1 . What’s in a Game?

Picture you and your friends sitting around one Saturday, bored. You’ve read every book, watched every movie and played every game. There is absolutely nothing left to do.     1    ? Here are some guidelines to help you invent a new game that’s both playable and fun.

The Ohjective

The first thing you’ll need to design a great game is an objective or goal for players to work toward.     2    . For example, Hockey games and Risk, a kind of card game, have one thing in common — when one player or team reaches the final objective, they win.

    3    

Next, you’ll need rules to let your players know what they can and can’t do. It might seem like a game with no rules would be more fun. You can do anything you want! Unfortunately, this often results in confused players arguing about how the game should be played. Rules set limits and define what the game is — and what it isn’t. Players need to know what they can and can’t do, and what will happen when they do different things.

Meaningful Choices

While you are creating your rules, think about the choices players will make and what effects those choices will have.     4    . If the same thing happens no matter what choice the player makes, they’ll wonder why they have to choose.

Don’t Forget to Playtest!

Any game you see in stores has gone through many rounds of testing and revision. Rules that seem clear to you might be confusing for others. Situations might come up that you didn’t expect.     5    .

A．The Place

B．The Rules

C．What can your players do

D．What if you could invent your own game

E．Every choice a player makes needs to have an effect on the gameplay

F．The best way to make sure your game is playable and fun is to playtest it

G．Objectives can take many forms, but they should always be clear to the players

2 . Anyone who has seen a waterfall up close will agree that their majesty(壮观)is almost indescribable. These are the four falls on the planet, each of which is wonderful in its own way.

Niagara Falls

At 3,950 feet wide, Niagara Falls is far from the largest waterfall around, but it is the falls with the largest volume of water traveling through it and is undoubtedly the best known waterfall on the planet. It receives somewhere between 14 and 20 million visitors annually. It has three separate parts: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe, or Canadian Falls.

Chutes Kongou

Also known as Kongou Falls, Chutes Kongou measures 10,500 feet wide, making it the world’s third largest existing waterfall. It’s part of the Ivindo River in Gabon, and is roughly 185 feet tall. Among the most powerful waterfalls in the world, roughly 31,800 cubic feet of water f low down it each second. It is located within the Ivindo National Park, which was set up to protect the biodiversity of the Ivindo River.

Salto Para

Salto Para, or Para Falls, is an 18,400-foot wide waterfall on the Rio Caura in the Bolivar region of Venezuela. These half-moon-shaped falls are formed where two parts of the river come together and drop down almost 200 feet, each side of which is a green jungle island.

Chutes de Khone

Chutes de Khone—also known as Khone Falls—is the largest waterfall in the world. At 35,376 feet wide, it’s almost twice the width of its next largest competitor. The falls are part of the Mekong River in Laos, and occur where the river divides into seven large channels and many more smaller ones. It’s made up of several different rapids and falls, pouring down from a height of 69 feet.

1. What is special about Niagara Falls?

A．It is the most famous waterfall.	B．It is next to a green jungle island.
C．It is made up of four separate parts.	D．It is a half-moon-shaped waterfall.

2. Where is Chutes Kongou?

A．In Laos.

B．In Canada.

C．In Gabon.

D．In Venezuela.

3. Which is the largest waterfall in the world according to the text?

A．Salto Para.	B．Chutes de Khone.
C．Chutes Kongou.	D．Niagara Falls,

3 . Nicholas Chorier is not a usual photographer. He is a kite aerial (航空的) photographer. He uses a kite to hoist (吊起) his camera into the skies and clicks photographs. As a teenager, Nicholas had two passions — photography and kite flying. During a trip to India to make a photo report on kite making, he learnt about this unique style of photography. Fascinated, he literally tied his two hobbies together for a living. Nicholas learnt to make strong kites modeled on the Japanese kites, Rokkaku that could stand high winds. A newbie in his chosen field, he then set out to train himself,

Today he is one of the most well-known kite aerial photographers in the world. The technique is to tie a basket containing the photography equipment to the string of the kite and then fly it, thus launching the camera into air. From the ground, Nicholas controls the angles of the camera with a remote. An air-to-ground video link enables him to see the view from the kite’s point. Once satisfied with the frame, he clicks a picture, However, the job does have its pitfalls, too. Once, his kite disappeared in the Yamuna River, with his expensive camera following it.

