1 . 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。

The silk industry in Sichuan is one of the original points of Chinese silk culture. Sichuan brocade (蜀锦) originated from the Spring and Autumn period, and fully developed in the Han and Tang     1     (dynasty). It has a history of more than 2, 000 years and had a far-reaching influence     2     traditional Chinese silk production. Sichuan brocade features light shades     3     (integrate) in an elegant and care free style, which shows Han Chinese characteristics and local traditions.

Sichuan brocade is one of China’s four most famous branches of brocade, the others     4     (be) Yun brocade in Nanjing, Song brocade in Suzhou and Zhuang brocade in Guangxi. With its     5     (attract) designs and bright, clear colors that follow the style of Chinese-ink paintings, Sichuan brocade was put on the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.

Silk     6     (produce) in Sichuan Province since ancient times and Chengdu was the starting point of the southern Silk Road. Sichuan brocade is made with local silk and colored silk threads,     7     are the raw materials. Special embroidery (刺绣) skills are used     8     (turn) brocade into quilt covers, pillowcases, clothes and shoes.

    9     subjects of the Sichuan brocade are rich and varied. Some come from legends, myths, historical stories, and others come from landscape, figures, flowers, birds and animals,     10     (especial) the beasts that symbolize fortune and long life.

2 . This prepaid postcard features a daytime image of Sydney’s iconic Opera House.

Prepaid postcards can be posted from any red post box located in Australia or at your local Australia Post retail outlet and can be sent worldwide or to domestic locations.

No stamp is required as the prepaid postcard includes postage, making it easier for you to stay in touch.

Australia’s most recognisable landmark, the Sydney Opera House, was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II 50 years ago on 20 October 1973. Praised throughout the world, and recognised as a masterpiece of human creative genius, this extraordinary building was a winning design of Danish architect Jorn Utzon (1918 –2008) in an international design competition. It was named on the World Heritage List in 2007 as “a masterpiece of 20th century architecture”. The Sydney Opera House is also Australia’s number one tourist destination, welcoming more than 10.9 million visitors a year. It is also one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, presenting more than 2,000 shows 363 days per year, for more than 1.5 million people.

Background information, technical details and gallery images on all our latest stamp issues are available on the Australia Post Collectables website.

Issue date: 10 October 2023
Issue withdrawal date: 1 May 2024
First day cover’s withdrawal date: 8 November 2023

Visit the articles section of the Australia Post Collectables website for additional content relating to stamp issues, including interviews with experts and designers.

To ensure you have the correct postage for sending your letter or card, please check our up-to-date postage rates.

1. What can we learn about the Sydney Opera House?

A．It is open all year round.

B．It was financed by Queen Elizabeth II.

C．Its design is a winner of an international design competition.

D．It is the most popular tourist destination all over the world.

2. How long will the prepaid postcards be on sale?

A．About half a year.	B．About one year.
C．About two months.	D．About two years.

3. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To appeal to people to purchase more stamps.

B．To persuade people to visit the Sydney Opera House.

C．To introduce some interviews with experts and designers.

D．To call on people to buy the postcards of the Sydney Opera House.

3 . Researchers and environmentalists have been pushing for clean energy, as well, contending with the rising threat of climate change. An increasingly researched renewable resource is called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), in which the sea’s temperature variations are used to produce power. On the surface of the ocean, the temperatures are much warmer compared to the seafloor. It gets considerably colder the deeper you go because the sunlight cannot reach the bottom. These temperature differences are most noticeable in the summer when the sun is present for a majority of the hours of the day. To put it simply, OTEC uses a series of pipes that take the cooler water out in the depths of the ocean. The warm water on the ocean’s surface helps heat the cool water, which then vaporizes (蒸发) a fluid, and as a result, turns a turbine (涡轮机) to produce electricity.

Three types of ocean heat renewable energy systems are being developed and researched. An OTEC closed-cycle is perhaps the most common and well-researched, consisting of a condenser (冷凝器), evaporator, pumps, turbine and generator. There are also open systems and hybrid systems.

Systems work by pumping the warmer surface water through an evaporator containing a working fluid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia. Once the fluid vaporizes, it is used to drive a turbine and generator. From there, the vaporized fluid turns back into a liquid through a condenser, cooled by the cold, deep ocean water that pumps up from the depths. The OTEC systems that use seawater can use condensation to make water without salt.

