1 . 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。

Shi Taiheng, 83, has dreamed of being a painter since he was a child. He would spend hours drawing, dreaming of one day becoming a     1     (profession) artist.

Sixty years ago, in     2     (pursue) of a better life, the young farmer and his wife moved to Qitai County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In the village of Erqi, Shi     3     (grow) fruit for around four decades before he retired 10 years ago, expanding his apple orchard to     4     100-hectare apple planting demonstration base. Now, with his sons     5     (take) over the care of the fruit trees, the old man has enough time     6     (follow) his passion for painting.

Every day, Shi spends hours sitting at his desk, preparing ink and drawing on Xuan paper. The self-taught painter is skilled at painting gongbi, a careful realist technique contrary     7     the interpretive and freely expressive xieyi style. His subjects range     8     (wide) from flowers, birds, countryside scenery to rural life.

“I love painting peonies the most, because the peony is a traditional famous flower in China and represents peace and wealth,     9     mirrors the life of Chinese farmers today,” Shi said.

The more Shi continues to draw, the more noticeable his progress becomes. Many people have asked if they can collect the     10     (work) of the “fruit farmer painter”.

2 . Not too long ago, two of my grandkids came over for Sunday night family dinner. They made straight for the sofa to ________. Aged 10 and 12, they took out their smartphones and started up with their games. It makes me ________ to watch them, and so many other kids today, define play as gaming, and to see how their ________ is done mostly online.

That evening, I took the kids outside to show them something in the garage. The first ________ was, “Why?” “Because we could go out and throw the frisbee （飞盘） around,” I said and ________ a frisbee.

I got a (n) ________ “Sure” for my efforts.

With some further unwillingness, we went to the street and began ________ the frisbee around, badly.

“Snap the wrist,” I instructed ________.

Gradually, we were getting it and only ________ the neighbor’s car three times. It’s amazing how much a frisbee ________ your hands when your fingers are cold, but we were making ________. We lasted playing outside until ________ was called and just before the neighbor came to check on his car.

I think it was a small ________. But one battle does not win a war. As a grandparent, I just don’t expect them to face the challening future being ________ of real thoughtful and creative play in a ________ that routinely enables them.

1.

A．stand out

B．show off

C．lie down

D．look back

2.

A．sad

B．glad

C．scared

D．content

3.

A．guidance

B．interaction

C．assignment

D．business

4.

A．comment

B．expectation

C．conflict

D．response

5.

A．picked up

B．made out

C．gave away

D．rolled over

6.

A．serious

B．polite

C．reliable

D．unwilling

7.

A．throwing

B．moving

C．watching

D．kicking

8.

A．impatiently

B．helpfully

C．cautiously

D．casually

9.

A．lifted

B．blocked

C．pushed

D．hit

10.

A．changes

B．touches

C．hurts

D．damages

11.

A．promises

B．commitment

C．judgment

D．progress

12.

A．pain

B．urgency

C．dinner

D．attention

13.

A．success

B．opportunity

C．incident

D．fortune

14.

A．warned

B．robbed

C．reminded

D．informed

15.

A．position

B．society

C．competition

D．neighborhood

3 . Comparing ourselves to those around us is something that we have all done multiple times in our lives. And in truth, simply making a comparison between education and observation is not a negative thing at all.     1     It will help us to evaluate our successes and accomplishments alongside those of our peers.

But too often comparison is followed by judgment. And this type of judgment, if we are not careful, can lead to thoughts and feelings of insecurity, embarrassment, low self-worth, and even depression.     2     If we judge others to be inferior to ourselves, then feelings of superiority, pride, and disdain (鄙视) for those who appear to have achieved less than we have may follow.

    3     By learning to instead compare ourselves to ourselves. Instead of asking “How am I better or worse than she is?”, we should ask, “How am I better or worse than I was three years, six months or even two weeks ago?”

We should use this opportunity to measure how much we have grown, how much we have achieved, and how much closer we are to reaching our goals. We should set a baseline by making a thoughtful and thorough evaluation of our current situation. There is no accurate way to measure progress without an effective starting point.     4    

A great way to do this is by developing this act of self-comparison into a regular practice. We should set aside time on a periodic basis to count our achievements.     5     We should count not only all the great and wonderful things we have done, but also the challenges and obstacles we have encountered. Not every experience will be a pleasant one, but every experience will be an opportunity for growth and development.

By focusing on ourselves, we will not only learn gratitude and appreciation for what we have and who we are, but, most importantly, we will love ourselves more and become happier in the process.

A．It can result in an expected result.

B．It can be once a week or a month.

C．How to avoid arguing with others?

D．This can also have the contrary effect.

E．So this assessment will provide us with it.

