1 . Computers are becoming more and more important in our life. With the development of science and technology (科技) they have grown smaller and smaller. There are many kinds of computers, such as personal computers and supercomputers

Computers are very useful in life. For example, we can use them to send messages to friends by email. What’s more, we can also use them to share information with others through the World Wide Web, so others can know it. Computers make us relaxed. We can listen to music or play games on them. Computers can help people to save much time to do much work. They can also help people to work out many problems easily. Now, our country asks students to learn to use computers because computers are used everywhere.

Today more and more families have computers. Parents buy computers for their children. They hope computers can help them improve their studies in school. However, many children use computers to play games, watch videos or listen to music. In this way, computers cannot help children to study but make them fall behind. So computers are locked in boxes by parents.

In some other countries, some scientists dislike computers. They say computers let millions of people lose their jobs or bring them a lot of trouble. Will computers really bring trouble to people or can they bring people happiness? It will be decided by today’s students themselves!

1. What has become of computers according to the text?

A．Bigger and bigger.	B．Smaller and smaller.
C．Heavier and heavier.	D．More and more special.

2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

A．How to use computers to talk with others.	B．The uses of computers in our life.
C．How to spend free time on computers.	D．The funny results of using computers.

3. Why do parents lock computers in boxes?

A．Computers are almost useless to them at home.

B．They think computers are bad for their children’s eyes.

C．They’re afraid their children may use computers incorrectly

D．They don’t want to spend much time on computers at home.

4. Why do some scientists NOT like computers?

A．They think computers are dangerous to people.

B．They think computers will make people out of work.

C．They think computers cannot do things well sometimes.

D．They think computers make people become lazy.

2 . The English channel of school radio station will choose some students to work there.

Reporters wanted

Do you like talking with people? Do you like meeting interesting people? We want two reporters for our station. If you’re good at English speaking and writing, please join us. If you want to get more information, please call Miss Li at 89561423.

A newsreader wanted

If your spoken English is good, you can work as a newsreader. We need a girl student who has a good voice. You should work at 9:00-9:30 in the morning from Monday to Thursday. You can call Miss Zhu at 89561424. Join us! We are waiting for you!

1. How many students does the radio station want?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

2. Lucy is interested in talking with people, so she can call ______.

A．89561423

B．89561424

C．89561425

D．89561426

3. The newsreaders in the school radio station don’t have to work on ______.

A．Mondays

B．Wednesdays

C．Thursdays

D．Fridays

3 . 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。

Over the past month, Jiang Kedong has amassed (积累) over 2.7 million followers on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. The 38-year- old is better known as "Bingcheng Zuoyouge" or "Brother Left and Right in Ice City", and has transitioned from being a local entertainer to a widely recognized Internet celebrity, whose fame has coincided (相符) with the tourism boom this winter in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

2012 was the year     1     Jiang became host of the Dream Stage at Harbin Ice and Snow World, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation this year. His famous "Rabbit Danc"; marked by its playful left and right foot movements, has captured his followers' hearts with its catchy simplicity. "In the winter, temperatures can get to as low as -30℃ in Harbin," he said. "My original     2     (intend) was to help tourists feel warmer in a world of ice and snow by following our instructions and pace to join the game in an     3     (order) manner."

In 2017, Jiang began posting some short dance videos on the Internet and livestreaming (网络直播) his performances at the park. His humorous style made the videos popular, and by the beginning of 2019, he had amassed 600,000 followers on Douyin.

"The popularity of Harbin is no accident. Since the beginning of 2023, we     4    (promote) Heilon giang in a multidimensional way on new media platforms, establishing numerous     5     (destination) considered by netizens     6     (be) must-visit attractions," He Jing, director of Heilongjiang's culture and tourism department, told China Central Television. "Moreover, we are also paying more attention to comments     7     (make) on online videos. "We will do our best to meet tourists' needs." she said." Some visitors said it would be better if the moon was shining when they took photos at Saint Sophia Cathedral.    8     (subsequent), we sent a drone to lift an artificial moon over the landmark. Others said it was too cold in Harbin, so we immediately built a number of small prefabricated (预制构件的) houses to warm them up. "All these details can make tourists feel comfortable and respected, and they post news of them on the Internet, receiving     9     warm response," she said. The local tourism department is also focusing on new media platforms, which play an important role     10     the development of the tourist industry.

