1 . Caring 17-year-old Lauren Schroeder was inspired to help bring healthy food to needy families in her community. Volunteering at a food shelter helping _______ boxes for households in need with packaged food when she was 14, this Iowa teen felt that something was _______ from the donated groceries: fresh vegetables. So she shared with her parents her _______ to start a vegetable farm on part of their family farm in Dixon, Iowa to support local families in need with fresh produce.

Coming from a farming family, Lauren was _______ agriculture. But the work involved in _______ Lauren’s plan was no walk in the park. _______, while proud of her daughter’s vision, her mother, Katie Shroeder, admitted _______ about the work involved: “I also had a little bit of responsibilities on my shoulder.”

Lauren was one determined young _______, however! She researched plants online, _______ which species needed more shade and how much water was ________. During Iowa’s hot summers, she had to water her crops by hand for around 2-3 hours daily. Thanks to her ________, Lauren planted half an acre of land, with 15 varieties of vegetables in 2022, harvesting about 3,000 kilograms.

In 2023, Lauren doubled the size of her farm to an acre. Discussing her future ________, The Washington Post revealed that Lauren would like to grow another 5,897 kilograms of produce, thus ________ her veggie total to about 9,000 kilograms when it’s time for her to go to college in 2025.

Explaining her ________ to local media channel, KWQC, Lauren said, “I wanted to do something that would impact people. Many people help you out, but it makes more ________ when you help others out.”

1.

A．compare

B．decorate

C．fill

D．connect

2.

A．free

B．urgent

C．far

D．missing

3.

A．demand

B．desire

C．ability

D．failure

4.

A．tired with

B．scared of

C．familiar with

D．anxious about

5.

A．realizing

B．improving

C．making

D．imagining

6.

A．Eventually

B．Unfortunately

C．Generally

D．Initially

7.

A．thinking

B．worrying

C．arguing

D．talking

8.

A．care-taker

B．decision-maker

C．change-maker

D．job-seeker

9.

A．questioning

B．believing

C．indicating

D．checking

10.

A．required

B．consumed

C．produced

D．recycled

11.

A．intelligence

B．ambition

C．work

D．courage

12.

A．measures

B．difficulties

C．tasks

D．plans

13.

A．handing

B．bringing

C．applying

D．reducing

14.

A．motivation

B．hobby

C．secret

D．method

15.

A．progress

B．difference

C．power

D．space

2 . Here in eastern Spain, human towers are very popular. The tower sometimes falls because it’s so high. I used to ________ to be up there, but for the past year, I’ve been practicing ________. So today, I finally became a casteller — a castle constructor.

My friend Tomeu was also part of our team. Tomeu had been a casteller before. “What if I’m not ________ for this?” I asked him. Tomeu smiled, “We’re never ready, Jordi. Just trust those below who ________ you up and yourself. Have faith!”

It was our turn. We first made the ________ for our tower. My father and three of the strongest men formed a ________ facing each other as they held each other’s arms tightly. Four more strong men stepped behind, each wrapping his arms around the ________ of a man and giving him a bear hug. Four smaller men climbed onto the backs of the ________ group and stood on their shoulders.

Our base was solid, so my father ________ and we continued building. After the sixth tier (层) was set up, it was my turn.

“Have ________!” Tomeu said to me again. I passed the first two tiers ________ because the people were leaning forward. But the higher I went, the more unstable the tower became. By the time I reached the sixth tier, the tower below me ________ a bit. My heart began a crazy dance in my chest. I took a deep breath to ________ myself. Reaching deep inside to feel my ________, I rose slowly out of my crouch (蹲伏) and straightened my knees. I waved my hand to the judges, meaning our tower was ________.

Far below, I could hear the crowd’s cheering.

1.

A．promise

B．hesitate

C．intend

D．pretend

2.

A．climbing

B．jumping

C．running

D．rolling

3.

A．prepared

B．responsible

C．anxious

D．famous

4.

A．pull

B．call

C．lift

D．push

5.

A．rule

B．list

C．link

D．base

6.

A．screen

B．circle

C．queue

D．barrier

7.

A．head

B．hands

C．legs

D．chest

8.

A．original

B．local

C．general

D．typical

9.

A．relaxed

B．adjusted

C．signaled

D．appealed

10.

A．faith

B．pleasure

C．patience

D．purpose

11.

A．casually

B．firmly

C．wildly

D．smoothly

12.

A．grew

B．swung

C．changed

D．broke

13.

A．introduce

B．enjoy

C．calm

D．save

14.

A．balance

B．presence

C．connection

D．duty

15.

A．unique

B．large

C．round

D．complete

3 . We’ve all been there: You check your phone and see over 100 unread texts thanks to a group chat. The more this happens, the more it can start to feel overwhelming. “When we see so much activity happening, it creates a sense of panic and often results in difficulty separating from the phone due to fear of missing out,” said therapist (治疗专家) Becky Stuempfig. But group texts don’t have to be a source of stress.     1    .