F．Actually it may even be a positive practice.

G．How to stop comparing ourselves with others?

4 . With the new term upon us, I recently received an email from my university encouraging me to come up with a “policy” about the use of artificial intelligence in my courses. The university suggested that on the first day of class, instructors should inform students whether and how they can employ AI bots.

Here’s what I’m going to tell my students instead. You’ll have to inform me if you draw upon AI to write a paper. But whether to use AI or not is up to you.

I’m not saying that because AI can make up unreal “facts”, but because AI does your thinking for you. I want you to be intelligent. I want you to stare at a blank page or screen for hours, trying to decide how to start. I want you to write draft after draft and develop a stronger version of your own ideas. I want you to be proud of what you accomplished, not ashamed that you cut corners. Most of all, I want you to decide what is real.

One of my teachers, Neil Postman famously declared that education should equip us with an effective “rubbish detector.” Sometimes bullshit(胡说) is just lies—what today we call “disinformation.” More commonly, though, it is an indifference to truth rather than deliberately denying it. Liars believe in truth; they couldn’t lie unless they did. In that sense, as Neil wrote, bullshit is “a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.”

So here’s my question: Do you want to live your life this way? If so, AI bots are definitely for you. Let them write your essays, do your problem sets, draw your artwork, and compose your poetry. As they get better, outpacing the systems designed to detect them, you’re less and less likely to get caught.

Maybe, AI will eventually take over everything we do. It will drive our cars or cure our illnesses. It will make beautiful art and music. Yet there’s one thing it will never do: make you into a fully autonomous human being, with your own ideas, feelings and goals. I want that to be your ambition.

1. What does the author expect his students to do?

A．Improve their learning skills.	B．Make the most of AI bots.
C．Try to be as intelligent as AI.	D．Think for themselves.

2. Why does the author cite his teacher’s words?

A．To support his argument.	B．To distinguish between lies and truth.
C．To stress the strength of AI.	D．To blame liars for denying the truth.

3. What is the author’s attitude toward the use of AI bots?

A．Favorable.

B．Indifferent.

C．Uncertain.

D．Disapproving.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．AI Is Coming into the Classroom	B．The Students Have the Right to Use AI
C．I Have No AI Policy for Students	D．Schools Have Different AI Regulations

5 . Life at the bottom of the ocean is extreme. It’s dark; the temperature remains right above freezing and the pressure is huge. Only around a couple of dozen people have actually been to the deepest part of the ocean floor, a place known as Challenger Deep.

In July 2022, Marine geographer Dawn Wright and pilot and ocean explorer Victor Vescovo went down in a small underwater vehicle. Once the pair went down about 800 meters, they lost sunlight. “Worms, jellyfish, anglerfish are able to create their own light,” Wright says. “They use the light to find mates, hunt, and—apparently—attempt to communicate with our underwater vehicle. Victor noticed flashes of light as we reached that zone in the ocean. And then he started flashing the lights of the underwater vehicle at them. And we saw them flash back.”

Most tsunamis are a result of earthquakes on the seafloor. Wright explains that “when you have that disruption on the ocean floor, the water above the ocean floor gets severely disrupted as well,” which can generate large waves that can turn into tsunamis. By mapping the seafloor, scientists can identify and monitor underwater areas where earthquakes may take place. That could give coastal areas more warning time in the event of a tsunami.

The basic principle of mapping is a ship or instrument sends pulses of sound from the ocean surface down toward the seafloor and waits for it to come back up. Based on the amount of time it takes for the sound to return and factors like temperature and salt content, scientists can get a specific depth. Scanning a whole area of the seafloor, then, will give you a depth—or bathymetry—map.

If the entire ocean floor has not been mapped by 2030, Wright says the work will continue. But, she adds, “The longer it takes us to get too close to 100 percent, for all the reasons that we’ve talked about, the more it looks like we are playing with fire, so to speak.”

1. Why did Victor flash the lights?

A．To offer light to the ocean floor.	B．To guide the underwater vehicle.
C．To communicate with deep-sea species.	D．To frighten the sea animals away.

2. What is the purpose of mapping the seafloor?

A．To explore the cause of earthquakes.	B．To monitor and predict tsunamis.
C．To identify various ocean creatures.	D．To avoid the disruption of the seafloor.

3. What does a bathymetry map show about the ocean?

A．Rising temperature.

B．Depth changes.

C．Current directions.

D．Salt contents.

4. What does Wright stress about mapping the seafloor in the last paragraph?

A．It is greatly urgent.

B．It is very dangerous.

C．It is time-consuming.

D．It will be done soon.

6 . Like everybody else in America, I was looking for a side job that can make a few extra dollars, so I can afford my favorite things.