OTEC systems need to place technology about 1 kilometer below the surface of the water. The cold water intake pipe is in the deepest area, and the piping where warm water enters is above sea level. The pumps are needed to move warm water into the system, and a heat exchanger is required to evaporate the fluid. Condensers condense the steam produced in the system, and a marker keeps the entire system afloat.

Energy is essential for almost all human activities. If the world wants to avoid an energy crisis, people need to begin relying on renewable energy. Fortunately, the three types of OTEC can provide energy for large populations.

1. What does OTEC technology depend mainly on to generate renewable power?

A．The depths of the ocean.	B．The vast surface of the ocean.
C．Seawater’s temperature differences.	D．The hot temperature in the summer.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The principle of OTEC technology.

B．The progress of OTEC technology.

C．The importance of the renewable energy systems.

D．The differences among the renewable energy systems.

3. What can we learn about OTEC technology from paragraph 4?

A．The heat exchanger can produce power.

B．The cold water pipe is in the depths of the sea.

C．The deeper in the ocean, the better the technology is.

D．The warm water needs evaporating in a condenser.

4. What is more likely to be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The energy crisis in the future.

B．The bad influence of human activities.

C．The benefits of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.

D．The popularity of other renewable energy sources.

4 . Roosters act differently when faced with another chicken versus just their own reflection. This may mean that the roosters can recognise themselves in a mirror, a key test of self-awareness in animals. The way researchers tailored this mirror test to roosters may open up new methods of determining self-recognition in a diversity of animal species. In the traditional mirror self-recognition test, developed in 1970, researchers place a mark on an animal’s body in a spot that it could only see reflected in a mirror. They note if the animal inspects or touches the mark while examining its reflection, suggesting it understands the reflection represents its own body.

Results from this test are often highly variable. Sonja Hillemacher at the University of Bonn in Germany and her colleagues wondered if this has less to do with the animals not recognising themselves, and more to do with the fact that there is little natural motivation for many animals to investigate the marks.

So the team turned to roosters, which loudly alarm other chickens to the presence of nearby predators, but generally stay quiet when alone. In the lab, the researchers tested 68 roosters one by one in a closed area divided down the middle by a wire net. They placed a rooster on one side, and either left the other side empty or put another rooster in it. Then they added a mirror to the divider for some tests. To mimic a threat, they projected the silhouette (轮廓) of an eagle on the ceiling above the area. The researchers found that when a rooster was paired with another rooster, it raised the alarm far more often than when it was alone in the area, regardless of whether it could see its own reflection.

Since the roosters acted similarly when alone and with a reflection, they may realise their reflection is of themselves, the researchers say. This would point to self-recognition possibly being more widespread across the animal kingdom than previously thought, says Hillemacher.

Nathan Emery at Queen Mary University of London thinks it’s premature to say chickens definitely recognise themselves in their reflections. It’s possible the strange behaviour of a reflection.

1. Where did the researchers mark the spot in the traditional test?

A．On the mirror where the animals can see.

B．On their body where the animals can touch.

C．On the mirror where the researchers can inspect.

D．On their body where the animals can only see in the mirror.

2. Which can best replace the underlined word “mimic” in paragraph 3?

A．Face.

B．End.

C．Imitate.

D．Test.

3. What is Emery’s attitude to the new finding?

A．Favorable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Careless.

D．Objective.

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

A．Rooster Attacks His Own Reflection

B．Roosters Have Passed the Self-recognition Test

C．Roosters May Be Able to Recognise a Mark in a Mirror

D．Roosters May Recognize Their Reflections in Mirrors

5 . 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。

One day, Alex, a 12-year-old school boy in a small town, got the news that the World Chess Championship was taking place in the neighboring city of Grandington. Fueled by his deep passion for chess, Alex decided to enter the competition, even though he was not officially invited. He had a feeling that he could stand a chance against some of the world’s most skilled chess players.

The following morning, Alex packed his chessboard and chess pieces. With a mix of nervousness and determination, he boarded the train to Grandington. Once he arrived, the big city overwhelmed him with its tall buildings, bright lights, and the energy of chess enthusiasts from around the world.

With the help of a friendly stranger, Alex managed to find the tournament venue (比赛场地). The hall was enormous, filled with rows of chess tables and players engaged in intense matches.

As Alex glanced around, he noticed how small he felt compared to the chess celebrities surrounding him. Taking a deep breath, Alex approached the registration desk. The tournament organizers were surprised to see such a young boy standing before them, but they couldn’t turn him away. Sensing his determination, they allowed him to participate, considering it a good opportunity for the other players to show their skills against a young talent.