He is especially fond of India, having made a couple of trips and taken many spectacular photos. “India is a too vast and beautiful country to be captured through the cameras in one life,” he says. He recently released a book, Kite’s Eye View: India between Earth and Sky. Though it includes photographs of “No Photo” sites like the Taj Mahal, it shows them from a totally different perspective.

1. What were Nicholas’s two hobbies?

A．Design and reading.	B．Traveling and drawing.
C．Kite making and selling.	D．Photography and kite flying.

2. What is “Rokkaku”?

A．A technique.

B．A Japanese.

C．A kind of kite.

D．A beginner.

3. What does the underlined word “pitfulls” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Benefits.

B．Choices.

C．Secrets.

D．Risks.

4. Which word can best describe Nicholas?

A．Creative.

B．Honest.

C．Humorous.

D．Warm-hearted.

4 . The TV series Wolf Pack starring Sarah Michelle Gellar is centered around the lives of a group of Los Angeles teenagers, whose lives are changed forever when a supernatural creature is freed after a series of unexplained wildfires break out.

Not much is known about Gellar’s character on the show, except for the fact that she is playing Kristin Ramsey, an expert who moves to Los Angeles to find the person who started the wildfires. She spoke to Fox News Digital about her big return to TV, and explained why she thought she was drawn to projects featuring monsters (怪物).

“For me, it’s always about the stories, and in talking today, we have discovered that the superhuman allows you to tell the most human stories because it really allows you to use these monsters to explore emotions, fears and anxieties that you can’t experience in other worlds,” Gellar explained.

“I think it’s a really important conversation that people will be along for the ride, but then realize what the meaning is behind all of it,” she added. Gellar’s co-star, Rodrigo, agreed with her, saying he hoped audiences could look at the deeper meanings behind the monsters on the show and realize they were all metaphors (隐喻) to discuss in our own inner monsters.”

Gellar recently told SFX Magazine she was very proud of the show.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The cause of wildfires.	B．A creature’s activity.
C．A group of teenagers’ lives.	D．The plot of Wolf Pack.

2. According to Gellar, what can help her uncover people’s feelings?

A．Rich experiences.	B．Monsters in the story.
C．Wildfires in a show.	D．Discussion with each other.

3. How did Gellar feel about the series Wolf Pack?

A．Satisfied.

B．Frightened.

C．Moved.

D．Disappointed.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Lifestyle.

B．Nature.

C．Science.

D．Entertainment.

5 . Over the last half century, obesity (肥胖症) rates have skyrocketed. In 1962, 46 percent of adults in the US were considered overweight. By 2010, that figure had jumped to 75 percent.

Obesity is a complex problem with many causes. But among the likely suspects, sugar is high on the list. A variety of research has drawn a link (联系) between sugar consumption (消耗) and overweight. As sugar consumption has increased, so has our waistline.

“I don’t think we have enough evidence yet to suggest that sugar is the reason for obesity,” says Johns Hopkins, a cardiologist. “But there is enough evidence to say that too much sugar consumption is an important contributor to weight gain.”

All those sweet snacks seem to be affecting the heart as well. In a study published in JAMA: Internal Medicine in 2014, researchers compared people who consumed a lot of added sugar accounting for 17 to 21 percent of their total daily calories with people who ate less sugar — just 8 percent of their total calories. Those in the high-sugar group had a 38 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease.

Excess weight increases the risk of many diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Research by the team of Ndumele has shown that those factors usually explain the link between obesity and heart disease. “All of those factors make it more likely that someone will develop heart disease,” says Ndumele.

In other words, there are many reasons to aim for a healthy weight. And cutting back on sugar is a good place to start.

1. What does the underlined word “skyrocketed” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Risen quickly.	B．Dropped rapidly.
C．Led to many diseases.	D．Caught much attention.

