1 . I have wanted to be a writer since I was eleven. Not just any writer, but a _________ published writer. I remember sending a copy of my story to Puffin Canada. Several weeks later, it sent me a _________ encouraging me to continue writing, and also _________ that they did not publish short stories. It was ___________ of the publisher to write back, but the truth was that I had come no closer to my ___________ of becoming a world-famous author.

Yet I am ___________ a hopeful writer. The only ___________ is that now I am 17, and my English classes are no longer spent ___________ imaginative short stories. I ___________ those sixth-grade classes when I was given the freedom to write whatever I liked.

Last year, some of this inspiration left over from my childhood ____________ into what seemed a brilliant idea for a ____________. I worked late each night, eager to finish my first novel. I got little sleep and my homework load was increasing, ____________ I refused to allow anything to block my success as a published writer.

When I had over 80 double-spaced pages, sadly, it became increasingly difficult to write on. It was terrible to see months of work ____________. My dreams were not one inch closer to __________ than five years before. Perhaps by now I have finally learned the truth about writing: it ____________ more than a dream. Perseverance and brilliance are right up there, too.

1.

A．cute

B．kind

C．real

D．folk

2.

A．story

B．letter

C．notice

D．gift

3.

A．explaining

B．broadcasting

C．stressing

D．insisting

4.

A．cruel

B．helpful

C．kind

D．innocent

5.

A．mind

B．nerve

C．motive

D．dream

6.

A．often

B．never

C．still

D．then

7.

A．reason

B．difference

C．belief

D．interest

8.

A．writing

B．telling

C．copying

D．reading

9.

A．regret

B．envy

C．miss

D．skip

10.

A．burst

B．developed

C．broke

D．slipped

11.

A．share

B．secret

C．plan

D．novel

12.

A．but

B．though

C．so

D．for

13.

A．returned

B．valued

C．finished

D．wasted

14.

A．future

B．reality

C．belief

D．effect

15.

A．matters

B．offers

C．takes

D．creates

2 . A young Irishman, Fionn, has come up with a method to solve the microplastic pollution problem, winning Google’s international science fair. He created a kind of liquid magnet (磁铁) by mixing magnetized iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and vegetable oil. It can collect microplastics and remove them, leaving only water behind.

Since the age of 12, he has been looking to find a solution for the hard-to-clean microplastics. During childhood, he frequently went beaches where he saw a growing number of plastic garbage. Once, he saw a rock with oil remaining, and stuck to it were small plastic pieces. He then found out that the plastic pieces are what we call non-polar, and oil is non-polar too. In chemistry likes attract likes, which means non-polar things attract non-polar things. He heard of something that was a kind of magnetic water by combining vegetable oil with magnetized iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). He noticed oil could attract the microplastics and magnet finally cleaned the microplastics. Inspired by it, he made the liquid magnet.

Indeed after 5,000 experiments it was shown that his method could clean 87％ — 93% of microplastics from the water, despite the fact that the microplastics came from a variety of sources like car tires, plastic bottles, and washing water.

Larissa Kelly, Fionn’s science teacher commented,” The invention, based on very Simple components, makes a breakthrough. It has powerful potential to provide solutions that will contribute to the worldwide effort to remove microplastics from the environment,” Fionn showed his method at the 2019 Google Science Fair and won a $50,000 scholarship. After the Google Science Fair, scientists gave him credit for what he had done. Fionn is now trying to fit his method into a device that can be used in home waterpipes, or the pipes at a wastewater plant, allowing the liquid magnet to continuously clean water that moves through it. He also plans to make it used on boats.

1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Magnet.

B．Rubbish.

C．Plastic.

D．Oil.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The effectiveness of the method.

B．The creation of the experiment.

C．The influences of microplastics.

D．The sources of plastic pollution.

3. What does Kelly think of the invention?

A．Easy and creative.

B．Old and effective.

C．Costly and imaginative.

D．Reliable and traditional.

4. What can be inferred about the liquid magnet?

A．It will be widely used soon.

B．It is still at the experimental stage.

C．It mainly deals with the sea pollution.

