1 . What would happen to you if you fell into a black hole? Some physicists believe you would burn up the moment you entered one. Einstein’s general theory of relativity predicts that you would pass through, unaware that you were lost to the rest of the universe.

Black holes have a bottom, but you wouldn’t live to see it. Gravity, as you fell, would grow stronger. The pull on your feet, if you were falling feet first, would be so much greater than the pull on your head that you would be stretched until you were torn apart. But pieces of you would reach the bottom. From there, some physicists believe that those pieces that once were you could end up in another universe.

However, nobody has ever seen or will see a black hole. A black hole is invisible, a blank spot in space, but scientists are able to know its existence by the effect it has on things around it. For example, if an object comes close to a black hole, it should be possible to see the powerful gravity of the black hole trying to pull the object in. In fact, this is exactly what scientists are planning to do: to observe one while it eats a very large object.

The black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is peaceful but is currently pulling a gas cloud toward itself fast. As the gas cloud begins to enter the black hole, telescopes will be able to take a picture of a black hole in action. This will be the best proof so far that black holes certainly exist.

A black hole is an eater. The nearer objects get to it, the hotter they become. Black holes also spin (旋转), and the extreme heat and spinning break up and expel large amounts of matter at extremely high temperatures. This heated matter flies through space, away from the hole at unbelievable speed. It can travel millions of light-years straight through a galaxy. The material then cools, comes together, and eventually forms new stars around the galaxy, thus the birth of new universes.

1. According to paragraph 2, what is the consequence of falling into a black hole?

A．Being reduced to pieces.	B．Being stretched into a single piece.
C．Being burned in another universe.	D．Being pulled to the bottom instantly.

2. Why does the author use the example in paragraph 3?

A．To prove that no one can see a black hole.

B．To show that black holes can in fact be detected.

C．To observe while a black hole eats a huge object.

D．To see the powerful gravity a black hole possesses.

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word in the last paragraph?

A．Set up.

B．Take in.

C．Throw off.

D．Call for.

4. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．What a black hole is and its various aspects.

B．Why a black hole is invisible and its final discovery.

C．How a black hole is formed and its unknown mysteries.

D．When a black hole bears a universe and its amazing origin.

2 . Before setting out on her journey, Shirley led an elegant and peaceful life in the quiet countryside. Little did she _________ the adventure that would beat her thoughts and lead her far from the _________ of home.

Regardless of her prior unwillingness, Shirley’s _________ with Sally, who suggested this trip, threw her into a category of adventures she had never imagined. Yet, despite the _________ that arose, from encounters with tigers to struggles with crocodiles (鳄鱼), Shirley remained somewhat _________ in her devotion to the journey.

Her ideal, to prove her _________ and find her place, became a (n) _________ driving force as she faced the challenges of the journey. Along the way, she _________ awesome wonders, from the fascination of the Kenyan safari (游猎) to the thunders of the misty Kilimanjaro. _________ her expectations, Shirley found herself bound to the fate of home, owing much to the friendship she had and the __________ she had discovered within herself. And when faced with the fear of mother nature, it was Shirley’s bravery that __________ her only companion, Sally.

As her journey __________ its end, Shirley realized how much she owed to the journey, not just the material treasures she had got, but the personal growth and self-discovery that came from __________ beyond her comfort zone. And so, with confidence and a heart of __________, Shirley started going back home, forever __________ by this unforgettable adventure.

1.

A．expect

B．imply

C．acknowledge

D．decide

2.

A．security

B．comfort

C．relief

D．fear

3.

A．combination

B．patience

C．association

D．familiarity

4.

A．sufferings

B．protests

C．conflicts

D．dangers

5.

A．determined

B．excited

C．satisfied

D．inspired

6.

A．advantage

B．point

C．cost

D．worth

7.

A．exceptional

B．initial

C．fundamental

D．common

8.

A．brought about

B．came across

C．cut through

D．set off

9.

A．Conquered by

B．Contrary to

C．Content with

D．Concerned about

10.

