1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

A．Old-fashioned televisions.

B．The man’s childhood.

C．Difficult times of the past.

2. When did the TV programs start when the man was a child?

A．In the evening.

B．In the afternoon.

C．In the morning.

3. What did the man do on holiday when he was a boy?

A．He stayed at home.

B．He went to the seaside.

C．He took the train to England.

4. What does the woman think of the old days?

A．Hard.

B．Funny.

C．Boring.

2 . 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。

Japan is experiencing record heat. Last week, the temperature in eastern Japan     1     (reach) 40℃ for the first time in June. Isesaki City in Gunma, north of Tokyo, recorded a temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday. The     2     (unusual) hot weather means people are using their air conditioners more. This is making     3     difficult for power companies to keep up with demand.     4     (help) these companies, Japan’s government has asked people to use less electricity. Spokesman Yoshihiko Isozaki said: “We ask the public to reduce energy consumption during the early evening     5     (hour).” He wants people to turn off unnecessary lights from 3 pm     6     6 pm and use air conditioners less.

Japan’s heat wave is set to continue. The weather agency said that the country’s     7     (rain) season finished at its earliest since records began in 1851. This means a     8     (long) and hotter summer. The Tokyo Electric Power Company warned there would be power shortages (短缺) if people did not use less energy. There is also     9     risk of people getting heatstroke (中暑). So far, at least 250 people in Tokyo     10     (take)to hospital after suffering from heatstroke. The government is advising people to drink more water and not to exercise outside in the heat.

3 . With more people concerned about the environment, you can expect to see many more electric vehicles( EVs电动汽车) on the road in future.     1     Drivers say there are a few things to get used to when switching to a vehicle powered by electricity. First of all, there’s no clutch (离合器). Instead, drivers use a simple selector to put EVs in park, drive, and reverse.

Since they’re powered by electricity, EVs also apply full power as soon as the driver hits the accelerator (加速器).     2     Also, EVs slow down as soon as the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator. Drivers end up using their brakes much less.

    3     The most obvious is that EVs don’t rely on gas. This means drivers of electric cars don’t need to stop at the gas station—in the long run, this can save a great deal of money. EVs are also low maintenance (维护). For example, they don’t need oil changes.     4     This is likely because of the placement of the battery, which sits just below the seats. This helps keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low.

Of course, there are also disadvantages. Most EVs can drive over 200 miles on one full charge.     5     With limited charging stations in many areas, this could cause problems on long trips. Additionally, the batteries are expensive to replace. Finally, while EVs may save drivers’ money on gas and maintenance in the long run, the price of buying an EV is often higher than that of a gas-powered vehicle.

A．There are many benefits of owning an EV.

B．At that point, though, they need to be recharged.

C．Many drivers also report that EVs feel more secure.

D．This may help them speed up faster than gas-powered cars.

E．As the name suggests, electric vehicles rely on electricity alone.

F．Many people prefer EVs because they can reduce their stress.

G．So what is it like to drive an electric vehicle instead of a gas-powered car?

4 . Counting stars is pretty difficult in areas with lots of light, like major cities. A study says even in the clearest skies, you’re still seeing turbulence (涡流) in the atmosphere that makes stars twinkle. Want a truly perfect view of outer space? An international research team has found the spot, but you’ll need to wrap up warm. It’s in Antarctica!

According to the University of New South Wales, turbulence causes light coming from stars to bend as it reaches the Earth’s surface. That instability( 不稳定) in the air makes stars twinkle.

The location in Antarctica, however, has so little turbulence that it hardly interferes (干扰) with the light from stars, making the view extraordinarily clear. The Chinese-led research team built a system of telescopes on the top of a plateau(高原), named Dome A, which sits 4,000 feet above sea level.

“Dome A is the highest point in the central plateau of Antarctica, and the atmosphere is extremely stable here, much more so than anywhere else on Earth,” says UNSW Professor Michael Ashley. “The result is that the twinkling of the stars is greatly reduced, and the star images are much sharper and brighter. In fact, this special place even has advantages over the famous Hubble Space Telescope.”

“Satellites are a lot more expensive,” the astronomer explains. “But another advantage of making Earth-based observations is that you can always add the latest technology to your telescope on the ground. In space, everything is delayed (延迟). So you end up with technology in space lagging that on the ground by 10 years or more.”

One of the biggest advantages Dome A’s location has is that winter nights in Antarctica are very long. In fact, scientists will be able to track stars continuously since some nights in midwinter last for almost 24 hours.

1. Why is the view of stars extraordinarily clear in Antarctica?

A．Because stars appear bigger there.

B．Because turbulence hardly exists there.

C．Because there is little air pollution there.

D．Because more light coming from stars arrives there.

2. What does the underlined word “lagging” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Based on.	B．Linked to.
C．Competing with.	D．Falling behind.