D．It has successfully been used in household.

3 . 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。

The newfound team, now officially known as the Wildcats, started their basketball journey with a mix of eagerness and anxiety. The community center’s basketball court became their arena (竞技场), a place where failures were just stepping stones to success, and every dribble (运球), pass, and shot was a lesson in disguise.

Under Mr. Jordan’s guidance, practices became more than just learning how to play basketball; they were about discovering the strengths within and the power of unity. He had an approach to seeing the potential in every player.

One afternoon, as the team gathered around Mr. Jordan, he introduced a new drill that focused on passing and communication. “Basketball is a language,” he explained. “If you can’t communicate, you can’t win. This drill will help you understand each other without words. ”

The drill was a disaster at first. Passes went wrong, and frustration mounted. Jasmine’s quick passes were too swift for Mia, and Lucas’s attempts at humor during the drill only led to more confusion. Eli, ever the observer, noticed the tension and suggested a simple system of hand signals they had discussed in a previous practice. Gradually, the team began to find their rhythm, learning to anticipate each other’s moves and communicate more effectively.

It wasn’t just basketball skills that the Wildcats were developing; it was a sense of belonging and trust in one another. Each practice ended with a team gathering, where Mr. Jordan shared stories from his coaching days, emphasizing the lessons learned from losses more than wins.

注意：(1)续写词数应为150左右；(2)开头已给出。
Paragraph 1: Soon came their first real game against a more experienced team.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: The second half saw a different Wildcats team.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

My mum died on a cold and rainy December morning. The dark clouds and constant light rain over her Cape Cod neighbourhood fit our sadness as my brothers and sisters and I arranged with the local funeral (葬礼) home for Mum’s last departure from her beloved house on the edge of the river.

All five of us were there, having been alerted (警觉) earlier that week. As soon as we had gotten “The Call”, we had immediately flown or driven from our homes in California, Florida, Georgia and New York to the house by the river.

As I joined my brothers and sisters at the house on the Cape, I felt oddly peaceful. Though I was afraid to lose my mother, I wasn’t anxious about the process. I knew that Mum had prepared well for her death. All we had to do was be present for her and each other during this final stage. She had done everything else.

Mum was a born teacher and a natural organizer. When she had received the diagnosis (诊断) of incurable cancer that September, she had planned her death as practically as she had planned her busy life as a wife, mother and professional.

Mum did think fondly of her neighbours and friends. Even though she had declined to share her remaining time with them, she wanted to acknowledge their friendly care and express her lasting affection for them. So Mum had asked my older sister to purchase, on her behalf, a case of wine. The small bottles were to be decorated with ribbons (缎带) and delivered by us in person, after Mum’s death, to those neighbours who had been her favourite local companions.

Accordingly, in the early afternoon, as the cold morning rain gave way to a watery blue sky, all five of us set out to walk through the neighbourhood together, braving the cold air. Taking turns carrying the heavy boxes, we visited every house. Together, we carried the news of her death, that final gift of beribboned bottles, and her instruction to her friends: “Please use this Champagne to toast to our friendship.”

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。

We hugged, and cried, and laughed, with neighbour after neighbour.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As the five of us returned to the house, we saw, against the backdrop of the grey sky, a breathtakingly beautiful rainbow.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

In the ancient Shuowen Dictionary, trust is defined as a combination of sincerity and reliability,     1     (emphasize) the importance of keeping one’s word. This concept was     2     (deep) valued in ancient China, with many proverbs highlighting the significance of integrity in personal and professional relationships. CaoCao, the     3     (rule) of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period, embodied (体现) this spirit of trustworthiness, which played a crucial role in his ability     4     (draw) numerous heroes to his side.

During the Three Kingdoms era, a time     5     (mark) by division and conflict among the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu, loyalty was a prized yet rare commodity (商品). Cao Cao’s relationship     6     Guan Yu shows his understanding of trust and respect as foundational     7     (element) of leadership. After capturing Xu Province, Cao Cao encountered Guan Yu. Guan Yu’s surrender (投降) to Cao Cao, under the condition     8     he would leave once he learned of Liu Bei’s whereabouts, presented     9     unique challenge. Cao Cao’s acceptance of these terms, and his subsequent efforts to win over Guan Yu, demonstrate a strategic approach to leadership that     10     (value) talent and honours personal loyalty.

