1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the speakers doing?

A．Discussing their schedule.

B．Packing for a journey.

C．Deciding on a present.

2. What does Jacques like doing?

A．Swimming.

B．Playing basketball.

C．Reading books on modern art.

3. What will the speakers most probably do next?

A．Find a basketball.

B．Leave home.

C．Call a taxi.

2 . On a bright September day in the French Alps in 2022, John McAvoy was 38 kilometres into a very exhausting ultramarathon through rough mountain paths. Battling tiredness, he pushed his body and mind through the final leg of the race. With the finish arch in the famous town of Chamonix just four kilometres away and the cloud-topped peak of Mont Blanc high over him, McAvoy welled up with emotion.

In that moment, he felt so free and alive. It was quite the opposite from where his life had been a decade before. He had just been released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence.

Now 40 years old, McAvoy has spent the last 10 years rebuilding his life from one of crime to one with purpose. It was on this day, while running the ultramarathon, that he realized how impactful conquering (征服) this mountain run could be for inner-city kids like him. After all, sport had helped him live a normal life again and open up his world. It could do the same for others.

With the help of Youth Beyond Borders, McAvoy started the Alpine Run Project, which recently led 12 disadvantaged British young people through their own Mont Blanc races. The participants, from refugees (难民) to young reformed criminals and those who grew up in Children’s home, were matched with coaches, consultants and physiotherapists. After a six-month training program, the youth travelled to the Alps to meet up with McAvoy for their race.

McAvoy says the highlight of this project for him was watching Yasmin Mahamud, a 20-year-old refugee from Syria, run through the finish arch and into the arms of her new friends. It was a life-changing high for Mahamud, too-inspiring her to keep running, take up martial arts and go to university to study physiotherapy.

“It changed my point of view on life, says Mahamud. Pushing herself to complete the race gave her a brief experience of her own potential through hard work and devotion.” I will always be thankful to John for giving me this opportunity and guidance.

1. How did McAvoy feel before the finish arch?

A．He felt totally collapsed.	B．He was peaceful and hopeful.
C．He was satisfied with his pace.	D．He felt as if completely reborn.

2. What can we learn about McAvoy from paragraph 3?

A．He was a builder 10 years ago.	B．He realized the importance of sport.
C．He ran to make up for his past wrongs.	D．He had sympathy for the inner-city children.

3. Who most probably took part in the Mont Blanc races?

A．A running coach.

B．A travel lover.

C．A homeless teenager.

D．A skilled athlete.

4. What message does McAvoy’s story convey?

A．Live for the moment.	B．Dream big and climb high.
C．After the storm comes the rainbow.	D．Run after the light and become the light.

3 . Countless stories have portrayed the deep connection between humans and horses, such as classic literary works Black Beauty and The Chronicles of Narnia. However, the extent to which horses comprehend their human companions remains a mystery. Recent research has shown that horses can distinguish between human expressions of happiness and sadness conveyed through facial movements or vocal tones.

The researchers brought 28 horses into a room one by one, each wearing heart rate monitors as their actions were recorded. The horse faced two screens playing two different videos: one showed a happy person and the other a sad person. A voice was played at the same time, sounding happy or sad.

When the picture and voice didn’t match—for example, if the voice was sad but the picture showed a happy person—the horse seemed puzzled and looked for a longer time, compared to the one that did match, as if it knew something didn’t make sense. “You could imagine that they have a particular box in their mind labeled ‘human sadness’ containing the characteristics of both a sad face and a sad voice, and that when we are sad, they expect what we say to match how we look,” said Doctoral Researcher Océane Liehrmann of the University of Turku, in Finland.

The researchers also saw that horses were more attentive to the screen displaying the happy face. They looked at it more often and for a longer time and their heart rates increased when they heard a happy voice and decreased when they heard a sad voice as well.

It is possible that the horses might have associated happy human expressions with positive memories from their past. Another theory is that seeing a happy person could actually make a horse feel happier—a process known as emotional contagion. “We don’t know whether horses themselves understand what it is to be sad. It is possible that they learn it means something for a human,” said Liehrmann.

1. How did the researchers carry out the experiment?

A．By comparing different horses’ expressions.

B．By monitoring horses’ odd behavior in the lab.

C．By summarizing the characteristics of the horses.

D．By observing horses’ reaction to human emotions.

2. What can we learn from the result of the research?

A．Horses had a preference for happy people.	B．Horses were too nervous about the videos.
C．Horses recognized people’s identity quickly.	D．Horses looked excited at a voice of sadness.

