2 . For as long as I can remember I’ve been making art. That meant spending hours at the kitchen table, as a child, drawing women in beautiful gowns and dogs wearing clothes eating in fancy restaurants. Because I was encouraged and praised, I _________ that talent.

In college-thinking that I was going to _________ education-I had an amazing professor in an elective drawing class who encouraged me to _________ my major to fine art. As someone easily influenced by praise, I took her advice and got my _________ in painting and drawing.

Even before I graduated, I had begun showing my art in any _________ that I could. I started out in small coffee shops and farmers markets; it was a perfect way to discover my style and _________ art lovers. _________ , I began showing at galleries and in larger art shows. It was at one of these shows that I met my art publisher, with whom I _________ working for five years.

The art publishing world was a great way to get my work in front of wide _________ , selling at stores like Target and Home Goods. It was also at this time that a number of my paintings were used in feature films. __________ my art on the big screen was definitely one of the most   __________ moments of my career.

I sometimes wonder what other visual artists do when they’re feeling burnt out and __________ with their craft. I feel so lucky to have writing to turn to when the well of my visual creativity runs __________ . Visual arts and writing are different enough that they don’t feel like they draw from the same __________ of creative inspiration.

People always tell artists to ‘find their own voice’. While I do agree with this, I don’t know if it’s something you can just go out and find. To me, it’s important that your voice __________ you.

1.

A．possessed

B．developed

C．wasted

D．recognized

2.

A．stick to

B．deal with

C．major in

D．stand for

3.

A．relate

B．switch

C．compare

D．apply

4.

A．patience

B．talent

C．permit

D．degree

5.

A．spot

B．store

C．gallery

D．show

6.

A．believe in

B．come across

C．connect with

D．depend on

7.

A．Eventually

B．Obviously

C．Immediately

D．Gradually

8.

A．felt like

B．gave up

C．put off

D．ended up

9.

A．artists

B．professors

C．publishers

D．audiences

10.

A．Drawing

B．Seeing

C．Creating

D．Describing

11.

A．upsetting

B．terrifying

C．thrilling

D．embarrassing

12.

A．uninspired

B．panicked

C．relieved

D．shocked

13.

A．short

B．wild

C．dry

D．strong

14.

A．source

B．behaviour

C．recreation

D．knowledge

15.

A．heals

B．finds

C．satisfies

D．Impresses

3 . Growing up on a farm, Tori James spent much of her early years outdoors, building shelters and playing in muddy streams. She describes herself as an ambitious, adventurous child who went to bed reading the survival guides that lived on her bedside table. Even so, James says she could never have predicted that, one day, she might be the youngest British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Today, James is a professional adventurer. Yet ahead of her first expedition at the age of 18, which she spent mapping the cracks of Iceland’s Vatnajökull glacier with the British Exploring Society, James recalls doubting her ability to last a month out in the cold without the comfort of a hot bath. “It’s only by stepping out of our comfort zone that we understand our true potential,”she explains. “That’s when the magic happens.”

Although James has spent a significant part of her life exploring some of the most remote landscapes in the world, when it comes to traveling, she believes that there are numerous ways for everyone to push their boundaries, other than by undertaking physical challenges. James also encourages would-be adventurers not to be put off by the stereotypical image of the rugged, hardy explorer. “I am such a believer that, with the right support and skills, everyone can bring something to an expedition,” she says.

Sometimes, she adds, it’s only out in the field that someone’s hidden talents emerge. A diverse team can be key to a successful trip, particularly given the role of exploration in today’s world. “Historically, exploration has been about people finding nature’s hardest obstacles and trying to either overcome them, or beat them,” says James. “But now, for me at least, exploration is about connecting, not conquering. It’s about our connection to the living world around us, it’s about sharing its importance once we’ve returned and it’s about figuring out how to do adventure sustainably.”

1. What do we know about James?

A．She was once doubted to be a professional adventurer.

B．She enjoys reading thrilling adventure survival stories.

C．She was a child with big dreams and a desire for exploration.

D．She might be the youngest woman to conquer Mount Everest.

2. What would James probably agree with according to Paragraph 3?

A．Few ways are there for us to push our boundaries.

B．Future explorers are supposed to venture bravely.

C．Exploring remote landscapes in the world is of significance.

D．Support and skills are sure to bring out the best of explorers.

3. What might be the value of exploration nowadays?

A．To make the most of people’s hidden talent.

B．To overcome the possible hardest obstacles.

C．To figure out how to have a successful adventure.

D．To engage in sustainable interactions with nature.

4. What might be the best title of this text?

A．Born to Be Adventurers.	B．Connecting the Living World.
C．James’s Amazing Expeditions.	D．Adventurer James’s Travel Insights.

4 . 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。

The first time I saw Jeff was when my best friend, Brian, and I were in the fourth grade. When our teacher introduced Jeff to the class, she explained that he was sick and that he might not be able to be in class all of the time.