6 . 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 the world’s largest energy consumer, China plays a vital role in shaping the global energy market, said Sobotka, who serves as the co-chair of the Global Battery Alliance. China’s rapid economic growth and urbanization have led to     1     increase in energy demands across various sectors     2     (include) industry, transportation, and residential use, he said. He added that China’s energy consumption affects not only market prices but the demand for different energy sources worldwide. Regarding coal, China is     3     (current) the world’s largest consumer and producer of coal, according to data from the International Energy Alliance. Despite     4     (consist) efforts on energy transition, coal is about     5     (dominate) China’s energy mix due to its abundant domestic reserves and     6     (affordable), he said, adding that this reliance contributes to a high level of greenhouse gas emissions. It is not only China’s energy policies, but its domestic production and imports that have a profound effect     7     global energy markets, he said. In recent years, China     8     (make) substantial investments in renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Sobotka attended the China Development Forum 2024 in Beijing from Sunday to Monday, during     9     he shared his views with Chinese government officials and entrepreneurs from all over the world. The forum is hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council     10     organized by the China Development Research Foundation.

7 . Knowledge is power, and the more you learn about mental health, the better the position you may be in to help those facing mental health battles. Consider doing the following things to support those closest to you.

Attend a training course

    1    . In fact, anyone can benefit from depression awareness training that focuses on supporting those at risk. You might be a teacher that manages youth or a sports coach wanting to pick up on depression risk signs in your players. You may even be a worried parent who wants to make sure your children can tell you anything. Depression awareness and prevention courses teach you both theoretical and practical skills to recognize warning signs and behaviors.     2    .

Listen

If someone approaches you in their time of need, it’s not always easy to know what you’re supposed to do, and it may be more beneficial for you to just listen.     3    . They may just need to get what they are feeling off their chest and to feel valid at that moment. Try your best not to interrupt, but ask questions if you require clarification. The more listening you do, the better your position in deciding what to do next.

    4    

While being a listening ear is sometimes all someone needs to feel better, you can also become an ongoing source of support. Check in with the person experiencing a mental health problem like depression so that they know you are always there for them. Make contact with them regularly to see how they are feeling. Just knowing someone cares can make a world of difference.

Call emergency services

Your support, guidance, and listening ear can be of great value to anyone going through a tough time.     5    . If someone you know is experiencing self-abuse thoughts or tendencies, don’t delay in seeking emergency help. The faster you act, the safer your friend or family member may be.

A．Check in with them

B．Suggest support services

C．However, it’s essential to know your limits

D．Such a course may just help you to prevent someone’s depression

E．They may not need you to offer solutions or even give them a hug

F．Sometimes, the best thing you can do is encourage them to seek professional help

G．You don’t have to be in a professional health role to attend depression prevention training

8 . Accents in English

Accents are fascinating and usually come with kinds of information.     1    . So many people, especially actors, are interested in learning accents.

Thanks to the development of technology, various handy accesses are available for people to share and pick up accents. English actor and accent coach Sarah Valentine is an expert in teaching the tones which can change the English language.     2    .

Valentine has been working in TV since the 1990s. She appears to have found success coaching other actors to speak in a variety of dialects.     3    , TikTok is a medium to educate the masses. Valentine’s TikTok takes simple phrases, such as “I’m hungry” or “the milk smells funny”. Valentine then repeats these simple words in accents including German, Dutch, and New York. She also highlights the rich variety of dialects within the UK, including Yorkshire, Scouse, Cockney, Geordie, Welsh, and Northern Irish.

“    4    ,” James Lantolf, a professor at Penn State, said. “Isolated (偏僻的) areas, such as New Orleans, develop different dialects. Since there is no contact between regions, entire words and languages can grow and develop independently. Social standing and education also affect the language of an individual person.” It is thought that accents have psycho-social purposes, allowing individuals to identify oneself and others as part of a group.