A．creativity

B．courage

C．curiosity

D．care

11.

A．controlled

B．persuaded

C．astonished

D．disappointed

12.

A．accessed

B．acquired

C．approached

D．achieved

13.

A．leaving

B．digging

C．coming

D．stepping

14.

A．recognition

B．gratitude

C．respect

D．dependence

15.

A．changed

B．excused

C．relaxed

D．freed

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。

Over 100 great white shark attacks happen each year. As a result, often     1     (refer) to as “man-eaters”, great whites are thought to hunt and kill humans. However, this is actually wrong, since great whites have rarely killed their human victims. If Steven Spielberg     2     (make) his film Jaw s in a different way, people would have had a positive impression on great whites. In fact, a person has a greater chance of being killed by lightning     3     by a great white.

One of the most common     4     (cause) for great white attacks is that great whites don’t see well. It is thought that they often mistake a person for a seal or a sea lion,     5     many people find hard to believe. But there is reason to doubt this. Some research now shows that great whites can actually see very well. When     6     (attack) seals, great whites move up to the surface and bite with great force. However, when they approach humans, they often move in slowly and bite     7     (little) hard. They take a bite, feel them over, then move on.

Great whites “attack” because they are actually curious animals that want     8     (investigate) things. Experts believe that it’s possible that great whites use their bite not just to kill and eat,     9     also to gather information. According to this idea, once a great white identifies what it is biting, it simply lets go. They are     10     (simple) trying to learn what they are.

4 . Born with a disability in her right leg, Mei faced numerous challenges in her daily life. Regardless, Mei refused to let her disability define her.

From a young age, Mei harbored a deep passion for painting. With the support of her loving family, she transformed her wheelchair into a mobile easel (画架), allowing her to create art wherever she went. Every stroke (笔画) of her brush was like a witness to her growth.

As Mei grew older, her talent attracted the attention of the local community. Encouraged by their support, she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional artist. However, Mei soon encountered doubt from others, even her childhood best friends, who questioned her ability to succeed in the art world.

Instead of backing up, Mei pressed on, expressing her frustration (沮丧) into her artwork. Her paintings were beautiful, reflecting the beauty she saw in the world around her. Through her art, Mei found a sense of purpose, proving to herself and others that disabilities could not put out the fire of creativity.

Eventually, Mei received an invitation to showcase her artwork at Guggenheim Museum in New York. Wild with joy, she was unsure if she was ready to face the judgement of the art world. With the support of her family and friends, Mei decided to seize the opportunity.

The show was a great success. Through Mei’s journey, she was able to reach thousands of other people with disabilities who would benefit from her experience. That’s why she is still pressing on and fighting—not because she’s broken, but because she not only has an opportunity to fully achieve her potentials as a disabled person but also the will to inspire everyone else around her.

1. What did Mei face when she decided to become an artist?

A．Apologies from her best friends.	B．Distrust in her ability to succeed.
C．Attention to her painting techniques.	D．Congratulations on her instant success.

2. How did Mei feel when she got invited by the Guggenheim Museum?

A．Saddened.

B．Astonished.

C．Uncertain.

D．Embarrassed.

3. Now that her show was a success, Mei pressed on because of her ______.

A．pursuit to be a professional	B．willingness to inspire others
C．power to transform disabilities	D．aim to make her experience known

4. What would be the best title of the passage?

A．A Challenging Life: Mei’s Story of Determination.

B．From Failure to Victory: Mei’s Valuable Life Lesson.

C．Rejecting Limits: Mei’s Story and Her Artistic Success.

D．Journey of Inspiration: Mei’s Determination to Help Others.

5 . She showed special concern for the college students and attached much s_________ (重要性) to the educating them. (精力充沛的) (根据中英文提示填空)

6 . Young Artists to Watch This Year

Tafy LaPlanche

New York-based Afro-Latina artist Tafy LaPlanche first discovered her love for portraits (肖像) at 13 when she was hospitalized and drew people who passed by her room. Since then, LaPlanche has explored narratives (叙事) in her portraits, setting women up against bright backgrounds, and adding fruit to create a unique story in every painting.

