When Valentine’s Day was around the corner, Grandma came down with a terrible cold as she was travelling from Colorado to my family’s house in California. She was too weak to go out at all, which was sad and disappointing. Grandma and Grandpa had been planning to take my little sister Indi and me to the zoo for Valentine’s Day. Grandma, as an animal lover, had been especially looking forward to it.
On Valentine’s Day, Indi begged Grandma to go to the zoo with us. But Grandma jokingly explained that if she went there, she might spread her cold to other visitors, or even to the animals, making them all start sneezing.
I imagined the sight that an elephant kept sneezing. Meanwhile, I pretended my arm was a trunk and blurted out a funny trumpeting sound that ended with a gigantic sneeze. “Good one, brother,” Indi laughed. “That elephant would need a huge box of tissues.”
Grandma was amused. But she insisted that she should stay at home and rest up. She wished us a pleasant visit and reminded us to send her regards to the monkeys.
Well, we did go and we did have a great time, but I kept wishing Grandma could have been there with us. When we reached the monkey mountain, Grandpa suggested taking a picture with the monkeys and told us to hold still and say “cheese”.
“Cheese,” I said. But Indi said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Grandma!”
“You were supposed to say cheese,” said Grandpa.
Indi shrugged, “It just came out.”
“I’m glad it did,” I said. “Because you’re just given me a fantastic idea. What if we take pictures of different animals, and then turn them into a special Valentine gift for Grandma?” Indi and Grandpa agreed and we kept taking pictures for Grandma.
Paragraph 1:When we got home, we set about making the gift.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
Then we took the gift upstairs to Grandma’s room.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . Borneo is home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife. Several years ago, I decided to go there for a visit. A local person offered to be my guide, which was a great bonus for me. One day, my guide turned off the smooth road and took me across a
The world out there is so fascinating. Why not step outdoors and enjoy the wonders nature offers to you?
1.A.rolling | B.spectacular | C.rough | D.breathtaking |
A.suddenly | B.literally | C.definitely | D.intimately |
A.alarmed | B.pleased | C.concerned | D.upset |
A.Nevertheless | B.Besides | C.Instead | D.Therefore |
A.desires | B.motivations | C.destinations | D.highlights |
A.summerized | B.suspected | C.approached | D.valued |
A.hold onto | B.pick up | C.reflect on | D.hunt for |
A.width | B.length | C.height | D.size |
A.emerged | B.paused | C.continued | D.declined |
A.mud | B.surface | C.ground | D.shore |
A.legs | B.mouths | C.eyes | D.teeth |
A.moved | B.sank | C.bid | D.escaped |
A.give out | B.let out | C.turn out | D.make out |
A.victims | B.opponents | C.folks | D.guides |
A.challenged | B.encountered | C.terrified | D.chased |
3 . There’s a useful concept from psychology that helps explain why good people do things that harm the environment: the false consensus effect. That’s where we overvalue how acceptable and prevalent (普遍的) our own behavior is in society. Put simply, if you’re doing something (even if you secretly know you probably shouldn’t), you’re more likely to think plenty of other people do it too. What’s more, you likely overestimate how much other people think that behavior is broadly OK.
This bias (偏见) allows people to justify socially unacceptable or illegal behaviors. Researchers have observed the false consensus effect in drug use and illegal hunting. More recently, conservationists are beginning to reveal how this effect contributes to environmental damage.
In Australia, people who admitted to poaching (偷猎) thought it was much more prevalent in society than it really was, and had higher estimates than fishers who obeyed the law. They also believed others viewed poaching as socially acceptable; however, in reality, more than 90% of fishers held the opposite view. The false consensus effect has also shown up in studies examining support for nuclear energy and offshore wind farms.
Just as concepts from psychology can help explain some forms of environmental damage, so too can they help address it. For example, research shows people are more likely to litter in areas where there’s already a-lot of trash scattered around; so making sure the ground around a bin is not covered in rubbish may help.
Factual information on how other people think and behave can be very powerful. Energy companies have substantially reduced energy consumption simply by showing people how their electricity use compares to their neighbors. Encouragingly, stimulating people’s natural desire for status has also been successful in getting people to “go green to be seen”, or to publicly buy eco-friendly products.
