1 . I was shocked when my socially awkward sister, who had suffered from Asperger Syndrome (阿斯伯格综合症), decided to sing in front of the school. I knew she would ________ me in some way, so I protested. However, my parents insisted that she ________ and I would have to be part of the audience. I silently hoped that something would happen to ________ me from watching her losing face.

As I waited in the hall, sweat ________ my forehead. I comforted myself that no one knew she was my sister and tried to persuade myself that it would be ________. The lights darkened and the ________ opened to reveal (使露面) my sister standing alone on stage. She seemed ________, taking a minute to stammer (结结巴巴地说) her name and class. ________ began to be heard in the audience.

I shifted nervously in my seat, afraid what was about to happen. But as my sister started to sing, I was ________. Her voice flowed effortlessly and melodiously, filling the hall with its ________. I watched in wonder, realizing I had never known she could sing so ________. I listened carefully to the lyric (歌词) she had written herself, feeling ashamed for doubting her ________. My heart gave way as I heard the heartfelt words.

     In that moment, guilt and shame flooded my heart. ________ my unwillingness to support her, she had never taken anything that I had done to her to heart. It was then that I determined to love her ________. It was as if a veil (面纱) had been ________ from my eyes, and my heart was full.1.

A．embarrass

B．impress

C．surprise

D．support

2.

A．hide

B．quit

C．escape

D．perform

3.

A．protect

B．save

C．recover

D．rescue

4.

A．picked up

B．climbed upon

C．took off

D．went up

5.

A．impressive

B．exciting

C．fine

D．challenging

6.

A．characters

B．lectures

C．curtains

D．signals

7.

A．confident

B．nervous

C．prepared

D．relaxed

8.

A．Cries

B．Crashes

C．Whispers

D．Screams

9.

A．entertained

B．disappointed

C．relieved

D．shocked

10.

A．power

B．weakness

C．silence

D．darkness

11.

A．softly

B．loudly

C．quietly

D．beautifully

12.

A．abilities

B．failures

C．talents

D．weaknesses

13.

A．Without

B．Despite

C．Beyond

D．Within

14.

A．extremely

B．equally

C．unconditionally

D．finally

15.

A．lifted

B．dropped

C．covered

D．hidden

2 . In various restaurants worldwide, there’s a new sight-child-sized robots. These robots can welcome guests, show them to their tables, deliver food and drinks, and even transport dirty dishes back to the kitchen. Some believe these robot waiters could be a solution to today’s worker shortages in the restaurant industry, with tens of thousands of them now in use.

But other people think that robots can’t replace human workers. Robot waiters can’t take orders, and they struggle with steps, limiting their abilities.

Despite these disadvantages, their use is growing. For example, in Madison Heights, Michigan, Li Zhai faced difficulty finding enough workers for his restaurant, Noodle Topia. To address this, he purchased robots from Pudu Robotics. These robots have been a success, with one leading diners to their seats, another delivering food, and a third transporting dirty dishes.

Zhai found that using these robots reduced his need for employees. Three robots now do the work of what used to require five or six people. In terms of cost, a robot costs around $15 000, while a human can cost $5,000 to $6,000 per month. These robots also have a surprising benefit-they free up human servers to spend more time with customers, resulting in increased tips, Additionally, diners often share videos of the robots on social media, attracting more visitors to the restaurant.

However, not all restaurants have had the same success. For instance, Chili’s (奇利斯餐厅)introduced robot servers in 2020, expanding the test to 61U.S. restaurants before suddenly stopping the program. The robots were criticized (批评) for their slow movement and getting in the way of human servers. A survey showed that 58% of guests believed the robots didn’t improve their overall dining experience.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce a survey about robot waiters.

B．To show the success of robot waiters in restaurants.

C．To describe the appearance of child-sized robots in restaurants.

D．To discuss the challenges of hiring human workers in restaurants.

2. What does the underlined word “address” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Solve.

B．Narrow.

C．Ignore.

D．Control.

3. What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The history of robot waiters in the U.S.

B．The challenges of introducing robot servers.

C．The effect of social media on the restaurant industry.

D．The advantages of using robots in the restaurant industry.

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．All restaurants with robot servers are successful.

B．The use of robot waiters still has a long way to go.

C．Robot waiters are cheaper to employ than human workers.

D．The restaurant industry is not affected by worker shortages.

3 . People tend to use trees for papermaking. But maybe electronics (电子) engineers are missing out on something here. “It turns out that two major building blocks of wood have a lot of electrical qualities,” says Magnus Berggren, a professor at Linköping University.