Everyone has an accent. A dialect coach like Valentine can help one learn to speak differently, for an acting job or for fun.     5    . Learning a second language as an adult is difficult; for much the same reason, it’s tricky to change your accent. With that in mind, watching Valentine change accents at the drop of a hat is all the more impressive.

A．In fact, all accents are worthy of pride

B．One’s birthplace can affect his accent

C．However, not all accents are worth learning

D．While much work with actors is done in one-on-one coaching

E．They can signal one’s living places, education and personality

F．On TikTok, she gives examples of simple phrases repeated in over 20 accents

G．A region’s location has a direct influence on the development of a local language

9 . 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。

I heard about Matthew through my Aunt Mary. He was the son of Aunt Mary’s sister and she referred to him too often.

We were compared hundreds of times as we grew up. I remembered the first day I began school. I lay on the floor in the classroom, crying that I wanted to go home. At night, my mother said Aunt Mary told her that Matthew started school on the same day and enjoyed his school life like a duck to water.

And so it went on. What a genius (天オ), he knew his nine - times table (九九乘法表) like the back of his hand, while I was still hopelessly stuck in the fours ; I began to be afraid of Aunt Mary’s visits. She always brought chocolate for me, but as soon as she had gone, Mother was sure to say the words:

“Tom, Aunt Mary was telling me that Matthew…”

According to Aunt Mary, Matthew never took a math exam without getting a full mark and never took part in a football match without scoring a goal while I was bad at neither Math nor sports.

Aunt Mary kept saying we boys should meet each other and be good friends. Luckily, Matthew and I never got to meet each other.

When I was in high school, news about Matthew stopped after Aunt Mary stopped visiting us. She passed away. But Matthew was still a role model in my mind. I studied as hard as I could, minding nothing else. My hard work paid off and I was admitted to a key university. Personally speaking, I was really grateful to Aunt Mary and did want to meet Matthew in person. They both shaped my life.

One day, I was reading a book on campus when a fat short boy of my age with big glasses approached me, asking shyly whether I was Tom.

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。

I had never seen the boy before, wondering who he was.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He was surprised, saying Aunt Mary told him

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 .    More than 4.85 billion people have access to the Internet. Online, they can find all the information available to humankind and form their own opinion about anything. This has completely changed society. But what disturbs most is the new technological ability of the large number of people to express themselves. It is not free access to information but access to self-expression that changes the world. We are living through an unexpected explosion of authorship.

   Thе book Human as Media gives us a vivid picture of this explosion of authorship. Humankind had 300 million authors in 5,000 years of written civilization and, all of a sudden, this number has risen to 4.85 billion in the space of 40 years. Such authorship has given us opportunities to express ourselves freely, but it has also led to thoughtless self - expression.

   Social media such as Facebook and Twitter are commonly blamed for creating cultural mess. People can express this or that opinion as they like. But what really matters is that social media provide chances for billions who can reach out to others beyond their physical and social limits. This itself has become an important factor to shape society, regardless of the content. In reality, social media are specifically taking advantage of our desire to “struggle for recognition”. We humans need to feel a sense of being together. So is our thirst for response. Social media provide, or at least offer, responses to even the smallest activities of a user such as likes, posts, and comments. I click, therefore I am.

   But with this great service comes great risks. Those self-expressions are exposed to some extent unseen before. Unprepared and unhesitating judgments regarding someone’s personal matters or public affairs increase incredibly. Personal becomes public and public becomes personal.

1. Why does the author mention the book Human as Media in Paragraph 2?

A．To explain a rule.

B．To provide a proof.

C．To clarify a concept.

D．To make a prediction.

2. What can we infer about social media?

A．They blame humans’ desire for fame.

B．They offer a platform for self-expression.

C．They provide users with different activities.

D．They benefit users by judging them carefully.

3. What is the author’s attitude to self-expressions?

A．Unclear.

B．Favorable.

C．Negative.

D．Hopeful.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．The Internet encourages self-expression

B．Social media realize online users’ dreams

C．Network mixes personal with public affairs

D．Technologies promote network development