Yan Xinyue

Thirty-year-old Chinese artist Yan Xinyue is one of the artists to watch at this year’s Frieze New York. Xinyue’s work looks at how everyday life is impacted by rapid urban development through her imaginative paintings. Constantly touching the line between fantasy and reality, Xinyue’s work explores society and the individual.

Narumi Nekpenekpen

The Nigcrian-Japanese artist’s layered (分层的) approach to sculpture caught the eyes of collectors during Art Basel Miami Beach design week. The deeply emotional pieces painted throughout her residency at Versailles have a “Sanrio” quality, which makes them seem both distant and friendly.

Emma McIntyre

Also featured at this year’s Frieze New York is New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based artist Emma McIntyre. The self-aware abstract (抽象的) painter is sure to turn heads with her presentations of memory, weather, and the environment. McIntyre’s colorful style makes the viewer feel like they’re slipping into a different dimension and makes it difficult to turn away.

1. What element does Tafy LaPlanche often use in her paintings?

A．Fruit.

B．Sanrio.

C．Hospitals.

D．Weather.

2. Who explores the impact of rapid urban development in her work?

A．Tafy LaPlanche.	B．Yan Xinyue.
C．Narumi Nekpenekpen.	D．Emma McIntyre.

3. What is a distinctive feature of Emma McIntyre’s art?

A．Exploration of narratives.	B．Layered approach to sculpture.
C．Bright backgrounds in self-portraits.	D．Self-awareness in abstract paintings.

7 . Until she was ten years old. Debby Tewa lived with her grandmother in a three-room stone house in a remote area of the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. Like other families around them, Debby and her grandmother never had running water or a telephone, or electrical power. “I didn’t crave electricity then,” Debby recalls. “Because I didn’t know that I didn’t have it.”

Debby was in fourth grade and living with her parents off the reservation when she first had electricity at home. “I liked being able to study at night and watch TV,” she remembers. She started thinking about how she could help bring electricity to places like her grandmother’s community.

After graduating from Sherman Indian High School in California, Debby returned to the Hopi Reservation, where she took a job helping other young people find summer work. Debby’s big opportunity came when The Hopi Foundation, created by Hopi people to improve life on the reservation, started an organization called Native Sun. The idea was to bring energy to remote Hopi communities in a way that would fit in with their traditional way of life. Solar energy seemed like a perfect solution.

To spread the word about solar energy, The Hopi Foundation recruited (招募) several members who could speak the Hopi language. One of them was Debby Tewa. Part of Debby’s job was to teach people about solar energy. She set up demonstration solar power systems in three villages. In the next few years, Debby installed (安装) more than 300 solar panels on Hopi houses, and people started calling her “Solar Debby.”

For people like Debby’s aunt and her aunt’s 90-year-old neighbor, who had never had electricity before, solar power has made a life-changing difference. They no longer have to use a kerosene (煤油) lamp. But best of all, they know that they have control over their own clectricity. “When you get your own solar clectrical system, it’s yours.” Debby explains. “You’re not dependent on a power company. With solar energy, we can be independent.”

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

A．Find out.

B．Long for.

C．Stand up for.

D．Make use of.

2. What can we learn about Debby from the first two paragraphs?

A．She could take others’ hardships into consideration.

B．She was grateful for her childhood.

C．She demonstrated intelligence early in life.

D．She complained about a lack of life conveniences.

3. What was the purpose of Native Sun?

A．To keep Hopi traditions alive.	B．To beautify Hopi communities.
C．To provide the Hopi with electricity.	D．To offer job opportunities to the Hopi.