His team has been working to make parts for electronics from the forest. Right now, they’re focusing on two materials of trees. The first material is cellulose, which can make energy. Lignin, the second material, can store that energy, just as a battery does. The team has found when pressed, cellulose can produce electricity.

Some device must then store the electricity until it’s needed. Batteries can do this. But batteries aren’t very green. They have harmful materials. That’s where lignin comes in.

Batteries cause electrons to flow from one place to another, which can produce electricity. In a typical battery, one material must give electrons. The other must accept them. Lignin can do both. A weak acid (酸) encourages lignin to produce electrons. “With a metal wire (金属线) to guide those electrons, you’ll have electricity,” says Berggren.

Berggren’s team use this quality to create its new lignin-based battery. Typical batteries use a metal wire as a path to guide the flow of electrons into or out of the device. But since Berggren wants to make a battery of the forest, he looks for a natural way. Once again, he turns to cellulose.

This natural material can serve as a wire-like path for electrons. To make it work well, Berggren lines them with another chemical known as PEDOT, which isn’t from a tree. But when PEDOT is added to cellulose, they can conduct electricity like a wire. “With a weak acid, now you have a battery,” Berggren says. “And two of its three materials come from the forest.”

Berggren can imagine one day having mobile phone batteries made largely from forest products. Tree-based electronics might also be useful in lighting.

1. What is cellulose used to do in the study?

A．Act as a weak acid.	B．Collect rainwater.
C．Produce electricity.	D．Make quality paper.

2. Which best describes the new battery?

A．Well-received.

B．Eco-friendly.

C．Harmful.

D．Heavy.

3. What can we expect of tree-based electronics?

A．They may change farming practices.	B．They might save a lot of wood.
C．They would serve the elderly.	D．They could light the rooms.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．A Green Way to Make and Store Energy	B．An Attempt to Raise Power Production
C．Practical Suggestions on Planting Trees	D．Recent Advances in Mobile Phones

4 . Our two-year investigation into caged (关在笼中) tigers in America sent us through 32 US states—with some truly shocking experiences. But as the deadline neared, I still needed a powerful and hopeful image.

When we began our reporting in 2017—Sharon, writing; me taking photos; and our son, NickRuggia, filming—more tigers likely lived in cages in the US than remained in the wild. The number ranged from 5,000 to 10,000, but without strict government oversight, no one knew for sure.

Roadside zoos that allowed tourists to take pictures of young tigers were the main cause of what’s been called a US tiger crisis (危机). Caged cats often ended up in the illegal wildlife trade. Young tigers, parted from their mothers at birth, were fed poorly and touched by hundreds of people. When they grew too big and dangerous to pet at around 12 weeks, young tigers were put on show, or simply disappeared.

While we documented the unpleasant part of this industry, we also wanted to show the good life these impressive animals could have. With two weeks left before my deadline, I headed to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, where well-cared cats walked freely in their habitat.

There I met Clay, Daniel, and Enzo, three of 39 tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma. These nearly grown cats raced beside our car, which I’d seen only in the wild. It was a hot July day and soon two of the cats jumped into a pool to cool off. The third rested beside them on the ground. I crossed the road to take a picture of them. Then quietly, I came up close, trying not to disturb (打扰) them. I had the shot.

1. Why did the author start her reporting?

A．To dig out the dark truth of caged tigers.	B．To explore the amazing land in the country.
C．To tell people that baby tigers are harmless.	D．To share the happy moment during the trip.

2. What is the main cause of the US tiger crisis according to the text?

A．Forest fires.

B．Climate change.

C．Roadside zoos.

D．Water pollution.

3. What can we learn about these young tigers from paragraph 3?

A．They prefer to stay indoors.	B．They are badly treated.
C．They get used to the changes.	D．They are traded legally.

4. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the Wild Animal Sanctuary?

A．To praise her family for their effort.	B．To explain what the animals suffered.
C．To introduce a special kind of tigers.	D．To show some tigers lead an easy life.

5 . Leah Brown aged 36 fell several hundred feet from Oregon’s highest mountain right before the eyes of a group of volunteer rescue workers who rushed to her aid and helped save her life.

The woman was coming down a popular path (小路) on Mt. Hood, about 70 miles east of Portland, on Saturday morning, according to the local police. Mt. Hood is the highest in Oregon, standing at around11.240 feet.