2. What’s Johns Hopkins’ attitude towards too much sugar consumption?

A．Unsure.

B．Negative.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Supportive.

3. What does the study in JAMA want to show?

A．Obesity can cause heart disease.	B．Sugar contributes to weight gain.
C．Heart disease is linked to sugar intake.	D．Overweight increases high blood pressure.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Obesity—The Heart Killer	B．Less Sugar—A Good Start for Health
C．What to Do with Disease	D．How to Take Care of Your Sweet Teeth

6 . The Best School Camps in Victoria

Burnside Camp

Located on the Surf Coast near Anglesea, Burnside Camp is set over 4-hectare beautiful bushland (灌木丛) close to opollution-free peaches, Running throughout the year, Burnside Camp serves as a fantastic base for groups of up to 88 students. Camp programs centre on outdoor adventure activities. These include biking, canoeing, and exciting bush night hikes.

Mill Valley Ranch

Mill Valley Ranch is one of the best school camps in Victoria for large groups of students. It can accommodate up to 100 students. At Mill Valley Ranch, activity programs typically centre on confidence and character building. When outdoors, this sees young people given the opportunity to experience everything from horse riding to archery (射箭). However, it is also possible to organize a wide range of other team games and activities.

Camp Wilkin

Set in Anglesea, Camp Wilkin covers a 15-acre area home to resident kangaroos, which is in easy reach of quiet bushwalks and fantastic beaches. It offers the best school camp accommodation in Victoria for large groups, accommodating up to 163 students. And it also offers a variety of outdoor activity programs. Camp facilities include large meeting rooms suitable for everything from presentations to group learning activities.

Halls Gap

Halls Gap can hold up to 56 students. One of the best school camps in Victoria for natural sightseeing, it features reserved activities taking the form of short journeys to experience some of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. Halls Gap Camp students can also join in rock climbing. Such activities are in the company of local tour guides.

1. What can students do at Burnside Camp?

A．Learn to repair bikes.	B．Run their own startups.
C．Attend archery lessons.	D．Go on bush night hikes.

2. Which camp can hold the largest number of students?

A．Halls Gap.

B．Burnside Camp.

C．Camp Wilkin.

D．Mill Valley Ranch.

3. What is special about Halls Gap?

A．It is the best camp in Victoria.	B．It requires advance booking.
C．It features outdoor activities.	D．It centres on character building.

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。

Like many nature reserves in Kenya, Borana used to be a cattle ranch (牧场). For thousands of years, cows were     1     center of culture for the Maasai, Samburu, Pokot, and other local groups. When national parks and nature reserves began to     2     (establish) in the middle of the 20th century, these same groups found themselves prevented from grazing (放牧) their animals on land they had depended on for     3     (generation).

Borana now aims     4    (go) into partnership with its neighbors, with programs such as Mazingira Yetu     5     intend to promote environmental protection. Students from nearby communities can spend a day at the nature reserve, go on game drives     6     learn more about various land practices, including water storage, regenerative farming, and tree nurseries. The program was started in 2022, bringing 365 students to Borana, and it     7     (grow) to welcome more than 1, 100 students in 2023,

Borana put all profits (收益) into efforts like this one, and it has made a     8     (different): Last year, tourism produced over $1 million,    9     (lead) to the protection of 28 endangered species, the training of 114 workers, scholarships for 55 students, and drought relief to seven communities. Now there is a growing recognition that change doesn't happen alone, and that long-term efforts to protect wildlife require a     10    (share) purpose across communities and interests.

8 . In 2018, Julie Silverman developed a bad cough. She went to her primary care doctor, who _______ her to other doctors, but no one could diagnose (诊断) the _______ of the cough, or find a way to treat it.

Over the next few years, the cough got _______ . Silverman was going to weekly appointments (预约),which was where she_______ a nurse practitioner named Alison.

“She was really _______ about this cough and often asked me how I was doing,” Silverman remembered, “I, at this point, paid little attention to her _______, because I had been told by so many doctors as ‘Just relax. You’re not responding to our_______.’”

