1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the aim of the campaign?

A．To remind people of Earth Day.

B．To encourage people to reduce garbage.

C．To warn people of the bad effects of pollution.

2. What will be the task on the second day?

A．Planting trees.

B．Designing posters.

C．Collecting garbage.

3. What does the man expect the teachers to do?

A．Paint paper.

B．Stop driving cars.

C．Decorate classrooms.

4. How does Sara find the man's ideas?

A．Absurd.

B．Hollow.

C．Practical.

2 . Cultural heritage sites are a nonrenewable resource. Today architectural heritage sites are being destroyed at an alarming rate. They’re threatened by rising seas, pollution, overtourism, conflicts and so on. Recently, Notre Dame Cathedral has attracted international attention.

Since its main construction from 1163 to 1350, Notre Dame Cathedral repeatedly has been damaged and repaired. On April 15, 2019, the landmark’s roof caught fire, causing the collapse of its spire (尖顶) and upper walls severely damaged. Work on the site began quickly. Through the work of photographer Tomas van Houtryve, writer Robert Kunzig, and artist Fernando Baptista, people will see restoring scenes where ruins are cleared and statues saved. Even the COVID-19 pandemic caused only a two-month delay. Architects have said the expensive project is on track to be completed in 2024.

And thorny questions arise. What duty do we owe the creations of our ancestors? What lesson can we draw from their presence?

Humankind has answered that differently. In Dresden, Germany, the Frauenkirche, an 18th-century baroque church, was famous for its bell-shaped dome (穹顶). In February 1945, one of the most destructive bombing attacks of World War II reduced the city to ruins. After German reunion, the church was reconstructed using many of its original stones, as a symbol of peace and harmony. Berlin’s Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church also fell to bombing but had a different story. Its spire has been left a ruin on purpose to be a “warning monument” against war and destruction.

Like the Frauenkirche, Notre Dame is being rebuilt as close as possible to how it was before, including using the original, toxic metal — lead (铅) — for the roof, causing the debate about how to restore and maintain historic buildings. Actually, no one claims to have the “right” answers on preservation; there may not even be right answers. What people could do is to continuously monitor the global care of cultural heritage sites, as a matter of significance to humanity’s past, present, and future.

1. What do we know about Notre Dame Cathedral?

A．It was once threatened by conflicts.

B．It collapsed totally during a fire decade ago.

C．It has undergone repeated repairs since 1163.

D．It was not influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. What does the underlined word “thorny” mean?

A．Simple.

B．Tough.

C．Accurate.

D．Attractive.

3. Why are the Frauenkirche and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church mentioned in para.4?

A．To remind people the value of peace and harmony.

B．To warn people the influence of war and destruction.

C．To demonstrate different solutions to heritage site preservation.

D．To introduce reconstruction methods such as using original materials.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Cultural heritage sites are nonrenewable so that they are worth protecting.

B．Notre Dame Cathedral has been the most attractive heritage site globally.

C．The reconstruction of cultural heritage sites seldom causes disagreements.

D．The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral after fire has been completed.

3 . 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。

When I think of a “mad genius”, no one deserves the title more than Nikola Tesla. Born in Austria in 1856, this scientist is not just an engineer, but an inventor and     1    (explore) of the many mysteries of the world.

To begin with, Tesla possessed an     2    (objective) brilliant mind. He was blessed with the gift of a photographic memory. When inspiration     3    (strike), he was capable of visualizing the idea from concept to design, not needing to pen it down.     4    (work) entirely from memory, he would be able to build the device     5     referring to any notes at all. If this was not     6    (amaze) enough, he was fluent in eight different languages.

As an inventor, his experiments at that time     7    (see) as remarkably far-fetched, and must have seemed like magic. His innovative ideas would ultimately set the groundwork for the next generation of scientists. Indeed, many of his 300     8    (register) patents contributed to the creation of widespread technology today such as the radio, X-Ray machine and wireless technology. Tesla even predicted     9     birth of the smartphone. His forward-looking ideas have earned him the label of a futurist-one     10     explores the possibilities of the future.

