1 . The journey of learning Beijing Opera has been a meaningful one for me.

When I first stepped into the practice room, the sounds of instruments filled the air. The _________ performers moved with grace and their voices were full of power. As a beginner, I found it hard to _________ the movements and vocal techniques. It seemed impossible to _________. But with each practice period, I found the determination to keep _________. Repeating the steps and vocal exercises over and over again, I practiced _________. My teachers and classmates were very _________. They encouraged me during moments of doubt and told me that _________ was not given but earned.

As time went on, I began to see _________ in my performance. My voice became more _________ and my movements more graceful. I started to feel a connection with the __________ understanding the feelings they had through their movements and expressions.

Finally, the day arrived for my first __________. I stepped onto the stage and the music started. I put my heart into the performance. The cheers that filled the theater at the end of the show were __________. The journey was __________, but learning Beijing Opera taught me a valuable lesson: never __________. I will carry with me the lesson learned from Beijing Opera that will __________ me on the road to success, both in the world of Beijing Opera and life.

1.

A．surprised

B．traditional

C．important

D．experienced

2.

A．keep up with

B．get back on

C．stay away from

D．look forward to

3.

A．know

B．change

C．learn

D．share

4.

A．checking

B．going

C．asking

D．cheering

5.

A．safely

B．helplessly

C．quietly

D．tirelessly

6.

A．supportive

B．active

C．creative

D．productive

7.

A．kindness

B．success

C．wealth

D．chance

8.

A．details

B．value

C．methods

D．progress

9.

A．different

B．expressive

C．similar

D．encouraging

10.

A．characters

B．teachers

C．actors

D．members

11.

A．class

B．job

C．visit

D．show

12.

A．music to my ears

B．bottom lines

C．time on my hands

D．top secrets

13.

A．interesting

B．boring

C．challenging

D．meaningful

14.

A．win out

B．give up

C．wake up

D．stand out

15.

A．protect

B．trust

C．guide

D．pick

2 . Caring 17-year-old Lauren Schroeder was inspired to help bring healthy food to needy families in her community. Volunteering at a food shelter helping _______ boxes for households in need with packaged food when she was 14, this Iowa teen felt that something was _______ from the donated groceries: fresh vegetables. So she shared with her parents her _______ to start a vegetable farm on part of their family farm in Dixon, Iowa to support local families in need with fresh produce.

Coming from a farming family, Lauren was _______ agriculture. But the work involved in _______ Lauren’s plan was no walk in the park. _______, while proud of her daughter’s vision, her mother, Katie Shroeder, admitted _______ about the work involved: “I also had a little bit of responsibilities on my shoulder.”

Lauren was one determined young _______, however! She researched plants online, _______ which species needed more shade and how much water was ________. During Iowa’s hot summers, she had to water her crops by hand for around 2-3 hours daily. Thanks to her ________, Lauren planted half an acre of land, with 15 varieties of vegetables in 2022, harvesting about 3,000 kilograms.

In 2023, Lauren doubled the size of her farm to an acre. Discussing her future ________, The Washington Post revealed that Lauren would like to grow another 5,897 kilograms of produce, thus ________ her veggie total to about 9,000 kilograms when it’s time for her to go to college in 2025.

Explaining her ________ to local media channel, KWQC, Lauren said, “I wanted to do something that would impact people. Many people help you out, but it makes more ________ when you help others out.”

1.

A．compare

B．decorate

C．fill

D．connect

2.

A．free

B．urgent

C．far

D．missing

3.

A．demand

B．desire

C．ability

D．failure

4.

A．tired with

B．scared of

C．familiar with

D．anxious about

5.

A．realizing

B．improving

C．making

D．imagining

6.

A．Eventually

B．Unfortunately

C．Generally

D．Initially

7.

A．thinking

B．worrying

C．arguing

D．talking

8.

A．care-taker

B．decision-maker

C．change-maker

D．job-seeker

9.

