2 . I never thought that I had to move to another state at 14. I was doubly _________ for I had just lost my father.

My family got _________ in giving away all the things we could not carry with us. On top of the _________ was a wooden cradle (摇篮). Cradles are _________ meant for newborns, but my mother decided to _________ this big one to my friend Sara as she used to love playing in it.

Soon I got _________ with the new schedule of school, adjusting to the new city. Times fled quickly until I _________ the news of Sara’s marriage. My thoughts wandered about her and our good _________ in the native town of Kerala.

I happened to _________ the town after 20 years. What a (n) __________ -Sara’s daughter was sleeping in the very cradle from my mother. I also came to know Sara was __________ on her mother’s decision to donate this cradle and she refused. Sara, even today, treats this gift as a blessing and a sign of __________ from my mother to her. She now __________ the cradle to other babies and fetches it when they start walking.

“This is not just a material thing; this indicates our strong __________. The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its __________,” Sara said.

1.

A．guilty

B．sad

C．nervous

D．shameful

2.

A．involved

B．interested

C．bored

D．skilled

3.

A．cover

B．table

C．shelf

D．list

4.

A．sincerely

B．especially

C．partly

D．previously

5.

A．sell

B．deliver

C．gift

D．lend

6.

A．engaged

B．annoyed

C．connected

D．disappointed

7.

A．spread

B．heard

C．broke

D．brought

8.

A．lessons

B．chances

C．times

D．fames

9.

A．talk about

B．comment on

C．refer to

D．call at

10.

A．success

B．event

C．scene

D．affair

11.

A．keen

B．dependent

C．strict

D．upset

12.

A．thank

B．love

C．respect

D．hope

13.

A．takes back

B．holds up

C．puts away

D．passes on

14.

A．character

B．support

C．link

D．ability

15.

A．value

B．source

C．quality

D．effect

3 . It’s one of Hollywood’s favorite stories: human beings use only 10 percent of their brain, and awakening the remaining 90 percent allows otherwise ordinary human beings to display extraordinary mental abilities. Scarlett Johansson becomes a superpowered Kongfu master in Lucy (2014). And in Limitless (2011) Bradley Cooper writes a novel overnight. But the truth is that we use all of our brain all of the time.

How do we know? For one thing, if we needed only 10 percent of our brain, the majority of brain injuries would have no obvious consequences, since the damage would affect parts of the brain that weren’t doing anything to begin with. We also know that natural selection discourages the development of useless structures. Tougher immune systems, stronger muscles, better looking hair—just about anything would be more useful than having a head full of useless tissue.

We’ve been able to back up these logical conclusions with hard evidence. Imaging techniques allow doctors and scientists to map brain activity in real time. The data clearly shows that large areas of the brain—far more than 10 percent—are used for all sorts of activity, from seemingly simple tasks like resting or looking at pictures to more complex ones like reading or doing math.

So how did we come to believe that 90 percent of our brain is useless? The myth is often incorrectly attributed to (归因于) 19th-century psychologist William James, who proposed that most of our mental potential goes untapped. But he never made clear a percentage. In reality, the concept most likely came from the American self-help industry.

Obviously, this is bad news for anyone hoping to find the secret to becoming a genius overnight. The good news, though, is that hard work still works. There is plenty of reason to believe that you can build brainpower by regularly working at challenging mental tasks, such as playing a musical instrument, doing arithmetic, or reading a novel.

1. What does the author agree with?

A．Hollywood’s superstars are popular.	B．Humans employ all our brain.
C．Only 10 percent of human brain is used.	D．90 percent humans are ordinary.

2. How does the author develop his argument?

A．By telling stories.	B．By making comparison.
C．By reasoning logically.	D．By explaining concepts.

3. What does the underlined word “myth” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Common sense.

B．Wrong idea.

C．Accurate answer.

D．Abstract theory.