4 . There are many differences in ways of thinking between East and West. Many of them are reflected in daily behaviour. In particular, Chinese people sometimes attach more importance to their appearance and social status than to their inner qualities, while Westerners think the opposite. However, Socrates (Ancient Greek philosopher) and Confucius share significant similarities that are universal.

Both philosophers share several teachings in common; for example, their understanding of the nature of knowledge and their opinions on education. Socrates believed “There is only one good, knowledge;and only one evil, ignorance.” Similarly, Confucius said, “Isn’t it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?” But both also acknowledge the limits of knowledge. Socrates said: “All I know is that I know nothing.” Similarly, Confucius said, “When you know a thing, to hold you know it; when you don’t know a thing, to allow you don’t know it-this is knowledge.”

However, there are important differences in their understanding of morality. Confucius believed each person should follow certain regulations according to virtue(德行). Everyone should play their role in a society where people are interdependent in order to achieve harmony in the whole society. For instance, when asked how to govern a country, Confucius stated “An emperor should act like an emperor, a subject should act like a subject.” Socrates, however, places self-knowledge over social knowledge.

Another difference between them is their attitude towards political domination(支配). Confucius believed the best way to govern a country isn’t through legal system, but through virtue. Socrates, by contrast, declared that “nothing is more important than justice”.

Why have East and West developed such different cultural values? A widely accepted theory holds that Eastern civilization was an agricultural civilization. Hence the need for a collective society and friendly relations with neighbors was strong. Western civilization, however, was nomadic(游牧的). Their mobility makes them less dependent on society after migration.

In spite of their differences, the two cultures have more in common than differences. The shared concern for moral values in the teachings of Socrates and Confucius also shows us more fundamental similarities between Eastern and Western cultures in their pursuit of virtuous lives.

1. What do the two philosophers share about knowledge?

A．The learning of knowledge is easy.	B．The learning of knowledge is endless.
C．A man without knowledge is foolish.	D．A man shall not pretend to understand.

2. Which of the following reflects the thoughts of Confucius in terms of morality?

A．Nothing is more important than a legal system.

B．I am not a Chinese, but a citizen of the world.

C．Not everyone should play his own role in society.

D．A man does what is proper to the position he is in.

3. What is the root cause of the differences between Eastern and Western cultural values?

A．The difference in political atmosphere.	B．The difference in the length of history.
C．The difference in economic development.	D．The difference in levels of social dependency.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Reasons for similarities of Eastern and Western cultures.

B．The introduction of great figures of two different cultures.

C．Comparisons of the thoughts of the two great philosophers.

D．The contributions of two great philosophers to civilization.

5 . The first apes evolved 20 million years ago in the forests where they would go up a tree to get their food, and then come back down to move on to the next tree. Getting out of a tree presents all kinds of new challenges. Big apes can’t afford to fall because it could kill or badly injure them. Natural selection would have favored those with body structures that allowed them to descend safely.

Dartmouth researchers report in the journal Royal Society Open Science that apes probably evolved free-moving shoulders and flexible elbows to slow their descent from trees as gravity pulled on their heavier bodies. These flexible body parts passed on from ancestral apes would have allowed early humans to climb trees at night for safety and comedown in the daylight unhurt. When early humans transitioned from forests to open savannas (热带稀树草原), flexible shoulders and elbows were crucial for gathering food and using tools for hunting and defense.

The researchers used sports analysis and statistical software to study how primates(灵长目动物) like chimpanzees and small monkeys called mangabeys climbed in the wild. They found that chimps and mangabeys scaled(攀爬) trees similarly, with shoulders and elbows mostly bent close to the body. When descending, however, chimpanzees extended their arms above their heads to hold on to branches, much like a person using a ladder, to counteract(抵消) their heavier weight pulling them downward.