The fall was seen by members of Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), a volunteer organization focused on helping people in mountainous areas. The group called 911 and rushed to the woman, providing medical care. They helped keep the woman warm for seven hours as the police worked to get her off the mountain safely. Finally, the woman was evacuated (转移) to a parking lot at 9:30 pm and taken to a hospital.

The climber, Leah Brown, said she didn’t know what caused her fall. “I can only guess it was either an ice tool or a crampon (冰爪) that didn’t land and stick like it should have, so I became detached from the mountain,” Brown said. “The thing I’d like to most stress is my appreciation for the members of PMR who evacuated me and took good care of me the whole time,” Brown added. “They saved my life. ”

In a statement after the rescue, PMR warned of the dangerous winter conditions at the mountain. “The short days and lower temperatures mean that the snow tends to be very hard and icy, and the conditions tend to be much steeper. Climbing the mountain in icy conditions is much more difficult,” the group said.

1. What happened to Brown on Saturday morning?

A．She lost her way in a forest.	B．She hurt her eye unexpectedly.
C．She failed to call her family.	D．She fell down on a downhill path.

2. What does the underlined word “detached” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Different.

B．Hidden.

C．Separated.

D．Tired.

3. How did Brown feel about the members of PMR?

A．Thankful.

B．Regretful.

C．Surprised.

D．Concerned.

4. What did PMR intend to tell us?

A．Climbing requires teamwork.	B．Climbing in winter is too risky.
C．We must remain positive in hard times.	D．We can admire the view on sunny days.

6 . My dad is easy-going and has a gift for chatting. He ________ a fast food restaurant called Queenie’s Weenies, which is specialized in hot dogs. I work with my dad at the ________ on weekends.

One Saturday, we went ________. As we got into the checkout line, I ________ something: our cashier (收银员) was very ________! She ________ no smiles, no greetings and no small talk. Her “anger aura (光环)” was obvious and kind of ________ to me. When we ________ to check out, I was thinking that we should just pay for our things and leave quickly. My dad had a different ________. When it was our turn, he started ________ her.

Dad said, “Hi, how are you today? This is my son. I have a restaurant, and we ________ together. It’s called Queenie’s Weenies. Drop by my restaurant sometime and I will ________ you to my hot dogs. I’m good at cooking them.” By the time we ________ checking out, the cashier was smiling. She said, “Thanks, umm… I hope you and your son have a very nice day.”

Back in the car, Dad said to me, “The cashier was obviously ________ today. It happens to everyone. Smile ________ or give a few kind words, which is all it takes to make one a little more delighted.”

1.

A．owns

B．describes

C．visits

D．recommends

2.

A．supermarket

B．hospital

C．restaurant

D．company

3.

A．hiking

B．camping

C．exploring

D．shopping

4.

A．imagined

B．believed

C．noticed

D．remembered

5.

A．beautiful

B．unhappy

C．professional

D．polite

6.

A．received

B．needed

C．avoided

D．offered

7.

A．suitable

B．frightening

C．special

D．friendly

8.

A．helped

B．refused

C．waited

D．forgot

9.

A．problem

B．idea

C．hope

D．experience

10.

A．talking to

B．looking after

C．going after

D．laughing at

11.

A．work

B．play

C．tour

D．exercise

12.

A．drive

B．tie

C．treat

D．lead

13.

A．quitted

B．finished

C．missed

D．regretted

14.

A．in peace

B．in danger

C．in a hurry

D．in low spirits

15.

A．warmly

B．immediately

C．secretly

D．comfortably

7 . 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。

As a part of the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum’s extra activities, the     1     (eight) Beijing October Literature Festival opened in September. Some     2     (respect) writers took part in discussions on literature with readers at various meetings and events related to literature.

On Saturday, a meeting     3     (hold) for famous persons from three different     4     (generation)—people born in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, including writers, critics and media figures to explore the topic of “literary life in the digital age”. They discussed a series of topics,     5     “survival and life in the Internet age”, as well as “transformative power of literary expression”.

Throughout the festival, bookstores, museums and local communities hosted a series of literature-related activities. Writers also had the chance to gather materials for their literary works, all of     6     lead to developing a wide reading culture. Besides, a discussion between foreign translators and Chinese writers took place. People     7     (presence) at the festival discussed how to advance and spread modern Chinese literature through translation and cross-cultural exchange.

It was reported     8     a closing event hosted in the form of a symphony (交响乐) concert was designed     9     (end) this literary festival. The Beijing Symphony Orchestra performed at the National Cultural Palace,     10     (play) background music of film and television productions that are from literary classics.

