1 . A talented teen painter in Waterbury is helping her very sick father with her love of art. The 15-year-old girl from Waterbury could become a well-known artist one day. For now, though, part of her love for painting is the chance to help her dad, who’s ill. “It’s kind of like an ache-a heartbreak,” she said. “You never want to see one of your loved ones get hurt. ”

Her father is suffering from type-one diabetes (糖尿病) and is having trouble affording his mounting medical bills. “I’m suffering from heart disease, and blindness from my diabetes,” her father said. Angie has decided to put her talent as an artist to good use.

On Saturday, Sept. 23 from noon to 4 p. m., she’s hosting her own one day art exhibition (展览) to sell her paintings and raise money mainly for her father’s medical bills. “Angie’s Art Exhibition” will be at the North End Recreation Centre, located at 262 North Main Street in Waterbury. She’s also using it to help the Fairfield Animal Shelter. Angie loves animals—you see that on many of her paintings.

This isn’t the first time Angie has put her paintbrush to good use helping others. Her mother tells News 8 that Angie has also used her work to help her community: a local family who lost their father, and children who needed school supplies.

“She has an angelic heart. If there were more people like her in the world, there wouldn’t be so much chaos (混乱) and hate. I just look up to her and say ‘I’m very proud of you,’ ”her father said.

“My dad’s a great person. Though he goes through this, he still loves me and supports me in any way he can. It makes me feel important, “she said.

1. What is the main reason why Angie is hosting her own art exhibition?

A．To show her talent as an artist.	B．To raise money to treat her father.
C．To sell her paintings to art collectors.	D．To support the Fairfield Animal Shelter.

2. What is Angie’s father’s opinion of her?

A．He expects her to become a world-famous artist.

B．He takes pride in her and considers her to be an angel.

C．He is disappointed in her for not concentrating on study.

D．He thinks she should focus on helping him instead of others.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Angie?

A．Artistic and caring.	B．Humorous and kind.
C．Independent and proud.	D．Knowledgeable and helpful.

4. What does the story intend to tell us?

A．It’s never too late to learn.

B．Study first and play afterwards.

C．The company of parents is important to children’s development.

D．Determination and creativity can be powerful tools to help those in need.

2 . Robert Chmielewski has had quadriplegia (四肢瘫痪) since his teens. Sensors implanted (植入) in his brain read his thoughts to control two robotic arms, which helps him to perform daily tasks. Now he can use one robotic arm to control a knife and the other a fork.

Modern technology can reach inside someone’s head and pull out what he is thinking. Maybe he intends to move a robotic arm or type something on a computer screen. Such thought-controlled devices can help people who aren’t able to move or perform different tasks and promote the well-being of the disabled.

Decoding (解码) thought usually requires placing sensors directly on or in someone’s brain. Those implanted sensors can catch the electrical signals passing between the person’s brain cells, or neurons. Such signals carry messages that allow brains to think, feel and control the body.

Using brain implants, researchers have picked up electrical signals in the brain linked to certain words or letters. This has allowed brain implants to transform thoughts into text or speech on a computer. Likewise, brain implants have transformed imagined handwriting into text on a screen. Implanted sensors have even allowed scientists to turn the signals they caught that are associated with a song in someone’s head into real music.

In a recent study, scientists decoded full stories from people’s brains using MRI scans (磁共振成像扫描). This did not require any brain implants. But building the thought decoder did require many hours of brain scans for each person. What’s more, the system only worked on the person whose brain scans helped build it and only when that person was willing to have their mind read.

So devices that might let someone secretly read your mind from across the room are still a long, long way off. Still, it’s clear that mind-reading tech is getting more advanced. As it does, scientists are thinking hard about what it would mean to live in a world where not even the inside of your head is completely private.

1. What does the text begin with?

A．A suggestion.

B．A comparison.

C．An argument.

D．An example.

2. What is explained in the text?

A．What principles a thought decoder should follow.

B．How MRI monitors the work of the implanted sensors.

C．What’s used to catch signals passing through the brain.

D．How robotic arms are designed to satisfy different needs.

3. What is scientists’ attitude towards the future of the technology discussed in the text?

A．Concerned.

