1 . ---Hi, there. Can I help you with anything today?
---Oh, yes.________, I’d like to buy a present for my niece’s birthday.

A．Exactly

B．Somehow

C．Actually

D．Definitely

2 . We are often so attracted by the promises of modern digital life that we fail to notice its danger. It’s that feeling of losing control that we get a dozen times a day, from when we get distracted (分心) with our phones in a discussion to when we can’t appreciate a private moment without sharing it with virtual audience.

In my first attempt to get control over my technology use, I set my phone to vibrate rather than ring. Soon after, another problem appeared. The act of continually checking the phone became a habit. I knew then that using only tips to permanently reform digital life is difficult. We should go past the notification settings (通知模式) on our devices or apps and consider the more essential topic of why we use so many apps in the first place. What all of us who are struggling with these challenges need is a technology usage philosophy, something that explains from the ground up which digital tools we allow into our lives, why, and under what conditions.

Cal Newport, a professor of computer science, defines Digital Minimalism (极简主义) as a “philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support the things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.”

To do so, however, we cannot passively allow the tools and apps provided by the internet age to control how we spend our time or how we feel. Instead, we must take steps to draw the positive aspects of these technologies while sidestepping the negative aspects.

1. What does “its danger” in the first paragraph refer to?

A．Feeling depressed.

B．Getting distracted in a discussion.

C．Giving up private moments.

D．Losing control of your digital life.

2. Why does the author mention his own experiences?

A．To make a comparison.

B．To explain a phenomenon.

C．To bring in a better solution.

D．To clarify misunderstandings.

3. Which of the following will digital minimalists agree to?

A．Ignoring the side effect of digital tools.

B．Devoting your screen time to valuable things.

C．Spending more time selecting information.

D．Getting away from entertainment apps.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．Reforms in life.

B．Technology challenges.

C．Apps and social media sites.

D．Technology usage philosophy.

3 . When we’re bored, most of us end up being glued to a phone. That might ease our boredom.     1     That time could’ve been spent on a different, more valuable activity. The following will help ease your boredom, and teach you to use time more productively.

Reading.

    2     That’s because they were forced to read at school. But when you have the option to choose which book you’re going to read, you can understand why it’s enjoyable. Not only can it help ease your boredom, it’s also one of the best ways to expand your knowledge.

    3    

People often forget why they’re pursing something in the first place. Some may not even be sure what they’re supposed to be doing in their daily life. This lack of direction then often shows up as boredom. That’s why having goals is important.

Exercise.

Exercise is good and should be done frequently.     4     Most people who exercise do it to look better in the mirror. But there’s another reason why you should exercise, it improves our brain function.

Cleaning up your room.

Take a look around right now. Chances are that the space you’re in, is far from clean. However, you have to change that, as our physical environment has a huge impact on our cognition, behavior and decision making.     5     But once we remove all this visual mess from our environment, we’re able to focus and process information much better.

A．Pursuing a dream.

B．Planning and goal setting.

C．But there’s an opportunity cost.

D．Most people only do reading after school.

E．But for some reason, not everyone does it.

F．When our surroundings are a mess, so are we.

G．Most people don’t read anything after they’ve finished school.

4 . A Taste of Chinese Tea Culture

China’s traditional tea-making practices have been added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage items.    1    

The origins of tea

Tea is believed to have originated in China. Ancient Chinese people first chewed on raw tea leaves for medicinal purposes, then added them to soups or greens, and brewed tea to drink.

The functions of tea

Ancient books recorded tea’s positive health effects, such as curing indigestion and improving brain function.     2     . For example, Myoan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest, praised the value of tea as a medicine in his book.

    3    

Tea has gained widespread popularity since the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty. especially in literary circles, including with the famous Chinese poets Bai Juyi, Su Shi, and Lu You, who all wrote poems about tea.

Tea making crafts

Since ancient times, Chinese people have been planting, picking, making and drinking tea. Traditional tea processing techniques are mainly found in four major regions for tea production in China. Associated social practices, however, are spread throughout the country and shared by multiple ethnic groups.    4    

Tea’s role in building cultural bridges

    5    . going back to when it was important produce on the ancient Silk Road and the ancient Tea Horse Road.

A．Cultural value of tea

B．Famous tea lovers in history

C．Let’s have a taste of Chinese tea culture

D．In 2020 China ranked first in the world for tea leaves production

E．Together with reprocessed teas, there are over 2. 000 tea varieties in China

F．Chinese tea’s medical purposes are also recognized in other parts of the world

G．Tea has long been a means of building peace and friendship between China and the world

5 . People have tried everything to get more sleep. But unlike almost every other area of life, effort is not rewarded.    1    The more you try, the less you are likely to succeed. Here are some ways to improve your sleep that might just work.

    2    There is nothing you can do between now and bedtime to guarantee that you will sleep tonight. There is, however, plenty you can start doing to improve your chances of sleeping well next month. So instead of worrying about the night ahead, make sleeping well a long-term goal and expect to see progress in a few weeks rather than tomorrow.