3. What makes Dome A specially great for astronomical observations?

A．It sits 4,000 feet above sea level.

B．It has very long winter nights there.

C．The famous Hubble Space Telescope is there.

D．Telescopes there are equipped with the latest technology.

4. In which section of the website are you likely to read the text?

A．Business.	B．Environment.
C．Science.	D．Tourism.

5 . Borrowing Rules of Some Public Libraries

General Borrowing Rules
Borrowing Periods

*3 weeks for books and magazines

*2 weeks for new books

*1 week for entertainment DVDs

*1 week for documentary DVDs

*3 days for new DVDs(with stickers)

Renewals (续借)

All items except DVDs, Interlibrary Loan items, and new books may be renewed once if no one is waiting for them. Renewals may be made by calling 794-4244 ext. 4721.

Limits on Borrowing Rules
Adults(18 and over)may borrow

*30 items total from any of the Vineland, Bridgeton, and Millville libraries

*5 books from Vineland Public Library on any one topic for 3 weeks

*4 entertainment DVDs for 1 week

*4 documentary DVDs for 1 week

*6 magazines for 3 weeks

First-time borrowers are limited to 2 items.
Children(17 and under)may borrow

*30 items total

*3 books on one topic

*4 videos or DVDs

*6 magazines

Fines

*15 cents per day for adult books, magazines and music CDs

*35 cents a day for new books(14-day loan from the New Book shelves)

*$2.00 per day for overdue videos and DVDs

*10 cents per day on children’s materials and Audio Books

*10 cents per day on all other library materials

Borrowers are responsible for the replacement cost of any damaged or lost items. A $3 processing fee will also be charged.

1. How long may a borrower keep a new DVD?

A．Three days.	B．One week.
C．Two weeks.	D．Three weeks.

2. Who borrow only two items one time?

A．Adults.	B．Children.
C．New borrowers.	D．Ones damaging items.

3. How much will a borrower be fined if he keeps a new book for 16 days?

A．15 cents.	B．30 cents.
C．35 cents.	D．70 cents.

6 . 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。

It was the day before Thanksgiving. Gray clouds covered the sky. The air was biting. The temperature was below freezing. And I was on the way home.

This is my driver Jacob, a tall, strong and middle-aged man. Jacob was sent to pick me up and take me three hours on a drive inland in Mexico. Like most drivers, he is very talkative. As we were driving, he started to tell me his story. Out of the habit shaped by my career, I like to chat and I like to get to know people and their stories.

He shared with me that since the pandemic, he had to change jobs and was currently spending six days a week away from his family in a town that had more work. This life certainly can seem full of pains at times. It is up to us, though, to make each one a blessing in disguise (伪装，掩饰).

He mentioned the name of his hometown ‘Nah Bok’ and shared that he had to spend five hours on his only day off on the three different buses to get there and back to spend one day with them. His mother, his wife and his kids are there, waiting for him. The weekly trips are tiring but worthwhile for those short moments of happiness and joy. Then they parted ways, wishing well thoughts for the week ahead.

I do understand such experience. Admittedly, I was one of those kids like his. My father had worked away when I was young, sometimes away for weeks and months at a time. I remember us kids waiting for our turn to have just a couple of minutes on the phone with him back before we had Skype (一种即时通讯软件).

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

After two hours into our drive, I saw a sign saying ‘Nah Bok’.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

That’s a little moment of JOY I brought to the man.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . 5 Easy Ways to Tackle a Decluttering Project

Clutter (杂乱) can be stressful. Try a few simple changes to create a sense of calm in your home—and your head! The New York Times recently explored the connection between clutter and mental health, including tips for how to think about managing your own piles of stuff, especially when it feels overwhelming.     1    

Work in Categories

KCDavis, a professional author of How to Keep House While Drowning, told The Times she recommends “five-things tidying”.     2     There is trash, laundry, dishes, things that have a place, and things that don’t have a place. During any one clutter-clearing session, limit yourself to just one of those categories to keep overwhelm at bay.

    3    

Much like closing down a restaurant or retail store for the night, Davis suggests having a routine for the end of your day that involves some easy, satisfying tasks. Maybe it’s having the coffee pot clean and ready to help you wake up in the morning.

Set a Short Timer

Five, eight, 10, or 20 minutes are all acceptable amounts of time to spend chipping away at a cluttered area in your home. Progress is progress, whether it’s incremental (渐进的) or one-and-done. Be patient with the big picture of your clutter-clearing needs, and you’ll feel accomplished.     4    

Get Help

Whether you recruit a trusted friend or family member, or hire a home organizing professional, you do not have to be alone in your journey toward a calmer home. Define a specific job to take on, like clearing out a pantry closet or dresser drawer, and bring in someone who will support you emotionally and even make it fun time together.