As the championship progressed, Alex’s opponents thought nothing of him due to his age. They saw him as an easy win, but little did they know that Alex possessed a strategic mind and a skill of unconventional moves. With each round, Alex astonished the players with his brilliant plays. Word quickly spread about the young talent who had accidentally entered the championship. The media became excited by Alex’s story, and soon cameras and reporters flocked to capture his journey. Despite facing experienced opponents, Alex’s passion for the game and his unwavering focus helped him advance through the ranks. His victories grew more remarkable with each passing day. People from all corners of the world began cheering for him, sending messages of support and admiration.

注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

In the final round, Alex found himself facing the world chess champion.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alex’s unexpected victory made him a household name.

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7 . You may not be able to change your school’s environmental policy, but you can be the change you want to see in the world. Going eco-friendly can raise awareness of environmental issues. Here are some ways that can help you go green.

Take notes electronically

    1    ? Use a digital device such as a laptop or table t to take your notes. This will stop paper waste and also save you a ton of money! In case you don’t have a tablet or laptop, purchase a budget-friendly device.     2    . And there are lots of devices to choose from that will do just fine for note-taking, research, and so on.

Embrace (拥抱) recycling

How many soft drink cans, papers from lecture notes, plastic water bottles, and snack food packaging does every high-school student throw away? More than we could count!     3    . Focus your attention on recycling. Most areas have curbside recycling, so make sure that you place the recycled waste in the right bin.

    4    

The emission of air pollutants from transport is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy environment. To reduce the environmental impact of transport and improve public health, use sustainable (可持续的) transport. Switch from car rides to riding a bike. Also, if you are hanging out with your friends nearby, take a walk. In addition to reducing air pollution, you’ll also keep your body healthy.

Eat some greens

You don’t have to turn into a vegetarian, but you might want to consider increasing your greens. Vegetarian meals are good for your health, and they have a lower carbon footprint. Start off by introducing a meat-free day once a week. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, think about growing your own fruits and vegetables.     5    .

A．But you can do something about it

B．Start an eco-friendly student club

C．Choose sustainable transport

D．You don’t need something super fancy

E．What about recycling your study books and old clothes

F．Why not take advantage of living in an era of technology

G．You can even join your community gardeners to learn some tricks

8 . “Giraffenap” has been created by a Japanese company and is intended to allow the user to take a rest while standing when you feel tired or sleepy with the aim of improving performance at work.

Rather than relying on coffee and endless yawns to try and make it through the workday, Koyoju Plywood Corporation declared about the “Giraffenap” that the nap box will allow you to “be refreshed” in just 20 minutes.

Giving in to your sleepiness and taking a 20-minute nap will apparently help improve your performance by recovering from tiredness, reducing stress, restoring memory and concentration, and improving creativity. A study by NASA has found that pilots who took a 26-minute nap experienced a 34 percent improvement in performance, and a 16 percent improvement in reaction time. “As a new way to take a break, we will provide a space where you can take a nap while standing in the office,” the site explains.

But why does it have to be standing? Well, the site explains that the research by Hokkaido University showed that sleeping while standing allows you to reach a sleep state in which you breathe lightly, so when you wake up you can feel the effect of a nap without having to sleep too much, and you can quickly return to work without feeling dizzy. Plus, making the box vertical (垂直的) rather than horizontal means that it takes up half as much floor space and makes it less likely that your boss will say there just isn’t room. The box also comes equipped with a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and LED lighting for safety, and it blocks out sound from the outside to ensure a calm, sleep-worthy environment.

Now, I know what you’re thinking—wouldn’t you just fall down if you tried to sleep while standing? Well, not with Giraffenap’s design. The box is equipped with four points to support the body at the head, butt, legs and feet, meaning you can relax in the box while still remaining upright.

1. Where is the “Giraffenap” designed to be used?

A．At home.	B．In the field.
C．In the workplace.	D．In the classroom.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The benefits from taking a nap.	B．The new finding by NASA.
C．The ways of improving productivity.	D．The pilots’ experience with the “Giraffenap”.

3. Why does the “Giraffenap” come in a vertical shape?

A．It will ensure the sleepers’ safety.	B．The sleepers can breathe slowly.
C．It will occupy much less floor space.	D．The sleepers can enter a deeper sleep state.

4. What can we infer about the sleepers in the “Giraffenap”?

A．They have limited mobility.	B．They will be disturbed by noise.
C．They come out feeling pretty dizzy.	D．They’re likely to suffer injuries.