A．questioning

B．believing

C．indicating

D．checking

10.

A．required

B．consumed

C．produced

D．recycled

11.

A．intelligence

B．ambition

C．work

D．courage

12.

A．measures

B．difficulties

C．tasks

D．plans

13.

A．handing

B．bringing

C．applying

D．reducing

14.

A．motivation

B．hobby

C．secret

D．method

15.

A．progress

B．difference

C．power

D．space

3 . We’ve all been there: You check your phone and see over 100 unread texts thanks to a group chat. The more this happens, the more it can start to feel overwhelming. “When we see so much activity happening, it creates a sense of panic and often results in difficulty separating from the phone due to fear of missing out,” said therapist (治疗专家) Becky Stuempfig. But group texts don’t have to be a source of stress.     1    .

Review group chats at set times

“I recommend choosing certain times of the day when you plan to catch up on texts,” Stuempfig said. “    2    , one in the morning, afternoon and evening, where they read and respond to messages. By doing so, you avoid feeling like you spent the entire day trying to keep up. and it decreases anxiety caused by receiving constant alerts (提醒).”

Turn off notifications

“My advice is turning off all notification alerts. No sounds, no vibrating (震动) — nothing.” Stuempfig said. “    3     — all of the necessary positive activities for our mental health.” You can set exceptions for certain contacts and apps, so you don’t have to worry about missing important calls.

Keep group chats small, if possible

    4    . “I recommend minimizing the number of people on group chats so that the notifications are not quite as overwhelming.” Stuempfig said. “Large group chats are extremely hard to manage and create a feeling of constantly needing to check to see what is being discussed.”

Practice mindfulness

Even if you make some changes, you might still find yourself feeling overwhelmed at certain times. It can be helpful to try some mindfulness exercises.     5    . Stuempfig said, “Taking a walk without bringing a phone with you or silencing texts and only allowing calls from emergency contacts can be a great way to refresh ourselves.”

A．They can help you decrease biological stress and improve sleep quality

B．Many people find it helpful to choose three 20-minute windows per day

C．Below, Stuempfig shares his advice for making the experience less tiring

D．They can involve deep breathing, taking a walk, or otherwise shifting your focus

E．If you’re starting a new text chat, really think about how many people you’re inviting

F．Many experts do some corresponding research and give us some suggestions as follows

G．These alerts interrupt our work projects, homework, family time, relaxing time, and sleep

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。

One summer day, I decided to go for a walk in the nearby forest. I had my backpack prepared with water, food, and sunscreen. I was excited to spend some time in nature, away from the busy city.

The forest was attractive, with towering trees that seemed to touch the sky and colorful wildflowers under my feet. I walked deeper into the woods, attracted by the pleasant sounds of birds. The path I followed was winding and narrow, but I paid little attention, carried away by the beauty. I started to notice that the trees around me looked unfamiliar. Soon I found myself lost. I realized that I had no idea which way to go.

The sun was setting and I knew that I needed to find a way out before it got dark. I started walking, trying to remember which direction I had come from. But the forest was a maze (迷宫) of winding paths, and I soon found myself going in circles. Every tree looked the same, and every path seemed to lead nowhere.

The sound of leaves made me jump. Was it a wild animal? My heart was racing and I tried to stay calm as I listened for other sounds. But there was only silence, broken now and then by the distant calls of birds.

As the sun set, I fully understood the seriousness of my situation. There was no food or water left. I was completely alone, lost in a wilderness that could easily devour (吞噬) me. I walked nervously, tripping over things in my path, feeling frightened with a racing heartbeat. Hours passed, or maybe only minutes. Time had lost all meaning in this place.

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。

But then, as I was about to give up hope, I saw a weak light in the distance.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The house s owner welcomed me inside.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

A Californian woman has become a fitness influencer in her 50s after losing more than 40 pounds and taking up bodybuilding.

