1 . 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。

It all started at tea-time. Mrs. Bendall, Dicky’s mother, and Mrs. Spears, who was spending the afternoon with her, were quietly sitting and sewing (做针线活)in the drawing room. The children were eating their bread and butter nicely and quietly, and the servant girl had just poured out the milk and water, when Dicky suddenly took the bread plate, put it upside down on his head, and held the bread knife tightly.

“Look at me!” he shouted.

His shocked sisters looked, and before the servant girl could get there, the bread plate shook, slid to the floor and broke into small pieces. At this awful point the little girls lifted up their voices and shouted their loudest.

“Mother, come and look what he’s done!”

“Dicky’s broken a great plate!”

“Come and stop him, mother!”

Can you imagine how mother came running?But she was too late. Dicky had jumped out of his chair, run through the window on to the veranda(走廊), and, well—there she stood—helpless. What could she do? She couldn’t chase after the child. She couldn’t hunt for Dicky through the apple trees. That would be undignified (不 体面的).

“Very well, Dicky, ” she cried, “I shall have to think of some way of punishing you.”

Seeing this, Mrs. Spears said, “Oh, my dear. I’m sure you make a great mistake in trying to bring up children without beating them. Nothing really takes its place.” “Believe me. There is nothing like handing the naughty kid to his father,” she added.

Mrs. Bendall, deep inside, was terribly shocked to hear the advice. But Mrs. Spears seemed to take it as a normal thing, so she did it too.

The children had gone to bed before Dicky’s father Edward came back. Mrs. Bendall rushed to him, “You have to beat Dicky.”

“But why on earth should I start beating him?” responded Edward. “We’ve never done it before.”

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。

After he heard the reason, a burst of anger went through him.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Instead of beating him, Edward decided to talk openly with Dicky.

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2 . 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。

Chinese wushu—better known as kung fu—has long inspired the imagination of the West, from Bruce Lee and Shaolin monks     1     Kung Fu Panda.

Despite its enormous     2     (popular), wushu has yet to become a widespread international sport. As a practitioner (习艺者) of wushu since childhood, Goh once remarked, “If competitive wushu were to make     3     (it) way into the Olympics, it needs to become more visually     4     (appeal), displaying its gracefulness and difficulty. Compared with 30 years ago, wushu competitions require more challenging movements. Many of these new movements involve spinning the body, which     5     (be) particularly challenging for non-Chinese practitioners. It also takes a lot of time for them     6     (match) Chinese athletes. This makes promoting wushu more challenging.”

The scoring system in competitive wushu should also be simpler,     7     helps prevent cheating and gives practitioners and coaches     8     (clear) direction. One of the factors professional organizations like the IOC take into consideration when     9     (value) a sport is the influence of sponsors. Currently, the IWUF’s sponsors are     10     (primary) from China. The IOC definitely considers the assets and liabilities (资产和负债) wushu brings. So we still have a long way to go.

3 . Do you think that your life stay unchanged? Have you reached a point where things are ok, but not very exciting? If you do feel these things, then it is time to do something to increase the quality of your life.     1     What is more, you only get one, so you do need to make it the very best you can. So, how can you increase the quality of your life?

Treat yourself. It doesn’t matter if it’s a meal out or a visit to a theater. Make the first thing a treat that you have been dreaming of for some time.     2    

Treats can be free, and you can always spare time if you want to.

Make a daily plan. Do you wake up in the morning with a feeling that there is just so much to get done? Start each day by focusing on what to do, and then make a list for that day. A few minutes spent making a list will prevent you from forgetting something important, and will help you prioritize your tasks.     3    

Grow a positive thinking habit. Do you suffer negative thoughts? Being negative damages your quality of life.     4     It will take work, but changing the way you think will bring greater happiness and make your quality of life much better. “Can do” is a fantastic motto for life. Why not buy a T-shirt with “YESICAN” on the front?

Life is good. You are lucky to be alive. Make the most of the years you have on Earth and Enjoy.     5    . Follow the advice above and you will surely increase the quality of your life. Be positive, and be happy.

A．Life is what you make it.

B．Don’t waste them being negative.

C．Stop being a defeatist and start being an optimist.

D．Don’t make excuses about not having time or money.

E．It is a good idea to think of something cheap as a treat.

F．Everyone at some time feels that their life is going nowhere.

G．Crossing completed jobs off your list will make you feel positive.