4 . Top Technology Products at CES 2024

AI for Hyundai and Kia vehicles

South Korea’s Samsung announced it was working with automaker Hyundai to develop “home-to-car” and “car-to-home” services for all Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

This AI-powered system will allow users of Samsung’s SmartThings service to remotely (远程地) set their vehicle’s temperature or open its windows. And users can control lights and connect to electrical equipment inside the home when inside the car.

Car parking robot

South Korean electric automotive company HL Mando showed a parking robot called Parkie. It is designed to operate (运转) by itself in parking lots. The robot can move under parked vehicles, lift the cars up and transport them to different spaces or return them to their drivers.

Transparent televisions

Electronics producers LG and Samsung brought televisions to CES that have a transparent (透明的) screen design. The TVs use OLED technology. They are designed to be hidden in a room when not in use.

When not in the transparent setting, the TVs have a traditional, black background. The companies presenting the TVs did not provide pricing information, but experts say the transparent ones are likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Robotic lawn mower

Chinese robotics developer Mammotion showed a new type of its self-driving lawn mower (割草机). The latest, all-wheel-drive Luba 2 includes new wireless abilities and tools to deal with obstacles (障碍) in the grass. The robot mower can be already got and sells for just over $2,000.

1. What can you do in a car with the AI-powered system?

A．Park your car easily.	B．Control some home equipment.
C．Enjoy the fun of driverless ride.	D．Order the machine to cut grass.

2. What do Car parking robot and Robotic lawn mower have in common?

A．They are wireless equipment.	B．They are cheap to buy.
C．They bring driving pleasure.	D．They can work by themselves.

3. Which product is expected to be expensive?

A．AI for Hyundai and Kia vehicles.	B．Car parking robot.
C．Transparent televisions.	D．Robotic lawn mower.

5 . More than one-third of the world’s food is wasted or thrown away, most of which ends up in landfills, producing very large amounts of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Now, many studies show that it is becoming harder to grow enough food to feed an increasing population due to climate change and soil degradation.

But one of the most promising and simplest solutions lies in the problem itself: this wasted food — if composted (堆肥) — could slow climate change and improve soil quality. Higher-quality soil also continues to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, helping to improve plants and contributing further to fighting climate change. Returning one ton of organic matter to each hectare of soil would increase the production of cereal crops each year in Africa, Asia and South America by millions of tons.

While it is true that people can compost in their yards, community gardens, or even on their kitchen counters, larger-scale efforts, including infrastructure (基础设施) and incentives (激励) for consumers, would take it to the next level. Imagine if consumers could just leave unwanted food in a roadside bin for pickup, or drop it off at a local store, earning a few cents a bucket, just like what has been offered for recycling bottles or newspapers.

Moreover, in the case of composting, the payment incentive system would be sustainable because the end-product of compost can be sold to farmers, making it an economically workable model, something that is often lacking in recycling, especially for certain materials, like many types of plastics.

Eventually, more widespread composting of food would pave the way for solutions to additional waste challenges, such as the disposal of packaging and clothing. This will have other positive effects as well; if more consumers compost, companies will be more inspired to make and use compostable packaging, clothing, and other products. While more compostable items are starting to emerge today, additional composting will further drive demand and innovation, and offer a game-changing solution for the planet.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The uneven distribution of food around the world.

B．The burden of population growth on the planet.

C．The urgency of properly dealing with wasted food.

D．The great impact of climate change on food.

2. What can be learned about the approach to composting wasted food?

A．A good system is needed to carry out it effectively.

B．It would take a long term to have an effect.

C．It is only workable on a small scale.

D．It may raise people’s awareness of reducing food waste.

3. What does the author think of the payment incentive system of composting food?

A．It is highly profitable.

B．It is easy to carry out.

C．It is a sustainable economic cycle pattern.

D．It is more effective than other recycling systems.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How Wasted Food Could Be Reduced

B．How Wasted Food Could Save the Planet

C．How Wasted Food Could Impact Humans

D．How Wasted Food Could Become a Business

6 . Technology is around us everywhere, from simple devices like our smartphones, laptops and TV to background technology we don’t even notice.     1     From connecting with people across the globe at your comfortable home to running a business without a physical space, technology has impacted our lives positively. So, read on below:

Technology boosts business. Many new tech advancements and innovations are made by and for businesses. Why?     2     New technology continues to come out faster than we can keep up with. The purpose is to boost business and make the daily management of enterprises (企业) more systematic, structured and successful.

    3     Advancements in technology have made it easier for more people to access the Internet, resulting in online shopping being more popular now than ever. Currently, most people prefer to shop online without leaving the house because of its great convenience. Instead of wasting hours in the shopping mall, technology makes shopping simple.

