue like a rag doll. Alexis looked into the woman's terrified eyes, and before her father had even stopped the car, the 104 pound teenager jumped quickly out of the car and down the slope toward the buck. She was kicking and hitting it to get its attention. Then Michael, her father, who had followed his daughter, wrestled the buck away from the women by holding the antlers.
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2） 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
Alexis helped Sue up the slope.
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Paragraph 2:
Then she heard her father yell.
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9 . Larry gave us “Direction” in more ways than he could ever know. For the better part of 35 years, Larry’s life has been
For what Larry
Larry has been a friend and advisor, teacher and choir
| A．donated | B．devoted | C．spent | D．lost |
| A．finds | B．findings | C．ideas | D．thoughts |
| A．performance | B．play | C．activity | D．performing |
| A．Much | B．Only | C．Little | D．Few |
| A．spent | B．taken | C．given | D．enjoyed |
| A．get through | B．run over | C．come across | D．flood over |
| A．said | B．thought | C．talked | D．did |
| A．gave | B．told | C．taught | D．sent |
| A．tall | B．up | C．highly | D．short |
| A．delight | B．worry | C．fears | D．hate |
| A．written | B．organized | C．taken | D．played |
| A．feet | B．hands | C．head | D．wings |
| A．heaven | B．sky | C．there | D．sun |
| A．aim | B．goal | C．purpose | D．task |
| A．player | B．musician | C．writer | D．director |
| A．taken | B．led | C．moved | D．followed |
| A．taught | B．blessed | C．told | D．seen |
| A．love | B．interest | C．dislike | D．hate |
| A．poor | B．excited | C．wealthy | D．richer |
| A．mind | B．spirit | C．character | D．courage |
As 17-year-old Torriell Norwood drove through St. Peters-burg, Florida last February with her friends to pay a visit to the great park as scheduled. Norwood shared her first aid courses and her dream of becoming a doctor and other girls shared their precious experiences about the natural adventures with each other. The laughter and chatter from the four teenage girls inside her car quickly gave way to screams. As they approached an intersection, another car T-boned them, sending their black car sailing into the yard of a nearby home, coming to a stop only when it crashed into a tree. All of them were in panic instantly, totally at a loss!
As smoke waved from the car, a bystander shouted, “It’s about to blow up! Get out!” The impact had caved in Norwood’s driver’s side door, jamming it shut. The bystander seized the front door handle of the car, summoned all his strength to pull it open but failed. Shaken, but otherwise OK, Norwood crawled out through the window. She had a cut on the right side of her face. Originally her lovely face became very pale. Along with two of her friends, who’d also managed to free themselves, she ran for her life.
But halfway down the street, she realized that her best friend, Azarria Simmons, was not with them. Norwood ran back to the wreck and found Simmons slumped in the back seat. “She was not moving,” Norwood shouted with her heart tightened. She threw open the back door and pulled her friend out, avoiding the broken glass as best she could. She dragged Simmons a few feet to safety and laid her on the ground. She checked her pulse. Nothing! She put her head against Simmons’s chest. No sign of life!
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。
If the accident had happened a few weeks earlier, she might not have known what to do.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After awhile, the CPR worked and Simmons regained her consciousness.
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