1 . For decades, I was a hard drinker who could drink anyone under the table. This lasted from the age of 27 until after 50, a golden time during which I felt very sorry for ex-drinkers and people who couldn’t or wouldn’t drink. How did they make it through social situations, especially parties? What did they do at the end of a workday to celebrate and relax?     1    

When I first tried to quit drinking myself in my early 50s, I wasn’t sure at first how it would work for me. But I did it anyway.    2     I was getting older. I had to concede that I wasn’t as tough as I used to be. Nights of drinking too much showed in my face, and I could feel it in my bones. I wanted to take care of myself. So for the next few years, I bounced between not drinking at all for months at a time, then slowly starting again until I had to quit again.

During these years, I didn’t love not drinking. But I had to admit that when I was off booze, I looked and felt better physically: I slept more deeply, had more energy, exercised more. My mind was clearer. My moods were brighter. Parties were hard, and so was cooking at the end of a day of writing without a glass of wine at my elbow.    3    

I finally quit drinking for real almost four years ago, on 12 July 2019, when a writer friend stayed with my husband and me after his wife kicked him out. After my husband had gone upstairs to bed, my friend sat on our sofa drinking an entire bottle of gin, complaining about his fate, until he passed out next to our dog, whose bed that sofa was.    4     I didn’t have a drink the next night, or ever again since.

I’m not going to lie: being sober is not a hot-air balloon ride.    5     Having to feel my damn feelings without filters compels me to face and change the things in my life that keep me stuck. Hard work all around, but as my reward, I connect more deeply with the people I care about. I think of not drinking as a kindness I’ve given myself. And to my surprise, it’s rewarded me with true, hard-won happiness.

A．My body demanded it.

B．My health started improving rapidly.

C．It’s more like a hike in the mountains.

D．How did they quit drinking?

E．It was a wake-up call.

F．But the pluses seemed to outweigh the minuses.

G．How did they get through life?

2 . Here is a brief guide to every sport at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Alpine skiing, 11 gold medals awarded

The disciplines include downhill, the fastest event; super-G, with more turns added; giant slalom (回转), still more turns; and slalom, the slowest and most technical event.

Biathlon (冬季两项), 11 golds

Take the endurance test of cross-country skiing and shake it up very few kilometers by having athletes stop to shoot at targets. Too many misses, and skiers must take a penalty lap. Germany, France, Sweden and Norway should dominate the medals.

Figure skating, 5 golds

The strong Russian team swept the top three spots in the women’s competition at the last world tournament, with now 17-year-old Anna Shcherbakova on top. American Nathan Chen’s potential duel (对决) with Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic champion, could be a highlight of the Games.

In the pairs event, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong could bring the gold to the host nation.

Freestyle sking, 13 golds

There are six disciplines. In the aerials and the new big air event, skiers launch themselves of a ramp and perform flips (空翻) and spins. In half pipe, they perform in a U-shaped bowl, and in slope style, they ski down a course with rails and jumps. In moguls (雪上技巧赛), they ski over a bumpy course and are judged on turns, jumps and speed. The only event that is timed instead of judged is ski cross (障碍追逐赛), in which skiers race against one another in groups of four.

Speedskating, 23 golds

Long-track speed skating is dominated by the Dutch. They won seven of 14 gold medals in 2018 and eight of 12 in 2014. Short-track provided China with its gold of the 2018 Games. South Korea will also be a major contender.

1. How many disciplines does Alpine skiing include?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

2. Which country mayn’t dominate the medals from Biathlon?

A．Russia.

B．Sweden.

C．Norway.

D．Germany.

3. Which of the following is not true?

A．Anna Shcherbakova won the first place at the last world toumament.

B．Nathan Chen’s potential duel with Yuzuru Hanyu could be a highlight.

C．Sui Wenjing and Han Cong could bring a gold to China.

D．The Dutch won 14 gold medals in long-track speedskating in 2018.

3 . This free night of music is a must-attend for jazz fans and music lovers alike! It is presented in association with the American Jazz Museum.

For the first time on stage in an ongoing cooperation, theoretical physicist Stephen Alexander and NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, a New Orleans-based saxophonist, explore their theory of quantum improvisation (量子即兴创作). They will also be joined by composer and bassist Santi Debriano along with other famous musicians for a night of jazz and its poetic link to the universe.

Time

7:00 pm—8:30 pm, December 22,2023

Event

6:00 p. m.—Doors open

7:00 p. m.—Lively conversation on jazz and quantum improvisation with Library President Lisa Browar, Stephen Alexander, and Donald Harrison

7:30 p. m.—Jazz concert—seven to eight songs, including two original pieces—starts!

8:30 p. m.—Jazz concert concludes

Venue

Please note that this event will be held at the Folly Theater, 300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105. The program will be free and open to the public, but advanced registration will be required. Attendees can also purchase the souvenirs such as T-shirts and caps linked to the event as well as the magazine signed by these famous musicians.