4 . We’ve all experienced it: You have important information you need to remember, and you’ll do anything it takes to keep it at the forefront of your brain. In this situation, rote memorization(死记硬背)may be your best—or even your only—option.

Rote memorization is when we repeat a piece of information until we remember it. One great example of it is the alphabet(字母表). When we are little, we don’t necessarily understand that our language is composed of the letters A to Z. But we memorize them in a specific order because we are taught to, and then we know the alphabet.

There are situations in which rote memorization can be helpful. “Rote memorization can be a useful learning tool in some situations, but its effectiveness depends on the type of information being learned and how it is applied, ”says Dr. Aldrich Chan, neuropsychologist. He tells us that rote memorization helps us quickly recall basic facts and information such as vocabulary words or math formulas (公式). This can be particularly helpful in situations where immediate access to information is required, such as during exams or for job roles.

The act of memorizing through repetition also has its down sides. Chan notes that “rote memorization often does not promote a deep understanding of the material. Learners may be able to memorize facts or information without truly understanding their meaning or significance. ”On the other hand, he explains that “meaningful learning focuses on understanding the fundamental concepts and principles(原理), encouraging critical thinking, and promoting the integration(整合)of knowledge into broader contexts. Meaningful learning promotes long-term memory and the ability to apply knowledge flexibly. “

However, both rote memorization and meaningful learning have their place. The most important thing to remember is that they are different, and rote memorization cannot stand in as an alternative to actual learning. Memorizing something doesn’t mean you understand it, and it doesn’t mean that you can do anything with it.

1. How does the author introduce the topic in Paragraph 1?

A．By creating a scene.	B．By giving a definition.
C．By giving an example.	D．By making a comparison.

2. Why does the author mention the alphabet in Paragraph 2?

A．To instruct us how to learn the alphabet.

B．To explain how rote memorization works.

C．To stress why learning in order is essential.

D．To introduce the disadvantages of repetition.

3. What can we learn about rote memorization from Dr. Aldrich Chan?

A．It focuses on the concepts and principles.

B．It keeps knowledge in your brain for long.

C．It helps promote a meaningful understanding.

D．It is a useful learning tool for test preparation.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards rote memorization?

A．Critical.

B．Unclear

C．Objective.

D．Favorable.

5 . A number of studies have looked at how family life can affect productivity (生产效率) and satisfaction in the workplace, but there has been surprisingly little research on the influence of leisure activities.

So Ciara Kelly at Sheffield University and co-workers surveyed 129 hobbyists to look at how the time spent on their hobbies shaped their work life. To begin with, the team measured the seriousness of each participant’s hobby, asking them to rate their agreement with statements like ”I regularly train for this activity“, and also assessed how similar the demands of their job and hobby were. Then, each month for seven months, participants recorded how many hours they had devoted to their activity, and completed a scale measuring their belief in their ability to effectively do their job, or their “self-efficacy” (自我效能). They also completed a scale measuring their resilience (适应力) at work.

The researchers found that when participants spent longer than normal doing their leisure activity, their belief in their ability to perform their job increased. But this was only the case when they had a serious hobby that was dissimilar to their job, or when their hobby was similar to their work but they only did it occasionally. When their hobby was both serious and similar to their job, then spending more time on it actually had a detrimental effect, decreasing their self-efficacy.

Why might that be? To maintain a serious hobby, people need to invest significant psychological resources—so if the activity has the same kinds of demands as their work, they may be left tired and unable to perform as well at their job. But if their hobby is quite different from their career, it may not interfere (干预) in the same way but instead help them develop other knowledge and skills that can boost their confidence at work.

Still, the results suggest that companies may want to encourage employees to develop interests outside of work, as long as those activities differ from their day-to-day tasks.

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The methods of assessment.

B．The completion of scales.

C．The causes of self-efficacy.

D．The process of Kelly’s survey.

2. What does the underlined word ”detrimental“ in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Useful.

B．Harmful.

C．Productive

D．Positive.

3. Kelly’s study found that people’s productivity can increase if ________________.

A．their hobbies differ much from their work routine

B．their hobbies have the same demands as their work

C．they assume that they can gain skills from their jobs

D．they believe that they can perform better in their work

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

A．Boss: Allow your staff to relax more

B．Employee: Devote more time to work

C．Boss: Offer your staff more leisure activities

D．Employee: Develop hobbies dissimilar to jobs

6 . Emmanuel Mendoza, a college student, is currently running a study at Texas A&M University, where he’s mixing simulated (模拟的)Martian (火星的) soil and frass(粪便)from fly larvae(幼虫)to find just the right recipe for growing plants on Mars.