As the research evidence shows, social norms can be a powerful force in encouraging and popularizing environmentally friendly behaviors. Perhaps you can do your bit by sharing this article!
1. Which example best illustrates the false consensus effect?A.A student spends long hours surfing the internet. |
B.A blogger assumes many people dislike his posts. |
C.A driver frequently parks illegally in public places. |
D.A smoker believes people generally approve of smoking. |
A.It is unacceptable. | B.It is widespread. |
C.It is controversial. | D.It is complex. |
A.Embrace green habits for better health. |
B.Make green choices that others can perceive. |
C.Join green movements for personal fulfillment. |
D.Choose green items that are easy to spot in stores. |
A.Understate social norms. | B.Highlight personal responsibilities. |
C.Publicize sustainable practices. | D.Encourage technological innovations. |
1. 表达歉意;
2. 说明理由;
3. 后续调整。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Katherine,
I’m Li Hua, leader of the English drama club.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
5 . An Oregon teenager Marcos Ugartes is being praised as a hero after he saved a young boy from a house fire.
The fire broke out just after 10 p. m. Monday. Marcos Ugartes and his dad were sitting on the couch in their home when they heard
After learning that an 8-year-old Cody Ma was still
Marcos Ugartes grabbed a ladder (梯子) and
The Ugartes had never met the Ma family before the
The Ma family expressed their
Marcos told ABC News he got a lot of
A.singing | B.screaming | C.laughing | D.whispering |
A.assumed | B.admitted | C.feared | D.denied |
A.hidden | B.torn | C.stuck | D.pressed |
A.twice | B.ahead | C.big | D.fast |
A.ask | B.prevent | C.cheat | D.free |
A.fell | B.climbed | C.looked | D.marched |
A.blew up | B.polished up | C.broke through | D.carried away |
A.boy | B.parent | C.book | D.pet |
A.rain | B.wind | C.snow | D.fire |
A.linked | B.analyzed | C.helped | D.checked |
A.houses | B.addresses | C.grades | D.names |
A.relief | B.ease | C.gratitude | D.comfort |
A.donation | B.bravery | C.encouragement | D.sponsorship |
A.questions | B.doubts | C.congratulations | D.greetings |
A.consult | B.honor | C.fund | D.examine |
6 . After a decade of negotiations, nearly 200 countries have agreed to a new United Nations treaty(条约)to protect the world’s oceans, the first of its kind in 40 years. The High Seas Treaty aims to protect 30% of the open oceans by 2030, setting a plan in motion to preserve this vast area.
Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface and are home to countless species of animals and plants. They play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy planet. However, overfishing and pollution from ships and other sources have severely impinged on many marine (海洋的)species and ecosystems.
The last major UN sea treaty in 1982 described the “high seas” — the parts of the oceans that aren’t controlled by any country — but it did not protect them. The high seas, which account for two-thirds of the ocean, currently have only 1.2% of their massive area protected. A marine protected area(MPA)is an area in the sea with strict rules about fishing and other activities. While more and more countries have established MPAs in their waters, most are not connected, limiting their effectiveness for migratory(迁徙的)species.
Last December, over 110 countries committed to protecting 30% of their land and ocean areas by 2030.The High Seas Treaty now enables the extension of this goal to the entire ocean. It aims to make 30% of the high seas become protected areas by 2030 and requires that proposed activities on the high seas undergo assessment for their potential impact on the ocean environment.
Reaching the agreement was challenging due to differing views on ocean protection among countries, such as limits on fishing or pollution. Disagreements also arose over sharing resources between rich and poor nations, with the latter seeking an assurance that resources benefit everyone, not just those in wealthy countries.
The treaty is not yet final and must be officially accepted at a UN meeting. Then it must be approved and signed by enough countries before it takes effect.