Denise Kirtley, 52, was inspired     1     (turn) her life around two months before her 50th birthday after finding that her wedding ring no longer fit on her finger.

“When I     2     (start) my transformation in 2020, I had been sedentary (惯于久坐不动的) for     3     long while,” Kirtley explained. She began lifting light weights in her spare bedroom, saying she was     4     unfit for the first two weeks that she quickly felt     5     (breath) and tired. But Kirtley said the secret to     6     (get) started on a body transformation is     7     (simple) to repeat workouts five times per week because action “often precedes (先于) motivation.”

“Action leads to more action. We can’t wait for motivation to kick in as it usually comes     8     (late),” she said. “If you can start taking action, any action, you will build momentum (推进力). That momentum will push you forward. It DOES get easier.”

The 52-year-old said she’s also transformed her attitude toward growing older. “We really do get to choose     9     we age. It’s all about your mindset,” she said. “Old and aging are very different — there’s nothing wrong     10     aging, and I embrace (欣然接受) my age. I’m aging, but I’m strong and spirited.”

6 . Researchers from University of Southern California (USC) may have found the biggest influencer in the spread of fake news: social platforms’ structure of rewarding users for habitually sharing information. The study involved 2,476 active Facebook users ranging in age from 18 to 89. They were asked to complete a decision-making survey about seven minutes long.

Surprisingly, the researchers found that users’ social media habits are closely related to the amount of fake news they shared. Frequent and habitual users spread six times more fake news than occasional or new users. Just 15% of the most habitual news sharers in the research were responsible for spreading about 30% to 40% of the fake news. Users’ habits were more influential in sharing fake news than other factors, including lack of critical reasoning.

The research team wondered: What motivates these users? As it turns out, much like any video game, social media has a reward system that encourages users to stay on their accounts and keep posting and sharing.

Users who post and share frequently, especially eye-catching information, are likely to attract attention. Due to the reward system of social media, users form habits of sharing information that gets recognition from others automatically, without considering consequences such as spreading misinformation.

Then, the team tested whether social media reward structures could be designed to promote sharing of true over false information. They found that incentives (鼓励) for accuracy rather than popularity doubled the amount of accurate news that users share on social platforms.

“We know from previous research that some people don’t process information critically, which influences their ability to recognize false stories online,” said Gizem Ceylan, who led the team. “However, our new study shows that the reward structure of social media platforms plays a bigger role when it comes to misinformation spread.”

1. What does the USC research mainly focus on concerning social media?

A．Its reward system.	B．The users’ age group.
C．Its attraction to users.	D．The reason fake news spreads on it.

2. Who is more likely to share false information on Facebook?

A．A new user.	B．A heavy user.
C．An occasional user.	D．An uneducated user.

3. What contributes to the habits of social media users?

A．The popularity of their posts.

B．The easy access to information.

C．The encouragement from other users.

D．The immediate money reward from the platform.

4. Which statement will Gizem Ceylan probably agree with?

A．Sharing of misinformation is unavoidable.

B．People shouldn’t use social media frequently.

C．Lack of critical reasoning is a common problem.

D．Social media reward structures should be improved.

7 . These popular children’s stories all have important birthdays this year.

How to Train Your Dragon
by Cressida Cowell
(Hachette Children’s)

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smallish Viking with a longish name. His Hairy Hooligan tribe thinks he’s useless but, with the help of a dragon, can Hiccup prove he’s a hero? Celebrate 20 years of a favourite story with this anniversary edition.

The Sheep-Pig
by Dick King-Smith
(Puffin Books)

When Farmer Hogget brings Babe home, the little orphaned piglet (成为孤儿的小猪) is raised by a kind-hearted sheepdog called Fly. Babe knows he can never be a sheepdog like Fly but could he learn how to be a sheep-pig? Famously made into the film Babe, this much-loved animal story turns 40 this year.

