1 . Not long ago I saw the following headline:“Anti-homework trend goes global.”

Anti-homework? Where was this trend when I was in school? And if I tried to “forget” that English ________ or history report, my dad was there to ________ me: “Don’t you have homework to do?” In short, my teachers and my parents put great ________ on the significance of homework.

No longer. From what I have read, there are powerful parental forces ________ to make homework a thing of the past. The reasoning: It stresses children and it ________ “precious family time.” As a teacher, one of the problems I often encounter is that students ________ far too little importance to their studies.

When I was a kid, homework ________ created precious family time. I still remember, after supper, clearing the table and ________ the dishes with my schoolbooks. And then my parents would sit down with me and, to the best of their ________ , help me when and where they could.

I’ve often thought that the homework problem could be ________ if one thought of homework in terms of learning to play a musical instrument. For me, this was the clarinet (单簧管), which I began learning at age 9. “Practice an hour a day,” was Mr. Markiewicz’s no-nonsense ________ .

Because my ________ was strong, I did practice an hour a day, and I made great progress. And so let’s get rid of homework, but only the word “homework,” and replace it with “________ ”. As a teacher, it’s all I ask: that my students listen ________ in class and then go home to practice, so that when they return to me to show how much they understand, I – and their parents – can be proud of them.

What could be ________ than that?

1.

A．literature

B．assignment

C．dictionary

D．language

2.

A．criticize

B．consult

C．challenge

D．remind

3.

A．blame

B．pressure

C．emphasis

D．restriction

4.

A．at play

B．at risk

C．in store

D．in fashion

5.

A．shapes

B．restores

C．steals

D．reserves

6.

A．attach

B．measure

C．acknowledge

D．confirm

7.

A．thoroughly

B．likely

C．extremely

D．actually

8.

A．washing

B．replacing

C．preparing

D．consuming

9.

A．ability

B．judgement

C．understanding

D．inspection

10.

A．discussed

B．repeated

C．resolved

D．disposed

11.

A．treatment

B．instruction

C．resolution

D．enhancement

12.

A．insight

B．endurance

C．conservation

D．motivation

13.

A．exercise

B．advice

C．practice

D．service

14.

A．attentively

B．anxiously

C．accurately

D．precisely

15.

A．worse

B．sadder

C．clearer

D．nicer

4 . 你校将以“Exploring the Beauty of Nature”为主题举办英语征文比赛。请你写一篇短文投稿，内容包括：
1. 你对自然的热爱和关注;
2. 描述一个让你难忘的自然体验和感受。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Exploring the Beauty of Nature

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Dunhuang, located in Northwest China’s Gansu province, was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, with profound history and rich culture.

From December 5 to 8, the micro-variety show titled “The Dunhuang You Don’t Know”,     1     (release) on social media platforms including the Twitter-like Weibo and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Since its premiere, the video series     2     (gain) millions of views online.

The show, produced by the art program center of the China Media Group,     3     (main) focused on the modern way of life in Dunhuang,     4     (display) the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture. The program had eight subjects, including local cuisine, creative cultural products, folk heritage and the guochao,     5     means “native wave”, and the use of traditional Chinese elements in fashion.

Dunhuang is renowned for its numerous natural and cultural heritages. From the Mogao Grottoes—    6    UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting rich collections of Buddhist artwork —to the Crescent Spring, a crescent-shaped lake     7     (surround) by giant sand dunes, Chinese people are familiar with Dunhuang’s magnificent beauty. Yet, the micro series takes the audience on a journey     8     (discover) the uncovered, vivid and vibrant modern lives of Dunhuang.

In recent years, with the rise in     9     (popular) of the guochao trends, contemporary artists have transformed Dunhuang’s age-old art     10     creative cultural products that attract young consumers. In this video series, the distinctive Dunhuang aesthetics (美学) have also captured people’s attention through cosmetics, fashion and trendy collections.

7 . Like working out or eating healthily, being happy is something you have to work on.     1    The good news is that a growing body of research shows there are simple things you can do to help you learn how to be happy at work, and they don’t require huge changes.