Jeff was completely bald (秃顶的) from cancer treatments, and he wore a hat. That was one reason that he and I bonded right away. Being the tomboy that I was, I liked wearing a hat — only I wasn’t allowed to wear one in class. Jeff was allowed to wear his hat all of the time. Other than that, he was a normal friend to both Brian and me. Some things he couldn’t do as well as the other kids because he had tubes in his chest for his treatments, but we never thought of him as sick because he didn’t act that way.

The only time that we would realize that Jeff was sick was when he went for his chemotherapy treatments (化疗). We’d notice the difference, but we’d just sort of think, yeah, Jeff was not feeling really well, but then it would pass and things would be back to normal.

Jeff, Brian and I were really sports lovers, and we became best friends. We would swim, jump and run together. As fourth grade progressed, Jeff seemed to get worse. During the summer between fourth and fifth grades, we spent tons of time together outdoors, running everywhere, although it had been hard for him to finish the run. Still, he was really happy when he was able to cross the finish line, and so were we.

Before school started, Jeff told me that he would be away for a few weeks to have his operation.

“Bye, see you in a month or so,” I said to him as if nothing much was happening.

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。

Then came the night when the phone rang. It was Jeff’s mom.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brian and I decided to do something to help everybody remember Jeff.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

An International Business “Made in China”

Dominik, a 34-year-old Polish man, founded his own international logistics (物流) company Hao Duo Huo — meaning “lots of goods” in Chinese — in Wuhan, Hubei province.

“The first time I came to China was in 1997,” said Dominik. “Seeing the abundant opportunities in China, I decided to have my university education here.”     1    (influence) by his parents, Dominik chose to study international trade in Wuhan in 2009.

After     2    (complete) his undergraduate studies, Dominik went to Shenzhen to begin a career in trade. It was there that he first encountered the field     3     logistics. “Poland is an important transit (中转) country for the China-Europe Railway Express, and Poland’s logistics system has been developing. I should seize such a good opportunity,” said Dominik as he     4    (mention) the reasons to start his own business.

In April 2021, he     5    (formal) established Hao Duo Huo in Wuhan, a city with     6     good geographical position. Not only is it one of the starting     7    (point) for the China-Europe Railway Express, but it’s also home to many universities that can supply high-quality talent.

Explaining     8     he chose this business name, Dominik shared two main reasons: “The first is that I want my company     9    (have) lots of goods to sell. And second, China offers many quality products, and I want to deliver     10     (they) to every corner of the world, spreading joy and convenience to more people.”

6 . The Impact of AI on Smart Homes

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is surely changing the way we live and work, and smart homes are no exception. With AI, smart homes will become even more automated and responsive.     1    

·Personalized Experience

Smart homes can learn about the people living in it. With special sensors and AI, the home can see which rooms people are in. Then the home can change things like the temperature, lights and other things in that room to make people comfortable.     2     For example, when people enter a room, the lights will automatically turn on.

·Energy Efficiency

Smart homes can save energy and help the environment. With AI, the home can sense when people are not using things like lights. Then the lights will turn off by themselves to conserve power.     3     Smart thermostats (恒温器) and window shades work together to keep the home cool without using much air conditioning.

·Security and Safety

AI has improved home safety a lot. It uses motion sensors and cameras around the home to watch out for things automatically. Security systems with AI can tell if something strange is happening. It will send alarms to owners on their phones.     4     Smoke and gas detectors use AI to detect dangers early, which makes homes much safer.

·Personal Health

    5     Things people wear, like watches and activity trackers, will share data with safety devices around the house. Together they can watch people closer and make sure everyone is okay in the home.

All in all, with the increasing adoption of AI technology, smart homes are becoming more innovative, energy-efficient, safe, and convenient.

A．Other smart devices help keep homes safe too.

B．We should use less air conditioning in summer.

C．Watches helps a lot in monitoring people’s health.

D．Here are some ways AI is impacting smart homes.

E．AI will help connect smart homes to people’s health.

F．AI also helps homes use energy better in other ways.

G．The home can also use sensors to understand what people want.

7 . Today’s teenage generation has been brought up surrounded by one single stereotype (刻板印象): the so-called MTV generation. We’re all constantly glued to our phone and TV screens, the boys are addicted to video games and the girls prefer posting pictures of themselves on the Internet. Both could watch TV series all day and both could do without a book. How accurate is this stereotype?

It turns out that most of them could actually do without a book. “The Kids & Family Reading Report” found that only 24% of 12 to 14-year-olds read five to seven days a week. The percentage goes down to a mere 17% when it comes to 15 to 17-year-olds. And it may come as no surprise that 76% of the former visit social media websites on a daily basis.

Reading frequently has many great benefits: it develops your verbal abilities (especially for kids, it will greatly improve their vocabulary), it improves your focus and concentration, it enhances your imagination, it reduces stress and it’s entertaining! Not only that but research has shown that people who read for pleasure show a greater appetite to engage with stories, texts and learning.

