1 . Torbjorn Pedersen is a Danish traveler who recently finished a trip around the world. But this wasn’t just any trip.

In 2013, Mr. Pedersen read an article about someone who had visited all the countries of the world. It made him realize he could set a record by doing the same thing, but without flying.

He hoped that he could live on a budget of about $20 a day. He had originally anticipated it would take four years to reach countries, but the world had other plans.

Though he did have to quit his job and leave his parents and girlfriend behind, the first part of his trip was pretty easy, but as he moved on to other parts of the world, things began to get hard.

To cross large bodies of water, Mr. Pedersen took boats. Sometimes it was hard to find a boat. At other times, Mr. Pedersen was on a boat for days, being tossed (摇摆颠簸) by strong waves during a storm. He traveled by taxi, bus, train, and even walking. With a limited budget, sometimes people invited him into their homes. At other times, he had to sleep outside. Mr. Pedersen says he had many difficult experiences. He was once held at gunpoint and thought he might be killed. He also became severely ill with a serious disease.

But he also had many good experiences. Mr. Pedersen says that one reason why he didn’t give up was the help he got from people all over the world. On July 26, Mr. Pedersen arrived back in Denmark after a 33-day boat ride. He was met by about 150 people, including friends and family members.

In the last 10 years, he’s covered around 260,000 miles — roughly 10 times the distance around the Earth. Mr. Pedersen says he’s looking forward to some quiet time to think about his trip. After that, he plans to write a book and share what he learned in his travels around the world.

1. What inspired Torbjorn Pedersen to start the trip around the world?

A．The dream of setting a world record.	B．The knowledge of a stranger’s experience.
C．The desire to experience different cultures.	D．The encouragement of his parents and girlfriend.

2. How can we understand the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A．He failed to carry out his plan.

B．He finished his trip smoothly as expected.

C．He spent more than four years travelling around the world.

D．He changed his plans over the course of the trip intentionally.

3. What’s the main idea of the fifth paragraph?

A．The help Mr. Pedersen got from others.

B．The challenges Mr. Pedersen met on the way.

C．The efforts Mr. Pedersen made to achieve his goal.

D．The inconvenient transportation Mr. Pedersen underwent.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Mr. Pedersen?

A．Courageous and determined.	B．Ambitious and helpful.
C．Sincere and independent.	D．Amusing and strong-willed.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What do we know about the black bird in the video?

A．It can solve a puzzle.

B．It can sing English songs.

C．It can make different sounds.

2. Where did the man watch the video of the black bird?

A．On TV.

B．In a biology class.

C．In an English class.

3. How does the man improve his vocabulary?

A．By playing games.

B．By watching videos.

C．By remembering words.

4. What is the man’s English class like?

A．Boring.

B．Active .

C．Humorous.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where will the woman work in the summer vacation?

A．In a bank.

B．In the government.

C．In a voluntary organization.

2. What is the man’s attitude to the woman’s work?

A．Surprised.

B．Supportive.

C．Uninterested.

3. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A．Their hobbies.

B．Their holiday plans.

C．A project for the elderly.

4 . Monkfish are low in calories and they are easy to cook. They can be cut into pieces, mixed with egg whites, cornflour and salt, and then put into boiling water for a few minutes. There is only one problem with monkfish: they are ugly. With their eyes sticking out and wide mouths full of sharp teeth, they are frightening.

In the Netherlands, fishermen who caught them used to throw them back. They are still usually sold without their heads, but the days of throwing them away are long gone. Japanese diners love the fatty liver; while Italians may still call them toad tails, that doesn’t stop them from eating the fish. People have been encouraged to eat more monkfish, as well as other unattractive creatures — in order to ensure the biodiversity of the ocean environment.

There are more examples for sea animals going from “purposely avoided” to “willingly consumed”. In America, lobsters used to be fed to prisoners — a result of their abundance but also, no doubt, because they are difficult to eat and look frightening. Not until the late 19th century did they become fantastic dish. Today they are so desirable that Maine, where most American lobsters are caught, has the images of these creatures printed on many of its vehicles.

Sometimes fashion goes the other way. Turtles were plentiful in early America, but in the 19th century they became fashionable: few foods were more recommended than turtle soup. Americans ate some species of turtle nearly to extinction. Yet today turtle-eating is more closely associated with remote and uncultured areas.

Among cooking choices, people prefer the rare and the beautiful one than the unattractive one. But such narrow-minded food choices can have bad results: some species may not survive human preference for them. Better to stare into monkfish’s eyes than to contribute to the permanent loss of a species.