Technology has advanced education. Some examples include the availability of online courses and unlimited online resources for research. Before technology, you’d have to physically go to class or go to the library to do research.     4    

Technology makes everyday life better. Think about the introduction of self-driving cars: they were unheard of a few years ago, and now they’re a reality.     5     For example, smart homes are now common. Smart hubs (智能集线器) allow households to connect their devices and appliances (电器), making life a lot easier.

A．Technology makes online shopping possible.

B．Technology has changed the world for the better.

C．We need to use technology in a healthier and more careful way.

D．Now, education is easier for everyone, no matter where you live.

E．The way we use technology can help or harm ourselves and others.

F．Besides, technology has also had a positive influence on household items.

G．Because companies want to improve their products and services for profit.

7 . In the early hours of March 23, about 12 hours before our treasured 12-year-old son died of a rare form of brain cancer, I climbed into his hospital bed, _________ him in my arms and recited Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky.

My child was no longer _________, but I hoped and believed that he could sense my presence and that my voice would _________ his wildly beating heart.

My son had been _________ with the words of the poem by _________ me reciting it to him almost every night before going to bed. He loved the _________ of the “beamish (神采焕发的) boy” as, with a short sword in hand, the boy takes on a strong man several times his size.

My son was also a passionate _________. But with many surgeries, rounds of radiation and medications _________ most of his time, he could _________ read on his own. Therefore, I ________ to read to him. And it was during the reading that I found that poems could relieve my __________. They offered an anchor to me during unpredictable and painful times. They also helped me prepare for the arrival of the final time.

Then it came — at 12:52 am on March 23, my son’s heart stopped beating forever. Despite my __________, I was still overwhelmed by grief. Then I received a message from my friend. It was Raymond Carver’s Late Fragment: “And what did you want?/ To call myself beloved, / to feel myself beloved on the earth.”

It __________ me a bit, because I was __________ that even in my son’s darkest hours, he was always __________ — and still is. And thanks to poems, I was able to get through the pain and get on with my life.

1.

A．fed

B．hid

C．wrapped

D．rocked

2.

A．ambitious

B．conscious

C．wise

D．sensitive

3.

A．win

B．stop

C．preserve

D．calm

4.

A．familiar

B．concerned

C．bored

D．satisfied

5.

A．leading to

B．listening to

C．taking to

D．agreeing to

6.

A．kindness

B．patience

C．courage

D．honesty

7.

A．reader

B．poet

C．fan

D．believer

8.

A．extending

B．valuing

C．wasting

D．occupying

9.

A．nearly

B．surely

C．hardly

D．finally

10.

A．refused

B．pretended

C．expected

D．offered

11.

A．anxiety

B．loneliness

C．illness

D．anger

12.

A．struggle

B．preparation

C．tolerance

D．power

13.

A．amused

B．comforted

C．shocked

D．confused

14.

A．forced

B．advised

C．convinced

D．promised

15.

A．admired

B．helped

C．encouraged

D．loved

8 . Those of you who have seen the amazing National Geographic documentary Free Solo will know just how fascinating it can be to watch a professional climber scale the side of a mountain.

A new documentary, Explorer: The Last Tepui, shares a lot with Free Solo, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Not only does it star rock climber Alex Honnold, it also shows him hanging off the side of a mountain in precarious positions that will make your stomach drop in extreme fear.

While his athletic achievements are amazing, Honnold isn’t the most appealing character in the film. That honor goes to Bruce Means, who has spent his academic career finding new species throughout South America to prove to the world that the area is a biodiversity hot spot to be protected at all costs. In Explorer:The Last Tepui, the 80-year-old ecologist decides to climb the 300-plus metres to the peak of the Tepui, deep in Guyana’s Amazon rainforest.

Means, Honnold, leader Mark Synnott and a world-class team of climbers have to hike 56 kilometres over 10 days across increasingly dangerous areas to reach the base of the Tepui. This is a very big deal because Means has problems with his knees. Once at the Tepui, Honnold and other team members plan to climb to the top and then pull Means up, which will allow him to explore the cliff wall for novel animal and plant species.

Unsurprisingly, because of the area they must cross to reach the Tepui, various major barriers soon get in the way of the party. The detailed descriptions of Means’ determination to overcome these challenges due to his age and health just add real suspense (悬念) to the documentary.

The constantly changing viewpoints and potentially life-threatening issues ensure that Explorer: The Last Tepui remains compelling (扣人心弦的) to the very end. Even though it is just 54 minutes long, you will still feel tired out, as well as inspired, by the time it is over.