    2     It affects how you feel at work for the rest of the day. In one study, researchers analyzed the moods and performance of customer service representatives. Those who were in a good mood in the morning were more productive during the day and reported having more positive interactions with customers.     3     You can take a few minutes to enjoy your morning coffee and you can get some fresh air.

One of the hardest aspects of your job is perhaps making dozens of decisions daily, often with little or incomplete information. So how can you make fewer decisions? Put some parts of your day on autopilot. For example, have the same thing for lunch or breakfast for a week. Then you can change it up the following work.     4     Steve Jobs said that he wore the same clothes daily so that he wouldn’t have to spend energy deciding what to wear.

Helping others makes you happier. Helping your co-workers seems to create a virtuous cycle. Another study says happier workers are 33% more likely to help their colleagues than those who aren’t happy.     5     Grab your colleague’s favorite drink when you get your coffee. Ask if they need help on a project. Offer to do something simple, like type up notes after a meeting.

A．It’s a skill that takes practice.

B．How you feel in the morning really matters a lot.

C．You don’t have to do anything huge or heroic to help.

D．You’ve just removed a bunch of decisions from your day.

E．You can write down three small things you will get done.

F．So do something in the morning that makes you feel good.

G．One simple way to do this is to put a reminder on your calendar.

8 . The debate over whether video games should be considered a sport has been ongoing for decades. While some argue that e-sports require skill, there is disagreement over whether they meet the criteria of a traditional sport. According to the dictionary, a sport is a physical activity engaged in for pleasure. While playing video games requires skill and coordination, it lacks the physicality associated with traditional sports. Strategy is also present in board games like chess or card games like solitaire, but these activities are not classified as sports. Similarly, playing a musical instrument requires practice and training, yet it is not considered a sport.

Sports require full-body movements and coordination while video games primarily involve finger and hand movements. Although it is possible to include physical movement while playing, it is not a requirement for success. Many e-sports enthusiasts sit in front of their screens, filling themselves with snacks while controlling the game. This lack of physicality not only sets video games apart from sports but can also have negative effects on health. Unlike traditional sports, which have been shown to improve well-being, excessive video gaming can lead to headaches and anger.

While e-sports and competitive gaming may be comparable to activities like chess in terms of competition, they do not possess the physical effort and health benefits associated with traditional sports. However, as the industry continues to develop, the idea of e-sports is evolving. Studies have highlighted the demanding motor skills and reaction times required in e-sports. Professor Ingo Frobose conducted a study that demonstrated the impressive motor skills of e-sports “athletes”, with up to 400 movements per minute on the keyboard and mouse. The strategic aspect of e-sports, including team planning and analysis, is also often ignored. Games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Honor of Kings have attracted large audiences and showed the strategic skills of players.

While some argue against the classification of e-sports as real sports, evidence suggests that they possess unique skills and abilities. As the industry grows, the understanding and recognition of e-sports as a reasonable competitive activity are gradually changing.

1. Why do some people think of video games not as a sport?

A．They lack total physical activity.	B．They merely highlight cooperation.
C．They have little effects on health.	D．They require no strategy or training.

2. What is a common behavior of e-sports enthusiasts while playing?

A．Suffering from bodily pain.

B．Performing physical exercises.

C．Snacking and playing at the same time.

D．Experiencing positive effects on well-being.

3. Which supports the argument for e-sports as a reasonable competitive activity?

A．The benefits on health brought by video gaming.

B．The comparison of e-sports to chess and card games.

C．The strategic aspect and motor skills involved in e-sports.

D．The physical labor and health benefits of playing e-sports.

4. In which section of a newspaper can this text most probably be found?

A．Health.	B．Entertainment.
C．Education.	D．Science.

9 . Paul Durietz is a 76-year-old social studies teacher from Illinois. On September 1, he set a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest teaching career. Mr. Durietz has been teaching for 53 years—since he was 23 years old.