1. How were monkfish treated in the Netherlands?

A．They were abandoned by local fishermen.	B．They were popular due to their fatty livers.
C．They were called toad tails from time to time.	D．They were considered a danger to the ecosystem.

2. Why are lobsters mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To stress its abundance in America.	B．To make a comparison with monkfish.
C．To prove prisoners used to be fed on seafood.	D．To show people’s food habits keep changing.

3. What can we learn from paragraph 4?

A．Turtle-eating has been out of date now.

B．Turtles have completely disappeared in America.

C．Turtles were purposely avoided among food choices.

D．Turtle-eating was against fashion in the 19th century.

4. What is the main purpose of this text?

A．To introduce rare undersea wildlife.	B．To encourage people to eat seafood.
C．To explain why people dislike monkfish.	D．To call for the protection of biodiversity.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the condition of Asian elephants in China?

A．They are extremely endangered.

B．The number is getting smaller.

C．They are under good protection

2. How many Asian elephants have been saved by the rescue center in Yunnan in the past 20 years?

A．13.

B．30.

C．360.

3. How do people get the collected information about Asian elephants?

A．Through a mobile phone app.

B．Through a notebook

C．Through a computer.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Finding happiness in life

When John walked into the dining room in the morning, his wife Jenny and his two children, Kevin and Sophie, were sitting at the table. The atmosphere was frosty as John sat down. Sophie, who was only five years old, gave her father a weak smile. Kevin, his teenage son, didn’t look up from his food. Jenny looked at him silently with her arms folded across her chest.

“OK,” John began, “I’m sorry. I know I let everyone down yesterday.”

Kevin looked accusingly at his father. “You missed my music performance at school again! You’ve never come to see me do anything,” he said angrily.

Jenny placed a hand on John’s shoulder. “That’s true! John, you always miss family activities. The last time we had a family outing was five months ago! And I’m exhausted from all the housework.”

As he drank his coffee, John reflected on his life. He had so much to be thankful for: a successful business, a harmonious family and a lovely home. In fact, he had everything he had ever wanted, but he knew something was wrong. He had always believed that with hard work, he could make his family happy. But he realized he was failing. He was spending more time at work and less time at home. He was working in the office until late in the evening and even during weekends. When at home, he was talking on the phone with his clients or sitting in front of the computer reading or writing emails. He was neglecting his family. He hadn’t taken his wife to a nice restaurant for months. Kevin was passionate about music, but John couldn’t remember the last time he saw Kevin perform at a school concert. Sophie was growing up so fast and John had even missed her last birthday party. John realized he had become an absent husband and an absent father.

注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Later that day, John went to work, determined to make some changes.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soon, John felt a big improvement in his life and work.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Anji, a small county in East China’s Zhejiang Province,     1     (receive) over 28 million tourists every year. There are more than 300 coffee shops there,     2     in terms of population density has surpassed that of Shanghai. “A cup of coffee bridges the gap between the big city and the small county,” said Han Jie, a Shanghai tourist who     3     (temporary) escaped the large city and came to Anji over the weekend. In Zhejiang,     4     increasing number of coffeehouse owners are venturing into rural areas to meet the demands of a growing population of young and adventurous coffee enthusiasts.

    5     (locate) in the bamboo forests of Penghu Village in Anji , a café called Waterfall Coffee has gained popularity     6     social media influencers. Visitors can not only taste coffee on the cliff halfway up the mountain, admiring waterfalls in the distance,     7     enjoy boating on the lake with an excellent view.

The outdoor café, the Deep Blue Coffeehouse, has received 350,000 tourists in less than a year, with the highest daily number of visitors     8     (reach) 8,000 people. By far, the small coffee shop has fueled the rural economy of Hongmiao Village in some way, causing university students     9     (cooperate) with the local government in organizing a start-up fair, with the aim of attracting more university     10     (graduate) to start business in the village.

8 . In a new study of more than 50,000 Korean adolescents, those who used a smartphone for more than 4 hours per day had higher rates of adverse mental health and substance use. Jin Hwa Moon and Jong Ho Cha of Hanyang University Medical Center, Korea, and colleagues presented these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on December 6, 2023.

Previous research has shown that smartphone use among adolescents has increased in recent years, and that this usage may be associated with higher risk of adverse health, such as psychiatric disorders (精神紊乱), sleep issues, and eye-related problems.

However, growing evidence suggests that at least some daily internet usage may be associated with better physical and mental health for adolescents.

To deepen understanding of the relationship between adolescents ‘use of smartphones and health, Moon, Cha and colleagues analyzed data on more than 50,000 adolescent participants in 2017 and in 2020. The data included the approximate number of daily hours each participant spent on a smartphone as well as various health measures.