B．Confident.

C．Doubtful.

D．Indifferent.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Mind Reading is Stealing Our Privacy	B．Mind Reading is Hard, but not Impossible
C．Mind Reading—Good News for Musicians	D．Mind Reading—a Brain-scanning Technology

3 . When I was a child, there was nothing I loved more than painting. It was my. ________ of joy. I could spend hours being lost in my ________ , bringing to life the images in my mind.

However, after graduating from college, the ________ of work took hold. The hobby that filled my childhood with happiness ________ faded away (逐渐消失).

One sunny day I found myself ________ in a nearby park. I. ________ a group of children sitting together, their eyes. ________ wonder and their hands covered in paint. They were laughing describing their dreams on ________ , and at that moment, I was transported back to my own childhood.

________ those kids, I realized that I had lost something precious (宝贵的) along the way. It was time to reconnect with the ________ within, to rediscover the world of colours and imagination. Despite the ________ life, I decided to pick up my brushes and ________ to the world of art.

Painting has become a way to ________ the beautiful moments of my life, whether it is a golden sunset, a beautiful flower, or a lazy afternoon. I paint not to become a famous artist, but to ________ the joy of my childhood, to ________ the simple pleasures of life, and to hold onto the magical world of imagination.

1.

A．price

B．source

C．flash

D．result

2.

A．imagination

B．homework

C．fear

D．confusion

3.

A．excitement

B．power

C．pressure

D．expectation

4.

A．gradually

B．probably

C．wildly

D．hopefully

5.

A．chatting

B．sweating

C．cheating

D．walking

6.

A．taught

B．noticed

C．recognized

D．remembered

7.

A．waiting for

B．begging for

C．filled with

D．alarmed with

8.

A．paper

B．wood

C．books

D．novels

9.

A．Watching

B．Holding

C．Helping

D．Checking

10.

A．architect

B．soldier

C．adult

D．artist

11.

A．free

B．quiet

C．busy

D．boring

12.

A．agree

B．adapt

C．refer

D．return

13.

A．plan

B．record

C．face

D．recover

14.

A．reduce

B．balance

C．relive

D．destroy

15.

A．trap

B．appreciate

C．expect

D．hide

4 . 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。

David and George were best friends at school. They sat together in the same school classroom, shared sandwiches during lunch breaks, and had countless adventures together,

As George’s birthday approached, David noticed something that concerned him. It was George’s shoes, the soles (鞋底) of which were nearly worn through. They were no longer as comfortable as they should be, and David could tell that George needed a new pair of shoes and he decided to do something special for his friend on his birthday.

David’s thoughtful plan started with a conversation with his mum. He explained how much he cared for his friend George and how he wanted to gift him a pair of shoes for his birthday.

His mum, a kind and wise woman, agreed that it was a wonderful idea. She also wanted to teach David an important lesson about earning and giving. So, they discussed a plan together. “David,” his mum said, “I think it’s a lovely idea to buy shoes for George. But how about this? I can give you some money for doing extra housework around the house. You can earn the money you need to buy the shoes. What do you think? “David’s eyes lit up, and he smiled widely. “That’s a great idea, Mum! I want to do it. ”

David became a whirlwind (旋风) of activity around the house. He swept the floor, watered the plants, washed the clothes, and even helped his mum with the dishes. His determination to earn enough money for George’s gift shone through his every action.

As days turned into weeks, David saved penny by penny. His mum was impressed by his hard work. She knew that her son’s surprise for George would not only make his friend happy but would also teach David the joy of giving.

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。

Finally, George’s birthday came and David invited George to his home celebration.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

George was so moved by the gift he received.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

Nanjing is a city that has played an important role in Chinese history for thousands of years. Nanjing     1     (name) the capital city first in 229 AD during the Three Kingdoms period. It has been a capital city many times. It’s a place that is relatively unknown     2     foreigners yet very popular with local tourists.

When Dave and I got the chance     3     (travel) to it, we jumped at it. We hadn’t known anything about Nanjing before going, but hearing that it was a popular destination from Shanghai, we were excited to explore it. It turns out that Nanjing is one of our favourite     4     (place) to visit in China.