1. What is the main objective of the High Seas Treaty?A.To protect 30% of the open oceans by 2030. |
B.To allow unrestricted fishing on the high seas. |
C.To promote international tourism in marine areas. |
D.To establish new shipping routes on the high seas. |
A.Exchanged. | B.Assisted. | C.Impacted. | D.Defended. |
A.Strict rules of a marine protected area. |
B.Current measures to restrict overfishing. |
C.The limited number of migratory species. |
D.The lack of protection for the high seas. |
A.New Plans to Develop Marine Resources |
B.A New UN Agreement to Preserve Open Oceans |
C.The Treaty Officially Accepted at a UN Meeting |
D.The Cooperation on Sharing Resources Equally |
7 . Recycled, reused and renewable textiles (纺织品) only go so far in solving the fast-fashion crisis, writes Alexandra Carlton. The answer may lie in consumption.
Australia is the world’s second-largest consumer of clothing, generating 800,000 tonnes of textile waste yearly. Individuals consume about 27 kilograms of new clothes annually and cast 23 kilograms of waste. Globally, the situation is even more severe, with an estimated 92million tonnes of clothing waste produced each year. This equates to a truckload of clothes entering landfills every second.
If you want to stop our unwanted clothes from jamming the planet, you’d assume that reusing and recycling would lead the discussion. However, full clothes recycling — breaking clothes down to their base fibres to create new ones — is no simple task. Clothes consist of various fibres, fasteners, and decorations that traditionally require painstaking manual (手工的) separation. Yet, innovation is underway, such as the Swedish large-scale sorting facility Siptex, where textiles can be sorted by color and material using infrared (红外线) technology.
Brands like Adelaide’s Autark focus on minimizing output. “I keep my collections tightly designed and production numbers slim,” says designer Sophia McMahon. Sometimes this means she doesn’t have the exact clothes someone wants in store, but customers are patient while she makes items to order because they understand her brand’s essence.
Startups like AirRobe are giving clothes a second life and could be part of the solution. The clothing resale market is currently worth 49 billion and is expected to reach 103 billion by 2025.AirRobe lets customers add new purchases to their digital wardrobe so they can be resold later without uploading photos or descriptions. “The ‘re-economy’ — the reuse and recycle market sector — will be a real opportunity for us,” says Erica Berchtold, CEO of The Iconic.
Researchers Samantha Sharpe and Taylor Brydges from the University of Technology Sydney advocate a widespread shift among consumers towards buying fewer, higher-quality clothes besides these innovations.
1. Why are the numbers used in Paragraph 2?A.To encourage factories to produce more clothes. |
B.To emphasize the severity of the clothing waste. |
C.To present the amount of clothing consumption. |
D.To set the stage for discussing how to landfill clothes. |
A.It is challenging. | B.It is energy-saving. |
C.It is unworthy of attention. | D.It is time-efficient. |
A.Consumers should be patient to buy high-quality clothes. |
B.Clothes specially designed for consumers are the most fit. |
C.Adelaide’s Autark has enough clothes in store for consumers. |
D.Slowing the production cycle is essential to reducing output. |
A.Buying more clothes. | B.Following the fashion trend. |
C.Changing consuming behavior. | D.Concentrating innovation. |
8 . Lanrick Jr. Bennett holds a unique title in Toronto: bicycle mayor. He led a Halloween Kidical Mass ride recently, which I attended with my daughter, son-in-law, their two dogs, and my granddaughter. He is working towards making cycling mainstream and safe for all residents in the city. I did not know that Toronto had a bicycle mayor; I surely would have voted for him in an election.
The bicycle mayor program is run by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based global NGO that believes “bicycles transform cities and cities transform the world”. Standing in the strange but wonderful Bentway, a park built under an elevated expressway, Bennett says, “BYCS has 150 bicycle mayors across the world. And through a few friends putting in some really nice letters of encouragement, BYCS offered me a two-year term as an advocate here in the city of Toronto, becoming the first bicycle mayor of the city.”
Bennett says he is boosting the work being done to make cycling more mainstream in Toronto. “I am giving a bit more exposure to the great work that has allowed me to be able to ride a bike throughout the city. It’s getting better, we’re seeing more infrastructure (基础设施), and we’re seeing more people not wanting to depend on cars as their primary piece. I’m happy that I have been part of a fantastic group thus far,” says Bennett.