The popular TV show “Game of Thrones” (《权利的游戏》) certainly seems to have motivated a lot of teens to buy George R.R. Martin’s best-selling book series. Sales skyrocketed after the show was first put on in 2011, selling 9 million copies in one year, with many teens and young adults believed to have contributed to this statistic. In contrast, the book series had “only” sold 5 million from the first book’s release till 2011.

With nowadays’ teenagers apparently constantly glued to their screens, TV series “Game of Thrones” seems to have inspired a lot of them to take a break and read a book. Maybe teenagers will end up being the ones solving the issue after all.

1. Why does the author mention “The Kids & Family Reading Report” in paragraph 2?

A．To prove a fact about teenagers’ reading.

B．To stress the importance of daily reading.

C．To introduce some social media websites.

D．To encourage teenagers to read more each week.

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The importance of verbal abilities.	B．The ways to read for pleasure.
C．The advantages of frequent reading.	D．The appetite to engage with learning.

3. What does the underlined word “skyrocketed” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Dropped slightly.	B．Increased quickly.
C．Changed frequently.	D．Remained surprisingly.

4. How does the author think of the TV series “Game of Thrones”?

A．Positive.	B．Defensive.
C．Cautious.	D．Doubtful.

8 . A pair of best friends from Texas are proving that adventure doesn’t have an age limit — even when you’re 81.

Ellie Hamby, a photographer, and Sandy Hazelip, a physician, toured the world in 80 days, adventuring from the beaches of Bali to the deserts of Egypt.

Their first stop was Antarctica. “The beauty of the Antarctic is just unbelievable,” Hamby recalled. Since then, the pair have visited 18 countries across all seven continents.

And despite the challenges international travel presents, the best friends say they finished their trip without any arguments.

“We’re both independent, very stubborn. But we seem to allow each other to give space,” said Hamby. “We just understand each other and we know this is a good thing we’re doing and we kind of respect each other’s feelings.”

For Hamby, the most interesting aspect of the trip was the people they met along the way.

“We love all the sights that we saw, but the things that we remember the most are the people that we met,” she said. “We met some of the most wonderful, kindest, friendliest people in the world. We just have friends now all over the world that we love dearly.”

And they shared an important piece of advice for any travelers worried about the language barrier on their own adventures.

“You know, people ask us often about the language, how we manage it,” said Hamby. “We say with Sandy and Ellie, there’s one language and that’s a smile. And we found that worked wonders because we were often aware that there was not English spoken. But a smile covers all languages.”

1. Why did they finish the trip without arguments?

A．They had different personalities.

B．They prepared presents for each other.

C．They understand and respect each other.

D．They allowed each other to voice their ideas.

2. What part of the trip impressed Hamby most?

A．The beautiful sights.	B．The wonderful people.
C．The interesting activities.	D．The cultural experiences.

3. What did Hamby suggest travelers do with the language barrier?

A．Rely on the smile.	B．Be more adventurous.
C．Hear English spoken more.	D．Learn more languages.

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

A．Language Struggles: Testing Friendship

B．Travel Troubles: Friendship Tested Abroad

C．Talking Struggles: Adventures Lost in Translation

D．Limitless Adventure: Two Friends Break Age Barriers

9 . Amusement Parks in Seattle
·The Seattle Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel, open to the public in 2012, is a popular landmark in the city located on the west coast. The great Ferris wheel is 175 feet high. Appropriate for all ages, it is a must try ride in the city for a full view of Seattle. Fine dining restaurants and great wheel light shows add up the cheer to the place.

Timings: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Ticket Price: $14 (Adults) $9 (Kids)

·Great Wolf Lodge

The Great Wolf Lodge was opened in 2008 with variety of amusement activities. Attractions like body slides, tube slides, lazy river etc. are featured in the amusement mark, making it perfect for all age groups. Fun rides, fitness centre and food court increase the enjoyment in the park.

Timings: 11:00 AM to 08:00 PM

Entry Fee: $50 per person

·Wild Waves Theme Park

Wild Waves Theme Park is one of the major amusement parks in Seattle. It was opened in 1977, serving Seattle’s population with an exciting and fun experience. Rides and attractions in the park are divided into 5 major sections. It also celebrates annual festivals with lights, making the place more attractive.

Timings: 11:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Entry Fee: $34 (Adult) $24 (Children)

·Oaks Amusement Park

One of the oldest amusement parks around Seattle, Oaks Amusement Park was opened in 1905. Among various amusement divisions, rides, skating rink, miniature golf court are few popular spots. The rides section of the park featuring kiddie rides, thrill rides, family rides, and height rides.

Timings: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Entry Fee: $10 to $100 (Varies as per the activities)

1. What can visitors do at the Seattle Great Wheel?

A．Have a full view of Seattle.	B．Play in the golf court.
C．Enjoy the festival celebration.	D．Experience the body slides.

2. How much would a couple with one child pay to visit Wild Waves Theme Park?

A．$37.

B．$50.

C．$92.

D．$100.

3. Which of the following is the earliest to open?

A．The Seattle Great Wheel.	B．Great Wolf Lodge.
C．Wild Waves Theme Park.	D．Oaks Amusement Park.