But Alison’s response was different, and she did care about Silverman. When Silverman came in for one of her weekly appointments, Alison _______ that her condition had worsened. Alison told one of the doctors that he should _______ it carefully. When the check-up was over, Silverman could ________ by their faces something was not ________. Her airway was 75% blocked by scar tissue (瘢痕组织), which made her hardly________. “This is a very rare condition. It only happens to about one in 400, 000 people,” the doctor said. “So it is very________ if not treated.”

The diagnosis gave Silverman the information she needed to find a specialist who could________ treat her. Now she spends her time volunteering at her local hospital, riding her bike and hiking. She often ________ Alison while doing the things that bring her joy.

1.

A．sent

B．drove

C．joined

D．invited

2.

A．price

B．date

C．cause

D．symbol

3.

A．hotter

B．fewer

C．better

D．worse

4.

A．hurt

B．missed

C．met

D．called

5.

A．angry

B．concerned

C．hopeful

D．excited

6.

A．jobs

B．words

C．roles

D．choices

7.

A．treatments

B．hospitals

C．replies

D．letters

8.

A．forgot

B．noticed

C．expected

D．decided

9.

A．hear about

B．result in

C．pass by

D．look at

10.

A．prove

B．report

C．tell

D．require

11.

A．hard

B．strange

C．right

D．costly

12.

A．breathe

B．cry

C．jump

D．run

13.

A．funny

B．serious

C．quiet

D．easy

14.

A．properly

B．slowly

C．kindly

D．typically

15.

A．watches over

B．waits for

C．picks up

D．thinks of

9 .

YOUTH CLUB Free Membership for You It’s our tenth birthday this year. Now we are offering (提供) free membership (会员资格) to two lucky people. If you want to be one of those lucky people, you have to tell us your answers to these questions. ◆ Why do you want to keep healthy? ◆ How do you keep healthy? ◆ What’s your favourite sport? Swimming, tennis, basketball, table tennis or weight training? Fill in the form and send a photo of yourself to Peter Brown. His email address is youthclub@ 26.com.

1. When was Youth Club started?

A．Seven years ago.	B．Ten years ago.
C．Five years age.	D．Six years ago

2. How many kinds of sports are mentioned in the passage?

A．Three

B．Four

C．Five

D．Six

3. After reading the passage, we can know Peter Brown’s ________.

A．date of birth	B．telephone number
C．favorite sport	D．email address

10 . 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。

Emily was a shy and quiet student in Greenfield High School. Emily was known for her quiet behavior and her love for literature, often found lost in the pages of a book during lunch breaks.

One day, as Emily walked through the hallway, she noticed a colorful poster announcing an upcoming English poetry competition. Her heart raced with excitement at the prospect of showcasing her talent, but her mind was immediately flooded with doubts. “What if my poem is not good enough? What if everyone laughs at me?”she thought to herself, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

As the days went by, Emily found herself caught between her desire to participate and her fear of failure. She talked with her best friend, Sarah, who had been by her side since they were little. She was known for her outgoing personality and her ability to make everyone feel included.

“You have a gift, Emily, ”Sarah said reassuringly, her blue eyes filled with encouragement. “Don’t let your fears hold you back. You never know what might happen unless you try. ”

With Sarah’s support, Emily decided to take a leap of faith and submit her poem for the competition. As the day of the event drew near, she felt a mix of nervousness and expectation. She spent hours perfecting her poem, carefully choosing each word and line to convey her emotions. She practiced her poem in front of the miror, trying to perfect her delivery and expression.

But despite her newfound confidence, Emily couldn’t shake off the feeling of doubt in her mind. These thoughts consumed her, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else.

It was during one of these moments of self-doubt that Sarah came to her rescue once again. “You’re an amazing writer, Emily, ”she said, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. “Your poem is going to be incredible. Just believe in yourself. ”With Sarah’s words in her mind, Emily felt a renewed sense of determination.

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。
Paragraph 1:

On the day of the competition, Emily took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.   

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Paragraph 2:

In the end, Emily’s poem won first place.

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