Have a late night. Adults need to be awake for at least 16 hours to generate enough sleep-drive to sleep for eight hours at night. Having an early night can mean you won’t be sleepy enough to fall asleep quickly and easily. Don’t pay too much attention to the exact times or he hours of sleep you are getting — the details don’t matter. And don’t take naps (小睡) in the day.    3    

Smile more. Smiling can reduce tension and promote relaxation. As you turn the light out at night, try to think of something funny and smile lo yourself in the dark.    4    Even a fake smile is enough to send a message to the brain to change your mood and retrain the brain to be comfortable with being awake, thus reducing tension and allowing sleep to follow.

Stop reading articles about sleep. None of the researching, monitoring or analyzing actually leads to better sleep. In fact, constantly looking for a solution is undoubtedly making things worse.    5    Make this the last article you read on the subject, then go and find something more interesting to think about.

A．Try to stay awake at night.

B．In fact, it is actively punished.

C．Give up trying to sleep tonight.

D．So give sleep less of your attention.

E．They take the edge off your appetite for sleep.

F．It doesn’t have to be a genuine, heartfelt smile.

G．You have to do things differently to get a different outcome.

6 . 阅读下面的材料, 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 and the other fifty girls sat on the chairs in the gym of my middle school.We waited there for the coach to give the results of the competition for roles as cheerleaders (啦啦队队员)．One by one, each girl left her seat, jumping up and down as their number was called out. “Will I be one of them?” I wondered. I was getting more nervous, and each second felt like a century.

“Number seventeen.” the coach called out. Hearing it, I jumped right away from my seat. And I ran over to stand next to the girls who had been chosen to be cheerleaders. We smiled and hugged each other because we became members of the 10­girl cheerleading team.

During the following days, I and the other nine cheerleaders practiced for the performance. We were dressed in our blue uniforms before the upcoming sports meet. It was going to be held on a Friday morning. However, the night before the sports meet, I got very nervous, and worried what if I made a mess in the performance. I tried to comfort myself, “You can make it. Just calm down and relax.” The next morning, my parents left home for work and I hurried to go to school.

Unluckily, when I arrived at school, I found the other nine cheerleaders were all in their white uniforms. But I was still in my blue uniform. At once I realized I had made a mistake: wearing the wrong uniform. There was not much time left before the cheerleading performance started. What should I do? Both my team members and the coach were worried. Then a cheerleader called Tammy offered to help me. She said, “My home is quite close to our school.Maybe I could give my mother a call. She is at home now. She could drive Jane to her home, so Jane can change her uniform quickly.”

注意：续写词数应为150左右。

The coach allowed Tammy to give it a try.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I joined the other girls for the cheerleading performance.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . I’d worked four months at a university when we had a going-away party for Sandy, who was moving to London. When I got to work the next day, I was _____________ to see Sandy there. “Aren’t you supposed to be in London?” I asked. She _____________ me and said, “I’m Helen.”

I then found out that I have a rare disease face blindness. This _________ sent me to the doctor. I didn’t think much about it. _________ , I’m a successful adult — who cares if my _____________ isn’t quite like everyone else’s? Then, I met Dr Smith. “Your ability to learn new faces is among the worst,” he said. “As for cures, nothing so far has been very _________ .” After a sad goodbye, I fled in tears.

I was _____________ until Dad gave me some important advice. “Everyone just wants to talk about themselves,” he said. “Just ask questions.” This _________ transformed my life. When walking on campus, if someone looked my way, I   _________ . If they smiled, I stopped to chat. Soon I became an expert at talking to __________.

This year, I celebrated my birthday with over 60 friends, many of whom I wasn’t able to ______________ . I was fine with that. ______________, I can take courses to treat my illness, but I’d rather spend that time on something I   ______________ , like looking at birds. I get such a ______________ identifying them.

______________ my face blindness, I’ve learnt to see the world.

1.

A．excited

B．surprised

C．frightened

D．pleased

2.

A．stared at

B．thought of

C．got away from

D．reached out for

3.

A．disaster

B．accident

C．discovery

D．expectation

4.

A．However

B．Somehow

C．Anyway

D．Moreover

5.

A．illness

B．growth

C．face

D．brain

6.

A．promising

B．popular

C．cheap

D．comfortable

7.

A．unconcerned

B．impatient

C．desperate

D．annoyed

8.

A．tip

B．question

C．explanation

D．warning

9.

A．hesitated

B．smiled

C．panicked

D．waited

10.

A．students

B．strangers

C．colleagues

D．patients

11.

A．invite

B．trust

C．greet

D．recognise

12.

A．Eventually

B．Fortunately

C．Actually

D．Hopefully

13.

A．remember

B．ignore

C．miss

D．enjoy

14.

A．chance

B．thrill

C．shock

D．trouble

15.