So I read all the articles about taking surveys (for pennies) or becoming a remote receptionist. I even briefly considered delivering pizzas, but I realized I’d be fired after the first night for picking all the sausages off customers’ pizzas and leaving just the bar e dough (面团).

I leafed through one of my four copies of Infinite Jest, and an idea slowly formed. I could sell books. My books. No, not books I’ve actually written, but all of the hundreds of books I’ve compulsively purchased over the years and never quite gotten around to. Since all roads lead to Amazon, I requested permission to join Amazon Marketplace.

After a certain age, you forget about the person you used to be. Apparently, I was a person who thought deep thoughts. Part of me wishes I was still that person, someone with intellectual curiosity.

But I forgot about all that when I discovered that my copy of Steve Martin’s 1977 masterpiece Cruel Shoes is worth $35．Should I hang onto it? It can only appreciate in value, right? What if Steve Martin dies? The price will go through the roof.

A year has gone by. I’ve added 10 books to the “sell” pile, and only after the kind of painful internal debate usually reserved for buying a new home. And even though I owned three copies of The Gunslinger, I felt ambivalent about letting it go. It was a book, and I loved it. I loved the memories of where I was in my life when I first bought it at a mall bookstore. The mall is gone. And now the book is.

But each book reminds me that authors live forever through their work. Each book, too, reminds me of a younger me, and I don’t want to let that younger me go.

So, please, whatever you do, don’t buy my books.

1. Why did the author join Amazon Marketplace?

A．To get rid of boring daily life.	B．To collect secondhand books.
C．To get some extra income.	D．To sell the books he wrote.

2. What kind of person did the author use to be?

A．Someone thirsty for knowledge.	B．Someone with unrealistic ideas.
C．Someone addicted to the Internet.	D．Someone expert at doing business.

3. What does the underlined word “ambivalent” in Paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Relieved.

B．Hesitant.

C．Pleased.

D．Nervous.

4. Which word can best describe the author?

A．Greedy.

B．Knowledgeable.

C．Humorous.

D．Considerate.

7 . Cinderella

23 November—31 December

Description

Welcome to Brixton Lane! Forget the glass slipper or the pumpkin carriage this Christmas; join Sindi-Ella in this reimagined tale of Cinderella full of magic, music… and home-grown vegetables!

Just like her Dad, Brixton’s most beloved greengrocer, Sindi-Ella will do anything to keep the family business open… including growing her own produce. It’s a welcome distraction from the disorder of growing up and feeling sad for the loss of her father… not that Sindi wants to talk about that…

Stuck with her stepmom and her hating stepsister, Sindi’s only got her trusty plant to talk to. Until a chance meeting with Charmz, Brixton’s biggest influencer, sparks something unexpected…Charmz is sick of living the life online and is looking for a meaningful connection. What better way than to host a party? When Sindi and Charmz meet, the spark is immediate. But with trouble at home, can Sindi make it to the ball? Perhaps her loyal houseplants can help.

Family Ticket Deal

Get 15% off a family ticket deal when booking a minimum of 1 adult and 2 children and a maximum of 5 child tickets. Simply add your tickets to the basket when booking online, and your discount will be automatically applied.

	Standard (Band C)	First performance (Band A)	First performance (Band B)	Balcony (Band D) *partially limited view	Children (under 16’s)
Nov. 23—24 (Private showing)	£16 (favorable price)	£28	₢24	£15	£15
Nov. 25 & 28 (Press Night)	£24	£32	£28	£15	£15
Nov. 29—Dec. 31	£30	£34	£30	£15	£15

1. What does the family business mean to Sindi-Ella?

A．A chance to seek her fortune.	B．A way to escape the troubles in life.
C．A burden to carry in her own life.	D．A sense of social responsibility.

2. How can you get discounted family tickets directly?

A．By putting them in the online basket.	B．By donating some vegetables.
C．By buying at least two tickets.	D．By purchasing them on the spot.

3. What will you enjoy if you choose Band B on Dec. 31?

A．The favorable price.	B．The private showing.
C．The partially limited view.	D．The first performance.

8 . NY Giants game-by-game predictions for the 2023 NFL season

Week 1:vs Cowboys

Sunday, Sept.10, 8:20 p.m.

At some point, the Giants are going to have to break through and prove they can play at the level of Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East. Dak Prescott has had their number for awhile now, too. But let’s just say Big Blue rides the momentum of being at home in the opener.

Prediction: Win

Week 2:at Cardinals

Sunday, Sept.17, 8:05 p.m.

It’s unlikely that Kyler Murray is on the field to face the Giants this early in his ACL recovery. That’s a positive for the defense, and I can see the Cardinals being out manned here as Daniel Jones tests this defense being put together by new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Prediction: Win

Week 3:at 49ers

Thursday, Sept.21, 8:15 p.m.