4. What does the author suggest readers do?

A．Work hard constantly.	B．Believe in themselves.
C．Face challenges bravely.	D．Find the secret to success.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入一个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Yuan Longping,     1     (know) as the “father of hybrid rice”, was one of China’s most famous scientists. Yuan Longping was born in 1930 in Beijing. When he was young,     2     concerned him most was that farmers often had poor harvests so he chose to study at Southwest Agricultural College and graduated in 1953. Working     3     a researcher, Yuan developed the first hybrid rice in 1974 through intense effort. Yuan’s     4     (innovate) has helped feed not just China, but many other countries. Because of his invaluable contributions, Yuan Longping received numerous     5     (award) in China and abroad

6 . It’s possible that Chris Raven is the only person in the UK making baroque flutes (长笛). But far from having a lifetime of making instruments behind him, he started out at 70, after decades working in IT. He turns 80 in a month. Yet, in childhood, he loved woodwork. As he says: “You can plant a seed in a child’s mind. And the seed stays.”

Raven grew up in a musical household, in Chelmsford, Essex. Raven played the flute until he lost interest as a teenager. But he rediscovered his love of the instrument in his 40s when he won lessons at his daughter’s school fundraiser. Twenty years ago, he founded a flute choir.

It was after his mother died that he found his old school reports in his parents’ desk. But when he read his old reports he was taken aback: “The two subjects that I did consistently well at-which nobody seemed to spot at the time-were music and woodwork.” he says. “I made stuff as a child and I was good at it.” Rather than feeling minded to look back and wonder if he might have made different career decisions, Raven’s discovery was more a case of him noticing his gift, he says.

About 10 years ago, Raven signed up for an Irish flute-making workshop, followed by a baroque flute-making workshop. He cleared out the garage of the home, and equipped it with various tools to make flutes. His childhood passion “was revived” in baroque flutes and flute boxes.

“It’s been all-consuming,” he says. He spends at least four days a week “on my own in the workshop”. “Flute making, and box making, is not a living so much as a hobby,” says Raven. “I feel real passion and more creation about a new design.”

1. How long has Raven been a flute maker?

A．For his whole life.	B．Since ten years ago.
C．Since his childhood.	D．For several decades.

2. How did Raven’s old school reports influence him?

A．They awoke his hidden talent.	B．They led him to a wrong career.
C．They brought back old memories.	D．They made him feel Mom’s love.

3. What can be inferred about Raven from the last two paragraphs?

A．He feels stuck in his career.	B．He works for an Irish workshop.
C．He gets some helpers in his work.	D．He unites his two passions after 70.

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

A．A Popular Flute Maker	B．Raven’s Lifelong Hobbies
C．A New Start after Retirement	D．Music-Raven’s Childhood Love

7 . The best way to find your purpose at any age

Have you been feeling stuck or unsatisfied lately? If so, it may be because you haven’t found your life’s purpose, which can help guide you toward the person you want to be.     1     After all, it can change over time. Check out these easy and efficient ways to find your purpose in life and better yourself.

Trying new things can help you understand what brings you joy.     2     Perhaps you like singing, being in nature, cooking, working out, writing, or performing well at work. The things you love to do are your passions. Diving (浸入) head first into hobbies or other things you enjoy can help you find meaning in life.

Putting yourself out there can help you find a purpose in life. Think about your interests and then join a social club or cause surrounding that activity or thing. For instance, if you’re an animal lover, consider joining a cause to protect forests.     3    

Reading is a great way to discover more about yourself. Reading can also help you explore your curiosities and learn new things. Studies also show that reading improves creative and critical thinking skills.     4     Who knows? You may resonate (共鸣) with a character’s drive and find your own purpose within the pages.

    5     Everyone walks in different shoes. So, look for opportunities in your community to lend a hand to them, which can benefit yourself. Performing acts of kindness also can help you practice gratitude and discover what you want most in life.

A．Ask yourself questions.

B．So, pick up a book and dive in.

C．Think about what you enjoy most.

D．Helping others broadens your view on life.

E．It’s never too late to start looking for a purpose.