Review group chats at set times

“I recommend choosing certain times of the day when you plan to catch up on texts,” Stuempfig said. “    2    , one in the morning, afternoon and evening, where they read and respond to messages. By doing so, you avoid feeling like you spent the entire day trying to keep up. and it decreases anxiety caused by receiving constant alerts (提醒).”

Turn off notifications

“My advice is turning off all notification alerts. No sounds, no vibrating (震动) — nothing.” Stuempfig said. “    3     — all of the necessary positive activities for our mental health.” You can set exceptions for certain contacts and apps, so you don’t have to worry about missing important calls.

Keep group chats small, if possible

    4    . “I recommend minimizing the number of people on group chats so that the notifications are not quite as overwhelming.” Stuempfig said. “Large group chats are extremely hard to manage and create a feeling of constantly needing to check to see what is being discussed.”

Practice mindfulness

Even if you make some changes, you might still find yourself feeling overwhelmed at certain times. It can be helpful to try some mindfulness exercises.     5    . Stuempfig said, “Taking a walk without bringing a phone with you or silencing texts and only allowing calls from emergency contacts can be a great way to refresh ourselves.”

A．They can help you decrease biological stress and improve sleep quality

B．Many people find it helpful to choose three 20-minute windows per day

C．Below, Stuempfig shares his advice for making the experience less tiring

D．They can involve deep breathing, taking a walk, or otherwise shifting your focus

E．If you’re starting a new text chat, really think about how many people you’re inviting

F．Many experts do some corresponding research and give us some suggestions as follows

G．These alerts interrupt our work projects, homework, family time, relaxing time, and sleep

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 summer day, I decided to go for a walk in the nearby forest. I had my backpack prepared with water, food, and sunscreen. I was excited to spend some time in nature, away from the busy city.

The forest was attractive, with towering trees that seemed to touch the sky and colorful wildflowers under my feet. I walked deeper into the woods, attracted by the pleasant sounds of birds. The path I followed was winding and narrow, but I paid little attention, carried away by the beauty. I started to notice that the trees around me looked unfamiliar. Soon I found myself lost. I realized that I had no idea which way to go.

The sun was setting and I knew that I needed to find a way out before it got dark. I started walking, trying to remember which direction I had come from. But the forest was a maze (迷宫) of winding paths, and I soon found myself going in circles. Every tree looked the same, and every path seemed to lead nowhere.

The sound of leaves made me jump. Was it a wild animal? My heart was racing and I tried to stay calm as I listened for other sounds. But there was only silence, broken now and then by the distant calls of birds.

As the sun set, I fully understood the seriousness of my situation. There was no food or water left. I was completely alone, lost in a wilderness that could easily devour (吞噬) me. I walked nervously, tripping over things in my path, feeling frightened with a racing heartbeat. Hours passed, or maybe only minutes. Time had lost all meaning in this place.

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。

But then, as I was about to give up hope, I saw a weak light in the distance.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The house s owner welcomed me inside.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

A Californian woman has become a fitness influencer in her 50s after losing more than 40 pounds and taking up bodybuilding.

Denise Kirtley, 52, was inspired     1     (turn) her life around two months before her 50th birthday after finding that her wedding ring no longer fit on her finger.

“When I     2     (start) my transformation in 2020, I had been sedentary (惯于久坐不动的) for     3     long while,” Kirtley explained. She began lifting light weights in her spare bedroom, saying she was     4     unfit for the first two weeks that she quickly felt     5     (breath) and tired. But Kirtley said the secret to     6     (get) started on a body transformation is     7     (simple) to repeat workouts five times per week because action “often precedes (先于) motivation.”

“Action leads to more action. We can’t wait for motivation to kick in as it usually comes     8     (late),” she said. “If you can start taking action, any action, you will build momentum (推进力). That momentum will push you forward. It DOES get easier.”

The 52-year-old said she’s also transformed her attitude toward growing older. “We really do get to choose     9     we age. It’s all about your mindset,” she said. “Old and aging are very different — there’s nothing wrong     10     aging, and I embrace (欣然接受) my age. I’m aging, but I’m strong and spirited.”

6 . The journey of learning Beijing Opera has been a meaningful one for me.

When I first stepped into the practice room, the sounds of instruments filled the air. The _________ performers moved with grace and their voices were full of power. As a beginner, I found it hard to _________ the movements and vocal techniques. It seemed impossible to _________. But with each practice period, I found the determination to keep _________. Repeating the steps and vocal exercises over and over again, I practiced _________. My teachers and classmates were very _________. They encouraged me during moments of doubt and told me that _________ was not given but earned.

As time went on, I began to see _________ in my performance. My voice became more _________ and my movements more graceful. I started to feel a connection with the __________ understanding the feelings they had through their movements and expressions.

Finally, the day arrived for my first __________. I stepped onto the stage and the music started. I put my heart into the performance. The cheers that filled the theater at the end of the show were __________. The journey was __________, but learning Beijing Opera taught me a valuable lesson: never __________. I will carry with me the lesson learned from Beijing Opera that will __________ me on the road to success, both in the world of Beijing Opera and life.