We first went to Nanjing Niushoushan Cultural Park. A trolley (电车) took us to the top of the mountain     5     we could view the immaculate(圣洁的) Buddhist Palace that was built into the side of the mountain.     6     (open) in 2015, it is an example that proves the traditional and the modern can co-exist.

But soon we     7     (realize) that a real treat was inside the palace when we took the escalator (自动扶梯) 6 stories underground to see the Thousand-Buddha Hall. With a height of 28 metres, the golden hall is     8     (impress).

We highly recommend     9     (take) a full day to explore the Niushoushan Cultural Park to visit all the sites on the mountains. And do remember visiting the Usnisa Palace is     10    must.

6 . A new song by the famous band The Beatles has been released despite half of the band members no longer being alive, thanks to the help of AI.

The Beatles was a legendary British rock band that remained second to Elvis Presley from the 1960s. It was made up of four musicians—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The new song, titled Now and Then, is unique because it combined the singing of McCartney and Starr with Lennon, who passed away in 1980, and the guitar skills of Harrison, who passed away in 2001.

The song was initially written and partly recorded by Lennon in the late 1970s and further developed by band mates years later but as technology then was limited, they didn’t release it due to the sound quality not being satisfying.

Peter Jackson, most famous for directing The Lord of the Rings, directed the music video for Norw and Then and it can be watched now online. It was thanks to new Al audio restoration (音频修复) technology that Peter Jackson allowed the four band members to “come together” one last time.

Since its release last week, the song has been well received in the UK. Beatles fans around the world favoured this historic musical event.

”Now and Then is an absolutely heart-warming piece of work, “posted Liam Gallagher, whose hits were affected by The Beatles’ musical style.

Of course, there are those who are not totally interested in the song. ”Now and Then is not terrible. But honestly, it’s kind of boring, “Geoff Edgers wrote in The Washington Post.

The Times in the UK said the song showed Al being used to its best advantage.

1. Why was the song “Now and Then” not released at first?

A．The song was not completed.	B．The sound quality was not good enough.
C．The band members did not like the song.	D．The song was let out before its official release.

2. How did Peter Jackson contribute to the song?

A．He wrote and recorded the song.

B．He invented new audio restoration technology.

C．He restored the band members’ sound using AI.

D．He played the guitar on the recording.

3. What is the attitude of The Times towards the release of Now and Then?

A．Supportive.

B．Curious.

C．Unfavourable.

D．Unclear.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．The Beatles Remains Second to Elvis Presley

B．Beatles Fans Welcome the New Song of The Beatles

C．Peter Jnckson Directed the Music Video for The Beatles

D．The Beatles Released a New Song with the Help of Al

7 . Sierra Leone Tour

Sierra Leone is a country on the rise, with new flights, a first-ever ecotourism journey, and national park accommodations coming in 2024. Visit before everyone else you know catches on. Perhaps the most exciting development is Sierra Leone’s push to protect and show its wildlife, with new experiences for travellers.

It will offer first-ever accommodations at two important sites: A pair of lake hotels have opened at southeastern river island of Jaibui; you can also choose tent stay at Loma Mountains National Park.

	Single 1 room	2 people 1 room
Lake hotel	$350/per room	$550/per room
Tent stay	$200/per room	$400/per room

The sun shines down on Sierra Leone throughout the year! Set in the southern hemisphere (南半球), Sierra Leone can be quite cold in the dry winter months, with temperatures often dropping below the freezing point (冰点). The time between June and October is best for Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is home to Mount Bintumani, the tallest peak (顶峰) in West Africa west of Mount Cameroon with a great number of endangered animal and bird species like the bizarre-looking White-necked Rockfowl, perfect for birdwatchers. But please note that there is no way for you to request changes to the accommodations. And tourists must be above 3 years old.

1. How much shall a person pay for one room in the Lake hotel?

A．$200.

B．$350.

C．$400.

D．$550.

2. When is the best time to visit Sierra Leone?

A．April.

B．May.

C．September.

D．November.

3. What can we learn about the tour?

A．It accepts tourists of any age.

B．It is suitable for observing birds.

C．Tourists can request changes to the accommodations.