Emily of New Moon
by L. M. Montgomery
(Virago Books)

When Emily is sent to live at New Moon with relatives she’s never met, her imagination and ideas soon cause her to clash (争执) with her Aunt Elizabeth. Will New Moon ever feel like home? Written by the author of Anne of Green Gables, this story was first published in 1923 and is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

The Dark is Rising
by Susan Cooper
(Puffin Books)

It’s Midwinter’s Eve, the day before Will’s 11th birthday. Strange things are happening in the snowy countryside around him and Will soon realises this will be a birthday like no other. First published 50 years ago, this classic adventure remains as exciting and magical as ever.

1. Whose book was Babe adapted from?

A．Susan Cooper’s.	B．Cressida Cowell’s.
C．Dick King-Smith’s.	D．L. M. Montgomery’s.

2. Which of the following books has been in print for a century?

A．How to Train Your Dragon.	B．Emily of New Moon.
C．The Dark is Rising.	D．The Sheep-Pig.

3. What do we know about The Dark is Rising?

A．It is made up of several stories.

B．It is published by Virago Books.

C．It is set around the character’s birthday.

D．It is based on the author’s personal experience.

8 . Compared with Americans, people in Okinawa, 1, 000 miles south of Tokyo, are three times more likely to become centenarians (百岁老人) , according to professor Dan Buettner’s research. The centenarians garden, sing, laugh and play. For most of the city dwellers (居民) who are busy working, it’s not possible to live like that.     1     Here are some ways that Buettner find those centenarians keep.

    2       

For those who don’t like the gym, you may be inspired by the way the centenarians bring movement into their everyday routines.     3     “A garden pushes you to weed, water and harvest almost every day, which keeps you moving,” Buettner says. “I also talked with a 104-year-old woman who got up and down the floor 30 times, making for better balance and flexibility,” Buettner recalls.

They reduce meat for a plant-forward approach.

The typical diet in America includes 220 pounds of meat per year. per person.     4     “About 1/10th of what we eat,” Buettner says. In Okinawa, tofu is often eaten twice a day, mixed with vegetables. And a key principle of eating there is to stop when you’re 80% full. Mindful eating has been shown to help people have moderate intake.

They give loneliness the boot and become joiners.

Buettner describes a woman named Panchita who was well over 100 years old. She didn’t feel lonely at all because, her 85-year-old son biked to her house to help feed the chickens each day. In return, she cooked him some beans and some rice. They both found happiness in doing so. “There’s this beautiful symbiosis (共生) .     5     ” Buettner says.

A．They depend on each other.

B．They eat as little as they can.

C．They build movement into their days.

D．They plant a garden in their backyard.

E．But we can learn from their simple habits.

F．Those centenarians only consume 20 pounds a year.

G．Much of their intake is from whole plant-based foods.

9 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.

Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.

Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.

Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.

1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?

A．He comes from a single-parent family.	B．He is humorous in speech.
C．His dream was inspired by his fans.	D．His mom used to be a singer.

2. What made Bayoh’s mom worried?

A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing.	B．The judges’ attitudes to his son.
C．Bayoh’s performance on stage.	D．Some audiences’ initial responses.

3. How did the audience probably feel after hearing the boy’s song?

A．Touched.

B．Annoyed.

C．Relieved.

D．Amused.

4. Why does the author mention a music teacher?

A．To uncover more musical geniuses.	B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well.
C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing.	D．To contradict some audiences’ comments.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does Tatyana do?

A．A businesswoman.

B．A teacher.

C．A tutor.

2. Which of the following caused the greatest problem for Tatyana at first?

A．The language.

B．Her children.

C．Local citizens.

3. Why did Tatyana go to Toastmasters International?

A．To have fun.

B．To improve her English.

C．To make more friends.

4. What does the speaker mention about Tatyana in the end?

A．Her way to learn English.

B．Her love for her hometown.

C．Her impression of Canadians.