1 . Edinburgh is famous for its many museums where you can learn its rich history.
Museum on the MoundLocated in the heart of Edinburgh’s city center, this appealing museum takes a fresh look at money — and much, much more. You will see coins and banknotes from over the ages, including the first Scottish banknote printed in 1727. There are also interesting interactive displays and you can even try your hand at opening a safe!
The Writers’ MuseumIt is housed in the beautiful Lady Stair’s House, a category A listed building. The collection celebrates the legacy of Scotland’s literary contributions, with special emphasis given to Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns. The museum is home to numerous paintings, books and manuscripts (手稿), and you can also see Burns’ writing desk and Scott’s chess set.
Our Dynamic EarthIt celebrates the beauty of the earth via technology. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience earthquakes, the ocean floor, ice ages and mountains by the use of computer software. Particularly interesting is the “tour” around the eleven Earthscapes. It is educational fun for the whole family and can serve as a good introduction to concepts surrounding the formation of the planet and the creatures we share the earth with.
National Museum of ScotlandThe diverse collections here include the history of Scotland with exhibitions of international interest. The natural world, science and technology, discoveries, art, and world cultures are all explored. There are interactive elements and activities to suit children of all ages, including science experiments and musical instruments.
1. Which might be the most attractive to finance majors?| A．Our Dynamic Earth. | B．The Writers’ Museum. |
| C．Museum on the Mound. | D．National Museum of Scotland. |
| A．Play with your family. | B．Tour the world virtually. |
| C．Design computer software. | D．Learn about ancient creatures. |
| A．They have interactive exhibits. | B．They showcase world cultures. |
| C．They provide hands-on activities. | D．They have an artistic atmosphere. |
2 . These days, Fred’s huge skeleton (骨架) is exhibited in the Indiana State Museum. His tusks (长牙) were recently the subject of a research study tracing the life 13,000 years ago of mastodons, distant relatives of modern elephants.
By analyzing the chemical compounds (化合物) in Fred’s tusks, a team of researchers could construct a detailed account of his seasonal migration patterns. Josh Miller, a paleoecologist (古生态学家) at the University of Cincinnati, is one of the researchers studying Fred. “He has beautifully preserved bones and tusks, which provides a great opportunity for our research on his seasonal migration patterns,” Miller said.
Mastodons’ tusks generally grow in distinct layers, similar to the tree rings. As a result, the nutrients that build the layers of their tusks can tell us a lot about what they experienced. The team particularly focused their analysis on the variations in two elements in the layers: strontium (锶) and oxygen. The former is the key to understanding where Fred spent his life, while the latter tells us the season he was in any particular region. Then, with some statistical modeling, Miller and his team gained insight into the daily record of Fred’s behavior over ten thousand years ago.
The result indicated that Fred would have grown a lot when he was young. But there’s a year when his growth is reduced. “Probably like the modern male elephant, a male mastodon is just really obnoxious when growing up to be a bother and often arouses family members’ anger. At that point, the mom and aunts will essentially kick him out of the family.” Miller predicted.
After Fred set off to attend to himself, his tusks reflected where he travelled around. Based on the analysis, Fred would return to mate every summer in Northeastern Indiana, because his tusks started to show signs of injuries around this time. When competing for mates, mastodons get into huge battles with their own natural weapons sharp tusks. And that was exactly what brought Fred’s story to an untimely end.
1. What did Miller’s study mainly focus on?| A．Effective ways of tusk preservation. | B．Inner structure of Fred’s skeleton. |
| C．Possible tracks of Fred’s migration. | D．Special functions of mastodon tusks. |
| A．By analyzing nutrients in Fred’s bones. |
| B．By reviewing statistical records of previous studies. |
| C．By modeling data of chemical elements in Fred’s tusks. |
| D．By referring to the growth of tree rings to study Fred’s tusk layers. |
| A．He was killed by his opponents. | B．He reunited with his family later. |
| C．He was drawn to cross-species fights. | D．He was weak in living independently. |
| A．Geology. | B．Culture. | C．Education. | D．Science. |
3 . I was angry with my sixteen-year-old son Anthony, and stormed out of the house. Standing on the front porch (门廊), I
“Anthony again?” Clara asked. “It’s his hair again,” I replied. “Have you seen him? All that mass of messy curls
Clara smiled, “It’s only hair, Liz.” She spoke slowly,
After returning to my house, I baked some cookies, and carried them to Anthony’s room. “Can I come in, honey?” “Not if you’re going to
“It’s only hair,” I said. “It’s your hair. Not mine.” Anthony smiled broadly, saying, “Thanks for
| A．dug | B．drank | C．sighed | D．reflected |
| A．acceptance | B．sympathy | C．company | D．relaxation |
| A．fixing up | B．showing off | C．flying around | D．hanging down |
| A．disapproving | B．puzzled | C．loving | D．hungry |
| A．analyzing | B．recalling | C．emphasizing | D．polishing |
| A．awful | B．serious | C．funny | D．acceptable |
| A．return | B．succeed | C．persist | D．survive |
| A．take | B．make | C．get | D．believe |
| A．power | B．trouble | C．work | D．support |
| A．mess | B．freedom | C．space | D．energy |
| A．complain | B．bring | C．lie | D．joke |
| A．doubt | B．pretend | C．promise | D．protest |
| A．annoyance | B．suspicion | C．competence | D．rebellion |
| A．finally | B．instantly | C．accurately | D．completely |
| A．principles | B．approaches | C．situations | D．regulations |
It was ten years ago. I was at the departure gates of the airport, reading a cartoon book to pass the time while waiting for my parents to check in. A sea of people filled the airport and loud chatter echoed (回响) throughout the vast terminal (航站楼) halls. People were coming in and out of countless doors.