Since there’s still a lot of work to do, Lanrick Jr. Bennett has been working hard to improve cycling conditions in Toronto, and his efforts have been recognized by the community. He has been advocating for more bike lanes (车道), better lighting, and other safety measures to make cycling a practical option for commuters (通勤者). It’s great to see people like Lanrick.
Jr. Bennett working towards making cycling safe and accessible for all residents.
1. What can we say about the author?A.She is fond of varieties of outdoor activities. |
B.She is supportive of efforts to promote cycling. |
C.She is planning to participate in the election for mayor. |
D.She is trying to make cycling the mainstream of the city. |
A.The way Bennett got his position. | B.Transformation of Toronto city. |
C.Bennett’s ambition to change the world. | D.Mayor’s deeds throughout the world. |
A.Upset. | B.Challenged. | C.Curious. | D.Satisfied. |
A.It is the best in the world due to the presence of BYCS. |
B.It has already well-developed and does not require improvement. |
C.It is improving, but further work and development are still needed. |
D.It is virtually non-existent, making Bennett’s job extremely important. |
9 . A great poem makes you want to get out of your chair and pace around the room.
Read aloud and out loud
When reading a poem, it is important to remember that it is not just words on a page, but is meant to be heard or read aloud.
Approaching poetry with a perspective of finding connections between the poem and one’s own life can be a valuable tool for appreciating the poem more. Connecting to the emotions, memories and even the same life experiences can help to relate more to the poem and in turn, truly appreciate it. Through this connection to the poem, we can better understand the feelings, actions and words of the poem.
Create a dialogue
More often than not, a lot of hidden or “unsaid” messages are delivered in poetry.
Write your own poem
A.Find connections |
B.Pair poetry with other art forms |
C.Writing can be a great way to start your appreciation of a poem |
D.It makes you want to throw your hands up and show it to somebody |
E.Reading the poem aloud helps you understand the emotion of the poet fully |
F.Having a discussion around a poem allows readers to bring out these messages |
G.Possessing a critical eye allows readers to appreciate the art of poetry in a meaningful way |
10 . Best Movies on Netflix
Parenthood
Year: 1989
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis
Parenthood is a feel-good family dramedy directed by Ron Howard, focusing on the parental anxieties of Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) and his family. The cast includes Dianne Wiest, Keanu Reeves, Joaquin Phoenix, Rick Moranis, and Jason Robards as Gil’s father. The film has terrifying but painfully funny moments.
Beverly Hills Cop
Year: 1984
Director: Martin Brest
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff
Eddie Murphy stars in Beverly Hills Cop, an action-packed comedy. Originally, Mickey Rourke and Sylvester Stallone were considered for the role before it was tailored for Murphy. This film showcases his cocky, wise-cracking persona (人格面具) as Axel Foley, who always remains in control despite being a fish out of water.
Starman
Year: 1984
Director: John Carpenter
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel
John Carpenter’s Starman was initially developed alongside E. T. and envisioned variously as a family drama or sci-fi film. Carpenter focused on dramatic, romantic aspects and the bond between a woman and an alien who looks like her dead husband. Despite similarities to E. T., Carpenter’s unique touch is evident in the film’s horror element s and the transformation of the alien into an adult Jeff Bridges.
Fletch
Year: 1985
Director: Michael Ritchie
Stars: Chevy Chase, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Tim Matheson, Joe Don Baker, Richard Libertini
Michael Ritchie’s Fletch, starring Chevy Chase, is a comedy that draws from film noir (黑色电影). It showcases Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher, an investigative reporter known for ridiculous disguise (伪装). Filled with quotable lines and memorable scenes, this film becomes more enjoyable over time.
1. Who is the character Axel Foley designed for?A.Steve Martin. | B.Mickey Rourke. | C.Eddie Murphy. | D.Sylvester Stallone. |
A.He is a reporter known for disguise. | B.He plays a minor role in the movie. |
C.He is serious about his in-depth report. | D.He is a detective fond of high-tech devices. |
A.They are considered realistic. | B.They were released in the 80s. |
C.They are similar in plots and styles. | D.They are directed by the same director. |