4. What does Debby’s explanation about solar power intend to show?

A．Its target populations.	B．Its possible applications.
C．Its operations by the Hopi.	D．Its significance to the Hopi.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个恰当的单词或者括号内单词的正确形式。（原创）

Mamianqun, also known as “Horse-faced Skirt”, is     1     kind of traditional Chinese dress. Actually, the name “Mamianqun” has nothing to do with the animal. There is a theory that the “skirt doors” of Mamianqun     2     (close) look like “Ma Mian”, a kind of structure used for defense on the ancient city walls, so the skirt got the name “Mamianqun”. But this is still a question to be verified.

Mamianqun, dating back     3     the Song Dynasty, had become the most typical style for women by the Ming and Qing dynasties. It became prominent due to     4     (it) use by nobility and the rich as a status symbol. The style of Mamianqun     5     (go) through a series of changes since it emerged. However, the “Ma Mian” structure has always been deeply rooted.

Silk, the most revered (受尊敬的) fabric in ancient China, was the     6     (prefer) material for making a Mamianqun, particularly for the upper class of society. Mamianqun has numerous pleats (褶) on either side,     7     (create) uniquely beautiful and graceful waves when walking. The most attractive aspect is the elegant patterns on the skirt     8     represent people’s beautiful aspirations in Chinese clothing culture, such as the Depiction of Birds Adoring the Phoenix and Prosperity and Blooming Flowers.

Mamianqun, with deep historical roots, has transitioned into modern fashion, where it serves as a bridge between the past     9     present. Nowadays, Mamianqun is gaining increasing     10     (popular) among both Chinese and foreigners.

9 . Internet addiction is a common problem that can be just as damaging as any other form of addiction.     1    

Charge devices in another room at night to prevent bedtime browsing. Bedtime browsing can interfere with your sleep due to the blue light your smart phone emits, so stopping bedtime browsing may help you to sleep better. If you often browse the internet on your phone while lying in bed, prevent yourself from doing this by charging your phone in another room of the house.     2    

Remove social media apps from your phone. If you find yourself picking up your phone and going on the internet every time you get a notification, delete the social media apps on your phone.     3     This may help to prevent you from accessing these apps on and off all day.

    4     Exercising, writing, and doing crossword puzzles are all better alternatives to mindlessly browsing the internet. If you want to reduce the time on the internet but aren’t sure what to do with the extra time, identify some meaningful activities that you enjoy and pick one to do instead when you’re feeling the urge to go online.

Reach out to friends and family to build more in-person connections. If you’re longing for social interaction, call up a friend and make plans to do something fun, or arrange a family dinner or game night.     5     look into a special interest group that you can join. Attend in-person meetings to connect with other people sharing your interests, and you can make new friends and distract yourself from the internet.

A．Use relaxation techniques to reduce stress.

B．Replace internet use with a healthy activity.

C．If you don’t have friends or family who you can turn to,

D．When you feel bored and want to do something to kill time,

E．Make it a rule that you can only check them on your computer.

F．If you rely too much on the internet, the following strategies may help you.

G．In this case, read a book or use a relaxation technique to help you wind down.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或使用括号内单词的正确形式填空。

Homegrown nature documentary “Snow Leopards and Friends” is the first Chinese factual film about snow leopards (雪豹).

It     1     (document) how three herdsmen (牧民) photographers from Xizang, who may be the people     2     (close) to snow leopards in the world, track the trail (踪迹) of snow leopards and finally become protectors of the species.     3     addition to being about snow leopards, the film also explores a new way of coexistence between human beings and wild animals. The documentary     4     (screen) during the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, which kicked off on June 9, and won great praise.

It took director Xi Zhinong and the photographers six years     5     (shoot) the film on the snow-covered highland,     6     the severe environment is tough not only for snow leopards, but also for other species like brown bears and antelopes.

Many of the movie’s viewers were touched by the power and     7     (strong) of life shown in the film. The documentary presents the most primitive forces of nature through its visual wonders and     8     (act) creatures. It also caused viewers to reflect on wildlife and conservation of nature.     9     movie viewer said that the film is also a course on     10     (respect) life and nature and everyone needs to learn this lesson.