This is a tough spot, even if the Giants stay out west and practice in Phoenix in order to cut down on the short-week travel to California for this one. The 49ers are loaded defensively and Christian Mc Caffrey is going to test the Giants’ rebuilt run defense, putting pressure on the revamped middle featuring Bobby Okereke. It’s uncertain which quarterback will be available for San Francisco, and it could be Sam Darnold.

Prediction: Loss

Week 4:vs Seahawks

Monday, Oct.2, 8:20 p.m.

The Giants return home to Met Life for “Monday Night Football” against Geno Smith and his team the Seahawks, who beat Big Blue in their building last year. Let’s say for argument’s sake that the Giants return the favor.

Prediction: Win
1. Which event may see the Giants’ failure?

A．Week 1:vs Cowboys	B．Week 2:at Cardinals
C．Week 3:at 49ers	D．Week 4:vs Seahawks

2. What is Geno Smith?

A．A player in the Giants.	B．A coach in Cowboys.
C．Manager of Big Blue.	D．An athlete in the Seahawks.

3. The events mentioned above will be held       .

A．in the evening.

B．in September.

C．in the same place.

D．by different hosts.

9 . Depending on your job, you may have the chance to make a kid’s day while at work. Or even better, you may have memories of an adult going the extra mile just to make you smile. For a group of construction workers, the opportunity popped up in the form of a toy truck. Excited to see some building work being done in the area, a small boy paid a visit with his tiny truck as if to join the action. What happened next is something that the little one will surely value forever.

The heart-warming moment was shot in a video that has since gone viral. Wanting to be a part of it all and hoping to see the big excavator at work, the kid placed his wheeled toy under the big metal machine. The machine operator, moved by it all, was grateful and filled the toy truck with earth. With careful precision, as if it were a crucial part of the construction work being done, he made the little boy’s dreams come true. While it’s hard to find the location or the time from the video alone, the excitement of the kid as the machine slowly fills the mini dump truck is universally lovely. Even the other construction workers stop for a while to witness the cute scene. All the while, the kid’s mom holds him firmly to keep everyone safe until the toy truck is full and the machine is still.

While anyone can appreciate the sweetness of a group of adults taking a few minutes to put a smile on a child’s face, the video has had all kinds of positive responses. For some, it brought back memories of seeing construction work and big machines when they were little and being blown away. For others, it allowed them to enjoy the unexpected delicacy of the great machine. If there’s one thing we all can agree on, it’s that the boy wasn’t the only one who benefited from this tiny action. As one editor wrote, “I used to work in the field. I can tell you it made everyone’s day.”

1. Why did the kid come to the construction field?

A．To drive the big excavator alone.	B．To work like a construction worker.
C．To get some earth from the field.	D．To see what the construction site is like.

2. What did the excavator operator do?

A．He held the kid firmly to keep him safe.	B．He stopped for a while to witness the scene.
C．He filled the kid’s toy truck with earth.	D．He got off the machine and picked the kid up.

3. What do we know from the last paragraph?

A．The video was a great hit.	B．Many adults recalled their bad childhood.
C．Only the kid was the winner of the video.	D．People thought the video funny.

4. Which of the following best describes the excavator operator’s deed?

A．Curious.

B．Amusing.

C．Ambitious.

D．Considerate

10 . Having an off day when you feel stressed or sad is totally normal.    1    We’ve put together some different things you can try to help turn your mood around and get feeling like yourself again.

Take a few minutes to breathe deeply. The simple action of taking full, deep breaths can help you start to feel better. Deep breathing increases oxygen supply throughout the body.     2     Deep breathing also helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which produces a calming effect.

Start keeping diaries.    3    It is a way to cognitively deal with the circumstances behind how you are feeling. In fact, studies have shown that writing offers benefits of emotional well-being, including relief of emotional distress. Besides, adjourning has been shown to benefit the immune system.

    4    Emotional tears signal the body to let out endorphins or “feel-good” hormones to promote a feeling of calm and well-being. Not only does crying allow your body to let out stress hormones, but at the end of a good cry, the body assumes a calmer state with a lower heart and breathing rate.

Rely on your support system. Studies have shown the benefits of having a close support system of family and friends to whom you can turn. Social support leads to a sense of belonging and security rather than loneliness while dealing with emotional pain.    5    

A．Take a break to laugh.

B．Go ahead and cry if you need to.

C．Take some time for yourself and treat yourself.

D．It’s also been linked to an increased sense of self-worth.

E．Writing down your feelings provides a great benefit.

F．This can help to relax muscles and reduce your blood pressure.

G．The good news is that there are things you can do for yourself to start feeling better.