Parking

Parking is available in the garage next to the Folly Theater for $10-$15. The garage only accepts credit cards.

1. What does the concert mainly focus on?

A．The modern science.	B．The popular music.
C．The musical instruments.	D．The jazz of physics.

2. How long does the Jazz concert last?

A．Half an hour.

B．An hour.

C．One and half an hour.

D．Two hours.

3. Which of the following is free of charge?

A．Parking in the garage.	B．A T-shirt worn by a musician.
C．Admission to the event.	D．The magazine signed by musicians.

4 . Some Ways to Improve Your Study

As a high school student, it is important for you to do well in study. The better ways you have, the better you will learn. But do you know how to improve your study?     1    

●Pay attention in class. First, don’t make any noise in class.     2     Last but not least, get yourself involved in classroom activities.

●    3     If you are not sure how to take notes, start by writing down the important points that your teacher mentions or writes on the blackboard. It’s a good idea to keep your notes in order by subject. It can help you master what you have learnt.

●Go over your lessons.     4     By going over your lessons, you can understand and remember better. So you should review your lessons now and then after class.

●Learn from your classmates. Everyone has his own advantages. You should learn not only from your teachers but also from your classmates. You can learn in pairs or in groups to solve problems.     5    

I’m sure you will improve your study sooner or later if you follow the ways above.

A．Take good notes.

B．Believe in yourself.

C．Here are some ways to help you.

D．It is necessary for you to go over your lessons.

E．You should take part in out-of-school activities.

F．Second, pay attention to what the teacher says.

G．In this way, you can learn from each other and know more.

5 . It may not be rocket science, but researchers have found aerospace engineers and neurosurgeons (神经外科医生) are not necessarily brighter than the general population.

Researchers examined data from an international group of 329 aerospace engineers and 72 brain surgeons who completed 12 tasks online using the Great British Intelligence Test.

The tasks examined various aspects of cognition (认知), including planning and reasoning, working memory, attention, and emotion processing abilities. The researchers then compared the results against those previously gathered from more than 18,000 members of the British public.

The findings, which were recently published, reveal that only neurosurgeons showed a significant difference, with quicker problem-solving speed but slower memory recall compared with the general population. “The difference in problem-solving speed exhibited by neurosurgeons might arise from the fast-paced nature of neurosurgery, which attracts those with a pre-existing talent for rapid processing, or it could be, though less likely, a product of training for rapid decision-making in time-critical situations,” the researchers noted.

The researchers said the study was, in part, carried out to lay to rest the question of whether one of the professions had the intellectual upper hand-a tension made famous by a comedy show in which a confident neurosurgeon is slapped down by an aerospace expert who says, “Brain surgery... it’s not exactly rocket science, is it?”

However, the team found few differences between the cognitive abilities of aerospace engineers and neuroscientists, although the results suggest the former had higher scores for attention and mental control—such as turning objects in one’s head—while neurosurgeons showed higher scores in semantic (语义的) problem solving—such as definitions of rare words.

“Essentially what we think it shows is that everyone has a range of skills, some people are better at some things and other people are better at other things, and it is very difficult to be better in everything across the board,” said Aswin Chari, an author of the study.

1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The research subjects.	B．The research method.
C．The research aspects.	D．The research background.

2. What seemed to be the major cause of neurosurgeons’ quicker problem-solving speed shown in the study?

A．Fast development of neurosurgery.	B．Talent of neurosurgeons.
C．Training for rapid decision-making.	D．Nature of problem solving.

3. The study was conducted partly because the researchers          .

A．attempted to answer the question asked by the aerospace expert in the show

B．were eager to solve the conflicts between neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers

C．intended to settle the argument over the intellectual superiority of the two professions

D．wanted to find out which of the two professions was more intellectually demanding

4. What is most likely to be the purpose of this text?

A．To inform people of the results of a cognitive study.

B．To encourage people to be confident in themselves.

C．To reduce prejudice against certain professions.

D．To correct misunderstandings about intelligence.

6 . Joe and Della were a new couple. They were both interested in art--one in painting, the other in music. They lived in a small flat. They loved each other and they were happy.

But one day they found that they had spent all their money. One afternoon Della told Joe that she had found a _________ and was to give her three music lessons a week. For that she could get fifteen dollars a week. But Joe was not _________ because he didn’t want to stay at home, playing with his art while Della was at work. He wanted to earn some money too.

Every day they parted in the morning and _________ in the evening.

A week _________ , Della brought home fifteen dollars, but she looked a little _________. Joe took eighteen dollars out of his pocket. They were both _________ to have so much money at hand.

The next week, Joe _________ home another eighteen dollars but Della came home with her right hand in a bandage (绷带). Joe asked Della what was the _________. Della said, “It was because of an iron-- I mean a plate of soup spilled on my _________.”

“What do you do every day, Della? Do you __________ give music lessons?” Joe asked. “Tell me the __________!”