D．Tourists have a chance to admire the tallest mountain in Africa.

8 . It may be difficult to start high school.     1     But never fear! Here are some suggestions for you to adapt to the change.

Do conduct research on the school through the school’s website. Check out the school’s grading policies, activities, and deadlines (for programs, curricula, etc.) before you move. If you’ve got that covered, you may choose to begin looking at school scholarships (奖学金) or competitions.     2    

Do visit the school before your first day of school. Most schools offer some kind of open house for newcomers to learn about the school’s academic (学术的) and curricular offerings.

    3    . Attending it can also help you find out a lot about the school’s academic atmosphere (氛围) and environment.

Do start looking into clubs and extra-curricular activities right away.     4     Once you’ve gone through the school’s clubs and found a few that interest you, attend all the clubs you found yourself drawn to. The purpose of attending these first club meetings is simply to gain a sense of the extra-curricular environment at your school, and see what activities you may find yourself enjoying.

    5    . Many students make the mistake of setting out to achieve the highest grades at their new school. It is true that your grades are very important, but make sure that you spend a good deal of your time interacting with other students and ensuring that you’ll have some healthy relationships and networks with others. A social network will offer you the support and fun you need during high school.

A．Don’t forget to turn to teachers and other students.

B．Don’t build up your academics at the cost of your social life.

C．Many students are afraid of the changes that high school can bring.

D．Remember that you’re strengthening yourself for future life changes.

E．Find out a club list as early as possible to dig out the clubs that interest you.

F．This will make you prepared for applying to or signing up for those programs.

G．You can learn some basic information about the school through the open house.

9 . Scientists have reported that the sea ice in Antarctica (南极) is at a record low level. Antarctica is a great, icy land, surrounded (围绕) by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a large area of sea ice on the ocean’s surface.

Every year, the sea ice at the South Pole goes through a cycle. In the summer, the huge sea ice melts (融化) to its smallest point. Over the colder winter months, the sea ice grows and grows until it covers a wide area. Usually, the sea ice covers the greatest area around September 23, as winter ends at the South Pole.

Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost unaffected by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the globe. That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been shrinking.

This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) reported that Antartica’s sea ice covered its greatest area on September 10 — almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low-not just by a little bit, but by a lot.

The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 398, 000 square miles less sea ice than in 1986.

Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. One likely direct cause for the change is the rising temperatures of the world’s oceans. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the sharp loss this year is “pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the continent.”

The new low record has concerned the scientists. Scientists are working hard to better understand Antarctica. They don’t know yet if this is just a short-term problem, or part of a long-term shift (转变) towards less sea ice in Antarctica.

1. What does the underlined word “shrinking” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Getting smaller.

B．Being flat.

C．Observed.

D．Measured.

2. Why does the author mention the record in 1986?

A．To give an example.	B．To make a comparison.
C．To make a summary.	D．To offer an argument.

3. What is the possible direct reason for the change in Antarctica’s sea ice?

A．The changing weather conditions.	B．Human activities in Antarctica.
C．Increased volcanic activities in the area.	D．The increasing temperatures of the global oceans.

4. How do scientists feel about the low record?

A．Worried.

B．Annoyed.

C．Excited.

D．Satisfied.

10 . 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。

Located in the northeast, Yanji is one of the earliest     1     (area) in China to promote football. With     2     population of only 680,000, the small city has a large number of football players and fans. The average number of the audience at last year’s home games was over 16,000 per game. The figure is     3     (near) the same as the number of the audience in the Chinese Super League, and a sizable share of the audience is made up     4     visitors.

Visitors come to Yanji not only to watch the game,     5     to have a cup of coffee and see dinosaur fossils (化石)     6     (discover) in 2016. So far, Yanji’s “dinosaur tour”     7     (join) the “football tour” and “coffee tour” as a new feature. Li Jun, the owner of Chayina Cafe, has witnessed the tourism boom in Yanji, and the     8     (hot) type of coffee in his cafe can sell up to 1,200 cups every day.

Football, coffee, and dinosaurs are the focus of an     9     (increase) number of visitors to Yanji and a new window for the outside world     10     (get) to know Yanji.