9 . If quiet listening involves being silent to give people room to talk, loud listening is about saying things intended to get a reaction out of them. This was the way Steve Jobs listened. He would put a strong point of view on the table and insist on a response. Why do I call this listening, instead of talking, or even yelling (吼叫)? Because Steve didn’t just challenge others; he insisted that they challenge him back.

Obviously, this approach works only when people feel confident enough to rise to the challenge. Just as some people are frightened by quiet listening, other people are offended (冒犯) by loud listening. If you are a loud listener, how do you deal with people who are either constitutionally unable to stand up to an aggressive (强势的) boss or whose position is too unimportant to allow them to feel secure, even if the larger culture welcomes this behavior?

If you have a loud listening style, you need to go to some lengths to build the confidence of those who you’re making uncomfortable. And as people witness one another challenging the boss, they will grow to feel it’s safe to do so as well. You don’t have to adopt Steve’s style to be a loud listener. Paul Saffo, an engineering professor at Stanford, describes a technique he calls “strong opinions, weakly held.” Saffo has made the point that expressing strong, some might say unacceptable, positions to others is a good way to get to a better answer, or at least to have a more interesting conversation.

I love this approach in my sales work. I’ve always found that saying what I think really clearly and then going to great lengths to encourage disagreement is a good way to listen. I tend to state my positions strongly, so I have had to learn to follow up with, “Please poke holes in this idea — I know it may be terrible. So tell me all the reasons we should not do that in our marketing.”

1. What kind of listener was Steve Jobs?

A．He would listen attentively.	B．He would push for a response.
C．He presented his views peacefully.	D．He seldom contradicted the speaker.

2. On what occasion can you use the loud listening style according to the author?

A．When you feel sure about your topic.

B．When you’re facing a rather aggressive boss.

C．When people talking to you are in a lower position.

D．When people feel safe about challenging your authority.

3. What does the underlined part “poke holes” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Find mistakes.

B．Become interested.

C．Make predictions.

D．Keep balanced.

4. What does the author most probably do?

A．A college professor.	B．A business manager.
C．A book reviewer.	D．A television presenter.

10 . At age 14, Kristin Beale suffered injuries in an accident. She was riding one Jet Ski on a lake when a schoolmate ran over her, leaving her with a serious spinal cord (脊髓) injury.

Before the accident, Beale was an active student at Henrico’s Deep Run High School, involved in competition cheerleading and hockey. Afterward, she had to relearn how to perform daily tasks. “When I was in hospital, doctors told my parents I would be a vegetable, and that I wouldn’t be able to breathe or swallow. I wanted to disprove everything they had on their list,” she says.

Beale began writing about her experiences while working on her recovery in California. By the time she finished, she had written 32 stories. She narrowed them down and eventually gathered them into her first nonfiction book, “Greater Things”, about how people react to her and how she has overcome her injuries and stays positive. “I never thought it would become a book, but that’s how it all started,” Beale says.

Her second book, “Date Me”, is a collection of comics coming from three dozen unsuccessful dates. “I would turn those dates into comic strips,” Beale says. Instead of typical banter, she says, each meeting was a “disability-centered date. It felt like interviewing about my disability. I would open up on the dates.” Trying to find humor in something that is not really funny. Beale drew comics about her dates’ reactions to her wheelchair-bound status. She didn’t start dating to get material for a book. Beale notes, “I love to meet people, go out and do things. It turned into,’ How can I turn a waste of time and hurt feelings into something good?’”

Now working as a literary scout for her publisher, Morgan James Publishing in Hampton, Beale continues to write. Another nonfiction book, “A Million Suns”, details her journey “from the darkness of disability into the sunlight of circumstance” and how she has found happiness.

1. What might be on the doctors’ “list” for Beale?

A．Daily tasks for treatment.	B．Consequences of Beale’s injury.
C．Diets during recovery.	D．Instructions on using drugs.

2. Why did Beale begin writing stories during her recovery?

A．To publish a book of her own.	B．To cheer herself up in the hospital.
C．To record her experiences after injury.	D．To encourage the patients with disabilities.

3. How did Beale usually behave while dating?

A．She didn’t take it seriously.	B．She was careful and sensitive.
C．She talked with a sense of humor.	D．She was honest and open-minded.

4. What’s the theme of the book “A Million Suns”?

A．Beale’s skills in successful dates.	B．Beale’s theory on true happiness.
C．Beale’s dream of a brighter future.	D．Beale’s struggle with spinal cord injury.