3. What does the underlined word “contagion” probably mean in the last paragraph?

A．Support.

B．Influence.

C．Outbreak.

D．Control.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Humans Impact Horses Hugely	B．Horses Dislike Sorrowful People
C．Humans and Horses Interact Closely	D．Horses Know When You are Happy

4 . Writing out the same word again and again may bring back bad memories for some, but handwriting can boost connectivity across brain regions, some of which are involved in learning and memory, a new study shows.

In the study, psychologists Audrey and Ruud, both at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, stuck electrodes (电极) on the participants’ heads. They asked the participants to type out or hand write with a digital pen words that appeared on a computer screen. Sensors in a cap recorded electrical brain activity. Then the psychologists looked for when two brain areas are active with the same frequency of electrical waves at the same time. This result can reveal the connectivity among different regions across the brain.

With handwriting, the researchers saw increased activity, specifically in low frequency bands, not only in the expected motor areas but also in others associated with learning. These low frequency bands have previously been shown to support memory processes. When the team compared the two tasks, they realized that handwriting —but not typing —increased the connectivity across parietal (顶叶) brain regions, which are involved in sensory and motor processing, and central regions, many of which are involved in memory.

“Even when the movements are very similar, the activation seems much, much higher in handwriting,” Audrey says. “It shows that there’s more involvement of these brain regions when you’re handwriting, which might give you some specific advantages.”

These findings suggest that there are distinct processes of brain activation happening while a person types or writes. This boost of stimulation of handwriting facilitates learning because these particular waves between these areas are involved in memory formation and encoding (编码) .

And although handwriting may help with learning processes, typing is often easier, faster and more practical. “Students and teachers alike should therefore consider the task at hand to decide to hand write or type,” Audrey says. Despite the need for more studies to determine the best learning strategy, experts say that handwriting shouldn’t be left behind in the digital age. “Schools need to bring in more writing into curriculum design,” Ruud says.

1. What did Audrey and Ruud mainly do in their research?

A．They tested the function of electrodes.	B．They analyzed the brain structure.
C．They monitored the brain activities.	D．They recorded the writing speed.

2. Why can handwriting improve learning more than typing?

A．It involves more specific brain activation.	B．It promotes better muscle memory.
C．It allows for more innovative thinking.	D．It encourages better concentration.

3. What’s the author’s attitude toward typing?

A．Favorable.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Unclear.

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

A．Taking Notes by Hand is Becoming Uncommon in Class

B．Using Keyboard is Recommended Due to Its Convenience

C．Widespread Brain Connectivity is Crucial to Human Learning

D．Handwriting Boosts Brain Connections More Than Typing Does

5 . Concrete has served as the foundation stone of the construction industry for hundreds of years. However, the process of producing concrete is one of the most environmentally unfriendly processes in the world. In the process, not only is carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) released into the air by the energy used to heat the limestone, but the limestone itself also gives out a huge amount of the element.

Luckily, a number of start-ups throughout the world are using creative thinking to make the construction industry a whole lot more friendly for the planet.

A Canadian company called CarbonCure, has found a way to inject (注入) concrete with carbon dioxide itself. Not only does this trap the carbon dioxide into the concrete, keeping it from running away into the atmosphere, but it also creates a super strong material called calcium carbonate, which reduces the total amount of concrete that needs to be used.

California-based Brimstone, is creating carbon-negative concrete by doing away with limestone entirely and instead using silicate rock, a material that does not release carbon dioxide when heated. Instead, the process produces magnesium (镁) , which absorbs carbon dioxide, as the basis for their concrete.

Additionally, researchers at Australia’s RMIT University have recently released a study showing that adding coffee grounds instead of sand to concrete could make it much stronger, reducing both the amount of sand used, as well as the amount of concrete that would need to be used in the final product.

The biggest barrier at this point is convincing members of the industry that the new types of concrete are safe to be used, according to Stacy Smedley, director at a nonprofit focused on decarbonizing construction.

Hopefully these new solutions to the environmental problems of concrete will soon be widely adopted. Given the significant part the construction industry has in releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, great improvements can be made when more environmentally-friendly materials are used.

1. What is the environmental issue associated with traditional concrete production?

A．The high demand for energy.	B．The processing of waste materials.
C．The mass release of carbon dioxide.	D．The use of non-renewable resources.

2. How does CarbonCure deal with the environmental impact of concrete production?

A．By using silicate rock as the basis.	B．By putting carbon dioxide into concrete.
C．By replacing sand with coffee grounds.	D．By absorbing carbon dioxide with magnesium.