F．If you value safety, join the neighborhood watch.

G．Trying to make others happy can affect your purpose.

8 . Group of students is aiming to become the first non-government, non-commercial team to send a rocket to space. The team’s Aurora rocket, set to launch from California this month, is designed to reach a top speed of Mach 5.2 and break through Earth’s atmosphere. If successful, it will be the second student-led team to reach space, and the first to do it with a reusable rocket.

The Karman Space Programme (KSP) was founded by students. They designed the craft, which consists of two separate stages, each with its own engine fuelled (提供燃料) by liquid oxygen and ethanol. Each stage will fire for just over 20 seconds, and the rocket will be travelling at 5522 kilometres an hour at its peak speed. About 100 seconds after launch, it will reach its highest point and then should begin falling back to Earth for a soft landing by parachute (降落伞). KSP’s chairman, Shapol M. says the KSP mission will use multi-stage liquid engines like commercial launchers, recover all sections of the rocket and could, in theory, be turned around for a second launch within 24 hours.

The team is planning to launch Aurora from a site in the Mojave desert in California on 24September. “Launching outside the UK is a huge pain, but there isn’t a place right now to launch up to these altitudes in the UK. It’s a real shame,” says Shapol.

Shapol says it is hard to predict what will happen at launch, but preparations have included tests of many components. The team’s previous rockets include Vega, powered by the same engine as Aurora’s second stage. “We’ve tried to fail as much as possible before, so that we don’t fail on the big one,” says Shapol.

1. What’s special about Aurora rocket?

A．It can be recycled.	B．It is the fastest in the world.
C．It is quite profitable.	D．It belongs to the government.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The challenge in rocket design.	B．The KSP’s new mission.
C．The expected process of the launch.	D．The first students’ space shot.

3. What can we learn from Shapol’s words in paragraph 3?

A．It is rather difficult to launch the rocket.

B．Launching outside the UK is unacceptable.

C．The launch has to be carried out in the desert.

D．There is no suitable site for this launch in the UK.

4. What’s Shapol’s attitude to the launch?

A．Objective.

B．Optimistic.

C．Critical.

D．Doubtful.

9 . Welcome to Gemini, an advanced application that leads the art of AI painting and portraiture! We combine AI technology with art to provide you with an extraordinary creative experience. Whether you’re an artist, photographer, or just someone who loves creating, Gemini will be your creative partner.

Feature Highlights:

1. AI painting tools: Let AI become your creative partner. Use Gemini’s AI painting tools to easily create fascinating works of art. Choose a style, color, theme, and let the magic of AI begin!

2. AI photo editing: Gemini’s AI photo editing function can make your photos more eye-catching. Beautify, filter (滤镜), style switch -all in one click to bring your photos to life.

3. Creative Toolbox: Explore a wealth of creative tools, including brushes, color adjustments, layer management, and more, to launch your creativity, whether you’re a beginner or a professional.

4. Multi-platform sharing: Share your artwork with the world, or use it as a social media cover, wallpaper or business card background.

5. Privacy and security: We value your privacy. Your artwork is only stored on your device and is not uploaded to the cloud or third-party servers.

Gemini is an app designed for creators, artists, and art lovers to offer endless creative possibilities. Release your creativity and turn ordinary photos into masterpieces (杰作), or explore new areas of painting with the power of AI.

Other information:

Support URL: https://civitai.com/                            Category: Utilities E-mail: geminisupport@gmail.com                           Size: 99.3 MB Language: English                                                Age Rating: 4+ Price: Free

1. What is Gemini?

A．A free AI chatting tool.	B．An advanced camera.
C．An eye-catching project.	D．An AI-based application.

2. Which is the characteristic of Gemini?

A．Helping make artworks.	B．Designing an online platform.
C．Creating individual courses.	D．Uploading pictures to the cloud.

3. Who is Gemini intended for?

A．Working partners.	B．Children of all ages.
C．Application designers.	D．Painters loving creating.