A．According to

B．Regardless of

C．In fear of

D．Thanks to

8 . Does the happiness of parents play a role in shaping the overall happiness of their children? Scientific studies have shed light on the far-reaching connection between parental happiness and the positive development of kids. It seems that parental happiness has an important influence on the emotional, social, and cognitive (认知的) development of children.     1     If they know their mental and emotional happiness has an impact on their children, perhaps it can motivate them to view it as part of being a good parent.

    2     For example, they can join in activities that bring them joy and satisfaction. This could include hobbies, exercise, pursuing personal goals, or taking time for relaxation. When parents improve their own happiness, they can better support their children’s happiness.

Another great idea is sharing experiences and creating many memories together. The idea is twofold.     3     At the same time, the shared experiences and showing their children how happy they are to do something they love can be incredibly valuable as well.

One of the main aspects of being happy parents is feeling comfortable, confident and able to be themselves, despite their new status and huge responsibility. Honestly, when parents prioritize their own happiness, it has positive effects on the overall happiness of the family.     4    

When parents put their own happiness first, they become role models for their kids. They see the importance of self-care, pursuing passions and maintaining healthy relationships.     5     So, parents should accept their uniqueness, enjoying life!

A．However, part of being responsible is being honest.

B．They are passing on some major life skills and attitudes.

C．They may lose a bit of their sense of self when caring for children.

D．Parents can adopt practical ways to enhance their own happiness.

E．A joyful and harmonious family environment benefits everyone involved.

F．This can happen when parents prioritize their own happiness according to Inc.

G．Firstly, the parents continue to be themselves and do something they love.

9 . At 20, I was scared and lonely. My laptop was filled with the beginning of novels, half-finished song lyrics (歌词) — things I’d started with teenage ________ only to be disappointed by my lack of creativity. I was ________ trying to find a new way to approach life, with no one to ________ me in the right direction.

One Saturday, I went to a training day for my school’s new journalism team. The teacher suggested I start a blog as a good way to get into ________. Bored and in need of a ________, I immediately set up a Blogger account.

As I typed post after post in the months that followed, I assumed I would run out of ________. But somehow writing about the news and, later, about ________, came easily. Here was something interesting that required only a laptop and an ________. I loved the research that went into each post, loved being able to ________ what interested me and loved finding just the right phrase to describe how I ________. I found something I was good at and more importantly, something I ________.

I kept posting and slowly I got better. I ________, edited and even learned how to employ a metaphor. It wasn’t long until my mind was made up: I was going to be a(n) ________.

Seven years later, I am having just completed a fantastic placement (实习) in a local newspaper. I have never been so ________ to my younger self for actually listening to the one piece of advice that turned out to ________ most.

1.

A．confusion

B．maturity

C．enthusiasm

D．innocence

2.

A．praised

B．stuck

C．tricked

D．punished

3.

A．defend

B．force

C．point

D．join

4.

A．socializing

B．advertising

C．debating

D．writing

5.

A．project

B．course

C．tour

D．budget

6.

A．steam

B．time

C．money

D．luck

7.

A．events

B．myself

C．celebrities

D．society

8.

A．idea

B．option

C．excuse

D．answer

9.

A．transform

B．reject

C．predict

D．explore

10.

A．acted

B．felt

C．developed

D．succeeded

11.

A．resisted

B．remembered

C．explained

D．enjoyed

12.

A．redrafted

B．copied

C．deleted

D．published

13.

A．composer

B．instructor

C．journalist

D．adventurer

14.

A．friendly

B．helpful

C．mean

D．grateful

15.

A．matter

B．differ

C．cost

D．happen

10 . 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。

When I was a child, my mother told my sister, who had a 10-inch very obvious scar (伤疤) on her arm, “Nancy, if you ignore the scar, other people will ignore it. It does not mean they will not notice it, but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you.”

It never occurred to me that something like this would happen to my son years later. Sending a child off to college can certainly be stressful for concerned parents. It was in 2018 that my son went off to college. He rarely contacted us. I couldn’t help asking about other aspects, which sometimes made him complain that I didn’t treat him as an adult.

To be honest, my son is excellent. Some of my friends always tell me that they admire my son’s characters and they hope their sons could have some of them.

Unexpectedly, it was 4 o’clock in the morning in 2020, when I received the phone call. “This is the emergency room calling and your son was just brought in with severe burns on his face, neck and arms. We have called for an aircraft and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle.” Seattle was 350 miles from his college, so we knew immediately this was serious.

The doctor described the reason, which caused the burns. At 6 am, my son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers in the courtyard of their apartment. When they lit the charcoal, it burst into flames because they had sprayed too much gasoline. The flames caught my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to well over his head.

Fortunately, one of the boys who was quick-minded grasped my son and rolled him on the grass. While it saved his life, it was not in shape to save him from severe burns and terrible scars.

After he recovered from the treatments, the doctors told him they would not do plastic surgery for 6 months because it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling.

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。

The doctors suggested he return to college with scars of severe burns temporarily.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So I told him about Nancy’s childhood.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________