3. According to Smedley, what is the major challenge facing these solutions?

A．Difficulty in making profits.	B．Convincing the public of the convenience.
C．Lack of funding for research.	D．Removing the industry members’ safety concerns.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To promote an alternative to concrete.	B．To advocate environmental protection.
C．To introduce new ways to produce concrete.	D．To emphasize the significance of creativity.

6 . Food waste is a growing problem throughout the world; on the one hand, we’ve got so many people starving, but on the other hand, in places like Western Europe or the US, people are wasting almost 50% of what they eat. It seems reasonable to find ways to send the excess food to the places where it’s most needed, but that doesn’t happen nearly as much as it should. With that in mind, people in Galdakao, Spain, took action.

They launched what they call the Community Fridge—a regular white fridge placed in the middle of the town where anyone can drop food or leftovers and anyone can come in and take it. This fridge has already saved 300 kg of food in just two months. The service is not a charity — anyone can come and just take whatever food they want.

Of course, there are a few regulations though—you can’t donate raw fish, meat or eggs, for health reasons. Also, all the food has to be within its expiration date and anything homemade should have a label with the ingredients. These are reasonable rules, and so far, the program seems to be enjoying success. Other Spanish cities have expressed interest in adopting their own Community Fridge.

This is not the first time this kind of idea has been put forward. A man in the Saudi city of Hail has also put a fridge outside his house and called on neighbors to fill it with food for the needy.

The idea doesn’t work in the US, and it seems like some people would rather throw food away than risk sharing it with others, but I certainly think this idea is worth spreading. Sure, you need someone to check the contents of the fridge and take out the food that goes bad, but for 150 kg of food per month, with one fridge, I think that’s worth it.

1. The first paragraph is meant to __________.

A．give the conclusion

B．introduce the topic

C．satisfy readers’ curiosity

D．describe a social fact

2. What can we learn about the Community Fridge from the article?

A．It is the first time such an idea has been put forward.

B．It is intended for the homeless.

C．It has some food security problems.

D．It has enjoyed success since it started.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards the Community Fridge?

A．Opposed.

B．Supportive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Unconcerned.

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

A．The Starving and Food Waste

B．Community Fridge to Deal with Food Waste

C．Community Fridge and Food Security

D．Community Fridge to Be Adopted in the US

7 . 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 was eight years old and wasn’t aware of all the arrangements being made for our journey as a family to London in 1950. My mother was in great pain and wished to visit specialists in London. My father reluctantly had to sell our property in Queensland. The day before we boarded the ship, Father unwillingly said goodbye to his five-year-old cattle dog, Spider, who was loved by us all. Father’s friend Sandy was to be his guardian while we were overseas, as he had been getting to know Spider for many weeks.

Six weeks later, an airletter arrived from Sandy, giving my father the news that Spider had run away just two weeks after we had sailed. Sandy had advertised constantly on ABC and other regional newspapers. Despite many “sightings”, the dog was never found. It seems Spider just kept running and searching for us. As he was cattle dog, my father thought he would shoe or dingo-trapped, because of his appearance. But our family thought that Father held a secrets hope that Spider was still alive.

We sailed back to Australia two years later and re-established our home. My father immediately began his own search for Spider. One cold winter’s Saturday morning eight months after our return, my father had a call from an elderly lady living on her own on the outskirts of the town. As she told my father on the telephone, it was “just glimpses of a dingo-type dog in the shadows” of her disused tennis court. That was enough for my father to interrupt my homework.   

We set off in his blue and black Jensen car which he had brought back from England. It was hardly the right vehicle for the rough roads we travelled that day. Five and a half hours later, we found the run-down old property. Sadly, she told my father that the “dingo dog” hadn’t been around for a few days. My father had a strange look in his eye. He put two fingers to his lips and did his special whistle for Spider.

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。
Suddenly there was a sound in the bush.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once home we had the task of getting all the prickles (刺) off him.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 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

Wing Chun is a southern Chinese kung fu style descends from Shaolin Kung Fu. It has the distinction of having been founded by two women, Ng Mui and Yim Wing-chun.

The Wing Chun style is known for placing     1     (emphasize) on technique rather than strength. This style also calls for practitioners to stay relaxed while     2    (fight), allowing them to achieve a kind of softness or flexibility. This relaxed flexibility gives Wing Chun fighter     3     special kind of strength that allows them to bend, not break, just like bamboo.   