1.

A．surprised

B．traditional

C．important

D．experienced

2.

A．keep up with

B．get back on

C．stay away from

D．look forward to

3.

A．know

B．change

C．learn

D．share

4.

A．checking

B．going

C．asking

D．cheering

5.

A．safely

B．helplessly

C．quietly

D．tirelessly

6.

A．supportive

B．active

C．creative

D．productive

7.

A．kindness

B．success

C．wealth

D．chance

8.

A．details

B．value

C．methods

D．progress

9.

A．different

B．expressive

C．similar

D．encouraging

10.

A．characters

B．teachers

C．actors

D．members

11.

A．class

B．job

C．visit

D．show

12.

A．music to my ears

B．bottom lines

C．time on my hands

D．top secrets

13.

A．interesting

B．boring

C．challenging

D．meaningful

14.

A．win out

B．give up

C．wake up

D．stand out

15.

A．protect

B．trust

C．guide

D．pick

7 . Researchers from University of Southern California (USC) may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms’ structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information. The study involved 2,476 active Facebook users ranging in age from 18 to 89. They were asked to complete a decision-making survey about seven minutes long.

Surprisingly, the researchers found that users’ social media habits are closely related to the amount of fake news they shared. Frequent and habitual users spread six times more fake news than occasional or new users. Just 15% of the most habitual news sharers in the research were responsible for spreading about 30% to 40% of the fake news. Users’ habits were more influential in sharing fake news than other factors, including lack of critical reasoning.

The research team wondered: What motivates these users? As it turns out, much like any video game, social media has a reward system that encourages users to stay on their accounts and keep posting and sharing.

Users who post and share frequently, especially eye-catching information, are likely to attract attention. Due to the reward system of social media, users form habits of sharing information that gets recognition from others automatically, without considering consequences such as spreading misinformation.

Then, the team tested whether social media reward structures could be designed to promote sharing of true over false information. They found that incentives (鼓励) for accuracy rather than popularity doubled the amount of accurate news that users share on social platforms.

“We know from previous research that some people don’t process information critically, which influences their ability to recognize false stories online,” said Gizem Ceylan, who led the team. “However, our new study shows that the reward structure of social media platforms plays a bigger role when it comes to misinformation spread.”

1. What does the USC research mainly focus on concerning social media?

A．Its reward system.	B．The users’ age group.
C．Its attraction to users.	D．The reason fake news spreads on it.

2. Who is more likely to share false information on Facebook?

A．A new user.	B．A heavy user.
C．An occasional user.	D．An uneducated user.

3. What contributes to the habits of social media users?

A．The popularity of their posts.

B．The easy access to information.

C．The encouragement from other users.

D．The immediate money reward from the platform.

4. Which statement will Gizem Ceylan probably agree with?

A．Sharing of misinformation is unavoidable.

B．People shouldn’t use social media frequently.

C．Lack of critical reasoning is a common problem.

D．Social media reward structures should be improved.

8 . These popular children’s stories all have important birthdays this year.

How to Train Your Dragon
by Cressida Cowell
(Hachette Children’s)

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smallish Viking with a longish name. His Hairy Hooligan tribe thinks he’s useless but, with the help of a dragon, can Hiccup prove he’s a hero? Celebrate 20 years of a favourite story with this anniversary edition.

The Sheep-Pig
by Dick King-Smith
(Puffin Books)

When Farmer Hogget brings Babe home, the little orphaned piglet (成为孤儿的小猪) is raised by a kind-hearted sheepdog called Fly. Babe knows he can never be a sheepdog like Fly but could he learn how to be a sheep-pig? Famously made into the film Babe, this much-loved animal story turns 40 this year.

Emily of New Moon
by L. M. Montgomery
(Virago Books)

When Emily is sent to live at New Moon with relatives she’s never met, her imagination and ideas soon cause her to clash (争执) with her Aunt Elizabeth. Will New Moon ever feel like home? Written by the author of Anne of Green Gables, this story was first published in 1923 and is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

The Dark is Rising
by Susan Cooper
(Puffin Books)

It’s Midwinter’s Eve, the day before Will’s 11th birthday. Strange things are happening in the snowy countryside around him and Will soon realises this will be a birthday like no other. First published 50 years ago, this classic adventure remains as exciting and magical as ever.

1. Whose book was Babe adapted from?

A．Susan Cooper’s.	B．Cressida Cowell’s.
C．Dick King-Smith’s.	D．L. M. Montgomery’s.

2. Which of the following books has been in print for a century?

A．How to Train Your Dragon.	B．Emily of New Moon.
C．The Dark is Rising.	D．The Sheep-Pig.

3. What do we know about The Dark is Rising?

A．It is made up of several stories.

B．It is published by Virago Books.

C．It is set around the character’s birthday.

D．It is based on the author’s personal experience.

9 . The meat filling might consist of chopped pork, beef or chicken ________ has been cooked with a variety of spices. (用适当的词填空)

10 . Of course recipes may vary, ________ this basic practice is almost the same. (用适当的词填空)