The seed of this idea was planted when Mendoza was in middle school, watching Ridley Scott’s 2015 film The Martian, in which Mark Watney becomes stuck on the planet and grows potatoes to survive. “That got me really interested in what nutrients or what soil structure Martian soil has that we could potentially take advantage of, ”Mendoza said.

Now, he’s running an experiment growing English peas in simulated Martian soil. “I definitely considered potatoes like Mark Watney, ”he said. “But the fact was that I couldn’t necessarily get the data I wanted out of them. ”

He wanted to be able to measure plant growth as it occurred throughout his experiment. Since potatoes grow underground, he’d only be able to collect data once they were done growing. In the end, Mendoza chose to grow English peas because they’re self-pollinating(自花传粉), grow fairly quickly and he can see the shoots climb.

Martian soil, though it does contain other essential nutrients, isn’t exactly ideal for plants from Earth. It tends to be rocky and lacks the right organic (有机 的)matter. Here’s where the larvae come in. Mendoza turned to the larvae of black soldier flies, which produce a waste known as frass. “They can break down almost any biomatter and turn it into really useful matter, “Mendoza said. “And then you can use the frass as a nutrient alternative to soil.”

For this experiment, Mendoza mixed different percentages of simulated Martian soil and frass to see what best supported growing English pea plants. Now, he said he’s seeing growth across all his plants—even the ones growing in 100%simulated Martian soil.

1. Why does the author mention the film The Martian?

A．To show Mendoza’s enthusiasm for films.

B．To illustrate Mark Watney’s intelligence.

C．To prove Mark Watney’s interest in gardening.

D．To introduce the origin of Mendoza’s experiment.

2. Why did Mendoza grow English peas instead of potatoes?

A．He was unwilling to repeat others’ study.

B．English peas grew far faster than potatoes .

C．Potatoes needed stricter living conditions.

D．It was more convenient to collect the data.

3. What is the function of frass?

A．It serves as certain essential nutrients.

B．It loosens the soil for plants to grow.

C．It makes the soil become quite rocky.

D．It helps black soldier flies grow stronger.

4. How does Mendoza feel about his experiment results?

A．Doubtful.

B．Pleased.

C．Intolerant.

D．Disappointed.

7 . In Nairobi, Kenya, Richard Turere, a twelve-year-old Maasai boy, had come up with a surprising invention. His family raised cattle, and one of the biggest __ was protecting them at night from lion attacks. Richard had noticed that a still campfire didn’t fear the lions, __ walking around waving a torch did seem to work. The lions were apparently afraid of __ lights! Richard had somehow taught himself __ by messing around with parts taken from his parents’ radio. He used that knowledge to __ a system of lights that would turn on and off in order, __ a sense of movement. It was built from scrapyard (废弃场) __ —solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box. He installed (安装)the lights and the lion attacks __.

News of his invention spread and other villages wanted in. Instead of seeking to __ the lions as they had done before, they installed Richard’s “lion lights”. Both villagers and pro-lion(亲狮的)environmentalists were __ .

Because of his invention, Richard won a(n)__ to one of Kenya’s best schools, and was __ to give a TED Talk. He got on an airplane for the first time in his life and __ to Long Beach, California. As he walked onto the TED stage, you could tell he was nervous, but that only made him more__ . As Richard spoke, people were focusing on every word he said, and every time he smiled, the audience __ . When he finished, people just stood and cheered.

1.

A．conflicts

B．investments

C．foundations

D．challenges

2.

A．and

B．but

C．or

D．until

3.

A．moving

B．shining

C．faint

D．intense

4.

A．farming

B．hunting

C．economics

D．electronics

5.

A．adjust

B．assess

C．invent

D．display

6.

A．affecting

B．creating

C．monitoring

D．damaging

7.

A．tools

B．metals

C．parts

D．machines

8.

A．continued

B．stopped

C．increased

D．stayed

9.

A．kill

B．raise

C．train

D．protect

10.

A．worried

B．happy

C．moved

D．disappointed

11.

A．election

B．argument

C．competition

D．scholarship

12.

A．ordered

B．invited

C．instructed

D．forced

13.