Luke Fannin, the lead author of the study, emphasized that their findings highlight the importance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans. He explained, “Our research introduces the idea that down climbing played a significant role in shaping the structural differences between monkeys and apes, which eventually manifested in humans.”

“Our field has thought about apes climbing up trees for a long time, but we’ve been ignoring the second half of this behavior,” said Professor Jeremy DeSilva, “The findings are among the first to identify the significance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans.

1. According to paragraph 1, apes would have been favored by natural selection if                .

A．they have sufficient food resources.

B．they come down from trees securely.

C．they master skills of climbing up trees.

D．they cure themselves when they’re injured.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The similarity of two primates in tree climbing

B．The evolution of two primates’ adaptation to nature.

C．The analysis of primates’ tree scaling and descending

D．The application of different research methods and tools.

3. Which of the following statement might DeSilva agree with?

A．Descending trees has been neglected by researchers for a long time.

B．The study is the first to recognize the significance of down climbing

C．The evolution of apes and early humans is a result of down climbing.

D．Studies on climbing down trees are more likely to have new findings.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Chimpanzees and Mangabeys: Researches in Natural Settings

B．Apes and Humans: A Comparative Study of Climbing up Trees

C．Shoulders and Elbows: Evolved as Brakes for Downclimbing Apes

D．Apes’ Climbing Strategies: How to Use Different Body Parts Flexibly

6 . Creative ways to change your workouts

Most people know working out is good for your health, both physical and mental.     1     Sure, you may get excited about training for a 5 K or 10 K, but once the race is over, only to become tired of it after a few weeks.

Create a word or image with your exercise route

Runners often map routes through city streets that create a word or image, then use a GPS device to “draw” it as they run.     2     Not sure what image or message to create? You can always follow artistic routes others have created and shared in the apps.Some are impressively complex and may take several excursions to complete.But that’s part of the fun.

Join a free fitness group

Exercising can be more fun with others, so look for group fitness opportunities. Many communities offer free exercise opportunities. Fitness in the Park is a summer-long activity that has been operating in New York state for a decade. Everyone is welcome to head to one of 18 different parks.     3     “The best part is grabbing a partner that you don’t know, or getting together with one that you do,” Frion said. “It’s always so much fun.”

    4    

Sure, you can run a 5 K. But why not try orienteering (定向越野赛)? This timed navigational sport requires you to use detailed maps to find orange-and-white flags that are hidden in parks or remote areas. Races involve difficult running routes

Dance

Whether you take a class or practice at home, dancing is a great way to get your body moving. Dancing doesn’t seem like exercise to a lot of people, which is why it’s always a popular choice.     5     “The workout allows for a creative aspect and meditation at the same time,” she said. “Many people come because it is an opportunity to try something different, as well as to dance in a nonjudgmental space.”

A．Hit the road.

B．Sign up for a new-to-you event.

C．Participants have ranged in age from about 10 to over 70.

D．But staying motivated — especially for the long term — can be a struggle.

E．The event is timed, so people often jog or power walk from flag to flag.

F．You can do the same, whether your favored exercise is running, walking or biking.

G．It’s also something you can do anywhere, to any kind of music, salsa, hip-hop — it all works.

7 . 3 Most Walkable Cities in Europe

Walking on holiday is a great way to stay fit, but also to see the sights a city has to offer. Here are the three most walkable cities in Europe.

Athens, Greece

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. The capital of Greece ranks fifth, with a slightly longer—but very worthwhile—route of 2.1 miles between its top-rated tourist attractions.

Visitors to Athens can set off at the Acropolis, climbing to discover the ancient Parthenon that stands as a landmark to the city’s ancient legacy. Then it leads to the Acropolis Museum, with the neighbourhood of Plaka waiting to be explored in the shadow of the Acropolis. The National Archaeological Museum is also close-by.

Seville, Spain

Seville is home to some wonderful sights that are best seen when walking. Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top five tourist attractions.