8 . 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。

Michael, a 58-year-old man, lives in one of the most magical places in the world, Honolulu, Hawaii, which is known as an ideal vacation spot for most Americans. He gets to call this place home. But he has difficulty finding a regular place to live in. Being a homeless man, he usually sleeps on the streets and beaches of Honolulu.

Michael has an interest in baseball, so he often takes advantage of the wonderful weather to play baseball. That’s how he earns him the nickname “Baseball Michael”. Many of his friends know where to find him — in the former Heald College parking garage (停车场). There, he practices his skills, in the hope of making it big one day.

Several days ago, when Michael was hitting some baseballs, he lost one in a narrow gap between the parking garage and a drug store next door. He kept on playing. After losing a total of six balls, he decided to go down to get them. The gap was so narrow that he wasn’t sure whether he could squeeze in (挤进去). But realizing those baseballs were his only possessions, he finally made up his mind to have a try.

Michael made his way down the gap, but things turned tricky. He saw it was narrow at the bottom but he thought he was thin enough to enter it. Moments later, he let out an “uh oh”. Beyond his expectation, the space was too small for him to fit. However, he kept going with his eyes on his baseballs. He whispered, “Don’t give up. They are all I have.”

As Michael went down a little lower and lower, he realized that there was no way to return. He had to wait for somebody to rescue him. As he didn’t bring his mobile phone along, he had to shout as loudly as he could. However, there was no one answering him. Half an hour later, he felt extremely thirsty. He was very tired and afraid that he could no longer hold on. Just when he was about to give up, he heard the sound of footsteps was approaching.

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。
A worker named Ray passed by and discovered Michael.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The firefighters arrived at the site soon.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . In our life, there are moments when we wonder whether to offer a helping hand. These _______ may seem small to us, but sometimes have the power to change the _______ of someone else’s life. This kind of _______ experiences happened to Bill when he was 15 years old.

It was a summer afternoon, and Bill was attending a _______ for a middle school summer program once again. It was a good chance for friends to meet regularly and speak freely. _______ , none of the group members _______ to him till the end of the day. Eventually, everyone said their goodbyes, leaving him standing by himself.

Bill recalled, “Sometimes when you’re _______ , you feel abandoned. And that’s the way I felt then, and the feeling became intense.” Nearby, another group of _______ stood chatting and laughing. He found himself _______ so much to be a part of that group.

As Bill stood there, feeling ________ lonely, Wendy, a girl in that group, who had ever ________ him in the summer program, walked up to him. “Hi, I’m Wendy. I saw you last year,” Wendy said. Then she invited Bill to join them and ________ him in her group’s activities. Wendy ________ out to Bill and also inspired him to extend that same kindness to anyone at any time.

From then on, Bill’s life was changed. He studied hard to become a doctor. He was ________ to his patients, listening to them and being attentive to their needs. “To some extent, ________ Wendy’s kind invitation, I was inspired to be a good person,” Bill said.

1.

A．ambitions

B．gestures

C．qualifications

D．reasons

2.

A．course

B．appetite

C．preferences

D．opinions

3.

A．unfamiliar

B．unimportant

C．contradictory

D．transformational

4.

A．concert

B．test

C．reunion

D．competition

5.

A．Nevertheless

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．Besides

6.

A．agreed

B．talked

C．proposed

D．apologized

7.

A．kind

B．gentle

C．rude

D．alone

8.

A．teenagers

B．colleagues

C．doctors

D．teachers

9.

A．attaining

B．regretting

C．desiring

D．forgetting

10.

A．increasingly

B．permanently

C．slightly

D．rarely

11.

A．amused

B．invited

C．chose

D．met

12.

A．find

B．involve

C．suspect

D．acknowledge

13.

A．gave

B．let

C．reached

D．acted

14.

A．faithful

B．equal

C．identical

D．caring

15.

A．as to

B．thanks to

C．in place of

D．in spite of

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When is the Jane Austen Festival held?

A．In March.

B．In September.

C．In December.

2. What is the most impressive in the Jane Austen Festival?

A．The concert.

B．The fashion show.

C．The dance class.

3. How long did Jane Austen live in Chawton?

A．For eighteen years.

B．For ten years.

C．For eight years.

4. What can visitors do for free at the Jane Austen Center?

A．Go to the tea room.

B．Try on traditional costumes.

C．See a life-sized statue of Jane.