The researchers found that in 2020, the percentage of adolescents in the study who used a smartphone more than 2 hours per day was 85.7 percent — up from 64.3 percent in 2017. Adolescents who used a smartphone for more than 4 hours per day had higher rates of stress, thoughts of suicide, and substance use than those with usage below 4 hours per day. However, adolescents that used a smartphone 1-2 hours per day encountered fewer problems than adolescents who did not use a smartphone at all.

The authors note that this study does not confirm a causal relationship between smartphone use and adverse health outcomes. However, the findings could help inform usage guidelines for adolescents—especially if daily usage continues to rise.

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

A．Related.

B．Negative.

C．Favorable.

D．Positive.

2. What can be inferred about the results of the new study?

A．Smartphone use is harmful to teenagers.

B．A growing number of teenagers use smartphones.

C．A proper amount of smartphone use is beneficial.

D．The more use of smartphones, the higher risks of men tal health.

3. How did researchers carry out the study?

A．By comparing different studies.	B．By studying adolescents’ health.
C．By analyzing previous information.	D．By collecting data from participants.

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

A．Smartphone use among teenagers on the rise.

B．Smartphone use accounting for poor mental health.

C．Right smartphone use leading to fewer problems in teenagers.

D．Overuse of smartphones linked to mental health risks in teenagers.

9 . We love the idea of writing contests, but we hate con test fees. That’s why we’ve rounded up these 4 writing contests that all have no entry or reading fees. Some end soon, so be sure to apply for those right away if you’re interested.

The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry is currently open for submissions. Poets can submit a book-length manuscript, but there is no page requirement. The winner will receive $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions. Deadline is March 1. To learn more, click the prize submission guidelines.

The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is currently accepting nominations (提名，推荐). Indiana-born or Indiana-based Authors may nominate themselves or be nominated. There are several award categories. The cash awards range from $6,000 to $10,000. Deadline for nominations is March 18. To learn more, click the award guidelines.

Winning Writers is currently hosting its Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Poets can submit one humorous poem for consideration. The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place will receive $250; and 10 honorable mentions will receive $100 each. All winners will be published online. Deadline is April 1. To learn more, click the contest guidelines.

The Griffin Poetry Prize welcomes poets and translators to submit their work. Two prizes will be awarded. The Canadian Prize will go to a Canadian poet or translator who has published or translated a work. The International Prize will go to a poet or translator from any part of the world. Each prize winner will receive $65,000 CAD. Deadline is June 30, with a second deadline of December 31. To learn more, click the prize guidelines.

1. What do the four contests have in common?

A．All of them are for poetry only.	B．The winners’ works will be published.
C．Everyone is welcome to submit their works.	D．Application for the contests is free of charge.

2. If Alice accomplishes several poems in May, which contest can she apply for?

A．The Griffin Poetry Prize.	B．Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest.
C．The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry.	D．The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award.

3. Where can we probably get more detailed information about the contests?

A．In a magazine.

B．On a website.

C．In an advertisement.

D．On a poster.

10 . Silence provides our mind and body with much-needed rest. It is also beneficial for the brain. If you want to know how to add the power of silence to your daily life, here are three ways.

Spend some time offline every day

From smartphones to laptops and music systems, we spend most of our time on electronic devices. Although technology has become an important part of our lives, the noise our smart devices generate can be harmful to our wellbeing.

    1     You can start with 10-15 minutes each day and increase it depending on your needs.

Go out into nature

Spending time in nature can help you get in touch with your inner self, reduce stress and comfort a troubled mind.     2     Head out to the nearest park or forest and spend time in nature. You can spend a least 15-30 minutes every day surrounding yourself with green spaces.

You can either do this early in the morning before starting your daily routine or in the evening after finishing your day. Don’t look at your smartphones while spending time in nature. Just be with yourself, and replace the noises of everyday life with the comforting sounds of birds.     3    .

    4    

We spend a lot of time talking every day.     5     But how can we stay silent and just listen? You can do that by being mindful of your thoughts. Do not speak for speaking, but because your speech has some value to a conversation. Allow yourself to listen carefully to others and respond appropriately.

A．Just listen to others.

B．Talk less and listen more.

C．This way, you can enjoy the power of silence.

D．You don’t necessarily have to go to faraway places.

E．That’s why it’s of great importance to find a spot where you can sit relaxed.

F．Often, we speak without carefully considering our thoughts or weighing our words.

G．A good way to take a break from our tech-driven lives is to schedule daily offline time.