Visitors to this charming Spanish city can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood and admire the Torre Giralda bell tower hanging above. With just 20 minutes of walking between these attractions.

Venice, Italy

Venice is famous for walkers, so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. Walking is the best way to explore the bridges over the canals the city is famed for. There are endless charming alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of bridges over the canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal.

1. What’s the recommended starting point of the city walk in Athens?

A．Plaka.

B．The Acropolis.

C．The Acropolis Museum.

D．The National Archaeological Museum .

2. Why is Sevilla the top destination as a walkable city in Europe?

A．It offers some wonderful sights.

B．Visitors can explore five tourist attractions.

C．It makes visitors enjoy their time to the full.

D．Visitors can tour five tourist attractions in the shortest walking distance.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Those who are hiking during the vacation.

B．Those who want to find suggestions on where to travel.

C．Those who are looking for the best traveling destinations.

D．Those who usually choose walkable cities for their vacation.

8 . You may have heard video game characters deliver lines like “Shatter (击碎) the darkness with thunder!” But it’s refreshing to hear it in an unexpected place — the classroom. Xia Zhendong is a physics teacher working at a senior high school in south China. Now in his 30s, Xia has won the hearts of millions of online viewers with his classroom experiments.

In one video, Xia pointed a self-made “thunderbolt wand (魔杖)” toward a hanging light tube in his classroom and said, “Shatter the darkness with thunder.” Suddenly, an electric arc (弧线) emerged from the tip of the wand, illuminating the tube. After the cheers from his students, he went on to explain the science behind it—static electricity (静电) and point discharge (尖端放电).

“The idea came when I enjoyed playing a popular game on my smart phone,” he said. In his spare time, he likes to try out what students are interested in to get closer to them. Apart from the “thunderbolt wand”, Xia has done many other creative experiments. Once, he lit steel wool with a battery to show the heating effect of electric current. Another time, he used a “laser weapon” to pop balloons while explaining the principles of lasers.

For Xia, physics is supposed to be fun. So, when he saw his students struggle with physics, he decided to make a change. “Circuit diagrams (电路图) are abstract, and I want them to actually see the electricity through lightning to realize that knowledge is not just on paper. You can see it and even touch it,” Xia said. Now, Xia has also started free live classes online. “I hope that through online classes, more students can also have access to fun physics lessons. And their parents can also join in. I hope that physics could make them feel happier,” Xia said.

1. What does the underlined word “illuminating” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Shining light on.	B．Cutting down on.
C．Getting stuck in.	D．Taking advantage of.

2. What inspired Xia Zhendong to have such an idea?

A．The effect of acting a video game character.	B．Online viewers of his videos.
C．The pleasure in playing an online game .	D．Wild cheers from his students.

3. Why does he start free live classes online?

A．Because he hopes to get more students to have his classes.

B．Because he wishes to get more parents involved in his lessons.

C．Because he expects more students to have fun in learning physics.

D．Because he wants to win more hearts of online viewers of his videos.

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

A．What makes a fun teacher.	B．Bringing magic to school.
C．How to make physics fun.	D．Getting students to learn physics.

9 . Microsoft has announced the general availability of its Azure AI Content Safety, a new service that helps users detect and filter harmful AI — and user-generated content across applications and services.

The service, designed to reduce negative information in community environments, includes text and image detection and identifies content that Microsoft terms “offensive, risky, or undesirable,” including hate, bias, adult content, violence and self-harm.

“By focusing on content safety, we can create a safer digital environment that promotes responsible use of AI and safeguards the well-being of individuals and society as a whole,” wrote Louise Han, product manager for Azure Anomaly Detector, in a blog post announcing the launch.

Azure AI Content Safety has the ability to handle various content categories, languages, and threats to moderate both text and visual content. It also offers image features that use AI algorithms to scan, analyze, and moderate visual content, ensuring what Microsoft terms 360-degree comprehensive safety measures. The service is also equipped to moderate content across multiple languages and it can rate the severity of specific content on a scale ranging from 0 to 7. Then it instructs human detectors to take action.