1. What does the underlined word “precarious” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Comfortable.

B．Dangerous.

C．Easy.

D．Correct.

2. What makes the documentary Explorer: The Last Tepui most eye-catching?

A．The 2019 Academy Award.

B．The discovery of new species.

C．Means’ plan to climb the peak of the Tepui.

D．Honnold’s appearance in the film.

3. What is Honnold’s role in the documentary Explorer: The Last Tepui?

A．Ensuring food supplies at the base of the Tepui.

B．Topping the Tepui as quickly as possible.

C．Helping Means find long lost species.

D．Assisting Means in carrying out the exploration.

4. What does the author think of the documentary Explorer: The Last Tepui?

A．It is inspiring and funny.

B．It is long and tiring.

C．It is full of heart-stopping moments.

D．It is filled with complicated elements.

9 . During the 19th and 20th centuries, Qi Baishi (1864-1957) was one of the best-known Chinese artists. He grew up in a poor peasant family, but this did not prevent him from pursuing his interest in painting.

Qi was schooled for less than a year due to illness, and he dropped out of school. However, he was too weak to do much of the work and this was why he became a carpenter. As a carpenter, he showed his creativity. He could carve figures of animals, woodblock prints, and sniff-boxes. At the age of 20, he taught himself to paint with Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting. He met many mentors who greatly influenced his painting skills through his painting journey, among whom are the renowned artists Zhu Da and Xu Wei. When he was 28, he became a student of the famous artist Hu Qinyuan, and he began to study Chinese painting.

Qi arrived in Beijing in 1917. While he was in Beijing, he stayed devoted to painting. Most of his paintings represented Chinese tradition. Qi’s works are now found in several famous museums, including National Gallery Prague and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. His works now are the most expensive ever sold at auctions.

Qi got noticed by many institutions, one of which is the Ministry of Culture. In 1954 he was selected as the representative of the Chinese people. Also, in 1956, he was awarded the World Peace Prize by World Peace Council. A college was also named after him, the Baishi School of Art in Hunan University of Science Technology.

1. Why did Qi Baishi drop out of school?

A．He suffered from illness and was too weak.

B．He wanted to devote himself to painting.

C．He wasn’t interested in what he learned at school.

D．His family was too poor to afford his schooling fees.

2. According to the passage, which of the statements is TRUE?

A．He learned Chinese painting on his own.

B．He showed great creativity of art since childhood.

C．His works are one of the costliest ever sold at auctions.

D．At first he learned to paint from some renowned artists.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us about Qi Baishi?

A．His painting style.	B．His painting works.
C．His achievements.	D．His contributions to his hometown.

4. How does the author mainly develop the text?

A．By giving examples.	B．By using data.
C．By raising questions.	D．By following the order of time.

10 . As Teachers’ Day approached, I received an interview assignment to talk with a very special figure about teaching. President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam talked with me about life’s toughest lessons and his mission of being a teacher to the Indian youth. He was now a leader and a wise old man. There was still a child in him though, and he was still curious about learning new things. To this day, he still remembered his first lesson in life and how it had changed his life.

“I was studying in fifth grade and must have been 10 years old. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramanialyer was telling us how birds flew. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, drawing the wings, the tail, the body and the head and then explained how birds flew into the sky. At the end of the class, I said I didn’t understand. Then he asked the other students if they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds flew.” he recalled.

“That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameshwaram shore by our teacher,” the President continued. “My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw wonderful formations of them flying and how their wings waved. Then my teacher asked us, ‘Where is the bird’s engine and how is it powered?’ I knew then that birds are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. At last, he said to us with relief that we were very good.”

“That day from not understanding to the final understanding, as well as the gratitude to the teacher, has always impressed me. A proper education would help develop a sense of dignity (尊严) and self-respect among our youth,” said President Kalam.

1. What does the author probably do?

A．A reporter.

B．A president.

C．A teacher.

D．A painter.

2. What can we infer from the recalled lesson?

A．It was a drawing class.	B．The teacher’s diagram was not complete.
C．What the teacher taught was quite difficult.	D．The students were too stupid to understand it.

3. How did the teacher deal with the confused children?

A．By asking other teachers for help.	B．By taking them to see the real birds.
C．By bringing a bird to explain again.	D．By drawing another diagram for them.

4. How did Kalam feel about his teacher?

A．Disappointed.

B．Stressed.

C．Angry.

D．Grateful.