The cartoon shop caught my eye, for it was filled with cartoon figurines (小雕像). I caught sight of a new figurine from my favourite cartoon, “One Piece” it was an action figurine of my favourite character, Luffy! My jaw dropped to the floor and my eyes brightened like diamonds.
Without thinking twice, I ran towards the store. Holding the action figurine carefully in my hands, I imagined the scenes I could come up with using my action figurines at home. Filled with excitement, I hugged the toy and jumped for joy. Unfortunately, I did not have any money on me. Without doubt, I knew I had to share this newfound discovery with my parents!
After returning the action figurine to its shelf, I darted (飞奔) out of the store, retracing my steps back to where I had left my parents. When I reached the location where I had last seen them, I realised that they were nowhere to be found. I tried to look for the terminal departure gate my parents were supposed to be waiting at, but the gates all looked the same. As I stood rooted to the ground, my excitement started to die down. Anxiety enveloped me and my heart started pounding in my chest.
Tears rolled down my hot cheeks like a waterfall as I blamed myself. Why did I have to get distracted and leave my parents without informing them? There were thousands of people at the airport! It would be impossible to find them! Regretting my actions, I blamed myself silently.
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。
Suddenly, my mother’s advice echoed in my mind: “If you are ever lost, don’t panic! Stay calm, and ask for help!”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A few minutes later, my parents, extremely breathless, appeared at the information counter.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.你未来想从事的工作；2.需要做的准备。
注意：写作词数应为80左右。
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In November 2023, China launched a three-year action plan
The look and feel of bamboo are absolutely above and beyond plastic, but there must be more positive aspects to bamboo other than just aesthetics (美学). When compared with unhealthy plastic, bamboo is a highly renewable,
This super-powered plant is actually a grass and looks like a weed in terms of
7 . Four surprising ways algae (藻类) are driving innovation
Algae can be a double-edged sword. Increased human activity and climate change have caused explosions of algae populations in water bodies around the world sometimes choking entire ecosystems of sunlight and oxygen. Even though they are so closely associated with humanity’s negative impact on Earth, algae could also play key roles in helping fight pollution, viruses, and more.
Filtering (过滤) water.
With microplastic pollution documented in almost all water bodies, a recent study shows that through absorption, algae can help filter microplastics out of water.
Fueling air travel.
Fighting viruses.
Red algae can prevent the replication (复制) of some viruses, including COVID-19, according to a 2020 study.
In 2019, freshwater algae were launched into space to turn the carbon dioxide exhaled (呼出) by astronauts on the International Space Station into oxygen. Since algae are also high in protein, they could replace up to 30 percent of astronaut food in the future.
| A．Making space food more nutritious. |
| B．Making long-term space travel possible. |
| C．These are several ways algae are solving modern problems. |
| D．Some algae can also filter chemicals that can be used in fertilizers. |
| E．Brown algae have been shown to stimulate the body’s immune system. |
| F．Algae can produce more effective biofuels than traditional sources like soybeans. |
| G．It aims to harvest algae for energy while keeping the environment pollution-free. |
8 . Some people never read any books again and feel that since they already know the outcome, there is nothing to be gained by rereading. I have to dissent.
I am reminded of a professor in college, who always had us read our assignments twice. “The first time, read fast and for fun,” he said. “The second time, look for delicate distinctions and small differences in meaning.” His suggestion works great for me.
When I have a new book, I read fast, eager to discover the resolution. Then if I like the book, I will read it again. Not right away, but a few months later, possibly on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I will grab the book and settle down to discover the small details. I will read more slowly the second time, appreciating the descriptions and looking forward to my favorite sections, enjoying the anticipation. Knowing those favorite passages are coming does not spoil anything. I’m looking forward to revisiting those treasured places in the book. Knowing they are coming heightens my enjoyment.
Rereading a book gives me a chance to appreciate the small things an author integrates into her story. A turn of a character’s head, a thought in the night, a sigh, these are the things that give insights into a book and the characters. I love dissecting (剖析) a story the second time around, looking for clues that give the tale a deep meaning. Reading is like revisiting a friend, familiar, yet always with something more inside.
What have I been reading lately? The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart. These books rank among my all-time favorite rereads. Set in Britain in roughly the second half of the 5th century CE, they were Mary Stewart’s take on the familiar King Arthur stories. If you are unfamiliar with them, I highly recommend all three books, especially if you love fantasy and historical fiction.
1. What does the underlined word “descent” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Understand. | B．Disagree. | C．Complain. | D．Discontinue. |
| A．Look for assignment clues. | B．Pay attention to the finer details. |
| C．Stick to the most interesting sections. | D．Skip some parts to get to the end fast. |
| A．Visiting the places mentioned in the book. | B．Discovering the resolution of the story quickly. |
| C．Finding out the lessons learned by the characters. | D．Appreciating the writer’s storytelling techniques. |
| A．The author’s new favorites. | B．A series of science-fiction novels. |
| C．Books based on ancient British stories. | D．Mary Stewart’s successful adaptations. |
1. What is the Manuscript Writing Cafe designed to do?
| A．Help writers reduce stress. |
| B．Offer a place for writers to meet. |
| C．Enable writers to progress with their writing. |
| A．It has strict rules. |
| B．It serves book authors only. |
| C．It is designed in an artistic way. |
| A．Their target group. | B．Their writing goals. | C．Their departure time. |
| A．By day. | B．By hour. | C．By half-hour. |
1. How soon will the man leave his company?
| A．In a week. | B．In two weeks. | C．In four weeks. |
| A．In March. | B．In April. | C．In May. |
| A．Free drinks. | B．Financial support. | C．Good price on products. |
| A．Near a night market. |
| B．In the railway station. |
| C．In the woman’s neighborhood. |