“When it comes to online safety, it is crucial to consider more than just human-generated content, especially as AI-generated content becomes prevalent,” Han wrote. “To make sure that AI-generated outputs are accurate, reliable, or appropriate materials is essential. Content safety not only protects users from misinformation and potential harm but also upholds moral standards and builds trust in AI technologies.”

Azure AI Content Safety has a better understanding of textual content and cultural context and are more precise in processing data and content than other products in their category.

Azure AI Content Safety is mainly priced on a pay-as-you-go basis. Interested users can checkout pricing options on the Azure AI Content Safety pricing page.

1. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Microsoft makes AI technologies popular.

B．Microsoft guarantees trust in AI technologies.

C．Microsoft launches AI Content Safety service.

D．Microsoft puts forward a term about AI Content Safety.

2. What type of information is the most likely to be identified by Azure AI Content Safety?

A．Hatred speeches.

B．Nursery rhymes.

C．Peaceful protests.

D．Defensive postures.

3. Which of the following is TRUE about Azure AI Content Safety according to paragraph 4-6?

A．It deals only with visual information to guarantee a secure digital world.

B．It is the best product created to prevent misleading information in history.

C．It assesses the seriousness of specific information by using different languages.

D．It’s committed to accuracy, reliability and appropriateness of AI-generated contents.

4. The text is probably followed by a paragraph about         .

A．the application of Azure AI Content Safety to users’ language learning.

B．the details of price choices when purchasing Azure AI Content Safety.

C．the comparison of Azure AI Content Safety and other similar products.

D．the examples of Azure AI Content Safety to solve technical problems.

10 . In 1867, Caroline Shawk Brooks and her husband, Samuel, had a farm in Arkansas. Life on the farm was not easy. From sunrise to sunset, Caroline and Samuel milked cows, gardened, and picked cotton. This left Caroline no time for her dream of becoming an artist.

Time was not the only problem. Money was a worry too. The cotton crops were failing. What could Caroline and Samuel do?

Caroline decided to make butter (黄油) from their cows’milk and sell it at market. But other farms also made and sold butter. How would Caroline set her butter apart from the rest? This is where Caroline’s artistic talent came in. To draw attention to her butter, she began making small butter sculptures (雕塑). She used many different tools, such as butter paddles (搅拌器的浆叶), broom straws, and tree sticks. She also put the butter in a shallow tin pan, which sat in a larger tin pan filled with ice to stop the butter sculpture from melting.

Caroline’s butter sculptures were a hit. Before long, she was displaying them at fairs and exhibitions. One of her largest butter sculptures was a life-size statue called A Study in Butter. It was transported all the way to Paris for the 1878 world’s fair.

Caroline also made sculptures using marble (大理石). She eventually opened a studio in New York City where she created many marble sculptures, some of which were shown at the 1893 world’s fair in Chicago.

But Caroline never stopped making butter art. She considered butter a superior material to work with. At the 1893 fair, she also displayed her butter techniques with a sculpture of Christopher Columbus.

Caroline Shawk Brooks died in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1913. She is remembered as the first known American butter sculptor.

1. Why did Caroline make butter sculptures?

A．To realize her dream.	B．To make her butter stand out.
C．To make her farm famous.	D．To display her sculptures at the fair.

2. What do we know about Caroline and her sculptures?

A．Caroline made her art works all by machine.

B．The sculptures were all made from cow's milk.

C．Ice was used to keep the butter sculptures in shape.

D．Caroline stopped making sculptures after being world-famous.

3. Which words best describe Caroline?

A．Talented and successful.	B．Confident and caring.
C．Creative and rich.	D．Brave and famous.

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

A．A Farming Pioneer.	B．A Great Sculptor.
C．The Butter Sculptures.	D．The Butter Artist.