Della cried. She told Joe that she was working in a laundry (洗衣店), __________ shirts. A girl accidentally __________ an iron on her hand and she got a __________ burn. But Della asked Joe how he had guessed that she wasn’t giving music lessons.

Joe told Della that he worked in the engine-room of the same laundry where she worked. They both let out their __________ and laughed.

1.

A．pupil

B．teacher

C．painter

D．director

2.

A．worried

B．busy

C．glad

D．surprising

3.

A．studied

B．met

C．worked

D．talked

4.

A．killed

B．spent

C．wasted

D．passed

5.

A．tired

B．excited

C．fatter

D．stranger

6.

A．puzzled

B．disappointed

C．anxious

D．happy

7.

A．borrowed

B．brought

C．applied

D．stored

8.

A．result

B．job

C．matter

D．bandage

9.

A．foot

B．face

C．arm

D．hand

10.

A．really

B．often

C．seldom

D．finally

11.

A．reason

B．cause

C．truth

D．incident

12.

A．making

B．repairing

C．ironing

D．selling

13.

A．picked up

B．set down

C．poured out

D．filled with

14.

A．slight

B．bad

C．soft

D．hard

15.

A．secrets

B．lessons

C．ideas

D．opinions

7 . Music is arguably the most life-enriching academic subject.     1    . It can bring lots of important benefits to your child’s education, many of which you may not have considered before.

Increase language capabilities

Music and language have a far-reaching relationship. Musical training stimulates the same part of the brain that deals with understanding language. Children who have some exposure to music al education will, therefore, have a greater understanding of tones and how different phrases are arranged.     2    .

Improve hand-eye coordination (协调)

    3    . It takes considerable hand-eye coordination to learn almost any instrument. Those who master their craft are blessed with a unique skill; it’s something that can be applied to other areas of general life. It can also help elsewhere in education, as writing skills and art require the hands and eyes to work together.

    4    

Music is a great way for your child to meet new people and create lasting friendships. If they decide to take up music as an extracurricular (课外的) activity, they’ll be bonding with like-minded children who share their passion. In a time when children are increasingly interested in communicating online and focusing on digital skills, music is a refreshing return to face-to-face contact.

Bring about a sense of achievement

When your child does achieve a musical goal, they get the incredible satisfaction that comes from working hard to obtain something.     5    . Self-trust is one of the most valuable skills a child can have and music is one of the best ways to allow it to develop in your child.

A．Develop social skills

B．Encourage teamwork

C．In that sense, music is a great confidence builder

D．Hand-eye coordination is important in many sports

E．Learning an instrument to a high level is no easy task

F．It activates emotional responses and creativity like no other

G．It can be incredibly useful if your child is learning a second language

8 . － _______?
－My watch reads nine.

A．What’s the date today	B．How much is your watch
C．What time is it now	D．How many watches do you have

9 . My father was the kind of guy who could walk into a room full of strangers and leave with new best friends for life! He was a hard worker and was known as “Mr Fix-It” to everyone. He was also one of the most cheerful, affable (和葛可亲的) and gentle people you would ever meet, which made us, his beloved daughters feel proud.

But when Dad was in his fifties, my family began to notice him struggling. His work and skills began to become worse and worse, and he became depressed and withdrawn. This was not the man I knew. At the age of fifty-eight, Dad was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As for our family, it was the worst.

Our first step was to attend a meeting hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association to learn more about the disease and programs that might help us. That meeting inspired me to start a Walk to End Alzheimer’s^® team. But I still wanted to do more. In 2017, I became a board member of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter.

The loss from this disease is gradual. My father’s decline continued for several years. Losing my father more and more each day was leaving a big hole in my heart and my life. I decided to fill that hole with action to honor my father.

That’s why I recently decided to leave a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association by naming it as a beneficiary of my retirement plan. My future gift will provide money to support research because I don’t want another person in my family or someone in other families to have to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

I am so proud to be able to honor my father and other family members who lost their fights to Alzheimer’s in this way. My dad was an inspiration to me, and I hope, through my gift, I can inspire others to join in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

1. What can we infer about the author’s father before having Alzheimer’s?

A．He was an outgoing man.	B．He hiked with strangers.
C．He made a living by sales.	D．He was a popular repairer of cars.

2. What did the author initially do for her father’s disease?

A．She consulted many experts.	B．She established a research team.
C．She gained more relevant information.	D．She funded the Alzheimer’s Association.

3. What gift does the author leave to the Alzheimer’s Association?

A．Research funds for the disease.	B．A record of her father’s mental state.
C．Her research papers on families like hers.	D．Experts’ suggestions on her father’s disease.

4. What does the author focus on in the last paragraph?

A．Her precious gift.	B．Her father’s firm confidence.
C．Her future expectation.	D．Her father’s original motivation.

10 . ---Thanks for giving me a ride to school.
---_________.

A．You are welcome	B．That’s a good idea
C．Don’t worry	D．You are so nice