A．ran

B．swam

C．flew

D．drove

14.

A．amusing

B．confusing

C．engaging

D．frightening

15.

A．melted

B．cried

C．argued

D．apologized

8 . Cruise (邮轮) tourism is becoming popular with some 36 million passengers expected to cruise in 2024. Have a look at new ships provided by cruise lines.

DISNEY TREASURE

The 800-passenger Disney Treasure will mirror its sister ship Disney Wish while focusing more on mystery and adventure atmospheres on the high seas as opposed to a fairy-tale theme. Kids who loved the Frozen-themed dining experience on Disney Wish can move into the world of Encanto at a new themed restaurant, Plaza de Coco, on board Treasure.

ICON OF THE SEAS

Icon of the Seas will travel Caribbean waters as the largest cruise ship in the world, with a maximum onboard capacity of 7,600 guests. Passengers can expect a floating festival of entertainment, including the world’s largest waterpark at sea, featuring six water slides, a pool and much more.

RIVERSIDE MOZART

With a top-class hotel feel, the 1400-passenger Riverside Mozart will launch along the Danube in 2024, visiting such cities as Vienna and Bratislava. It includes an indoor pool and steam rooms, plus four restaurants spread across four decks (甲板).

SEABOURN PURSUIT

Expedition (远征) cruising is more appealing than ever these days. Seabourn Pursuit, half the passenger number of Riverside Mozart, entered service in August 2023. It has a 24-person expedition team to maximize adventures on land and at sea in destinations in the South Pacific and Antarctica, all among the itineraries (行程) for 2024.

1. What is special about Disney Treasure?

A．It creates a mysterious mood.	B．It is based on a fairy-tale theme.
C．It provides a kids-only restaurant.	D．It offers the same meal as Disney Wish.

2. What do Icon of the Seas and Riverside Mozart have in common?

A．They have top-class hotels.	B．They visit beautiful cities.
C．They offer water activities.	D．They have famous restaurants.

3. Which cruise ship holds the smallest capacity of passengers?

A．Disney Treasure.	B．Icon of the Seas.
C．Riverside Mozart.	D．Seabourn Pursuit.

9 . Anyone who has an idea worth sharing is able to give a powerful talk. The only important thing in public speaking is not confidence, stage presence, or smooth talking.     1    

I am using the word “idea” quite generally here.     2     It can be a simple how-to. Or a beautiful picture that has meaning. Or perhaps just a reminder of what matters most in life. An idea is anything that can change how people see the world.

Do you have ideas that are worth a wider audience?     3     A lot of speakers are happy to talk for hours without sharing anything much of value. But there are also many people who think little of the value of their work, their learning, and their deep understandings.

More likely, you have far more in you worth sharing than you’re even aware of. You don’t have to have invented lion lights. You’ve led a life that is yours and yours only.     4     There are lessons to be drawn from some of those experiences that are definitely worth sharing. You just have to know which ones.

    5     What are the two or three things you’ve done that you’re most proud of? If you could wave a magic stick, what is the one idea you’d most love to spread to other people’s minds?

A．Are you stressed about this?

B．It is having something worth saying.

C．It doesn’t have to be a great invention.

D．The lesson you might draw from the story is familiar.

E．There are experiences you’ve had that are unique to you.

F．Think back over your work of the last three or four years.

G．It’s amazing how bad we are at judging an answer to that question.

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。

As a new school year begins,     1     (open) your mind to new people and experiences will help you make friends and discover new interests. Being open-minded means trying to understand other people’s thoughts and ideas, trying new experiences and     2     (explore) different ways of doing things.

There are lots of benefits to having     3     open mind. It enables you to learn new things about the world and the people around you. This makes you feel more positive and     4     (confidence) about facing challenges. Besides, having an interest in other people     5     (help) you understand and share their feelings. Being open to fresh ideas can also help develop exciting new ones of your own.

Then     6     can you be more curious and open-minded? Start by asking questions. So if you’re unsure about joining a new club, ask     7     (you) what’s stopping you.     8     (imagine) how it feels to learn a new skill, meet new people and make friends. Don’t jump to a sudden decision but give yourself time to think about it first. If someone says something with     9     you disagree, then instead of deciding they are wrong or arguing back, take a moment to consider why they have that opinion. Finally, open your mind to new ideas. Even if you think you’re an expert on a subject, there is always     10     (much) you can learn.