Mr. Durietz has known since he was young that he wanted to be a social studies teacher. Social studies is the study of history, and how people, countries, and cultures are connected. He became interested in history after hearing stories from his father, who fought in World War Ⅱ.

In 1970 Mr. Durietz got his first teaching job at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. Ever since then, he’s been teaching social studies at the same school. He says he loves sharing his knowledge of history with students. “Teaching is never boring,” he says. “Every day is different.”

Things have changed a lot since he began all those years ago. When he started, the only way to make copies was with a “ditto machine”, which used a purple ink. Mr. Durietz wrote on a blackboard with chalk, and the students used paper textbooks. These days, he and the students use computers and digital whiteboards.

With or without technology, Mr. Durietz has used creative activities to help his students learn. For example, he has organized virtual field trips, geography contests, and special days about the US Civil War. He has even organized fake elections at school to help his students learn about politics. He says these activities are the ones that he and his students enjoyed most.

Mr. Durietz isn’t really trying to set a record. He is just doing what he loved. Mr. Durietz has no plans to retire any time soon. Mr. Durietz says people who want to be teachers should make sure they are patient with their students. He also encourages them to choose subjects they care deeply about. “Keep working on what you love to do in life,” he says.

1. What inspired Mr. Durietz to be a social studies teacher as a boy?

A．His love of history.	B．His dream to set a record.
C．His father’s encouragement.	D．His responsibility to help others.

2. What does paragraph 4 mainly focus on?

A．Mr. Durietz’s teaching features.	B．The life in an eventful world.
C．Changes in Mr. Durietz’s teaching career.	D．The invention of teaching devices.

3. How are Mr. Durietz’s lessons?

A．Informal and flexible.	B．Interesting and effective.
C．Demanding and serious.	D．Surprising and unimaginable.

4. Which is probably Mr. Durietz’s advice to students?

A．Pursue your dream for a lifetime.	B．Discipline yourself all the time.
C．Broaden your eyesight by reading.	D．Set ambitious goals when young.

10 . Tidying your desk, watering your plants, folding clothes—these household chores(家务)are very common. I often find myself _________ these little chores. If the deadline of a task is coming, I’ll clear up the papers _________ around my office to make me feel not so nervous.

I’m not _________ in this. As facing the influenza(流感), many people _________ finding new interest in looking after their homes as a way of _________ uncertainty. Psychologists (心理学家)say these chores may _________ encourage you to become active.

Little chores may be useful because they occupy the mind, leading us to devote fewer resources to the things that _________ us. We may find household makes us _________ when we finish them, but this depends on where we place our _________.

In a study, researchers __________ 51 participants into two groups. Half of them were encouraged to __________ focus on washing the dishes. “__________ washing the dishes, one should be aware that he is washing the dishes”. Another half only needed to know something __________ how to do washing without being encouraged to focus their awareness on the activity.

Finally, the participants were asked to take a questionnaire about their feelings. Those who had fully engaged with the experience reported a better mood. This included the reduced __________ and even a sense of “inspiration”, as if the simple activity had __________ their minds.

1.

A．enjoying

B．ignoring

C．submitting

D．tolerating

2.

A．disappeared

B．destroyed

C．placed

D．melt

3.

A．expert

B．lucky

C．experienced

D．alone

4.

A．screamed

B．agreed

C．opposed

D．guaranteed

5.

A．opening up

B．caring for

C．dealing with

D．setting up

6.

A．better

B．harder

C．less

D．heavier

7.

A．delight

B．frighten

C．surprise

D．upset

8.

A．crazy

B．disappointed

C．cheerful

D．simple

9.

A．dream

B．attention

C．hope

D．vacation

10.

A．fell

B．divided

C．built

D．got

11.

A．thankfully

B．gracefully

C．slightly

D．fully

12.

A．Unless

B．Why

C．While

D．How

13.

A．about

B．for

C．with

D．by

14.

A．energy

B．pressure

C．argument

D．work

15.

A．closed

B．praised

C．educated

D．refreshed