Embrace the Physical Activity

Maybe you’ve also been struggling lately to fit a regular workout into your routine. Lean into the physical aspect of clutter-clearing to feel like you’re meeting two goals at once by relocating some stacks of books or bringing bags of clothes to the donation bin.     5     Celebrate yourself for getting moving while you clean up.

A．Adjust Your Expectations.

B．Make Cleaning an Easy Habit.

C．So, how to tackle a big decluttering project?

D．A clearing project does not have be finished in a day.

E．Even running the vacuum or washing the dishes is physical activity.

F．It is a method where everything is matched with one of five categories.

G．Spend a few days paying attention to areas in your home that constantly demand attention.

8 . Officials in New York City are using technology to cut down on noise on city streets. Some of the strongest rules have been released to limit noise on city streets. Cameras equipped with radar sound collectors identify loud vehicles in an effort to catch drivers violating noise rules.

The new devices record the vehicle numbers of offenders, who then receive a violation notice in the mail. Owners face fines of $800 for a first noise offense. Some could be required to pay up to $2,625 if they have three violations and ignore court hearings.

Evidence is clear that noise affects not only hearing but mood and mental health, not to mention possible links to heart disease and blood pressure. “You listen to the noise out there, it is nonstop — the horns, the trucks, the sirens,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently blamed an expressway for noise and illness. “Noise pollution makes it hard to sleep and increases the risk of chronic (慢性的) disease.”

However, some people in the city say the government efforts to quiet loud vehicles have gone too far. Phillip Franklin, a 30-year-old car lover from the Bronx area of New York, launched an online effort to protest noise rules. “The majority of us live here in New York City, where noise is a part of our daily lives. Quiet vehicles can also present dangers to inattentive individuals walking around New York City,” said Franklin. He also noted that fixing potholes (路面坑洼) is a lot more important than going after noisy cars.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said loud noise can cause immediate harm to one’s ears. Even with sound barriers, close-fitting windows and noise-reducing materials, there is only so much that can be done to reduce sound levels in the city. Many New York residents have simply learned to live with the noise. The local authority now has plans to expand the use of technology to strengthen noise rules. So far, at least 71 people have received fines for operating cars or trucks that make too much noise.

1. What can we learn about noise from paragraph 3?

A．Noise has no influence on mental health.

B．Noise is harmful to human beings.

C．Noise must lead to blood pressure.

D．Noise is difficult to be found.

2. What was Franklin’s attitude towards the noise rules?

A．Favorable.

B．Tolerant.

C．Indifferent.

D．Disapproving.

3. What does the local authority plan to do?

A．Fix potholes to improve road safety.

B．Apply the new technology on a larger scale.

C．Raise the allowable noise standard for vehicles.

D．Encourage residents to use noise-reducing equipment.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Health.

C．Education.

D．Science.

9 . 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。

National Handwriting Day     1     (fall) on January 23rd. Its aim is to stress the significance of the skill of handwriting. Handwriting is of practical     2     (important) in today’s world where people use a computer keyboard more than a pen or pencil. Some people are worried that in the future, handwriting might become a     3     (lose) art.

The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA)     4     (start) National Handwriting Day in 1977. The day January 23rd was chosen because this is the birthday of John Hancock,     5     was the first person to sign the American Declaration of Independence — one of the most important documents in America’s history. WIMA says: “National Handwriting Day is     6     chance for all of us to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.”

Handwriting is more like an art rather than     7     (simple) writing. We can use it to express     8     (we) and be creative. A higher art form is calligraphy (书法). People can study how to write a single letter for many years. Everyone’s handwriting is unique. We only need to see the front of a letter     9     (recognize) the handwriting of someone we know. Experts can even analyze our handwriting and explain     10     kind of personality we have. What does your handwriting say about you?

10 . 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。

Britain has jumped up in maths in the Programme for International Student Assessment(PISA) tests, thanks     1     government efforts to import Chinese-style teaching into the classroom. Seventy-nine countries     2     (take) the tests last year, with the UK ranking 18th, up from 27th in 2015. Within the UK, the average score for maths among English pupils was     3     (significant) higher than scores for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Experts believe that the     4     (introduce) of Chinese teaching methods is likely to have driven up the UK’s test results. Countries in the Far East,     5     (include) China and Singapore, have long come at the top of the PISA tests for maths. In 2014, the British Department for Education set up     6     exchange programme between English and Shanghai schools so that maths teachers could learn about Chinese teaching methods. The programme was followed two years     7     (late) by a 41-million-pound project to train thousands of primary schools to adopt the Shanghai-style teaching method.

“It’s encouraging     8     (see) the students’ great improvement in maths,” said Professor Valsa Koshy, an expert in maths education at Brunel University, “Importing maths teaching from Far Eastern countries     9     (mean) there is a need for children to master the basic facts and traditional skills,     10     used to be laughed at as too old fashioned.”