Legend has it that Wing Chun founder Ng Mui was living at Shaolin Temple     4     it was attacked and destroyed by Qing dynasty forcers. Surviving the attack, she escaped     5     the border area between Yunnan and Sichuan. There she met a young woman     6     (name)Yim Wing-chun, who     7     (final) became one of her top students. She taught Yim an improved version of Shaolin Kung Fu, known as Wing Chun now. This new martial art     8     (spread) and grown into different branches over the past two hundred years.

Ip Man, featured in the eponymous (同名的) hit films,     9    (be) a notable practitioner of Wing Chun style martial arts. He also taught the Wing Chun style to his student, Bruce Lee, who would go on to act in the beloved Hong Kong kung fu movies     10     helped make Chinese martial arts famous around the world.

9 . My long-distance cycling career of 13 years and 35, 000 kilometres ended as I approached 75. Although I am now no longer strong enough to _________ the long days and big climbs, day in and day out, I have my memories.

The road behind is just memories, some soon to be forgotten, others to be _________ and enhanced with the retelling. A 6000-kilometre cross-country ride initially appears _________, but, once done, it is simply done, much like the challenges that life _________.

Real _________ would come when I was alone on my bicycle. I enjoyed meeting and even _________ the daily targets I had set for myself. I enjoyed the technical challenges faced by tire bursts and loose handlebars, but _________ not at that time. I loved cycling with a strong tailwind pushing me along and hated _________ into a strong headwind. I loved striking up conversations with a diversity of people and sincerely appreciated the support and comfort they _________.

Long distance cycling brings unbearable exhaustion, long hours of anxiety, even fear and desperation, but these __________ into insignificance, compared to the joy and __________ of climbing huge mountains or seeing fantastic sights for the first time. The experiences add newness and __________ to my life and the memories are __________.

Most importantly, cycling taught me to know myself better. It eventually dawned on me that I had more __________ and courage than I ever imagined. The self-awareness and long-lasting memories will give me enormous __________ as I carry on my life journey.

1.

A．appreciate

B．choose

C．expect

D．stand

2.

A．treasured

B．explored

C．created

D．discussed

3.

A．boring

B．annoying

C．confusing

D．discouraging

4.

A．overcomes

B．greets

C．throws

D．ignores

5.

A．loneliness

B．joy

C．convenience

D．panic

6.

A．making

B．changing

C．beating

D．finalizing

7.

A．reasonably

B．admittedly

C．fortunately

D．hopefully

8.

A．battling

B．slipping

C．falling

D．wandering

9.

A．owned

B．offered

C．mentioned

D．promised

10.

A．fit

B．pale

C．run

D．back

11.

A．reflection

B．anticipation

C．satisfaction

D．motivation

12.

A．secrets

B．rules

C．decisions

D．dimensions

13.

A．reliable

B．flexible

C．inaccessible

D．unforgettable

14.

A．toughness

B．curiosity

C．imagination

D．wisdom

15.

A．insight

B．knowledge

C．power

D．admiration

10 . It’s not so long ago that contactless card payments were exciting and new, but the technology is already old-hat. The new, better way to pay for things in shops? By using your phone to make a contactless payment.

Because traditionally, when you have paid with a card tap (轻敲) or using a chip and pin machine, ultimately the shop you are buying from will be noting down all of your card details.     1     And this could be a problem — it means that if the shop is hacked (侵入) or plays fast and loose with its data, you could find your card number exposed to the world.

However, when you tap to pay with your device, it generates a unique ID number for that deal and sends that instead. So you can pay for your goods and the shop can get your money.     2     That is to say, phone payments are smarter.

    3     If a pickpocket steals your card they can immediately use up the money. But if they get your phone, when the phone goes to pay it will typically perform a biometric check-it will ask for a finger-print or use the camera to look at your face, to check that you are who you say you are.

    4     Because of this added security, the limit (限额) is typically higher than for contactless cards. In the UK, it’s around £ 100 for most retailers-though some shops including most supermarkets let you spend much more with just a tap of the phone.

Want to give it a try? To actually set things up, go to your Wallet app and follow the instructions.     5     Then it will automatically recognise the numbers and connect with your bank. Usually you receive a text message with a special code on it. And then, well, you’re done. When you pay, hold your phone over the payment machine, and pay for your goods!

A．It helps to build the client list.

B．The setup process varies with banks.

C．No one needs to share any sensitive data.

D．It’s also more effective against the threat of thefts.

E．And phone payments are increasingly convenient too.

F．Typically this starts by scanning your card with your phone.

G．Therefore, it knows which bank account to take the money from.